|
|
| |
 Dear Burr Families,
We only have 18 days of school left before the start of summer vacation! This is such a busy time of year for parents, teachers, and children. There are so many celebrations of learning planned as teachers work to wrap up  the school year and prepare their students to move on to the next grade. The fifth graders will be visiting Day Middle School on June 7, and the students in grades K-4 will Step Up to meet the teachers at the next grade level on June 25. We hope that these transition visits will help alleviate the anxiety that some children may feel about graduating to the next grade level and build excitement about returning to school in September.
We have started working on class placements for next year. The teachers all put a lot of time and effort into weighing all of the factors that help create an optimal learning environment for each student. We have received input from some parents, which we will consider during this process. I thank you all for respecting the staff's professional judgment about the best possible learning environment for your child next year. The class lists are in draft form until late August because enrollment fluctuates throughout the summer and  one student moving in or out of the district can significantly change the make up of a group.
We will let you know of your child's placement on Friday, August 23rd. Once they are sent out to everyone, Class placements are final. Changes cannot be made since they seriously compromise the balance that we work so hard to achieve. The class lists will be emailed
, unless you request that we mail a paper copy to you. Consequently, it is important for us to have your most current email address. Today, we will send out an email message to the primary contact address currently listed in our records. This will be the email address that we will use to send out class placements in August. If you do not receive the email, or want placement information sent to a different address, please let us know by emailing the correct address to me.
We will have a few staffing changes for next year; for all of the details on who is leaving and who is coming on board
Sincerely,
Mindy
Newton Public Schools Gift Policy: As we reach the end of the school year, we ask that families please be mindful of the Newton School Committee's NO GIFTS policy stating, No teacher in the performance of regular duties shall receive presents from the students under his or her direction.This policy does not apply to gifts of  classroom supplies or materials that are for student use. A personal note, card, or drawing showing appreciation takes time and thought, but will be greatly valued by your child's teachers.
Planning Ahead:
Early Release Dates for Next Year:10/3, 10/31, 12/5, 2/5 (Wednesday), 3/13, 5/1.
Curriculum Night: 9/26/13
Conference Windows: 10/22-11/5; 3/11-3/21.
|
|
PTO Meeting This Wednesday, June 5
7:00pm in the Cafetorium
| | Final Meeting of the 2012-2013 School Year!
Please join us for this important meeting to elect new board members and discuss plans for next year. Remember, parent involvement is a fundamental part of what makes the school community at Burr so rich and fulfilling!
Agenda:
PTO Board Elections: Open positions are Co-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Fundraising Chair. Please consider stepping up for one of these positions, or get involved in another way - just come to the meeting to learn more! (Go here for a description of these and other Board positions: http://burrpto.org/pto/) .
Overview of 2013-2014 PTO Budget: Overview of planned allocations for next year's budget allocations.
Presentation of Proposed Fundraising Plan for 2013-2014 and Vote: Outline of plan followed by a vote to approve.
Playground: Information About New Exploratory Playground Working Group
Principal Mindy Johal: End of Year Wrap Up and Projections for Next Year
|
Don't Miss the
Burr School 5th Grade Raffle!
| |
Please take a chance and support Burr School-
CHECK your child's folder for tickets!
Which raffle(s) do YOU like?
$1 for 1 ticket, $5 for 5 tickets or $10 for 20 tickets
Raffle #1
A Facial and an assortment of Organic Skincare Products
Donated by Diane Welch Skin Care of Wellesley Hills
(value $155)
Raffle #2
Kindle Fire-
"The PERFECT family tablet"
Donated by our own Burr School family-
The Sweet-Herlihy's
(value $175)
Raffle #3
 Farm Share donated by Steve Parker of Parker Farm
Fresh sustainably farmed produce all summer long!
(value $425)
20 weeks of fresh veggies!
Weekly pick up in Cambridge or Somerville
Please return by Wednesday, June 5th - drawing on Friday, June 7th
This raffle benefits the WHOLE Burr School!
It is a Burr School tradition for the graduating 5th grade class to donate a gift to the school.
This year, the graduating class of 2013 AND last year's class of 2012, are joining forces, and will donate a LARGE screen and projector for the cafetorium.
|
|
Fifth Grade Burr Garden Classroom!
| |
Springtime at Burr...'tis the season for our beloved Burr Garden Classroom. If you enjoy gardening (o  r have always wanted to learn more about it!), we invite you to join us for some good old fashioned fun in the dirt n' sun. It's time for the Burr 5th grade to visit the garden classroom and plant a garden with a different "theme". We're always looking for parents to assist in their kids' classes as they plant their gardens Please let Dana Hanson know if you think you might like to join us. Younger siblings are welcome--please come a few moments before your child's class is scheduled. Wednesday, June 5 9:30-10:00 - Jeff McMahon
10:00-10:30 - Moran
11:00-11:30 - Cooley/O'Donnell
If you can't make the planting session, but would like to join our Summertime  Burr Family Garden Club!
Jessica Avery coordinates our summer Burr Watering Garden Club and is still looking for volunteer families.
This group of parents is vital to the long-term success of our garden. When the kids arrive in the fall and see 10 foot sunflowers, giant cantaloupes, and riotous flower beds, it's because of YOUR work. Please contact Jessica as soon as possible to sign up for a full or partial week this summer. We'll give you the simple directions you need to lend a hand. No green thumbs necessary!We invite Burr families, friends, and neighbors to visit our garden regularly all summer long. Ask your children which garden they helped plant and try to visit it a few times over the growing season through the fall. The garden/playground area is a great place to see Burr friends--late afternoons and early evenings are a popular time and you'll likely run into some folks you know while visiting! Vegetables may be harvested during the summer as long as a child is with an adult (let's try to let the cantaloupes grow as big as we can, though!).See you in the garden!
Marlene Gibson, Dana Hanson, Megan Ulland Burr Garden Classroom Coordinators 2013
The following parents helped us during the classroom planting days (or brought us COLD DRINKS!) last Thursday and Friday:
Natalie Moresco, Geoff Thurber, Naline Stewart, Jason Wong, Rem Aligan, Stephanie Mamis, Cherie Bosarge-Dutton, Colette Burke, Tricia Bombara, Kelly Shaw, Louisa Hunt, Marni Caputo, Charmaine Weyhrauch, Barbara Brousal, Bill Doran, Sarah Link, Gabriella Della Corte, Sarah O'Neil, Zoya Zvagin, Tricia Bombara, Stephanie Mamis, Kim Tulimieri, Ann Langenfeld, Janhavi Wadhwani, Audrey Gallo, Nicole Kierein, Brant Davis, Jessica Engel, Jay Ryan...and our apologies to anyone we may have missed...our brains were a little fried from the heat!
Many thanks to all of our teachers and staff for supporting the Garden Classroom. It's a lot of classes to schedule during a very busy time of year. We really appreciate your support!
Back to Top
|
Oklahoma Needs Our Help!
4th & 5th Grade Releif Benefit
| |
WE CAN HELP!
Starting Tuesday, June 4th,
fourth and fifth grade students will be outside the school at drop-off and pick-up to collect donations to benefit the relief effort. Every cent counts.
On Monday, May 20th a Category 5 tornado struck the town of Moore, Oklahoma.
The stor m affected 33,000 people, damaged over 12,000 homes and destroyed the Plaza Towers Elementary School. Let's show the rest of the country how much Newton cares!
If you need a little inspiration, one of the fourth grade students ran a lemonade stand over the Memorial Day weekend and raised over $70 dollars. Let's make that number grow!
Back to Top
|
Creative Arts and Sciences Committee would like to send out a
BIG THANK YOU to our 2012-2013 volunteers!
| |
We have appreciated all your time and effort to this program and hope you'll be back next year!
Many thanks from all the co-chairs-
Felicia Falchuk, Pam McVey, Beth Tierney and Megan Ulland
 Barbara Brousal-Glaser
Nancy Caulfield
Denise Cicione
Loretta Cox
Lisa Dallaire
Susan Florio
Audrey Gallo
Liz Morefield
Colleen Rougeaux
Valerie Wastcoat
Guo-Cheng Yuan
Back to Top
|
Each year Newton presents awards to students who make a difference and help out in the community.
| |
 This year our very own fifth grader,
Ella Thurber, won the Irene Bickelman Youth Award for all of her hard work.
 Not only did Ella create her own power point presentation on recycling, she was an amazing BOOYA AMBASSADOR.
Thanks Ella for all you do.
You definitely make a difference!!
Back to Top
|
BOOYA Hosts Cradles to Crayon Clothing Drive
| |
BOOYA is hosting one last event this year. They will be collecting gently used or new baby clothes and toys. All donations will to Cradles to Crayons, a local charity that helps families in need. Please look through your basements to help make a difference. You can drop them off in the lobby from Tuesday, June 4th - Friday, June 14th. Dina Gorelik, a BOOYA AMBASSDOR, is organizing this wonderful event. GO BOOYA!!!
Back to Top
|
|
| |
Think the Burr Playground needs to be replaced? Have an interest or some ideas of what a new playground should look like? Come to an exploratory meeting to talk about how to move the ball forward in making a new Burr playground a reality. Monday June 3rd at 3:30pm in the Burr Library. Questions? Contact Jason Wong or Valerie Wastcoat |
Volunteers & Photographers Needed
to Showcase Artwork!
| |
The art program at Burr is looking for a few volunteers to photograph and upload pictures of student artwork online. There is a great website online called Artsonia, which will help us create an online museum where artists,
family & friends near and far can
enjoy the artwork of our budding artis ts at Burr.
The ideal volunteer candidate would be someone who is interested in starting this spring and continuing on in following school year, and it would be fabulous if we had a point person to spear head this effort!
We'd like to start up the gallery with some Landscapes that the students are finishing up in the next few weeks and keep it going from there. Please email Erin Straight to volunteer or for more information.
|
|
CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAM Seeking Volunteer Prevention Specialists for the 2013-2014 School Year
| |
16 Continuing Education Credits available for MSW
Helping to keep Newton children SAFE, STRONG & FREE since 1991 
The CAP Program relies on trained volunteers to teach elementary students simple strategies to reduce their vulnerability to verbal, physical and sexual assault. Volunteers work in teams, led by an experienced team captain. Training is provided. This year's
training begins the week of October 20. Volunteer commitment is 4-6 hours per month,for one school year. For more information to set up a screening interview please email Director Gail Sommer or call 617.969.5906 x 143 Visit our website www.ncscweb.org for more information.
|
Newton Health Department - Info About Seasonal Allergies
| | |
The sun is shining, flowers are blooming and birds are singing. But noses are running, eyes are puffy and throats are scratchy. Not only is it Spring, but it is allergy season as well. Allergens are what cause those uncomfortable symptoms. They are common, usually harmless things, such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander (dead skin flakes and saliva), dust, foods, insect sting poison, and drugs. Allergens are what make people who have allergies sneeze, wheeze, cough or have other symptoms. Allergies are also a common trigger for asthma symptoms.
Allergies are typically genetic. A child whose parents have allergies is more likely to have allergies too. There isn't a cure, but there are ways to control allergies.
First, know what you are allergic to. Your health care provider can help you figure that out. People are allergic to different things. Knowing what makes your symptoms worse can help you avoid those things. Second, get medicine, if you need it. Again, your health care provider can make recommendations of over-thecounter or prescription treatment if that's what is appropriate for your symptoms.
And finally, limit the allergens you are around. Here are a few tips for limiting allergens:
* Use mattress and pillow covers that block dust mites
* Wash linens and clothing in hot water
* Use a HEPA filter vacuum trigger
* Remove stuffed animals from bedrooms
* Keep bedroom windows closed to avoid pollen
* Shower & rise hair before bedtime to avoid bringing allergens to bed
|
| An evening with Author Andrew Solomon | |
 The Newton Partnership and Understanding Our Differences are honored to be hosting best-selling author Andrew Solomon in Newton on June 17 from 7-9 pm at Newton North High School. Solomon's book, Far From the Tree, is a magnificent work about extraordinary families of individuals affected by cognitive, physical or psychological differences. Its focus is on parents who not only learn to cope with their exceptional children, but also find profound meaning in doing so. This thought-provoking book affirms the values of empathy and acceptance and is relevant for all kinds of parents and families. Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the event.
SUGGESTED DONATION $5 AT THE DOOR
|
Seventh Annual Rove the Cove - June 22
| |
The Auburndale Community Association is hosting the 7th annual Rove the Cove 5K road/trail race on June 22. The race starts and finishes in the picnic area of The Cove in Auburndale. Cotton t-shirt to the first 100 registrants. Prizes raffled at the end. All fitness levels welcome! You can walk or run. All finishers 14 and under receive official finishers medal. Start location: "The Cove" Auburndale Park, West Pine St, Auburndale, MA (Commonwealth Ave to Melrose St., left onto W.Pine). Start time 9:30am. Check in 8:45am. Registration forms available at www.auburndalecommunity.org
|
Newton Community Farm 2013: Summer Programs for Youth
| |
Looking for summer programs for your children, preschool to grade 9?
If so, check out Newton Community Farm's offerings at
Back by popular demand, NCF will again offer Farm Sprouts, Little Diggers, Farmer in Training, and Socially Aware Young Farmers. Preregistration is required for all classes. Registration closes one week before class start date.
Our exciting programs focus on food, fun, and farming! Back to Top
|
|
