11.19.2014 
 

PTO CORNER  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

ANNUAL APPEAL UPDATE: $26,422 DONATED AS OF WEEK 3!

Week 4: Pierce Kids Give, Too!  

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

Thanks to the Pierce community, we are well on our way towards our 2014 Annual Appeal goal to raise 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. 

  

Calling all Pierce Kids! This week, we will be focusing on involving all Pierce students in the Annual Appeal. As a Pierce parent, you can encourage your child to complete the Annual Appeal Treasure Hunt and Outreach Postcard, and to bring in a small donation ($1-5) for Penguin Pin day this Friday, Nov 21. 

 

No donation 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 www.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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WHAT DID YOUR PTO FUNDS DO IN OCTOBER?

PTO funds paid for drama coaching, support for the 6th grade play, a portion of the 7-8th grade Farm School trip, fish and aquarium supplies (KKe), magnatiles (KWi), legos (1H & 1N), before-school math enrichment program supplies, and playground equipment for the entire school. The PTO also organized the HarvestFest parent-teacher mixer, which brought hundreds of Pierce parents together and raised additional funds to support Pierce.

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SCHOOL CORNER   
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org


 

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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LAST CALL FOR CLAIMING LOST & FOUND ITEMS!

Final claim date Fri., 11/21

The Pierce Lost & Found, located on the second floor of the main building across from the gym, is overflowing. Items not claimed by 11/21 will be donated to a worthy charity. The Pierce Lost & Found is managed by PSED.

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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 parent volunteers to coach one morning/week before school (Mon - Fri 7:20-7:55 am). Regular Math League practice sessions will run 12/1 - 3/19. During the practice sessions, 2-3 coaches help the children work through sample Math League problems. Each morning, students will practice a specific topic: Operations, Geometry, Bases, Patterns, or 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

Ends 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, two common conditions, can be helped by wearing clean, dry socks.
  • In the foot room, homeless patients can have their feet cleaned, nails trimmed, and underlying medical issues treated. Each patient is given a pair of clean cotton socks, which can greatly reduce the risk of many foot infections.
  • While patients talk 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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PRVATE SCHOOL APPLICATION

Dear Parents/Guardians

This is the start of the private school application season. In order for us to complete all recommendation forms thoughtfully and thoroughly, we ask that you hand all school portions of the application (including teacher recommendations and transcript requests) to the main office at least three weeks in advance of their due date. Teacher and guidance recommendations will be distributed to the appropriate individual staff members. In addition, please enclose addressed envelopes with sufficient postage to ensure that we meet the required due dates. Your adherence to these guidelines is most appreciated. Thank you.

- Dr. Pipier Smith-Mumford, Ph. D., Principal, Pierce Elementary School

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PIERCE ROOM PARENTS

Thanks for all you do to keep classroom communities connected.

WeGush makes teacher appreciation simple & beautiful for everyone in your classroom & their families to share a personal "thanks" in their own words. Please check us out at:http://www.wegush.com. Martha Huntley, Founder & proud former Pierce parent - We love you Pierce!

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SPECIALIST'S CORNER 
 
MUSIC

Fa la la! Visit the Music page on the school website to read more about your little warbler.

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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 

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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.

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COMMUNITY CORNER

TOMORROW: FIRST LIGHT CELEBRATION ILLUMINATES BROOKLINE!
Plus: Pierce Anti-Bullying workshop... Brookline Arts Center winter classes... Brookline Teen Grantmakers... and save the date for lots of upcoming Winter Wonderland events. 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.
  

EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER

Warm, responsible and reliable babysitter available part-time for children over age 5. I have my own car, am a non-smoker and live near St. Mary's Street. Pick up and drop off children from school and activities, help with homework, etc. Available immediately after Christmas. References available from Pierce School parents and others.

Please contact Kathy at 617-262-0657 or kgreenough@verizon.net

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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