Blue Zone Reminder

There are many ways to get to school: walk, bike, bus, and parent drop-off. Periodically throughout the year, we like to remind everybody of Blue Zone safety and other important tips for drop-off and pick-up. Now that it is cold and we are dealing with ice and snow we have more people using the Blue Zone, so it seems like a good time for a reminder!

THE BLUE ZONE:

The Blue Zone are the two zones (directly in front of the school and directly across from it) that are marked by signs and blue paint on the curb. These are the designated areas for parent drop off and pickup.

PLEASE abide by the Blue Zone rules to ensure that dismissal and drop off is as safe as possible for our children. PLEASE share with all caregivers, such as grandparents, nannies and babysitters. Even if you don't use the Blue Zone, legal parking is important to keep in mind for safety. Often leaving just a few minutes earlier for pickup alleviates the stress of finding a good place to park. 

Some helpful tips:

Students in grade K-2 should be picked up on the school side of the road. This will ensure that the teachers see you pull up and can get your child to you quickly and safely.

Any motor vehicle may stop in a Blue Zone location only long enough to let a child enter or exit the vehicle. You can't get out to run them inside or wait to watch them go in - you need to keep moving! If you need to do bring your child in or you want to watch them get inside, please find a parking space so you can walk together.

The Blue Zone doesn't work for everybody - and that's OK!  If that's the case, enjoy a walk to school or prepare to park and walk up to Burr together.

OTHER NOTES:

• Don't let your child out on the driver's side - always the curb side.  
• No dropping your child off in the middle of the street. Make sure you are pulled up to a curb, even if there's a backup.
• Don't park in the teacher's lot.
• Do not park in front of the school directly ahead of the bus lane (right before the turn into the small parking lot). 
• NO U-turns in front of the school and no turning in residential driveways.  
• Pay attention to the signage surrounding the school. For instance, on the school side of Washburn Ave. there's a no parking zone during school hours. When people park there, it makes it difficult for cars (and especially buses) to get through.
• Do not park on Washburn directly across from the end of Pine Street (no parking between the signs is noted). Again, the bus can't take its wide turn onto Pine when cars block Washburn.
• Follow the Burr guidelines about dogs. Please keep your furry friends on a leash and away from the school entrance and the Blue Zone.  
• Cross only where there's a crosswalk (and crossing guard where applicable.)  
• Do not stand in Pine Street to wait for dismissal or chit chat. We don't want kids standing in the street, so why should adults?

This year Newton has added NO IDLING signs in the blue zones. These are a great reminder to turn off your car while waiting to drop off or pick up your student. Turning off your car improves air quality for everyone around you and reduces pollutants that can be particularly harmful for our students with asthma.

Together we can make the drop-off and pick-up safe for all!

Give the gift that keeps on giving....

The holidays are a special and magical time of year.  Many of us are lucky to spend extra time with our families and open up new toys and gifts, but some of our neighbors are not as lucky.  Let's help make their holidays special too!  We are collecting gift cards to local stores for children and families in our communities.  

Some suggestions for store gift cards are:

• Target
• Walmart
• TJ Maxx
• Marshalls
• Kohls
• Job Lot
• Five Below
• Learning Express
• Modells
• Grocery stores 

Gift cards in any amount are appreciated and helpful.  Gift cards will be shared with families in our communities, who will be able to use the cards to buy the gifts that they know their children need and want.  Adults will also feel empowered and get in the holiday spirit.

Please drop off by 12/17 to allow the cards to be distributed and the recipients time to shop. 

Thanks so much & Happy Holidays!!

Just Next Door Fundraiser - This Wednesday!

Holiday Shopping on your mind? 

Don’t look any further, just make a trip to our very own neighborhood store ‘Just Next Door’ in Auburndale. 

At Checkout, remember  to mention you are shopping for Burr School, every purchase gives 20% back to our school. Spread the word to Family and Friends too. Psst..It’s an Early Release Dismissal so all the more fun to get that shopping list taken care of!

Event: December Holiday Shopping 
When: Wednesday December 4, 2019 All Day
Where: 327 Auburn St, Auburndale MA 02466

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 

December Movie/Health & Wellness Night 

We are excited to share that we will have Yoga available for adults from 7:15 - 8:15pm in the gym with an instructor.  If you plan to do yoga, please bring your own yoga mats and water bottles!  In line with a health and wellness theme, we will be showing the Pixar movie Inside Out!   Lastly, we may have additional health and wellness presentations for adults in the library from from 6:30 until yoga begins

NOW SHOWING IN THE BURR CINEMA: INSIDE OUT

Friday, December 6th. Doors open at  6:15PM. Movie starts at 6:45PM

**please note there is basketball in the gym until 7:00 pm - please stay out  of gym until it has ended

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS MOVIE NIGHT WILL BENEFIT THE BURR PTO 

SUGGESTED DONATION: $10 per child or $15 per family
*ALL TICKETS INCLUDE A DRINK, POPCORN AND THE MOVIE.  PARENTS DON'T NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET.

CONCESSIONS:
There will be candy and snacks available to purchase. There will also be pizza on a first come first served basis. $2.00 per slice. Please let us know if you are going to purchase pizza so we make sure to order enough.

As always we need volunteers to make these events run! Please consider signing up to help at the door, sell concessions, clean up etc.

To sign up/request pizza/volunteer: Click Here

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 

#GivingTuesday is Tuesday 12/3! Support the Wolf Fund!

Please consider a gift to the Wolf Fund on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3!  If you have yet to make a donation, and plan to, you can do so online right here via the Burr website which will direct you to PayPal, or you can bring a check (made out to "Burr PTO") to the school in your child's folder or bring to the office.  

Thank you so much to all of our generous family donors and for all of the support for Burr PTO-led efforts! 

Burr Principal Newsletter

November 25, 2019

Dear Burr Families,

I hope everyone has adjusted to the darker afternoons and 'nippy' weather.  Celebrations of lights across many cultures are a great way to embrace the seasonal change. In the past month, we've followed up the spectacular Boo Fest with two additional cultural celebrations, which were a great hit. Burr families celebrated Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), on November 9, and Diwali on November 17.  I was amazed with the assortment of activities that were offered at each event. These wonderful experiences were made possible by the hard work and commitment of really involved parents who believe in the importance of sharing their rich heritage with the Burr community. Thank you so much to all of you who organized, set up, and attended them. I know the PTO have many more great events planned throughout the year and I hope everyone reading this newsletter will volunteer to help out. Visit the Burr PTO webpage to see what is planned and where volunteers are still needed.  

Here are some updates and important information for you to know.

Burr Student Council 

On Friday, the Burr Students Council met on Friday to discuss options for supporting families in need during the holiday season. They decided to invite the Burr community to donate gift cards that can be distributed as needed. Gift cards of any value and to any vendor are much appreciated. Please be sure to list the gift amount clearly on each card. Student Council also decided to have a Pajama Day on Wednesday, November 27 to celebrate school spirit. For many of us, it is quite appealing to be able to come into school in cozy and comfortable sleepwear. Don't forget, school is out at noon on Wednesday. 

Appropriate Cold Weather Wear

Looking ahead to December, the first week's forecast shows temperatures dipping below freezing. If you're new to Burr School, it's essential to know that we take the children out for recess every day unless it is raining or the temperature falls below 20 degrees. Children must come to school with appropriate clothing. A few students like to wear shorts in the building, and that is fine, but they must have long pants to change into for going outdoors. Children who are unprepared for cold weather will have to wait in the office area for recess to be over since the classroom staff will be outdoor supervising the rest of the class.

Staff Parking Lot

I want to remind everyone that during school hours, the Burr parking lot is for Burr staff only. Several staff members have informed me that they were not able to get into school on time because the parking lot was filled. There are more staff members than there are parking spots, so a few parents parking there creates a problem. The parking lot is open for public use at 3:15 PM.

Mental Health Resources

Our mental health team, Dr. Juarez and Ms. Eastburn are an excellent resource for children and families. You may have worked with one of them at some point in your time at Burr. Both of them are in and out of classrooms teaching whole class and small group lessons that support children's social-emotional wellbeing. This year, they have decided to focus on some topics that often come up and prepare a newsletter. Below is their first piece that offers advice for helping children with grief and loss. 

I wish you all a relaxing Thanksgiving break.  

Best, 
Mindy Johal


Mental Health Resource: Helping Your Child Grieve

Dealing with death is never easy.  Whether it be the loss of a beloved family member, a long-time pet, or a fish you’ve just introduced to the family, it can be overwhelming for adults and children alike.  Children understand and cope with death in many different ways, and it is important to help them make sense of what has happened. 

Here are some tips to help your children when a death has occurred:

Be honest about the death.  Consider their age and developmental understanding of death.  Younger children do not understand that death is permanent, that everyone and everything will eventually die, and that dead things don’t eat, sleep, or breathe.  Death should not be explained as “sleep.”  Use clear and simple language to let them know someone has died. Research shows that using words like dead and died, although it might feel uncomfortable to the adult, helps the grieving process. 

Listen and comfort. Children react differently to the news of death.  Some children cry, some are upset, some are quiet.  Encourage your children to put their feelings into words and help them identify those words that might be confusing for them.  Talk about your own feelings and show them it is ok to cry.  Cry together. Accept your child’s response and assure them that whatever they are feeling is ok. Feelings and reactions may change over the next couple of days, weeks, or months.  Validate changing feelings and continue to have these conversations to model the grieving process.

Let your child know what to expect.  Consider sharing some information in doses, but let them know if there will be any changes in the day-to-day routine (e.g., Will someone else pick them up from school? Who will stay with them over the weekend?).  Discuss adults that they can confide in during school.  Let your child know that difficult feelings might come and go throughout the day and that this is ok and normal. For some children, distraction is a good coping strategy; for others, remembering positive interactions about the deceased is helpful, and some children find comfort in crying and talking about their loved one.  

Create some sense of normalcy.  While it might be a particularly difficult time for you as an adult, trying to keep to the schedules and routines is especially helpful for children.  Going to school and continuing to take part in typical extracurricular activities and playdates is important.  Continuing to eat balanced meals and getting enough sleep is critical for everyone.

Prepare your children for upcoming events.  Whatever ritual your family will participate in, talk about what to expect with your children and their role in the event, if any.  This can be an overwhelming activity for children----seeing lots of family and friends that they don’t often see, witnessing a range of emotions from adults, possibly seeing the body of the loved one that just died.  If your child will be included in these activities, come up with a plan in case they need an “out.”  Will you have a secret signal if they recognize that they need a break, and who will help them take this break? If they cannot verbalize that they need a break, what behavioral clues will you notice that will show you that they need a break?

Grieving takes time.  Give yourself and your child time to grieve.  It is long lasting and children and adults alike don’t just “get over it.”  There are resources available to help you and your family.  Continue to revisit these conversations and assure them (and yourself) that healing does not mean forgetting about the person.

Resources:

Jeff’s Place, in Framingham, offers individual and family counseling, community support groups with families, child specific bereavement groups, consultation to families and schools, and crisis counseling.

The Children’s Room, in Arlington, offers parent support groups, support groups for teens and Good Grief, at the Boston Medical Center, offers consultation and information to families and schools, bereavement groups for children and teenagers, crisis training and protocols.

Children’s Books:

A Complete Book About Death for Kids by Earl Grollman and Joy Johnson

Everett Anderson’s Goodbye by Lucille Clifton

I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland

The Next Place by Warren Hanson 

The Saddest Time by Norma Simon 

Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs by Susan Schaefer Bernardo 

What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? by Trevor Romain

Where is Grandpa? by T.A. Barron children, family nights, resources for schools, and information and referrals.

Give the gift that keeps on giving…

The holidays are a special and magical time of year. Many of us are lucky to spend extra time with our families and open up new toys and gifts, but some of our neighbors are not as lucky.  Let's help make their holidays special too! We are collecting gift cards to local stores for children and families in our communities. (Flyer link)

Some suggestions for store gift cards are:
Target
Walmart
TJ Maxx
Marshalls
Kohls
Job Lot
Five Below
Learning Express
Modells
Grocery stores 

Gift cards in any amount are appreciated and helpful. Gift cards will be shared with families in our communities, who will be able to use the cards to buy the gifts that they know their children need and want. Adults will also feel empowered and get in the holiday spirit.