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Some of us have continued to reflect on Brigid Schulte's presentation at the Sevareid Forum and the many suggestions she offered that evening, along with the many she offers in her book. I've been engaged, as have many parents and staff, because we realize that wellness matters, and stress- and over-filled lives are not healthy lives!
A few themes follow that seem to me especially worth revisiting and that I am continuing to think about and work on; these are distilled and adapted from Brigid Schulte's simple recommendations and observations at the close of Overwhelmed. To a few I have added my own, or Burgundy, spin:
Work Work smarter, not more. Working smarter or more flexibly in terms of time, place, and manner--rather than more, more, more--is possible and better. Focus. Choose to focus on one big thing at a time. Create chunks of time to work, with breaks in between. Stop multi-tasking.
Love and Home Happiness first. None of us want on our tombstone: "Died with an empty inbox." There are more important things. Give kids space. Get out of helicoptering parent mode. Keep kids safe, yes. But love your kids, accept them for who they are, and try to get out of their way. Let them develop their own passions and let them make mistakes and experience failures so they can grow.
Play and Wellness Play is necessary. For both kids and adults, play and recreation is essential. Stress can be deadly--purposefully counter it with time for play and relaxation. Be realistic. Make realistic goals and to-do lists that allow for accomplishment rather than a sense of failure or overwhelm. Practice kindness. Be kind to yourself, or it will be hard to be kind to others.
Jeff Sindler
Head of School |
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Coming Up at Burgundy ...
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Winter Enrichment Registration Now Open
Online registration for the 2016 Winter Enrichment Session is now open. Winter Enrichment classes will begin after Winter Break, running Monday, January 4 through Friday, March 4. Get the details of the classes we're offering and the schedule in the Winter Enrichment Packet (PDF) and plan your child's classes.
When you are ready, visit our registration site. If you have created a household before, either for summer camp or enrichments, you can simply login and begin to select classes. If you have not already created a household, you will be prompted to do so before registering.
Registration will be open through Friday, December 18.
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Micah Hendricks, center, organized last year's Toys for Tots with Nick Sansone '15. Marines spoke to Middle School students when they picked up the donated toys.
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Toys for Tots Collection Next Week Micah Hendricks and Gari Puckrein, both 8th graders, are organizing this year's Toys for Tots drive. Micah's father, an army officer and longtime supporter of Toys for Tots, died a little over a year ago. Micah continues to work for and support this worthy organization in his father's memory.
Micah writes: Hi Burgundy! Gari Puckrein and I are leading this year's Toys for Tots toy drive. Last year, I helped Nick Sansone '15 with the drive. Toys for Tots is a foundation that gives new toys to kids who would not otherwise have toys for Christmas. Since I was 3, I have collected toys for the Toys for Tots program on my birthday because it sends a message of hope to less fortunate children in our communities.
This year Toys for Tots hopes to distribute gifts to at least 7 million kids.
Now, I'm asking my fellow Burgundians to join me in donating toys to this worthy cause to carry on the tradition started by the Sansone family. This year, the toy drive will be during the second week of December (7-11). Please bring new, unwrapped toys to school and place them in the boxes around campus.
Thank you!
Board Meeting Dec. 8
Burgundy's Board of Trustees will have its next meeting Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Loft. All current parents/guardians are welcome to observe Board meetings. Please notify Board Secretary Seileen Mullen if you plan to attend to ensure adequate seating.
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4/5 singers at last year's Festival of Lights.
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Save the Date: Festival of Lights Burgundy's annual winter performance, the Festival of Lights, will be Friday, December 18, at 9:30 a.m. in the Gym. All Burgundy classes will perform during the event, which reflects the theme of light in diverse cultural traditions and experiences. We'll share more details about the program next week!
Please note that after the performances, students will return to their homeroom classrooms for instruction and celebrations ahead of an early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. There will be no Extended Day programs and no afternoon bus service.
New Sign-Out System Coming to Extended Day Starting January 4, Extended Day will be using new software to more accurately and safely check-in and sign-our our students. The program assigns a unique PIN number to each parent or caregiver to use when he or she signs out a student. The PIN is unique to the individual, not the family, so each family will have more than one PIN.
All parents and any emergency contacts in Burgundy's data system will be assigned a PIN. Next week, you will receive an email with your unique number. If your children regularly attend Extended Day, this will be an important number to remember.
Your PIN will be necessary to sign out students beginning Monday, January 4, when Burgundy classes and Extended Day resumes after Winter Break. Staff will be able to assist as we all adjust to this new system. Thank you in advance for assisting us in keeping all of our students safe and improving our program so we can better serve you!
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Don't Forget!
Friday, December 4: Pizza Day. Middle School dance.
Saturday, December 5: Admission Open House, 2-4 p.m.
Monday, December 7: Student Recital, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, December 8: Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 9: Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library.
Thursday, December 10: Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library.
Monday, December 7: 3rd-5th Grade Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Scout's classroom.
Friday, December 11: Pizza Day.
Monday, December 14: MS Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Matthew's classroom.
Wednesday, December 16: Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library.
Thursday, December 17: Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library.
Friday, December 18: Festival of Lights, 9:30 a.m., Gym. Early release, 12:30 p.m.
Continuing: The Board of Trustees is accepting nominations for new Trustees ahead of elections in February. If you are interested, contact Joanne Petty, Chair of the Committee on Trustees at joanne_petty@hotmail.com or 312-560-9796, or visit Burgundy's website for more details.
Dori Gonzalez-Acevedo offers a weekly "Morning Mindfulness" with meditation and yoga, 7:30-8 a.m. Wednesdays, Loft.
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 Thank You: Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday, an online movement to kick off the holiday giving season, was December 1. Thank you to all who supported Burgundy with a financial gift! With an amazing 94 donors, we far exceeded our goal of 70!
We received donations and notes from every corner of our community, including 38 current parents, 27 faculty and staff, 15 alumni, and 11 alumni parents. Most of these gifts went to Annual Giving--which supports financial aid, classroom budgets, and professional development. If you didn't get a chance to participate in Giving Tuesday, it's never too late to give.
Professional Development Report Burgundy's professional day November 30 began with a two-hour diversity and inclusion workshop with facilitator Jen Cort. The session focused on the implicit biases that most of us carry, and how a learning community like Burgundy can grow in our understanding of how to make Burgundy a safer haven from biases and a healthy learning (and work and family) environment where kids and adults can be authentically themselves and flourish.
For the remainder of the morning, committees and teaching teams had meeting and work time. At lunchtime we had important administrative announcements and discussions, including what we have learned thus far about using and supervising our new Discovery Playground.
In the afternoon, while the Middle School core team met, Lower School teachers met to discuss the teaching of reading and biblio-tech, art, music, and drama teachers reviewed curriculum. Lower School teachers discussed reading assessment, with Reading Specialist Sharon McCullough leading that session; and teachers in grades 3-5 had a reading strategies session with Lower School Resource Teacher Beth King.
 Campus Renewal
Construction Updates One dozen young heirloom variety apple trees were recently planted between Burgundy's library and garden--the first step in creating the Burgundy orchard, the legacy gift of the Class of 2014. The young trees are surrounded by wire cages to protect them from deer. Peach and pear trees will also be planted soon as part of the orchard.
After rain delays, we expect construction on the Outdoor World Learning Laboratory to resume soon.
Burgundy Bulletin This fall, 26 Burgundy third, fourth and fifth grade girls participated in Girls on the Run. The program culminated with a 5k race on Sunday, November 22 in Rosslyn, and every girl crossed the finish line with a huge smile and sense of accomplishment. During the program, the girls trained for the race and participated in activities that strengthened their confidence, character and sense of community. They will finish their season with a community impact project - making colorful, warm blankets to be delivered to critically ill children in local hospitals. Congratulations girls!
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| | The fall 2015 Girls on the Run group in Rosslyn. |
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Parting Photos
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| To supplement their studies of India and Pakistan recently, the Viceroys got to see traditional and modern dances thanks to professionals from Rhythmaya Dance.
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| | New burgundy-colored growth peeking up in the Redtails section of the garden. |
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| Early Childhood students are bundled up and enjoying the swings on a winter morning.
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