Constant Comment

Jeff Sindler Ta-da! At last! The Discovery Playground Cometh!

What a great feeling to see the Outdoor Classroom and Discovery Playground come alive recently. We were so fortunate that the weather not only held but even became nice as we got our first run on the playground! I enjoyed seeing so many students, parents and even alumni and alumni parents on the new playground. Confession: I took my requisite trip down the slide earlier in the day, just after it had been polished, and I think I was airborne and reaching hard for the side grips!

There are some finishing touches -- a tire swing, then the wet play area and water table, then the Outdoor World Learning Laboratory and finally the meadow and orchard -- to come later this summer and fall. And we will be learning more about what we've built and how to use it best. But even now, as one alumni parent put it, "The whole thing looks like the rendering come to life!" And, "It connects that whole part of campus; it ties it all together!" And as more than one current parent exclaimed, "This makes all the waiting worth it!"

Well, I am going to keep that mindset: it was worth waiting for, absolutely! Certainly, we did what we needed to do to insist that the work was done to the specs we had designed. More important, we have created something unique, whimsical and fun, with engaging elements, spaces and fun for the range of ages we educate here at Burgundy.

We know that healthy child development begins with a healthy spirit. The senses of belonging and self-efficacy undergird everything else positive that arise over time and practice. Play is part of that! The connections, confidence, adventure and fun inspired by this special playground will be part of the foundation Burgundy provides for children for generations to come. Thank you to all who helped this happen, and congratulations to Burgundy!

Jeff Sindler
Head of School

Coming Up at Burgundy ...

"Summer Stage" campers perform a play in the Loft.

Space Available at Burgundy Farm Summer Day Camp

Not sure how to spend the rest of your summer vacation? There are two more weeks of Burgundy Farm Summer Day Camp and many programs, including the Lower Division and the Upper Division half day camps, still have some spaces available. For Lower Division campers, the week of July 27 features the Burgundy Laboratory, and the week of August 3 highlights Wacky Water.The last two-week session of the drama camp Summer Stage, which runs from July 27-August 7, also has some availability. All campers swim every day, weather permitting.

Adult Weekend at Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies

Who says summer camp is just for kids? Enjoy the peacefulness and adventure that Cooper's Cove has to offer for an adults-only weekend Friday-Sunday, July 24-26. Singles or couples ages 21 and up are welcome. Please register by Wednesday to reserve one of the remaining spots!

Bus Transportation to Burgundy

If you are interested in bus transportation to and from Burgundy for your child for the 2015-2016 school year, you need to complete a registration form by Friday, July 24. There is a fee for this transportation, which is run by St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School. Learn more from a list of frequently asked questions.

School Health Forms and Medication

Please submit your updated Commonwealth of Virginia Health Form and Immunization Records (PDF) by Monday, August 3.

The deadline for providing medication(s) that students need to take at school is the first day of classes, Wednesday, Sept. 9. All medications--both prescription and over-the-counter--provided to Burgundy must be unexpired and in the original box. Prescriptions must also include the pharmacy label attached to the box. Children enrolled in morning or afternoon extended care must provide one additional unexpired prescription medication with pharmacy labels attached to the original box.

If you have questions regarding health forms (PDF), please contact Geraldine Portillo at 703-960-3431.

Mark Your Calendar

Early August - Class lists sent to families
Sunday, Aug. 16 - Parents of African American Students (PAAS) will host a potluck on the back deck of Early Childhood, adjacent to the new Discovery Playground, from 5 to 7 p.m. All are welcome. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to De Shan Lett.
Thursday, Sept. 3 - Orientation for new students and families
Wednesday, Sept. 9 - First day of school

Recently at Burgundy ...

Burgundy families enjoy the Outdoor Classroom and Discovery Playground at its opening party July 9. Check out more photos on Burgundy's Facebook page.

Construction Update: Playground Open!

Burgundy's new Outdoor Classroom and Discovery Playground recently opened to Burgundy families with an ice cream party Thursday evening. Dozens of families and children explored the new play elements--including the winding Worm with all its swings, the super slide, and the Icarus and Omni Spinners. Children and parents alike enjoyed the opportunity to experience our beautiful new playground! If you weren't able to join us, stay tuned as more events are scheduled later in the summer.

Visits from authors, like the creators of Dork Diaries, are made possible by annual giving donations.

Thank You: Annual Giving

Thank you to everyone who made a donation to Burgundy's Annual Giving Fund for 2014-2015! Gifts to this fund support the experiences that make a Burgundy education special for all students, like author visits and field trips. In addition to classroom programs, annual giving also supports professional development for teachers and financial aid for students.

The Annual Giving Fund starts again with each fiscal year, which is July 1 to June 30 at Burgundy. Help us start the 2015-2016 giving year strong by reviewing ways to give or making a one-time or recurring gift today. Annual Giving contributes a significant portion of our operating revenue. Your contribution helps ensure we preserve the richness of our diverse and exciting programs! As Jeff himself comments, "I contribute to Annual Giving because I want to demonstrate that I believe in what we are doing, and I want to contribute in a small way to sustaining us and making us as affordable as we can be."

Board of Trustees Officers

At their June 16 meeting, Burgundy's Board of Trustees elected the following members as officers for the 2015-2016 school year:

Charlie Rawls, President

Charlie's children are Madison, a rising 5th grader, and Carrie, a rising 8th grader.

Joanne Petty, Vice President

Joanne's children are Noah, a rising 1st grader; Amelia, a rising 4th grader; and Jacob, a rising 6th grader.

Seileen Mullen, Secretary

Seileen's children are Kenna Murphy, a rising 6th grader, and Arainn Murphy '15.

Neil Weissman, Treasurer

Neil's son David is a rising 8th grader.

Many thanks to Dave Wales for his service as Vice President and Kathy Graber for her service as Secretary. Both continue to serve on the Board as Members at Large.

Introducing Elizabeth Lener and De Shan Lett

Elizabeth Lener and De Shan Lett began work at Burgundy on July 1 as the Assistant Head of School and Director of Academic and Student Support, respectively. To help our community get to know them a little better, here are a selection of their responses to a Q&A.

Elizabeth

How has your time at Burgundy been so far? Any surprises?

I have enjoyed meeting with many of the teachers one-on-one over the past few weeks and plan to meet with all of them if I can. I have found everyone to be welcoming and to have a deep commitment to Burgundy and the children. I have been surprised at how many people have connections to the school beyond working there, either by being a parent, an alum, having a parent who also works there, etc.

What's a favorite memory from your last school?

One of the favorite parts of my job at Lowell was the weekly community gathering. A big part of the gathering at Lowell is singing so every week I got the chance to sing and play guitar with several of the teachers. It was great to come together as a community to sing and celebrate. I am thrilled that Burgundy has an all school meeting each week and look forward to taking part.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I am proud of the way that I am willing to try new things and make mistakes. I look forward to all of the learning that I will do at Burgundy and know that I'm sure to make some mistakes along the way. That is how we grow.

Do you have a motto?

"Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can do today." I have always been driven to get things accomplished and like to get things done ahead of schedule if I can. The downside of this trait is that it is very hard for me to relax.

What's your favorite book(s) from your elementary or middle school years?

My favorite book as a young child was The Little House by Virginia Burton. I loved thinking of that small pink house who felt happiest under the stars in the countryside. I often feel that same way and am looking forward to my first trip to the Cove. In middle and high school I especially enjoyed reading the memoirs written by Anne LaBastille, a naturalist who moved from Ithaca (where I grew up) to the Adirondacks and lived in a log cabin she built herself. She traveled the world studying animals and helping preserve their natural habitats.

When you were in elementary and middle school, what job did you imagine you'd have?

For a long time I wanted to be a scientist. I am an inquisitive person and loved experimenting with whatever I could find. My mother ran a daycare in our home as we were growing up and so I spent a great deal of time with young children. I combined my two loves by becoming an elementary science teacher, which I was for many years before going into administration.

What's the last movie you saw? What did you think?

Inside Out. I went to see this with my son and we had some really interesting conversations. I think it sends a powerful message about how our brain works and that we can overcome even our strongest emotions, like fear and sadness.

What superhero power do you wish you had?

Flight, hands down and not just because I hate driving in traffic. Nothing seems more thrilling to me.

What would you sing at karaoke night?

Anything from the 80s. I love singing!

Coffee or tea?

Neither. I'm a hot chocolate person.

What are your favorite pizza toppings?

I like olives and onions. I have to say though that my absolute favorite pizza is plain cheese from NYC.

What else should we know about you?

That one of my favorite things to do is laugh. I love telling and hearing funny stories!

De Shan

How has your time at Burgundy been so far? Any surprises?

So far it's been great, but I can't wait until I get to meet everybody in the fall!

What's a favorite memory from your last school?

My last school was an all girls boarding high school. One of my favorite memories was chaperoning a trip to Cambodia with 16 girls and a colleague. I was fortunate enough to have two of my advisees on that trip! It was a trip of a lifetime!

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Finding my way to Burgundy!

Do you have a motto?

"Do or do not. There is no try."

What's your favorite book(s) from your elementary or middle school years?

Are you there God? It's me Margaret.

When you were in elementary and middle school, what job did you imagine you'd have?

A veterinarian or an ice skater (like Dorothy Hamill)!

Do you collect anything?

I collect coffee mugs and sea shells.

Where would you like to travel, but haven't already been?

Ethiopia.