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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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December 7, 2012
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Quick Calendar
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December 7
Pizza Day
December 10JV Basketball Sign-Ups (5th Grade, Space Permitting)
Varsity Basketball Practice
December 11JV Basketball Practice
Board Meeting
December 12
Varsity Basketball Practice
December 13
JV Basketball Practice
December 14Pizza Day
Community Advisory Group Meeting
Middle School Dance
December 20Festival of Lights
12:45 p.m. Dismissal
No Afternoon Bus Service
No Afternoon Extended Day
December 21
Winter Break Begins
Faculty In-Service Day
Extended Day Open
Click here for a full calendar.
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Greetings!
This Tuesday, our 2/3 Viceroys class had the privilege of visiting the Supreme Court, meeting Justice Elena Kagan and observing part of an oral argument; and I had the rare privilege of participating in this field trip with them.
I loved seeing the students walk into the East Conference Room, watching their eyes light up at the chandeliers, the desks, the paintings and the "hammer" (as they referred to the gavel). I proudly watched them interact with the curators, who complimented us on their knowledge and curiosity. It was so clear that this full-sensory moment for our students was instantly immortalized in their minds and memories.
This particular field trip was organized by parent Deanne Maynard as a supplement to our government curriculum. For weeks, our 2/3 students have been studying the three branches of the government. During social studies, they discussed the difference between a city, state and country; they learned how these three levels work together to run a government; they learned about the U.S. Constitution and drafted their own classroom constitution. During language arts, they read various stories that vicariously took them through anything and everything a person can do in our nation's capital, from walking the museums to the visiting monuments. Once we heard that Deanne had coordinated a trip to the Supreme Court, the students began more specific preparations by discussing the various people they would see during their field trip and what each person's role would be, from the justices to the marshals to the lawyers to the gallery.
During Tuesday's field trip, our students showcased what they had learned by putting their knowledge into action. What they thought was a simple game of tic tac toe quickly escalated into a make-believe district court case when one of the curators violated an unspoken rule of the game. After an appeal, the case moved to "circuit court," and eventually, our students role played as the eight justices and the chief justice when the case made its way to the "Supreme Court." How many of us, as parents, can imagine role playing as the Supreme Court justices inside the Supreme Court? These kinds of experiences not only bring learning to life, but ensure our students remember for a lifetime what they learn (and how they learned it). Meeting and speaking with Justice Kagan and observing part of an oral argument was icing on the cake.
Our integrated approach to curriculum in the classroom is already deep and comprehensive, but at Burgundy, we go further. Burgundy students are fortunate to have so many enriching opportunities at their fingertips thanks to our proximity to DC, the support of our involved parents, and the passion of our dedicated faculty who constantly find ways to tie local experiences into our curriculum to make the learning more meaningful and memorable for our students.
I don't have enough opportunities to thank all of you -- parents and teachers alike -- for making these opportunities possible and for enriching our students' Burgundy experience. You make magical moments happen every day.
Thank you!
Kari Cafeo
Lower School Head
The 2/3 Viceroys had the chance to meet Justice Kagan at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, an experience some of them described as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Click here to read some of the other highlights of the day, according to the students. |
Experiences like these are made possible thanks to your generous contributions to Burgundy's Annual Giving fund. |
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Reminders
Invitation to Participate in Community Advisory Group: December 14 Meeting in the Loft
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 that 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. 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 Loft (not the West Barn Conference Room) . If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Stephanie Borges (stephanieb@burgundyfarm.org).
Festival of Lights at 10:00 a.m. 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. |
 Kindergarten Penguins Express Thanks for Lunch Concert
On Thursday, November 29, teachers and administrators showcased their musical talents at a lunch concert in the Loft. Students, teachers, staff and administrators gathered together to enjoy the performances. The Kindergarten Penguins loved the music, and later shared their favorite pieces of the concert:
Cade: My favorite part was when Joe sang because he had an accent. Church: My favorite part was when Emily was singing because she is our music teacher. Colby: I liked the violin because I liked the music about it.
Ella: I liked when Emily sang because she is our music teacher and when Joe sang because it was in another language. Ellie: I liked that we had lunch there. I liked the music, it was good. Emil: My favorite was Peter Pan's song. Hannah: My favorite part was that we got to clap. I liked that we ate lunch there. Mason: I liked the singing. I liked the song by Lori.
Matias: I liked seeing Mitch, my drumming teacher, on the stage. Natalie: My favorite part was everything. Sawyer: My favorite part was when Joe sang "Marie" in a crazy language. It was so funny, and I laughed. I like when Lori sang "A Charlie Brown Christmas Carol." I like how Mitch played the drums so crazy, and the violin player doing the stringy violins, and Cathy playing the lovely, peaceful piano. Sidonie: I liked when Peter sang the funny song and when Emily and the violin player sang.
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 Student SpotlightCongratulations, Girls on the Run!
We are so pleased to share that Burgundy's Girls on the Run team completed their season with a 5K race at Jiffy Lube Live on Sunday, November 21. It was an inspiring morning with more than 10,000 runners, and our Burgundy 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade girls were happy to be part of it. The race celebrated healthy lifestyles, self-confidence, fitness and "girl power" for the Burgundy girls and much of the Northern Virginia community. Check out our team picture, and if you see one of the girls around campus, please give her a shout-out!
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BCWS Camp Dates Announced
REJOICE! For unto you who plan your entire summer around camp, the Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies (BCWS) Summer camp dates are available for 2013! SENIOR CAMP (ages 11 - 15): Session 1: June 23 - July 6 Session 2: July 9 - 23 Session 3: July 30 - August 12 JUNIOR CAMP (ages 8 - 10): August 18 - 24 ADULT WEEKEND (ages 21+): (Yes, there really are quite a few adults who just can't get enough of Cooper's Cove, especially when there are no dishes to do, the stream hammock is open, the pond is warm, and wine is served before dinner) July 26 - 28 More information, including pricing, will be available soon. If you have any immediate questions, please contact BCWS Registrar Michele McCabe (michelem@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0470). |
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Board Briefs: Board Meeting on December 11
Burgundy's Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, December 11 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Loft. Burgundy parents are welcome to attend. At the meeting, the Board will review the preliminary 2013-2014 budget, audit report and investment report. If you would like to attend, please email President of the Board of Trustees Holly Sloan (smithsloan@aol.com) to ensure that there is plenty of seating.
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 Annual Giving
$250,000 to Help Our Teachers and Our ChildrenThe Burgundy community is united by its commitment to help each student realize his or her full potential as a student and as a person. The experiences that Burgundy students have are truly special. Running an independent school is expensive. With your help, cost won't get in our way of providing these unique opportunities to our students. The richness of our programs, the excellence of our faculty, and the economic diversity of our student body are all enhanced by the voluntary financial support of our community. Annual Giving serves as the most critical fundraising effort of the year as the funds raised support our operating budget. This year our Annual Giving goal is $250,000 and is focused in three areas: Program and Instruction, Financial Aid, and Professional Development. You will continue to read in future issues of Constant Comment how your gift to Annual Giving supports these three areas throughout the year. If you would like to make a gift immediately, click here or call Director of Advancement Jen Pusatere (703.842.0466). |
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Parting Pictures
Kindergarten Penguins make the most of a beautiful day by playing instruments together outside. First-graders learn about perspective as they draw landscapes in Art class that correspond with their wolves unit. Sixth-graders collaborate to write a script of a Hero's Journey before bringing the story to life on camera during Humanities class. |
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