Dear Families,   

This week is National Inclusive Schools Week and Burr teachers have planned some great activities to highlight our commitment to inclusion.  This year's theme is "Authentic Inclusion: Increasing our Comfort Zone."

Some things planned for the week are:

• Each classroom teacher will read books with themes of inclusion and discuss the messages within them with students.
• All students will consider and respond to one of the following sentence starters:
• I feel included when...
• I include others by ...
• It's okay to be different because...
• Each classroom teacher will assign an activity for students to complete at home with their families. This will be a great way for you all to see what we are doing at school and to support this important work at home.
• Fifth graders will share a daily message about the importance of inclusion over the intercom.
• Teachers will discuss the importance of Random Acts of Kindness and the positive impact this can have on a community. Children and adults will be encouraged to notice these acts, write them down, and put them in a collection container in the front office. Some Random Act will be selected and shared at our School Meeting on December 9th.
• Students will have the opportunity to share their learning and thinking during our School Meeting.

This work is done daily in the classrooms at Burr School, and Inclusive School Week is a time for us to celebrate what is already done, to try out some new strategies, and most importantly, to reflect and focus on continued improvements. One of the unique and wonderful things about Burr School is that the parents and staff share a core belief that our diverse student population is one of our greatest strengths. We all work hard to teach and model what it means to be inclusive as we help our youngsters develop empathy and caring for their fellow citizens.

Gift Giving Policy: As we approach the holiday season, please remember the Newton School Committee Policy:  "No teacher in the performance of regular duties shall receive presents from the pupils under his or her direction."  It is wonderful that families wish to acknowledge the hard work of our dedicated staff.  The staff would be delighted to receive notes, pictures, or poems to thank them for their service. You may also honor a teacher through a donation to the PTO or by fulfilling a 'Wish List' request for classroom supplies. I have suggested that each classroom teacher and specialist prepare a wish list of things that he/she could use in the classroom.

Morning Arrival: Last week we had some cold and some rainy days and children waited outside until 8:20 AM.  Luckily the majority of them were well prepared for the weather with appropriate clothing.  I would like to remind everyone that the exterior doors lock automatically at 8:40 AM and children must use the front entrance after that time. If you are dropping off a younger child late, please be sure that he/she enters the building before you drive away. We have noticed that some children don't know to pull the LEFT side door to enter the building and/or don't know to ring the bell. Ms. Albano cannot see them outside the door and I fear a child may unknowingly be left outside. I will ask the kindergarten and first grade teachers to go over this with their students this week. It would be helpful if parents too could make sure that children know to ring the bell if they cannot get inside the building.

We only have three weeks before the December break and a lot of things are planned at school and in our personal lives. I know many of you are volunteering to help out with projects at school. Please know that the teachers and I truly appreciate the time that you give to help enrich the school experience of all Burr students.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the book fair this week or at the PTO meeting tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Mindy  

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Burr PTO Meeting

Tuesday, December 3rd, 7pm

Burr Cafetorium

Special Guest:  Jill Grabowski, 

Supervisor of Newton Free Library's children's section

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Come to the cafetorium and get a jump on your holiday shopping with great book gifts that support our school!  Meet your child during their class visiting hours (below) or shop on your own.

Throughout the Book Fair this week, we will be collecting change for Scholastic's "All for Books" campaign. The amount collected buys books directly for the Burr library, raises our total earnings (which gets us even more free books!) and contributes to a fund matched by Scholastic to get books to kids in need. Send in your loose change with your child at any time before the fair in an envelope marked "All for Books," or drop it in the big yellow box at the front desk at school, OR bring it to us once the fair starts! Thank you!  

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The NewtonPAC will hold an evening presentation on December 10, 2013 on the topic of Stepping Up: What Parents Need to Know to Prepare for the Transition from Elementary to Middle School and Middle to High School.   Networking and refreshments will begin at 7:15 pm., and the meeting will begin with the Elementary to Middle School portion from 7:30-8:15.  The Middle to High School portion will follow from 8:15-9pm .  

Representatives from Bigelow and Brown Middle Schools and Newton North and Newton South High Schools will present on the issues involved in transitions, from the first planning IEP meetings to navigating the new social environment.  The meeting is free and open to all, and will be held in Room 210 of the Education Center at 100 Walnut Street, Newtonville.   If you have any questions, please contact Eileen Sandberg at eileen.sandberg.newtonpac@gmail.com. 

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