01.13.2016

PTO CORNER

Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org

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UPDATE ON NEW PIERCE PRINCIPAL SEARCH PROCESS

The search for the new Pierce principal is underway. We encourage you take advantage of the opportunity to share your thoughts on the needs of the school and the desired qualities of the next principal. See below for the various ways you can weigh in on this process. New date and/or time denoted by *.

SCHOOL COUNCIL SURVEY

Due Fri. 1/15

Click here to complete it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29WNR8Z

FOCUS GROUPS WITH INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT JOE CONNELLY

*Wed., 1/20 8:10-9:10am @ Pierce Auditorium

*Wed. 1/27 5:30pm @ Pierce cafeteria

PIERCE OPEN FORUM

*Wed., 1/27 7pm @ Pierce Auditorium

Meet search committee members, hear results of School Council survey and share your thoughts.

Parents on Search Committee:

Lauren Carroll, PTO co-chair

Geoff Hunt

Jennie Roffman, SEPAC rep

Marcita Thompson

Staff on Search Committee:

Gretchen Adams, Grades 3 and 4 special education teacher

Tracy Bare, 7/8 science and math teacher, School Council member

Amanda Grindstaff, K-8 PE teacher

Andrew Winston, Kindergarten teacher

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TAKE THE 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 is 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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SAVE THE DATE: PTO KID'S DANCE NIGHT RETURNS

Thurs., 2/25, 5:30-7:30pm

Come out and dance away the winter blahs! This dance night is meant to get kids moving in the middle of winter. We'll have a DJ playing fun music and engaging the kids in hula hoop battles and conga lines! Pizza will be available for the first ½ hour. Dance Night is intended for kids in grades 1-5 and is not a drop-off event. More details to come. Interested in helping or have ideas to make it an amazing event? Please contact us at pierce.pto@gmail.com.

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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

SAVE THE DATE FOR CALDECOTT NIGHT

Thurs., 01/28, 5-7pm

Each year, the American Library Association nominates and awards the prestigious Caldecott medal to the best picture book of the year. As part of our library program, Pierce students in grades K-3 will be learning about the picture book evaluation process and reviewing and analyzing the top contenders. Students, teachers, and families are encouraged to read as many of our "Caldecott Contenders" as possible before the event. Please take a look at the list of contenders here.

K-3 students and their families are invited to come to the Pierce library for a fun evening event to take one last look at the "Caldecott Contenders" and place their vote. Students who are unable to attend will also have a chance to vote at school the following day. We look forward to seeing you at our Pierce Caldecott Night! Happy Reading!!!

CALDECOTT NIGHT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are looking for parent volunteers to help set-up for Caldecott Night, run the voting booth, act as greeters, and provide story times throughout the evening. Please email amanda_kretschmar@brookline.k12.ma.us if you are interested in volunteering.

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CHARITY BINGO TO BENEFIT BROOKLINE EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Sat., 2/6, 4-6pm @ Pierce cafeteria

Tickets are $20 each or $65 for a family of 4. All children under 4 years are free without a game card. There are over $1000 of great prizes to win and a fabulous raffle as well. All proceeds go to the Brookline Education Foundation. Pizza/soda/snacks will be available for purchase. To book tickets please email: rachelhope@live.com.au

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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 PE teachers about what your little athletes are up to!

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COMMUNITY CORNER

BROOKLINE MLK CELEBRATION

Mon. 1/18 4pm @ Coolidge Corner Theater

Please join our community at Brookline's 2016 celebration of the life and values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A keynote speech by Northeastern University Professor of Law and Brookline resident Susan Maze-Rothstein will focus on the deeply ingrained but mostly invisible ways that racism affects all of us, and challenge the audience to change our institutionalized concepts of justice and equality. Brookline High School student poets and musicians will perform pieces that recall or evoke the Civil Rights Movement. For free but required tickets, please go to http://BrooklineMLK.eventbrite.com. More information can be found here http://www.brooklinema.gov/465/MLK-Celebration-Committee.

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BROOKLINE DAY OF SERVICE PROJECTS

Mon., 1/18 1-3pm @ 318 Harvard St. (Arcade Building)

Before heading over to the MLK Day celebration, consider donating your time and/or goods to these organizations:

Brookline Food Pantry serves hundreds of local families, and is collecting non-perishable food and personal care items. Canned goods accepted up to one year after their expiration date.

More than Words is a non-profit that has served at-risk youth in the Greater Boston area since 2004, and is collecting books, CDs and DVDs. With locations in South Boston and Waltham they provide in-store job training in a challenging but supportive environment to young people who are out of school, homeless, in the foster care, or criminal justice system.

Volunteers are also needed before, during and after the event. If interested, please contact Kea van der Ziel, Puja Mehta or Pierce parent & MLK Committee member Ann Kamensky.

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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.

JAVASCRIPT CLASS

This introduction to JavaScript class, for 7th and 8th graders, will meet on eight Mondays, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, beginning January 25, at the Brookline Teen Center. Topics covered include: variables, data types, loops, conditionals and functions. Students will also learn the basics of HTML as needed to support their JavaScript programming. Previous programming experience is not necessary. To register please visit the JrCode website www.jrcode.com, select the Registration drop down menu and click on Brookline - then click Register. For more information, please contact Sharon at sharonjason@jrcode.com

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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