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This Monday I was fortunate to join our 6th graders for the first day of their spring Cove trip. Although the weather was a bit damp and cool, it was not uncomfortable and the program surged forth as always. The first major activity involved hiking up to two sinkholes, learning a bit of geologic history and chemistry, too, before undertaking a really cool topographic mapmaking simulation, in which students literally laid out descending ribbons around the rim and walls of the hole to illustrate perfectly both the meaning and utility of topo maps. Students were then able to read maps of the Cove ridge shared with them to identify their own locations and where they had just been!
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| | Creating a life-size topographical map with ribbon. Photo by David Williams. More photos from the 6th grade's trip below in Parting Photos. |
Burgundy has loads of field trips that take advantage of our location near the nation's capital and so many historic places and significant museums and places of interest. In fact, just this week, the JK Chicks had a field trip to the National Zoo; the Kindergarten classes went to the Natural History Museum; both 2/3 classes visited the Discovery Theater, and the Buckeyes also went to the Freer & Sackler Galleries; and as part of studying learning differences, the 7th grade visited John Adams Elementary School.
Cove trips are the ultimate field trip, two and a half days chock full of learning. But all of the trips greatly expand -- and offer opportunities for application of -- the learning our students do at Burgundy. And frankly we could not offer as many of these distinctive and often formative experiences as we do without our annual giving program. So let me offer a hearty thanks to all of you who have contributed this year and encourage those who have not to consider a gift. Without this special funding source we could not offer some of the best of what we do each year!
Thanks!
Jeff Sindler
Head of School
P.S. Let me recommend a recently published book, Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life, by Richard Louv, author of the bestselling Last Child in the Woods. |
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Coming Up at Burgundy ...
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Burgundy's quartet in The Music Man.
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Reminder: The Music Man Continues
The Class of 2016's production of The Music Man continues tonight and tomorrow night, 7 p.m. both nights in the Loft. Given the space constraints of the Loft, we strongly encourage families without 8th grade students to attend on Friday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children. Concessions will be available to purchase. Sales require cash.
Additional Spaces for Auction Sign-Up Party There are a few spots available for the Dinner and Evening Parade Sign-Up Party at Marine Barracks on Capitol Hill on Friday, May 20, 6-10 p.m. The evening begins with a cookout at the home of parents Mary Quillian Helms and Paxton Helms, followed by Evening Parade ceremony at the nearby Marine Barracks. A family friendly event; tickets for children and adults are $30 each; proceeds benefit student financial aid. To sign up, please contact Allison Niedbala by Monday, May 16.
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An artist's early sketch of the new Arts & Community Center and Campus Green.
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Campus Renewal Construction Update Meetings
With more visible preparation and site work starting on the new Arts & Community Center this summer, Burgundy invites current families to attend an informational meeting and Q&A session. We are offering two meeting times for parents: Thursday, May 19, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Tuesday, May 24, 6-7 p.m. If you plan to attend one of the meetings, please register by Wednesday, May 18. Complimentary childcare (with a pizza dinner) is available during the Tuesday evening session for children age 4 and older. Please indicate if you need childcare on your registration.
 We are working hard in preparing for the project to ensure the process is safe and as efficient as possible. As part of the preparation, testing has identified asbestos in several older buildings on campus: the Loft, East Barn (Library), West Barn (Early Childhood), the Main Office, the Caretaker's House, and the Burgundy-owned house at the corner of Norton Road. Asbestos abatement is common and done professionally and safely at schools, even while school is in session. None of the asbestos poses a health hazard to students, faculty, or others.
Because asbestos is very common in buildings of a certain era, the ways to address this issue are both well-known and highly-regulated. We have procured expert guidance through an asbestos consultant. The asbestos in the current Loft will be professionally removed late this summer before the building is torn down. When asbestos is found in buildings planned for continued use, there are two options based on type and location: leaving the asbestos in place or removing it. Following the recommendations of the consultant, we will remove the asbestos in the Main Office basement and East Barn mechanical room. In the other buildings, the asbestos will not be removed, but will continue to be monitored, per our current professional maintenance plan.
 Register Now for a Secret Agent Adventure! Calling all spies: Your new mission, should you choose to accept it, is to register for Gap Camp's Secret Agent Adventure. Gap Camp runs Monday, June 13-Friday, June 17 and is open to all current Burgundy students, including graduating 8th graders. Join us for an adventure full of challenging missions, mystery villains, and a whole lot of fun!
The fee for Gap Camp is $80 per day. Members of the holiday plan have already paid, but need to register to confirm attendance. Contact Hugh Squire at headquarters if you have any questions.
Reminder: Piano Lending During construction of the new Arts & Community Center, Burgundy's pianos will need a temporary home off-campus. Some of our pianos have already been requested, but we still have one: a small upright piano with a beautiful case and bench that was donated to Burgundy by longtime librarian Ann Van Deusen and her family.
The piano will be moved out of the Loft in June 2016 at Burgundy's expense. Full expectations for the care of the instruments will be detailed in a contract that host families will be required to sign. For more details or if you would be interested in hosting this piano, please contact Cathy Manley. |
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Interested in volunteering next school year? The BPA is asking for preferences about when and where you'd like to volunteer.
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Don't Forget!
Friday, May 13: MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m. 8th Grade Musical, 7 p.m., Loft.
Saturday, May 14: 8th Grade Musical, 7 p.m., Loft.
Monday, May 16: Math Mondays: MS Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Matthew's classroom. Tuesday, May 17: 4/5 Coopers Musical Showcase, 7 p.m., Loft. Wednesday, May 18: MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m. Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library. Friday, May 20: MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m.
Monday, May 23: Math Mondays: MS Math Help Session, 3:15 p.m., Matthew's classroom. 4/5 Redtails Musical Showcase, 7 p.m., Loft. Wednesday, May 25: New Parent Coffee, 9-10:30 a.m., Loft. MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m. Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library. Friday, May 27: Medieval Faire, 10:30 a.m.-noon, in front of West Barn (Early Childhood). MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m. Work Smarter session, 3:15 p.m., Library. |
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Burgundy Racing Buddies at the GW Parkway Classic
As part of the Middle School Giving Tree category of this year's Auction, 6th grade student Robert Williams offered a 5K Train and Run. Robert offered three training sessions and a bib number for the GW Parkway Classic.Jennie and Kevin Lane, parents of 6th grader Travis Lane, purchased the training and bib number for their son Austin, who will join the fourth grade at Burgundy next year. Austin, Robert, and Robert's mom Sarah Zapolsky ran the 5K in late April. Congratulations to all!
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| Austin and Robert before the race.
Photo by Sarah Zapolsky. |
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| | Checking out options at the book fair. Photo by
Cindy Woodruff. |
Thank You: Book Fair Thank you to all the families that supported the library by purchasing books at the book fair last week. It was an incredibly successful event! Thank you also to all our volunteers who worked tirelessly before, during, and after the week of sales. Enjoy your summer reading!
Burgundy Bulletin Emma Beall '09 is a rising senior at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA where she is majoring in public health and gender studies. She was recently accepted in Tulane's Combined Degree Program for Maternal and Child Health, allowing her to obtain her master's degree in an accelerated time frame. She spent her fall semester studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark and has spent her spring semester interning with the Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives as an Advisory Intern. In this role, she worked with "opportunity youth"--individuals ages 18-24 who are out of school or work--in weekly advisory sessions focused on positive growth, identity, career readiness skills, and family planning. Emma is looking forward to spending the summer in New Orleans and continues to enjoy exploring the city. |
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Author Tom Watson visited Burgundy this week to talk about his books and teach students how he draws the characters in them. He also revealed that
Stick Dog's next adventure will focus on spaghetti! Photo by Barbara Krainik.
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Hamilton Ridenhour took a break from third grade on Wednesday to be
Head for a Day with Jeff. Among his activities was reading to the JK Chicks.
The Head for a Day experience is offered as a Burgundy Auction item.
Photo by Cathy Guertin.
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And below, more scenes from the 6th grade's trip to the Cove this week.
Photos by David Williams.
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