THE BURR PTO PRESENTS
Paddy's Burr PTO Fundraising Night—Nov. 30!
Please join us Monday, November 30 for our next Dine Out/Take Out Fundraiser!
THE BURR PTO PRESENTS
Burr Parent Meetups: A Chance to Connect on Zooms for Each Grade!
Hello Burr Community,
As we have progressed through the first few months of this crazy school year, the COVID environment has resulted in a loss of the normal ways of gathering as a community. In the days of long long time ago, unplanned meetups, coffees and play dates were organized by random in-person interactions at drop off, pickup, bus rides or at a Burr school event. To try to recapture some of those lost opportunities, the PTO will be organizing and holding morning meetups by grade after the Thanksgiving break. The Zoom events will be open to all parents/guardians (hybrid and DLA) who want to stop by and say “hello” and reconnect.
Regards,
Albert Olszewski - Burr DLA Liaison
Burr PTO
The registration links below will allow you to sign up by grade. Please feel free to join for all or just part of the time.
Kindergarten: Thursday, December 3rd at 9:30 -10:30
First Grade: Friday, December 4th 9:30-10:30
Second Grade - Monday, December 7th 9:30-10:30
Third Grade - Tuesday, December 8th 9:30-10:30
Fourth Grade - Thursday, December 10th 9:30-10:30
Fifth Grade - Friday, December 11th 9:30-10:30
https://zoom.us/j/
THE BURR PTO PRESENTS
BURR PTO BOARD LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
As mentioned at our last community PTO meeting in October, we are currently seeking an additional Co-President, a Fundraising Coordinator, and an Education Support Coordinator for terms starting in January 2021 through the 2021-2022 school year. If you are interested in stepping into a board role, please feel free to reach out to current Co-Presidents Jenn, Jon, and Pam for more information: info@burrpto.org.
We will plan to publicize the slate of board candidates at the December community meeting on December 16th and hold the election to fill open positions at the January 20th meeting. In addition to general PTO board responsibilities (attendance at board meetings, planning activities, volunteering for events, etc.) specific descriptions for what each role involves can be found below:
Co-President: A Leader of the Pack
Alongside the three current co-presidents, this role will oversee all PTO activities and roles, as well as work closely with the Burr school administration. In addition to setting the calendar for all PTO-related events, the Co-Presidents develop the annual budget (approved by PTO members, at large), and manage the fiscal and 501c3 nonprofit responsibilities of the organization. They are responsible for overseeing the coordination of all PTO activities and events, providing support as needed and in any manner necessary. This includes finding/assigning committee members, balancing financial resources, and managing communications for the PTO. Co-presidents also represent the Burr PTO at the Newton PTO Council, the umbrella organization of all 21 PTOs in Newton.
What you can bring to the role: Strong ability to motivate volunteers and encourage teamwork to the benefit Burr community, strategic planning and organization, creative problem solving, project management, proactive communication with a range of stakeholders (parents, faculty, community members across Newton, other PTOs), and willingness to roll up your sleeves and pitch in wherever necessary
Average time commitment: 10-12 hours/month.
Fundraising Coordinator: Making it Rain for Burr
The Fundraising Coordinator plans, recruits, for and oversees the coordinators/committees for all of the fundraising we do for the PTO. The two biggest fundraisers we do are the Wolf Fund and online auction, but the role also includes organizing smaller fundraisers like bake sales, trivia nights, restaurant nights, and more.
What you can bring to the role: Passion for generating excitement about giving to benefit the Burr community, creative event planning, volunteer engagement, willingness to solicit donations from the community, and any technical acumen related to fundraising is helpful
Average time commitment: 5-7 hours/month
Education Support Coordinator: Enriching the Educational Experience
The educational support coordinator oversees the Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) committee and the Understanding Our Differences (UOD) committees. They are responsible for working with the teachers and principal to organize these programs at each grade level. CAS runs from Kindergarten through 5th grade and UOD starts in 3rd grade and runs through 5th grade. They will work with the Director of Newton CAS to gather the available programs and then work with the teachers at Burr to select which programs work best for their curricula. The volunteer coordinating portion of this role will help recruit for different committees and/or volunteer roles we have open at Burr.
What you can bring to the role: Commitment to educational enrichment programs, volunteer engagement and coordination, planning and organization, and ability to work effectively with faculty and staff
Average time commitment: 5-7 hours/month
Save the Date: Burr FORJ Meeting—Dec. 9
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. is the next Burr Families Organizing for Racial Justice meeting. Zoom registration information will follow.
Please come with a friend to share and hear ideas about what our work will look like for 2021!
Questions? Email us: BurrFORJ171@gmail.com
More information about Families Organizing for Racial Justice: https://sites.google.com/view/burrforj/
SEPAC meeting: Special education rights during COVID-19—Nov. 23
Please join Newton SEPAC for a presentation on:
Special Education Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Monday, November 23, 2020
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting ID: 830 2994 6801
Passcode: 110632
Presented by:
Daniel Heffernan, Esq., Newton parent and Special Education Attorney at Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP
Dan will discuss the most current DESE decisions and guidelines affecting special education students in Massachusetts during the pandemic. Some of the areas Dan will cover include IEP service delivery, compensatory services, evaluations, administrative timelines, etc. We will also have time for Q&A from families.
We hope to see you there!
Free Meals at NPS
Whitsons is partnering with Newton Public Schools to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL students.
Virtual Leaner pick- up locations:
Newton North HS (Theatre Entrance)
Newton South HS
Pick-up available from 10-12pm Mon-Fri
In Person Pick-up:
School specific grab-n-go available either in café or by exit points.
Principal's newsletter: 11-17-20
Dear Burr Families,
Many thanks to those of you who took the time to join us for the Parent Principal Coffee Hour last week. The slideshow used for the presentation is linked here. We received some feedback that there was some confusion interpreting some of the data charts presented. So, in the interest of clarity, we have included some bullet points in the notes section listing the takeaways that helped us plan for instruction and intervention.
Please know that there are limitations to our ability to collect reliable data. In ‘normal’ times, we use multiple measures to assess students’ skills. It is difficult for us to control the many variables that impact the results. In some cases, students are assessed remotely, using a new test, or testing is affected by variables such as adult supports that they usually would not receive during an assessment. We share this data with you to give you a window into how we are making our instruction decisions. It is not ideal, but it’s certainly a place for us to start.
Your child’s teacher will share assessment results and goals for your child when you meet for your conference. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held between December 2 - December 10. The afternoons of December 2, 3, 7, and 10 have been allocated to complete the bulk of them. On Dec 3 and 7, students will be engaged in asynchronous learning during their 2:00 to 3:00 PM cohort meeting time. Live support will be provided by general education and inclusion aides. Most Burr teachers also use early morning slots for conferences. Sign up information will be sent out by individual teachers.
Creative Arts and Sciences Committee presents Women in World Jazz on November 18 for K-2 students and December 2 for 3-5 students. Both performances will start at 9:15 AM, and teachers will include the link for remote access in the weekly learning plans. This concert series is paid for by your contributions to the annual Wolf Fund. Family members are invited to join us to enjoy the performances.
Finally, I wish all of our families who celebrate Diwali last weekend a wealth of happiness, health, and prosperity, and I hope everyone can make the most of their Thanksgiving break during these unusual times.
Best,
Mindy
Help support local families affected by fire
Please help support the families affected by the recent fire on Cherry Street.
Since the students affected go to all three schools, all the PTOs across Franklin Elementary, Day Middle School, and Newton North High School have collaborated to create a Go Fund Me page. The families lost everything, and the funds that we raise through this page will definitely help them get back on their feet.
Within the link, there is also a Google Sheet to add your name if you have any leads on Newton apartments since they are in temporary housing currently. Thank you to Ranjani Paradise, a Franklin parent and coordinator for Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors, who is helping to collect names and pass them on to the appropriate channels via the Google sheet.
To contribute, please click on the Go Fund Me link below:
*NewtonTogether*
New England Country Mart produce box delivery
Are you looking for a way to keep it local? New England Country Mart, formerly JW Lopes Produce Distributors, started delivering produce boxes to residential homes in the spring.
New England Country Mart is a local family business that specializes in distribution to restaurants. They've expanded and now partner with other local businesses to provide fresh produce and food products right to your door.
They are also on a mission to end hunger and started donating their produce boxes to Burr's Food Table in the spring. They now donate 10 boxes monthly to Burr School to share with our neighbors in need!
Principal's Newsletter 11/11
November 11, 2020
Dear Burr Families,
A few things for you to know:
Tents
The tents placed at our schools before the start of school have been removed. The unexpected snow compromised the tents’ structural integrity, and they were no longer safe to use. While we no longer have access to the tents, we are still taking students outside and using our outdoor spaces creatively. We are making use of our fields and our playground spaces to the greatest extent possible. When the weather does not permit outdoor activity, we use our indoor spaces with all health and safety guidelines in mind. Please know that even as it gets colder, we will continue to take students outside, and we encourage you to send them with weather appropriate clothing.
DLA Supplies Pick Up
DLA families can pick up supplies from Burr tomorrow between 1:00-2:00 PM. If this is inconvenient, please reschedule by sending an email to Ginny Studley, our building aide, who is doing all the behind-the-scenes work to organize the supplies for pick up.
Parent Principal Coffee Hour
I hope many of you can join me for tomorrow’s Coffee Hour from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Alice Wong Tucker, the Burr literacy coach, and Nicole Feroleto, the Burr math coach, will join us to share the curriculum revisions in response to COVID 19 and the adjustments we’re making to meet the needs of our students. If you have specific questions, you can share them ahead of time on the Coffee Hour Questions form or ask them during the meeting.
Best,
Mindy
THE BURR PTO PRESENTS
Just Next Door Shopping Event!
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 dismissal so all the more fun to get that shopping list taken care of!
Event: December holiday shopping
When: Wednesday December 2, 2020, all day (9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.)
Where: 327 Auburn St, Auburndale MA 02466
SEPAC Meeting
Please join the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) for our virtual monthly open board meeting this Tuesday, November 17th from 7:30-9pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
Meeting link: meet.google.com/pdw-hihx-eyh
THE BURR PTO PRESENTS
Election Day Bake Sale Raffle!!
As you may have heard, we had to think creatively about the Election Day Bake Sale this year. In its place we will be selling prepackaged foods and raffle tickets outside of Burr this coming Tuesday!
If you have already voted, you can still buy tickets HERE
We have 6 great raffle packages and have added a bonus raffle item which will be drawn from the pool of entries - some beautiful fingerless gloves, Pumpkin Spice Hand Soap and some Dancing Deer treats! See other images below.
Ways you can help:
- We are accepting prepackaged food donations on Election Day - see this sign up for more details.
- We also need your help at school on Election Day. The raffle table will be outside the school and we will have plenty of hand sanitizer and wipes available. You will be helping promote ticket sales and filling out tickets for people. If you are able to help out for an hour on Tuesday, please sign up HERE. Volunteers will be given one free raffle entry!
- Spread the word on social media, email etc.
Thanks to everyone who has donated or helped out with this fundraiser. If you don't see your donation, rest assured we will be featuring it in our upcoming Auction. We had so many great donations we wanted to make sure they had the most impact.
Please make sure to support the local businesses who have generously donated during such a tough year: Sweet Tomatoes, Hipstitch, Trader Joe's, Henry Bear's Park, Artitudes and L'Aroma.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)