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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
| November 18, 2010
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 Greetings!
This time of year, we're often contemplating what we're thankful for. I'm thankful to be the new Director of Advancement at Burgundy. I'm thankful to be part of a community so rich in tradition and history. I'm thankful to work among some of the most creative and dedicated teachers and volunteers at a progressive school that stays so true to its core values.
Although I've been here only a few months, I've already heard from many alumni that they're also thankful for their Burgundy roots and memories. I'm looking forward to hearing from you how Burgundy has touched your life. In fact, I'm hoping you'll respond to this email to tell me how you "see" Burgundy. As you're reading this message, what thoughts and words are coming to mind?
I can't wait to hear your ideas and to get to know our vast community of alumni. Please don't limit yourself to telling me how you see Burgundy. As Director of Advancement, I am acutely interested in hearing where our alumni are now and how they are shaping the world. I hope you'll reach out to me often -- by email, phone, or even Facebook -- to keep me apprised of your many successes. I look forward to celebrating the Burgundy community for years to come!
Sincerely,
Jen Pusatere
Director of Advancement
jenp@burgundyfarm.org
703.842.0470
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 Spotlight: Joel Christenson
Q. How long have you been teaching at Burgundy, and what subjects have you taught?
A. I have taught here for 20 years. My subjects have been mathematics and 8th grade social studies.
Q. Why did you choose to teach at Burgundy, and what has been your favorite part of working here?
A. I wanted to teach here because from the start, I experienced Burgundy as a very progressive, child-centered environment, where children love to come to school.
Q. Are there any memories at Burgundy that are particularly striking?
A. One striking memory has to be the time we were in a championship basketball game against ACDS [Alexandria Country Day School]. We were down by eight with 1:30 left in the game. Most teams would have given up, but not a Burgundy team. With creativity and a great deal of heart, we came back and won the game with a last-second three-point shot! In both academics and athletics, there is always a little magic involved!
Q. How do you "see" Burgundy?
A. I see Burgundy as a very special school that finds the healthy balance between academics and letting kids be kids.
Q. What thoughts can you share with Burgundy alumni?
A. I love seeing Burgundy alumni and hearing all about the wonderful things they are doing in their lives -- and how Burgundy has positively affected their lives.
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Save the Date: Alumni Picnic on May 22, 2011
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 22, 2011, when alumni are invited back to campus to reconnect with classmates and faculty at our 3rd Annual Alumni Picnic. More details to come.
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Grandparents and Special Friends Day: November 23
We will celebrate our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Tuesday, November 23. This year we will honor the Schoene family, thanking them for decades of work and support that has made such an impact on the Burgundy community.
We will also honor all of our grandparents and special friends with coffee and pastries in the Gym beginning at 8:15 a.m., followed by a presentation, "Burgundy Today," at 9:00 a.m. Students will give a special performance from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
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 Fall Fair 2010
On October 16, we celebrated not only perfect autumn weather, but also the presence of several alumni at the 2010 Annual Burgundy Fall Fair (pictured right). In fact, the Fair -- and the sunshine! -- attracted roughly 650 attendees, including current and former staff and faculty, current and prospective students and their families, community members, and alumni. Aside from enjoying savory food, delectable sweets, local entertainment, scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin and face painting, and a bewitching haunted house, alumni had the opportunity to reconnect with classmates and former teachers. A special congratulations goes to Trevor Smith '08, who won the alumni raffle for a $50 VISA card and a Burgundy bag of goodies!
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Burgundy: Then and Now
As mentioned before, Burgundy is true to its core values, and below is proof. In this excerpt from the November 20, 1970 Constant Comment, you'll see that even 40 years ago, we emphasized the importance of volunteerism and sustainability. Click here to see the original newsletter:
Sorry to be so late in thanking everyone who came out to Burgundy last summer and this fall to work on the buildings and grounds.
Many did far more than their share. Bill Burdick, for example, who built single-handedly, Saturday after Saturday after Saturday, rain or shine, the GREAT-TELEPHONE-POLE-BARRIER between the blacktop and the parking area; Jim Adams, who painted alone nearly all of the exterior of the office building. There were many other acts of heroism, far more than I can risk listing for fear of leaving someone out. In many instances whole families came out to school and worked on well past "closing time", sometimes even in the rain. Most other parents sent in checks. These were also gratefully received.
Either way you accomplished a great deal at much less than it would have cost us if we had relied entirely on hired help, and we stayed well within out budget.
Of course, there is still a lot to do (e.g., Leo Helal promises to build us a Kiosk-dispatch center before Christmas; Ted will be pouring some more needed concrete; Many Room Fathers are discussing with the Director and teachers work inside the classrooms that can be done this winter, etc.) And we need to plan to assure the maintenance necessary to preserve our gains, and to get the kids more involved (alas, BFCDS is a dandy spot for the first hand study of pollution, erosion, and a host of other imbalances in man-animal-plant-earth relationships). So we'll keep working.
In the interim, thanks again to all of you who have helped so much so far. Cheers to the administration and to the office stars, to Ted Baker, and to the Peters for their cooperation; and, especially to Cynthia Risley whose ten thousand phone calls and many beyond-the-call-of-duty missions kept the whole effort from coming unglued. Cheers to the school, to the kids, and to the pleasant promise of Burgundy's ecology. Happy Winter. Peter Hammond.
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