11.11.2015
PTO CORNER  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org
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PTO ANNUAL APPEAL: WEEK THREE UPDATE 
Raised to date: $23,121/$65,000 goal (36%)
Participation: 95/608 families (16%) 
All of our children benefit from the work of the Pierce Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) every day in their classrooms and throughout the year. All Pierce parents are PTO members, and, once a year, during this Annual Appeal, we ask families to be as generous as they can.  

While the PTO will spend more than $160 per student for the 2015-2016 school year, any amount you can give is appreciated -- truly. We want our students to know that all Pierce families care about them and their school. We're aiming for 100% family participation. 

Curious about where your money goes? Click here to see a simple breakdown from the PTO treasurer. 

Please help us continue to offer our students all that we can by making a donation today. Checks can be made out to "Pierce PTO" and returned to the PTO mailboxes near the main office and cafeteria (look for the giant penguins!) or look for volunteers collecting donations at drop-off and pick-up. 

Note: Pierce pays a 3% fee to process online donations. All 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.

Tell us on Twitter and Facebook why you love Pierce and why you give. Tweet us at
@PierceSchoolPTO with hashtag #WeLovePierce. We will make you a star! Questions? Email us at pierce.pto@gmail.com.
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WANTED: ADMIN HELP
The PTO is looking for someone who can assist with a few hours a week of administrative assistance. This role would include putting home folder materials in to teacher mailboxes, hanging posters, and other administrative functions as needed. The work can be done when it's convenient for you though some tasks will have time frames. Please contact PiercePTO@gmail.com if you have an hour or two (or three) per week to help our kids.
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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 to "Go to School website homepage" EACH TIME you shop online at Amazon! To shop, look for this icon below:

 
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SCHOOL CORNER   
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org 
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OPEN HOUSE: 9TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPTIONS
Thurs., 11/12 7-9am,  Town Hall, 5th Floor School Committee Room
Educate yourself about the town's plans to build a 9th elementary school and the sites it is exploring. The Open House format allows citizens to view detailed information about the site options identified in a study performed by Civic Moxie, and to ask questions in an informal setting to Selectmen, School Committee members, staff and consultants. No formal presentations will be made at this Open House but comments and questions will be recorded into the public record. Another open house will be held on the evening of Thurs., 12/3, exact time and location to be determined. For more information, visit http://www.brooklinema.gov/1286/9th-Elementary-School-Study.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Thurs., 11/12, 6:00pm @ James F. Walsh Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall
This is an open discussion with the Brookline School Committee and the public, with topics to be determined by participants. Please 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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SUPPORT THE PIERCE LIBRARY
Donate a book from Ms. Kretschmar's Amazon Wish List
There are two ways you can help support the wonderful Pierce Library and our great librarian, Amanda Krestschmar. Ms. Kretschmar uses money from the Town and the Pierce PTO to keep the shelves stocked with lots of great books. She does not have money to buy all the books she knows the kids will love. So she has created an Amazon "wish list" of books she would like to buy for the students at Pierce to enjoy. Click here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3DJSJJY2THQSB/ref=cm_wl_sortbar_v_page_1 to see the wish list and order as many books as you like. The books will be shipped to the school and available to students right away. 

Donate an hour of your time
Can you spare one hour of your time each week? With so many students taking out so many books, we need parents to help re-shelve books. After a short orientation to the library, you will be on your way to helping keep the shelves stocked and neat.  Volunteer hours are between 8-9am, an hour before school ends up until 8pm! Please contact Carol Jennings at carol.jennings@gmx.com if you can help. You can also click here to sign up to shelve. 
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2016-2017 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS
Wed., 11/18 1-2 and Thurs., 11/19 5-6 @ Town Hall, room 103
In mid-November, the Office of Student Affairs will be holding two information sessions for parents. Pre-registration will begin on November 30th via the Registration Gateway, where parents will be able to sign-up for an appointment in January or February to complete the process.
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SEEKING PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO SUPERVISE K-4 RECESS AND LUNCH
Be an additional supportive adult in the playground to foster a safe, inclusive, and fun recess for our students. Walk around, play games and music, hula hoop, jump rope, throw a frisbee and generally help us supervise the kids. Commitment is a small as one 20-minute session per month. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945a8a629ab9-pierce. Volunteers need to meet with a staff member for guidelines before their first session, and should register for a different time than their own children's recess. Questions? Please contact The Recess Revamp Team, annemarie_marcus@brookline.k12.ma.us, jill_arnold@brookline.k12.ma.us and hannah_wirtshafter@brookline.k12.ma.us.
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TECHSPLORATIONS VISITS PIERCE
Thurs. 11/12 8:30 @ Auditorium
What is friction? How do rockets work? Can you really float on air? How do airplanes fly? Using rockets, jet cars, a hovercraft, a hot air balloon and other fun props, Techsplorations will demonstrate the basic principles of engineering, design, forces and motion, and the history of transportation to all children in grades 2, 3 and 4th grade.

Performances like this one are made possible through funding from the Pierce PTO. The Pierce Arts Council brings a variety of age-appropriate, high-quality arts performances to Pierce School to complement learning in the classroom about arts, science, history, and diverse cultures.
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ENRICHMENT & CHALLENGE SUPPORT PARENT INFORMATION SESSION
Tues, 11/17 8:15am @ Pierce Auditorium
Please join us to learn more about the ECS program and how it contributes to the learning experience of students through challenge, enrichment and extension. Hear from Matt Rosenthal, Coordinator of Enrichment & Challenge Support for the Public Schools of Brookline, as well as Leslie Fagen and Tanya Gregoire, our Pierce ECS Resource Teachers, about the ECS mission and application of the program at Pierce. Coffee will be served. For additional information please contact Jill Fopiano, the Pierce representative on the Parent Advisory Committee, at jfopiano@obrienmanagement.com or visit the ECS website, http://ecsbrookline.weebly.com.
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6TH, 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS -- JOIN MATHCOUNTS!
Fridays, 7:15-7:55 @ Math Center (behind the Pit)
Be a part of Pierce's MATHCOUNTS team, a national math competition open to middle school students. Students practice each week by solving challenging problems together, sharing their solutions, and learning new strategies. A regional competition takes place in February. The top teams and individuals continue on to state and national competitions, where they compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships. Practices take place every Friday morning. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hansel at alison_hansel@brookline.k12.ma.us. 
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PARENTS -WANT TO BECOME A MATH LEAGUE COACH?
As we gear up for Math League, we're looking for more parent volunteers to coach one morning per week before school. 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 topic: Operations, Geometry, Bases, Patterns, and Problem Solving. We will provide coaches with plenty of practice problems from previous years' 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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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK 
 
PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #5: HOW MANY BOXES?
Due Fri., 11/13
The Halloween store has 4 separate large boxes, and inside each large box there are three separate small boxes, and inside each of these small boxes there are 2 separate smaller boxes filled with Halloween items. How many boxes, counting all sizes, are there all together? Look for POW#5 on the board this Thursday and visit the POW page on the Pierce website.
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MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #5: BATH TIME
Due Fri., 11/13
A hot water faucet will fill a tub in a half hour. A cold water faucet will fill the same tub in an hour. Running together, how long will it take to fill the tub?
Copies of the Mathletes Problem of the Week are available in the front lobby and on the Pierce website. Please put solutions in the green Solution box next to the first floor library entrance. 
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COMMUNITY CORNER

SUPPORT PIERCE PARENT'S RUN FOR BEF!
Our very own Pierce parent Chris Hope has been selected to run for Team Brookline for the 2016 Boston Marathon. Chris will be running on behalf of the Brookline Education Foundation and hopes to raise a whopping $10,000 for this important charity. Please help support him and give generously to help achieve this big target and motivate Chris through the long winter months of training and every step of the 26.2 miles to the finish line! Donate today at https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/christopher-hope-1/TeamBrookline2016. 
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BHS 21ST CENTURY FUND GALA-RAMA
Sat., 11/14 7pm @ Brookline High School
Join us for Brookline High School's biggest fund raising event of the year and the ONLY school wide party for parents. Guests will be treated to an evening of fun that includes bowling and billiards, buffet dinner and open bar, plus a silent auction filled with fabulous one-of-a-kind items. Casual attire. All proceeds benefit BHS! Visit http://bhs21stcenturyfund.org/event-2015-gala/ to buy your ticket today!
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Occasionally, Community Corner features a selection of community news and events in the weekly PTO newsletter. For a full listing, click on over to Community Corner. 
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CLASSIFIEDS
Want to see your ad here? Send an email to piercebridge@gmail.com.

HANDYMAN SERVICES 
Hire skilled Pierce mom for your home repairs or minor remodeling. Price by the job, not by the hour. Phone: 617-935-1410, email: privetnet@hotmail.com

BABYSITTER AVAILABLE
Mature, responsible and experienced Pierce graduate and BHS Sophomore available for babysitting (Friday evenings/Weekends). Can engage in fun activities and provide homework help. Animal lover and dog owner, so pet care/dog walking would be welcome. Neighborhood references available. Please feel free to contact me at mayajhertz@gmail.com. 

READING TUTORING: HARRIET YOFFEE, Ed.M.
Former Reading Specialist offering reading enrichment and reading intervention tutoring. Pre-K-Grade 6. Certified & experienced (30 years. Goal:To help each student achieve his/her potential in reading/literacy. Contact Harriet@literacycoach.net/ 617-734 -6718. Please refer to website www.literacycoach.net for more information.

HELPING KIDS COMMUNICATE! IN-HOME SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY
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. Effective strategies yield success and progress for youngsters with speech-language disorders (including articulation/phonological disorders, apraxia, language-learning disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders). 
Contact information: Phone: 617-733-1995; email: mhschram@comcast.net
OPEN HOUSE-NOVEMBER 15TH-STUDIO OF ENGAGING MATH
Studio of Engaging Math invites you and your children (ages 5 to 13) to the Open House on Sunday, November 15th, from 11am - 2pm. Solve puzzles, play games, participate in a math hunt and win prizes. Meet our team, and talk to the studio directors. Free coffee and snacks. More information on our website: www.engagingmath.com and on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/420909544764682/.
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PIANO LESSONS: GLORIA JASINSKI 
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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phone: (617) 730-2580