| Mark your Calendar |
March 1
Guys Read Book
Club
March 3 Band Night at the Skellig
March 4
Burr Ice Skating at Daly Rink March 6 Parent Principal Coffee
March 24
Burr World Cultures Festival
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| PTO Co-Presidents' Letter | | |
Dear Burr Community,
Thank you for being there for all of us in good times and bad, especially when our own family is in need of support. Thank you for your thoughts, kindness and generosity. This community is continuously trying to make connections between families so that we are never lonely or in need of a friend.
Today, our hearts go out to the Garcia family, we hope their missing son, Franco, is returned home safely. Franco, a student at Boston College went missing on Tuesday. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call the Newton Police Department at 617-796-2100.
Your friends,
Tracy and Ted
Your PTO Co-Presidents
News and Events in the Burr Community, beginning this week:
- Saturday, March 3rd 6-9:30, Got music? Band Night at the Skellig: (The Skellig, 240 Moody St. Waltham) Join Burr School's own former PTO Co-president Steve DeJesus and the band $3 Shirt, for an evening of live music. The big back room will be reserved for friends of the Burr community to meet up and have a drink with friends while rocking out to the best of rock music past and present. A cover of $10 a head goes straight to the Burr school programs funded by the PTO.
- Sunday, March 4th 3-5:30, Ice Skating at Daly Rink: (1 Nonantum Rd. Newton) Bring the whole family for an afternoon of skating at the Daly Rink.
- Tuesday, March 6th, 8:45 am, Parent Principal Coffee: (In the Cafetorium) Join Ms. Johal and hear the latest Buzz around Burr.
- Thank you to the Eileen Keene, Erin Broderick, for presenting at our TECH TALK night, and to Leo Brehm and Laura Mayer for their supporting comments. We know our children will enjoy all the new technology being implemented in the school. Thank you for keeping them engaged and safe as they begin to explore the World Wide Web.
- Thank you Carey Ranta, Ellen Regan, and Stephanie Mamis for organizing the Wing Ding.
- What is the easiest way to contribute to your child's education? Sign-up for the Target Red Card.
- Blue Zone Safety Tip: Don't back-up in the Blue Zone, wait until the car ahead of you pulls forward.
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Upcoming Creative Arts and Sciences Programs | | |
 3rd Grade
The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority
Friday, March 2nd in the Classrooms
Using straws and cardboard tubes, the third grade students will build a model water distribution system throughout the classroom. This fun, hands-on activity builds student awareness and respect for the importance of water in our community's daily life. Discussion subjects during the program include water pressure, public health and safety, maintenance, repair and planning of infrastructure. The schedule will be as follows:
- 9:00 -10:00 Ms. Crowley
- 10:10 -11:10 Ms. Canning
- 12:30 -1:30 Ms. Lawton
Please join us for this wonderful presentation!
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:
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Guys Read Book Club - Thursday, March 1st | |
 The Guys Read Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, March 1st from 6:00- 6:45pm in Mr. Gaita's class. They will be discussing Pirates of Underwhere by Bruce Hale. The Guys are keeping up with the pirate theme.
In this book, Stephanie has a whole underwear drawer full of trouble. She has to deal with magical toilet brushes, sinister talking cats, sea serpents, girl pirates, runty freedom fighters, and all the cottony white weirdness of Underwhere-the world beneath our own where people wear their undies on the outside of their clothes.
We hope to see many guys at the meeting. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Happy Reading!! |
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BOOYA Pajama Drive - Thank You | | |
Thanks to BOOYA, Burr donated 143 pairs of pajamas to children in need. We also raised $240 in donations. Thanks to everyone who made a difference and donated pajamas. A special thanks to all the AMBASSADORS who made posters, went into classrooms, and helped sort all the pajamas.
Way to go BOOYA!!! |
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Burr World Cultures Festival Update:
Flag Parade | | |
 Time to make sure we have YOUR flag!
Time to make sure that we have a flag that represents your family's heritage/culture for the Burr World Cultures Festival (Saturday, March 24)!
Would your child like to march in our Flag Parade at the festival? Please contact Ellen Chu with your child's name and which country they will be marching under. Below is the list of flags we already own or ones that are currently on order in preparation for this year's festival-please let Ellen know if there is a flag that we need to order for your family!
Argentina, Albania, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, S. Korea, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Trinidad, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, US Virgin Islands, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales
General questions about the Burr World Cultures Festival? Are you available to help volunteer on the day of the event? Contact Dana Hanson, Ann Langenfeld, or Jackie Gelb. |
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Burr Ice Skating Event: Sunday, March 4 | |
 Please join us for our 7th Annual BURR ICE SKATING EVENT!- When: Sunday, March 4, 3:00pm - 3:50pm
- Where: Newton/Brighton Daly Ice Skating Rink
- Who: Everyone is welcome - bring the entire family
- Cost: FREE, FREE, FREE - paid for by the Burr PTO
- Skate Rental available : $5.00 per person
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5th Grade Parents Put the Fun Back in Fundraising! | | |
Don't miss the Burr School Event of the Year- Parent's Night Out at the Skellig! Live Music, Food, Raffles, and a Fun Fundraiser for the 5th Grade Class Gift to Burr.
Line up your sitters and mark your calendars for Saturday, March 31st from 6-9. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Awesome prizes will also be raffled off.
You don't have to be a 5th grade parent to join in the fun. All are welcome. Stay tuned for details coming soon.
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Come Hear The Chefs at Newton Free Library
Monday, February 27 | |
 Monday, February 27 at 7 pm at Newton Free Library - come hear the chefs (and buy a signed cookbook!): Chef, author, speaker and National Geographic Fellow Barton Seaver talks about his mission to restore our relationships with the ocean, the land and each other-through dinner. He believes food is a crucial way for us to connect with the ecosystems, people and cultures of our world. Seaver explores these themes through healthful, planet-friendly recipes in his first book, For Cod & Country (Sterling Epicure, 2011), and as host of both the National Geographic web series Cook-Wise and the three-part Ovation TV series In Search of Food.
Seaver is known for his devotion to quality, culinary innovation and sustainability. In 2008, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington honored him as a Seafood Champion and as Rising Culinary Star of the Year. Seaver works on ocean issues with National Geographic's Mission Blue to increase awareness and inspire action. He also collaborates with D.C. Central Kitchen, the School Nutrition Association, the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School and Future of Fish. The author will have copies of his book For Cod and Country for sale and inscription.
Local chef, Jeff Fournier of 51 Lincoln will be there to speak on his restaurant's well recognized commitment to sustainable seafood.
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Centre Street Food Pantry Benefit:
Shop Whole Foods on February 28th | | |
Whole Foods in Newton Four Corners (the one on Beacon St, NOT the one on Washington Street) is doing a 5% Day to benefit the Centre Street Food Pantry on Tuesday, February 28. This means that the Pantry will receive a cash donation from Whole Foods equal to 5% of the amount of their gross receipts that day. Centre Street Food Pantry is located on Homer street in Newton Centre. |
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2012 Student EnviroArt Contest:
Due Date Extended to March 5 | | |
 At the request of several K-5 teachers, Green Decade/Newton is happy to extend the artwork entry date to Monday, March 5 for the Environmental Art Contest.
Art collection boxes have been delivered to each of the 15 Newton elementary schools and are located in the art rooms at most schools (main office at a few). Art teachers were e-mailed the update before the winter break and we will deliver announcements to all of the teachers this Monday, February 27. Art will be picked up from the schools next Tuesday, March 6. Additional drop-off sites are listed on our website at http://www.greendecade.org/artcontestinfo.html#locations)
The 6th Annual Environmental Art Contest is open to Newton students grades K-5, including a new 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.
The awards ceremony will be Thursday, April 5 at the Newton Cultural Center, where all artwork will be displayed April 5 -19.
Students must register on-line to participate at www.greendecade.org. Information: 617-965-1995 or EnviroArtContest@greendecade.org.
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Drive a Senior-- Make a Friend! | | |
 Newton at Home, a member organization dedicated to helping Newton seniors age in their own homes, is looking for volunteers who can give rides to seniors. Make a new friend while helping someone get to a doctor's appointment, the supermarket, a social event or the airport. Volunteer as much as you can at your convenience, and know that you have made a difference in a Newton senior's life. You'll meet interesting people and share great conversation along the way!
Upcoming training sessions will be held on: Thursday, March 1, from 12:30-2pm; Wednesday, March 14, from 10-11:30am; and Monday, March 26, from 10-11:30am. For more information, call Julie Plaut Mahoney at volcoord@newtonathome.org.
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School of Rock Boston - April Camp | | |
 April Break Rock Performance Camp (4/16-4/20) still has room for 4 guitarists, 3 bass players, 1 keyboardist, 7 singers, and 2 drummers! Ages 7-17 accepted. Camps run 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at our 120 Elm Street location in Watertown and are staffed by instructors from the Berklee College of Music.
Please email Boston@schoolofrock.com or call 617-923-3434 to receive your information packet. |
| Heartbreak Hill Road Race: 20th Anniversary | |
 Spring is really in the air and it's time to dust off those running shoes!
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Heartbreak Hill Road Race, and what better way to celebrate with us than to join in the fun...run and share the anniversary cake!
Pasta/Pizza & Cake party - Saturday, April 14th, 5:30pm
Road Race - Sunday, April 15th, Noon - 3pm
We have lowered the minimum age to 8! Anyone can enter. Tell your friends and your kids' friends! The more, the merrier. Not a runner? Walk with Mayor Setti Warren in the Family Walk at 3:00.
$10 - $12. Free t-shirts for first 500 registrants. Medallions for all participants. Call 617-527-8283 for more information. Hope to see you there!
jeannie |
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Winter isn't Over Yet! Join Newton at Home's New Winter Buddy Program | | |
Even with our mild winter so far, we all know how New England weather can surprise us. Newton at Home has designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside.
Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to:
- Advise that a storm is coming.
- Assess the need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and batteries, etc).
- Develop plans for snow removal.
- Call your buddy every day of the storm.
- Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary.
Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment, but would give Buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction from helping others. If you would like to participate, please contact Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694.
Newton at Home is an organization dedicated to empowering Newton's seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a sense of community.
We will hold a short Winter Buddy Training session on Wednesday, March 14 and Monday, March 26 at 11:30. Training sessions will be held at our office, 206 Waltham St, in the Scandinavian Living Center building. For more information about the Winter Buddy program and Newton at Home, please check our website at www.newtonathome.org.
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Register Now for GCKS Spring Soccer | |
 Garden City Kindergarten and Pre-K Spring Soccer registration is now open. Children in Pre-K (4-5 years old) and students in Kindergarten are invited to participate. 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.
This is a great opportunity for you and your child to get to know other kindergarteners and their families from Burr, and the location couldn't be more convenient-it is at Burr!
Registration is limited to 80 players per league. The spring session runs from April 7-June 2. 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.
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