09.28.2016
PTO CORNER  
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ENRICHMENT AND CHALLENGE SUPPORT PROGRAM
Thurs., 9/29 8:05-09:00am @ Room 134A, Pierce school**new location**
Enjoy a cup of coffee and learn more about the wonderful Enrichment and Challenge Support (ECS) program from the town-wide coordinator of this program and Pierce's ECS teachers. To learn more prior to the event, visit http://ecsbrookline.weebly.com. You can also follow ECS on Twitter@ecsbrookline.
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HARVEST FEST - ADULTS ONLY!
Fri., 10/14 7-10:00pm @ Pierce Cafeteria 
Looking for a way to get to know more families at the school?  Come to Harvest Fest where you can socialize with other parents and have a night out at the same time!! This free, fun event for Pierce parents and staff will have a cash bar, light bites, music and a raffle with awesome prizes!! Book your sitter now, you won't regret it!
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PIERCE FALL PICNIC

Sat., 10/22 4-7:00pm @ Emerson Garden 
Bring a blanket and join the Pierce Community for a picnic with the entire family! Order a new Pierce Sweatshirt online at http://www.pierceschoolbrookline.org/piercewear.html  and pick it up at the picnic!! Last day to order is October 1, 2016!  
 
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FOOD ON WHEELS!! 
DONATE 10/4-21; Sun., 10/23 1:00pm meet @ Pierce to walk to Food Pantry
Please donate non-perishable food and supplies in the bins at the entrance to the Main and Historical Buildings from 10/4-10/21. Possible donations include canned and boxed goods such as soups, oatmeal and pastas, and new items such as toiletries. On Sunday, 10/23, join other Pierce families for a parade from school to the Brookline Food Pantry (St. Paul's Church, corner of St. Paul St. and Aspinwall Ave.) to hand deliver our collective donation. Bring your whole family, wagons, shopping carts, etc.!! The Brookline Food Pantry has been serving our community, including families with children, for years. THE NEED IS GREAT, and WE CAN HELP!!! Questions? Please contact Marissa Heller-Treistman ([email protected]), Toby Raybould ([email protected]) or Jen Rothstein ([email protected]).
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STOP & SHOP A+ REWARDS
Welcome to another year of A+ School Rewards!! After you register your Stop & Shop card, each shopping trip at Stop & Shop earns cash for our school! Each month, the amount of cash awarded will be updated on the Stop & Shop website. But you MUST register your Stop & Shop card and designate Pierce School in order to make it happen! (NEW: If you registered previously, you do not need to re-register!) Your friends and families can designate Pierce School, too. If you have any questions, contact Colleen Muldoon, [email protected]. Log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus to register online (use ID Code 07899) OR call 1-877-275-2758 to register your card.
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BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Put those Box Tops for Education to use for Pierce School!! Cut them out from your cereal, snack, tissue and other boxes at home and bring them to school. Pierce School earns money with every Box Top you donate! You can drop them in one of the collection boxes around Pierce, which are in the foyer by the Main Office, in the "Pit" and in the hall just outside KM in the Historical Building. Please contact Colleen Muldoon, [email protected] with any questions.
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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   
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SAFETY TIP
To be safe in cars, everyone, including parents and guardians, should buckle up!! Always use your seat belt, it is safer and sets a good example for your children. Below are the recommendations for car safety for kids from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
  • Your child should be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she has outgrown the height and weight limits set by the manufacturer. Please check the guidelines from the manufacturer of your car seat. 
  • Once your child has outgrown the forward-facing car seat with harness, s/he should use a booster seat with the lap and shoulder belt. 
  • A child can stop using a booster seat when the lap and shoulder belt fit properly on their own, this is typically when the child is 4 feet 9 inches (57 inches) AND between 8 - 12 years old. 
  • When a child is big enough to use the lap and shoulder belt with no booster seat, it is recommended that they sit in the back seat until they are 13 years old. 
For more information on recommendation for infants up to age 13 visit:http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2011/03/21/peds.2011-0213.full.pdf.
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A BIG THANK YOU TO NEW ROOM PARENTS!!
Thanks to all those who have volunteered to be room parents and to Jennie Roffman for being the 7th grade representative! However, the PTO is still looking for volunteers to be room parents in most grades and for an 8th grade representative. If you're interested, please speak to the teacher, and then notify Barbara Kamholz ([email protected]) and Jean Sandler ([email protected]). Please also email Barbara or Jean if you're interested in being added to the Pierce Volunteer list.
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ATTENTION ALL 7th AND 8th GRADERS!!
Tech Crew Registration for the 7-8th Grade Play, Pippin, is NOW OPEN. Tech Crew will help create Sets and Props and work with the Tech Director during the show with the lighting and Set and Prop placement and other backstage duties. This is a once a week commitment starting in October, and more in December in the week leading up to the show. Show dates are the evenings of 12/8-10, and the afternoon of 12/10 though not everyone works every show. Register at https://pierceplay.wufoo.com/forms/pippin-7th8th-grade-tec/. Questions? Contact Joshua Abrams, at [email protected]
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IT IS TIME TO UPDATE THE PIERCE FAMILY DIRECTORY!
If you already have a login for the directory, please login, place your child(ren) into the correct class and verify that all contact info you want available is correct. If you are new to Pierce, please follow the instructions to request a login. Click here to access the directory website. If you have any questions about the directory or experience problems logging in, please email the directory administrators, Beth Ng and Jennifer Hunt, at [email protected]. Thank you!
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MONTHLY MEETING WITH STUDENT SERVICES/ADMINISTRATION
Thurs., 9/29
8:30-9:30am @ School Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall 
Welcome Sam Zimmerman, new Deputy Superintendent! _____________________________________
 
PIERCE WALKS PLANNING MEETING
Thurs., 9/29 8:00am @ Pierce Cafeteria   
PierceWalks seeks anyone in the school community interested in promoting and supporting walking/wellness at Pierce. Become part of Golden Shoes and other fun initiatives!!
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PENGUIN POST FOR 5TH & 6TH GRADE
Fri., 9/30 1:45-2:45pm @ Room 304, Pierce loft (new building)
The Penguin Post is looking for 5th and 6th grade journalists to create the Fall/Winter 2016 issue! Come to the first meeting to learn more about the Penguin Post and how to get your start in journalism!! The team will meet every Friday for 6 weeks, to discuss and write about issues important to the Pierce community for our very own newspaper. Parents are also welcome to attend this first meeting to find out more about the Penguin Post and ways to be involved. Questions? Contact Jen Barnes at [email protected].
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TALES FROM THE CLASSROOM: PERSONAL ESSAYS READ BY THE 2016 MARGARET METZGER FELLOWS, BROOKLINE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Fri., 9/30 @ 6-8:00pm @ Lincoln School Theater, 19 Kennard Road
All are welcome to this very special evening!  Light refreshments will be followed by ten-minute readings by Jen Breen Rose-Wood (BHS, English), Malcolm Cawthorne (BHS, Social Studies),Teresa Gallo-Toth (Runkle Librarian),Marie Leman (Lawrence, 3rd grade), Greg Porter (Lawrence, Social Studies) and Jan Preheim (Lincoln, 5th grade).
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PIERCE CODERS' CLUB
Thurs., 10/13 - 11/17 7:20-7:55am @ Computer lab
New this year is the Pierce Coders' Club, open to 3rd through 6th graders who are interested in computer programming. The Club has prepared a range of coding activities, from elementary graphics and maze-solving to more challenging procedural languages. The goal is to promote a social environment in which members share their enthusiasm and help one another to learn. Parent coaches will be available to assist, explain, and give advice and feedback. If interested, contact Will Provost at [email protected].
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SPECIALISTS' CORNER

For the latest updates on artwork created by the school's budding artists, please follow twitter.com/pierceart_news!!!
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COMMUNITY CORNER
Occasionally, the Bridge 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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RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON FOR BROOKLINE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Deadline, Fri., 9/30
Do you, or someone you know, want to run the 2017 Boston Marathon? Team Brookline, the town's official team, is seeking runners for this beloved annual event. Receive amazing training and camaraderie and also support these key Brookline Community Organizations: Brookline Education Foundation, Brookline Library Foundation, Brookline Teen Center, Brookline Community Mental Health Center and Brookline Symphony Orchestra. Visit http://www.teambrookline.org for more information.
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VEGAS NIGHT
Sat., 10/1 7-10pm @ Brookline Teen Center
Vegas is coming to Brookline so don't miss this incredible party! Tickets include casino games (black jack, roulette, 3 card poker & craps), poker tournament, prizes, DJ, dancing, food, beer & wine. 21+ only. All proceeds support the Brookline Teen Center. Purchase tickets at https://brooklineteencenter.org/.
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VOLUNTEER TO PREVENT CHILD ASSAULT
Application deadline 10/7; training begins 10/15
The Child Assault Prevention Program (CAP) has been empowering elementary age children across the country to be "safe, strong, and free" since 1978. CAP has been approved for expansion in interested Brookline K-8 schools following a successful pilot at Heath. To offer CAP across Brookline, the program seeks to recruit and train "Prevention Specialists", volunteers who commit to 4 hours/month for at least one school year, to build a Brookline CAP Volunteer Taskforce. If you are interested, please contact the program director Gail Sommer at [email protected] or call 617-969-5906 x 143. You can also contact Heath Parent and longtime CAP volunteer Evonne Meranus at [email protected] or 617-548-4396.
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VOLUNTEER CORNER
Want to get involved? Here is a sampling of the ways that you can help the Pierce community. 
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OPEN POSITIONS ON THE PIERCE PTO! 
Pierce School needs your support! The PTO leadership team has two wonderful opportunities for parents to be involved in the 2016-2017 school year. Being part of the PTO is a rewarding way to connect with and enrich our school community. Open positions include:

Pierce Communications Chair (1 position available)
Develops and executes a strategy for open, consistent and accurate communication between the school and the Pierce community by publishing The Bridge (the Pierce weekly newsletter) and other communications including Principal's Corner. 

Pierce Wear Chair (1 position available)
Oversees the purchasing and selling of Piercewear throughout the year! 

For additional information, contact [email protected].
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CLASSIFIEDS
Want to see your ad here? Send an email to [email protected].
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SUNSHINE ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE
Sunshine Academy Open House October 5th from 5 to 7 PM @ 164 Harvard Street (across from the Stop and Shop). Spaces available for infants through preschool/PreK. 
Sunshine Academy Open House - October 6th from 5 to 7PM @ 302 Harvard Street (between The Gap and CVS). Spaces are available for infants and toddlers. Please stop by for a tour and to meet our teachers and director. Come see our nationally accredited school located in Coolidge Corner! Visit our website at www.sunshineacademy.com.
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JAVASCRIPT CLASS 
This introduction to JavaScript, for 7th and 8th graders, will meet on eight Mondays, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, beginning October 17, 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, contact Sharon at [email protected].
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PIANO LESSIONS BY JULIA HAWKINS, FACULTY AT NEC PREP
Julia Hawkins, piano faculty at NEC Prep, is accepting new students of classical piano in private studio. All levels and ages are welcome. Comprehensive study includes technique, repertoire, and performance skills offered in a gentle, affirming setting. Please contact by phone 617-566-4215. Interview includes private lesson at no cost. 
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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: [email protected].
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phone: (617) 730-2580