THE FINAL PUSH!

The Wolf Fund is our annual giving campaign for the Burr PTO. It runs from October to January and brings in the majority of funding that supports PTO activities through the year. 

This year, our goal is to raise $24,000 through the Wolf Fund with at least 50% of Burr families giving a gift of any amount. 

2 days and only $1,200 to go! Coffee and munchkin celebration at drop-off Monday morning!

We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of generosity that the Burr Community has shown these past three months. We are so close to our Wolf Fund Goals! We have already exceeded last year's campaign total. What's more, 137 families have donated so far this year—that doubles last year's participation rate! Thank you all!

As a thank you for the Burr Community, and to celebrate the end of the Wolf Fund, the PTO is going to be giving out free munchkins and donuts at morning drop-off tomorrow, Monday, 1/31! Look for us at the front door near the flag pole. We hope to be able to give bagged munchkins out to Blue Zone drivers as well! P.S. There will be paper cups, cream and sugar, but please bring a to-go mug and any special milk or sweetener if you can remember.

Your gift in any amount helps support our school community

Giving is easy. Choose any of these many ways to give to the Wolf Fund:
  • Give online. Click here to use your credit card, Paypal, or Venmo.
  • Text BURRPTO to 202-858-1233 to donate.
  • Send check made out to Burr PTO to school in your child's folder.
  • Mail a check made out to Burr PTO to Burr PTO / 171 Pine St. / Auburndale, MA 02466.




 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Lunar New Year Update & Call for Bakers!


The 2:30 and 3:45 skating tickets are SOLD OUT! If you are signed up on our sign up genius, please make sure you purchased tickets from the City of Brookline. We have a wait list going - if you would like to join, OR you purchased tickets and now cannot attend, please email alyssa@burrpto.org. Someone will happily scoop them up!

We are looking for treat donations for our concessions! Does your family celebrate Lunar New Year with something special to eat that you'd like to share? Sign up here! A quick description of the tradition/meaning of the food would be great. Maybe you haven't celebrated LNY before and make amazing 2022 cupcakes or cookies with tigers! We are also looking for other warm drinks and snacks. Donations can be dropped off before the event. 

Thanks from the Lunar New Year Planning Crew!

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Logo

Burr PTO Community Meeting
Wednesday 1/26 at 7:30pm

Join the Burr PTO Board and other Burr families on Zoom for our next Community Meeting. Superintendent David Fleishman and some members of the School Committee will be available for Q&A.

We encourage you all to send questions in advance for the superintendent and the school committee. To submit questions, please email info@burrpto.org ahead of the meeting.

Register here for the Zoom: https://bit.ly/JanCommMtg

Translation available for the meeting. We are so pleased that real-time language interpretation will be available at this session! Lexikeet is a great program that allows interpretation simultaneous with a Zoom meeting. BUT, families must register at least three days ahead of the meeting to ensure their language will be there. Use this form by this Monday, January 24th to request language interpretation: https://forms.gle/daA8qQjm61BJDocD7

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


The Burr Online Auction is coming up soon! 


This is one of our largest annual fundraisers and a great chance to support the Burr community and win some great items. 

  • Do you have a great idea for an auction item? 
  • Would you be willing to reach out to a few people/businesses to make a donation? It's really easy- we will give you the letter and contact info, you just need to send an email. 
  • Do you have something to donate yourself? (We are especially for a donation of a weekend at a vacation home!) 
  • Perhaps you could help enter data to the website?  
All help is welcome!

Volunteering with the auction is really flexible.  Even a couple of hours is helpful, and you can do it on your own schedule. Please reach out to amie@burrpto.org if you think you could help or if you have something to donate. 





Every child in every grade benefits from your gift to the Burr PTO

The Wolf Fund is our annual giving campaign for the Burr PTO. It runs from October to January and brings in the majority of funding that supports PTO activities through the year. 

This year, our goal is to raise $24,000 through the Wolf Fund with at least 50% of Burr families giving a gift of any amount. 

ONLY 8 DAYS TO GO!

This year the PTO has an ambitious plan to spend over $210 per student at Burr. Almost one third of that budget is dedicated to the Creative Arts & Sciences programming. This Newton-wide program brings several incredible hands-on, cross-curricular experiences to every classroom. These have included a Wingmasters presentation on North American birds of prey; Become Your Dreams: A History of Hip-Hop; author talks; and more. These funds also support great programs like Understanding our Differences and the Child Assault Prevention Program. Help us continue to bring these enriching events to Burr by donating today. 

We are only $3,000 and about 25 families away from our goals!  Can you give even $10 today to help us get there?

Your gift in any amount helps support our school community

Giving is easy. Choose any of these many ways to give to the Wolf Fund:
  • Give online. Click here to use your credit card, Paypal, or Venmo.
  • Text BURRPTO to 202-858-1233 to donate.
  • Send check made out to Burr PTO to school in your child's folder.
  • Mail a check made out to Burr PTO to Burr PTO / 171 Pine St. / Auburndale, MA 02466.



 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Save the Date:
Burr Virtual STEAM Fair 2022 Coming Soon!


Friday, March 4 from 6-7:30 via Zoom
Celebrate how science, technology, engineering, art, and math shape our world!  
The virtual event will include opportunities for students to showcase STEAM projects along with a panel of parents who work in STEAM fields giving kid-friendly talks.  
More details to come!!


Seeking all scientists, engineers, technologists, mathematicians, designers, medical professionals and parents who want to celebrate curiosity and exploration to lend a hand. 
Email pam@burrpto.org if you'd like to get involved.

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


New at the Playground—Picnic Tables!


Last week you might have noticed a new addition at the Burr playground—three brand new picnic tables to replace the old wooden tables.

These tables were made possible by your contributions to the Wolf Fund, and by Burr Parent (and former PTO President) Jenn Reale's incredible Boston Marathon fundraiser this Fall, where she ran 26.2 miles and raised over $2,000 for the Burr School playground!

The Burr PTO purchased these tables last summer, but supply chain issues slowed them down again and again. When the tables were finally delivered the first week of January, the Reale family sprung into action and assembled them in their yard and placed them at the school in a single weekend!

Many thanks to Jenn and Rich and the whole Reale family for truly going above and beyond to improve the Burr playground!

Lost & Found


Please check this Google Presentation Kathleen Young, Burr School building aid, put together with pictures of items in the Lost & Found.

If you see something that belongs to your child:
  • email the Burr building aide, Kathleen Young, at youngka@newton.k12.ma.us
  • Include the number of the slide
  • your child’s name and classroom

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Lunar New Year Ice Skating Party—February 6th


February 6th at 3:45 pm at Lars Andersen Park in Brookline.

For ticket information and RSVP, click here. Tickets and skate rentals must be purchased on a first-come, first-serve basis from the town of Brookline, so sign up early!

SEPAC Updates



Happy New Year! Please see David Fleishman’s message regarding Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, Beth Fitzmaurice’s resignation on December 31st and the search for her replacement. The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Board will be meeting with David, Maura Tynes (Director of Elementary Special Education) and Lisa Langone (Director of Secondary Special Education and Special Programs) on January 26th. We are happy to collect any concerns. Please use the form below so we can keep everything centralized. (This form can be used for concerns beyond this topic as well.)
  
Maura can be reached at: tynesm@newton.k12.ma.us
Lisa can be reached at: langoneberardi@newton.k12.ma.us

***
From David Fleishman: 
Beth Fitzmaurice, assistant superintendent for student services, resigned over the holiday break and her last day was last Friday.  We will be advertising for the position immediately and look forward to working with Jessi (SEPAC Chair) and other parents as we begin a thorough and inclusive search process. We expect to begin interviewing in March and to have a new assistant superintendent in place by July 1, 2022.
 
In the meantime, our current student services leadership team will be working closely with our Central Office team to address important initiatives for the remainder of this year.  We are prepared to retain outside support where necessary in order to complete certain projects.
 
Best,
David

***

Please join SEPAC on Tuesday, January 18th from 7-9pm for our monthly Open Board Meeting. The meeting will be virtual and the Zoom link accessible on SEPAC’s website:

***

As always, please be in touch with thoughts/questions, and if I can be of support to you in your special education journey. 

Warmly, Eliza
2021-2022 SEPAC Liaison to the Burr School
2021-2022 SEPAC Treasurer 

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Ward 4 Dining Fundraiser - Order Tuesday 1/11, Eat Wednesday 1/12!



We are excited to partner with another local restaurant for a dine out fundraiser! 
Ward 4 will donate 10% of all orders back to the Burr PTO. 

Dine -in Wednesday  4-10pm  
OR
For takeout, please call to place your order on TUESDAY from 3-6pm (Anne is coming in just to take your calls!). They will give you a timed pick up slot to ensure everyone knows when to expect their food on Wednesday evening.

Please feel free to forward the info to friends and neighbors!

Burr FORJ Discussion—Monday, January 10th


Burr FORJ Anti-Racism Adult Education Series
Seeing White - Race Relations by US Geography
Monday, January 10th, 8:00 - 9:00 pm




Every child in every grade benefits from your gift to the Burr PTO

The Wolf Fund is our annual giving campaign for the Burr PTO. It runs from October to January and brings in the majority of funding that supports PTO activities through the year. 

This year, our goal is to raise $24,000 through the Wolf Fund with at least 50% of Burr families giving a gift of any amount. 

Get a BURR car magnet with a $60 donation!


We still have a way to go towards our goal. If you have not yet donated, please consider contributing to the Wolf Fund before the end of January. As an added incentive, all families who donate $60 or more to the Wolf Fund through January (including those who have already given) will be eligible to receive one coveted Burr School car magnet!* You can even choose to make a recurring donation of $5 a month to spread your donation across the year. 

Your gift in any amount helps support our school community

Giving is easy. Choose any of these many ways to give to the Wolf Fund:
  • Give online. Click here to use your credit card, Paypal, or Venmo.
  • Text BURRPTO to 202-858-1233 to donate.
  • Send check made out to Burr PTO to school in your child's folder.
  • Mail a check made out to Burr PTO to Burr PTO / 171 Pine St. / Auburndale, MA 02466.