01.20.2016
PTO CORNER  
Stay connected! Visit pierceschoolbrookline.org
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PIERCE PRINCIPAL SEARCH 
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. 
SEARCH COMMITTEE SEEKS SPECIAL EDUCATION FEEDBACK
Thurs., 1/21 8:15 am @ Starbucks-Brookline Village 
Pierce mom Jennie Roffman is honored to be serving as the Special Education Parents' Advisory Council representative to Pierce's Principal search committee. If you have experience with special education at Pierce or in general and would like to have input into our search for Pierce's next principal, please contact Jennie and share any thoughts, feelings, experiences, questions, or suggestions you might have. You can reach Jennie in any of the following ways: call her at 617-566-6876, email her at jroffman@rcn.com
or write her by putting your thoughts in a sealed envelope with Jennie's name on it and leaving it in the PTO mailbox near the main office. Finally, have coffee with her: Jennie will be at Starbucks-Brookline Village on Thursday morning -- come introduce yourself!

FOCUS GROUPS WITH INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT JOE CONNELLY
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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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
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Thurs., 01/21, 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 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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ANNUAL FAMILY MATH GAME AFTERNOON 
Wed., 01/27, 3:30-5:00pm @ Pierce Auditorium
Mark your calendars for Pierce's annual Family Math Game Afternoon! 1st and 2nd graders are encouraged to come with an adult or PSED to play math games with their families and teachers. All students will receive a math game to take home. Please contact Ms. Washburn with questions at tara_washburn@brookline.k12.ma.us.
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7TH AND 8TH GRADE PARENT SOCIAL 
Wed., 01/27, 7:30-9:30pm @ Brookline Teen Center
Parents of seventh and eighth graders, mark your calendar for a parent social at the Brookline Teen Center! This is an opportunity to see the Teen Center, talk with other parents, celebrate the success of West Side Story and thank all the parent volunteers. Please click on the Sign Up Genius to let us know what you will bring to share. If you have any questions, please contact Michele Mendoza (mlynmendoza@gmail.com), Deb Heffan (heffan@verizon.net), Josh Abrams (jlabrams@me.com) or Jennifer Hunt (jhunthello@gmail.com). We look forward to seeing you there!
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CALDECOTT NIGHT
Thurs., 01/28, 5-7pm @ Pierce Library
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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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. PTO will be selling sweatshirts and other Piercewear. Please contact hillaryjanowski@gmail.com with questions.
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YOUTH CLIMATE ADAPTATION CHALLENGE 
Sat., 4/2, 11-2pm @ Pierce School Cafeteria
In celebration of Brookline Climate Week March 28 - April 4, participate in this unique environmental science fair! Examine an environmental issue and present your solution! Think BIG! Be creative, practical or outrageous! Judging starts at 11:30 am. Certificates awarded 1:30 pm.
 
Guidelines:
* Address current climate change adaptation challenges.
* Present a new idea, concept, theory, experiment or drawing that addresses a topic such as energy, transportation, air, water, ocean, land, waste, biodiversity, food supply, eco-friendly fashion, or other environmental issue you are passionate about. 
* For beginners, intermediate and advanced science students.
* Spend less than $20 on materials.
* Grade categories: K/1st, 2nd/3rd , 4th/5th, 6th - 8th, and 9th - 12th.
 
Register as an individual, group (with friends), class or school. Registration is free and open until March 1, 2016. 
 
To register, email the following to CrystalJohnsonISES@gmail.com
* Youth name(s)
* Grade and school
* Brief description of the project idea
* Individual, group, class or school entry
Sponsored by the Town of Brookline Department of Public Health and Climate Action Brookline.
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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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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 #9: STARTING TO SAVE
Due Thurs., 01/28
James is starting to save $150 to buy a new cell phone. In January, he saved $5. In February, he saved twice as much as he saved in January, for a total savings of $15 ($5+$10). If James continues to save twice as much each month as he saved the previous month, in which month will his total savings be enough to buy the phone? 
Look for POW#9 on the board this Thursday and visit the POW page on the Pierce website.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #8: DATE & TIME IS
4 AM on March 4
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MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #9: GEORGE & TOM
Due Thurs., 01/28
George was born 11 years before Tom. In 2015, George's age was 3 more than 7 times the age that Tom was in 1993. What was the sum of George and Tom's ages in 1995?
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. 

SOLUTION TO MATHLETES PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #8: IT'S OFF TO WORK I GO
I will work 219 days in one year.
Check the Mathletes Bulletin Board next to the first floor entrance to the library to see student solutions to last week's problem
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SPECIALISTS' CORNER

Click on over to Specialists' Corner to hear from the music teachers about your little songbirds!

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COMMUNITY CORNER

RAISING OF AMERICA: SCREENING
Thurs. 1/21 and Mon. 1/25 5:30-8pm@ Brookline Public Library Hunneman Hall
Why do we, as a nation, make it so hard for our children to thrive? How can we do better? The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations will be screening "Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation," a documentary series that examines how conditions faced by young children and their families form the foundation for a child's later success school and in life. The documentary explores the following questions: Why are so many children in America faring so poorly? What are the consequences for the nation's future? How might we, as a nation, do better? Each evening will feature a different episode from the Raising of America series, followed by a special guest speaker and open forum. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Free and open to the pubRSVP to ensure that we have enough food. Co-sponsored with the Brookline Commission for Women, BEEP, Brookline Commission of Diversity, Inclusion, & Community Relations, Brookline Interactive Group, & the Brookline Dept. of Public Health.
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VOLUNTEER AT OLMSTED NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site is seeking volunteers for its award-winning education program, Good Neighbors: Landscape Design and Community Building. This field trip program serves all 3rd grade students in Brookline. (Pierce third-graders will visit us in May!) Using Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site's restored landscape, historic design office, archival collection, and rehabilitated model shop, students explore the history, art, science, and civics of landscape design and park stewardship. Volunteers with the Good Neighbors program support National Park Service educators by facilitating outdoor and indoor activities at the site. Ideal volunteers have an interest in working with students and are available at least two days per week, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, from late March through May 2016. Want to learn more? Contact Park Ranger Brianne Cassetta at brianne_cassetta@nps.gov.
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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.

Thurs., 1/21 10:30-12:30 @ Main Conference Room, Brookline Public Library
Seeking parents of upper elementary and/or middle school-aged children to provide feedback on a new education product concept. Email jeanmarieteillon@gmail.com or call Jean Teillon at 202-384-7308 if you'd like to participate. Each participant will receive a $50 Amex gift card.

TUTORING AND ENRICHMENT FOR STUDENTS ENTERING 1ST, 2ND & 3RD GRADE
Tutoring With A Twist uses a fun, child-centered approach to integrate art, math, literacy, science, and social studies learning while exploring our local community! Curriculum created by Lauren Kelly & Tanya Paris, certified Brookline teachers. Student to teacher ratio of 3:1, and space is limited to 6 students per week. 1 hour of direct literacy instruction per day via phonics, guided reading, and extension activities. Trips this summer include The MFA, deCordova Sculpture Park, Paris Creperie, and The Harvard Museum of Natural History! Want to know more? Visit-tutoringwithatwist.weebly.com
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KIDS YOGA WINTER/SPRING SESSION STARTS JANUARY 19th - AT COOLIDGE CORNER YOGA 
Let your child reap the benefits of yoga including: increased strength and flexibility, balance and stability, enhanced coordination skills, increased concentration and focus, stress management tools, and compassion and connection to themselves, others, and the world! Check the after-school schedule for children's classes at www.coolidgeyoga.com/pages/kids-yoga. Tatyana Souza studio owner (& fellow Driscoll Mom)
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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 ONE 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 

READING TUTOR: HARRIET YOFFEE, ED. M.
Current Reading Teacher Mentor (Aspire Institute within Wheelock College)
30+ years experience as MA Reading/Literacy Specialist and Coach
Contact: 617-734-6718 or 617-435-3899
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phone: (617) 730-2580