Burgundy's eighth-graders are preparing to debut their musical, The Wizard of Oz, May 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Loft. In researching topics and themes from the story, from tornadoes to Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Great Depression, the students learned why this story has become one of the most beloved tales in American history. "The overall notion is that each one of us, deep down, has exactly what we need to get through hard times," says teacher Deborah Clark Ives. "That's a message that continues to resonate and inspire."

You are invited to join Stephanie Borges and Elizabeth Schachter to the final Morning Coffee of the school year, "Stress Less: Mindful Meditation," on Friday, May 9, at 8:40 a.m. in the Library. Stephanie and Elizabeth will complement the student mindfulness component of the Middle School Advisory Curriculum and the Middle School Social Emotional Curriculum by offering this mindfulness lesson/activity. The gathering is scheduled to last between 60 and 90 minutes, and coffee and pastries will be provided. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Stephanie (stephanieb@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0465).

Q. What has been the most fun aspect of preparing for this production?

A. I would say the most fun thing would be learning all the dances and taking on an age-old story and taking our own spin to it.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important theme of The Wizard of Oz?

A. The most important theme in The Wizard of Oz is that family and friends can come from anywhere, and to be grateful for what you have.

Q. Why are you most excited to share this musical with the Burgundy community?

A. It's the last thing the Class of 2014 does as a whole, and we want to go out with a bang. 

 

May 12 - May 13, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

May 14 - 15, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

May 16, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Come and get your summer reading! Burgundy's annual sale of new books will begin Monday, May 12. Classes will visit the Library to look at the books, and each student will bring home a list of books and games 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). A percentage of each sale supports the Library program. Hope to see you there!

Because of this week's rain, the Fundraiser scheduled for April 30 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 7. During afternoon carpool on May 7, several 4th Grade Coopers will be staffing a table on the Blacktop, selling gently used toys and stuffed animals. Proceeds will support the Alexandria Animal Shelter and Burgundy's Campus Renewal Initiative. If your child is interested in purchasing a toy or stuffed animal (most will be priced under $5), please send him or her with some money on Wednesday. 

You are invited to see a production of Rapunzel from a group of 3rd Grade Viceroys on Wednesday, May 14 at 12:30 p.m. in the amphitheatre. Director Estee Marcus revised the script from its original. Kate Cantu is the co-director, and there will be several 3rd Grade actors playing the roles of Rapunzel, the prince, the witch, and a man and a woman. They are having fun working on the play and can't wait to present it.

Sixth-graders, in cooperation with their 1st Grade buddies, continued Burgundy's Earth Week tradition of planting the area around the entrance to the Middle School in honor of the graduating class. Under the able direction of parent Andrea McNicholas, who designed the plantings and helped teach the students how to plant properly, students planted a variety of annuals in the planters and in the beds around the Middle School. Sixth-graders will water and care for the plants until the end of the school year. Sixth-graders also worked with the first-graders to use recycled plastic bags and recycled fabric to make flutter balls.

As part of Burgundy's observance of Earth Week and its message of Reuse-Reduce-Recycle, we held our second annual Book Swap on Friday, April 25.

 

Generous Burgundy families donated well over 1,000 gently used books suitable for pre-K through 8th Grade readers. Burgundy students, under the direction of Leigh Hoyer, Executive Director of Wright to Read, an Alexandria non-profit whose mission is to improve literacy and love of reading for children in Alexandria, sorted the books by approximate grade level and genre.

 

On Friday, all Burgundy students had the opportunity to choose a book from the Book Swap, where alumni Sara Price and Gabby Gardner helped students pick out books they wanted to take home. All books not chosen by Burgundy students were donated to Wright to Read for distribution at book swaps at Alexandria City Public Schools, where many children would not otherwise have books for summer reading.

 

Thank you for helping your children to understand that books can be recycled to be used by others, including their friends, classmates, and younger students. We hope they will also understand that books that they have already read and enjoyed can be passed on to children who may have few books in their homes. Students who have books and read over the summer are far more prepared for their next year of school

We are also excited to share that Erin Futrowsky, our Director of Communications, has recently been accepted to a graduate program at the University of Maryland, where she will earn her master's degree in Elementary Education. As the daughter of a teacher, Erin came to Burgundy with a passion and respect for education, and her time with our teachers and students has inspired her to change careers and follow in her mother's footsteps. Because her program begins June 2, Erin's last day with us will be May 30. Currently, Erin is working remotely as she recovers from a knee surgery, but she will be back on campus prior to her departure. We have begun the search for Erin's successor. 

At the April 19 Board meeting, the Board of Trustees elected officers for the 2014-2015 year:

 

Charlie Rawls, President

Dave Wales, Vice President

Kathy Graber, Secretary

Neil Weissman, Treasurer

The sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. Those April showers brought us beautiful May flowers.

 

A Tulip Garden

Guarded within the old red wall's embrace,

Marshalled like soldiers in gay company,

The tulips stand arrayed. Here infantry

Wheels out into the sunlight. What bold grace

Sets off their tunics, white with crimson lace!

Here are platoons of gold-frocked cavalry,

With scarlet sabres tossing in the eye

Of purple batteries, every gun in place.

Forward they come, with flaunting colours spread,

With torches burning, stepping out in time 

To some quick, unheard march. Our ears are dead,

We cannot catch the tune. In pantomime

Parades that army. With our utmost powers

We hear the wind stream through a bed of flowers.  

- Amy Lowell

 

For more information about celebration of spring or other cultural events and activities, please log on to the Inclusivity@Burgundy Haiku page; this is a hub of information and activity regarding inclusion on the Burgundy campus and in the larger community. 

 

Events in May:

• Labor Day (International Worker's Day), May 1
• Annual Kentucky Derby (the most famous horse race in the United States), the first Saturday in May
• Cinco de Mayo (the Batalla de Puebla), May 5
• Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May
• Memorial Day, the last Monday of May (first celebrated on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, New York)

Johnson, Morgan - 2/3 Buckeyes

New address for Jennifer Johnson

1461 N. Highview Lane, Apt. 407

Alexandria, VA 22311