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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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May 24, 2013
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Quick Calendar
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May 24
Pizza Day
May 27
Memorial Day Holiday: School Closed
May 28
8th Grade Wilderness Adventure
May 29
4/5 Coopers to Cove
8th Grade Wilderness Adventure
6th Grade Instrumental Recital
May 30
4/5 Coopers at Cove
8th Grade Wilderness Adventure
May 31
4/5 Coopers from the Cove
June 3
No Bus Service: SSSAS Closed
4/5 Redtails to the Cove
June 4
4/5 Redtails at the Cove
June 5
4/5 Redtails from the Cove
June 6
No Bus Service: SSSAS Closed
Graduation
June 7
No Bus Service: SSSAS Closed
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Greetings!
The theme of transitions is a big one this time of year. It's important, in demonstrating the caring community we pride ourselves to be, that we ease and support transitions; and this week was full of events that did just that!
This Wednesday morning we held a new parent coffee at the Library. Amazingly, nearly every family who will bring a new student to Burgundy next year was represented, and people lingered for some time, getting acquainted with one another as well as Burgundy Parent Association Executive Committee members and other volunteers and administrators.
I briefly explained to the new families that the night before I had enjoyed hearing from 17 of our high school aged alumni, who came back for our annual Alumni Speak event to address our eighth-graders about the transitions to high school. The group included four high school seniors, three of whom will attend Oberlin College and one who will attend the University of Chicago. (Remarkably, among 32 Class of 2009 graduates, there actually are four attending Oberlin for college, among a wonderful set of schools.)
And, as our eighth-graders graduate from Burgundy in just a few short weeks and move on to a diverse set of high schools, our seventh-graders and their parents are beginning to think about what it will mean for them to be in their final year at Burgundy and applying to high schools themselves. Accordingly, on Wednesday night, we hosted a meeting to outline the high school admission process and to answer questions about the high school admission process.
In a similar effort, our current Middle School teachers this week welcomed the current 5th Grade students in a visit to the 6th Grade homeroom, where the rising sixth-graders got to know some Middle School teachers and had an opportunity to ask any questions. To share a students' perspective of the Middle School experience, eighth-graders also visited 5th Grade classes for lunch this week! The fifth-graders also attended their first Middle School dance last month and a Middle School Community Meeting earlier in May.
These touch points are only a few examples of the ways in which we support the many transitions that students and families make during their Burgundy years. They are also reminders of the caring community we have, not only in the hosting of the events, but in the dialogue and personal connections that result.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone who facilitates and participates in these supportive efforts!
Finally, as we head into the Memorial Day weekend, we give special thanks to our military families and recognize Memorial Day on Monday -- remember, we have no school. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
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| Reminders
No School on Monday, May 27
There will be no school on Monday, May 27 because of the Memorial Day Holiday. Many thanks to all of our service members and veterans.
Bus Service Week of June 3 There will be no bus service on Monday, June 3; Thursday, June 6; and Friday, June 7 because St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School is closed on those dates. |
 Annual Giving Update We're Only $34,225 from our Goal! Thanks to everyone who has already made their pledges or donations toward Burgundy's Annual Giving Fund. You've raised $215,775 to date, 86% 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 SpotlightBrownie Troop 4720 Contributes $500 to Annual Giving
Congratulations and thank you to Brownie Troop 4720, made up of 16 Burgundy students (Kate Cantu, Emma Carter, Helena Dobbs, Chloe Dougherty, Haley Greer, Kaitlin Inguagiato, Sarah King, Iris Loretan, Estée Marcus, Caelan McCormack, Madeline Pressley, Madison Rawls, Olive Regan, Meghan Stryker, Emi Summey and Anjani Waters). After this year's Girl Scout Cookie sales, the troop earned more than $780 in troop profits ($0.65 for each box sold) and decided to donate a large portion of it to local organizations, in addition to the 74 boxes that they donated to New Hope Housing through the "Gift of Caring" program. Together, the girls considered local organizations that meant a lot to them and that they'd like to support. As a result, they decided to donate $150 to Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation and $500 to Burgundy's Annual Giving fund. Jen Pusatere, Burgundy's Director of Advancement, was so excited about the girls' philanthropy that she coordinated a lunch party, complete with pizza, lemonade, ice cream and popsicles, to thank them.
"We're grateful for everyone who donates to Burgundy and recognizes not only the work we accomplish, but also the financial support required to do it," says Jen. "We found it exceptionally impressive that these girls - second-graders! - understood the value of their gift and were so willing to support Burgundy. It demonstrates a social awareness and generosity, and it also shows how much our students appreciate their time at Burgundy."
The troop sold more than 1,200 boxes of cookies, and Kate Cantu, Emma Carter, Haley Greer and Caelan McCormack each sold more than 100. Kate sold a whopping 325!
Pasquale Procaccino Hosts Fundraiser to Repair, Resurface Tennis Courts
Eighth-grader Pasquale Procaccino, an accomplished tennis player who has been playing since age 8, has coordinated a fundraiser dinner tonight, May 24, at Royal Restaurant in Old Town (734 North Saint Asaph Street). A portion of sales for all diners tonight will support "Game On," an outreach program that is part of the Junior Tennis Champions Center and that provides tennis instruction and academic support to underprivileged children at a local school . Click here to read more.
Middle School Students Honored by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Several of Burgundy's Middle School students, including eighth-graders Cayli Dobbs, Zachary Gardner and Patrick Sansone, and seventh-graders Peter Devlin, Simone Liu and Antioch Sanders, were recently honored by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) for their exceptional performance on the SAT. Thousands of students around the world participate in the CTY Talent Search, and all of the Burgundy students noted above scored in the top 30 percent for their age group. Congratulations!
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 Community Service Spotlight
Students Build Bookcases for Community Lodgings
On Wednesday, May 22, with the able direction of parent Scot McBroom, a group of Middle School volunteers completed the installation of bookcases to fit in the alcove of four of the transitional housing apartments sponsored by Community Lodgings. The bookcases look great in the space and provide valuable storage for the living room area, and staff at Community Lodgings have reported that families are already loading the shelves with books and toys.
DC Service Opportunities
Monday, May 20, Burgundy's Community Service Coordinator Charlene Pritzker attended the 2013 High School Service Fair at Georgetown Day School. The event was organized by Service Directors at Georgetown Day School, Edmund Burke School and Sidwell Friends School. It was an opportunity to network with a number of organizations, mostly from DC, and to talk about possible projects and partnerships. Click here for a list of organizations that welcome teenage volunteers, as well as a description of the volunteer opportunities.
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Sports Update
Burgundy's Softball team lost 8-0 to St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday, but played well against a tough team. Coach Emily Jonas says, "St. Thomas Aquinas has a great pitcher, and our girls got five great hits against her fast pitches. I am very proud of our girls this season."
The Lacrosse team defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 10-9 in their final game of the year on Wednesday, coming from behind in the fourth quarter. Highlights included a big save from John Knieriem '15, goals from Alec Coakley '13 and Sammy Entabi '13, and a face-off from Kyle Miller '14 down the stretch.
Congrats, Blazers!
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Gap Camp: June 10-14
Let's Get Our Summer Fun Started!
This year's theme for Gap Camp, a week of fun field trips and supervision from June 10 through June 14, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, is "Let's Get Our Summer Fun Started!" There will be field trips to a bowling alley, Pump it Up, Top Golf and Sandy Point State Park, and the week will conclude with a cookout and fun activities.
The cost is $380 for the week or $80 per day. Each child must be registered -- no drop-ins can be accepted because of field trip scheduling. Please register via email (email janicek@burgundyfarm.org) by Wednesday, June 5 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). Lunch will be provided each day unless otherwise noted for specific field trips (you will receive notice of these details via a confirmation email once you register). If you have any questions, please contact Janice Kinard-Bean (janicek@burgundyfarm.org).
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 Thank You, Power Tool Work Weekend Volunteers!
Thank you to the now very weary folks who spent last weekend at the Cove weeding invasives as well as digging out gravel, dismantling, cutting, hauling and hammering! The creekside of the Main Lodge now has a shiny new face, and the invasive-free zone is larger! Thanks to:
Dave Bernhard and Diane Byers
Larry Inguagiato
Karla Jamir and Paul Glist
Aamir Khwaja
Russ Smith
- Vini Schoene and David Sicree
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BBQ for Burgundy Families Touched by Adoption
On Friday, May 31, Jeff Sindler, Stephanie Borges and Elizabeth Schachter will host a BBQ for all Burgundy community members touched by adoption. If you are interested in adoption, have adopted a child, have family members who have adopted, or were adopted yourself, we encourage you to attend. This will be a fun-filled family event beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the Blacktop. Please send your RSVPs to Stephanie at stephanieb@burgundyfarm.org.
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BPA Corner: Election Results
The votes are in! Thank you to everyone who voted in this year's BPA elections. We're pleased to announce the incoming Executive Committee of the BPA, 2013-14, effective July 1:
Amy Heist, President
Tara Casagrande, President-Elect
Kelly Abramson, Secretary
Erin Pressley, Communications Officer
Sue Sullivan, Volunteer Coordinator
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| Book Fair Thank You!
Thank you to all the families that supported the Library by purchasing books at the Book Fair last week. It was an incredibly successful event! Thank you also to all our volunteers who worked tirelessly before, during and after the week of sales. Enjoy your summer reading!
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Extended Day Survey Results
Thank you to all of the parents who have taken advantage of our Extended Day program this year and filled out the survey we recently distributed. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to enhance our program. If you have any immediate questions, please contact Mary Mehala (marym@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0463).
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Burgundy Bulletin
Kisima Academy Exchange Collection
Do you have any gently used clothing that you'd like to donate? Please consider giving these items to Kisima Academy, a school and home for children in western Kenya. Kisima was founded as a school and home for children in Kitale, many of whom have no parents due to election violence, HIV/AIDS and abandonment.
Henry Edwards, 4/5 teacher and Burgundy parent, is going to Kisima with members of his church in late June. He will deliver your clothes in person to the childen of the Academy!
Here is a description of specific items Henry is collecting:
- Clothes: Gently used girls dresses and skirts (longer length), boys shorts, women's dresses (up to size 12), men's button downs/polo type shirts
- Shoes: Kids shoes all sizes. Women's flat styles. Men's casual dress and sport shoes
- Luggage: Large size rolling luggage you don't want back. We'll be bringing two 50 lb. bags per person that we'll give to Kisima for storage
- Sports Supplies: Heavy duty soccer and volleyballs, jump ropes, playing cards, jacks sets, art supplies
Are You Interested in Making a Difference in Someone's Life?
Senior Services of Alexandria is actively recruiting adult volunteers to participate in our Friendly Visitor Program. The goal of the friendly visitor program is to relieve loneliness and feelings of isolation experienced many of Alexandria's senior citizens. Through planned weekly visits, volunteers bring friendship and community connections to seniors who are often restricted by their living facilities and may lack the local support of friends and family.
If you would like to be a part of our dynamic group of volunteers, or would like more information, please contact Burgundy parent Sarah Drexler at (703)836-4414, ext. 20 or via email at: friendlyvisitor@seniorservicesalex.org.
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| Handbook Update
Abramson, Ella - K Polar Bears
Abramson, Noah - 4/5 Redtails
Abramson, Eamon - 6th
Kelly and Joel Abramson
105 West Monroe Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301
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Parting Pictures
The fifth-graders and Middle School teachers introduce themselves to one another during a transitional meeting on Wednesday.
The Kindergarten Polar Bears enjoy a sunny day at the "Burgundy Beach" (between the sand and the pool)!
The 2/3 Buckeyes practice their back stroke at the pool during P.E.
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