|
|
|
|
Burgundy Farm Country Day School
|
September 5, 2014
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Calendar
|
September 8
Monday Morning Mingle
September 8-10
8th Grade at the Cove
September 13
Gilded Age Party to Benefit Auction
September 15
Monday Morning Mingle
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"How's it going?" I've been asking students, from Early Childhood to 8th grade, as well as parents. "It's been great!" has been a common refrain. A happy start to school is a good start! But it's not an accident.
At our Wednesday All School Meeting, we welcomed new students and staff, and then I reminded everyone of our three basic community expectations at Burgundy:
- Be nice to everyone. Students reminded us that this really is just the Golden Rule of "Do unto others..."
- Be nice to Burgundy. This means respecting our campus and its facilities and equipment, and being kind to Nature.
- Respect learning. We should give others our eyes and ears when it's their turn to speak and ours to listen.
I also reminded everyone, children and adults, that we need to reach out and talk to someone when we're feeling out of sorts, unsure or afraid. There are many caring friends and advocates who can help. We have wonderful advisory and homeroom programs, as well as a terrific full-time counselor. No one who is feeling 'off' in any way need suffer alone. As a community we are committed to helping students feel safe, engaged, and supported so they can grow up healthy, in every sense of the word.
We concluded the meeting by singing the song, "Make New Friends (But Keep the Old)." We will welcome all of our new Burgundians even as we cherish our former Burgundy friends and associations. We'll work also to be open to trying new things, learning new skills and being exposed to new ideas, even as we hold onto the 'old' Burgundy traditions like our three expectations.
Sincerely,
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
|
Carpool Overview
Carpool rules are in place to keep our students safe. Please follow these important guidelines and follow directions from Burgundy staff during morning and afternoon carpool. Common sense and courtesy are always appreciated!
-
The campus speed limit is 5 m.p.h.
-
Do not use cell phones or permit other distractions during carpool driving.
-
If you want to walk your child to class, first drop him or her off in the carpool lane, then park and meet your child at the Blacktop.
-
Do not back up from the circular parking lot during carpool times.
-
Yield to car and bus traffic when leaving the Middle School parking lot.
Please respect our neighbors, many of whom are also trying to get to school and work during morning carpool. Observe the 25 m.p.h. speed limit on neighborhood roads; be careful at stop signs and when moving around stopped cars; and avoid blocking driveways and turning around in the middle of the street. We ask that when waiting for afternoon carpool to begin, you form a line on Norton Road. When traveling on Burgundy Road, you can get into this line by making a right turn at Tremont Drive, a left at Elmwood Drive, and another left at Norton Road. As you exit Burgundy's campus, drive slowly so rocks and gravel don't hit nearby cars or people. |
Volunteers Needed
We are looking for a volunteer team to plan and set up the Haunted House for this year's Fall Fair on Saturday, October 18. Without volunteers, this popular attraction cannot be sustained. Parent John Arnold, who has previously led the Haunted House team for several years, has offered to be a resource (thanks, John!). This team will lead the planning and organization of the Haunted House, but additional volunteers will help with setup and execution. Interested? Please contact Fall Fair Coordinator Allison Niedbala by Wednesday, September 17.
|
|
Parent Handbook and School Directory
This year's Parent Handbook and School Directory will begin to be distributed this afternoon and continue into next week, so please check your child's backpack. The directory includes important information about the school, as well as a listing of each family's contact information. One complimentary copy is provided to each Burgundy family. If your copy hasn't come home with your student by Wednesday, September 10, please contact his or her homeroom teacher. If you would like to purchase additional copies for $5 each, please contact Michele McCabe. If your contact information in the directory is incorrect, please send updates to Kathleen Hennessey.
|
BPA Mingles and Survey
The first few weeks of school are an exciting time for our children - but it can be potentially overwhelming for parents! To help smooth transitions and answer questions you might have, Head of School Jeff Sindler and the BPA Steering Committee invite you to join them and other parents on Monday, September 8 and Monday, September 15 at 8:30 a.m. in the Loft. Share your back-to-school stories over a cup of coffee, connect with families (both new and current), and get to know the Burgundy community.
Also, please fill out the BPA Lend a Helping Hand Questionnaire if you haven't had an opportunity to do so yet! Our deadline is Friday, September 12. We greatly appreciate your willingness to share your time and talents to support the Burgundy community.
|
|
Mobile Market Coming to Campus
On Monday the 7th Grade students will visit Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, a local nonprofit dedicated to making a more just and equitable food system. Burgundy has a connection to Arcadia through Michael Babin and Stephanie Babin (parents of Hammatt '15 and Harris '17). At the farm the students will learn about agriculture and the food system through hands-on activities such as weeding, planting, hauling compost, turning soil, and harvesting.
On Wednesday, September 10, Arcadia's Mobile Market will visit Burgundy. The Mobile Market improves access to healthy food by making regular stops in low-income, food-insecure communities and offering locally grown farm products at affordable prices. With the Market's visit, the 7th graders will learn about seasonality, the benefits of eating locally, the differences between conventional and sustainable agriculture, and how to prepare a balanced, nutritious meal. They'll also get to sample some of the Market's offerings. From 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Middle School parking lot, the Burgundy community will have the opportunity to make purchases from the Mobile Market; cash, check, and credit card will be accepted. If you are on the campus stop by and check out what the market has to offer!
|
|
|
Library Buy a Book
Buy a Book for Burgundy is a fundraising program for the library, begun in the early 1970's to enhance a very small library budget and keep our resources up to date. It's also a great way to introduce children to the idea of giving back to Burgundy. A donation of $18 covers the purchase price of one of our new books. These books remain in the library with a bookplate that recognizes the child or family donor. As an added bonus, your child will be the very first student allowed to check out the donated book!
This year's new books will be on display in the library during September. Students can choose the book they'd like to buy for Burgundy with $18 cash or a check made out to Burgundy Farm Country Day School. Parents are also welcome before, during, or after school to choose a book together with their child or children (credit cards are accepted in person).
Thank you for supporting the library.
- Ann, Barbara, and Vicki, Librarians
|
|
BBQ Moved to Spring
Burgundy usually marks the back-to-school season with a BBQ dinner for students and families on the Blacktop. With active construction for the first several weeks of school, we have rescheduled the BBQ for the spring. Mark your calendar to join us for the Burgundy BBQ on Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m.!
|
The most visible part of construction this week has been assembly of gabions, which will form a retaining wall between the 1st grade building and West Barn (Early Childhood). Gabions are wire cages usually filled with large rocks. Burgundy's gabion wall is part of the new water management system for the hillside. The main retaining wall, made of concrete, is progressing as well - its final section of concrete was poured this week. Underground, new water lines have been run around the West Barn. This area has been backfilled and the ground compacted in preparation for pouring new sidewalks.
Next week, work on the gabion walls will continue along with digging of the new bioretention drainage areas on the hillside. Later in the week, we expect concrete sidewalks and stairs near the junior kindergarten classroom will be formed and poured. When finished, this will create a new pathway and a shorter walk to the Early Childhood classrooms in the West Barn.
|
|
Fall Fair: What to Know Now
It's hard to believe, but the Fall Fair will be here soon! This annual family-friendly event attracts current families, prospective families, alumni families, and neighbors. It's a fun, festive way to celebrate our community while also raising money for financial aid. The event has food, live music, games and prizes, and so much more. The Fall Fair is one of the oldest community activities at Burgundy, and new parents find that volunteering and attending helps them meet other parents and become more actively involved in the school community.
More information about the Fall Fair will come from your room parents and Constant Comment, but here's what you need to know now.
-
Save the date: Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-
Start saving supplies: as you clean out closets, set aside any books or clothing (child sizes) to donate to the Book Sale and Kid's Closet.
-
Showcase your songs: Our community is talented, and we encourage students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and administrators to share their musical talent at the Fall Fair. If you're interested, please email Cathy Manley. We have limited availability for performance times and student musicians will have priority in the booking process.
Questions? Contact Fall Fair Coordinator Allison Niedbala.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
