Vote for Burgundy!

Your vote makes a big difference to our school. This year, Target will give money to schools all over the country for one simple act: a vote. Burgundy needs just 25 votes to earn a $25 donation from Target. But that's only the beginning! Our goal is to earn $500, which will support program and instruction, financial aid, and professional development. Facebook users, click here  to vote for Burgundy once a week through September 21 (or until Target has given away $5 million). And please spread the word to friends and family on Facebook! 

 

Buy a Book for Burgundy

Participate in the annual Buy a Book for Burgundy tradition! Through this program, families may donate the purchase price of one of our new books, which will then live in the Library with a bookplate stating "Given by" followed by a child's or family's name. New books will be on display in the Library for the entire month of September. Books will not be available for donation at Curriculum Night this year. Please come by before or after school, or even during the day -- whatever is most convenient for you. You and your child can choose one of our new books together. If you wish to have your student choose a book, just send $18 cash or check (made out to BFCDS) with them. Credit cards can also be accepted for payment. As an added bonus: your child will be the very first student allowed to check out the donated book! Contact Ann Van Deusen (annv@burgundyfarm.org) or Barbara Krainik (barbarak@burgundyfarm.org) with questions. 

Roberta Cullen, 2/3 Drama Assistant and Middle School Production Assistant

Q. How would you describe yourself to the Burgundy community?

A. For the past six years I've been teaching children's acting and movement classes at the Little Theatre of Alexandria and recently in an after school program at an Alexandria public school. Sometimes you may hear me on the radio doing a commercial as a voiceover actor. I really love seeing children tap into their creative side and share that energy. I tend to burst into song or lapse into various accents at any moment, which my family is used to hearing but now is an embarrassment to our teenagers. But anything parents do is embarrassing to their teenagers!

 

Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?

A. I'm coming to Burgundy from Burgundy because both of our daughters (Emma '11 and Lindsay '13) attended Burgundy from Kindergarten through 8th Grade, so now I'm the lucky one who gets to come to school here! At this time 12 years ago my husband and I were deep in the search for a school (with a spreadsheet of public and private schools in Alexandria/Arlington that we'd visited). We loved the Burgundy campus so much, and when a private school admission director said "kids who come out of Burgundy to our high school just think differently," our minds were made up! Teaching at Burgundy is a continuation of a connection with and commitment to this community that I felt 12 years ago.

 

Q. What are you most excited about in teaching at Burgundy?

A. Traveling has been an important part of my life, and I'm excited to bringing some of my experiences and insights into the 2/3 drama classes. They'll be learning about continents and cultures this year, and I've traveled/lived in more than 30 countries, often backpacking and exploring, so I'm excited to go on this "journey" with them.

 

Hallsi Killian, 2-D Art Teacher

Q. How would you introduce yourself to the Burgundy community?

A. I grew up in Connecticut and have been teaching art for seven years. This is enough time to scientifically determine that it is the best possible thing to ever be doing. I live in Rockville and have a bunny and a blind cat who both appreciate art (the bunny thinks it is delicious, and pencils apparently sound fascinating). I also play glockenspiel and sing in a local folk band.

 

Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?

A. I've been looking for a school that shares my ideals and philosophies about art and learning, and I don't think I could have found a better match. When I came here, I was impressed by how happy and excited everyone I met was. I feel very lucky to have found what is clearly a warm and dynamic community. I also am disproportionately delighted by the fact that there are goats.

 

Q. What are you most looking forward to in teaching at Burgundy?

A. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone here and getting to know the students, who I can already tell are particularly fabulous. I can't wait to work with them to bring their ideas to full potential.

 

Taylor Welch, Digital Photography Teacher

Q. How would you introduce yourself to the Burgundy community?

A. I am originally from Alexandria and returned two years ago after living in Philadelphia and Santa Fe for several years. I have taught art and photography to all ages, but I most enjoy teaching children. When I'm not teaching, I am a portrait and lifestyle photographer. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and watching hockey.

 

Q. Why did you decide to teach at Burgundy?

A. I took my first photography class in Middle School, and I think it's wonderful that Burgundy has a photography elective. It's not something that many schools offer before high school. I was also drawn to the sense of community that Burgundy seems to have, and I look forward to being a part of it.   

 

Q. What are you most excited about in teaching at Burgundy?

A. I love traditional film photography, but I am excited to be a part of the early stages of the new digital photography class. I can't wait to show the students how fun digital photography can be and see what they produce in class.

The Fall Enrichment session at Burgundy has begun! Registration is now open, and we distributed via email this brochure, which has all the information you need for the upcoming fall session of enrichments, including:

• Important dates and registration information
• Descriptions of all the classes being offered, including days and times
• The registration form that will need to be submitted, along with your check payment, to secure your spot

Please be aware of these important dates:

Registration Ends - Wednesday, October 2

Classes Begin - Monday, October 7

Last Chance to Alter an Existing Registration - Tuesday, October 15

Classes End* - Friday, December 6

*Outdoor Sports Classes End - Friday, November 22

Make-up Classes (if needed) will be held - Week of December 9

 

Please be aware of this important class change: Fun Abstract Painting with Annie for Grades 1-3 will be at 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. (NOT 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. as stated in the brochure we emailed earlier this week).

 

To register, simply fill out the registration form for your student(s) and submit it, with your check payment (checks may be made out to BFCDS), to Hugh Squire, Director of Auxiliary Services. Please fill out one registration form per student. Registrations can be sent directly to Hugh or dropped off for him at the Main Office. If you have any questions, please contact Hugh (hughs@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0480).

The Fall Fair is one of Burgundy's signature events, and it attracts hundreds of people to campus each year (this year on October 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). We rely on support from all of our community members, particularly parent volunteers, to make this event a success. To help "divide and conquer," we assign each class a particular piece of the Fair to manage and support with guidance from that class's Fall Fair Coordinator and that particular event's chairperson. Those class assignments are: 

• Junior Kindergarten: Bake Sale 
• Kindergarten: Games and Prizes  
• 1st Grade: Pumpkin Painting and Scarecrow Stuffing
• 2/3 Classes: Kid's Closet and Lemonade Stand 
• 4/5 Classes: Burgundy Mart, Face Painting* and Food Tent 
• 6th Grade: Book Sale and Games and Prizes 
• 7th Grade: Haunted House and Barnyard Visits 
• 8th Grade: Moonbounce and Haunted House  

We also ask our Middle School students to help make the Fair a success by volunteering to support Games and Prizes (6th Grade), and the Haunted House, Face Painting and Scarecrow Stuffing (7th and 8th Grades). You'll hear more about the Fall Fair in future issues of Constant Comment, and you'll get class-specific information, including student volunteer information, from your classroom's Fall Fair Coordinator. If you have any immediate questions, please contact Fall Fair Volunteer Coordinator Amy Heist (amy.heist@us.army.mil).

 

*Our Face Painting booth always needs skilled face painters, and we welcome parents (and friends!) from all classes. If you can make magic with only a few paints and a child's cheek (and potentially nose and forehead), we ask you to consider donating an hour of time at the Fair. Paints will be provided. To sign up, please email Jill Reuter (jreuter@answerware.com).   

Many thanks to the 22 adults and children who volunteered at our Garden Work Day on Sunday, September 15. Many hands made quick work of pulling weeds, weed whacking, composting all of the beds and preparing them for our class plantings this week. Garden co-chairs Jane Hanson and Jill Reuter are grateful not only for all the work that was accomplished, but also for the nice community exchange among new parents and kids from Junior Kindergarten through Middle School! 

To keep our students safe, please remember that our campus speed limit is 10 m.p.h. If you'd like to walk your student to his or her classroom, you must first drop him or her off with the administrators in the drop-off area before parking your car, meeting your child on the Blacktop then walking him or her to class. It's important that parents never back up their cars to depart from the traffic circle during carpool, and that they yield to car and bus traffic when leaving the Middle School parking lot. And please refrain from using cell phones while driving and carpooling.

 

Please remember that because classes begin at 8:30 a.m., morning carpool ends at 8:25 a.m. The faculty, staff and administrators who assist with morning carpool must leave the Blacktop at 8:25 a.m. in order to lead scheduled classes and meetings. If you arrive after 8:25 a.m., please ensure that your child(ren) check in at the Main Office. 

 

Carpooling with friends is a great way to minimize time spent in morning and afternoon carpool lines as well as conserve gas and energy. If you would like assistance in identifying potential carpooling neighbors, please contact Director of Admission Lori Adams (loria@burgundyfarm.org or 703.860.0464) or Middle School Assistant and Database Manager Kathleen Hennessey (kathleenh@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0472). 

Julie Vega, 7th Grade Homeroom and Middle School Math Teacher (Faculty)

9290 Tower Side Drive, #412

Fairfax, VA 22031

The Casagrande family is seeking a new home for Spot, a Leopard Gecko belonging to our son Baker '13. Spot is very easy to care for, quite clean, and takes up little space. If you'd be interested in making Spot your own, please email Jerry Casagrande at jerry@carrotseed.net. 

 

The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra will be at the Kennedy Center for one night only on September 27. Experience Chinese culture through this inspiring and energetic performance. For more information, click here. 

The Kindergarten Penguins learn how to speak "en español" with Early Childhood Spanish Teacher Pilar Latorre. 

The 4/5 Coopers share with Lower School students gathered in the Amphitheater pieces of art they created in honor of International Dot Day.

Eighth-graders spend time outside together during their lunch break.