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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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April 19, 2013
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Quick Calendar
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April 20
Board Meeting
April 21
Garden Work Day
April 22
Lacrosse Practice
Softball Practice
April 24
Lacrosse Practice
Student Music Recital
April 25
Lacrosse v. Potomac School (home)
Softball Practice
April 26
Pizza Day
May 1
Lacrosse Practice
May 2
1st Grade Sheep to Cove
Softball Practice
May 3
Pizza Day
1st Grade Sheep from Cove
Click here for a full calendar.
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Greetings!
At Burgundy, we have some great learning traditions, and, as with any good school and especially as a good progressive school, we constantly evolve and explore new ways to make learning meaningful for our students, which leads to exciting new traditions.
One particularly spectacular Burgundy academic tradition has been our seventh-graders observing open heart surgery each year.
Our students, thanks to arrangements secured by science teacher Doug Fishman and Burgundy parents, have visited the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute each spring since 1995 to observe an open heart surgery as part of our 7th Grade science curriculum. The experience of observing the surgery offers many benefits for our students. For all, it offers rare real-life experience in (actually above) an operating room, bringing depth to their biology studies. For some, the experience even inspires future medical studies. For a few, it may ease anxieties surrounding family members' heart health. For many, if not all, we hope the observation offers insight into heart health and healthy decision-making, providing motivation to each to take ownership of one's physical and nutritional wellness.
A possible new tradition began Wednesday, when our sixth-graders hosted an exposition in the Loft. The expo served as a culmination of in-depth study of an ocean ecosystem of students' choosing, each giving presentations to family, friends and faculty. For several weeks, the students investigated currents and physical ocean studies and on their own explored how these concepts affected different ecosystems around the world. The results were a great deal of learning, not only for students but for all fortunate enough (as I was briefly) to visit the expo and be treated to a summary of the various projects.
Nothing is more exciting to me than standing with a Burgundy student who is telling me about all he or she has learned. We know that one of the highest retentions of learning results from teaching what we've learned to others (as high as 90% retention, compared to as low as 5% when we think about what is lectured or "taught at" students). Hence, not only is it fun to be taught something by one of our students and to see peer-to-peer teaching, these observations remind us of what works best in learning! Here's to our teachers in their many efforts to afford students real world experience and the opportunity to demonstrate what they are learning by teaching it to others.
Sincerely,
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
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| Reminders
Auction Item Payment and Pick Up
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.
2013 Lois and Eric Sevareid Forum
The Future of Flourishing: Creating Childhood Wellbeing
At Burgundy, we prepare our students for success by educating and nurturing the whole child. Since 1946, we have operated with the foundational belief that care for the whole child is the foundation for all learning and growth. Join us on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gym to hear from Gail C. Christopher , DN, Vice President at the Kellogg Foundation, and Wayne B. Jonas , MD, President and CEO of the Samueli Institute, as they discuss the current reality of "unwellness" that many American children face and describe how we, as parents and educators, can support healthy development for our children and, as a result, a better future for our children and our nation. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door, though registration is required. Please click here to register.
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| Earth Week at Burgundy
As many of you know, Burgundy celebrates Earth Day in a big way! In fact, we extend the celebration for an entire week (April 22 - April 26). Following many brainstorm sessions
(and many ideas from Middle School students!), each day next week will honor a different theme. Though our celebrations will generate on campus, many of them will benefit our wider community. Below is some information about what some classes may be doing and how you can get involved:
- Monday is Zero Waste Day: To help us learn more about the waste we generate each day, many students may choose to collect trash in reusable or biodegradable bags, and all community members are encouraged to go paperless!
- Tuesday is Endangered Wildlife Day: Many students may choose to collect facts at home about endangered animals before coming to school on Tuesday, and classes may spend some time generating ideas for how to help save endangered species. Help your children choose an endangered animal from his or her stuffed animal collection to bring to school for a display (stuffed animals will be returned).
- Wednesday is Reuse, Recycle Day: Parents, send your children to school with your old towels and blankets. We'll collect them in the classrooms and donate them to local animal shelters. Students are also encouraged to make costumes out of recycled materials to wear at a fashion show at the All School Meeting that morning!
- Thursday is Sustainable Food Day and Burgundy's Earth Day: In addition to cleaning up the campus and Burgundy Road, many of our students will work in gardens across campus, including the Community Garden. Please be sure to pack a waste-free lunch for your child to enjoy with his or her buddy class on the hill while hearing from alumna Margaret Evans '02, who with Kevin Brown '01 has recently started Groundworks Farm. Parents are invited to lunch on the hill to listen to Margaret's story and to get more information about this new CSA with local pick-ups. Lunch begins at 12:00 p.m.
- Friday is Grow Our Earth Day: Several classes will be participating in gardening-related activities across campus -- from painting "rock critters" for the Community Garden to planting flower boxes or an herb garden, our students will be sowing seeds for the future! As well, some students will fill burlap bags with compost, which will be available for parents to purchase for $5 (to cover the cost of the bag). If you are interested in purchasing a bag of compost for your garden, please email Linda Giordano (lindag@burgundyfarm.org) by the end of the day on Monday, April 22.
We will be posting pictures of some of our Earth Week projects on Facebook and in next week's Constant Comment. If you have any questions about Earth Day, please contact your child's teacher and Sustainability Coordinator Doug Fishman (dougf@burgundyfarm.org).
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 Student Spotlight
Burgundy Destination Imagination Teams Compete at States, Globals
Congratulations to Burgundy's three Destination Imagination (DI) teams who competed at the state competition on April 13. All three teams worked hard and demonstrated creative problem solving and excellent teamwork. Both 4/5 teams, The Awesome Waffle Warriors and Wheely Awesome, showed grace under fire and overcame several technical challenges, which resulted in Wheely Awesome finishing 5th in the state. The Middle School team competed in two separate challenges and won 1st place for "Windvisible," which combined the science of wind energy with kinetic art and an original theatrical performance. As a result, the Middle School team will be traveling to the global competition in Knoxville, TN, May 22-25.
Burgundy Bands Perform at Old Town Theater
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 27, when you can hear music from a variety of bands -- including two with Burgundy roots -- perform at Old Town Theater in Alexandria. Evan Roper '16 will play with his band SPORK, and Perry Conner '11, Kent Jenkins '11, Ian Lloyd '11 and Luis Milburn '10 will play with their band Fuse Box. The show starts at 6:00 p.m., and you can purchase tickets here.
Ella Fishman '13 Helps the Homeless for Bat Mitzvah Project
Please help the homeless families and children of the D.C. General Shelter by donating running clothes and shoes for girls in 2nd through 6th Grade. We also need shirts for men and boys, girls' clothes, baby accessories, storage bins, pots and pans, clothing hangers, and clean trash cans. We also really need DIAPERS. Donation bins will be in the Middle School and in the Loft from April 22 through May 15. Thank you for your help!
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Music Boxes: Guest Performers
Matt Loosigian Brings Earth Jams to Burgundy
On Thursday, musician Matt Loosigian visited some of the Lower School classes before entertaining the entire Lower School at an assembly in the Loft. Matt's music weaves messages of environmental stewardship, peace and compassion with humor and silliness. First-graders enjoyed singing dances during their PE classes, Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes enjoyed classroom sing-a-longs, and the 2/3 Viceroys and Buckeyes enjoyed songwriting workshops. At the afternoon assembly, Matt shared his music with all the Lower School classes.
Integriti Reeves '02 to Visit on Friday, April 26
Next week, Integriti Reeves '02, who has had recent success on NBC's The Sing Off as part of the singing group Afro Blue and who is one of Strathmore's current artists in residence, will return to Burgundy to lead a vocal jazz workshop with Middle School students before performing in a school-wide lunch concert. All parents are welcome to join us for the lunch concert from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater on Friday, April 26.
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Spring Enrichment Sessions in Extended Day
Extended Day's Spring Enrichment sessions begin May 6 and will continue for four weeks through May 31 (Monday enrichment classes will end on June 3 due to the Memorial Day holiday). Our enrichment classes provide an excellent opportunity for children to broaden their minds, gain new experiences, and develop specific skills and interests in the company of other Burgundy students. Please click here to open a packet of information, including an Enrollment Form. Please return enrollment forms to the Main Office no later than Friday, April 26. If you have any questions, please contact Janice Kinard-Bean (janicek@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0480). |
| Garden Work Day: April 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Help kick off Earth Week with some time in the Community Garden. Everyone is invited to come to the Garden on Sunday, April 20, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. to help us prepare the area for the Sunflower House! We will start with roto-tilling and building a bamboo frame, and there are always weeds to pick and dirt to turn. It will be loads of fun! Bring the kids and enjoy some rewarding work in the sunshine with other Burgundy families. The weather is supposed to be perfect, and our Community Garden Co-Chairs Jane Hanson and Jill Reuter will be on hand to guide beginner gardeners and answer questions. All necessary tools will be provided, though you are welcome to bring your own.
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 Annual Giving UpdateWe're Only $53,719 from our Goal! Thanks to everyone who has already made their pledges or donations toward Burgundy's Annual Giving Fund. You've raised $196,281 to date, 79% of our $250,000 goal. Annual Giving is our most critical fundraising effort of the year, and it supports program and instruction, financial aid and professional development.
Please contact Director of Advancement Jen Pusatere (jenp@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0466) to ask for more information or to make a donation.
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| Handbook Updates
Johnson, Morgan - 1st Grade Sheep (New Student)
Jennifer Johnson: jlj.jenniferleigh#yahoo.com
1313 South Fair Street, #1212
Arlington, VA 22202
571.205.9296.
Sansone, Patrick - 8th
Sansone, Nicholas - 6th
Rod Sansone: Remove rsansone#catapultconsultants.com from address books and replace it with rodmansansone#gmail.com
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