Mark your Calendar

Dear Burr Families,

It is truly beginning to look like spring is here! This past weekend was beautiful and hopefully we will see more of this weather during vacation. I hope you all have something enjoyable planned for the week. At Burr, this is a busy time of year. Across the grade levels students are participating in rich learning experiences and in each classroom there is evidence of children's academic and social growth. Teachers are planning end-of-year events and activities and also looking towards next year. It is a busy and exciting time of year for us all.

Online Auction for the Playground Fund

As you know, the Playground Fundraising Committee is planning an Online Auction. I hear there are lots of great items that Burr families and local businesses have donated. There are also over 50 teacher treats being offered. Our teachers are committed to supporting your efforts to provide the Burr children with an exceptional space for learning and playing. I introduced some of the teacher treats to the children at Friday's All School Meeting and they were very excited about the possibilities. Principal for the Day and PE Teacher for the Day will be raffled off to two lucky winners! A second grader asked if he would be paid for the day. I told him unfortunately no, but I would be paid for being the assistant that day! It should be a fun spring.

Year-End Events

In preparation for next year, we have completed most of our kindergarten screening and had transition meetings for our graduating fifth graders. Each year we welcome new families to our community and say goodbye to others. We try hard to ensure that the events and activities planned to facilitate these transitions are thoughtfully done. Your input and feedback is always appreciated. We will be posting the dates for end-of-year events on the PTO School Calendar as soon as they are determined. Please note that the last day of school for students will be Friday, June 20.

Class Placement

In May, we will begin working on class placement of our K-4 students.  I would like to share with you the placement process that we will follow.  Teachers at each grade level will meet together with specialists, support staff and me to make specific recommendations for each student's placement.  This team already has a wealth of information about each child's learning style, interests and needs, yet we welcome any new information that you have regarding your child's exceptional strengths or needs, peers with whom your child performs well or poorly, or family issues that impact learning. 
 
If you have information you would like the team to consider, please write it on the "Optional Parent Information Sheet Regarding Placement" that we will send home this week.  The form must be returned to the office by May 9.  This will give you three weeks to fill out this form and return it to school. Even if you have already shared placement information with your child's teacher, you will still need to include it on this form. Please note that if you return the form after May 9, it will be too late for us to include your information in our process.  We begin our placement meetings the week of May 12; when we receive information after the process has begun, it is very disruptive, so please adhere to the deadline. Please do not feel that you need to fill out a sheet to insure that your child receives careful consideration. 

Our goal throughout the placement process is to build balanced classes in which all children can succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.  Requests for a specific teacher, whether named or described, will not be accommodated, as this would make it impossible to create balanced classes.  Teachers will create balanced classes first and then teacher assignments to each class will be made.

 
The process of placing students is a long and complex one.  The time and effort we spend weighing all of the factors reflect the importance we place on creating an optimal learning environment for each student.  We ask that you respect the staff's professional judgment about the best class for your child next year.  We will let you know of your child's placement in late August. The class lists will be emailed unless you request a paper copy be mailed to you. If your email address changes between now and August, please be sure to let us know.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.  Have a wonderful week.

Mindy

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