Burr News 

Dear Burr Families,

This past week has been an extremely difficult one for the Newton Public Schools as we have grappled with how to provide support for members of the community after the shocking news about the Underwood teacher. The administrative staff at the Education Center, especially Superintendent David Fleishman and Assistant Superintendant Joe Russo, have done an admirable job of keeping all building principals informed while focusing their energies where they were most needed. Here at Burr, teachers have monitored student conversations closely to ensure that their questions and concerns are addressed appropriately and we have, and will continue to, keep parents informed. For your information, Dr. Fleishman has listed some useful resources in his letter on the Newton Public Schools website that provide excellent suggestions for talking with children about their safety. A community meeting is also planned for Tuesday evening Jan 24 (see below) at Newton North High School at 7 PM.

Last week was Science and Engineering Week at Burr. Many thanks to Joanne Kotz and Ted Vahey for their hard work planning and organizing the week. It was quite an undertaking. We had over 19 volunteers - many of whom presented in multiple classrooms. The children loved having family members and friends come in to share a scientific concept. At each grade level the conversations about the experiences continued well after the presentations. Thanks to all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to visit classrooms.

I have exciting news about a new addition to our gym! A new horizontal rock wall will be installed this week. The wall was last year's 5th grade class gift to the school. I'd like thank Carey Ranta for volunteering her time to research the various options and organizing everything from the ordering to installation. This rock wall will be used throughout the school year during PE units such as fitness and ropes/muscle strength development. Students will not only be able to develop muscle strength and coordination while using this wall, but they will also be able to develop safety awareness, problem solving skills, multi-step planning skills & cooperative teamwork skills. For safety reasons, the rock wall will only be in use during school hours and when a physical education teacher or Burr School staff member is present.

I would like to welcome several new staff members and student teachers that have joined us this term:

• Sean Pantellere has been hired to work two days a week for instructional support. He has already been the substitute teacher in grades 4, 5, and kindergarten. Sean was a student teacher in Ms. Taylor's class in the fall and I am happy that we could offer him a position and keep him with us.
• Alex Catullo is a co-op student from Northeastern who will be with us from January to June. Alex provides classroom support and helps with lunch time supervision. He energetically took on a full schedule of responsibilities and has proven to learn quickly on the job!
• Meredith Batley and Charlotte Nickerson are student teachers from Bridgewater State. Meredith will be working in Mr. Gaita's and Charlotte will be in Ms. Espinal's classroom. Another student teacher, Stefanie Shoag, comes from Northeastern and is in Ms. Field's second grade class.

We are very fortunate to have these aspiring teachers select Burr for their student teaching practicum, and fortunate also that our experienced teachers are so invested in mentoring them. Supervising student teachers can offer great benefits to a veteran teacher's professional growth as they discuss current best practice with their student teachers and reflect upon their own philosophy and teaching techniques. And of course, having additional adults in the classrooms is of great benefit to the students.

With the completion of the modular, we have moved our art room upstairs and the stage is now back up in the cafetorium. This means that we now have a little more space to accommodate visitors during our All School Meetings. We are still very tight in the cafetorium with 410 students and anywhere from 35 - 45 staff members, so I ask that you join us for the short time that your child presents and then make room for other parents to come in. Parent can stand by the doors on the gym side of the cafetorium. There is not enough room to have chairs for visitors. As it is many of our teachers sit on the mats with the children. I appreciate your understanding as we try to find ways to include you in this wonderful Burr tradition. Our next All School Meeting is on February 7th and your child's classroom teacher will let you know if your child is presenting.

Upcoming Events:

January 30 at 6:30 PM - Kindergarten Information Night for parents of next year's incoming kindergarteners.

February 3 - Progress reports sent home. Please be sure to let us know that you received it by signing and returning the slip that we will enclose with the report

February 9 at 7:30 PM - PTO Meeting. The focus of the evening will be cyber safety and the use of technology in the classrooms at Burr. Eileen Keane (technology specialist) and Erin Broderick (school librarian) will present this information. Your generous contributions to the Gift for Burr campaign are what provide the necessary funds for technology. Come and hear how your dollars are being spent and learn what we need to do in the near future to ensure that Burr students have access to up-to-date and effective learning tools. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Best,

Mindy

MCAS Dates:

March English language arts tests:
Grade 3:  March 25, March 28
Grade 4:  March 22 (full day writing), March 25, March 28
Grade 5:  March 30, April 1 

May math tests (and science for grade 5):
Grade 3:  May 16, May 18
Grade 4:  May 16, May 18
Grade 5:  May 11, May 13, May 20, May 23

Gift for Burr to WRAP on January 30th!

As we prepare to wrap our campaign at the end of the month, we'd like to express tremendous thanks to all of the  families who have donated this year, providing much-needed financial support to Burr School. We also would like to encourage each family who has yet to donate (link to https://sites.google.com/site/giftforburr/ ) 

to make their final decision, or pledge, before January 30th. 

Our "thank you" email listing all named and anonymous donors will be published in early February. We have instances each year where families believe they have contributed-and then discover in the final communication that they have not! We encourage you to review your records now and confirm that you have received an electronic acknowledgement from the Gift for Burr campaign.  If not, please contact us at giftforburr@gmail.com.

Thank you!
Gift for Burr Committee

5th Grade Fundraiser Feb 2 at Cherry Tree

Let's gather Thursday evening, February 2, 7pm at the Cherry Tree, 1349 Washington Street, West Newton!  

The Bruins will take to the ice on TV and they will appreciate our cheering.  Leave the kids at home and bring your wallet to contribute money for our 5th grade celebrations.  Here is how it will work:  Jeff Foster, Dave Greblick and Jeff Cox will be there with a hat to pass, throw in $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 or whatever you wish! Once you have donated you are free to enjoy the many things The Cherry Tree (at your expense) has to offer!  Invite your friends....what a great way to meet other parents!  Festivities will begin at 7:00 and the hat will be passed continuously until Jeff, Dave and Jeff's elbows are aching!  We did this in November and the parents had a GREAT time.....don't miss out, come on by!

NPS News 

Special NPS Community Meeting Jan 24

Community meeting: Working with children and families following an unforeseen and upsetting event.

Jan 24, 7pm

Newton North Auditorium

Dear Newton Community Members:

The events this week have probably been among the most upsetting and trying that the system has experienced in quite a while.  Many of us have had trouble processing the allegations, because they are so far beyond our comprehension.  We also need to recognize that this event has had an impact throughout the City.  

Next Tuesday night, January 24th at 7pm in the Newton North Auditorium, we will hold a community meeting at Newton North at for members of the broader Newton community.  The meeting will provide an opportunity to ask questions and hear from both law enforcement authorities and mental health experts.  Representatives from each of our school buildings will be present at the meeting.  

We will continue to provide information to you as we work together for our children and for each other during this very difficult time.

This year the MidWinter Coffeehouse returns on February 11th, 2012 at the First Unitarian Society in Newton, to benefit the F.A. Day PTO.

The MidWinter Coffeehouse is a fun evening of live folk (and other) music, featuring this year's headliner Sean Smith, event founders Rob Siegel and Cindy Mapes, emcee Eric Moore, and Day parents Barb Cassidy, Eric Chasalow, George Attisano, Pam McA'Nulty, and other Day community members and friends.  Beer, wine, and soft drinks will be available for sale along with light refreshments.

Tickets are $15 in advance through the Day PTO website or $20 at the door if available (Adults over 21 only, please). Doors open at 6:30, music starts at 7. For more information please visit the website www.mwch.org or email midwintercoffee@gmail.com.

Community News 

The city is sponsoring its yearly camp fair this year on Sunday January 29 at Newton North from noon to 4pm. Camps run by Newton Parks & Recreation and the Newton Public Schools (including Newton Community Education and SPACE camp), will be represented at the fair. Come early to reserve your child's spot in the program of his or her choice for Summer 2012, or to learn more about the many varied options offered in our city.

A new free community ice rink has opened at Albemarle Park in Newtonville. Bring your skates and join the fun!  For details visit www.newtonvilleicerink.org

Looking for a Feburary vacation treat for the family? Don't miss the Tanglewood Marionettes' performance of "Cinderella" on Sunday February 19th at 10:30am. This beloved fairy tale is told with wit and a few surprises. All the favorite characters are here, from gentle Cinderella to the bumptious stepsisters and the charming Prince.

Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street. Open Seating. Tickets are $8 in advance at www.newtoncommunitypride.org, or $10 at the door. Call 617-527-8283 for more information

The JCC Magic Ark Performing Arts Series for Families

Presents

Fancy Nancy, Duck for President & Other Story Books

Sunday, January 29

11am and 1pm

The JCC Magic Ark Performing Arts Series for Families presents a Theatreworks USA production of Fancy Nancy, Duck for President & Other Story Bookson Sunday, January 29th, 2012. Shows are at 11am and 1pm and tickets are $12 general admission. Tickets are available online at bostonjcc.org/magicarkor by calling 617-965-5226. The JCC Magic Ark series is located at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC, 333 Nahanton Street in Newton.

If you may have an item for the Community Preservation Committee's 28 February 2012 meeting, please contact Alice Ingerson by Monday January 23rd. Staff & school vacations in February mean they need all materials for the next pre-meeting packet by February 3rd.

Newton Girls Soccer Spring registration deadline is Jan. 31st.

Fun, learning-oriented soccer is stressed. Girls who have not played soccer are always welcome to join.  The intra-mural season for kindergarten to grade 8 is from April 7 to June 9. Kindergartners and 1st graders play games once per week.  Grade 2-8 teams practise once per week and have weekly games.

Sign up through the link at http://www.newtongirlssoccer.org/registration.