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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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September 19, 2014
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Quick Calendar
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September 22
Lower School Curriculum Night
September 22-24
7th Grade at the Cove
September 22-24
7th Grade at the Cove
September 30-October 1
2/3 Buckeyes at the Cove
October 1-3
2/3 Viceroys at the Cove
October 7
All Parent Meeting
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Time in the car driving with our children can be a fertile time for conversation, if we don't allow technology to deny the opportunity. Like many parents do in the car, I prime my kid for information about how things are going at school. This can be perplexing if not futile with a 4-year-old, but there are occasional nuggets that make the mining worthwhile, and sometimes hilarious.
On Wednesday I asked Tatum about her new class friends thus far, who her pals are. "Kevin" (not his real name), she said. "He's my favorite." She soon followed up matter-of-factly with: "Kevin and I are going to get married."
"Really?" I asked. Now at a light, I turned around and looked her right in the eyes. After a beat, she broke into laughter and so did I. Without words being exchanged, we both knew she had given my proverbial parent 'chain' a good yank.
I look forward each day to these conversations. Sometimes I understand her perfectly, as with this morning when she wanted to go back to the jazz station on the radio; sometimes I can only pretend to understand what she is talking about. And sometimes I learn something profound about what she observes, feels, and wishes.
As our kids get older and their activities carry us and them far and wide, the car often remains a best opportunity for rich mutual downloads. That said, older kids may regard what we see as excellent conversation opportunities as interviews or interrogations. They may try to make themselves un-accessible in phones, books, anything handy... as we try to find a topic that will bring them out. But don't be fooled. They want us to keep asking questions. More important, if we ask questions and then listen to their answers, focused and without too much judgment, they will want to continue to talk with us as they move towards and through adolescence.
Already, I have been called out by our little one for inattentive listening or not being fully present when she's wanted me to play or do or watch something with her. "Daddy, pay attention!" I want her to know that I am engaged and hearing her, so that later, when we both really need these conversations, we are able to have them.
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
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Emergency Notification Process and Test
Burgundy's administration makes independent decisions regarding school closings and emergency procedures. To communicate these decisions with parents, we utilize several tools. The homepage of Burgundy's website, www.burgundyfarm.org, will always be the first place information is updated. When there are changes to the school schedule (closings, delays, and early dismissals), we will also notify parents in our database via an alert system that sends phone calls, text messages, and emails. We will be conducting a test of our system during the morning of Wednesday, September 24. To ensure a valid test, by 5 p.m. Monday, September 22, you should:
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Verify your contact information is correct in the School Directory, as this information (obtained from profiles in the PCR Parent Portal) will be used to conduct the test. If there are errors, contact Kathleen Hennessey.
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Text ALERT to 22300 to opt-in to text notifications from each phone that should receive a notification.
Please note that due to the nature of mass notification systems, not everyone will receive phone calls, texts, or emails immediately. It may take up to three hours for some messages to come through. Therefore, the best place to check for up-to-date information is Burgundy's website. Keep in mind that generally speaking, Burgundy will not make a special announcement when school is open and all programs and classes are running on a regular schedule. Please consult pages 16-17 of the Parent Handbook and School Directory for more details about emergency information and plans.
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International Day of Peace
Monday, September 22 is the International Day of Peace and Gratitude. Burgundy traditionally marks the day with activities in individual classes and together as a community. Parents are invited to celebrate with us. We will play peaceful music during Monday morning carpool. At 8:45 a.m., the Redtails will lead a silent peaceful run for classes who choose to participate, starting on the Blacktop. Then from noon to approximately 12:40 p.m., the community is invited to eat lunch together at the Amphitheater and view Tibetan-style Peace Flags created by students in art classes. Representatives from each class will share how their class is recognizing the Day of Peace.
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Fall Fair: Five W's
WHAT: Burgundy's annual Fall Fair, a fun opportunity for our community to come together
WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. -- just a month away!
WHERE: Burgundy's campus. We anticipate most construction will be done in time for the Fair.
WHY: Proceeds from the Fair benefit the financial aid program at Burgundy. About 1 in every 5 students receive some financial aid, and every purchase at the Fair -- from activity tickets to food sales to Kid's Closet items -- helps members of our Burgundy family. So plan to attend and invite extended family, friends, and neighbors to come too!
WHO: The Fall Fair wouldn't be possible without support from you -- parents and friends of Burgundy. Special thanks Tara Casagrande and Beata Corcoran for stepping forward to run the Haunted House this year. The tradition will continue! Thanks in advance to all Fair event chairs, who will be organizing and implementing specific events:
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Artisan Mart: Kelley Sullivan
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Bake Sale: Audrey Dreibelbis
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Barnyard Visits: Molly (Buck) Jones
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Burgundy Mart: Azeb Idris and Ashenafi Belay
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Entertainment: Paul Miller and Cathy Manley
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Face Painting: Charis Calhoon and Melissa Koval
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Food Tent: Nancy and Neil Weissman
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Funnel Cakes: Minh Vu
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Games: Beth King and Paxton Helms
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Kid's Closet: Wes Callender
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Lemonade Stand: Mary Sexton
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Moon Bounce: Missy Murrell and Mike Calhoon
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Pumpkin Painting: Lori Adams and Cathy Guertin
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Used Book Sale: Jane Hanson and Jan Foster
- Volunteer Coordinator: Laura Davis
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 Campus Renewal Construction News
We've hosted more and a greater variety of heavy machines on campus in the last two weeks. Excavators and mini diggers have moved dirt and gravel to backfill behind the retaining wall in the center of campus, and trench compactor rollers are being used to compact thin layers of earth so the dirt stays in place and doesn't wash through the "weeping holes" of the retaining wall. After a tamper prepared the ground behind the Early Childhood classrooms in the West Barn, a concrete mixer truck arrived to supply concrete for the new sidewalk, which is now complete (photo at left). Also behind the West Barn, a post hole auger has been drilling holes in the ground for the deck frame foundation and supports.
Meanwhile, workers have been continuing to work on the gabion wall behind FirstGrade/Extended Day, and preparing a trench for the end of the gabion wall behind Meyers Barn. Visit our Facebook page for more photos.
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Reminders
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Lower School Curriculum Night is Monday, September 22, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Gym. Extended Day will offer free childcare; RSVP to Laura Motaweh by the end of the day today.
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Registration for Girls on the Run is open through September 22. Burgundy already has more than 20 registrants, so team members will be chosen through a lottery system. Contact Jane Marcus if you're interested in participating on a second Burgundy team.
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Buy a Book for Burgundy runs through September. A donation of $18 covers the cost of one of our new books. The books remain in the library with a bookplate recognizing the child or family donor, and your child will be the first one allowed to check out the book. Download and print the flyer (PDF) to buy a book.
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We give priority consideration to admission applications from siblings of current students and others in the Burgundy community. Applications are due November 15. Contact Lori Adams with questions.
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You can help support Burgundy through several affinity programs with local and national stores and brands.
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Parting Pictures
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Estee Marcus and Olive Regan, 4th grade Redtails, on Rainbow Day last Friday.
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| Flowers outside the Polar Bears' Kindergarten classroom on Friday (left), Monday (center), and Tuesday (right).
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