When packing lunches and snacks, please remember that Burgundy strives to be a nut-free campus. Snacks must be nut-free and not processed on equipment that processes nuts. 

Thanks to all who supported the Auction on March 9, benefitting student financial aid. Anyone who still needs to pay for auction purchases or pick them up should coordinate with Allison Niedbala in the Advancement Office: allisonn@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0488.

Seventh-Graders Perform at American Ballet Theatre and Synetic Theater

Seventh-graders Elena Pipkin and Cassie Cope are treading the boards in April. Elena will perform April 11-14 at the Kennedy Center in American Ballet Theatre's Le Corsaire (The Pirate). Cassie will appear April 12-14 at Synetic Theater in Crystal City for its teen production of The Taming of the Shrew, part of the company's "Silent Shakespeare" series. Elena and Cassie's only regret is that they won't be able to see one another's performances! Good tickets are still available online for both Le Corsaire and The Taming of the Shrew.  The girls hope to see many friends in the audience!

One of the reasons I love teaching is because the field is constantly progressing with new research and information. Ongoing education for teachers is a pertinent way to maintain best practice in the classroom and ensure that lessons and explorations are developmentally appropriate. With this evolution comes the need to keep up with the influx of new information by attending classes, seminars, and workshops.

 

Last summer, Burgundy offered a hugely valuable and incredibly rare opportunity for the entire Kindergarten team to attend a conference dedicated solely to differentiated learning in Kindergarten. The five-day conference offered a variety of workshops and introduced our team to many new creative ideas and concepts that we have implemented in our classrooms. Some of my favorite seminars included:

• Teaching Gifted Kindergarteners: Presented by Katherine Kuhns, a teacher who has received numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Math and Science (an award given jointly by the White House and National Science Foundation), who offered research on how best to challenge our young learners and exercise their creativity.
• Scaffolding Math Activities: Another seminar from Katherine Kuhns, who discussed the importance of manipulatives, which help children move from concrete to abstract thinking. She also noted the necessity of experiencing math in multiple ways and gave ideas on how to differentiate instruction.
• The Learning Power of Music: Enrique Feldmen, an early childhood educator and two-time Grammy-nominated composer and artist, shared how music can improve learning environments. His seminars cited current research that found when your heart rate is slower, your brain can function quicker. He emphasized the benefits of music and how rhythm, rhyme and songs stimulate certain areas of the brain, and he gave examples of how to use music to set the context and tone of an activity.

In addition to implementing the strategies above, among others that I learned first-hand, I am also implementing ideas from the workshops my teammates attended as we continue to share ideas and inspiration gleaned over the summer. It has been such a reward to see the children so excited about math this year as they choose their manipulatives and use math mats to help them organize their work. They also love when I read a book with music in the background, and they have begun to request this new reading technique (if movies can use soundtracks to help tell their stories, then why can't Kindergarten teachers?). Plus, the music has inspired the children to create a band, write music and perform during an All School Meeting.

 

I am incredibly grateful to belong to a school and community that is so supportive in giving their teachers opportunities to improve their own education and therefore their students' educations.

 

Thank you,

Mandy Kimlick

Kindergarten Penguin Teacher 

 

To make a contribution toward Annual Giving, please contact Director of Advancement Jen Pusatere (jenp@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0466), or click here to donate online. 

National Arab-American Heritage Month is a great opportunity to introduce students to a wider diversity of citizens and culture than they typically encounter in the standard-issue history textbook.  By combining profiles of famous Arab-Americans with fun recipes, culturally-based craft projects, and a look at some classic Arabian folktales, you can offer them a wonderful glimpse into a culture that isn't often in the spotlight here in the U.S.

- From ClassroomJr.com

 

The Inclusivity Haiku page has more information about National Arab-American Heritage Month and other cultural, religious and social events. Some of the topics we'll highlight this month include:

•       April 6: Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints
•       April 11: President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act, 1964
•       April 13: Thai New Year, Lao New Year, Burmese New Year and Khmer New Year
•       April 14: Cultural Unity Day
•       April 16: Emancipation Day 
•       April 21: Kindergarten Day
•       April 22: Earth Day 

Because of a lack of attendance, there will no longer be Middle School Study Skills Group sessions on Tuesday mornings. Sessions are still available with Stephanie Borges, Middle School Learning Support Coordinator, in Maria's classroom on Wednesdays (12:05 to 12:40 p.m.) and Thursdays (3:15 to 4:15 p.m.). Upcoming themes include: 

 

April 10 & 11: Note Taking Tips

April 17 & 18: Overcoming Anxiety

April 24 & 25: Thinking Strategies

May 1 & 2: Understanding YOUR Learning Style

May 8 & 9: Managing Your Study Time

May 15 & 16: Good Listening in School 

May 22 & 23: Properly Following Directions 

May 29 & 30: ABC Brainstorming 

June 5 & 6: Improving Study Skills Over the Summer

 

Please contact Stephanie Borges (stephanieb@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0465) with any questions. 

Lloyd, Sofia - 6th

New email address for Tara Lloyd: taralloyd3#gmail.com

The City of Alexandria's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Department of Transportation and Environmental Services; and Environmental Policy Commission invites Burgundy community members to attend Alexandria Earth Day on Saturday, April 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria). The program is free, but food and beverages will be sold. Click here for more information.

Burgundy Dance Elective teacher Adrienne Magnuson is one of the coaches at the West Potomac High School (WPHS) Dance Camp and shares the information below with the Burgundy Community: 

Dance Camp 2: July 22-25 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ($140) 

Each camp will offer different dances and activities. Camps are offered to rising 1st through 9th Grade boys and girls, who will be coached by members of the WPHS Dance Team and coaching staff. Find registration forms at www.westpotomacsports.org or by contacting Adrienne Magnuson at addywady@aol.com. Checks can be made out to WABC (Wolverine Athletic Booster Club).

 
The 1st Grade Goats perform The Ugly Duckling in the Loft for an audience of family and friends.

Marcus Lewis '17 shares his experiment and findings with a group of seventh-graders and Lower School Science teacher Carol Schwartz during the Science Fair.

Students from the 2/3 classes are excited to return to Burgundy and reunite with friends after Spring Break.