12.17.2014 
 
PTO CORNER  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

 

HUGE "THANK YOU"
We wanted to extend a HUGE thank you to Shanna Shulman and Mark Barer for leading our Annual Appeal. They did an amazing job and we're really appreciative of all of their efforts. We also wanted to thank Jeff Walker who designed all of the messaging for the Annual Appeal and brought the Pierce penguin to life through all of his beautiful posters and emails. We also wanted to thank Mariah Nobrega, PTO Treasurer, for her careful accounting of all the funds we raised.
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INTERESTED IN JOINING THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM?

The Bridge will be seeking a new editor in the next few months. Duties include formatting and editing the weekly newsletter, and communicating with the Communications Chair and the PTO re: content. It takes a few hours a week, and it's a great way to contribute to the school. Plus, you get the scoop on what's happening - early! Please contact Communications Chair Nisha Koshy at piercebridge@gmail.com, or Editor Juliet Eastland at callalily1@gmail.com.

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GUESS WHAT YOUR PTO DOLLARS FUNDED IN NOVEMBER...
Last month, the PTO spent just under $5K to enrich the Pierce academic experience.  This included funding for field trips to Plimoth Plantation (Grade 3) and Peabody Museum (Grade 4), as well as two Pierce Arts Council in-school experiences, ImprovBoston and Techsploration. The PTO also paid for the rental of Larz Anderson for Skate Night (coming on 3/6; save the date!). Last but not least, the PTO paid for a new Bose speaker to be used during recess for non-competitive dance exercise, part of a larger PTO program to fund improved recess equipment for use by the whole school.
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SHOP AMAZON AND BENEFIT PIERCE SCHOOL  
When you shop Amazon through the school website, Pierce PTO receives a percentage of your purchases at no extra cost to you. Remember "Go to School" before you shop online at Amazon! To shop, go to the school website homepage and look for this icon:   
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SCHOOL CORNER   

Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

 

RESCHEDULED: BOARD OF SELECTMEN TO DISCUSS OVERRIDE

TONIGHT, Wed., 12/17, 8pm @ Town Hall 6th Floor

This meeting has been rescheduled from its usual Tuesday time. See the full agenda here. We encourage you to attend.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW

Thurs., 12/18, 6pm @ James F. Walsh Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall 

Dr. Lupini will likely present his short-term space recommendations, including his plans for Pierce. The no-override scenario will also be presented. Public comment at 6:35; Superintendent's Report begins at 6:55. See the full meeting docket here. 

Contact Robin Coyne with questions at 617-730-2430 or robin_coyne@brookline.k12.ma.us.

 

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... PLUS ADDITIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE OFFICE HOURS

Mon., 12/22, 7:30-8:30am @ Town Hall Room 111

School Committee office hours: open discussion with the Brookline School Committee and the public, with topics TBD by participants. 

Please contact Robin Coyne with questions at 617-730-2430 or robin_coyne@brookline.k12.ma.us.

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 FA LA LA LA LA... GRADES 3 & 4 WINTER SING
Fri., 12/19, 8:15am @ Pierce Auditorium
Come hear our little warblers celebrate the season in song.
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NEW PIERCE T-SHIRTS AND COFFEE MUGS 

NOW AVAILABLE: New Pierce T-shirts in a variety of bright colors, and new Pierce coffee mugs (great for holiday gifts!) will be available for purchase (shirts $12, mugs $10) at the upcoming winter sings. 

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INFORMATION ON OVERRIDE & DEBT EXCLUSION

The town will vote on an override and debt exclusion this May. The Board of Selectmen is actively considering the form and substance of these ballot questions NOW, and is looking to craft questions that voters will approve of in May. To learn more about the issues, and how to support our schools, visit 

http://www.brooklineoverride.com/ .

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BOOKS NEEDED

Are you considering clearing space in your bookshelves to make room for new books this season? Consider donating to the Pierce Book Fair - it's not until the spring, but we can collect donations at any point throughout the year. We accept gently used books forall ages (K-adult). There's a blue donation bin outside the main office. For larger donations that need more coordination, please email Shoma @ piercebookfair2015@gmail.com
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PIERCE LIBRARY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
Check it out... 

Donating 1 (or more) hour each week can keep our library program going strong.

 

Our librarian Amanda Kretschmar helps our kids from K-8 develop their literacy and research skills. Since she is working without support staff, she needs help with the day-to-day work - especially shelving! More than 7,000 books were checked out by Thanksgiving - we have some BUSY readers in this school!  There are two options for volunteering during each school week day:

 

8-9am (1 person)
1:30-2:30pm (1 person)
Also needed: people who would like to work in groups of up to 4 people after the school day is over, for an hour or more between 3-8pm. We're hoping people will sign up for a regular day of the week from January-June, even if they can't come every single week. You will need to fill out a simple CORI form in the main office if you do not already have one on file. Please contact Elizabeth Ferry (eferry66@gmail.com) with any questions. Sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmzQjyISklGFdGN0a0lUZldXcGRXZHdpZC11U0hiN1E&usp=drive_web#gid=2

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"LIKE" FRIENDS OF PIERCE SCHOOL BROOKLINE ON FACEBOOK

This group is for friends and supporters of Pierce School in Brookline, its students, and those interested in related neighborhood issues. To be clear, membership is not intended to be limited to those who currently have elementary school-aged children. Anyone interested in Pierce and related issues is welcome. This is basically a neighborhood group to allow for sharing of information. This is now an open list so that friends of Pierce School can easily join the list without having to be invited online by a member.

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PIERCE FAMILY DIRECTORY HAS BEEN UPDATED

... with the contact information each family supplied on the school forms earlier this year. For people who checked the box agreeing to include information in the Pierce Family Directory, the information will be visible to families, teachers, and administrators who have been granted secure access to the site. Those who do not have an account yet will receive an email with instructions for logging in and a temporary password. All users should log in, confirm correct information, and print information for the class and grades of your children. If you have questions/problems, please contact Jennifer Hunt or Beth Ng at PierceFamilyDirectory@gmail.com. Thanks for your support and patience! 

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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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PRIVATE 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

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SPECIALIST'S CORNER 
 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION

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

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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK 

 

POW #8: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Due Tues., 1/13

Look for POW #8 on the board this Friday. Visit the POW page on the school website:

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

 

SOLUTION TO POW #7, COIN STAR: 

The coin that should go in the center of the bottom row is a quarter.

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MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #5 

Due Tues., 01/13
Look for the new Mathletes POW on the Mathletes bulletin board near the first floor entrance to the library! Copies of the problem will be available in the rack in the front lobby. Please put your solutions in the green box by the Mathletes bulletin board. Have fun doing the Math!
 
SOLUTION FOR MATHLETES POW #4: Counting Abes

Abe has 40 five-dollar bills and 200 pennies; therefore, the total value of coins and bills with his portrait is $202.00. Check out student solutions on the Mathletes bulletin board and on our Twitter page @Pierce_Math.

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COMMUNITY CORNER
 
BHS Ski Team fundraiser... Vacation-time fun for kids... Holiday art classes... and more! 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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BRAIN GAMES PROGRAM
Neuroscience opens up powerful new possibilities to enable every student to become a more effective learner. Brain Excel offers programs designed to train and strengthen core cognitive skills like memory, attention, processing speed, logic and reasoning.  Face-to-face and online one-on-one training sessions are fun, structured, challenging and interactive. Brain Excel's unparalleled, personalized and innovative training targets specific cognitive areas to empower each student to excel. For further information, please contact Patricia at matt@brnxl.com or 603-770-2186.
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phone: (617) 730-2580