|
|
|
|
Burgundy Farm Country Day School
|
August 19, 2014
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Calendar
|
August 28
New Student/Parent Orientation
September 1
Labor Day: School Closed
September 2
First Day of Classes
BPA Welcome Back-to-School Coffee
September 5
Picture Day
September 8-10
8th Grade at the Cove
September 10
Middle School Parents Math Information Night
September 13
Gilded Age Party to Benefit Auction
September 15
Middle School Curriculum Night
September 16
Board of Trustees Meeting
September 17-19
6th Grade at the Cove
September 22
Lower School Curriculum Night
September 22-24
7th Grade at the Cove
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello, again! This summer issue of Constant Comment is your August herald of a new school year on the near horizon! School begins the day after Labor Day: with an early Labor Day this year, our first day is Tuesday, September 2, which is just two weeks away!
Everyone here is getting ready for that day. The popular Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies (Cove) camp sessions are wrapping up this week; tonight the Smith-Sloan family is hosting a reception for new parents; and this Thursday and Friday we have new teacher orientation, followed by faculty work days.
As you undertake your preparations, this Constant Comment offers some helpful reminders and information. One very important, personal reminder: all updated forms, including medical and contact information, must be turned in before students can attend school. This is a matter of safety, which we will never compromise. Thanks for your cooperation.
I'll be working on those forms along with you -- my daughter Tatum is excited to an exponential power to be a JK Chick, and Daddy is almost as excited. We got used to being on campus together this summer while Tatum attended Burgundy's day camp.
To pick her up at the end of the day, I had to take a circuitous route around campus, due to construction on the first phase of the Campus Renewal Initiative. (Work will continue into the fall, and you can expect ongoing updates. Safety will continue to be top priority, of course.) As my treks with Tatum continued and I got acclimated to the path, I began to notice things more keenly than when I'd walked past them hundreds of times before. I began to better appreciate the big, tall, straight trees, among them oaks, beechwoods, and tulip poplars. I also, thanks to Tatum, made more regular visits to observe the barn animals, including old Raie and the new goats, Boris and Duncan, and Lulu, our little pig. Walking hand in hand with Tatum back up toward the road in the shade of those big trees I felt lucky each time to walk with her.
That is the same feeling I have every time I come up our gravel road onto our campus. Recently I reread archival notes that remind me what it felt like nearly 71 years ago when the founding parents drove up that road past Norton Road (the Nortons once farmed this property) and discovered a piece of surplus government property, an abandoned farm. Those parents envisioned a little 'country day school,' a campus that would be in touch with rather than separate from Nature, that would inspire a pertinent and developmentally attuned curriculum and a collaborative culture that supports children, rather than one that produces winners and losers in the educational journey.
There are few if any careers more inspiring than working in schools; every year the cycles of growth, learning, and (if children are lucky) adventure and discovery, including self-discovery, begin anew. We are delighted that you will make the journey with us this year! See you soon!
Sincerely,
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
|
Reminder: Online Forms and Information Updates
Earlier this month you should have received an email from Kathleen Hennessey about online forms. Please remember to fill out all forms by Friday, August 29. It's quick and easy and should only take a few minutes! All online forms are required to be on file before your child(ren) can begin classes. While you're signed in, please also take a moment to verify that our database has the correct address, phone, and email information for your family. This information is used to create the school directory. Contact Kathleen ( kathleenh@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0472) with any questions.
|
 You're Invited!
BPA Welcome Back-to-School Coffee: Tuesday, September 2, 8:30 a.m.
Come celebrate the start of school at the annual Burgundy Parent Association (BPA) Welcome Coffee on Tuesday, September 2. After you drop the kids off to reconnect with friends and teachers and fill their cubbies, please join us on the Blacktop to meet and greet friends -- old and new. Allow us to start your morning with light refreshments, your caffeine fix of choice, and introductions to the 2014-15 BPA Steering Committee members, who can't wait to hear your ideas for the coming year. We look forward to seeing you there!
Gilded Age Party to Benefit Burgundy's Annual Auction
Come join the fun as the Ridenhour and Savukas families recreate an adults-only version of the world of the Astors and the Vanderbilts. Our Auction mix masters, Suellen and Joe, will supply their expertise and supplies to create cocktails such as the Stinger, made by mixing brandy and white crème de menthe! A dazzling array of appetizers and finger foods reminiscent of The Age of Innocence will be provided by Ann and Suellen's masterful cooking. Weather permitting, Steve will set up a croquet court. Gilded Age attire optional. Hosted by Ann and Steve Ridenhour and Suellen and Joe Savukas at the home of Ann and Steve Ridenhour in Alexandria, 6-9 p.m on Saturday, September 13. $90 per person. We still have space available for this event - if you're interested in attending, please contact Allison Niedbala.
|
|
Summer Updates on Campus
The maintenance team has been busy recently with supporting the summer camp program while still working on improvements to the campus for the upcoming school year. The campus grounds have been cleaned up, with fresh sand added to sandboxes and wood chips spread on playgrounds. You will see new basketball hoops in some areas. Water drainage improvements have been made around the 4/5 building, while railing and deck fixes were made to the 2/3 building. HVAC updates have been made to the 2/3 and Middle School buildings to improve the comfort of its occupants. The campus has received new coats of paint inside and out to freshen and brighten the spaces. There has also been work on electronic systems, including updates to the phone and public address system and installation of occupancy sensor light switches.
Many thanks to our hardworking maintenance team: Larry Inguagiato, Jerry Vaughan, Russell Boone, and Gene Douglas.
|
| New Faces for the Fall
Please join us in welcoming back Vicki Hayes, as well as welcoming Meghan Williams.
Library Staffing Changes
Returning families may know that long-term Head Librarian Ann Van Deusen has been battling cancer since June. Ann is progressing well through her regime of treatments, and she has worked part-time through the summer. However, Ann's physicians have advised her that being around children during her treatment is not a good idea due to the risk of potential infection. Therefore, for the fall, Ann will work part-time from home.
In Ann's absence from campus she and we are pleased that Vicki Hayes will join Barbara Krainik and the biblio-tech team on a part-time basis. Vicki is a long-time former Burgundy teacher with more than 25 years of experience including 15 at Burgundy, most recently teaching 1st grade in 2007-2008. She is also the mother of Carolyn '96 and Matt '00.
Specific arrangements for the fall:
- Barbara Krainik will be teaching 2nd-5th grade and covering the library facilities tasks.
- Vicki Hayes will be teaching JK-1st and Middle School Directed Studies. She will also help Barbara with the day-to-day tasks in the library.
- Ann will be working some from home. Her portfolio will include the Instructional Budget, book reviews, plans for the Directed Studies classes, lesson plans for 4/5 classes, and some editing projects for the Middle School.
Please contact Kari if you have any questions regarding coverage or duties. In the meantime, we continue to keep Ann in our thoughts and prayers, and we thank Barbara and Vicki and of course Ann herself, for keeping our program growing strong.
New Communications Manager
Meghan Williams recently joined Burgundy's Advancement team as communications manager, where she is responsible for communications and marketing. She most recently served in the same position for Children's Law Center in Washington, DC. Previously, she was an editor and writer for the Child Welfare League of America, a national non-profit connecting agencies that directly serve children and families. Meghan began her career in the area as an assistant editor for the local Connection Newspapers. Meghan graduated from the College of William and Mary.
|
 New Goats in the Barnyard
Among the kids on campus this fall will be half-brothers Boris and Duncan, two new baby goats. They are currently spending their days with the full herd and nights in the small pen. If you are on campus, make sure to say hello! If they come to the fence line, you can offer them some blades of grass. Like Raie, Boris and Duncan are Nubian cross goats, but we expect them to stay smaller than Raie. |
|
Help Burgundy While You Shop
Did you know that you can help Burgundy earn thousands of dollars every year just by linking your grocery rewards cards to Burgundy? It's true! You don't have to sacrifice anything more than the few seconds it takes to register your Harris Teeter, Safeway, and/or Giant cards to help us earn up to $30,000 a year. Then, every time you buy groceries, Burgundy will benefit. Get instructions on how to link your shopping cards to Burgundy, as well as reminders about supporting us with Box Tops for Education and Campbell's Labels for Education.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
