BURLINGTON DAY AT COCO KEY!

The Burlington Swim & Tennis Club is hosting a day of family fun at Coco Key in Danvers on Sunday, March 7th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. (There is no school on the 8th!) Tickets are only $25 per person. (Go to www.bstc.org for more information and to purchase tickets online.)

NOTE FROM BHS

For the 20th year, parents have volunteered to organize and host an all-night graduation party for Burlington’s seniors. We have just one fundraiser. You can help. Simply buy your groceries at Roche Bros. between 3:00 – 6:00, Thursday March 11. Volunteers will be at the front of the store to collect receipts only. Roche Bros will donate 5%. If you don’t have time to shop, please stop by and purchase a gift certificate to use later. (For more information about the party, visit our website http://www.burlington.mec.edu/hs/Postgradprty .)

NOTE FROM BHS MUSIC DEPT.

Please join the Burlington High School Music Department as it performs the Ides of March Concert this coming Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 pm in the high school cafeteria. Performing on the concert will be the BHS Chorus and Select Chorus, BHS Concert and Jazz Band. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Handicapped accessible.

NOTE FROM GIRL SCOUTS

Brownie Troop 71602 is having a Cookie Booth at White Hen. Saturday, February 27th 11am till 2pm. Troop goal is to raise money for NE Aquarium sleepover. Come and get your Girl Scout cookies before they are all gone for the year!!!!

MENU----------WEEK OF March 1, 2010 Full Lunch $2.50 Milk $.50

MONDAY----------Chicken Tenders, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk TUESDAY--------- Green Eggs & Ham, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Hot Dogs, French Fries, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Pasta w/butter or Meat sauce, Veggie Dippers, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissant, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Coming Attractions – No School March 8, 2010, Professional Development Day

Note from the Principal

We are excited to have new technology at Pine Glen School. The attached pictures show "Bob carts". We now currently have five of these carts at school. These carts offer the convenience of mobile computing with a wired connection. The computers can be used for web browsing and also have math, reading and other applications loaded on them. The cart uses one computer tower and three Virtual Terminals to provide 4 working stations. Pine Glen was very excited to be the pilot school for this technology.

Drop-off and Pick-Up this Week

This morning we encountered a lot of water at drop-off. The drop-off area was flooded. In the morning we had a teacher drive her car down to examine it. The water was half way up the side of the car’s wheel. Instead of students being dropped off near the doors closest to the kindergarten classrooms; parents dropped off students at the corner of where cars exit the parking lot. A small number of students took the bus this morning. In fact, one bus arrived with only one student on board. As a result, we had an incredibly large number of cars at drop-off. I would like to thank parents for driving along the border or area of the parking lot. This way more cars could fit into the space and the drop-off process could move at a faster rate. Department of Public Works is responsible for the plowing the drop-off area of snow and slush and the parking lot drainage/sewer systems. This area extends to where you see the map of the United States on the hot top in front of the building. Given the meteorologist's forecast for additional rain this week, we will likely need to continue drop-off and pick-up at the same location as this morning. If parents could continue to line up cars along the border/area of the parking lot, this would be of great assistance with school pick-up.

Haiti

One of our Pine Glen families has had a family member injured during the earthquake in Haiti. We would like to show our support by collecting new or gently used children’s shoes, sneakers or sandals. The collected items will be boxed and sent to Haiti via Mission E4 Disaster Relief. Please send shoes to Pine Glen by April 1st. There will be a box set up in the foyer to accommodate donations. Thank you for your help.

NOTE FROM BAND TEACHER

4th and 5th grade bands will be performing in the All-Bands Concert on Thursday March 11 at the Burlington High School gymnasium. Reporting time for elementary students is 6pm for a rehearsal followed by the concert at 7pm. Performing bands will include- Combined 4th Grade Band, Combined 5th Grade Band, MSMS Concert Band, MSMS Symphonic Band, BHS Concert Band. The concert should be complete by 8pm. Any questions please email Mr. Napierkowski at napierkowski@burlington.mec.edu.

MENU----------WEEK OF February 22, 2010 Full Lunch $2.50 Milk $.50

MONDAY----------Popcorn Chicken, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk

TUESDAY--------- Hamburger/Cheeseburger, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Nacho Grande, Rice, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Pasta w/butter or Meat sauce, Veggie Dippers, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------French Toast Sticks & Sausage, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Coming Attractions – Winter Vacation February 15- 19, 2010 No School

Note from Principal

I am so happy we have been able to carry on the tradition of the 5th Grade Ice Skating Program. I have posted pictures on the Blog showing some of our fifth graders skating. I would like to thank Ms. Govoni for all her work. It was wonderful to see ice-skating instruction promote self-esteem. The self-esteem and confidence gained by students during this program is applicable to not just physical education but, all academic areas.

Note from Physical Education

Our 5th Grade Ice Skating Program has officially commenced and I can say it was one of the best, most well behaved, most beneficial years I have seen in a long time. In my opinion, this program is one of the most influential programs throughout my students’ education here in Burlington. That is the precise reason why Ms. Bannon, the P.E. Teacher at Memorial and I value it so highly. The program has been offered through the generosity of the Burlington Ice Palace for free for years. All we pay for is the bus.


Year after year I have watched my students, especially the ones who have never put on skates, absorb the practice of ice-skating. Whether it is Math, ELA, or Ice Skating, their minds are like sponges. The building of self confidence and self esteem during these 5 weeks I see in my students is amazing, with the hopes of forming some building blocks for a life long recreational sport. No test, meeting, or review can even attempt to measure the positive benefits of my Ice Skating Program.

Thanks especially to the Burlington Ice Palace, as well as all of our volunteers and for the support we receive from so many other.

Sincerely,
Ms. Govoni

Note from the Principal

The hundredth day of school is this Thursday, February 11, 2010. To make note of this day, students are invited to bring in 100 pennies on Thursday and Friday. All the pennies will be put together and donated to the Red Cross. The money donated to the Red Cross will be targeted to help the people of Haiti. Students are also invited on Thursday and Friday to wear red clothes to show support for the volunteers helping in Haiti and Valentine’s Day.

NOTE FROM BCSF

The Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation (BCSF) is seeking two new members for its Board of Directors. Responsibilities would include attending monthly meetings and working on various subcommittees of the Foundation. If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact Tom Killilea at 781-272-2225 or Debbie Keene at 781-273-7693.

NOTE FROM CUB SCOUTS

Wolf Cub Scouts from Pack 105, Den 4 are collecting and recycling used cell phones to support our deployed troops. The cell phones will be collected in boxes located in your school's lobby or cafeteria. The phones collected will be recycled and the money earned will be used to buy phone cards to be mailed to our troops deployed overseas. All phones will be collected and redeemed on Feb 26, 2010.

NOTE FROM PAC

Attention Parents. If your child is sick for more than two or three days you probably bring them to the doctor to get a diagnosis as to what the illness may be. If your child struggles more than briefly with some area of their education, do you know how to diagnose exactly what the causes of their learning difficulties are? If not, then it is best to learn about neuropsychological evaluations. These evaluations can diagnose a child’s educational and psychological strengths and weaknesses and help design an educational program to fit the individual child. Join the Burlington P.A.C.E. at our next educational seminar. Monday Feb. 8, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. in the School Committee Room at Burlington High School. Presented by Dr. Joseph Moldover, Ph.D., pediatric neuropsychologist specializing in learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum, brain injury and psychiatric disorders. For more info on this seminar or the Burlington P.A.C.E. contact Dennis McCarron at dandmmccarron@hotmail.com .

NOTE FROM GIRL SCOUTS

Brownie Troop # 77231 will be having cookie booths to sell cookies to raise money for their troop and they will also be collecting orders for “Cookies for a Cause” to donate to the US troops oversea. Cookie Booth will be held at Lowe’s Home Improvement in Woburn on Sat. Feb. 21st 10-2:00 p.m. Thank you for your support!

NOTE FROM PHYSICAL EDUCATION

A HUGE thank you to all our parents who volunteered for our Ice Skating Program. It was a huge success. We would not be able to do it without your help!

MENU----------WEEK OF February 8, 2010 Full Lunch $2.50 Milk $.50

MONDAY----------Chicken Tenders, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk TUESDAY--------- Taco’s, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Mac & Cheese, Chips, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Corn Dog Nuggets, Vegetable, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------Pepperoni Pizza, Toss Salad, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Coming Attractions

Winter Vacation February 15- 19, 2010 No School

From the Principal

Thank you to all the parents who daily follow the arrival and drop-off/pick-up procedures. I am posting on the Blog this week a friendly reminder to please follow the pick-up and drop-off procedures. It is critical to follow these procedures. If someone does not line up correctly, this typically results in a delay or back up for all the cars and buses. By staying along the fence and following the painted arrows more cars can be in the line and it can move faster. Also, please do not text while in line and pay attention to the car in front of your vehicle in order that the line can continuously move and not leave big gaps. I have been notified of an incident where an adult left the pick-up line and walked students to the door. This slows down the line for everyone and is a safety concern. The school hours are a set policy determined by the school committee and teacher duty times are determined by contractual obligations with the school committee. If someone is late for a meeting and as a result cuts the line, drops off a student at an unspecified alternate location such as the bus drop-off point, or prior to the arrival time, this creates a serious safety concern. The policies outlined in the handbook below were developed in cooperation with the Burlington Police. The Burlington Police and I have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all children at Pine Glen.


From the Pine Glen School Handbook

ARRIVAL
Pine Glen School doors open for students at 8:20 AM. For safety reasons, it is important that children are never dropped off before 8:20 A.M. If children travel to school by bus, they enter through the front door. If transported by car, children enter through the door at the end of the academic wing. Upon arrival, all students should report to their classrooms where they are greeted by their teachers. Our school day officially begins at 8:35 A.M., when students should be in their classrooms. To ensure optimum learning and maximum teaching time, students need to be present and on time every day.


PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF POLICY
Student safety is priority number one at the Pine Glen School. The Burlington Police Safety Officer has been instrumental in the development of our dismissal policy.

From Safety Officer:
• DO NOT PASS VEHICLES IN FRONT OF YOU
• DO NOT PASS SCHOOL BUSES WHILE THEY ARE DISCHARGING STUDENTS
• BY STATE LAW, BUSES MAY NEVER BE PASSED IF THEIR LIGHTS ARE FLASHING

When dropping children off in the morning or picking them up at dismissal time, all vehicles must enter the first entryway into the parking lot and drive in a clockwise path through the parking lot to the horseshoe path in front of the side academic wing of the building. Cars must stay in a single file line as they wait their turn to pull up for student exit or entry from the vehicle.

No one is to drive a car in the driveway in front of the building during pick-up and dismissal.

Parents leaving their vehicles and walking into the building to take students at pick-up time or escort them to by-pass this procedure will kindly be asked to return to their vehicles and proceed to the pick-up/drop-off line.

If you need to enter the school with your child in the morning or afternoon during dismissal or pick-up for a related educational reason (to carry in a special project, provide medicine to the nurse, etc.), you must park in the parking lot and enter the school through the FRONT door. Under no circumstances should children be crossing the traffic line between the lot and the school without an adult.

For the safety of everyone – children, parents, and staff members – please follow these very important guidelines

Note from Principal

Paul Virgin, Director of School Food Services, will be attending the PTO meeting this Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.  Paul will be able to discuss and answer questions regarding the school lunch program.

Note from PTO

It's finally time to think ahead to spring plans and that means our annual Pine Glen Carnival!  This is such a fun and important event for our students.  We need all of your help and support to make this a successful event.  Please come to our first meeting on Thursday night @ 8pm following the PTO meeting.  If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please contact either Michelle Grossman @ [ mailto:michelle-grossman@comcast.net ]michelle-grossman@comcast.net or Deb Murphy@ [ mailto:jdmurphy96@yahoo.com ]jdmurphy96@yahoo.com.