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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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May 3, 2013
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Quick Calendar
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May 3
Pizza Day
1st Grade Sheep from Cove
May 6
6th Grade to the Cove
Lacrosse Practice
3rd Grade Recital
May 7
6th Grade at the Cove
May 8
6th Grade from Cove
Lacrosse Practice
May 9
1st Grade Goats to Cove
Lacrosse v. Trinity Meadow at Meadow View
May 10
Pizza Day
1st Grade Goats from Cove
Lacrosse v. St. Ignatius (home)
May 13
Book Fair
Lacrosse Practice
May 14
Book Fair
May 15
7th Grade to the Cove
Book Fair
Lacrosse Practice
May 16
7th Grade at the Cove
Book Fair
8th Grade Musical
May 17
7th Grade from the Cove
Volunteer Recognition Coffee
Book Fair
8th Grade Musical
May 18
8th Grade Musical
May 19
Garden Work Day
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Greetings! Dear (Contact First Name),
Last Friday, just before carpool, I was wandering the campus on the final day of our Earth Week celebrations. I don't spend nearly as much time on our grounds as I would like, but I was able to register and witness the following wonderful moments that bring us to this school:
- four Kindergarteners racing into the Advancement building all chattering and excited about putting together Care Packages for recent Burgundy alumni;
- parents and students finishing up the digging and planting of our Community Garden - now totally transformed for Spring;
- stepping around a group of our tiny Lower School students as they empathized and expressed their concerns about a one-winged carpenter bee they had found - and their teachers letting them;
- listening to my third-grader rave about her day trip to the Chesapeake Bay where she and her classmates were able to put on waders, toss the wide nets, and capture the fish and flora before releasing them;
- chatting with another mom about the upcoming Colonial Unit at Coopers Cove -- an experience I treasured and will hopefully, and happily, do again;
- overhearing (okay eavesdropping on) my sixth-grader and her friends discussing the last Middle School Dance of the year and how they really needed to be kind and gracious to the rising fifth-graders who were invited to the dance.
All these moments occurred in perhaps 20 minutes' time but speak absolute volumes about how special Burgundy is. After eight years, I finally understand what progressive education really is, and to me, the true tenant of a progressive school is the learning through experience; learning through doing, not just through a book or a lecture, but by participation. This is not an easy way to teach, and it takes a real effort from all of us to embrace and instill the school's mission and goals. We are a different school in so many terrific ways. I encourage you to embrace these differences and support them -- support our teachers, our students and our campus -- by donating to Annual Giving. This community is worth your commitment.
I leave you with my final Friday observation: as Lori Adams, Director of Admission, was giving a parent a tour of Burgundy, I interrupted her to say hello, and as I walked away, I yelled over my shoulder, "I have two kids here; it's worth every penny."
I'd like to ask you, if you haven't already, to take a few moments now to make your contribution to Annual Giving. It's worth every penny.
Sincerely,
Seileen Mullen
Annual Giving Chairperson |
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| Reminders
Eighth-Graders Coordinate Bake Sale Fundraiser: May 9 and May 14
To help raise money for their Legacy Gift to the School, "The Slide," students in the Class of 2013 are coordinating a Bake Sale. During lunch on Thursday, May 9, they will sell healthy treats, nut-free granola bars, small popcorn bags, etc., to Middle School students, teachers, staff and administrators at the picnic table in front of the Middle School entrance. They will continue their efforts on Tuesday, May 14 during afternoon carpool on the Blacktop, and parents and kids can buy a snack before they head into the Library for the Book Fair. Anonymous donors have agreed to match the total monies the students raise. We hope you'll support them in reaching their goals!
Eighth Grade Musical, Damn Yankees: May 16-18
On Thursday, May 16, the eighth-graders will debut their three-night run of the musical comedy Damn Yankees. Just in time for baseball season, these young actors will bring to the stage a story of one loyal Senators fan who exchanges his soul with the devil for a chance to help his favorite team beat the "damn Yankees." Performances are Thursday, May 16; Friday, May 17; and Saturday, May 18. Tickets can be purchased at the door ($5 for adults, $1 for students).
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 Annual Giving Update
We're Only $51,608 from our Goal!
Thanks to everyone who has already made their pledges or donations toward Burgundy's Annual Giving Fund. You've raised $198,392 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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 Student Spotlight:
Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees is such an incredible show, not only for its catchy and upbeat songs, timeless humor, and colorful characters, but also because of its story. The classic good versus evil tale is spiced up with a bubbly sports twist: America's pastime. Much like a baseball game, Damn Yankees is the kind of endeavor everyone can enjoy!
Certainly, nobody could have done a better job with the script than our class. The Class of 2013 combines talent, spirit and fun for an unforgettable show. I've been waiting 10 long years for the chance to get up on that stage with my friends and put on a musical that will be talked about a decade later. There is that certain energy when we all come together as a class that will be clear from the farthest seat in the house. The show has brought us closer together: from the many rehearsals to the exciting Nationals game, we continue to grow and learn about how to give back to Burgundy through our performance.
On behalf of my entire class, I invite you to come enjoy Damn Yankees. I guarantee it will be a presentation you don't want to miss. We have worked hard to make it a spectacular musical and an appropriate way to say goodbye to Burgundy, and we promise that you will love it just as much as you would a game of baseball! Thank you.
- Mae Hunt '13
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Burgundy Book Fair: May 13-17
May 13 - May 17, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily
Open Thursday and Friday nights before the musical (until 7:30 p.m.)
Come and get your summer reading! Burgundy's annual sale of new books will begin Monday, May 13. Classes will visit the Library to look at the books, and each student will bring a list of books and games home to consider for purchase. Parents are welcome to return with their children to browse, or may send in money with which to purchase the books. Pay by credit card, cash or check (made payable to BFCDS). Come before the 8th Grade musical on Thursday or Friday night. A percentage of each sale supports the Library program. Hope to see you there!
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 Community Service Spotlight
Sixth-Graders and Buddies Honor the Class of 2013
Following a long-standing tradition, sixth-graders planted flowers in the beds and in planters around the entrance to the Middle School to honor the graduating class. This year, for the first time, students planted the flowers on Earth Day (rather than toward the end of May), so that the plants will have a chance to grow and mature before graduation. The flowers planted last week will (hopefully!) be in full bloom on June 6.
Also for the first time, sixth-graders planted along with their 1st Grade buddies, who did a wonderful job of putting the plants into the earth. Jeff Moore, 6th Grade parent and Class Garden Coordinator, took charge of designing the plantings, purchasing the plants, and supervising the planting. Many thanks to him for his generosity, expertise and patience.
 Burgundy Renews Relationship with VDEM's Adopt a Highway ProgramAfter a hiatus of several years, Burgundy reactivated its membership in the Virginia Department of Transportation "Adopt a Highway Program" as part of its commitment to the community surrounding the school. Burgundy students will clean Burgundy Road four times a year. As part of the program, sixth-graders on April 25 picked up trash, separated recyclables, and tallied what they found. In addition, for Earth Day, seventh-graders cleaned Norton Road, and eighth-graders cleaned side streets off Burgundy Road. |
| Sports Update
On Monday, Burgundy's Lacrosse team earned its first win of the year, 13-11, versus St. Thomas Aquinas at home. The team played very unselfishly, and several players scored with nearly all the goals being assisted.
Monday's softball game against St. Thomas Aquinas was cancelled due to the rain.
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Community Service Opportunity for Middle School Students: May 11
Each year at this time, members of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) collect food as they deliver mail, then deliver that food to local agencies for distribution among those in need of food assistance. Two of those agencies are ALIVE (Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically) in the City of Alexandria and The Koinonia Foundation (our neighbors right up Franconia Road). Both need help on Saturday, May 11, with sorting and storing the food that the postal carriers collect. The opportunities are as follows:
ALIVE
ALIVE needs a total of four groups of 4-5 Middle School students, each accompanied by an adult, working at two different sites (see below) from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. We are hoping that groups of 4-5 friends, along with one adult, can sign up together. The tasks include sorting the food in the USPS bins by type, then loading onto the truck. ALIVE may ask one group to follow the USPS trucks to the warehouse to help unload the racks. The sites are:
International Trade Center (340 S. Picket Street, Alexandria, VA 22304):
Parking is in front of the post office. Volunteers should walk around the building to report to the back loading dock. If parents are dropping off students, they should drive around the end of the row where the post office is located to the loading dock.
Main Alexandria Post Office (2226 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314): It is complicated to get into, so we recommend that you Google it - you'll get exact directions. Parents should walk their children to the loading dock and meet our representative there.
The Koinonia Foundation
The Koinonia Foundation (6037 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310) needs Middle School and adult volunteers from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. to help sort and store food.
Please contact Charlene Pritzker (charlenep@burgundyfarm.org or 703.960.3431 x513) if you would like to help at any of these sites, or if you have any questions.
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Alumni Speak on May 21
Eighth-graders, please join us on Tuesday, May 21, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Atrium for Alumni Speak. Burgundy alumni from the Classes of 2009 through 2012 will return to campus to share their experiences transitioning to high school. Parents are also welcome to attend.
To help us plan accordingly, please click here to register.
If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Hennessey: kathleenh@burgundyfarm.org.
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May is Military Appreciation Month
Head over to the Inclusivity Haiku page to learn more about Military Appreciation Month and other cultural, religious and social events. Some of the topics we'll highlight this month include:
- May 3: World Press Freedom Day
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- May 15: International Day of Families
- May 18: Israel's Independence Day (Yom Ha'Atzma'Ut)
- May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
- May 27: Memorial Day
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| BPA Corner: Lost and Found, May 13-15
As you visit campus for the Book Fair, look for a tent outside the Loft where the Burgundy Parent Association (BPA) is setting up the final Lost and Found collection of the year. The items (sweatshirts, pants, water bottles, hats and gloves, winter boots, rain boots, and umbrellas)* will be at the tent throughout the day on Monday, May 13 through Wednesday, May 15. Any items not collected will be donated to Ella Fishman '13 to support her clothing drive for the DC General Shelter. If you have any questions, please contact BPA President Nancy Weissman (echoivus@aol.com).
*A Kindle with a black leather cover has been lost and will not be at the tent. If you are the owner, please pick it up from Geraldine Portillo at the Main Office.
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Cove Chaperone Survey Results
In January 2012, we sent a brief survey to all parents who had children attending Cove trips at the time. The responses were essay-style, so we have just recently tabulated and organized all of the answers into a format that is easily shared (though we began implementing some of the ideas gathered immediately). To access the summary of the results, please click here.
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Burgundy Bulletin
Burgundy Alum Available for Summer Tutoring
Tori Stringfellow '06, who attended Burgundy for nine years and worked at Burgundy's Summer Day Camp for five years, is available to tutor students this summer in math, science, French, and English. She is a rising senior at Yale University, and she is studying Political Science. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Last summer, she studied abroad in Paris. For more information, email Tori: victoria.stringfellow@yale.edu.
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