Join us in the Loft for food and fun as we honor 50 years of summer camp with the Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies. This is a rare opportunity for non-campers to experience the magic of BCWS camp without leaving home. There will be a "pop-up museum" to showcase BCWS artifacts and the stories that accompany them. The event is FREE to attend, but we ask that you register by Tuesday, September 25, so we may plan accordingly.  

Text Message Alerts

Burgundy offers parents the opportunity to receive inclement weather announcements as well as other emergency alerts from Burgundy via text message. To receive these alerts, please text "ready" to 80464. Standard text messaging rates apply. Please contact Erin Futrowsky (erinf@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0474) with any questions. 

International Day of Peace and World Gratitude Day 

As I discussed the International Day of Peace with Stephanie Borges, our new Director for an Inclusive Community (and Middle School Learning Support Coordinator), I was touched by her heartfelt enthusiasm for the day.  

Stephanie reminds us that this day arrives at the busy start of the new school year, when we are adjusting to hectic schedules, but also a time of year when we have so much to be grateful for. One thing we are grateful for is an environment in which children are safe, respected and nurtured. Our students leave Burgundy confident, comfortable in who they are, interested in people who are different from themselves and able to work respectfully with all kinds of people -- and these are seeds for a peaceful world. As Stephanie notes, we should think about the people in our lives who make our lives and the world better. I hope you resonate as much as I did with some of her thoughts:
 
The world has changed so much in the last year...I can see glimmers of sunshine on the horizon. Change is coming and for the better...Right now, at the top of the school year, when our schedules are perhaps the most demanding and inflexible, I challenge us all to stop for a moment and look around.
 
On September 21 Burgundy and people from all parts of the world are stopping to think and come together to be a part of the International Day of Peace and World Gratitude Day. The United Nations General Assembly established these two occasions to bring the people of the world closer together. The International Day of Peace is a day of ceasefire and non-violence throughout the world, and World Gratitude Day is a day to show appreciation to people in your life who have done good deeds.
 
This is a day for community and reflection. Please be a part of this World Peace Day. Thank the people in your life for their positive influence and think about ways to get involved with spreading peace in your community. Push for peace today and know that the world is standing by your side.  

- Jeff Sindler, Head of School, and Stephanie Borges, Director for an Inclusive Community 

Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement 

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) begins at sunset of September 25 and is one of two high holy days in the Jewish faith; the other is Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).  Yom Kippur is an important day because it is a time of reconciliation between people of the Jewish faith and God. This is also a day, according to Jewish tradition, when God decides the fate of every human being. By the evening of the September 26, all people of the Jewish faith will have found peace with God and with their fellow man. Unlike Rosh Hashanah, during Yom Kippur people of the Jewish faith must fast and pray for 24 hours. This cleansing of the body and spirit is essential during this time because it allows for clarity during prayer.

Fifth Grade Redtails Share Cinquains

The 5th Grade Redtails wrote cinquains, five-line poems, to express themselves and decorate the gallery space in their classroom. Some of their work is below. For a full document that includes work from all of the student authors who were willing to be published, click here.   

Mentor

Dog-loving, Creative

Reading, Swimming, Giggling

A Dreamer

Sophia

Fencer

Aggressive, Fast

Jumping, Protecting, Slashing

Happiness with a sword

Evan

Athlete

Strong, Quick

Passing, Shooting, Scoring

Skillful soccer player

Eliza

The Middle School Ceramics class began the year with a project to celebrate the International Day of Peace, creating "peace bird" rattles out of clay. Doves are a well-known symbol of peace throughout the world and have often been used in conjunction with Peace Day since it was first adopted by the United Nations in 2001. Our particular project has evolved some lovely symbolism in the process itself, as well as in the beautiful birds the students create. Students begin with a ball of clay, symbolic of an original state of unity, wholeness and a quality of infinity represented by a the surface of a sphere. To create their rattles, the students cut the ball in half, which represents conflict or division. Each half is molded into a shallow pinch pot, and several tiny balls of clay are put into the halves to become the rattles. Each student also writes a wish for peace which is rolled up and put into one of the halves. The two halves are then rejoined to create a new sphere, symbolizing the resolution of conflict, and the healing of division... in other words: PEACE!  The students then add features to transform their rattle ball into a dove or other bird. Finally, they inscribe the peace birds with quotes from famous peacemakers or a thought of their own about peace. Feel free to visit the art room and see their beautiful creations!

- Monica Campbell, Art Teacher 

Introducing Stephanie Flack and Alan Webb

Q. How would you introduce yourself to the Burgundy community?

A. My hobbies and interests currently revolve around the interests of my daughters, Shannon and Emily. Shannon plays on a travel soccer team and Emily participates in musical theatre productions and classical voice lessons. Both girls play the violin and participate in the Youth Orchestras of Prince William, where I also coach chamber groups and sectionals. My job involves my passion of teaching and performing music, so I'm fortunate to have my "hobby" as an integral part of my everyday life.  

Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?

A. Having private violin students who also attend Burgundy initially piqued my interest. Meeting Cathy Manley and seeing the wonderful programs at the school inspired me to want to be a part of the Burgundy community. 

Q. What are you most excited about in teaching violin at Burgundy?

A. I am excited to see the students who began as third-graders continue their journey into performing with an ensemble and experience yet another way to explore music making. I also enjoy working with beginners who have never held a violin. I'm excited to help make playing the violin accessible and achievable to each child with whom I work.  

Alan Webb, Guitar Teacher  

Q. How would you introduce yourself to the Burgundy community?

A: I attended the University of Virginia but transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston to pursue my passion for music and the guitar. Since graduating from Berklee I established The Guitar Studio in Manassas in 1990. Some of my private students have gone on to major in music at college, become guitar instructors, or work with national recording artists. I am also an adjunct professor for Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) at the Woodbridge campus. I live in Warrenton, and I enjoy yoga classes and rooting for the Washington Redskins on the weekends.  

Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?

A. When I heard from Mitch [Burgundy's drumming teacher] that a guitar position was open at Burgundy, I decided to apply and take on the challenge of class guitar. I have created and taught continuing education courses for guitar at the NVCC Manassas campus, so I knew this would be a good fit.  

Q. What are you most excited about in teaching guitar at Burgundy?

A. I am looking forward to applying my teaching skills and love for the guitar to a younger group of students. Middle School is an ideal time to begin learning the guitar! 

Applications for New Students of Current Families Due November 15 

Current families and/or faculty and staff members who would like to apply for admission for the 2013-2014 school year for any of their children who are not currently enrolled at Burgundy are encouraged to do so by November 15. Visits for these students will be scheduled in early December. Our new online application may be accessed here or on our website under "Admission" in the "Applying to Burgundy" section.  Please feel free to contact Lori Adams (loria@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0464) if you have any questions or need assistance with the online application.

Extended Day Announcements  

Fall Enrichment

Janice Kinard-Bean, Director of Extended Day, distributed to parents via email information about fall enrichment sessions. Enrollment forms must be submitted to the Main Office by Wednesday, September 26. Please email Janice (janicek@burgundyfarm.org) with any questions.  

Drop-Ins

Extended Day gladly accepts drop-ins; however, we must be notified in advance (exceptions can be made in emergency cases). To alert Extended Day of drop-ins, please send an email to Janice Kinard-Bean (janicek@burgundyfarm.org or xday@burgundyfarm.org). Janice will reply to confirm your child's drop-in status. If Extended Day is at capacity, we will not be able to accept drop-ins.