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One notable thing about Burgundy students is how many of them really enjoy science! No wonder! As one 6-year-old recently explained to me, "We get to see and learn about so many creatures!"
Our Lower School science classes have been immersed in the life cycle lately. The 4/5 classes have been tending chicken eggs; Tuesday afternoon the first chick hatched and since then our Coopers and Redtails have spent every spare moment checking on the others. If you'd like to watch too, a live camera feed is available! (Almost as exciting as EagleCam, we hope with less controversy!)
As the 4th and 5th graders are observing these chicks in the early stages of life, our 2nd and 3rd graders last week experienced a more mature developmental stage, this time in aquatic creatures, when they released brook trout into local streams. The "Trout in the Classroom" project, sponsored by Trout Unlimited, has been at Burgundy led by teacher Carol Schwartz for the better part of a decade.
The fish arrive at Burgundy as eggs in early October. As they develop, the children can see the fish grow next to the yolk, emerge, and retain the yolk sac for nourishment. It's an analogous process to the chicks' growth inside their eggs, but more visible with the fish! Meanwhile, students learn how trout have lost territory to deforestation, and then they learn about conservation around regional waterways that allows the fish to reach healthy populations again.
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| | Testing the water for macroinvertebrates. |
Every other year, in conjunction with a trip to the Cove, 2nd and 3rd grade students stop at a stream and test the water to ensure it's safe to release their fingerling fish. They check to be sure there are enough macroinvertebrates -- trout food -- for the trout to survive; and if conditions are right, they release the young fish into the wider world.
What a reassuring, inspiring image: our 9- and 10-year-old children demonstrating awareness that certain environmental conditions are necessary to sustain healthy life. In fact, they are eager to make sure those conditions are in place.
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| | Releasing the fish. |
A great contribution to the survival of creatures great and small, and a lesson for life and future citizenship. We should be proud. Happy Memorial Day, and thank you to our veterans and their families!
Jeff Sindler
Head of School
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Coming Up at Burgundy ...
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 Box Top Collection June 3
One more Box Top collection to end the year! Please send Box Tops in to your child's classroom or the Main Office by Friday, June 3 for our final collection of the school year. Keep collecting over the summer, because we will gather Box Tops when school resumes again in the fall.
Lost and Found In the next several days, please take a moment to check Burgundy's lost and found, located in the Loft outside the girls' bathroom and drama classroom. Any items left in the lost and found after Friday, June 3 will be donated to charity organizations.
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Cove chaperone sign-up information will be sent this summer.
Photo by Jody McKitrick.
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2016-2017 Cove Chaperones We anticipate sending out sign-up information for chaperoning the fall 2016 and spring 2017 Cove trips in late July. Please keep an eye on emails from Burgundy over the summer (including a couple summer issues of Constant Comment) to ensure you receive this and other important information about school.
Personnel News Fourth grade Redtails teacher Zoë Bailey has decided to take some time off from classroom teaching and will stay home next year with her new son, Sam. She is eager to stay connected to her Burgundy family of colleagues, students, and families and we hope to see her around campus for occasional visits and special events! She joined the Redtails team in fall 2014.
Art teacher Monica Campbell has decided not to return to Burgundy next year. Even with some health concerns and a challenging commute, it was a tough decision for her. Monica says she is looking forward to the opportunity to pursue her own art and focus on her natural bug spray business, Wildthings. However, Monica will remain strongly connected to Burgundy not only because of her 13 full years of teaching here, but also because her sons Austin '08 and Jason '10 are Burgundy alumni. "This place has been another family throughout my years here," Monica says. "I feel confident that my dear colleagues Connie and Annie will be able to usher Burgundy into the new and exciting era ahead."
 Burgundy Spirit Wear If you ordered spirit wear this spring and haven't yet picked up your polos, t-shirts, or shorts, please stop by the Advancement Office and collect them! If you missed out on ordering but would still like some Burgundy gear before you head out for the summer, you're in luck -- we have a few extras available of many of the items.
Of course, Burgundy gear isn't just for Burgundy students -- we hear that Carolina Jane's granddad (pictured with Carolina Jane) loves his fleece from the fall order!
Reminder: BPA Volunteer Survey To get a jump start on planning for a terrific 2016-2017 school year, the BPA is asking parents, grandparents, and friends to indicate their interests and preferences for volunteering through an online survey.
We are pleased to offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, both large and small, including many projects that can be done off campus and/or outside of school hours to better accommodate challenging schedules. Any way you can participate is welcome! Please indicate what role(s) you would consider taking on via the survey.
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Join us for the Loft Farewell Party Saturday, June 11! The event will include a showcase of alumni creative talent, with performances and art displays. Here's a sneak peek: Vibrance, 2014, a photograph by Touré Shiver '08!
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Don't Forget!
Friday, May 27: MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m.
Monday, May 30: School Closed - Memorial Day. Wednesday, June 1: Work Smarter session (last of the year), 3:15 p.m., Library. MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m. 3rd Grade Musical Showcase, 7 p.m., Loft. Friday, June 3: MS Running Club, 3:15 p.m.
Monday, June 6: Math Mondays: MS Math Club, 3:15 p.m., Matthew's classroom. Thursday, June 9: Graduation, 7 p.m., Gym. Friday, June 10: Last day of school. Volunteer appreciation coffee, 8-9 a.m., MS parking lot. Moving Up assembly, 9 a.m., Gym. Saturday, June 11: Loft Farewell Party, 1-4 p.m., Loft and Blacktop. RSVPs requested even if you cannot attend.
June 13-17: Burgundy Gap Camp: Secret Agent Adventure.
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Burgundy Bulletin
Groundworks Farm, a Maryland farm owned and operated by Burgundy alumni Margaret Evans Brown '02 and Kevin Brown '01, is in the running for a "People & Planet Award" for Green Businesses from Greening America. The award comes with a $5,000 prize. Learn more and vote for Groundworks through 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 31!
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Parting Photos
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The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence - but is it tastier?
Boris and Duncan hopped over the fence earlier this week to find out. They visited with some Coopers students before being lured back inside the barn. Our goats are young, adventurous, and natural climbers, so they do get out from time to time.
But they never wander too far!
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| | Kindergarteners watering their ponies in the trough. |
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| | Fourth grade Coopers try to catch some air with kites made in art. |
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| Dancing around the Maypole as part of the Medieval festival. More photos to come!
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