Burr News 

We encourage parents to join us for our planning meeting on Wednesday, February 1 at 7:00 pm in the Burr library.  Our festival relies on the participation of many Burr families--the last time we held the festival (in 2010) there were 29 different country "hosts".  We want to break that impressive record this year... 

Don't have a particular culture to share, but want to help celebrate our diverse Burr community?  We have lots of ways for you to become involved!  Please be on the lookout for a flyer outlining volunteer opportunities in your child's folder this week. 

If you would like to be involved in the planning of this year's World Cultures Festival, please contact Dana Hanson, Ann Langenfeld, or Jackie Gelb.

Thanks very much to all of the parent presenters who took time to come in and give great presentations to our children: Ed Beucler, Bob Bombara, David Condon, Steve DeJesus, Lisa Ferrante-Walsh, Rick Friedman, Eric Friedman, Molly Hoult, Joanne Kotz, Ken Kotz, Karl Leinsing, Katie Mourgis, Lei Reilley, Marc Schafer, Marlene Schwartz, Sonja Strah-Pleynet, Shamil Sunyaev, Helena Thornley, Ted Vahey and Jim Walsh.

And much thanks also to all of the teachers and Ms. Johal, who make the week possible by opening their classrooms and providing support and encouragement throughout.

Until next year,

Ted Vahey and Joanne Kotz

As you know, Burr's rapid population increase has led not only to a space-crunch inside the building but also to a severe traffic-crunch outside.  In an effort to improve safety in our school zone, our Ward 4 aldermen docketed an item with Newton's Traffic Council to review the existing traffic and parking regulations around Burr, and the item is scheduled to be heard at their meeting next month.

While any decision to change current regulations rests with the Traffic Council after studies by the city Traffic Engineer and input from the community, possible outcomes include:

• Extending the "Live Parking Only" zone on Pine Street and including morning drop-off
• Eliminating parking in areas where gridlock is common
• Eliminating the small Blue Zone
• Making Pine Street one-way during drop-off and pick-up

If you would like to learn more about this process, or to share your ideas about these issues and/or possible solutions, please join the Burr Safe Routes Team, members of the School Council, and representatives from the PTO Board at the Parent-Principal Coffee this Friday, January 20.  

If you can't be there this Friday but would like to be involved please email BurrSafeRoutes@gmail.com

7th Annual Burr Ice Skating Event:

Sunday, March 4

NPS News 

Community News 

MBTA Proposal to Eliminate Newton Bus Routes

The MBTA is proposing to eliminate several bus routes through Newton including:

• Bus 52 (Centre St. to Parker w/ stops near South High School, Oak Hill and Brown)
• Bus 170 (Waltham to W. Newton to Boston)
• Express buses 500, 554, and 555

All Newton bus routes are under consideration for reduction or elimination.  You have until March 1 to tell the MBTA what you think by e-mail to fareproposal@mbta.com; by regular mail to MBTA attn:  Fare Proposal Com., 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116; by phone 617-222-3200/TTY 617-222-5146; or in person from 5 pm to 8 pm on Jan. 17 MBTA public comment meeting at Newton City Hall in the War Memorial Hall.

Newton Community Preservation Meeting

How would you allocate nearly $20 million for affordable housing, historic resources, open space and recreation land in Newton over the next 5 years?  Come tell us on Tuesday, January 24th from 7-9 pm at Warren House, 1600 Washington Street in West Newton.  Enjoy a slide show about past CPA projects & neighborhood history. Add your ideas for future projects to our interactive maps. Refreshments provided!

For more information, including our online survey, see www.newtonma.gov/cpa or contact Alice E. Ingerson, phone:

(617) 796-1144 or email: aingerson@newtonma.gov.

Garden City Kindergarten and Pre-K Soccer is now accepting registrations for our 2012 Spring Session.

Children in Pre-K (4-5 years old) and students currently in Kindergarten are invited to participate. Pre-K children must be 4 years old by April 1, 2012. GCKS provides an introduction to the game of soccer; teaching a variety of basic skills in a fun, non-competitive environment. Team sizes are limited to 10 players in each group.

Registration is limited to 80 players per league. Spring session runs from April 7- June 2, 2012. Practice/games are held Saturdays from 9:30-10:30 am for the Kindergarten league and 10:45-11:45 am for the Pre-K league. Games are played on the field at Burr School, Pine Street in Auburndale. Volunteer parent coaches are needed. No experience is necessary and training will be provided.

Cost is $65 per child. GCKS is a joint venture of Lincoln-Eliot & Franklin School's Parent Teacher Organization. Proceeds benefit both schools PTO programs.

To obtain a registration form, click here or email gardencitysoccer@gmail.com. For more information, call L-E School parent Melanie Varady at (617) 877-1738 or Franklin School parent Deb Rooney at (617) 630-8520. Registration deadline is March 12th. Space is limited.

From 1 to Z Workshops is an innovative after school enrichment program offered to 5, 6 and 7 year old children in the metro west area which utilizes a developmentally appropriate curriculum to enhance young children's literacy and math skills. From 1 to Z Workshops will be held at 66 Walnut Street in Newtonville on Saturdays. The program is being lead by Melody Lack, M.Ed., and (present Director of TLC Nursery School in Wayland), as an alternate after school club where children gather to actively engage in educational hands-on activities involving math and literacy concepts.  

From 1 to Z Workshops is based on 4 week workshop sessions and are scheduled to begin in January of 2012. You can learn more about the program by visiting www.from1tozworkshops.com and contacting melody@from1tozworkshops.com