THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


πŸ’‘Children’s Business Fair 

Thursday, November 12 | 6 PM



Come support our Burr kid entrepreneurs! Join us for a fun evening of creativity, discovery, and community as our young business owners showcase their ideas, products, and services. Browse their creations, show your support, and help celebrate their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit! 






Thank You, Burr! 

The Auction Raised $12,000



The Burr PTO auction closed last night, and together we raised $12,000, more than last year. Every dollar goes back to our kids.

A huge thank you to our auction volunteers, Kelly R., Rachel T., Laura L., and Elena T., who spent hours this fall reaching out to businesses and collecting items. Thank you to Dr. Kotraba and the Burr teachers who offered popsicle parties, lunches, and Morning Movement. And thank you to every family who bid and shared the link.

Please support the businesses that supported Burr. Next time you need a birthday party, a camp, a haircut, or a pizza, give them a try, and tell them you saw them in the Burr auction.

Thank you to our donors
Tickets and shows: Huntington Theatre, Lexington Symphony, Lyric Stage, New England Patriots, Wellesley Theatre Project, Worcester Red Sox (WooSox)

Birthday parties: Energy Fitness & Gymnastics, Exxcel Gymnastics, Giroux Bros Martial Arts, Hometown Arcade, Launch Framingham

Camps, classes and learning: Active Minds Tutoring, Art of Problem Solving Academy, Code Wiz Needham, Creation Station, Creative Steps Dance Studio, Fessenden Day Camp, Gold Fencing Club, Joanne Langione Dance Center, Mathnasium, MGenius Academy, Newton Community Ed, Penguin Coding School, RSM West Newton, Service Stars, The Dance Academy

Family fun and outings: Ace of Diamonds, Central Rock Climbing, Discovery Museum, Escapeology, Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, Frozen Ropes Natick, Jordan’s Furniture IMAX, Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Level99, New England Aquarium, Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, Paddle Boston, Sacco’s Bowl Haven, Old Sturbridge Village, Swan Boats, Taza Chocolate Factory Tours, Treetop Adventures

Fitness, sports and self care: Action Athletics, Barry’s Bootcamp, Body Center Pilates, Cardio High, Child Therapy Boston, CrossFit Tilt, Dream Spa Medical, Elements Massage, Hair By Hanna, JCC, Kink Pilates, Leisure Nails, Longfellow Wellesley Club, Newton Little League

Food and treats: Carbone, Crystal Bakery, Fuji, Indulge Candy Shop, Judith’s Kitchen, Kneads More Sprinkles, Knotty Pine, Moments Cafe, Pressed Cafe, Tom’s Pizza, Ward 4, Wegmans
Home, shopping and services: Barn Shoe Store, Barrett Tree Service, Dog Scoop, Holly Cleaners, Ken’s Flowers, Knot and Purl, Lucozzi Portraits, New Balance Factory Store, Newtonville Books, Nicolazzo and Son Landscaping, Regan’s Auto Repair, Sylvia Limm Home Organizing, The Street Chestnut Hill

Friends of Burr: Newton Police Department and Officer Leo, author Kelly Riera, realtor Kiki Williams, and a generous Burr PTO board member.

Thank you for showing up for Burr!









Thank You for Making 

the Election Day Bake Sale a Success




We’re so lucky to have this community. Thank you to everyone who supported the Wolf Fund at our Election Day bake sale, whether you bought a treat or just dropped in a donation. Together we brought in about $1,000, and after expenses we netted about $700 for Burr kids.

A special shout out to Kiki W. and her daughters, who led the charge. Kiki organized the whole thing and then spent most of the day at the table collecting donations. If you see her, please say thank you!

And thank you to every family who baked and volunteered at the table: Leeann M., Natsuko F., Kyra N., Natsuko F., Laura L., Hannah B., Alyssa H., Livia T., Rachel B., Johanna W., Kris F., Xuqing (Grace) H., and Jessica T. The table stayed full all day and ran well because of you.






Join Us at the

Newton SEPAC Open Board Meeting



In case you have never heard of Newton SEPAC, the Newton Special Education
Parent Advisory Council (Newton SEPAC) is an all-volunteer group of parents of
children with special needs in Newton, MA. As mandated by Massachusetts law, we
provide feedback to the School Committee and school district on special education
programs and policies, and participate in their planning and development. Newton
SEPAC also serves as a liaison between parents of students with special needs and
school district administrators. Please join us at our next open board meeting if you’d like
to learn more and discuss special education in Newton!

Newton SEPAC Open Board Meeting 
Tuesday, November 10 @7-8pm
Zoom link on site: https://newtonpac.org/meetings/

For more information, visit https://newtonpac.org/. Please reach out with any questions /
comments / concerns to Burr’s SEPAC liaison: parent Kris Ferreira (kferreira@hbs.edu). 





5th Graders' Night Out! 



A night out for 5th graders—and a chance to win a pizza party for the whole grade! 
Join us on November 13 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM for FUNtastic Fridays: a party at The Cooper Center exclusively for 5th graders. Enjoy music, dancing, and contests with DJ Mike Pride, plus ping pong, raffle tickets, and quieter fun. Dance, play, or just hang out—there’s something for everyone! Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, and no phones are allowed.

The NPS school with the highest percentage of fifth graders registered wins a fifth grade pizza party! Register by November 10 (or when the event fills, whichever comes first) to count toward our school’s total. Space is limited, so register early! 









Native Artifact Handling 

Sunday, November 15, 2026 



Burr’s FORJ chapter is hosting the following event and would like to invite all Newton elementary school families who are interested to join us (Burr families get first dibs, so RSVP today)!

Native Artifact Handling
Sunday, November 15, 2026
1:30-2:30pm at The Jackson Homestead
Presented by Historic Newton

How can we use artifacts to learn about the past? How can they help us challenge prevailing narratives?

In this Historic Newton program, students learn about the lifeways of Indigenous People of this area 350 years ago, before colonization. Students will investigate artifacts to figure out what they were, how they were used, and what they can tell us about Native people. At the end of the program, students will make an Indigenous-inspired game to take home with them.

Please RSVP to burrforj171@gmail.com and let me know how many people will attend and/or reach out with any questions. The event is free!


Parking is available in their small lot (527 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458), on both sides of Washington Street around the museum, and on some nearby side streets. Parking is not permitted on the grass or within five feet of a driveway.



πŸͺ” Join Us for Burr's Diwali Celebration! ✨ 




We're excited to invite the Burr community to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, together! The event will transform the cafeteria into a festive space where families can experience culture through music, dance, food, crafts, and interactive activities.

Planned activities include:

  • Bollywood dance performances by Burr students
  • Student Ethnic Fashion Show
  • Indian food and festive treats
  • Diwali-themed arts and crafts
  • Henna 
  • Diwali Bingo with prizes
  • Family BollyX dance challenge
Calling all Burr students! Sign up now to participate in the Ethnic Fashion Show and showcase your cultural attire.

Fashion Show Sign-Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAC2AA1FCC07-66641539-diwali

Please help make this event a fun and enjoyable experience for our students by participating and volunteering on the day of the event. 

Volunteer Sign-Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAC2AA1FCC07-66560342-burr

We look forward to celebrating culture, community, and the Festival of Lights with our Burr families!
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Burr Cafeteria

πŸͺ”✨ Everyone is Welcome! ✨πŸͺ”







Burr Book Fair Is Coming!

Volunteers Needed πŸ“šπŸ“š



The Burr Book Fair will run from December 9 - December 15 this year. And Book Fair volunteer sign-ups are open! 

December 9 - Help us set up 
December 10 - Help students find their next favorite book during class shopping
December 15 - Lend a hand with cleanup 


If you can spare a shift, we’d love your help! Pick a volunteer shift here.

Check out the Burr Book Fair Website here for more information! 



Volunteer Opportunities 2026–2027



There are many ways to get involved and support the Burr community this school year! We’re looking for volunteers for a variety of PTO roles, including:
  • Library Volunteers (Sign up here!) 
  • Book Fair Volunteers (Sign up here!)
  • Events Co-Chairs
  • World Cultures Fair Co-Chairs
  • Dining For Dollars Coordinator 
  • Garden Team Co-Chairs
Whether you have a little time or a lot, your involvement makes a difference! Please sign up here to volunteer and help make this a wonderful school year for our students, teachers, and families.






Important Upcoming Dates


November 11 - Veterans Day - No School
November 12 - Children's Business Fair
November 14 - Grown-Ups Night Out
November 20 - School Photo Retake
November 21 - Diwali Celebration
November 25 - Early Dismissal - 12:10pm
November 26-27 - Thanksgiving Recess - No School
December 3 - Special Early Release - 12:10pm
December 9-15 - Book Fair 
December 24, 2026 - January 1, 2027 - December Recess - No School

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


πŸ—³️ Election Day Bake Sale! 

Goodies and Volunteers Needed



Donate treats, volunteer, or stop by with your family to support the Burr community! Our Election Day bake sale will be held inside Burr School from 8 AM–6 PM on November 3, and we still don’t have enough volunteers to cover the table.

πŸͺ Donate Baked Goods
Homemade and store-bought treats are welcome! Please wrap each serving individually—Ziploc bags work great. Drop off donations in the bin at the Burr School front door on Monday, November 3, from 8 AM–6 PM, or bring them directly to the bake sale on Tuesday, November 3. Sign up to donate here.

πŸ™‹ Volunteer at the Table
Help sell treats, welcome voters, and raise funds for Burr! Sign up for a volunteer shift here.

Thank you for supporting Burr!


The Auction Is Live. 

Don’t Ghost Burr.



Our online auction is open now through Thursday, November 5. You can bid from your phone on gift cards, camps, classes, and one-of-a-kind classroom experiences.


We have two asks:
Bid. Browse the items and bid on anything you love.
Share the link. Send it to grandparents, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. You don’t have to be a Burr family to bid.

A huge thank you to Kelly R., Rachel T., Laura L., and Elena T., who put in a ton of leg work to make this happen. Thank you to Dr. Kotraba and the teachers who volunteered to offer classroom-specific items. And thank you to the local businesses who said yes to Burr. Every bid supports our kids.

Happy bidding!



Join Us at the

Newton SEPAC Open Board Meeting



In case you have never heard of Newton SEPAC, the Newton Special Education
Parent Advisory Council (Newton SEPAC) is an all-volunteer group of parents of
children with special needs in Newton, MA. As mandated by Massachusetts law, we
provide feedback to the School Committee and school district on special education
programs and policies, and participate in their planning and development. Newton
SEPAC also serves as a liaison between parents of students with special needs and
school district administrators. Please join us at our next open board meeting if you’d like
to learn more and discuss special education in Newton!

Newton SEPAC Open Board Meeting 
Tuesday, November 10 @7-8pm
Zoom link on site: https://newtonpac.org/meetings/

For more information, visit https://newtonpac.org/. Please reach out with any questions /
comments / concerns to Burr’s SEPAC liaison: parent Kris Ferreira (kferreira@hbs.edu). 





Native Artifact Handling 

Sunday, November 15, 2026 



Burr’s FORJ chapter is hosting the following event and would like to invite all Newton elementary school families who are interested to join us (Burr families get first dibs, so RSVP today)!

Native Artifact Handling
Sunday, November 15, 2026
1:30-2:30pm at The Jackson Homestead
Presented by Historic Newton

How can we use artifacts to learn about the past? How can they help us challenge prevailing narratives?

In this Historic Newton program, students learn about the lifeways of Indigenous People of this area 350 years ago, before colonization. Students will investigate artifacts to figure out what they were, how they were used, and what they can tell us about Native people. At the end of the program, students will make an Indigenous-inspired game to take home with them.

Please RSVP to burrforj171@gmail.com and let me know how many people will attend and/or reach out with any questions. The event is free!


Parking is available in their small lot (527 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458), on both sides of Washington Street around the museum, and on some nearby side streets. Parking is not permitted on the grass or within five feet of a driveway.



πŸͺ” Join Us for Burr's Diwali Celebration! ✨ 




We're excited to invite the Burr community to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, together! The event will transform the cafeteria into a festive space where families can experience culture through music, dance, food, crafts, and interactive activities.

Planned activities include:

  • Bollywood dance performances by Burr students
  • Student Ethnic Fashion Show
  • Indian food and festive treats
  • Diwali-themed arts and crafts
  • Henna 
  • Diwali Bingo with prizes
  • Family BollyX dance challenge
Calling all Burr students! Sign up now to participate in the Ethnic Fashion Show and showcase your cultural attire.

Fashion Show Sign-Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAC2AA1FCC07-66641539-diwali

Please help make this event a fun and enjoyable experience for our students by participating and volunteering on the day of the event. 

Volunteer Sign-Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAC2AA1FCC07-66560342-burr

We look forward to celebrating culture, community, and the Festival of Lights with our Burr families!
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Burr Cafeteria

πŸͺ”✨ Everyone is Welcome! ✨πŸͺ”







Volunteer Opportunities 2026–2027



There are many ways to get involved and support the Burr community this school year! We’re looking for volunteers for a variety of PTO roles, including:
  • Library Volunteers (Sign up here!) 
  • Events Co-Chairs
  • World Cultures Fair Co-Chairs
  • Dining For Dollars Coordinator 
  • Garden Team Co-Chairs
Whether you have a little time or a lot, your involvement makes a difference! Please sign up here to volunteer and help make this a wonderful school year for our students, teachers, and families.






Important Upcoming Dates


November 3 -Election Day - No School
November 11 - Veterans Day - No School
November 12 - Children's Business Fair
November 14 - Grown-Ups Night Out
November 20 - School Photo Retake
November 21 - Diwali Celebration
November 25 - Early Dismissal - 12:10pm
November 26-27 - Thanksgiving Recess - No School
December 3 - Special Early Release - 12:10pm
December 9-15 - Book Fair 
December 24, 2026 - January 1, 2027 - December Recess - No School

 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


The Auction Is Live. 

Don’t Ghost Burr.



Our online auction is open now through Thursday, November 5. You can bid from your phone on gift cards, camps, classes, and one-of-a-kind classroom experiences.


We have two asks:
Bid. Browse the items and bid on anything you love.
Share the link. Send it to grandparents, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. You don’t have to be a Burr family to bid.

A huge thank you to Kelly R., Rachel T., Laura L., and Elena T., who put in a ton of leg work to make this happen. Thank you to Dr. Kotraba and the teachers who volunteered to offer classroom-specific items. And thank you to the local businesses who said yes to Burr. Every bid supports our kids.

Happy bidding!







πŸŽƒ BooFest Thanks You!


A huge thank-you to everyone who joined us for BooFest, and an extra-special shoutout to the incredible volunteers who made it such a fun and memorable day for our kids!

From planning and setup to running activity stations, decorating trunks, cleaning up, and donating candy and baked goods, BooFest truly takes a village! Our little candy monsters are so grateful! πŸ¬πŸ‘»

This event wouldn’t be possible without your time, energy, and generosity. Thank you for making it such a special day for our Burr community!

Want to support future Burr events?
BooFest is made possible by donations to the Burr PTO. If you’re able, please consider contributing — every bit makes a difference!


πŸ—³️ Election Day Bake Sale! 

Goodies and Volunteers Needed



Donate treats, volunteer, or stop by with your family to support the Burr community! Our Election Day bake sale will be held inside Burr School from 8 AM–6 PM on November 3,

πŸͺ Donate Baked Goods
Homemade and store-bought treats are welcome! Please wrap each serving individually—Ziploc bags work great. Drop off donations in the bin at the Burr School front door on Monday, November 3, from 8 AM–6 PM, or bring them directly to the bake sale on Tuesday, November 3. Sign up to donate here.

πŸ™‹ Volunteer at the Table
Help sell treats, welcome voters, and raise funds for Burr! Sign up for a volunteer shift here.

Thank you for supporting Burr!