03.25.2015

PTO CORNER

Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

PLANNING MEETING FOR PIERCE SPRING FUNDRAISER

Fri., 3/27, 8am @ Cafeteria

We need help planning our spring fundraiser, which will take place on Saturday, May 16th. Please come to our first planning meeting to help make this event a success! Questions? Please contact pierce.pto@gmail.com.

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SAVE THE DATE: PTO COFFEE

Fri., 4/10 @Cafeteria

The next PTO Coffee will be on Friday, April 10th. Coffee will be provided. This is a chance to meet new people and catch up with familiar faces after a very long winter.

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PIERCE UPDATE @ TWITTER

Follow Vice Principal Daniel Green's new Twitter page @DanGreenPierce to stay updated on various happenings around Pierce.

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PENGUIN POST AVAILABLE

The March issue of the Penguin Post, Pierce's student newspaper, is available as a pdf on the PTO website. The Penguin Post staff thanks Jeff Walker (graphic designer), parents of the student writers, and the Pierce family that underwrote printing costs.

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OVERRIDE UPDATE: YES! FOR BROOKLINE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

On Tuesday, 2/10/15, Brookline's Board of selectmen voted unanimously to put two "override" questions on the May 5th local election ballot that will have a critical impact on the Pierce community and Brookline's schools in general. The ballot questions will call for voters to approve or disapprove property tax increases designed to fund a $7.665 million operating budget "override" and a $49.876 million "debt exclusion."

In announcing the ballot questions, the selectmen expressed a desire to balance adequate funding to sustain excellence in our schools and sensitivity to the demands on the town's taxpayers. The approved numbers are lower than many school advocates requested - particularly in light of the dramatic increases in school enrollment and associated overcrowding - but approval of the additional funds would still provide a significant boost to the schools and help address critical needs and structural deficits in key areas of teaching and learning.

Groups have formed to oppose and support the override, and it is likely to be closely contested. The pro-override group Yes! for Brookline has launched a website, www.yesforbrookline.com, that has helpful information and is a place to sign up to receive updates and/or to get involved. A group of Pierce parents will be working to encourage the Pierce community to vote on May 5th.

You can visit www.yesforbrookline.com or contact Pierce parents Brian Hochleutner (briahochleutner@gmail.com) or Mariah Nobrega (mariah.nobrega@gmail.com) with questions or to get involved.

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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

DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR PIERCE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

Wed., 3/25, 6-8pm @ Town Hall, Room 111, 333 Washington St.

The agenda, per the Parks & Recreation Commission: Design Review Process, Existing Conditions & Site Analysis, and Community Input. For additional information, please contact Annie Blair at 617-730-2616.

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FY16 SCHOOL BUDGET: SUPERINTENDENT'S OPEN FORUM

Wed., 3/25, 6:30pm @ Baker School Auditorium

Brookline Schools Superintendent Bill Lupini & Deputy Superintendent Peter Rowe will host an open forum to discuss the FY16 school budget. Tuesday's presentation will be broadcast live from the BIG Studio. You may join the audience or call the studio with questions during the presentation at 617-390-7306. Or, email questions in advance to

info@brookline.k12.ma.us.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING & OFFICE HOURS TOMORROW

Thurs., 3/26, 6pm @ James F. Walsh Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall

Please see the full meeting docket here. A docket for the meeting (includes Public Hearing on FY 2016 Budget and School Choice). This is an open discussion with the Brookline School Committee and the public, with topics to be determined by the participants. Contact Robin Coyne with questions at 617-730-2430 or robin_coyne@brookline.k12.ma.us

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JOIN THE AUCTION COMMITTEE...

Meeting: Fri., 3/27, 8am @ Cafeteria

The Pierce fundraiser will be held on 5/16, and will feature silent & live auctions. Come join the committee to help solicit, promote and manage auction donations! If you can't make meetings, but do have time to email retailers and more - we can use your help. Please contact jeanmarieteillon@gmail.com to join the committee.

... AND/OR MAKE A DONATION

Donate your family vacation home, business services, or your talents to this year's silent and live auctions that will be held at May 16th fundraiser.

To donate, email jeanmarieteillon@gmail.com. Donations are tax deductible.

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PIERCE SCHOOL YEARBOOK ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS

Deadline for ordering: Wed., 4/22

It's that time of year! The Pierce School Yearbook is again on sale through online ordering only. For the 10th year in a row, the yearbook will cost $25, and will feature individual class pictures, play pictures, pictures of fun around school, and so much more! Please follow the directions below to reserve your copy today:

Go to www.coffeepond.com
Click on "Order Yearbooks" (large gray box on lower right side of the page)
Enter the password: pierce
Select "on-line order" or "mail-in order"
Follow the rest of the directions to complete your order.
To check on your order status, you can go back to www.coffeepond.com

Yearbooks will be handed out in individual classrooms during the last week of school. Any extras will go on sale on a first-come, first-serve basis during that week. Thanks for your support - Reed Rathgeber, reed_rathgeber@brookline.k12.ma.us.

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FIND THE GOLDEN SHOES

Fri., 5/1 - Sun., 5/31

During May, 100 Golden Shoes will be hidden throughout the neighborhoods surrounding Pierce - on sidewalks, in parks, and in or near neighborhood businesses, i.e. any safe place that people generally walk. Each Shoe will be specially marked with a certificate instructing winners how to enter the Grand Prize Drawing, to be held 6/9 at Pierce Family Picnic. Golden Shoes is sponsored by Pierce Walks (encouraging children to be active to the best of their abilities), Brookline Public Health Department, Pierce PTO, and PUMA. To learn more visit:www.pierceschoolbrookline.org/golden-shoes.html. First prize: A walking-shopping spree through Brookline, plus Puma footwear signed by Usain Bolt. Additional Prizes: 30+ PUMA gift cards between $20 and $100.

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PROJECT BREAD'S WALK FOR HUNGER: SUPPORT PIERCE WALKERS!

Sun., 5/3

Pierce parent Jamie Yadoff will be leading a group of alumni and 7th & 8th graders on the annual Walk. Support them and help beat hunger in Massachusetts! Contribute here:

http://support.projectbread.org/site/TR?px=1173211&fr_id=1250&pg=personal.

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UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES BEGINS... AND A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Brookline schools participate in an annual Disability Awareness program, Understanding Our Differences (UOD). At Pierce, the fourth-graders participate, in collaboration with the 4th-grade teachers and with the essential support of parent volunteers and school and town administrators.

We cannot continue this important program without parent volunteers. Thank you to those who have already volunteered! If you'd like to volunteer for future units, the commitment is for 8-10:30am the day of. In a short training meeting, in the evening 2 days before each unit, we'll walk you through what's happening. (If you can't make the training, our brief on-line training video may be helpful.) Dates and units:

Thurs. 4/30 -- Vision Impairment

Tues. 6/2 -- Physical Disabilities

Thurs. 6/11 -- Intellectual Disabilities

To volunteer, please sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gN6R6Ker7Vo-AyVyOypWeygcEFwtnvX2KsxlqR-dk1Q/edit?usp=sharing. If you have volunteered in the past, we'd especially appreciate your help! Our thanks, Tiffany Rinne and Ann Kamensky, Parent Coordinators

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WANTED: PIERCE AUTHORS!

Calling all members of the Pierce community who are published authors: the Pierce Book Fair will take place at the end of May, and we'd love it if you'd consider donating 1-5 books for the sale. We'll have a specific table for authors, along with any contact and ordering info you'd like to publicize. Contact Juliet Eastland, callalily1@gmail.com, if interested. Thanks!

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SPECIALIST'S CORNER

SPANISH

Visit the Spanish page on the school website to see what our young estudiantes are learning!

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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK

POW #13: FOLDED SQUARE

Due Tues., 3/31

Look for POW #13 on the board this Friday. Visit the POW page on the school website:

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

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MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #9: NOT FROM AROUND HERE

Due Tues., 3/31

Of 600 students at Goodnight Middle School in Texas, 85% are not native Texans. Of those non-native students, 60% have lived in Texas more than 10 years, and 30 students have lived in Texas less than a year. How many of Goodnight Middle School's non-native students have lived in Texas for at least 1 year but not more than 10 years? Copies of the problem will be available in the rack in the front lobby and on the piercewebsite. Please put your solutions in the green box by the Mathletes bulletin board. Have fun doing the Math!

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Spring is here - right? - and events are blooming! Classroom Coin Drive for Pierce's Walk for Hunger Team... Trivia Bee... Rotary Club annual pancake breakfast... Intellijam Literacy Festival... and much 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.

SPRING INTO READING

"Reading is Amazing!" is a Brookline Village-based tutoring service supporting students from pre-K through grade 5 in reading enrichment and intervention. Certifications and experience: Reading, Reading Recovery and Elementary Education. Website: www.literacycoach.net E-mail: harriet@literacycoach.net

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ENROLLING NOW: BROOKLINE PRE-KARE

Enrolling now for 2015-2016. Home based preschool, Brookline Pre-Kare located in Brookline Village has a few openings for three and four year olds. A licensed program, run by an experienced early childhood teacher. Several Brookline Pre-Kare graduates are now roaming the halls of Pierce. Explore, discover, create: more about the program and philosophy at http://brooklineprekare.weebly.com/, or contact Kimberly Murphy directly at brooklineprekare@gmail.com

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GALOOP-CHILD DEVELOPMENT CLASSES OPEN FOR REGISTRTATION!

Are you a parent of a baby or a toddler? Do you have friends in Brookline who are? Galoop-Child Development and Spanish Immersion Classes for ages 5-36+ months is open for registration! Spring Session starts on April 6. Classes are held at the lovely nursery of The United Parish, 15 Marion Street, Coolidge Corner. For more information, visit Galoop www.galoopclasses.com, or contact Cecilia Matson @ cmatson@galoopclasses.com or at 781-956-8226.

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SPRING & SUMMER ETIQUETTE CLASSES

Confidence - Communication - Leadership

Spring in Boston: Saturdays May 2nd to June 27th

Summer in Newton: Monday - Saturday July 6th to 11th

www.theetiquetteacademy.org- admin@theetiquetteacademy.org

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PIERCE FAMILY SEEKS TO RENT

Pierce middle school family seeks to rent a two or three bedroom apartment in multifamily home. Parking required. Flexible move in between 6/1 and 9/1. Please email Denice at denicesakakeeny@gmail.com if you may know of a match. Responses from property owners and referrals to the same would be appreciated. No realtors, please.

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PIANO LESSONS

Contact Gloria Jasinski @ 617-566-9704 or email piano566@comcast.net. Bachelor of Music in Composition from Berklee College of Music, Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory. 30+ years teaching experience. Learn Jazz/Blues/Classical, theory, sightreading. Build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring instructor. Beginners especially welcome. Have a positive and successful learning experience.

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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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Contact Information

phone: (617) 730-2580