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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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August 10, 2012
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Quick Calendar
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August 22
Middle School Meet and Greet
August 26 New Parent Welcome Reception
August 30 New Student and Parent Orientation
September 3 Labor Day, No Classes
September 4 First Day of Classes Welcome Back Coffee
September 9
Back to Burgundy Barbeque
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 Greetings!
Last night in the Loft, we celebrated the graduation of the Emerging Scholars Program (ESP) Class of 2012.
ESP is a two-year pre-college preparatory program, modeled on the Prep for Prep and Upward Bound programs. Northern Virginia's ESP serves rising fifth- and sixth-graders who, without significant financial support, could not attend independent schools and might not be able to aspire to college.
Cohorts of 15-20 students attend ESP's enrichment program, which occurs on Saturdays during the school year and weekdays during the summer following the scholars' 4th and 5th Grade school years.
The ESP program requires a special commitment from scholars and their families. Graduates attend Burgundy and some of our peer schools, followed by a number of the region's finest independent day and boarding schools.
In keeping with Burgundy's own philosophy, ESP includes an emphasis on social-emotional as well as academic readiness. ESP students are grounded in strong greeting and public speaking skills.
The program this Fall celebrates its 10th anniversary, and ESP has become widely recognized for its contributions in increasing access to higher education for deserving students. Individuals, families (including Burgundy families) and foundations support ESP. Burgundy is a charter member of the program, and I am proud to serve as Vice President of the ESP Board. I am also proud to say that this is the third consecutive year that Burgundy has hosted ESP's academic program.
We have had seven wonderful ESP graduates attend Burgundy in Middle School, and each has been a good student and community member and has moved on successfully to a high school of his or her choice.
Congratulations to this incredible group of graduates!
Jeff Sindler
Head of School
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Reminder: Parent Surveys
Please take a few moments to help us prepare for the coming school year by responding to the following two surveys:
The 2011-2012 End of Year Survey helps us understand how to better serve our parents.
The Parent Involvement Survey helps our BPA identify parent volunteers to support various school efforts.
Thank you! |
Staff Announcements
At the start of a new school year, we are excited to welcome some new faces to our community and announce some additional transitions:
Barbara Krainik: Lower School Librarian
Barbara will be Burgundy's new librarian for Junior Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. Barbara has been teaching the 1st Grade Sheep for four years; and before that she taught Kindergarten at Flint Hill. Barbara has had an increasing interest in library and technology, and she jumped at the opportunity to join Ann Van Deusen, Joe Peacock and Tuan Nguyen as part of an integrated library-technology-research team.
Kira Cotter: 1st Grade Sheep
Kira, who last year was a wonderful addition to our Kindergarten Polar Bear classroom, will transition to the 1st Grade Sheep. After graduating college, Kira spent a summer teaching in Tanzania, where her passion for developing in students a love of inquiry and exploration took off. Before coming to Burgundy, Kira taught 1st Grade at the Beauvoir School, and she is excited to transition back to a 1st Grade classroom.
Barbara Holland: Kindergarten Polar Bears
Barbara will be teaching Kindergarten with Carrie Ustun in the Polar Bear classroom. Barbara brings nearly 10 years of Early Childhood teaching experience, most recently teaching Kindergarten at Country Day School in McLean. She has also taught 1st Grade and preschool. Barbara recently earned her master's degree in Education from George Mason University, and she also mentored Burgundy's own Mandy Kimlick during Mandy's graduate field experience! Through Barbara's interview process, we noted her natural ability to differentiate her approach with each student, integrating the curriculum and making the learning unique and valuable for each child.
Irene Harris: Early Childhood Foreign Language
Irene has nearly 15 years of experience in teaching French and Spanish to students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade at Grace Episcopal School and George Mason Elementary School. She has also been teaching young students French, German and Italian as a tutor since 1998. Irene has demonstrated through her visits to campus a strong ability to respond effectively to differing educational and emotional needs of students, as well as a passion for teaching our Early Childhood-aged students.
Sharon McCullough: Interim Reading Specialist
Sharon taught at Burgundy for 18 years and stepped in as the Interim Reading Specialist last year when Beth King began her medical leave. Beth will be continuing her medical leave through the 2012-2013 school year, and Sharon has agreed to continue as Burgundy's Interim Reading Specialist.
Tom Kim: Middle School Humanities and Language Arts Teacher
Tom most recently taught in the Middle School at Philadelphia's Penn Charter School for eight years. His work has included research projects on ancient world artifacts and interdisciplinary units on immigration and cities.Tom served as the Service Coordinator as well as on Technology and Teaching and Learning committees. He has led activities in creative writing, robotics, math team and drama. Previously Tom taught at Young Scholars Charter School in Philadelphia and was an Americorps Corps Member of the Year in Service in 2001-2002 for his work at Young Scholars. He has an undergraduate degree in Writing from Johns Hopkins and a master's degree in Secondary English from Temple University.
Paige Pluymers-Durand: 7th and 8th Grade Science Teacher Paige has more than 10 years of teaching experience, teaching nine years of middle school science in the Evergreen School District in Vancouver, Washington. As a department chair, Paige designed and implemented curriculum, including programs for accelerated science classes. She also was a member of a team focusing on science integration and communication with families, as well as a member of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) focusing on development of effective assessment and differentiation, including student choice in assessment. Paige has a B.S. in Envirionmental Science and a minor in Journalism from Western Washington University, in addition to a master's degree in Curriculum Instruction and Technology from Grand Canyon University.
Julie Vega: Middle School Math Teacher
Julie comes to us from Susquehanna University where she graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics, a minor in Computer Science and certification in Mathematics Education. In addition to student teaching at several schools, during her time at Susquehanna Julie was a student member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, President of the Susquehanna University Math Club and inducted to both the Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honor Society and the Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society. She also helped to redesign the Susquehanna computer science curriculum as part of a National Science Foundation funded project and has worked on initiatives to attract women and people of color to the math and computer science disciplines.
Stephanie Borges: Director for an Inclusive Community and Middle School Learning Support Coordinator
Stephanie most recently served as the Learning Specialist at The Maret School, as well as 7th Grade Dean and a 7th Grade Advisor. She was also a leader in various diversity initiatives and activities at Maret. Stephanie earned a master's degree from Johns Hopkins in Special Education, with a concentration in Mild to Moderate Disabilities Differentiated/Inclusion, and she received from Bates College her undergraduate degree in African American Studies, with minors in Secondary Education and World History (Jewish History and Culture).
Elizabeth Schachter: School Counselor
Elizabeth was a great addition to Burgundy's team last year, when she joined us from Family Support Services as the Lower School Counselor. For the 2012-2013 school year, Elizabeth's role will expand as she takes on a full-time position as the School Counselor for both Lower and Middle School students.
Allison Niedbala: Fall Fair Coordinator
Allison was Burgundy's Special Events Coordinator for 17 years and will temporarily return to Burgundy to lead the 2012 Fall Fair efforts. While Erin Futrowsky did an outstanding job managing the Fall Fair and Auction last year, we recognize that the School needs her skills full-time on the communications front. We are taking time to evaluate all of the needs of the Special Events position, so that we can make a strategic, long-term hire that will ensure the strength and sustainability of our Fall Fair and Auction for years to come. With Allison and Erin's help, we will hire a permanent Special Events Coordinator prior to the 2013 Auction. |
Jason Gordon Joins National Think Tank and Advisory Council on Diversity
This July, I had the opportunity and the privilege of participating in an initiative that is both important for education in independent schools and near and dear to my own passion for furthering equity and justice in school communities. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) maintains a national think tank and advisory council on diversity, and this year I was selected as one of its newest members. The group is called "Call-to-Action" (CTA), and we are responsible for advising and supporting the Vice President of Equity and Justice at NAIS, assisting in the development of the People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference and other diversity initiatives, and advocating for underrepresented constituents of independent schools. The bulk of the work is done at a week-long series of meetings, which this year was held in Houston, Texas.
The experience for me was both rewarding and inspiring. I have been an active participant in the People of Color Conference since my beginnings in independent schools, facilitating for their affinity group work six times in the past 10 years. To sit at the table with long-time educators and pioneers of diversity work in independent schools, many of whom are my role models and mentors, was an honor. To be able to share my passion and commitment to seeing progressive change in our schools and know that my ideas and vision are contributing to the direction of independent schools is an accomplishment I am proud of. Over the course of the week, we discussed topics such as "diversity language" and "underground conversations," we redesigned curriculum for affinity group work at PoCC, and we shared resources around best practice and program. We often worked through lunches or stayed up late to finish reports, but it was truly inspiring work. I am particularly proud of the work my task force did to reorganize the curriculum and schedule of the PoCC to incorporate more meaningful content into the conference and better meet the needs of a varied group or participants. I look forward to continuing this work and sharing the wisdom and insight that comes out of this work with the Burgundy community.
- Jason Gordon, Middle School Head
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Lori Adams Among Eight Faculty Members at National Training Academy
Independent School Management's third annual Advancement Academy took place in Colorado Springs from July 23 through July 27. The Academy provides professional development for individuals in school advancement (admission, marketing and communications, development, and governance) at independent schools. Eighty participants from 26 states, Canada, Panama and Portugal attended more than 45 courses and workshops offered by eight advancement professionals and three ISM senior consultants. Lori Adams, Burgundy's Director of Admission, served for her second year as one of the eight faculty members at the Academy. She offered courses including The Admission Policy and Procedures Manual, The Admission Report, First Impressions/Creating Connections, and Cultivating Effective Volunteers. The Academy also provides the opportunity for participants to work with one of the faculty members, who serves as their mentor to discuss their individual goals for the conference and professional development. With the assistance of their mentor, all participants developed an action plan to implement at their schools. Attendance at the Academy provides credit for the participants to work toward their International Advancement Certification, a program that "ensures common standards, and inspires and supports professional development throughout the industry." |
Board Briefs
Rick Price (Sara '12) has resigned from the Board of Trustees. He will continue to serve as a member of the Finance Committee.
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Help Burgundy While You Shop
Did you know that you can help Burgundy earn thousands of dollars every year just by linking your grocery rewards cards to Burgundy? It's true! You don't have to sacrifice anything more than the few seconds it takes to register your Harris Teeter, Safeway and/or Giant cards to help us earn up to $30,000 a year. Then, every time you buy groceries, Burgundy will benefit. Check out this web page for instructions on how to link your shopping cards to Burgundy, as well as reminders about supporting us with Box Tops for Education and Campbell's Labels for Education.
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Gear Up to Give Back: Clarification
Don't forget, we participate in the Gear Up to Give Back program from Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen! Burgundy will qualify for up to 4% back on annual net sales of Pottery Barn Gear merchandise, including backpacks, lunch bags and duffle bags. We will receive an annual donation based on the previous year's spend on total Gear merchandise purchased at both Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen. Summer is a great time to shop for travelling gear or a new backpack for school!
Below is our member ID and password. Please keep this in a safe place -- the member ID and password will be required every time an order is placed online or in a retail store to track our school's annual sales.
Member ID: 411070138351 Password: WS9140079
When shopping, simply present this letter to the store associate at any of the Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen retail stores. You can also shop online by following these links toPottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen (shopping online through their traditional homepages will not work). Make sure to enter Burgundy's member ID and password BEFORE you begin shopping. |
Burgundy Bulletin
Cassie Cope to Perform at Wolf Trap
Cassie Cope '14 has been selected to be part of the children's ensemble at Wolf Trap's production of The King and I. Cassie will be playing one of the royal children in this Rodgers & Hammerstein musical. There will be five shows from August 31 through September 2, and Cassie hopes many of her Burgundy friends will be able to see her perform. For more information and tickets, click here.
Burgundy Parents Publish Books
Jerry Casagrande has published his first children's picture book, The Birthday Train. This imaginative story follows the magical ideas of a young boy who wonders, "Granny and Grandad get here by train. Auntie comes by car. My friends just walk here. How will my birthday get here?" It makes a great gift for 3- to 5-year-old birthday boys (or girls)! It is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Authorhouse.
Greg Barrett recently released his second book, The Gospel of Rutba: War, Peace, and the Good Samaritan Story in Iraq, intended for more mature readers. This book is the story of parallel events occuring in a desert outpost in Iraq in 2003 and 2010. His previous book, The Gospel of Father Joe: Revolutions & Revelations in the Slums of Bangkok, was the winner of the 2009 Nautilus Book Award Silver Medal in the category of Conscious Media-Journalism-Investigative Reporting.
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