01.06.2016

PTO CORNER

Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

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SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE

Superintendent Leadership Profile Community Forums and Focus Groups

All community members are invited to participate in one of the Superintendent Leadership Profile Community Forums. These forums are open to all members of the community and will be led by Atlantic Research Partners. There will also be dozens of Focus Groups with teachers, school staff and organizations that partner directly with our school. The purpose of these forums is to get input from community members on the type of person and leader they want as our next superintendent. The input gathered at these sessions will help create a leadership profile that will be used for recruiting, reviewing, and selecting candidates. For more information, visit http://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/supersearch.

Here is the schedule of upcoming community forums:

Wed., 1/6 7-8:30pm @ Baker School

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH SURVEY

Now Open

Share your views on the characteristics you consider important and wish to see in Brookline's next superintendent by participating in the Superintendent Search Survey. The survey will be posted on the Public Schools of Brookline website. If you wish to complete a paper survey, please email supersearch@brookline.k12.ma.us.

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NEW PIERCE PRINCIPAL SEARCH PROCESS

With the departure of Dr. Smith-Mumford at the end of the school year, the school system central administration is looking for a new principal, with Interim Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joe Connelly, leading the process. The hope is to have a new principal selected by the end of March and that s/he will start in July 2016.

There are multiple opportunities for the Pierce community to provide input about the leadership qualities we'd like to see in the new principal. The PTO and the School Council hope that you'll take time to participate in one or more of the following opportunities to have your voice heard.

PARENT-TEACHER ONLINE SURVEY

Early January

Watch your inbox for a notice about a survey to give your input about the leadership qualities needed in the next Pierce principal.

PARENT FOCUS GROUPS AT PIERCE

Week of 1/11 -- exact date to be determined

Participate in a focus group facilitated by the Superintendent's office to share your thoughts about the leadership qualities needed in the next Pierce principal. Watch your inbox to sign-up to participate.

PRINCIPAL SEARCH PROCESS UPDATE MEETING

Wed., 1/27 6pm @ Pierce Cafeteria

Learn about the themes that emerged from the surveys and focus groups from the whole community. Share your input with the parents participating on the search committee.

PUBLIC INTERVIEW FORUM

March-exact date and location to be determined

Come to the public interview forum for the final candidates.

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DONATE YOUR USED BOOKS

Now through April @ Pierce main entrance

Thanks so much for the book donations so far! There is still lots of time (the book fair will be held 4/11-4/14). Please consider donating your gently used books for kids and adults in the gray bin outside of the front office.

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS INTRODUCTORY MEETING

Fri., 1/29 8:15am @ Pierce cafeteria

Want to get involved with the book fair? There are lots of opportunities for volunteering, big and small, before, during and after the event. Please consider coming to an introductory meeting. If you are interested, but can't make the meeting, please email us at piercebookfair2016@gmail.com.

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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. Each time you shop at Amazon, remember to go to the Pierce homepage first, and click on the icon below:

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SCHOOL CORNER

Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

3D PRINTING, ROBOTS AND RUBIK'S CUBES COMING TO PIERCE

4th Grade teacher Ben Conlon, Education Technology Specialist Sandra Sicard and Math Specialist (3-6) Alison Hansel have been awarded Idea Lab Grants from the Brookline Education Foundation. Mr. Conlon received a $1000 grant to purchase a 3D printer for use in his classroom with science, math and engineering projects. Ms. Sicard received a $500 grant to purchase five sets of robots to introduce programming to 1st graders. Ms. Hansel received a $140 grant to purchase 12 Rubik's Cubes and instructional curriculum to promote problem solving and mindset with 6th grade students receiving math support. The BEF's Idea Lab provides Brookline educators the opportunity to experiment with and implement innovative teaching practices quickly in their classrooms. For more information about Idea Lab, please visit brooklineeducationfoundation.org/grants-awards/idealabinitiative.

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SAVE THE DATE: PIERCE SCHOOL SKATE NIGHT

Fri., 2/5, 5-7:45pm @ Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink, Larz Anderson Park

Come join in this FREE fun family event, a Pierce favorite! The rink is outdoors, so dress warmly. Food and beverage concessions are available, as are skate rentals, but because of the size of the Pierce community, supplies of both are limited. Carpooling encouraged, as parking is limited as well. Beginners and experts alike are welcome! Helmets are not required but are encouraged!! Admission is free for all Pierce families, teachers, and staff. This event is made possible by your contributions to the Pierce PTO.

Please contact hillaryjanowski@gmail.com with questions.

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TWO WAYS TO 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 purchase. Click here 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. -- THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS SO FAR! Please include your name with the books so we can send you a thank you card!

Donate an hour of your time

Can you spare one hour of your time per week? With so many students taking out so many books, we need parents to help with reshelving! 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, and an hour before school ends all they way up until 8pm! Please contact Carol Jennings at carol.jennings@gmx.com if you can help, or click here to sign up.

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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. 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 email the Recess Revamp Team.

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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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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK

PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #8: DATE & TIME

Due Thurs., 01/14

It is 8:00 AM on March 3rd. AFTER the minute hand of the clock ROTATES around clockwise 20 times, WHAT will be the date and time?

Look for POW#8 on the board this Thursday and visit the POW page on the Pierce website.

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MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #8: IT'S OFF TO WORK I GO

Due Thurs., 01/14

Let's say today is my day off. If yesterday wasn't also a day off, then I'm off again tomorrow. If, on the other hand, I was off yesterday, then tomorrow I'll have to work. Bummer!

But, let's say I worked today. If I didn't work two days before today, I'll have to head to work tomorrow. But if I did work two days ago, I'm off tomorrow. Yes!

Assuming a 365-day year, and ignoring weekends and holidays, how many days do I have to work in a year?

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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SPECIALISTS' CORNER

Click on over to Specialists' Corner to hear from the Spanish teachers about what your little estudiantes are up to!

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COMMUNITY CORNER

COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSION

Fri., 1/15 8-9:30am @ KooKoo Cafe

Now that school vacation is over and the kids are settling back into school, you may have a moment to reflect on what is going on in our community regarding climate change. Here in Brookline, we're fortunate to have community choice aggregation, but perhaps you have other ideas about how to improve the environment that you'd like to pursue? Come and discuss these and other issues with Brookline Mothers Out Front.

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GIRLS' SELF-DEFENSE AND PERSONAL SAFETY COURSE

Mondays 3:30-5:30pm from 1/25 - 3/28 @ Brookline Teen Center

This 10-week course for 7th and 8th grade girls teaches self-defense and personal safety by developing skills in physical self-defense, conflict resolution, safe decision-making and vocal self-protection. Total cost for 10-week session is FREE for BTC members and $20 for non-members. For more information or to sign up, contact Jen Bray.

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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.

PIANO INSTRUCTION - about 1 mile from Pierce

Learn Jazz/Blues/Classical, theory, sightreading from a Berklee & New England Conservatory graduate with 30+ years teaching experience. Build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring instructor. Beginners especially welcome. Have a positive and successful learning experience. Gloria Jasinski, phone: 617.566.9704, email:piano566@comcast.net

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THE ETIQUETTE ACADEMY OF NEW ENGLAND NOW ENROLLING

The 8-week long etiquette program for grades 2-12 is specifically developed for each age group, and covers topics such as improving social and communication skills, projecting confidence, combating shyness, strengthening self-esteem and leadership skills, navigating friendships, resolving conflict, understanding social cues, basic manners and table manners, and much more. We are currently enrolling for classes beginning January 2016 in Bedford, Boston, Lexington and Newton, MA. For more information & to enroll visit www.theetiquetteacademy.org.

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Contact Information

phone: (617) 730-2580