| Mark your Calendar |
January 30
Kindergarten Information Night
February 1
7pm - World Cultures Festival Planning Mtg (Burr Library)
February 2
7pm - Cherry Tree Fundraiser for 5th Grade
February 3
Progress Reports mailed
February 9
7:00pm - PTO Meeting
March 4
3pm - Burr Ice Skating Event at Daly Rink
March 24
Burr World Cultures Festival
|
|
|
|
PTO Co-President's Letter
| |
The New Year is in Full Swing! Just a few reminders and exciting events coming your way:
1) Tech Talk! February 9th 7:00-8:30 pm, Burr Cafetorium: Join Burr School's technology specialist, Eileen Keane, Newton Public School's Director of Technology, Leo Brehm, and our librarian, Erin Broderick, for a close-up look at the use of technology in our classrooms and how to keep our kids safe in this cyber world. See where your PTO dollars are going!
2) Wrap up GIFT for BURR: Mark you calendar, JANUARY 30TH IS YOUR FINAL DAY TO DONATE OR SUBMIT YOUR PLEDGE. Click here to easily submit your pledge GIFT For BURR
3)Witty Winter WingDing, February 11th 7-10 pm at Turtle Lane Playhouse;Tickets $19 in advance, $20 at the door. Burr School's second annual Comedy Night!
4)The NEW ROCK-CLIMBING WALL is in! Thank you to last year's 5th grade for making this happen!
5)Blue Zone Safety Tip: Please don't' use the driveways around school to turn around, circle around to the end of Pine St. via Lill Ave. or go around the block from Newell to Washburn.
6) It is almost time to submit Box Tops for Education, please send in those tops you have been saving all winter! Don't forget to register your Stop and Shop card to give back to Burr!
7) Thank you to the Newton CAP program for 20+ years of teaching our kids to be Safe, Strong, and Free, EVERY day.
See you at the Tech Talk,
Tracy and Ted
Your PTO Co-Presidents
|
| Please Join The Lempel Federmann Community | | |
Dear Friends,
As some you know, two months ago Benji Federmann was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. Two weeks ago, his employment was terminated. The Lempel Federmann household is in need of our help. You are receiving this message as a part of their synagogue, school, and friendship community. Benji's wife, Andrea, and children, Liran, and Kaylee will have much on their plates, providing care and support for Benji while attending to their daily routines. Please do not ask the children for any updates or thoughts about their Dad's condition--Reminders will only distract them from staying focused on school and regular activities, which are most important for their well being. Needless to say, any support and TLC for the family will be greatly appreciated. It will be OK to email Andrea and/or Benji. Please understand if they do not respond. Your well wishes and prayers are very meaningful to them.
That said, it would be wonderful if the community could pitch in to provide the family with meals three times a week. We have set up a community site on "Lotsa Helping Hands" to coordinate this activity. Sign-up for tasks will be detailed there, and we may be able to use the announcement and discussion group features of the site to provide progress updates. If you might be able to help or would just like to keep apprised of progress, please sign up for "The Lempel Federmann Community" at https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/652931/ . For the most part, it will be useful to have meals delivered to their home. There will be a cooler in which to put the food in their foyer (the outer door will be unlocked). Please do not leave dishes that need to be returned. Do not ring the bell. There will be more details on the website. On the right-hand side of the screen you can fill out a Request to Join the Community. Once you've done this, one of us will "approve" you (won't that feel good?) and you'll be added to the community and sent instructions for setting a password & signing-in. The site is quite easy to use. Best Regards, Jan Shoyer and Junko Shibuya
|
|
Melodeego- Music in Action!
| | |
Creative Arts and Sciences-PTO present for 5th grade classes Melodeego-Music in Action!
Friday, February 3rd 9:30am in the Cafetorium
What is Melodeego?
This musical group engages kids on the issues of environmental sustainability, climate change, and clean energy.
Through fun, energetic music and interactive discussions, Melodeego demonstates clean energy by performing their music
with a bicycle powered sound system. The 5th graders will be invited to pedal to produce the electricity for the band!
Melodeego was recently featured on CNN, and performs nationally at schools, colleges, fundraisers and clubs
Parents are welcome to attend
|
|
Winter WingDing - February 11th! | | |
A termite walks into a bar and asks, "Is the bar tender here?"
Not only will there be a Bar Tender, but many other professions from the Burr community.
February 11th, 2012
Winter WingDing
Burr School's Comedy Night
Turtle Lane Playhouse
7pm-10pm
Dig through your child's folder to find the flyer. Let us know if you are coming or not and we promise to have some snacks available so you won't be tempted to gnaw on the bar.
Can't find the flyer? Contact Stephanie Mamis |
|
Please Recycle!
| | |
 The Art Program needs recyclables, especially small boxes (Kleenex size and smaller), tubes, foam, and small plastic objects for our architecture designs. Please leave items in the art room. Thank you!
Diane Jaquith Visual Art Teacher |
|
World Cultures Festival Kickoff Planning Meeting: This Wednesday at 7:00 pm
| | |
Thank you for all the flyers that have been sent in so far! This year's festival is going to be fantastic! (It's not too late if you haven't sent yours in yet...just email us to let us know if you'd like to be involved.)
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...
If you would like to be involved in the planning of this year's World Cultures Festival, but cannot make the meeting on Wed, please contact Dana Hanson, Ann Langenfeld, or Jackie Gelb.
|
|
Concussions in Winter Sports
| | |
Each winter, hundreds of thousands of young athletes head out to ice and ski slopes to enjoy, practice, and compete in a wide variety of winter sports. There's no doubt that these sports are a great way for kids and teens to stay healthy, as well as learn important leadership and team-building skills. But there are risks to pushing the limits of speed, strength and endurance. And athletes who push the limits sometimes don't recognize their own limitations-especially when they've had a concussion.
Please take a moment to read the Newton Health Department Newsletter for more information on head injuries.
|
|
BOOYA Pajama Drive
| | |
 On February 8-16, BOOYA will be collecting new pairs of pajamas to donate to the Boston Bruins 5th Annual PJ Drive. Cradles to Crayons will then distribute the PJs to children in need. We will accept new PJs for babies to pre-teens. Please leave the PJs in the hamper in the Burr lobby from Wednesday February 8 to Thursday February 16.
Don't have time to buy the PJs? You can donate $10 during the week of the PJ Drive and we will buy the PJs for you! Or you can make out a check to "Cradles to Crayons". In either case, put the money or check in an envelope with PJ Drive written on the back that students can hand in to their teachers at school. Questions? Contact Jeff Zabel
|
|
5th Grade Fundraiser 2/2 at the Cherry Tree!
| | |
 Let's gather Thursday evening, February 2 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!
|
|
Traffic Safety Reminders
| |
- Hang Up Before You Pick Up
 (or Drop Off) - No cell phones in the School Zone - they are a dangerous distraction. - Stay in Your Car in the Blue Zone - Children should be able to enter or exit the car from the sidewalk on their own. Arrange car seats so your Burr child can use the sidewalk side of the car, and disable the child safety locks on that door. If this isn't possible, you will need to park (legally) so you can assist your child. Give all your hugs and kisses at home, and make sure the kids have their belongings within reach so they can get out of the car quickly. Your child does not need you to put their backpack on for them - they do it themselves every day at dismissal.
- Pull All the Way Up in the Blue Zone - Don't let your children out in the bottom half of the large Blue Zone, because the cars ahead of you will invariably begin to move just as your child opens the door and has one foot out of the car. Now you can't pull forward into the empty Blue Zone in front of you, and the drivers behind you get frustrated and try to pull around you, creating gridlock with oncoming traffic. So you tell the kids to hurry, and they start to rush and get a little frantic, which generally leads to backpacks, lunches, and musical instruments being forgotten in the back seat of the car, and the whole process takes longer. Wait until you get past the mid-way point (about where the tree is), and pull forward as far as possible before letting kids out.
- Do Not Drop or Pick Up While Double-Parked - A number of parents have asked us to call attention to the problem of children getting into and out of double-parked cars (usually cars that are waiting for the small Blue Zone.) We know that it can be tempting, especially in the morning, to let the kids out while you are stopped in traffic, but it's very dangerous to have children rushing around idling vehicles and darting between parked cars. Do not let children out of the car until you are at the curb in the Blue Zone or in a legal parking space. Children are not allowed to get into a double-parked car at pickup, and there is no waiting for the small Blue Zone - go around the block or join the end of the line for the large Blue Zone.
|
|
Creative Arts & Science Program - Winter Survival
| |  Burr Kindergarteners had an exciting time on Friday January 27th when the Creative Arts and Science program presented winter Survival. Marianne Neumann, an educator from Drumlin Farm, brought a groundhog and a mallard duck into the classrooms to talk about their winter survival strategies.
Usually, during the harsh winter weather groundhogs hibernate and when the weather warms up the smells of spring wake them. However, instead of hibernating this groundhog visitor entertained the children by moving around her enclosure, nibbling carrots. The mallard duck splashed about in a small pool, while the educator explained how ducks migrate south during the winter to find water that is not frozen. Ponds and rivers are where ducks find their food and an essential part of their habitat. It was a fun day for Burr Kindergarteners!
Creative Arts and Sciences Programs are fully funded by the Burr PTO and are made possible by your generous donations. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact:
Felicia Falchuk,Beth Tierney or Pam McVey
|
|
Upcoming Creative Arts & Science Program
Lyn Littlefield Hoopes, Poet
| | Wednesday, February 8th and Monday, February 13th in the 4th Grade Classrooms!
Poet and author, Lyn Littlefield Hoopes, will present a two-day poetry writing workshop for the fourth graders. After sharing some of her own poetic works, Ms. Hoopes will lead the students on a journey of creating their own poetry by exploring the power of metaphor, rhythm,
voice and pattern. In the process, they will learn about using
strategies for creating poetry including imagination, line breaks, similes, the five senses and action and vivid verbs. Ms. Hoopes' beloved program emphasizes the joy of creating. The schedule will be as follows:
February 8th
8:45 -10:00 Mr. Glode
10:15 -11:30 Ms. Robinson
11:45 - 1:00 Ms. Taylor
February 13th
9:30 - 10:45 Ms. Taylor
11:00-12:15 Mr. Glode
12:30-1:00, then 1:45-2:30 Ms. Robinson
Creative Arts and Sciences Programs are fully funded by the Burr PTO and are made possible by your generous donations. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact:
Felicia Falchuk,Beth Tierney or Pam McVey
|
| Simplicity Parenting Lecture - February 6th | |  Mark your calendars for "Simplicity Parenting" Lecture on Monday, February 6, 2012 from 7 - 9pm at Mason-Rice Elementary School.
Use the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier and more secure kids. This is a free event hosted by Angier, Mason-Rice and Zervas Elementary School PTO's.
At this presentation by educator and consultant Kim John Payne, you will learn ways to simplify your child's toys & books, clothes, meals & bedtimes, and schedules, as well as how to filter out the adult world and feel more connected to your children and family life. Parents who implement Simplicity Parenting strategies find that their children:
- Are calmer and happier
- Do better socially and emotionally
- Are more focused at school
- Find it easier to comply with family rules
- Become less picky eaters
Parents also find that they have more time and energy for connection, relaxation, and fun.
To see a short preview clip of Kim's presentation and learn more about him, visit Simplicity Parenting
|
| 2012 Student EnviroArt Contest | |  The 6th Annual Environmental Art Contest is open to students grades K-5 who live or attend school in Newton! New this year: an after-school program category for teams with students from different grades. The contest is co-sponsored by Green Decade/Newton and other organizations.
The theme is "If I were President, I would ________ to make America greener."
- Participants may enter as an individual or in teams of 2, 3 or 4 children. · Artwork may be 2-dimensional posters, sculptures or iMovies/video
- All entries (team or individual) will be judged together by grade level.
- After-school program entries will be judged separately from grades K-5.
Entries are due Monday, February 27. The awards ceremony will be Thursday, April 5 at the Newton Cultural Center, where all artwork will be displayed April 5 -19.
To participate students must register on-line. For more information call 617-965-1995 or contact EnviroArtContest@greendecade.org.
|
| Valentine Crafts for Kids at the Auburndale Library | | |
Not one, but TWO drop-in Valentine crafting sessions--because you can never have enough craftiness at Valentine's Day, can you? 
Thursday, February 9
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Saturday, February 11
10:30 - 11:30 am
All ages welcome--if you can wield a glue stick, you are old enough to attend! Enjoy a fabulous spread of crafty items to make Valentines for your friends and family. A combination of youth volunteers and Burr mamas Dana Hanson & Marlene Gibson will run the show.
For more information check out our website Auburndale Community Library!
Good times in the 'Dale!
|
|
February School Vacation with Newton Parks & Recreation
| | Newton Parks and Recreation is offering several February school vacation programs. Offerings include Family Movie Night, daily field trips, Thundercat Sports and more!
For more information check out their website or call Newton Parks and Recreation at 617-796-1500. |
|
BC College Women's Soccer April & Summer Clinics
| | |
 The Boston College Women's Soccer program will be holding their April and Summer clinics.
Dates are April 17-20, June 25-28, and July 16-19. It is for girls ages 6-14. All sessions at the BC Newton campus, 9am-3pm each day. This is an opportunity for the younger female soccer player to improve her comfort level on the ball, increase skill development, and have competitive fun.
For more information including registration contact (617) 552-0982 or soccercl@bc.edu. Click here for online registration.
|
|
A Conversation About Newton's Election Commission
| | |
Join the League of Women Voters Newton for a conversation about a variety of election issues, including proposed voter ID laws and how the recent redistricting affects Newton Wards/Precincts, and polling locations. Thursday, February 9, 2012, 11:30am-1:30pm, Room 202, Newton City Hall. Brown bag lunches welcome, light refreshments will be served. Open to the public.
Presenter: Craig Manseau, Election Commission Executive Secretary, City of Newton
|
|
Theater Ink Proudly Presents:
| | |
"BIG LOVE" by Charles Mee, directed by Caleb Bromberg and Katherine Norris.
A play based on the tragedy by Aeschylus, which takes an ancient plot and updates it. In the process Mee forces us to reconsider our definitions of love, gender and happiness in an explosively theatrical hybrid. In this conflict between tradition and progression, honor and freedom, the characters struggle to make their voices heard on what it means to be a man or a woman.
NNHS- Little Theatre on February 1, 2, 3, 4 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $7 at www.theatreink.net. For Mature Audiences
|
|
The Waban Library Center Presents:
| | |
Get Healthy and Like it! A Panel Discussion Thursday, February 2,7:30-9pm,Waban Library Center 1608 Beacon Street.
The panel includes Dave Beckeris, chef and owner of the wonderful Needham restaurant, Sweet Basil, where he serves healthy, delicious, local food. Linda Crowe,WLC Volunteer and notable vegetarian, will share how she crafted a diet that helped her lower her cholesterol 40 points without drugs. Ellen Cohen-Kaplan,occupational therapist and fitness and expert, will share some fitness and nutrition tips to keep you on track through the winter months and beyond. She'll also discuss the latest fitness guidlelines and show you how to set up a home gym for under $50.
The Magic Flutes & Cello Friends. Saturday, March 3 11am Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street. Join us for a morning of flute and Cello Music. A Musical Performance, Under the Direction of Deborah Charness and Nancy Hair. Assisted by Jennifer Baverstam at the piano.
|
|
|
|
|
