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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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November 30, 2012
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Quick Calendar
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December 1
Open House
December 3
Varsity Boys' Basketball Try-Outs
December 5
Varsity Girls' Basketball Try-Outs
December 6
Student Recital
December 7
Pizza Day
JV Basketball Sign-Ups (6th Grade Only)
December 10
JV Basketball Sign-Ups (5th Grade, Space Permitting)
December 11
Board Meeting
December 14
Pizza Day
Open House
Click here for a full calendar.
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Greetings!
Part of my job is to ensure that our program, operations and strategic thinking each and all reflect Burgundy's core values.
As a school we believe in hands-on learning and learning in and from Nature, and we believe we have a responsibility to care for our natural environment; we believe also that communities are strengthened by diversity. Therefore, we believe in collaboration that honors differences and derives the benefits of diversity and inclusion; and we believe in creativity and innovation.
The infusion of these values at Burgundy plays out in the nurturing and development of young people who are competent and confident citizen-leaders. The keeping of these values requires vigilance and intentionality. And careful planning! This week I am excited to announce two ways in which we are facilitating the necessary planning to accomplish these goals.
First, we are introducing a school-wide advisory group on Community, Welcome and Inclusion (CWI) to help ensure Burgundy achieves its mission to provide a safe, nurturing, inclusive community for all of our diverse students and families. I encourage you to read more about that group in the article below and to get involved in these discussions.
In addition to an emphasis on community, one of Burgundy's most distinctive offerings is our campus -- our outdoor classroom. We put much emphasis on taking care of our buildings and our campus. We've had detailed buildings and environmental assessments over the years that took into account feedback from not only teachers but students and parents. Those assessments led to campus master planning, again with the input of our various constituents; and that planning has yielded our current construction plans in the Campus Renewal Initiative.
As I noted, our campus literally is our most wonderful classroom, so our first phase of campus renewal work focuses on outdoor learning spaces: the pond, the central campus play area along with the garden and soon-to-be-planted orchard, and our entryway. Our phase one work will model for students responsible storm water management, for instance, and the work we do will integrate play with sustainable management of water....how cool is that?
Last Tuesday after Grandparents Day we received our final approval for our SEA (Special Exception Amendment). This approval allows us to begin work following one more approval of a site plan that details our specific plans. Because Fairfax County now is very familiar with our plans, we are hopeful that the work can begin before long. In fact, we hope the site plan approval will occur this winter.
It's an exciting time, as we build on our heritage, connecting our core values with our strategic plans to ensure that this campus and this educational experience are maintained, sustained and even enhanced for future generations of Burgundy students! As always, we appreciate the interest and support of the entire Burgundy family. We plan to host information and input sessions through the coming months to provide opportunities for feedback as we move forward. Stay tuned! Sincerely, 
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
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In Honor of December
I Heard a Bird Sing By Oliver Herford I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
A magical thing
And sweet to remember. "We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,"
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December. Remember to stop by the Diversity Haiku page to learn more about cultural, religious and social events throughout the month of December. Some of the topics we'll highlight this month include: - World AIDS Day
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Ashura (Islamic, Muslim)
- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- Hanukkah (Jewish)
- Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
- Human Rights Day
- HumanLight (Humanist)
- Christmas (Christian, Roman Catholic, international)
- Kwanzaa (African American)
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| Festival of Lights on December 20
On Thursday, December 20, we will celebrate different holiday traditions and customs from around the world in the Festival of Lights. The program will begin at 10 a.m. and include traditional holiday songs and other student performances that celebrate different cultures. It is a wonderful way for the Burgundy community to gather together before the winter break.
Dismissal for the day is at 12:45 p.m. Many classes will have holiday parties or rituals after the program. Please check with teachers for those details. Please remember there is no Extended Day or bus service that afternoon. There will be morning Extended Day.
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Introducing the Middle School Resource Page on Haiku
By popular demand the Middle School brings you the Middle School Resource Page. This page is a one-stop shop for all of your Middle School needs. When you log in to Haiku you will notice the Middle School Resource Page link in the upper right corner, near the Diversity link and Garden link. Included on the site is a message from Middle School Head Jason Gordon, All-School Counselor Elizabeth Schachter, and Middle School Learning Support Coordinator Stephanie Borges. Thanks to the expertise of our Middle School Assistant and Database Manager Kathleen Hennessey, this page is now live, interactive and functional. You will find an up-to-date all-school calendar, information about Middle School events and activities, as well as resources from our counselor and learning support coordinator. There is also information about pizza days, dances and the 8th Grade high school search process. We hope that you find this page helpful and useful.
- Stephanie, Elizabeth and Kathleen |
Your Invitation to Make a Difference
Are we providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, staff and parents? To determine our progress and our needs in this area we have created a school-wide advisory group on Community, Welcome and Inclusion (CWI).
CWI will meet periodically to help identify what makes the Burgundy community special. We will discuss how we might build on relationships, activities, events and our community norms going forward. The goal of this advisory group is to make sure that we are celebrating all of our community's wonderful and diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Please join us in this exciting and challenging effort to help identify ways to make Burgundy the kind of community that is truly welcoming and inclusive of all. Our first meeting will be on Friday, December 14 at 8:40 a.m. in the West Barn Conference Room. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Stephanie (stephanieb@burgundyfarm.org). |
 Student SpotlightPatrick Sansone Wins Song-Writing Competition
For the second consecutive year Patrick Sansone '13 won the Alexandria Choral Society's Winter Carol Competition. As the winner of this song-writing contest, Patrick will have his song performed by the award-winning Alexandria Choral Society at their Holiday Concert at the George Washington Masonic Memorial on Saturday, December 1 at 8:00 p.m. Emily McCrory surprised Patrick when she sang his 2011 award-winning carol at Thursday's lunchtime concert, with Cathy Manley accompanying on piano (pictured).
Isaac Ahdoot Performs with Concert Orchestra
Isaac Ahdoot '16 will play clarinet with the Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra at their December 9 concert at 3:00 p.m. Episcopal High School (Pendleton Hall, 1200 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria). The Burgundy community is welcome to attend and enjoy the concert.
Cassie Cope in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Cassie Cope '14 will play Ollie Herdman, one of six rambunctious children who challenge a community's understanding of what it means to fit in, in Synetic Theater's production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets to a performance (December 15 through 27).
Burgundy Students in The Nutcracker this Weekend
Mia Colaizzi '18, Sarah King '19 and Emma Cullen '11 will perform in the Alexandria Dance community production of The Nutcracker this weekend at West Potomac High School. Shows are Friday and Saturday evening, with a Saturday matinee. Audience members are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for a food drive Emma is coordinating for the Carpenter's Shelter. For performance times and tickets please click here. |
 Community Service Highlights
Bikes for the World
On Sunday, November 18, 16 Middle School students and their parents became bike mechanics for a day, helping to break down 41 bicycles and two sewing machines that our school and neighboring community had donated to the organization Bikes for the World. This organization collects bicycles and bike parts for delivery to community development programs in more than 12 countries, providing affordable transportation to laborers, business people, farmers, health workers and students. The bikes donated in this particular collection will go specifically to high school students in a town in the Philippines. The town's elementary school is within walking distance from the children's homes, but the high school is six miles away. Providing bikes to the high school students will lessen the chance that they will drop out of school. What a terrifically worthy cause for Burgundy students! Thanks to those in our community who donated their bikes as well as those who volunteered.
Toys for Tots
Patrick '13 and Nicholas '15 Sansone are organizing this year's Toys for Tots drive on campus through Tuesday, December 4. If you would like to participate, you may place new, unwrapped toys appropriate for children up to age 12 in one of the Toys for Tots boxes (in each of the classrooms). The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.
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The Burgundy Garden: Growing, Teaching, Giving
"Oh, thank goodness!" This was the excited response Jan Foster received from the friendly people at ALIVE! when she dropped off fresh produce from Burgundy's garden last Tuesday.
"This is the true meaning of Thanksgiving," says Jan. "When I loaded all the greens in their fridge, it had indeed been empty until that point. It was a gratifying moment."
Jan is a Burgundy parent and the Food Bank Coordinator for the Burgundy Garden Committee, and she has revived our relationship with ALIVE!, a community organization working to help those in need in Alexandria.
At the beginning of the school year, our volunteer community prepared the garden beds, coordinated with classrooms for planting, and dutifully watered and weeded with a dream of being able to provide fresh produce to a local food bank.
At the first harvest in October, they delivered to ALIVE! an abundance of lettuce, radishes and lima beans. This was followed by the pre-Thanksgiving delivery of three huge bags of lettuce, two bags of Swiss chard, and another of spinach and radishes!
This is EXACTLY what the Garden Committee set out to achieve, and they hope to continue this level of success. Burgundy students learn by planting the seeds and watching them grow, the community helps maintain the garden, and we all reap the rewards of giving back to our neighboring community!
We hope to continue to learn, grow and give. The Burgundy garden is a gift!
- Jill Reuter and Jane Hanson, Garden Committee Co-Chairs
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| Campus Renewal Initiative Update
On November 20, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Burgundy's Special Exception Amendment (SEA) application. This was the fourth and final meeting to secure the tentative permission necessary to proceed with our Campus Renewal Initiative, which will now be dependent upon site plan approvals for each phase of work. Many thanks to Scott Cullen, Beata Corcoran, and the Buildings and Grounds Committee for their expertise and immense amounts of work to get us this far.
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Calling All Federal Employees
For those of you who work for the government (or any other organization that partakes in a United Way/Combined Federal Campaign), you may make charitable contributions to Burgundy through your workplace, either as a direct gift or through payroll deduction. Tax regulations require Burgundy to receive all pledges in writing. Please send a copy of the UW/CFC payroll deduction form to the Advancement Office.
Burgundy's United Way number is 8380, and the CFC number is 15325. |
| Splendid Portraits Discount Code
Splendid Portraits is offering a 15% discount code (HOLIDAY15) for orders placed by December 15. Orders placed by that date are guaranteed for holiday delivery. If you have any questions about ordering your child's student portrait, please contact Cathy Guertin (cathyg@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0469).
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