Burr Bulletin - January 22, 2013

As you may be aware the City of Newton is holding a special election on March 12th, 2013 to ask voters to approve an operating budget override and approve debt exclusions for the construction of two new elementary schools, Cabot and Angier. If approved the override will address the school department needs related to enrollment growth across the district, including here at Burr which is in need of additional classroom space next year due to our own student enrollment increases. The override will also provide funding support for fire, police and city infrastructure repair.

The School Committee has already approved plans for an additional classroom modular for Burr next school year but the approval is contingent on the Override passing in March.

On February 5th, The Burr PTO has invited guests from the the Newton School Committee and Superintendent of Schools, David Fleishman to attend our February General Meeting here at Burr. This will be a special opportunity to hear straight from the school department how they plan on spending the additional funding that the Override would provide. There will also be time for Q&A in which Burr parents can ask specific questions related to Burr and any other questions or concerns you may have related to how the school department functions. We encourage and invite all stakeholders - not just those who have school age children but all folks who care about and reside in Newton - to become educated on the issues surrounding this special election vote in order to make an informed decision come March 12th.

Detailed information regarding the purpose and use of the Override can be found on the City of Newton website:

www.newtonma.gov/gov/executive/override.asp

Additional Override information can also be found at www.buildingnewtonsfuture.org (Building Newton's Future is a grassroots organization formed to support Mayor Setti Warren's proposal to raise tax revenue to address critical city needs. )

Mayor Setti Warren has also been scheduling a number of town hall meetings to answer questions and address concerns related to the Override. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan 31st at 7pm at The Scandinavian Living Center, located at 206 Waltham St.

Happy New Year, everyone! See you around The Burr,

Ted and Jason

Gift for Burr to WRAP on January 30th!

As we prepare to wrap our campaign at the end of the month, we'd like to express tremendous thanks to all of the families who have donated this year, providing much-needed financial support to Burr School. We also would like to encourage each family who has yet to donate to link to http://burrpto.org/gift-for-burr/

to make their final decision, or pledge, before January 30th.

Our "thank you" email listing all named and anonymous donors will be published in February. We have instances each year where families believe they have contributed-and then discover in the final communication that they have not! We encourage you to review your records now and confirm that you have received an electronic acknowledgement from the Gift for Burr campaign. If not, please contact us at giftforburr@gmail.com

Winter White Sales? Early Spring Cleaning?

Out With the Old in With the New?

Whatever is motivating you to clean out your linen closets could help some of our furry friends.

Ms. Robinson, along with other Burr pet lovers, is extending her drive to help the Sterling Animal Shelter. If you have old sheets, towels, or blankets that you are no longer using please consider donating them to this nonprofit shelter.

Please drop off your items in Ms. Robinson's classroom. Or, if your items are too large or too many to carry in, contact Stephanie Mamis at stephanie.mamis@verizon.net for a pick up.

Upcoming Creative Arts and Sciences Committee Events

Kindergarten: Winter Survival

Massachusetts Audubon Society, Winter Survival, Friday, January 25th in the classrooms.

The Massachusetts Audubon Society brings its Audubon Ark Traveling Wildlife Program to Burr's Kindergarten students. Students will have the unique opportunity to observe live animals in the classroom and to learn about how winter is a challenging time for them. Using the animals as instructors, the Audubon teacher will discuss different coping mechanisms animals use, as well as physical and behavioral adaptations that are helpful for survival.

9:00 - 9:45 Mrs. Frail
10:00 - 10:45 Ms. Fitch

11:00 - 11:45 Ms. McMahon

Fifth grade: Simple Machines, presented by Henry Massar

Ever wonder how anything was built before electricity and power tools?

Tuesday, January 22nd, Cafeteria.

Henry Massar will present "Simple Machines" to the 5th grade classes and explore the physics behind simple, everyday tools. He will illustrate why simple tools can perform a large amount of work with minimal force,and how the creation and science of new objects have relied on these simple tools developed many years ago.

8:45 - 9:35 Ms Moran

9:50 - 10:40 Ms. Cooley & Ms. O' Donnell

10:50 -11:45 Mr. Mc Mohan

This program is fully funded by your generous contributions to the Burr School PTO.

Community News

Exciting Author Presentation

Please join us at the Auburndale Community Library for an exciting author presentation this Wednesday, January 23rd at 7:30 pm. Retired trial judge, and adjunct professor at New England School of Law, Gordon A. Martin Jr. will speak about his book Count Them One By One - Black Mississippians Fighting for the Right to Vote.

Representative Barney Frank praises the book - "Gordon Martin's book about the fight for voting rights in Mississippi is a wonderful marriage of a story that very much needs telling, and [the] man [is] superbly qualified to tell it. Too few Americans today remember - if they ever knew - the full extent of the dehumanizing official racism to which African-Americans were subjected, and people who do not fully know their own history are not well prepared to deal with the consequences. A respected judge in Massachusetts, Gordon Martin tells readers what it was like to be a young representative of the federal government fighting entrenched racism in a society dominated by people entirely hostile to democratic values. Those Americans who believe that the events Judge Martin describes couldn't have happened here will benefit enormously from learning not only that they did happen, but how they happened, and how they were eventually brought to an end."

The evening is free and open to the public.

The library is at 375 Auburn Street, Auburndale.
For more information, contact the activities@auburndalelibrary.org

City-wide camp fair - Jan. 27

The city is sponsoring its yearly camp fair this year on Sunday, January 27 at Newton North High School from noon to 4pm. Camps run by Newton Parks & Recreation and the Newton Public Schools (including Newton Community Education and SPACE camp), will be represented at the fair. Come early to reserve your child's spot in the program of his or her choice for Summer 2013, or to learn more about the many varied options offered in our city.

Softball Registration

Think Spring! Think Softball! Newton Girls Softball registration is underway for the 2013 spring season. This is a recreational league for over 400 Newton girls in grades 1-7. Players of all skill levels will have a fun and rewarding experience.

Visit our website www.NewtonGirlsSoftball.org for more details, access to our on-line registration, and winter indoor clinic information. Register before January 31, 2013 to avoid a late fee. February 28, 2013 is the last date you can register with guaranteed placement.

Winter Concert & Festival featuring Wayne Potash, Sat. Feb. 2, 10am-12pm

Get the whole family dancing! Join Burr Cooperative Nursery School for a fun-filled morning of live music from fabulous singer-songwriter Wayne Potash, along with various activities, crafts, a bake sale, and fantastic raffle prizes. Saturday, February 2, 10am-12pm at the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street, Newton. Tickets: $8/person in advance (children under 1 free), $10/person at the door (based on availability). Advanced tickets are available for purchase until Friday, February 1st at www.burrcoop.org/concert or tickets@burrcoop.org. All proceeds to benefit Burr Cooperative Nursery School, a non-profit organization.