Don't forget to bring Box Tops and plastic bottle caps back to Burgundy! First-graders use the plastic tops of milk and juice cartons, water bottles, laundry detergent, travel-sized toiletries, etc., to practice counting by tens, hundreds, and thousands. After counting the caps, students ship them to Aveda, a cosmetic company that recycles the caps for use in their product packaging. Save your caps and bring them to 1st Grade teachers Kira Cotter and Ann Douglas! Box Tops, found on many kitchen and other household products, can be brought to the Main Office or the Advancement Office, and Burgundy earns $0.10 for each one collected. Our goal is to raise $250 through Box Tops for Education. Click here for a fun, kid-friendly, winter-themed collection worksheet!

This year, in addition to approximately 150 computers that have already been available to Burgundy students in recent years, we are piloting some new technologies: Chromebooks and iPads. The 2/3 Viceroys and 4/5 Redtails are piloting Chromebooks, which are inexpensive laptops that run the Google Chrome operating system and are very easy to manage. Using Chromebooks, students have virtually instant access to their Google Apps accounts, which they use primarily for writing and research. Students can also use them to access online programs such as IXL Math. Teacher Alyssa Roark says, "The Chromebooks are incredibly useful tools for us to be able to access many engaging websites, to do research, and to publish our writing; plus, the kids love using them!"

 

iPads are being piloted in the Library (where they are available for any class to use) and in 1st Grade. iPads have become popular in education because of their touch screen and intuitive interface, their portability, and the large number of interesting apps that are available. Technology Support and Integration Specialist Austin Fodrie worked with the 1st Grade teachers to set up the iPads and help them bring fun and valuable tools to the students. Teacher Ann Douglas says:

 

The first-graders are enjoying the new iPads! They are learning how to use them, how to care for them, and also how to share them so that every child gets two sessions each week. With one of the sessions first thing in the morning, we have children hurrying to school, so that they can take advantage of this new program. The most popular app is Toontastic. This app allows the children to create stories using characters, settings, storylines, props, dialogue and music. The iPads are a great medium for the children to exercise their creativity and problem solving. They are using the iPads to do research for their book writing and for practicing their math skills. There is also a library of books on the iPads that the children can read. If you ask a first-grader how they like this new program, they most likely will say, "It's fun!"

If you have any questions about Burgundy's Toys for Tots drive, please contact Nicholas and Micah.  

Congratulations, Girls on the Run

On Sunday, November 24, Burgundy's Girls on the Run team completed their season with a 5K race at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia. Despite the extraordinarily cold temperatures and strong wind, all 22 of Burgundy's 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade runners completed the race with smiles and pride! The race celebrated the Girls on the Run messages of healthy lifestyles, self-confidence, fitness and "girl power." Check out the Burgundy team picture, and if you see one of the girls around campus, please give her a shout-out!

 

Burgundy Students Perform in The Nutcracker

This weekend Mia Colaizzi '18 and Emma Cullen '11 are dancing in the Alexandria Community Nutcracker at West Potomac High School. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and a Saturday matinee at 2:30. Emma has organized a food drive at all the performances, and non-perishable donations are being collected for the needy. You can also see Pearl Regan '17 perform as a clown in The Washington Ballet's production of The Nutcracker through December 29 at the Warner Theater.  Click here for ticket information. 

The next Board of Trustees meeting will be on Sunday, December 15 in the Loft from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Please note the date change from the school calendar.  The Board will be discussing the budget for the 2014-2015 school year. If you plan on attending, please email Board President Holly Sloan (smithsloan@aol.com) to ensure that there is enough seating. 

Pri Scull Burnham '59 recently donated to Burgundy's Annual Giving fund, and she included a touching note of gratitude with her donation. We hope you find it as moving as we did: 

If you're grateful for what Burgundy has given to you and your family, please consider contributing to our Annual Giving fund. You are welcome to make a gift in honor of a teacher (or to write us a letter for use in Constant Comment!). Every gift makes a difference, and you can click here to see examples of ways your generosity directly impacts the Burgundy experience.  

Burgundy art teacher Annie Rocha invites you to see 12 of her acrylic pieces on display at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, Maryland, through January 26. Click here for more information. 

The 1st Grade Goats celebrate Hanukkah with latkes, dreidels, and coloring activities during a class gathering.

Parent Beata Corcoran uses an early model of Campus Renewal plans to help teach eighth-graders about slope during math class. 

The Kindergarten Penguins illustrate holiday recipe instructions.