6.18.14
 

PTO CORNER >  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

 

 

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL SMITH-MUMFORD

Hello Pierce families! This is an especially big week for our Pierce community. This is our 8th graders' final week at Pierce - they graduate Thursday! Most have been at Pierce since kindergarten, and now, they are on their way.For nine years they have been a very special and important part of our K-8 community! It is a very exciting time to be moving on, and of course, it is bittersweet, too. If you happen to see an 8th grader this week, please wish them well! They will be missed! Thank you for joining me in congratulating them! Let's hear it for the kids! 

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YEARBOOKS ARRIVING IN CLASSROOMS

Tomorrow, Thurs. 6/19

Teachers will distribute in class, Thursday or Friday. Enjoy the memories!

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EXTREME MAKEOVER, PIERCE EDITION

Sat., 6/21, 8:30am-2:30pm - Volunteers Needed for Blocks of Time

Pierce staff, parents, and older students will come together to beautify and clean up designated school classrooms and common spaces. Help build community and cultivate stewardship & pride in our building!


We need volunteers! If you want to help clean and beautify Pierce, sign up! Donate a few hours of your time and help refresh Pierce before we leave for the summer.

 

We will focus on common school spaces, not individual classroom areas. Priority cleanup efforts will include but not be limited to: removing stuck tape, outdated signs, and old art; low and high dusting; cleaning/degreasing the ramp (in preparation for priming and painting); and cleaning/decluttering the conference room, Pit area, and Historical Building. We'll also focus on the Bridge, the Lost & Found, and the hallways/front foyer. Please realize that while there are many areas that need focus, this is only one day!

 

Sign up here for a slot: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/904054DAAA723A46-extreme/17951815. For questions, please contact  [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

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SCRUB-A-DUB, DUB: WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY CLEANUP EFFORT?
Purchase Something On Our Amazon Wish List!

Whether you're able to attend or not, this a great way to contribute to Extreme Makeover. Supplies can be dropped off in bins inside the front entrance of the Main Building, or you can have them shipped directly to Pierce School, 50 School St. Brookline 02446, attn: Pierce PTO. Sign up here, and thank you!  http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/17X36CODXYFAF/ref=topnav_lists_1  

 
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR FITFEST '14 
Sun., 9/21, 1-3pm @ Pierce Park
Raindate 9/28. If you're interested in volunteering, please email Meredith Saillant at [email protected].

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THANK YOU FROM THE PTO

...to all the parents, teachers and families who volunteered to help make this year so successful. Together, we built community through events and also raised significant funds and supported efforts to enhance learning and academics. It would be impossible to thank everyone, but we would like to acknowledge those on our team for outstanding effort and dedication. Thank you to the PTO Leadership Team: Stacey Zelbow (Treasurer), Daria Cohen (co-Treasurer), Hillary Janowski (Chair of Volunteerism), Trish Navarette (Chair of Communications), Toby Raybould (Chair of Fundraising), Bobby Zuker (Chair of Budget Committee), and Molly Zuker (Chair of Outreach). Thank you also to the Communications team who have kept us connected throughout the year. Bridge: Juliet Eastland and Trish Navarette. aBridged: Andrew Kuklewicz. Website: Mariah Nobrega, Leo Souza, and Jennifer Hunt.

  

Join us in extending a special thank you to Toby Raybould and Hillary Janowski, who will be stepping down in their roles, for their incredible efforts over the last two years. We appreciate all the hard work and time they have dedicated to the PTO and Pierce School. Thank you also to Stacey Zelbow who will finish her term as Treasurer and fill the role of Assistant Treasurer - we are so lucky to have her remain on the team.

 

We also want to thank our PTO Teacher Reps, David Weinstein and Dawn Galolo. And of course, we wanted to thank Dr. Pipier Smith-Mumford, for her leadership and involvements in all of our efforts this year. We'd also like to thank former PTO co-chairs Gioia Perugini, Stacey Downey, and Charlie Walsh for their advice and support during the year.

 

Please welcome Jean Sandler (rising first and fourth graders) and Mariah Nobrega (rising first and fourth graders) to the Leadership Team. Jean will be the new Chair of Volunteerism and Mariah will leave her role as website administrator to fill the role of Treasurer.

 

We are still looking for two people to co-chair our Fundraising Team, so please let us know if you're interested.

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PLUS, THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING ROOM PARENTS & 7th/8th-GRADE REPRESENTATIVES...

Barbara Kamholz, Beth Ng, Meredith Saillant, Toby Raybould, Neslin Ergen, Megan Galaburda, Jean Sandler, Jennie Roffman, Kate Thibault, Shomar Dhar, Rachel Silberstein, Lindsay Green, Karin Kahn, Molly Zuker, Andria Gross, Maria Arado McDonald, Jennifer Marckres, Katrina Driscoll, Rebecca Tolkoff, Ana Otero, Serene Srouji, Sara Vargas, Myriam Jacopille, Marissa Heller Treistman , Debbie Raisner Thompson, Hillary Janowski, Lise Nigrovic, Bodi Luse, Julie Bruno, Cynthia Paris Jeffries, Tiffany Rinne, Jean Teillon, Carin Aquiline, Kate Risse, Marcita Thompson, Carrie Wager, Fang Fang, Priscilla O'Reilly, Jennifer Bruni, Nancy Leventhal, Pam DePiro, Felina Silver, Martha Huntley, and Angela Crawford Ervin. Room Parents are a key part of the PTO; you all play such an important role at Pierce, and have helped to expand the classroom community. We are lucky to have such a committed bunch!!

 

We hope you will all consider continuing as Room Parents again next year. Anyone considering joining this great group of Room Parents for the upcoming school year please contact [email protected] or  [email protected] with questions, or view the Room Parent Role at  

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... AND TO OUR PICNIC VOLUNTEERS!
We had a joy-filled annual picnic last Wednesday night to mark the end of another great school year, thanks to event co-chairs, Tamisha Atkins and Nora O'Farrell, who worked hard to ensure that the kids (and parents) had fun dancing to the tunes of our great DJ, participating in hula hoop contests, and making their own sundaes! Thanks also to those who helped out that evening: Mike Atkins, Karin Kahn, Bas van der Brugge, Cynthia Paris Jeffries, Cherie Gaehde, Kim Percival, Liz Erdman, Ana Otero, Pam Wolf, Hilary Elkins, Jackie Rossey, Tara Washburn, Ellen Geller, Julie Bruno, Beth Waisburd, Tamara Bloch, Deb Abrams, Lise Nigrovic, Debbie Jacobs, Cher Duffield, and Patty Lin. 
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LOOK WHERE YOUR DOLLARS GO!

From 6/1-6/15, the PTO funded $6,775 in Pierce School education, enrichment and community-building activities! Your dollars underwrote trips to the Children's Museum (Gr. 2) and MIT Museum's Robotics Lab (Gr. 6); supplied "brain food" at staff development sessions; and purchased learning materials, from hovercraft engineering supplies to Kindle books to engage students of all learning styles.

 

Community-building events help foster relationships between Pierce's students, families, and teachers. Most of all, it makes school fun. Book Fair = Fun! Pierce Picnic = Fun! Sixth Grade Play = Fun! Mentoring Program Reunion, Spring Sing, Piercepalooza, Pierce Reads... All Fun!


We leave you with a final thought: the PTO has a breakeven budget. EVERY DOLLAR raised this year has been spent on our kids this very school year. Thank you for donating significantly more - a whopping 50% more - than this time last school year. The impact of your investment is meaningful and immediate. 

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READY FOR SUMMER? REMEMBER TO SHOP AMAZON THRU SCHOOL WEBSITE

Shopping on Amazon.com for summer necessities? Remember to go to the Pierce school website first http://www.pierceschoolbrookline.org/, and look for this logo:


Picture

 

By simply clicking this logo on the Pierce school homepage, our school will receive a percentage of your Amazon purchases at no extra charge to you. Remember to use it every time you visit Amazon.com!

 

Since September 2013, the Pierce School has received over $1,700 through this Amazon/Pierce program! Thank you Pierce families! 

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JOIN BROOKLINE'S WELLNESS COMMITTEE

The Public Schools of Brookline's Wellness Committee needs you! The committee will begin its eighth year in the fall, and would like a representative from every Brookline K-8 school. The committee meets formally four times a year, Wednesday mornings 8:30-9:30am. Comprising parents, teachers, health professionals, town and school administrators, and community members, this lively, engaged committee examines and supports a variety of programs addressing student health, with initiatives in areas of nutrition, fitness/recreation, mental health, chemical health, teen dating violence, and climate change awareness. Contact [email protected].
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THIS IS THE FINAL BRIDGE OF THE YEAR
Happy Summer from everyone at The Bridge!
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SCHOOL CORNER >  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

 

PIERCE SCHOOL LOST AND FOUND

Deadline to Claim Items: Thurs., 6/19, 3pm

All unclaimed items will be donated to a worthy charity after that date. The lost and found is located on the second floor of the Main Building, direectly across from the Gym, and is maintained by PSED.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Thurs., 6/19, 7:30pm @ James F. Walsh School Committee Rm., 5th Floor, Town Hall 
See the docket here. Come early: at 7pm, the School Committee will host a gathering in recognition of school staff with 30 years of service.  All are welcome.
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2014 SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION

Due Mon., 6/30

As part of its responsibilities, the Brookline School Committee conducts an annual evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools' performance. Please help by submitting an evaluation of Dr. William Lupini, Superintendent of Schools. As in prior years, all feedback is confidential and will be shared with the full School Committee and Superintendent in aggregated, anonymous form only. The form is available on the Public Schools of Brookline website, http://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/, under District Announcements. It is based on the Evaluation standards for Superintendents developed by the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please contact Susan Wolf Ditkoff, Chairman, Brookline School Committee, with questions. Thank you for your continuing dedication to Brookline's students!

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INCOMING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS & THEIR PARENTS...
Incoming Kindergarten Picnic: Tues. 8/12, 6-7:30pm @ Kindergarten Playground
Bring dinner if you'd like; Pierce will provide the popsicles! Rain date Thurs. 8/14.

Preschool Information Form
Please be sure to take the pre-school information form to your child's current teacher for them to complete. The teacher will send the form directly back to Guidance Counselor Gayle Van Hatten.

Special Needs/IEP
If your child has Special Education needs and/or an IEP, it is necessary to contact Gayle at 617-730-2487 as soon as possible to make arrangements for next year. If there is other important information you feel the guidance counselor should be aware of, please notify Gayle to discuss your concerns.

ATTENTION, RISING NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS & FAMILIES

Fall Sports Tryouts & Practices Beginning Week of 8/18

Registration for BHS Fall Sports is open at: https://www.familyid.com/brookline-athletics/fall-2014-hs-athletics-registration. Instructions for registration and other important information and resources may be found on the BHS Athletics website at: www.brooklinewarriors.net. Specific practice times and venues will also be updated during the summer at this site. 

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PIERCE SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS

Almost 200 community members voted, and the results are in: Sharon Liszanckie has won the open spot for the 2014-15 school year. Thank you to all of you who voted, and thank you to Mark Barnett, Andria Gross, and Sharon for participating! A special thank you also to Jen Amigone, Jen Rothstein, and Deb Troderman for their help with running the election, and to Juliet Eastland and Andrew Kuklewicz for their help in publicizing it through The Bridge!

 

You will be hearing more from the School Council during the summer and early next year as we continue to analyze the results from this year's Parent/Guardian Survey and continue to develop next year's School Improvement Plan. Thank you! 

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GOT OLD CDs?
A Pierce teacher is preparing to teach a science unit and is wondering if anyone has any old discardable CDs available. If so, please send them to the school, attn: Sandra Sicard, Educational Technology Specialist ([email protected]). Thank you!

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ANY GARDENERS OUT THERE?

Every summer, we need several families to sign up to water the plants (and weed if you're so inclined) in the amphitheater. This requires coming by the school and watering the plants about three times a week, depending on the heat. Interested? Please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1poSD6xyGvO1f2shu_wDMdg5eSWQnh4Se7UXN5vJV0c4/edit#gid=0. Thanks!

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PIERCE TEACHER NANCY SPRINGER HONORED

Congratulations to the 2014 Caverly Award Recipients! The Brookline Education Foundation is proud to honor the following outstanding exemplars of Excellence in Teaching: 4th-grade teacher Nancy Springer of Pierce School, and English teacher Abby Erdmann in BHS's School Within a School.

 

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO HONOR A TEACHER! Chances are an outstanding teacher has inspired your child - or your whole family - this year. As the school year closes, consider saying "thank you" by making a donation to the BEF in honor of that special someone. It makes a great class gift, too! Your donation directly supports professional development projects for all Brookline educators, enabling them to grow in their profession and bring new experiences back into their classrooms to enrich your child's learning. Let that special teacher, administrator, or coach know how important s/he is to you and your child! Visit www.brooklineeducation.org/honor.

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SPECIALIST'S CORNER >

 

ART 

What a year it's been! We hope that you had a chance to see the range of work our students created at the annual art show two weeks ago. Please be on the lookout for your child's portfolio, coming home in the next few days, filled with the work from the year. As you look through the folder, you'll see the evidence of his or her hard work. Students spent class time making observations, discovering new materials, and developing skills that helped them tell their stories. We hope you will reflect with your child and talk about the work her or she made. The students are very proud of their work, and are eager to share their thoughts and discoveries with you. Wishing you a relaxing and wonderful summer. See you in September, The Pierce Art Team

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Girl Power! Check out MediaGirls summer program... Also: Brookline Youth Outdoors Club... Brookline Community Foundation proposals... Girls' & Boys' Basketball Camps... summer classes at Brookline Arts Center and Brookline Adult & Community Education... moving sales, host families, babysitters, community projects, and more. It's shaping up to be a busy summer; see Community Corner for details. Happy vacation! 

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CLASSIFIEDS > 
Want to see your ad here? Send an email to [email protected].

 

 

GET IN SHAPE FOR WOMEN IN BROOKLINE

July Special for New Clients - 6 weeks for $279 (that's 50% off)

See what other Brookline moms have discovered - Small Group Personal Training with the first complete training program for women. Start this trial package anytime in July for 6 weeks, 3 training sessions/week. Each session comprises 30 minutes strength training, 25 minutes cardio, and nutrition coaching for a complete program that will produce the results you want. Visit either location to seize this opportunity and get ready for the new you! Brookline Village: 218 Washington St. 617-775-7562. Coolidge Corner: 1379 Beacon St. 617-487-5415.

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ORANGETHEORY FITNESS OPENING FIRST NEW ENGLAND LOCATION IN BRIGHTON (2 MILES FROM BROOKLINE VILLAGE)

Orangetheory Fitness is a science-based, challenging, high-energy interval workout in a small-group personal training atmosphere. Structured workouts take participants through all five heart-rate zones via three phases: treadmill interval training, indoor machine rowing, and fast-paced resistance training emphasizing body-weight exercises. The goal: Be in the green zone (71-83% of your max heart rate) for 20-30 minutes, and in the orange zone (71-83%) for 12-20 minutes. This Orange Zone stimulates the "post-exercise oxygen consumption" effect, where you keep burning extra calories long after your workout. You'll wear a heart-rate monitor, and will be emailed your results after class. We're selling Founder's Memberships at discounted rates before we open. Call today to learn more: 617-208-8378.

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EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER AVAILABLE

Warm, responsible and reliable babysitter available part-time for children over age 5 for summer activities. I have my own car, am a non-smoker, and live near St. Mary's Street. References available from Pierce & Lawrence School parents and others. Please contact Kathy at 617-262-0657 or [email protected].

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THE PLACE 2B

The Place 2B at 2 Brookline Place has recently opened for Birthday parties and classes, and will soon open for Saturday in-store creative studio experiences. You can visit us at www.ThePlace2B.us for more details. We are offering $50 off all Party Reservation Fees booked during the months of May and June. Parties can occur anytime before September. For more details, visit us online or email [email protected]. 

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MOMS RUN STRONG

A fitness resource in Brookline dedicated to helping athletic moms maximize their training and stay injury-free.  Physician, personal trainer, and Brookline mom Rebecca Breslow offers customized strength and conditioning programs tailored for busy moms who want to perform well in their chosen sport. Whether you are a runner, a triathlete, or a participant in team sports, Moms Run Strong has an individualized training program for you - no gym membership or athletic equipment required. For more information: www.momsrunstrong.com or [email protected].

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ARE YOUR KIDS NEARSIGHTED, TOO? 

Are your children nearsighted and getting worse each year? Do glasses or contact lenses get in the way with what they want to do? We now have a new and safe treatment for school age children to effectively prevent myopia (nearsightedness) from progressing. Your kids can see clearly during the day without any glasses or contacts. Consult with our experienced doctor to determine if your child is a good candidate for this treatment. For more information, please visit us at www.optimumvisioncare.com, or call 617-903-3538. What you do today will help your children's vision in the future. 

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THE ETIQUETTE ACADEMY OF NEW ENGLAND

Enrollment is open for Mind Your Manners (Grades 2-4), Peer Pressure and Beyond (Grades 5-8), and Social Skills for the Real World (Grades 9-12)! We'll cover manners, posture, social skills, overcoming shyness, strengthening leadership skills, navigating friendships, resolving conflict, and more. For more information, call 617-608-3920 or email [email protected].

 

Also: three immediate, part-time positions open for qualified youth program teachers, grades 1-12. Our programs are specifically developed for each age group and are taught in a fun and interactive way. Now in our second year, our curriculum is offered in after-school programs throughout Greater Boston. For full position descriptions, please visit www.TheEtiquetteAcademy.org

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INNOVATIVE & FUN SUMMER PROGRAM FOR KIDS  

Summer Days at ReadWrite! This innovative program combines reading and writing with summer fun. Kids will finish school summer reading and writing work, and get a leg up on next school year with ReadWrite classes. Fun, creativity, and outdoor activities complete the perfect summer day. Register for one week or more. Give your child a memorable, educational summer. Contact CHUNGDAHM ReadWrite to learn more! Grades 3-8. www.BostonReadWrite.com or 857-404-0170 | [email protected].

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BENEFITNESS HEALTH CLUB FOR WOMEN

** Discounted rate for Pierce moms, teachers, and staff! **

- Only $59 per month

- FREE Personal Training Session when you join!
For more information, please visit benefitnesshealthclub.com or call 617-232-7440. 62 Harvard Street (rear), Brookline MA 02445 

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KOLTUN BALLET ACADEMY

Pre-professional ballet training in an inspirational environment for young people ages 6-19. We aim to provide students with a rich knowledge of classical technique, and the ability to adapt to all styles and techniques of dance. We offer a hands-on approach, individual attention, and dedication to our students. For more information, please visit www.KoltunBalletAcademy.com  or call 617-901-3792.

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phone: (617) 730-2580