06.03.2015
PTO CORNER  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

THE PIERCE BOOK FAIR IS A WRAP!

With another Pierce Book Fair in the rearview mirror, a big thank you to everyone who made it happen.


 

Thank you to Pierce parent Shoma Dhar for successfully leading the Pierce Book Fair for the first time. Shoma put countless hours into this event -- collecting, sorting, organizing, selling and packing up books. We greatly appreciate all her efforts!

 

Thanks to Tiffany Rinne and family for organizing crafts and producing and performing in the children's performance on Wednesday evening. And thanks to the Brookline Education Foundation (BEF), the Saker Fund and Brookline PTOs for supporting and sponsoring author Eric Velazquez's visit on Wednesday night. 

 

Finally, thanks to all of the book fair volunteers: Trish Navarette (for her considerable work early on in the process), Aaron Hoffman, Joan and Tommy Mahon, Ivan Ceraj, Vanja Klepac-Ceraj, Jamie Bakum, Kate Ewan, Carin Aquiline, Kimberly Murphy, Ana Otero, Maryanne Senn, Lisa Stahl, Julie Bruno, Kate Thibault, Karen Lurie, Juliet Eastland, Jennifer Wells, Catalina Escalante-Roseto, Ank Stuyfzand, Barbara Kamholz, Sherry Sawyer, Mrudula Donepudi, Jennifer Amigone, Gretchen Heefner, Maria Arado-Mcdonald, Miki Uchino, Kate Risse, Molly Zuker, Stacey Zelbow, Brooklin Carter, Hilary Elkins, Mary Liz Brenninkmeyer, Isabelle Desbiens, Whitney Wilson, Melissa Hale  Woodman, Ann Goebel-Fabbri, Joanna Davidson, Kara Blackburn, Nadia Johnson, Yoshiko Okazaki, Mara Littman, Carol Jennings, Megan Galaburda, Jane Ebert, Robert Schleipman, Ana Marino Moya, Jayan Koshy and the 7/8 room parents for organizing the bake sale for their classes.

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ALL 100 GOLDEN SHOES HAVE BEEN FOUND!!  

Grand prize drawing Tues., 6/9 @ Pierce Picnic

Thank you to ALL those who got and searched for Golden Shoes. The grand prize drawing will be held on June 9th at the Pierce Picnic (you need not be present to win). 

 

We'd also like to thank all those who helped make the event a success: Erik Ergen, Joan Mahon, Meredith Saillant, Jeff Walker, Jamie Yadoff, Pierce PTO, the Brookline Village business community, and our sponsors: PUMA, Brookline Rotary, and Brookline Public Health Department. Golden Shoes will be back next year. Until then, remember that every time you walk (or are active to the best of your ability), untold treasures await you!
 
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PRAY FOR SUN: ANNUAL END-OF-YEAR PIERCE PICNIC
Tues., 6/9 (rain date 6/10) @ Pierce Park 
Bring a blanket and celebrate another great school year at the annual Pierce Picnic. Pack your own food or purchase from an on-site food truck and sundae bar. A DJ will be at the picnic as well. Everyone welcome. Contact Nora O'Farrell at [email protected] or Tamisha Atkins at [email protected] with questions, and click here to volunteer: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080B45A4AD2CA31-pierce/27657290.
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END-OF-YEAR PTO MEETING/MORNING COFFEE

Thurs., 6/25, 8am @ Pierce Cafeteria

Please join us for our last PTO meeting of the year.

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ORGANIZE A CLASS GATHERING!

We encourage parents to organize informal class picnics/gatherings in the parks. It's a great way to get families and kids together outside of school, and it's especially important in the younger grades. All it takes is an email to your class! If you'd like to be reimbursed for reserving park space/picnic benches, please contact us at [email protected]

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PIERCEWEAR: THANK YOU TO KARIN KAHN AND A CALL FOR A NEW VOLUNTEER

Thank you to Pierce parent Karin Khan for leading our Piercewear efforts these last few years. From running a t-shirt design contest to managing printing and sales, Karin has done a great job managing Pierce merchandise. Karin will be stepping out of this role at the end of the year and we need a parent volunteer to take over. Interested? Please contact [email protected].

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SAVE THE DATE: INCOMING KINDERGARTEN PICNIC
Thurs., 8/20 6-7:30pm @ Pierce Kindergarten Playground
Have a little one entering kindergarten in the fall? Bring a blanket and dinner and meet other incoming Kindergarten kids and families. Popsicles will be provided. 
 
THANK YOU!
Thank you to KM moms, Marianna Yang and Lauren Carroll, for stepping up and volunteering to organize the incoming kindergarten picnic in August!!
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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 

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW

Thurs., 6/4, 6pm @ James F. Walsh Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall

This is an open discussion with the Brookline School Committee and the public, with topics TBD by participants. Please see the full meeting docket hereContact Robin Coyne with questions at 617-730-2430 or [email protected]

 

The School Committee will also be hosting a gathering that afternoon in recognition of school staff with 30 years of service, including Pierce's own Teri Hauserman and Dr. Pipier Smith-Mumford. (
5:30pm in the School Committee Room
)
.
Thank you, Teri and Pipier, for your 30 years of working on behalf of Brookline students!
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SPRING SINGS AND SPRING SHARES!
Please make a note of these dates. All events are in the Pierce Auditorium.

Kindergarten Spring Sing: Thurs., 6/4 8:15am
1st Grade Spring Sing: Tues., 6/16 8:15am
2nd Grade Spring Sing: Fri., 6/5 8:15am
3rd Grade Spring "Shares" (in music room next to cafeteria)
3G: Tues., 6/9 8:15-8:45am
3Co: Wed., 6/10 2-2:30pm
3C: Thurs., 6/11 8:15-8:45pm
3B: Fri., 6/19 1:10-1:40pm
4th Grade Spring Sing: Mon., 6/8 8:15am
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KINDERGARTEN PARENT ORIENTATION

Mon., 6/8 6:30-8:30 @ Pierce Auditorium

Parents of incoming kindergartners are encouraged to attend this evening, adult-only event. 

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UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES: INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
Thurs., 6/11 
Every year, Pierce School fourth graders participate in the Brookline Schools' Understanding Our Differences (UOD) program, a collaboration between 4th grade teachers, parent volunteers, and school and town administrators. 
We cannot continue this important program without parent volunteers. The commitment is for a single day from 8-10:30am, plus a short training meeting two days before the unit. (If you can't make the evening training, our brief on-line training video may be helpful.) To volunteer, please visit: 

 


Thanks to all that have volunteered in the past -- Tiffany Rinne and Ann Kamensky, Parent Coordinators

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COMPETITIVE BAKE SALE!

Mon., 6/8 & Fri., 6/12, after school @ outside Pierce

Come one come all to the 8th Grade bake sale, featuring built-in competition: who can sell more, the 8th grade boys or girls? Support the boys on Monday and the girls on Friday. Proceeds will help pay for graduation events including a graduation after party! Please help us celebrate our graduating 8th graders and buy yummy baked goods.
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ATTENTION ALL 8TH GRADERS: INCOMING FRESHMAN FAIR

Thurs. 6/18 6:30-8:30 @ Cypress Field

As current 8th graders prepare to transition to Brookline High School, BHS Peer Leaders would like to welcome them with its Incoming Freshman Fair sponsored by the Brookline Education Foundation. Enjoy carnival games, live music, free food and raffles while promoting community and alleviating transitional anxiety. The students in the Peer Leadership Program help identify and address issues of concern for BHS students, from substance abuse prevention to healthy relationships. For more about the program, keep your eyes peeled for a new BHS Peer Leadership website that details the curriculum and offers tips and tricks on how to survive Freshman year. It's our hope that the Incoming Freshman Fair and website will equip students for a successful freshman year, and we look forward to meeting them all at the fair.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE POLICIES UNDER REVIEW

The Brookline School Committee, through its Subcommittee on Policy Review, regularly reviews and, when necessary, revises or creates written policies governing the Public Schools of Brookline. In an effort to improve public feedback on policy revisions, the proposed draft of any policy under review is posted on the Public Schools website when it is approved for a first reading by the full School Committee.

 

The Brookline School Committee currently has two policies under review and welcomes your feedback: 1) Policy on Student Admissions and 2) Policy on Student Attendance. Additional information and copies of the policies can be found here.

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BROOKLINE SUMMER BASKETBALL NIGHTS 

Please join Coach Keith Lezama and the BHS Staff, current players, alumni, college coaches, and players for 10 free sessions of basketball skills and drills every Monday Wednesday starting July 6 - August 5th. Participants will have the opportunity to hone their skills, have fun and compete. For more information, contact Coach Keith Lezama at [email protected].  

Dates: 

July 6th - August 5th (Mondays & Wednesdays)

Times: 

Grades 3rd - 7th 5:00 - 7:00 PM 

Grades 8th - 12th 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Location:

Brookline High School Schluntz Gym

Cost:

FREE

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KEEP KIDS SAFE DURING RECESS!

Join us in fostering a playful and safe recess period for our kids! With the growing numbers of students in our school community, Pierce School seeks parent volunteers to keep kids safe and nurtured during their free play time. Walk around, play music, hula hoop, frisbee and jump rope. Click here to sign up: www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945a8a629ab9-pierce (please register for a recess period where your child is not present). If this is your first time volunteering for recess, please contact a staff member for guidelines: 

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

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SUMMER SCHOOL AT BROOKLINE HIGH SCHOOL

6/30-8/7, 9-11am and 11am-1pm. 
 
BHS Summer School offers many review and enrichment courses that are available to rising 6th-9th graders. There are review classes in reading, writing, math, and science, as well as two levels of ELL. All students have the opportunity to take elective courses including Life-Time Activities, World of Money, World Cuisine, Digital Arts/Computer Design, Photography, Ceramics, Drawing, and Art Studio. Incoming 9th graders have the opportunity to take elective classes toward their graduation requirements, many of which have wait-lists during the school year. BHS Summer School also offers a one-week course called 'One Up' to help students transition into the Brookline High School. 

Courses are offered to all Brookline students and non-residents. Tuition varies by class. For additional details and registration information visit http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/summer-school.html.

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HONOR A TEACHER

Every year at this time the Brookline Education Foundation offers families the chance to say thank you to Brookline educators. When you donate to the BEF through the Honor A Teacher program, you can name specific faculty to recognize. The BEF will notify those honorees and they are consistently thrilled to receive such meaningful recognition from the community. For details look for the BEF Honor A Teacher card in the mail or simply go to http://www.brooklineeducation.org/honor.

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AHU AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM @ PIERCE
Mondays-Thursdays, 9/22/15 - 6/11/16, 2:40-5:10pm
After Hours University (AHU) is an after-school program at Pierce, open to any student who will be in 4th, 5th or 6th grade for the 2015-2016 school year. AHU follows a daily schedule that includes a quiet homework hour (with at least 2-4 staff on hand to help as needed), a recess time and snack, and an hour-long enrichment activity. Past enrichments have included: Lego Robotics, Graphic Design, fine art and crafts, yoga, improv, and more!  For more information or to register your child, please contact Pierce AHU Director, Jacki Vassari at 518-339-8422 or [email protected].
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MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK NEEDS YOUR HELP! 
Show your love for the Problem of the Week by volunteering!
Tara Washburn, Pierce School Math Specialist, is looking for two reliable parents to support the Problem of the Week throughout the school year. Tara will supply the math problems, but she needs help creating the flyer and posters, communicating with the Pierce website and Bridge teams, photocopying materials and managing the bulletin board -- about one to two hours of work every other week when a new Problem comes out. Please contact [email protected] if interested.
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IT'S ALIVE! MUSEUM OF SCIENCE BRINGS LIVE ANIMALS TO GRADES 1 & 2
This June, Pierce Arts Council welcomes educators from the Museum of Science! 
The Museum's traveling program will bring live exhibits to our first graders, who will compare egg development, birth, and metamorphosis in different species. MOS educators return to visit second-graders for a program on animal habitats, observing several live animals to determine their ideal shelter and food. 
Thanks to the donations of parents and community members to the Pierce PTO, the Pierce Arts Council brings a variety of age-appropriate, high-quality programs and performances to the school to complement learning in the classroom. The performances are a creative and fun way for students to engage in and learn about arts, science, history, and literature.

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SPECIALISTS CORNER 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Coming soon: an update from Physical Education about what your little athletes are "actively learning."

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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK 

 

POW #18: WAREHOUSE WORRIES

Due Tues., 6/16

Look for POW #17 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 # 17: WHAT TIME IS IT?

The digits on the clock will add up to 6 seventy-two times per day.

Times for am and double for pm

12:03, 12:30, 12:12, 12:21

1:05, 1:50, 1:32, 1:23, 1:14, 1:41

2:04, 2:40, 2:22, 2:31, 2:13

3:03, 3:30, 3:12, 3:21

4:02, 4:20, 4:11

5:01, 5:10

6:00

10:05, 10:50, 10:23, 10:32, 10:14,10:41

11:22, 11:04, 11:40, 11:31, 11:13

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FINAL MATH CHALLENGE PROBLEM FOR K-2, 3-4, AND 5-8 RELATED TO OUR SUMMER READING10,000 BOOK CHALLENGE!

Due Wed., 6/17 

Ms. Kretschmar has challenged Pierce School students to read a total of 10,000 books this summer! Just how many books is 10,000 books? How long would it even take to read 10,000 books? Sounds like a math challenge to me! Take the 10,000 Books Math Challenge by working with a partner or group to explore the problem for your grade level (K-2, 3-4, or 5-8). You should receive a copy of the problem from your classroom teacher, but copies of the problem will also be available in the rack in the front lobby and on the Pierce website. Please put your solution in the green box by the Mathletes bulletin board. We'll post some of the best solutions from each grade during the last week of school. Have fun doing the math!

 

SOLUTION TO MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #13 : STRING THEORY

The original string can be cut into 6 pieces.

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COMMUNITY CORNER

 

Soccer academy tryouts....Documentaries about urban gardening....Children's chorus auditions.... Just a few of the fun things listed over on Community Corner

 

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

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR BHS BROOKLINE-XI'AN CHINA EXCHANGE 
Looking for two host families for Chinese students for the BHS Brookline-Xi'an China Exchange Program, Sept.-Jan. Students will be sophomore-age and fully enrolled at BHS during the fall semester. This may be of particular interest for families of Pierce students currently enrolled in 7th or 8th grade Mandarin as you will be hosting a student from native-speaking student China! If interested, please contact Steve Lantos, BHS Coordinator for the China Exchange program at [email protected] or 617-713-5000x365
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WILSON CERTIFIED READING TUTOR
Wilson certified reading tutor accepting students of all ages and levels. Please contact Regina Glaser at [email protected] or 508-341-1097. Located in the South End. View my Learning Ally profile here:https://go.learningally.org/parents/learning-ally-approach/dyslexia-resources/reading-tutor-network/search-reading-tutors-by-state/?filter_18=Massachusetts. 
References available upon request. 
I look forward to helping your child succeed! 
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CARE FOR FOUR YEAR OLD YORKSHIRE TERRIER/POODLE
Looking for someone to care for our four year old Yorkshire Terrier/Poodle Charlie for 4-6 weeks during the summer. Charlie would need to stay at your home, and of course we would pay. Please email [email protected].
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DONATE GENTLY USED IPOD TOUCH  
 
Circumstances now require one of our young students to spend up to two hours each day in a car, commuting to school. We are seeking a gently used iPod Touch to install education games and activities to make the most of this time. Please email Pierce School Education Technology Specialist Sandra Sicard with leads.           

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FULL-TIME SUMMER NANNY 

My name is Bela Bogdanovic, I'm a current college student and Pierce and BHS grad. I'm looking for a summer nanny position beginning mid June until the end of August. References available on request (from current Pierce and other Brookline parents). I can be contacted at [email protected]. 
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PIANO INSTRUCTION 
Flexible summer scheduling makes now an ideal time to try piano lessons. Berklee & New England Conservatory graduate with 30+ years teaching experience. Beginners welcome. Build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring teacher. Lessons offered now through June 15 and June 29-August 11. Please contact Gloria Jasinski, phone: 617-566-9704, email: [email protected]

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HELPING KIDS COMMUNICATE!

Speech-language services in your home - All year round

Meryl Heller Schram, MS, CCC-SLP, an experienced and respected pediatric speech-language pathologist, provides individual services for children with communication difficulties in the home setting. Services are available for toddlers through middle-schoolers with developmental speech-language disorders, language-learning disabilities, articulation/phonological disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and apraxia. Treatment programs are tailored to children's specific needs and parent involvement is encouraged, resulting in steady and measurable progress. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Meryl Heller Schram, M.S., CCC-SLP at 617-733-1995 or [email protected] 

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