- In the mornings parents are parked in Blue Zone waiting for the doors to open. This really slows down the time it takes to get children into the building and clogs up the traffic outside making it unsafe. I think it is okay to wait in the Blue Zone before school until 8:10 AM and then you must move on. The Blue Zone is to be used to drop off children quickly. Children should be able to get out of the car independently. Practicing this at home will help them learn this skill. This morning I watched a parent hold up the Blue Zone for 5 minutes by coming around to get his child out of the car, put the child’s back pack on his back, and then watch him walk into the building. My blood pressure was going up as I heard the horns beeping to move him along. If your child needs this kind of support, you should not be using the Blue Zone area for drop off.
- Making a U turn outside the school at arrival and dismissal times is unsafe. Please do not do it. It only takes a few extra minutes to go around and I’m sure everyone would agree that it’s worth following these rules for the safety of our children. Likewise, using the teacher’s parking lot to turn is not allowed. This area has high pedestrian traffic.
- At dismissal time, I ask that you remember to keep moving your car up in the Blue Zone line. We can get all children into cars in about 7 minutes if everyone keeps moving along.
- Parents who are picking up students after school are asked to gather away from Blue Zone sidewalk. Please wait for your children by the flagpole, or closer to the crosswalk. Teachers and children cannot see the cars when parents are blocking the view and it is also very unsafe to have to walk around people when we are loading the cars.
I would also like to remind people that formal instruction begins at 8:30 AM. If your child comes through the door at 8:30 AM he/she will not be ready to begin the day. Children should be at school by 8:20 AM when the doors open, so they can unpack their bags, greet their teachers and friends, and settle in for the day. These morning rituals are an important part of transitioning into learning. If this is an area of challenge for your family, please make every effort to have an earlier start in the new year. We are happy to discuss strategies to help you if needed.
The Hour of Code
We live in a world surrounded by technology and we know that whatever field children choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. At Burr, we continue to explore ways to leverage technology to enhance student learning, and to consider how our programing prepares them for future success. Over the past few years, we have participated in The Hour of Code event and are doing so again this year. Burr librarian, technology specialist, and math coach have been supporting the teachers in this work. This year, decide to spread it out over a few weeks and you have likely heard about some of the activities from your child or his/her teacher. If you would like to learn more and get some ideas to continue the learning at home, you can check out this website: http://hourofcode.com. We are looking forward to some wonderful learning and explorations of the world of code together.
Sleep Under
Last week, the Burr staff hosted the Burr Sleep Under Movie Night and about 140 children attended. We had a pizza dinner and watched “The Secret Life of Pets.” I’d like to thank the following staff members for supervising the event: Sydney Tice, Caryln Foreman, Vanessa Mc Mahon, Nancy Fitch, Natalia Espinal, Kara MacNeill, Amanda McKenzie, Gwenne Foreman, Kaylan Finn, Nicole Golden and Catalina Frail with her wonderful family. It was so kind of them to give up a Friday night. Children and adults all agreed that it was a fun event (pictures visible in attached Dec 12-16-16 news.doc) .
I wish all of you a wonderful vacation.
Best,
Mindy