Thanks For a Great Year! 

Thank you to all the Burr families and friends who helped make this year a great one. We wish all the fifth graders a huge congratulations and the best of luck for their upcoming middle school year. 

We hope you had fun at the Cove picnic on the last day of school. Thank you to all our PTO families who helped made it—and all the other fun events at Burr this year—happen. 

Have a fun-filled summer!

Order school supplies now for the fall and be done!!

The Burr PTO has once again partnered with Blu School Supplies to help make the shopping process easier and more convenient for our community. Working alongside Burr teachers, we have organized pre-packaged school supply kits by individual grade level that will be delivered directly to your child's classroom before the first day of school. 

Orders must be received by no later than July 16th!

Avoid the crowds and long checkout lines this August by pre-ordering your custom kit now. (Search “Auburndale” to find Burr School on the order site.) Please note that this is a fundraiser and that a $5 donation to the Burr PTO is included in every order. Participation in this program is completely optional!

Help Local Kids In Need.

As a Burr PTO charitable initiative, we are partnering with our “sister school”—PA Shaw Elementary School in Dorchester, MA—to provide school supplies to some of their students, many of whom are homeless and do not have the resources to purchase their own. 

If you have the means and would like to support this initiative, please consider purchasing a backpack full of school supplies for a child in need (this is an optional purchase on our bundled kit website.) Thank you!

Volunteer Positions at Burr

We all need to do our part to support the students and staff of Burr School. Whether it’s selling concessions at a school event, working with teachers and other parents to coordinate a Creative Arts & Sciences program, or working behind-the-scenes on a community event, there are numerous opportunities to get involved in ways both big and small. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new friends and get involved in the Burr community!

Please check out our many volunteer areas below and commit to joining at least one of our teams next year. We simply couldn’t offer these enrichment programs and events to our students and community without your support!

After you’ve had a chance to review the different volunteer areas, please click here to fill out our Volunteer Interest Form!

We’re looking for team coordinators and co-coordinators for the following positions:  

~ Back to School Picnic

~ Book Fair

~ Burr Buzz Editors

~ Color Day Popsicle Coordinator

~ Garden Classroom

~ Green Team

~ Hospitality

~ Move-a-thon

~ Movie Night

~ Online Auction

~ Safe Routes

~ School Directory

~ School Supply Kits

~ Understanding Our Differences, gr. 3

~ Webpage Editor

~ Wolf Fund

~ World Culture Celebration

For full descriptions and more details, visit: https://tinyurl.com/burrpto18

Contact burrschoolptonewton@gmail.com if you’re interested! 

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 

Last Day of School Picnic—June 22, 2018

Please join friends and classmates for a last day of school picnic at Auburndale Cove following the early release at noon! 

Bring some lunch and a smile to enjoy the afternoon and the official first day of summer. We will be serving free Italian ice. We hope to see you there!

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Italian Ice Scoopers Needed

The Burr End of the Year Picnic is just around the corner! It will be right after school at the Cove featuring FREE Italian ice for all! However, we will need help scooping all that Italian ice.

Please sign up for a quick 30 minute shift: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4dafaa23a0fb6-volunteers.

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Summer Reminders from the School Nurse

Medication Pick-up: Parents of students who have medication stored in the health room should pick it up by the last day of school, June 22. All medication (pills, epi-pens, inhalers, etc.) not picked up will be discarded. Please plan ahead to pick medication up so it is not wasted! Medication may not be carried home by the student -- it must be picked up by an adult. School nurses will not be available after June 22 to return medication to families. 

Medication Order Reminder: All medication orders expire at the end of the school year. If you are visiting your child’s health care provider during the summer, consider requesting a new medication order for your child. All medication, prescription or over-the-counter, requires an order. The Medication Permission Form and the Medication Policy are both available online at www.newtonma.gov/schoolhealth


West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease Prevention: 

• Mosquito and tick-borne diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme disease occur in Newton residents. Take steps to avoid getting sick! Mosquito repellant not only works for mosquitoes, but helps repel ticks as well. Use a repellant with DEET, and follow label instructions for concentrations appropriate for children. 
• Avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito hours, particularly once West Nile Virus has been detected in the mosquito population. steps to avoid getting sick! Mosquito repellant not only works for mosquitoes, but helps repel ticks as well. Use a repellant with DEET, and follow label instructions for concentrations appropriate for children. 
• Remove containers around your home (tires, kid pools, pots, tarps) that could allow mosquitoes to breed. steps to avoid getting sick! Mosquito repellant not only works for mosquitoes, but helps repel ticks as well. Use a repellant with DEET, and follow label instructions for concentrations appropriate for children. 
• Check your body for ticks after being outdoors and remove them immediately to avoid disease transmission. steps to avoid getting sick! Mosquito repellant not only works for mosquitoes, but helps repel ticks as well. Use a repellant with DEET, and follow label instructions for concentrations appropriate for children. 

Shoo the flu! Seasonal influenza vaccine will be offered this fall during the school day to students and employees. The flu shot (no FluMist again this year at school) will be available to all students in Kindergarten through grade 12, by parental consent only. Consent and screening forms will be posted at www.newtonma.gov/flu by early September, in preparation for the fall clinics. Insurance information will be requested, but all students are welcome to receive the vaccine at no charge. 

The flu clinic date for Burr will be Wednesday October 17th. Forms (available in Sept.) will be due to the school nurse by Monday October 15th. This schedule is confirmed unless the flu vaccine supply is delayed, in which case the school nurse will notify families of an alternative date once the vaccine arrives. 

Have a happy and healthy summer!

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Popsicle Sale on Tuesday!

Popsicles will be on sale after school on Tuesday, 6/19! Proceeds will benefit the Burr Sports program. Each popsicle is a $1. Enjoy the last Tuesday of the school year with a nice cold popsicle!

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Burr Garden - Summer Watering Sign up

A few weeks ago, you might have heard about our Burr Garden. Every year all the children at Burr work together to build a special community garden where anyone and everyone can go to enjoy the beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables. When the children return in the fall, one of the first places they run to is into the Burr garden to see how big and beautiful their plants have grown. 

To make that special reunion with nature a reality this fall, Burr needs your help. Please consider signing up as a family to water the garden over the summer months. It's super easy; all you have to do is find a week when you are in town, pick up the hose a few days in that week and spray the garden. If you are feeling super adventurous, you can weed a little too. This is a great volunteer opportunity for families who often can't volunteer because of work or younger siblings. Everyone in the family can help and the garden does not mind if you come in the evening after work. 

Not sure if you can dedicate an entire week? - no problem, find a friend or two to share the week with you. 

Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044dafa72aa02-summer2

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Creative Arts and Sciences
Volunteer Opportunity for a
Kindergarten Coordinator

Incoming Kindergarten parents: Creative Arts & Sciences has an opening for 1-2 parents to help coordinate next year's kindergarten programs. This is a fun, low stress volunteer opportunity that allows you to get to know the teachers and get into the classroom for these awesome programs! 

Want to be involved but are scared of coordinating all the K programs? We will train you and work together as a team. Even if you are interested in coordinating 1-2 of the programs, we'd love to have you join our team! 

CREATIVE ARTS & SCIENCES brings artists, authors, scientists, dancers, engineers, singers, naturalists, cultural programs -- even live animals -- to Burr for a hands-on extension of what our kids are learning in the classroom. 

KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS 
Mass Audubon Society’s Winter Survival
Discovery Museum’s Bubbles
Tanglewood Marionettes’ Hansel and Gretel
New England Aquarium, Tidepools
Alive! Author & Illustrator Emilie Boone 

Contact next year's co-chairs for more information! 
Patty Devaney, PattyDevaney@gmail.com
Brenna Fisk, tomandbrenna@gmail.com

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Kindergarten Playdates—Tuesdays in July and August (7/24 - 8/21)

Please join fellow incoming kindergarten families on the Burr playground on Tuesday nights from 6-7:30pm starting on Tuesday July 24 and running through Tuesday August 21. It’s a great opportunity for the kids to get to know one another before entering their kindergarten year together at Burr. If you don't have an incoming kindergarten student, but know of families who do, please spread the word. Questions about the playdates can be directed to Renee Krikorian at repk1013@gmail.com (Mom to Eliza who is very excited to be starting at Burr in the fall).

 NEWTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION 

Honor Thy Teacher

#ThankATeacher and support Newton Schools Foundation!

                                                                                

If you are looking for a way to say “Thank You!” during Teacher Appreciation Week, please consider Newton Schools Foundations’ Honor Thy Teacher campaign. This special program, established more than 20 years ago, provides an opportunity for families to thank teachers or other school personnel by giving a gift to NSF in their honor.

NSF is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enhance educational excellence throughout Newton's public schools. Your gift supports opportunities for teachers to access valuable professional development, initiatives to close the achievement gap, and new learning programs for elementary students that encompass music, science, social and cultural studies, literature and writing instruction, and social-emotional learning.

After receiving each donation (suggested amount: $25/teacher), NSF will:

• Notify the honored teachers and staff of your gift; 
• Share the honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals; and
• List each of those honored in the Newton TAB.

You can make your tax-deductible donation on-line at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org, or mail it to Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton Centre, MA 02459. Please be sure to include the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring.

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 

Last Day of School Picnic—June 22, 2018

Please join friends and classmates for a last day of school picnic at Auburndale Cove following the early release at noon!

Bring some lunch and a smile to enjoy the afternoon and the official first day of summer. We will be serving free Italian ice. We hope to see you there!

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 

Kindergarten Playdates—Tuesdays in July and August (7/24 - 8/21)

Please join fellow incoming kindergarten families on the Burr playground on Tuesday nights from 6-7:30pm starting on Tuesday July 24 and running through Tuesday August 21. It’s a great opportunity for the kids to get to know one another before entering their kindergarten year together at Burr. If you don't have an incoming kindergarten student, but know of families who do, please spread the word. Questions about the playdates can be directed to Renee Krikorian at repk1013@gmail.com (Mom to Eliza who is very excited to be starting at Burr in the fall). 

 THE BURR MUSIC DEPARTMENT PRESENTS 

Spring Concert—June 12, 2018

Our spring concert is just around the corner! Burr's spring concert will be on Tuesday, June 12th, in the cafetorium. All 4th graders will be performing with the chorus, and students in band and orchestra groups will be sharing a selection of songs as well!

Students will be performing in the morning for the school, and at 7 pm for families and friends. Students should arrive to both concerts in concert attire: white or light colored tops and black or dark colored bottoms and shoes. Your child may bring regular clothes to change into after the morning concert.

For the evening concert, band and orchestra students should arrive by 6:45 to warm up and get tuned in the gym. Students who are only in chorus should arrive by 6:55 and take a seat in the designated area in the cafeteria.

Save the Date: June 22, Last Day of School Picnic at the Cove 

Please join friends and classmates for a last day of school picnic at Auburndale Cove following the early release at noon!

Bring some lunch and a smile to enjoy the afternoon and the official first day of summer. We will be serving free Italian ice. We hope to see you there!

Color Day This Week!

Color Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5 with a rain date of Thursday, June 7. Please watch for information about the scheduled date, as rain is in the forecast. 

Please check your child's folder for information about what team they have been assigned, be sure to apply sunscreen, and pack a water bottle!