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 As we come to the end of Black History Month we are reminded of Burgundy's rich history of leadership and innovation in the area of race relations. At a time when most Virginians were fighting against integrating schools and starting private "academies" as havens for white students, the community members here were thoughtfully proceeding with plans to integrate the then brand-new Burgundy Farm Country Day School. Paraphrasing the words of the founders... they did it because they knew it was the right thing to do for their own children who would be living in an increasingly integrated world.
With our traditional commitment to keeping the needs of all children front and center they asked the right question: what is the best way to do this for all involved--both our own community and the community of black families we were asking to join us. They first hired an experienced black teacher, Camay Brooks (coincidentally Cab Calloway's daughter), to help with the planning and to ensure as much as possible that all involved, including new black parents and students, would feel as comfortable as possible during this transition. They also examined areas where this decision would impact the "whole child," experientially based education planned for all students and made necessary changes and additions to the curriculum and facility.
Some community members don't know this is why we have our pool today. Swimming outdoors was a much valued aspect of the experience planned for children here. Unfortunately when our founders began planning the bold move that would make Burgundy the first integrated school in the state of Virginia, there were no pools that allowed black and white children to swim together so they built their own.
Why is this walk down memory lane important? Perhaps best conveyed in the words of Confucius, it is important to "study the past if you would define the future." In this time in our country where race relations continue to confound us as a nation, we need to ensure that students, destined to be the future leaders of our country, are equipped with the tools to take on this most difficult area of our national story with the same type of thoughtful yet bold actions taken by our founders. As each class takes time this month to study Black History in developmentally appropriate ways, each student will gain the knowledge, insights, and conviction to be a part of the national conversation on solutions to the problems of race in our country.
As an alumni parent I've had the opportunity to engage with many Burgundy graduates, and I see ample evidence that we have been doing a good job with this. Continuing our Black History month curriculum has helped many of our graduates go into the world as what I like to call, racial equity leaders. Paraphrasing the words of one alumna, here as a student in the early 1990s: Burgundy made it impossible for me to be someone who closes my eyes to racial injustice or sees it and does not act.
I'm proud to be part of a school that instills this feeling in its students.
Pat Harden Counselor |
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Coming Up at Burgundy ...
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The auction catalog will come home via child mail next week!
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Auction Update:
All the Wonderful Details
Are you "wondering" what awaits at the Burgundy Auction? On Saturday, March 5, you will enter the event through the Middle School Atrium beginning at 5:30 p.m. At the registration tables you will check in and collect your seating information and bidder number.
Then, you may think you're entering the Gym, but you will be entering a magical and wonderful rustic venue! Keep your bidder number handy. You'll use your number to bid on items in the silent and live auctions and to enjoy the various games, raffles and festivities, including: Pick a Butterfly: A new take on the ever-popular Balloon Pops, Pick a Butterfly is a game through which you can win gift certificates to some of your favorite local restaurants in $25, $50 and $100 values. At the auction, look for people with decorative butterflies on a branch. But play early, this is always a popular game and the prizes go fast!  Burgundy Raffle and Best of the Live Raffle: You can purchase raffle tickets online, but if you'd like another opportunity to increase your chances of winning one of these great prizes, look for the raffle ticket table immediately upon entering the Gym. Burgundy Raffle tickets are 3 for $25 or 10 for $75. Best of the Live tickets are $50 and the winner will be able to choose the live auction item of his or her choice. You do not have to be present to win; purchasers of Best of the Live tickets must indicate their live auction item of choice before the auction. Review your choices! (PDF) Contact Michele McCabe with your choice or you will be contacted in advance of the auction.
Artisanal Cocktail Bar: Delight in specialty cocktail drinks ($10) from alumni parents Suellen and Joe Savukas and current and alumni parents Cindy Dyer and Jason Ankele. Look for these fun bartenders.
Fine Wine Bar: New for 2016. Thanks to the generosity of parents Mary and Chris Sexton, you'll be able to purchase fine wine by the bottle. Prices will be $60 for reds; $40 for whites.
Silent Auction: You'll see a wide range of items donated by parents, students, grandparents, faculty, staff, alumni, and local businesses. Bidding for all silent auction items will close at 7:15 p.m. This is an elegant, adults-only evening. Put on your cocktail attire, and plan ahead so you can enjoy yourself and know you have a safe way home. Consider establishing a designated driver, or book a ride with a service like Uber, Alexandria Yellow Cab (703.549.2500 or www.alexandriayellowcab.com), or Drivers Incorporated (will drive both you and your car home, 703.994.3931).
 Thanks to those who have already given an RSVP, including Heidi Parsont, who wins a $100 Visa gift card for her early registration. If you haven't yet, please RSVP now! Otherwise current parents will be contacted asking for a response.
We're looking forward to a fun and festive night, and we're excited to celebrate with you. See you there! -- Ann Grillo and Moley Evans, Auction Co-Chairs
Tea Collection Fundraiser through Feb. 29 Tea Collection, a children's clothing company, is in the midst of a "school days" fundraiser and sale. Through Monday, February 29, visit www.teaschooldays.com and enter SDS16BURGUNDYFARM at checkout. You will receive a 15% discount off your order and free shipping--and 15% of your purchase will be donated to Burgundy! Thanks to parent Jenny Friedl for organizing this opportunity.
Parent Teacher Conferences March 17-18 Links to sign ups for parent-teacher conferences Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18 will be shared on Tuesday, March 1 for families with two or more children at Burgundy. Sign ups will be open to all families on Friday, March 4.
PAAS Meeting March 7 Parents of African American Students will hold its next meeting on Monday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School Atrium. We plan to do some long-term planning and brainstorming. Please come with ideas!
 Girl Scout Cookies at Burgundy Burgundy's Brownie troop (2nd and 3rd grade) and Daisy troop (K and 1st) will be selling Girl Scout cookies on the blacktop on Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11 during afternoon carpool.
On sale will be Thin Mints, Trefoils, Savannah Smiles, Samoas, and Rah-Rah Raisins! So, which flavor is your favorite? Cookies are $4 per box. Cash is preferred, checks are accepted (made out to GSNC). The girls will be donating a portion of the proceeds back to Burgundy.
--Tovah Ravitz-Meehan
Cove Trips Coming Up  Spring is not too far away, and that means trips to Cooper's Cove will be starting again! Opening weekend is scheduled for April 16-17. Please review dates for individual class trips in the Parent Handbook and Student Directory.
The changes made to Cove procedures in the fall were reviewed after trips concluded based on feedback we received from Cove parent coordinators. A few menu tweaks were made as well as changes to how we organize activities for groups that switch mid-week. We will continue to use buses to transport children (with the exception of 1st graders) this spring. Chaperones are sometimes asked to carry some of the gear while children ride the bus together. We want to remind chaperones to travel with the bus so that everyone arrives at the same time and support is at the ready should it be needed. Teachers will soon be sharing out the list of spring chaperones that we assembled back at the beginning of the year. Once you've received that list, please let your homeroom teacher and Elizabeth Lener know ASAP if you can no longer chaperone a trip, as we have a few people on waiting lists in various grades.
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Burgundy on Broadway continues tonight! Photo by Kathy Miller.
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Don't Forget!
Today: Burgundy on Broadway, 7 p.m., Loft.
Saturday, February 27: Yearbook meeting, 1-4 p.m., 8th grade homeroom.
Monday, February 29: Math Mondays: MS Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Matthew's classroom. Wednesday, March 2: Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library. Thursday, March 3: Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library. Friday, March 4: Pizza Day. Ultimate Sustainability Task Force meeting, 3:30 p.m., Doug's classroom. Saturday, March 5: Yearbook meeting, 1-4 p.m., 8th grade homeroom. Burgundy Auction, 5:30 p.m., Gym.
Looking Ahead: March 15-16 is Burgundy's annual Arts Festival. Save the dates! March 21-25 is Spring Break, and that means Spring Break Camp with Extended Day. Many fun field trips are planned, including Flight Trampoline Park, a bowling alley, and museums. See next week's Constant Comment for a registration link!
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Thank You: Box Top Collection Results!
Three cheers for Burgundy families and friends from Team Box Top! The totals are in from the last collection and participation is way up all across the school--we collected more than 1,100 Box Tops!
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JK - 173
K - 121
1st - 122
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2/3 Viceroys - 146
2/3 Buckeyes - 149
4/5 Coopers - 214
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4/5 Redtails - 80
Middle School - 16
Main Office & Ex Day - 32
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We also had a total of 175 Labels for Education points. Keep clipping, collecting, and bringing them in--the next collection will be in April but it's never too early to bring in your stash of Box Tops and Labels for Education. Bravo and thank you! --Jenny Friedl
Community Service Report  On Sunday, February 14, a group of Middle Schoolers, together with their parents, delivered Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors in Alexandria. In observance of Valentines Day, we also delivered to each client a hand-made, laminated Valentines-themed placemat.The placemats were made by JK and 4/5 Redtails students.
Last week, a group of Middle Schoolers had a "Finish the Projects" day--a time to complete some projects that were requested by non-profits for Martin Luther King Day but which weren't picked up by any class, or ones where the organization could use more of what we did make. One of the projects was to put together toiletry packs for individuals using the Carpenter's Shelter Hypothermia Unit. The other was to create more of the Storytelling and Comprehension bookmarks that Wright to Read tutors use to help students focus on plot and meaning. 4/5 Coopers and 2/3 Viceroys made many of these bookmarks as part of their MLK activities, but Wright to Read has so many tutors that they are able to use even more.
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Stormy days, rainy days, and Singin' in the Rain
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