11.12.2014 
 

PTO CORNER  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

ANNUAL APPEAL UPDATE: $18,282 DONATED AS OF WEEK 2!

Any amount is appreciated! We're striving for 100% participation.

 

YOU can make a difference for the students you love and care about. This month, the Pierce Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Annual Appeal is raising money to support academic, cultural, and community enrichment activities for Pierce students, teachers, and families. All Pierce parents are PTO members and once a year, during this Annual Appeal, we ask families to be as generous as they can to support the PTO. Why an Annual Appeal? Please read the FAQ. 

 

No donation is too small! The PTO will spend more than $125 per student for the 2014-2015 school year. Any amount you can give toward this per student total is appreciated - truly.   

 
Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org and donate through our secure Paypal site or drop a check off in one of the PTO mailboxes near the main office and cafeteria (look for the giant penguins!). Contributions to the Pierce PTO are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt for tax purposes. The PTO's tax ID number is 35-2197562. Please also consider using your employer's matching grant program.

 

Questions? Contact us at pierce.pto@gmail.com.

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PRINCIPAL'S FORUM WITH CATHERINE STEINER-ADAIR

Save the Date! Thurs., 12/4, 7pm @ Pierce Auditorium

Please join us for a PTO-sponsored Principal's Forum with author Catherine Steiner-Adair.

 

Dr. Steiner-Adair will discuss her latest book The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age. Please see a brief review below, and plan to join us for what will no doubt be a lively evening with this dynamic author, researcher and professor.

 

"Technology is changing our world and the world of our children at a blistering pace. Every parent struggles with the benefits and limitations of a perpetually plugged in lifestyle. Something doesn't feel quite right and Catherine Steiner-Adair with great wisdom, and compassion for our confusion, helps lead us out of this technological thicket. She is a worthy guide, not simply pointing out stumbling blocks, but helping us find our way around them. A mandatory read for our own sake as well as the sake of our children."

- Madeline Levine, Ph.D., Author of Teach Your Children Well and The Price of Privilege

 

Dr. Smith-Mumford

Principal

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SCHOOL CORNER   
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org


 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING & OFFICE HOURS TOMORROW  

Thurs., 11/13, 6pm @ James F. Walsh Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall
Please see the full meeting docket here. The School Committee will also be holding Office Hours prior to the meeting from 5pm to 6pm, also in the Walsh School Committee Room. This is an open discussion with the Brookline School Committee and the public, with topics to be determined by the participants. Please contact Robin Coyne with questions at 617-730-2430 or robin_coyne@brookline.k12.ma.us.

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MATH LEAGUE FOR 4TH, 5TH & 6TH GRADERS

Informational Mtg. for Students: Wed., 11/19, 8am (after a.m. announcements) @ Pierce Auditorium

Math League is a challenging way to expand your mathematical horizons. It is open to all 4th, 5th and 6th graders and involves three town-wide math competitions. The regular Math League practice sessions will take place before school, and will begin the week of 12/1 and continue until 3/19. Come learn more!

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SUPERINTENDENT LUPINI COMING TO PIERCE

Fri., 11/21, 8-9am @ Pierce Auditorium

Brookline's Schools Superintendent will be meeting with the Pierce community. Bring your questions and comments!

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PARENTS: MATH LEAGUE COACHES NEEDED!

Informational Meeting for All Coaches: Mon., 11/24, 7:45am

Parents, are you interested in working with students and becoming a Math League Coach? Math League is starting up soon for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Pierce students, and we're looking for more parent volunteers to coach one morning per week before school (Mon - Fri 7:20-7:55 am). The regular Math League practice sessions will begin the week of 12/1 and continue until 3/19. During the practice sessions, 2-3 coaches help the children work through sample Math League problems. Each morning of the week will be assigned a certain topic for students to practice. The five topics that the students will compete in are: Operations, Geometry, Bases, Patterns, and Problem Solving. We will provide coaches with plenty of practice problems from previous year's meets, and each topic will have an experienced coach to support you. If you have coached or are interested in coaching, please contact Tara Washburn or Dave Carter at piercemathleague@gmail.com.

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PIERCE SCHOOL SOCK DRIVE! 

Mon., 11/3 through Wed., 11/26 - Donate in classrooms

Pierce School students have a longstanding tradition of supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. We hope to collect at least 600 pairs of new cotton socks (all sizes, white ones preferred) to donate to the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) "foot room" program. 

 

About the "foot room" program:

  • Homeless people suffer high rates of foot infection and disease. Athlete's foot and pre-frostbite are two common foot conditions that can be helped by wearing clean dry socks.
  • In the foot room, homeless patients can have their feet cleaned, nails trimmed, underlying medical issues assessed and treated, and each patient is given a pair of clean cotton socks. This can greatly reduce the risk of many foot infections.
  • While patients are there talking with staff, other medical issues often come up and can then be assessed and treated.
  • Preventing foot infections reduces trips to emergency rooms, which saves lives and minimizes costs to the health care system.
Questions? Please contact Jamie Yadoff at Jamie_yadoff@brookline.k12.ma.us. To learn more about BHCHP, please visit http://www.bhchp.org/. 

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SPECIALIST'S CORNER 
 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Visit the Physical Education page on the school website to see what our kids are "actively learning."

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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK 
 

POW #6: YOU GO GIRLS

Due Tue.,12/2

Look for POW #6 on the board this Friday. Visit the POW page on the school website:

www.pierceschoolbrookline.org/problem-of-the-week.html 

 

SOLUTION TO  POW #5: FRUIT STAND

Alex spent 30 cents at the Fruit Stand.

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MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #3: YUMMY NUMBER CRUNCH

Due Tues., 12/2

Look for the new Mathletes POW #3 on the Mathletes bulletin board near the first floor entrance to the library. Put your solutions in the green box by the Mathletes bulletin board.

 

SOLUTION FOR MATHLETES POW#2: STORMING THE CASTLE

The number of steps both Prella and Bodo stepped on is 199. See the Mathletes bulletin board for an explanation and student solutions. Questions? Please contact alison_hansel@brookline.k12.ma.us or tara_washburn@brookline.k12.ma.us

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Ted Talks are coming to Brookline! Plus: forum on incoming marijuana dispensary... sports clinics... JCC Camps open house... adult modern dance... Brookline Arts Center winter classes... Brookline Teen Grantmakers... Visit Community Corner on the right-hand side of the "News & Bridge" page on the school website.  

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CLASSIFIEDS
Want to see your ad here? Send an email to piercebridge@gmail.com.
  

BENEFITNESS HEALTH CLUB FOR WOMEN

**Calling all Pierce Moms, Teachers and Staff!**

Join now for $0 Enrollment Fee--originally $79. Discounted monthly rate of only $59 and a FREE Personal Training Session when you join! For more information, visit www.benefitnesshealthclub.com or call 617-232-7440. 

62 Harvard Street (Rear Entrance) Brookline, MA 02445 

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HELPING KIDS COMMUNICATE!

In-home speech-language therapy is provided by Meryl Heller Schram, M.S., CCC-SLP, a seasoned and respected pediatric speech-language pathologist. Youngsters with speech-language disorders (including articulation/phonological disorders, apraxia, language-learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders) are serviced. Phone: 617-733-1995; email: mhschram@comcast.net.

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STUDY WITH BUDDIES: ARM YOUR 6th/7th GRADER WITH CRITICAL STUDY SKILLS

Is your 6/7th grader relying on you too much for homework help, struggling with how to study the "right" way, and planning ahead? You're not alone! Study With Buddies is here to help. I'm a Pierce parent (Robyn Holzman) and experienced middle school educator who provides kids with a unique opportunity to learn organization, time management and active study skills with their friends to decrease stress and increase success. Parents receive weekly emails with strategies to support children at home. Interested? Email studywithbuddies@gmail.com to arrange a regular meeting time.

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phone: (617) 730-2580