January 8, 2016 Constant Comment Early Wednesday morning I noted that the temperature at my house was 12 degrees. By the time I layered up for carpool duty it may have been a balmy 15 or 16 degrees. But the sun was shining, the Burgundy campus was radiant in the morning light, and so were the smiles of our students, who have been smiling since they returned Monday. More, I did not see a single child who seemed very concerned about the colder temperatures. Students casually caught up with friends, waved good bye to parents, or sprinted and screamed as they raced across the Blacktop or up the sidewalks. Of course, later in the day, as I made my rounds, I saw students outdoors playing all the games they normally play -- the traditional ones like throwing the football or playing foursquare and the favorites like roaming the woods and looking for interesting things and making up games...It had warmed up a little but compared to our balmy December, it was still cold. It did not matter a whit to the kids. I wasn't surprised to see this, but I was happy for the reminder. It also made me think of a classic Wired.com article that circulated again recently among our staff. As it suggests, the best toy really is our imagination, and I'd like to think that is the 'toy' we favor and are developing at Burgundy.   It's the unstructured, imaginary, and very hands-on play in the woods that is what so many Burgundy alumni, be they 15 or 60, recall most fondly: near the barn and Dome I witness 5- and 6-year-olds working collaboratively to move large branches and stones and creating things; I see them testing their limits, climbing on the big fallen trees, occasionally slipping and getting a boo-boo but quickly getting over it and gaining curiosity and confidence. I see the 4th and 5th grade forts and hear about the 'societies' they have devised, sometimes testing the ethics we are trying to help them discover... My observations of our students out-of-doors remind me of research about children suffering for not having been exposed to nature ('nature deficit disorder'), and not having been given a chance to explore, solve problems, and test their limits. Here's a few recent and older articles on the topic. They refer to programs that certainly, by most parents' and many educators' standards, push the envelope but also that invite us to take heart that we allow our kids to get dirty, take reasonable risks and use their imaginations in learning and play here at Burgundy: -- German Kindergarten Campouts -- Answering the Call of Nature -- Waldkindergarten: Forest Nurseries One of our mottos has been Burgundy: No Child Left Inside. I like it. Jeff Sindler Head of School  Coming Up at Burgundy ... Day of Service Monday, Jan. 18 This year we are celebrating our 7th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, January 18. As a part of that day, each year we collect food items to benefit ALIVE (Alexandrians InVolved Ecumenically), a non-profit organization that supports Alexandria families in need.  The collection will take place Monday, January 11 through Thursday, January 14. Middle School students will sort and box the food for delivery to ALIVE as one of several projects on the Day of Service. They will also go to the ALIVE warehouse to help further sort and store these items, and will later help distribute the food through ALIVE's food distribution program throughout the city. If you would like to donate food items for this collection, please drop off your bags at the blacktop during morning or afternoon carpool or in the Middle School Atrium at any time Monday through Thursday next week (there is no school on Friday). Families attending the Day of Service can bring in their bags by 9 a.m. that morning, Monday, January 18. We hope you will be able to fill a bag for ALIVE. Their most desired food items are: Canned meat and tuna Dried beans, rice or other grains, pasta Canned vegetables or fruits Spaghetti sauce in cans Cereal Jelly In addition, clients of ALIVE can always use baby formula and baby food. Of course, any non-perishable items you donate are appreciated! Thanks so much for your support. Many classes have their own specific service projects, and you will receive more information about those from teachers. If you have any questions about the food collection or Day of Service, please contact Charlene Pritzker. --Charlene Pritzker  Save the Date: Auction 2016 Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 5 for the 34th annual auction, our primary fundraiser for financial aid! One in five students at Burgundy receives financial aid, and the auction is one of the most fun, most important ways to support our community and maintain the diversity that benefits every member of our Burgundy family. We are this year's auction co-chairs: Ann Grillo and Moley Evans! Ann's daughter Nora Garland is a 3rd grade Viceroy and has been at Burgundy since kindergarten. Moley and her family are new to Burgundy this year; her son Will is a 4th grade Cooper and her daughter Charlotte is a 5th grade Redtail. You will continue to get updates about the auction in the coming weeks, and we welcome questions at any time. We look forward to celebrating the event with you on Saturday, March 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Gym. --Ann Grillo and Moley Evans, 2016 Auction Co-Chairs Get a sense of what's in store at the auction--browse photos from last year! New Products with Box Tops This is a friendly reminder to keep clipping and bringing in those Box Tops and Labels for Education! And guess what? Annie's Homegrown has joined the Box Top family, so don't throw out those mac and cheese or cheddar bunny packages without checking to see if there's a dime on it for Burgundy! The next collection will be in early February but clip and send in any time! --Jenny Friedl Please Update Family Contact Information Please take a moment to visit Burgundy's PCR Parent Portal if information for your family or emergency contacts has changed recently. We need accurate information for many reasons, including communication about inclement weather and confirmation about who can pick up your children (more on both of these below!). Snow Policies and Notifications Burgundy makes it own decisions regarding school closings and delays after taking into account the forecast, conditions on campus, and decisions by Alexandria City and Fairfax County Public Schools. We strive to make and share delay or closing decisions by 5:30 a.m. If inclement weather is expected, the best first place to check for school status updates is Burgundy's website homepage, www.burgundyfarm.org. Do not call the school or email administrators or teachers. Burgundy makes independent decisions about school delays or closures for snow. If school is closed or opening with a delay, we will first post the information on our website homepage. We will email parents and send text messages to those who have subscribed to text alerts. We will also notify local media stations and post on Burgundy's Facebook page. Occasionally, if weather conditions deteriorate, our initial decision may change (i.e., a delay becomes a closure). If changes occur, we will update our website, Facebook, and local news, as well as sending emails, text alerts, and automated phone calls. Emergencies or heavy snow during the day may cause an early dismissal. In that event, we will send email, text alerts, and automated phone calls. If you have questions about your subscription to emergency notifications, please contact alert@burgundyfarm.org. If school is closed for the day, Extended Day is cancelled as well. In the case of a delayed start, Extended Day morning programs will be cancelled automatically, due to the dangerous travel conditions presumed to exist. If an emergency or inclement weather causes an early dismissal, afternoon Extended Day and any evening programs will be cancelled as well. Reminder: New Afternoon Carpool Placards Over winter break, your family should have received new official carpool placards through the mail. Please show the placard to Burgundy staff and leave the placard in your front window until your students are in the car. This process will ensure a smoother and safer pick-up process! If someone will pick up your child or children who does not regularly do so, please continue to notify Geraldine Portillo (703.960.3431 or geraldinep@burgundyfarm.org) and your child's homeroom teacher. Additionally, if possible, give one of your placards to the new driver to use. If this is not possible, share your family number (on the top right of the placard) with the new driver--he or she will need to give the number to Burgundy staff to verify permission to pick up your children. Don't Forget! Sunday, January 10: Open House, 2-4 p.m. Monday, January 11: 3rd-5th Grade Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Scout's classroom. Friday, January 15: No classes; faculty and staff professional development day. Extended Day open. Saturday, January 16: Yearbook Meeting, 1-4 p.m., 8th grade homeroom. Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; school closed (no classes or Extended Day). Day of Service volunteer events on campus. Thursday, January 21: Basketball home games vs. Edlin: JV girls, 3:30 p.m., JV boys 4:45 p.m., Gym. 8th Grade Recital, 7 p.m., Loft. Friday, January 22: Pizza Day. Saturday, January 23: Board of Trustees Meeting, 9 a.m. Yearbook Meeting, 1-4 p.m., 8th grade homeroom. Monday, January 25: MS Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Matthew's classroom. Basketball home games vs. Capitol Hill Day School: varsity boys, 3:45 p.m., varsity girls 5 p.m., Gym. Wednesday, January 27: Basketball home games vs. Trinity: JV boys, 4 p.m., varsity boys 5:15 p.m., Gym. Friday, January 29: 7th Grade Skip Trip. Basketball away games vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, varsity boys and girls. Saturday, January 30: Yearbook Meeting, 1-4 p.m., 8th grade homeroom. Sunday, January 31: Burgundy Bingo Night, 4-6 p.m. Recently at Burgundy ... Student Artwork in Local Newspapers Each year in late December, the area's Connection Newspapers turns over its pages to local children--publishing art and writing chosen from hundreds of submissions. In 2015 Burgundy students were again featured, with work in three papers: the Alexandria Gazette Packet, the Mount Vernon Gazette, and the Arlington Connection. Check out the published art together in one PDF. Campus Renewal Construction Update With the unique angle of the beams in our Outdoor World Learning Laboratory, the architect's design shows off the look of the wood beams and hides the structural steel brackets within the wood. These custom brackets were recently factory galvanized and have been delivered to campus. This morning, workers were back on site and they will continue to work on the project as weather allows. Parting Photos  Serving tea at the 4/5 China Expo. Polar Bears giggling as they read more "popcorn" words. Another smile from a young Burgundian! Stay Connected |  Constant Comment Archives  | Affinity Programs |  Give Online  |