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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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October 26, 2012
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Quick Calendar
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October 26
CAPS Conference: No Classes, No Extended Day
October 28
Garden Work Day Family Game Night
October 29
Student Picture Make Up Day
Cross Country Meet (home)
October 30
SSAT Tutoring
October 31
Varsity Soccer v. Edlin (home)
November 1
Parent-Teacher Conferences: No Classes
November 2
Parent-Teacher Conferences: No Classes
November 3
Cove Closing Weekend
November 4
Cove Closing Weekend
November 6
SSAT Tutoring
November 9
Pizza Day
Click here for a full calendar.
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Greetings!
Today we closed school to host a major professional development event for teachers. In collaboration with area progressive schools, we are delighted to host the Capital Area Progressive Schools (CAPS) Conference. We welcome roughly 200 educators, mostly from area schools (and not all of them progressive schools). The attendees will select from a broad array of workshops given by teachers from the various participating schools, among them Burgundy, Capitol Hill Day School, Green Acres School, Friends Community School and Lowell School. This is the first time since the mid-nineties that CAPS has coordinated a conference of this magnitude, and we are proud of Lower School Head Kari Cafeo for her leadership in organizing the event. Her dedication to progressive education and professional development has been particularly evident throughout this major undertaking.
For many decades progressive schools have been educating children in the ways that they learn best, and Burgundy, in this area, has been at the forefront. It gives me pride and pleasure to welcome educators from like-minded schools that all do such wonderful work, helping children learn how to learn and teaching them to continue to love learning. In our dedication to a global community, we are excited to bring Burgundy into an increasingly larger fold of conversation about what is best for all children, and even more, allow our campus and community members to inspire these valuable conversations.
Sincerely,
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
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Reminders
Help the Homeless Mini Walk: Please Register
On Wednesday, October 31, all Burgundy students will participate together in the Help the Homeless Mini Walk on campus immediately after the All School Meeting, around 9:00 a.m. This annual community service event, sponsored by Fannie Mae, will help raise funds for New Hope Housing, which operates several homeless shelters in Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington. It is essential that everyone fill out a registration form, regardless of whether you choose to pay the $20 registration fee or make an additional donation. If we submit 250 registration forms, Fannie Mae will contribute an additional $5,000 to New Hope Housing. We have reached this goal in past years -- please help us continue this noble tradition! If you have not already done so, please fill out and sign a registration form and return it to your child's homeroom teacher. You can also fill out the form and donate online. If you have any questions, please email Torun Walker: wtorun@hotmail.com.
Cove Closing Weekend: November 3 and 4
Families interested in helping to close Cooper's Cove for the winter are welcome to come to the Cove for all or part of the weekend of November 3 and 4. There is plenty of hauling, packing, storing and weather-proofing to do, though there is also time to enjoy the Cove at a beautiful time of year with good company. Volunteers will be fed well, and all you need to bring is a pair of work gloves and the usual bedding/layers of clothing you would need for a vigorous Cove visit. Children of all ages are welcome, but they will be put to work! Still interested? Let us know you are coming by emailing Vini Schoene (vinis@burgundyfarm.org). We need to know: how many/for what meals/any dietary issues. If you have any questions, please email Vini. Applications for New Students of Current Families Due November 15
Current families and/or faculty and staff members who would like to apply for admission for the 2013-2014 school year for any of their children who are not currently enrolled at Burgundy are encouraged to do so by November 15. Visits for these students will be scheduled in early December. Our online application may be accessed here or on our website under "Admission" in the "Applying to Burgundy" section. Please feel free to contact Lori Adams (loria@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0464) if you have any questions or need assistance with the online application. |
| Mix it Up at Lunch Day: October 30
A national campaign launched by Teaching Tolerance a decade ago, Mix It Up at Lunch Day encourages students to identify, question and cross social boundaries. In surveys done by Teaching Tolerance, students have identified the cafeteria as the place where divisions are most clearly drawn. So on October 30 this year, Teaching Tolerance encourages students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It's a simple act with profound implications. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away. Burgundy's Middle School students will participate in Mix it Up at Lunch on October 30, with Middle School students leading the event. This week, students have been submitting questions to help encourage conversations that day, which will be facilitated by teacher-appointed students in each of the Middle School classrooms. After the event, all Middle School students and teachers will use Google Forms to reflect on the activity, and we will share some of those reflections in next week's Constant Comment.
If you have any questions about Mix it Up at Lunch, please contact Stephanie Borges (stephanieb@burgundyfarm.org or 704.842.0465).
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| Haroun and the Sea of Stories: November 15 and 16
The seventh-graders will perform Haroun and the Sea of Stories on November 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Loft. The script is one that highlights the value of storytelling; and in that spirit, some of our 7th Grade actors will share via upcoming issues of Constant Comment how they interpret the story, and why the entire Burgundy family should attend the performances. This week's paragraph comes from Katherine Conner:
The play Haroun and the Sea of Stories, written by Salman Rushdie, is about a young child who loses her mother to another man. Her story-telling father, Rashid, and she go off on an adventure to save the Stories, the Sea of Stories. In the end, Haroun saves the Stories, gets her mother back and finds her true self! This intriguing play is active and always keeps you on the edge of your seat with something new happening every three minutes!
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Recital Recap
On Monday, October 22, Burgundy hosted its first student recital of the school year. Congratulations to the 13 students who performed individually and the group of 6th Grade drummers. The recital showcased a variety of talents with piano, saxophone, flute, trumpet, vocal and drumming performances. Sam Oelkers '17 even presented a beautiful poem! Emma Carter '19 shared the stage with her grandfather -- she sang while he accompanied her on guitar -- and Ruby Ahdoot '18 performed a trumpet duet with her mother, encapsulating the idea that music can be a powerful tool in connecting diverse people and generations.
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Sports Success
On Monday, Burgundy's Varsity Cross Country team had a strong meet at Flint Hill School. We don't yet know the standings, but we know our team did a great job.
At the same time the Varsity Volleyball team was playing against St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, winning the match 2-0.
On Tuesday, the Varsity Soccer team defeated Green Hedges School with an 8-0 home game, and on Wednesday, the JV Soccer team played hard for a 2-2 tie with Edlin School. Way to go, Blazers!
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 Student Standouts
On Saturday, October 6, Aubrey Ankele '15, Hammat Babin '15 and Weston Smith '15 did community service at Art on the Avenue. They helped run a booth, provide samples and distribute information about Arcadia Food Group and its mobile market.
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 MayaWorks Market: November 8 and 9
Get a head start on your holiday shopping! The 4/5 Cooper's and Redtails will be having a MayaWorks Market on Thursday, November 8 and Friday, November 9, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. on the Blacktop. The students will demonstrate their retail skills by showcasing fair trade traditional textile arts of Mayan artisans, including jewelry, toys and clothes. Come check out the beautiful items and help give Guatemalan women an opportunity to earn an income from their artistic endeavors.
MayaWorks is a nonprofit dedicated to helping women transform their skills into a means of financial support for their families by creating a market for the traditional arts of Mayan artisans. |
 Introducing Connie Fleres and Monica Campbell
Connie Fleres, Mixed Media Painting, Sculpture, Mural
Q. How would you introduce yourself to the Burgundy community?
A. I am a working artist and have been exhibiting for more than 25 years in the DC area. I have a piece in the DC Metro at Gallery Place on the yellow line. I have been an active member of the Washington Sculptors Group for many years and have served on their Board twice. I have a piece of kinetic sculpture that is installed next to the Middle School called "Freedom" that I created in 2000. It looks similar to a leaf or a feather, and it represents the movement of children and nature. You can see more of my work on my website (www.fleresstudio.com). I love working with young people, and I encourage them to explore creatively with their art.
Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?
A. I came to Burgundy 23 years ago when I enrolled my daughter, Jessica '94 at Burgundy. It is such a pleasure to work at Burgundy where the arts are celebrated and incorporated into the curriculum. My colleagues are highly creative people and wonderful to collaborate with. The natural setting makes for a peaceful creative space to work in. I have worked at other schools and have found Burgundy to be the best place to work and celebrate the arts.
Q. What are you most looking forward to in teaching so many art electives this year?
A. I love seeing children create and know that they will be our creative problem-solvers in the future. I love that I have the opportunity to teach art, which is my passion, and I love seeing students exploring the arts with fresh eyes and enthusiasm.
 Monica Campbell, Ceramics, Printmaking
Q. How would you introduce yourself to the Burgundy community?
A. I've been teaching art for 22 years, and this is my ninth year at Burgundy. I teach art to many of the Lower School students, and in Middle School, I teach one elective each trimester. I also teach a mini-elective in "Duct Tape Art." I have taught art at other schools as well as in the Children's Program at the Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria, and I started The Little Studio, teaching art classes to children from my home for several years. I have two sons who graduated from Burgundy and absolutely loved it! Jason '10 is now a junior at Sidwell Friends School, and Austin '08 graduated last year from St. Alban's and is in his first year at Yale. For my own artwork, I love painting (oils and watercolors), mixed media collage, jewelry-making and ceramics. I'm also an avid fan of hiking, camping, kayaking, running, gardening, and pretty much anything that gets me outdoors in this beautiful area!
Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?
A. I fell in love with Burgundy on my first visit, and immediately applied for a job here. I also brought my own children to school here the following year. I love the feeling of family here at Burgundy, and the way that the school allows children time to explore, imagine, connect and believe in themselves. I also love the focus on the natural world and experiential learning in that setting.
Q. What are you most looking forward to in teaching your art electives this year?
A. I really enjoy watching students learn that they can create beautiful, mature work, and watching them gain confidence in their abilities as artists.
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Faculty Highlight: Vita's Vegan Ventures
As temperatures drop next week, you may find yourself daydreaming about warm, hearty soups...or even Thanksgiving dinner. Middle School teacher and vegan chef Levita Mondie can address both food fantasies. Her latest blog post (on Vita's Vegan Ventures) features a great recipe for a big pot of Louisiana gumbo. Levita is well-known among the local food crowd, and she recently completed the taping for a special Thanksgiving episode of the show Healthy Food, Happy You, which will feature her making a sweet potato pie and will air on Fairfax Public Access Channel 10 on Friday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, November 11 at 6:00 a.m.; and Wednesday, November 14 at 9:30 a.m. |
Community Garden News
Burgundy's Garden Committee is excited to announce that the Garden Haiku page is up and running! Check it out for all the latest and greatest news from the amazing Community Garden:
- When you log into Haiku, you will now see a link to the Garden Haiku page as a "Quick Link" on your Haiku portal
- Or, click here to access the site directly (login for the Garden Haiku page is the same as it is to access your child(ren)'s class pages)
Also, don't forget about the Garden Work Day this Sunday, October 28 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This work day will include three items in particular: sprucing up the strawberry bed, planting garlic, and making and installing row cover frames. There is a threat of inclement weather on Sunday, so please check the Garden Haiku page for up-to-the-minute announcements regarding the Work Day.
- Jane Hanson and Jill Reuter, Community Garden Co-Chairs
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| Affinity Program Renewal Deadlines
An easy way to support Burgundy is through our various affinity programs. Parents enrolled in affinity programs with eScrip (Safeway) must renew their commitment by November 1, 2012, and our rewards account with Giant Food was just opened for this year. Please click here for more information about Burgundy's affinity programs and registration instructions.
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Parting Pictures
Kindergarten students expand their Spanish vocabulary by exploring items in the "bolsita m ágica" with teacher Irčne Harris.  Students in all grades ventured to the 4/5 playground to enjoy the new equipment that was installed last week.  First-graders used the Library computers to type some of their writing assignments. |
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