THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


✏️ Teacher Appreciation Week Is Coming! 

(May 4-8, 2026) 🍎 


We’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation next week and would love your help in making it extra special! Our teachers do so much every day, and this is a great opportunity to show our gratitude.
 


If you’re able, please consider signing up to drop off goodies like breakfast items, snacks, desserts, and more. You can find all the details on what’s needed and how to contribute at this LINK. Every contribution—big or small—makes a meaningful difference.

Here’s what we have planned for a fun, appreciation-filled week:

Sunday: Chalk the Walk (2–3:30pm) – stop by to decorate the Burr sidewalks with messages of gratitude
Monday: Breakfast Bar to kick off the week
Tuesday: Share a compliment or high-five with a teacher or staff member
Wednesday: Grab-and-Go Snacks to keep everyone energized
Thursday: Luncheon celebrating our wonderful teachers and staff
Friday: Wrap up the week with a handwritten note or drawing to show your appreciation

Thank you for helping us recognize and support our amazing teachers!


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Wings Up Close: 

A Live Birds of Prey Experience for 1st Graders





Wingmasters will bring our 1st graders up close with live birds of prey, offering an exciting look at how these powerful raptors use sharp talons, hooked beaks, and remarkable senses to hunt and thrive at the top of the food web. Students will explore their unique adaptations, their important role in nature, and the challenges many species face in a rapidly changing world.

The program will take place on Wednesday, April 29 in the cafeteria. Parents are welcome to attend (please no younger siblings).

A big thank you to the Burr PTO and Wolf Fund for making this enriching experience possible! To donate, visit https://givebutter.com/burr25-26
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Join Newton Serves: 

Help Beautify Burr School Grounds This May!




Do you know about Newton Serves, it is a program that provides support for projects around Newton to fix up or beautify community spaces? Burr is one of the project sites! If you'd like to help beautify the school grounds, please volunteer through Newton Parks and Recreation here.

Burr Project Site:
When: Sunday, May 3rd from 9:00 - noon.
Where: Burr Elementary School Grounds, focusing on front and back Garden Beds
What we will do: pick-up trash, weed garden beds, turn over soil, apply compost or mulch
What to bring: work gloves, sunscreen/hat, water bottle, wheel barrow (if you can), pruning shears (if you can), hedge clippers (if you can)

Questions? Contact Erin Fichot (erin.fichot@gmail.com)

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Join Us at Mayfair!




Burr Elementary School PTO invites families to our Annual Spring Celebration, Mayfair 2026, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 2:00–5:00 PM at Burr Playground. This fun community event will feature a bouncy house and games, arts and crafts, face painting, Mismatch Band (5th Grade), raffles, prizes, food and treats, a bake sale, cake decorating competition, and more. To buy tickets, volunteer, donate, or join our cake competition, please visit https://linktr.ee/burr_mayfair. 

Cake Decorating Competition:
Grades K–2 theme: Animals
Grades 3–5 theme: Sports
Cakes should be brought to the playground by 2:30 PM for the competition.
There will be one prize per cake, and each cake may be presented by a sibling.

Bake Sale:
Baked goods should be individually wrapped.
Items may be store-bought or homemade.

Please bring baked goods to the playground starting at 12:00 PM so we can set up the baked goods table.

Ticket sales are open online now, and tickets will also be available  on the day of the event. Don’t forget to sign up to volunteer and help make Mayfair a success!







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Garden Days Are Here!



Hello Burr Gardeners!

We have dates and times for Garden Days, so get your garden tools ready!

Wed., May 13th (grades 1 & 2)
Mon., May 18th (grades 3, 4, & 5)
Wed., May 20th (Kindergarten)

If you'd like to help your child's class or grade, volunteer here. (Remember, you need to have a valid CORI filed with Ginny Studley in the office.)

If you'd like to donate plants or other items, you can volunteer here.

Sincerely,
The Garden Team (Erin Fichot & Katharine Braun-Levine)

P.S. Do you have ideas for the garden? Do you want to be added to the Burr Garden e-mail list? Let us know by filling out this quick form. 




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The Pack Brings Learning to Life



Earlier this year, Wolf Fund donations are bringing hands-on learning directly to Burr classrooms through Creative Arts & Sciences programs across multiple grades, from Drumlin Farm visits with Grade 4, to Force & Magnetism experiments at the Discovery Museum for Grade 3, to a Historical Women program for Grades 4 and 5.

These experiences go beyond textbooks, sparking curiosity and helping lessons truly stick. If you’re able, please consider donating to support these programs and future enrichment for all Burr students.  

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Important Upcoming Dates


May 2 - Chalk the Walk from 2-3:30pm
May 4-8 - Teacher Appreciation Week (Donations due on May 3)
May 7 - Special Early Release at 12:10pm
May 9 - May Fair from 2-5 PM
May 19 - Book Swap Donation Deadline
May 20 - Book Swap
May 27 - Memorial Day - No School 
June 19 - Juneteenth  - No School



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 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Join Us at Mayfair




Burr Elementary School PTO invites families to our Annual Spring Celebration, Mayfair 2026, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 2:00–5:00 PM at Burr Playground. This fun community event will feature a bouncy house and games, arts and crafts, face painting, Mismatch Band (5th Grade), raffles, prizes, food and treats, a bake sale, cake decorating competition, and more. To buy tickets, volunteer, donate, or join our cake competition, please visit https://linktr.ee/burr_mayfair. 

Cake Decorating Competition:
Grades K–2 theme: Animals
Grades 3–5 theme: Sports
Cakes should be brought to the playground by 2:30 PM for the competition.
There will be one prize per cake, and each cake may be presented by a sibling.

Bake Sale:
Baked goods should be individually wrapped.
Items may be store-bought or homemade.

Please bring baked goods to the playground starting at 12:00 PM so we can set up the baked goods table.

Ticket sales are open online now, and tickets will also be available  on the day of the event. Don’t forget to sign up to volunteer and help make Mayfair a success!







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🔊 Sound Waves Are Coming to Burr! 



The Discovery Museum brings “Sound Waves” to our 4th-grade classrooms for an exciting, hands-on science experience! Students will explore how sound travels through fun, interactive activities designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding. The program will take place on Friday, April 17 in the library, with sessions scheduled throughout the day. Parents are welcome to attend (please no younger siblings). 

A big thank you to the Burr PTO and Wolf Fund for making this enriching experience possible!


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Garden City Kindergarten Soccer


Garden City Kindergarten Soccer is a non-profit program that offers co-ed soccer programs in the Spring and Fall for PreK and kindergarten kiddos at **PEIRCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL**.  Proceeds go to Newton Public School PTOs of the participants.Our Kindergarten League is for children enrolled in kindergarten during the current school year (fall and spring). Our Pre-K League is ideal for children between the ages of 4 and 5 years old who will enter kindergarten next fall. Register here.  Registration will close on 4/18.

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Stay Tuned for Garden Days!




Garden Days are coming (even if the snow on Tuesday made the growing season feel far, far away). This year, we haven't asked for seedling donations, but once we get dates in the books, we'll be asking for volunteers to help prepare the garden, to donate plants and/or garden equipment, and to help students plant seeds/seedlings on Garden Day!!

Dates and times are TBD. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,
The Garden Team (Erin Fichot & Katharine Braun-Levine)

P.S. Do you have ideas for the garden? Do you want to be added to the Burr Garden e-mail list? Let us know by filling out this quick form. 




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📚 Book Donation Drive Update 📚



📅 New date: May 20, 2026 

Thank you to everyone who has shown interest in our upcoming Book Swap! We’re excited about bringing the community together to share great reads—but we need a few more books to make it truly special.

At this time, the Book Swap event will be postponed to May 20.

The good news? There’s still time to contribute!

If you have gently used books you’re ready to pass along—fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, or anything in between—we would greatly appreciate your donations. Every book helps us build a better experience for everyone. They can be dropped off at school. 

We’re looking for volunteers to help sort books and support classes in picking out great reads—sign up HERE! 


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Important Upcoming Dates


April 16 - Community Budget Forum #2 at Brown Middle School directions here) from 7:00–8:00pm
April 20-24 : April Recess
May 9 - May Fair from 2-5 PM
May 20 - Book Swap



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This Month, the Pack Brings 

Learning to Life



Earlier this year, Wolf Fund donations are bringing hands-on learning directly to Burr classrooms through Creative Arts & Sciences programs across multiple grades, from Drumlin Farm visits with Grade 4, to Force & Magnetism experiments at the Discovery Museum for Grade 3, to a Historical Women program for Grades 4 and 5.

These experiences go beyond textbooks, sparking curiosity and helping lessons truly stick. If you’re able, please consider donating to support these programs and future enrichment for all Burr students.  

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 THE BURR PTO PRESENTS 


Burr School World Cultural Fair 

Sign Up Now!





Join us for the Burr School World Cultural Fair on April 11th, 2026 from 3–5 PM in the Burr Cafeteria as we celebrate cultures from around the world. 

✅ Choose a country or culture to represent – families can team up and host a table together
✅ Create a visual display (poster, clothing, artifacts, artwork, etc.) to showcase traditions
✅ Come enjoy live performances, including dance, singing, and more from around the world
✅ Optional: Bring small food samples (homemade or store‑bought) to share a taste of your culture

Registration closes on April 6th, 2026, so be sure to sign up soon. 
Sign up link- https://burrpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/165427


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Save the Date: 

Celebrate with Us at MayFair on May 9



Get ready for a fantastic afternoon at the Burr School Mayfair on May 9th from 2:00–5:00 PM at the Burr playground! Join us for delicious food, great music, and a wide variety of games and crafts for kids and families. This year, we’re extra excited to feature the music band “Mismatches” from Parallel Sound Studios, performed by our amazing Burr 5th graders. There will also be a hilarious pie-on-the-face game and many more fun surprises in store. Please mark your calendars—signup information and ticket sales will be shared soon, so stay tuned! 




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📚 Book Donation Drive Update 📚



📅 New date: May 20, 2026 

Thank you to everyone who has shown interest in our upcoming Book Swap! We’re excited about bringing the community together to share great reads—but we need a few more books to make it truly special.

At this time, the Book Swap event will be postponed to May 20.

The good news? There’s still time to contribute!

If you have gently used books you’re ready to pass along—fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, or anything in between—we would greatly appreciate your donations. Every book helps us build a better experience for everyone. They can be dropped off at school. 

We’re looking for volunteers to help sort books and support classes in picking out great reads—sign up HERE! 


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Newton Public Schools 

Budget Cuts


The Newton Public Schools (NPS) faces a major budget gap for 2026–2027, with proposed cuts to current school services.  You can find DETAILS here. The School Committee will take its final budget vote on Monday, 4/6/26.

If you’re concerned about how this may impact students, consider:
  • Contacting the Mayor, School Committee, City Council, or Superintendent (email or call 617-796-1000)
  • Attending the School Committee meeting on Monday, 3/30/26 at 6:30pm (Frazier Room, Education Center, 100 Walnut St, or via Zoom) and giving a brief (<3 min) public comment
  • Talking with other Newton residents, including those not involved in NPS
at

This Month, the Pack Brings 

Learning to Life



Earlier this year, Wolf Fund donations are bringing hands-on learning directly to Burr classrooms through Creative Arts & Sciences programs across multiple grades, from Drumlin Farm visits with Grade 4, to Force & Magnetism experiments at the Discovery Museum for Grade 3, to a Historical Women program for Grades 4 and 5.

These experiences go beyond textbooks, sparking curiosity and helping lessons truly stick. If you’re able, please consider donating to support these programs and future enrichment for all Burr students.  

at

Important Upcoming Dates


April 11 - World's Culture Fair
April 16 - Community Budget Forum #2 at Brown Middle School directions here) from 7:00–8:00pm
April 20-24 : April Recess
May 9 - May Fair from 3-5 PM
May 20 - Book Swap
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