CARNIVAL THANK YOU & APRIL 8TH PTO MEETING

Thank you to members of the entire Pine Glen Community who helped to make this year's Carnival one of the most profitable!  We held this annual PTO sponsored event with the generous assistance and donations of many parents, high school/former students, teachers, staff, and administration.  A big thank you to Leesa Mitchell for organizing over 100 volunteers.

 Many thanks to Cathy Carney for organizing the Cake Walk and purchasing/delivering dozens of cakes for this very popular game.  Thank you also to Jolene Fogarty, PTO  Treasurer, for handling all the extra work the Carnival generates. 

Over fifty local businesses participated by donating gift cards/certificates, merchandise, and services to the stage raffle.  Please thank them when using their business.  Thank you to the raffle committee, including Jill Giles and Erynn Mitchell, who did a lot of time-consuming legwork and follow-up to solicit and collect raffle items from these local businesses.

A heartfelt thanks to RE/MAX and Carol McDonald Macri for donating and making all the arrangements for the hot air balloon ride.  The phenomenal advertising efforts of Carol and Catherine Gillespie certainly brought many out-of-town visitors to the Carnival which resulted in great profits.  We hope to have the RE/MAX hot air balloon back next year!

The successful advertising resulted in hundreds of additional phone calls to the main office.  Thank you to Julie Gosselin and Principal John Lyons for handling them with such grace and for their constant assistance to the Carnival Committee.

Thank you also to the following volunteers: retired Pine Glen Principal, Jane Dwyer, for her famous face painting skills; Al Fay, for his antique fire engine ride; and D.A.R.E. Officers Steve Cross and Keith Sheppard for their police car ride.

 A huge thank you to Michelle Grossman and Debra Murphy for co-chairing this special event.  It's a lot of work to plan for the Carnival and to organize the "village" that it takes to run the event smoothly.  We truly appreciate all their efforts.

A big thank you to Maria Woods! Who has put countless hours of time into the Winter Carnival and helped make it such a success.

 Finally, thank you to everyone who worked on and attended the Carnival.  You all helped to raise much needed funds that will enrich the educational experience of all Pine Glen students.  You also helped create a special and perhaps, lifelong memory because the Carnival serves as a wonderful opportunity for children and their families to socialize and enjoy numerous activities together.

Please note that the next PTO meeting will be held on the SECOND Thursday, April 8th at 7 p.m. due to the holiday.

Hope to see you then,
The Pine Glen PTO Board

Note from Principal

I would like to thank our outstanding custodial staff for all their hard work yesterday and last night. Custodial staff worked throughout the entire night. It was through their diligence and hard work we have school today. I would also like to thank Dr. Conti who was personally here working through the night helping to keep the water at bay. If not for Dr. Conti’s support in sending additional custodial staff here last night and him personally helping out, we would have had to cancel school. Some people do a job because it is their job. Others make a job a career. In my mind a career is when you go to a place of work and give it everything you have because you believe in your heart and mind you are doing something that is making a difference. In the case of last night and everyday, it also means making difference in the lives of children.


Yesterday I did formal classroom observations (the month of March is typically a time that we do MCAS and Principals do a lot of observations). During one of my post conferences, a first grade teacher told me how much she had enjoyed, the opportunity for teachers at grade levels go into other grade levels and see instruction. This primary grade teacher told me how much she enjoyed seeing the amazing things the teachers were doing in fourth grade. I have heard several similar statements from the intermediate teachers that went into the primary grades. This is much like the medical model of doctors watching other doctors do surgery. This type of professional development can only happen when teachers are incredibly competent and skilled.

In addition to MCAS yesterday, we had a film crew and a gentleman for the Italian consulate at Pine Glen. The film crew was doing a news story on students in Burlington learning Italian. The crew filmed a second grade classroom having Italian. The episode will air on Italian television. I talked to the group about our school and instruction for a short time. When leaving the building yesterday, the gentleman from the Italian consulate and the film crew described Pine Glen School to me as a “cream of the crop suburban school.” I did not disagree but, I wished I had mentioned we also have a cream of the crop superintendent and custodial staff.

NOTE FROM BBC

The Burlington Babysitting Coop is looking for new members. We are a not-for-profit group of up to 30 Burlington families who exchange points for babysitting instead of money. It is a great way for both you and your children to meet new friends. We offer social opportunities such as play groups, mom's coffees, mom's night out, and family activities. Come join us for a play group or coffee and see if it is a right fit for you. To find out more contact Co-Directors Akiko Coram (781) 270-5867 or Jessica Newhall (781) 273-3115. Email us at: Burlcoop@gmail.com.

SAVE THE DATE

Summer Literacy Program Session 1 begins July 6 - July 16 and Session 2 begins July 19 - July 30, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The location to be determined. (Flyers and Registrations to be distributed shortly.)

NOTE FROM BEF

Trivia Registration...A few tables left! Tables have filled quickly, but still a few left! You won’t want to miss out on our Trivia Night premiering Friday April 9th, 2010 from 7-12 at the Billerica Elks. The theme is “Movie Trivia” and the Master of Ceremonies will be Dr. Conti. Teams may consist of four to eight members, at a cost of $150 per team. To register your team or volunteer at the event please contact Stephanie Marchese at Stephaniemarchese@comcast.net or at 781-365-4005. Be sure to act quickly to secure your team's spot for the event! Trivia: Who was the voice behind Woody, the cowboy doll in Toy Story? Please see www.burlingtonedfoundation.org for answer. Cast a vote for your favorite Road Race T-shirt design on our website! Some of our BHS Graphic Design students have created awesome designs for our Road Race T-shirts. Look for the special t-shirt button on our website to cast your vote for your favorite!

NOTE FROM IHE PTO

The PTO has extended the Return-by Date for the ArtWare projects that were sent home late last week. The instructions within the envelopes list a return date of Monday, March 22nd. Due to Mother Nature’s Spring Rains, the missed class day and clean up projects, and miscommunications regarding an original extension, the PTO feels that we all need a few extra days to make our ArtWare selections. Please have the completed order form, check payable to the Pine Glen PTO, and artwork submitted to your child’s teacher by Friday, March 26th. Any orders received after that date will be processed but we cannot be sure of delivery in time for Mother’s Day. Please call Julie Gordon at 1-781-273-6280 if you have any questions. Thank you for helping to support your child’s creative expression and school by participating in this unique exciting event.”

NOTE FROM SCHOOL NURSE

Puberty Information Night for Parents of 4th and 5th grade students will be presented by Amy Doughty, Burlington High School Educator, at the Burlington High School Auditorium. Grade 4 Parents Night will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Grade 5 Parents Night will be on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 7:30pm -8:30pm. Please call Amy Doughty at 781-273-7094 or Joanne Ferrick, Pine Glen Nurse, at 781-270-1713, if you have any questions.

NOTE FROM LUNCH SERVICE

The new cafeteria cashless system is running at all schools and it has gone very well. The students are quickly learning their pin numbers and as more students put money on their account the lunch lines really begin to move quickly. The more parents who preload the student account either by check or on www.paypams.com the smoother the system runs and the quicker the students move through the lunch line. Please remember if you are on free lunch and your child wants to buy a snack they must have money on their account. Reduced lunch students need to have the money they need on their accounts as well. If you have lunch tickets please send them in to the cafeteria in an envelope with the Childs name and we will put the value on the account for you. This eliminates the students having to carry the tickets and will help speed up the lunch lines. Please make checks out to Burlington School Lunch with the child’s name & Pin # on the memo line. Cash will be accepted until April vacation. Any questions please contact Paul Virgin 781-505-1154 or email him at food@burlington.mec.edu.

TAKE A SEAT IN MEMORY OF MIKE PETERS

The staff at Pine Glen is collecting money to dedicate a granite bench in honor of a favorite teacher, colleague, and friend. Mike Peters was a teacher at Pine Glen for many years that passed away last June of pancreatic cancer. If you or your family would like to donate toward this memorial bench, please send a check in the amount of $10.00 (or whatever you can afford) made payable to Mike Peters’ Memorial to Denise Keough-Lane or Krystel Anderson c/o Pine Glen School, Pine Glen Way, Burlington, MA 01803.

MENU----------WEEK OF March 29, 2010 Full Lunch $2.50 Milk $.50

MONDAY----------Popcorn Chicken, Fries, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk TUESDAY--------- Turkey w/Gravy, Mashed Potato, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Hot Dog, Fries, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Mac & Cheese, Veggie Dippers, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------No School
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Coming Attractions – No School April 2, 2010 Good Friday

Note from the PTO

The PTO would like to inform everyone that there was an error in the Burlington Union newspaper relative to the Pine Glen Carnival. Just to clarify, there will be NO charge for entrance into the Carnival. The $5 donation for children and $10 donation for adults relates only to the Balloon ride.

Note from Mr. Lyons

PRINCIPAL NOTES – This week my kindergartner asked me “where does money come from?” I went on to explain how dollar bills are actually a note or a representation of money and how the Department of Treasury has the United States Mint which does the actual manufacturing of the money. It was in this discussion that I drew upon the thought that the Pine Glen Winter Carnival is really where the Pine Glen P.T.O. earns the large majority of its money.


This academic year (2009-2010) we are operating on a level-budget with 0% increase with the exception of teacher salaries from the previous academic year (2008-2009). What does that mean? It means that this academic year (2009-2010) we had to buy the same amount of materials, if not more, with less money. Why is it less money? The reason it is less is because of inflation, the increase in gas prices and just the increase in goods (supply and demand). For example, one of the best products for which we have data to show us fantastic results student progress that comes to mind is the Fountas and Pinnell Level Literacy Intervention Kit. The cost of the Fountas and Pinnell kit is $2,475.00 (before shipping and tax). There was a sharp increase in cost from Spring ’08 to Fall ’09 of at least over $200.00 per kit. This kit provides the books that several, if not all, of our students read at the primary grade. As a result, the reader might wonder how did you buy more with less money? The answer, we were very creative and we had to, in some instances, buy less. The Principals’ Blog and Teacher’s Classroom Blog’s in lieu of sending out a paper notices saved hundreds of dollars. Not only is there the cost of paper but, also included is the wear on our copier machines and the ink cartridges needed by the machines. The PTO fund-raiser for the Bruins tickets allowed us to purchase many fantastic non-fiction books. The proposed budget for the upcoming academic year (2010-2011) will also be a level budget with the exception of increases in teacher’s salaries. This means that again we will be faced with the challenge of purchasing needed items which will increase in cost with less money.

PTO’s across the country have seen a sharp decline in fund-raisers. As a result, the PTO has less money to fulfill its normal yearly contributions. Businesses that used to donate a basket to the raffle didn’t this year because they went out of business. I would like to thank all those people who have volunteered to help out at the carnival and have donated items. I plan on brining my whole family to the carnival including the grandparents. The Pine Glen staff have donated items to the raffles and volunteered time. This Winter Carnival looks to be amazing. We have a hot air balloon! Money doesn’t come from being grown on Pine Glen Trees but, it’s wonderful that a lot of it comes from a fun community event. I look forward to seeing all at the Carnival and thank you for your support.

Note from the PTO

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 27 The Pine Glen Carnival!  The Pine Glen PTO is holding the annual fundraising Carnival on Saturday, March 27 from 9am to 2pm.  This year there will be RE/MAX Hot-Air Balloon Rides from 9am to 11am (weather-permitting).  All of your favorite events and activities will be there including antique fire engine rides, games, prizes, raffles, bungee slide, food, the cake walk and more.  We look forward to seeing you at this great family event.

A Second Puberty Information Night

A second Puberty Information Night for Parents will be offered on April 6. The first session from 6:30 - 7:30 will be for parents of Grade 4 students and the next session from 7:30 - 8:30 will be for Grade 5 parents. The location of the event is the Burlington High School Cafeteria.

Note from the PTO

The PTO has extended the Return-by Date for the ArtWare projects that were sent home last week. The instructions within the envelopes list a return date of Monday, March 22nd. The PTO is extending the return date. Please have the completed order form, check payable to the Pine Glen PTO, and artwork submitted to your child’s teacher by Friday, March 26th.


Any orders received after that date will be processed but we cannot be sure of delivery in time for Mother’s Day.

Please call Julie Gordon at 1-781-273-6280 if you have any questions.

Thank you for helping to support your child’s creative expression and school by participating in this unique exciting event.”

Note from Food Service Director

All students will be issued an ID card with their name, picture and PIN number. The card is linked to the students online lunch account. The student can access the money either using the bar code on the card or entering their PIN number. Parents can add money to the account online at www.Paypams.com, by sending in a check made out to Burlington School Lunch Program or sending in cash. The system will go cashless after April vacation and parents will either have to log in to www.paypams.com or send in a check. The first time you log into www.paypams.com click the bottom right where it says register now and follow the prompts. The elementary students will leave their ID cards in school to help eliminate losing them. The more parents who preload the student account either by check or on [ http://www.paypams.com ]www.paypams.com the smoother the system runs and the quicker the students move through the lunch line. Any questions please contact Paul Virgin 781-505-1154.

Cashless Lunch Program

The link below will take parents to the web site to log in and register a child for the new lunch system.
Paypams.com

Notes from Principal

When I first came to Pine Glen School this summer, I told staff my first priority was the student safety. My second priority was improved literacy performance which would require coordinated instruction planning from grade level teams. I have solid data that has shown me improved literacy scores and this week I have an excellent exemplar of a staff that works like a team to ensure student safety and instruction.

Early Sunday morning (March 14), I went into school to do work. On the ride in I encountered a detour on Rt. 62 in Burlington as a result of flooding and witnessed several hoses outside of people’s homes removing water from basements. The little voice inside my head thought this was an ominous sign that things did not look good. Upon arriving at Pine Glen, I went into the building and noted there was no water and things were quiet. I worked for a couple of hours and left to go home. Typically on weekends and late at night when I am working my friends the turkeys stop by my office (please see attached photos). The birds were not around. I often find that sometimes animal’s instincts are more informative than any other meteorological predictor that events are about to happen. When I arrived home late that afternoon, I learned that my hometown of North Andover had received 7.5 inches of rain that weekend.

On Monday morning when I arrived at school I went down to the first floor of the academic wing to meet the head custodian. Ground water was coming up through the floor and tiles were popping up from the water pressure. The Pine Glen School was built on a swamp. Over the course of years the first floor has become a crescent shape. If you think of a crescent moon, turn it 90 degrees. The fat part of the crescent is the two classrooms you meet going down the stairs where Mrs. Redfern and Mrs. Gonzalez’s classrooms are located. The two ends of the hallway where you find the exit doors are the ends of the crescent. At these two ends, water started coming in quick at around 7:30 A.M. In fact, 5 inches of water came into the kindergarten closest to where students enter the building at drop-off and pick-up. The other end of the wing near the art room was experiencing similar water. Students were in buses and parents were in cars on their way to school.

We immediately called for assistance and several custodians and other facility department personal to came over with wet vacuums to assist. I called a meeting of all staff in my building to my office. Several staff that morning could not make it to school as a result of the rain or were calling in on their cell phones informing us they had been on the road for up to 2 hours and were still not in Burlington. This was particularly true for staff coming from Billerica. At the meeting we developed a matrix and saw to it that all children had a dry classroom to go to for instruction. Similar grade level classrooms were doubled up.
Once the students were in the building and instruction was taking place, I issued a Connect Ed. call home to parents to inform them of our situation. I then went back to visit classrooms to check on the staff and students. The custodial teams were filling up wet vacuums and dumping the water out of the building like bailing out a boat.

Mrs. Gosselin had the keen insight to think of the storage closet and managed to save all the materials that we use for the Winter Carnival. The PTO’s biggest fund-raiser of the year that supports a countless list various supports for the students throughout the year. The storage closet area had developed a crack in the floor from all the ground water coming up through the floor.

Around noon time I smelled a particular odd smell like something was burning from the area where the water was. The fire alarm was not going off but, I did not want to take any chances. I immediately got on the PA system and asked for all students and staff to go to the gymnasium located on the other side of the building and alerted public safety. The weather outside at this time was pouring cat and dogs and the wind was blowing very hard. In less than two minutes, the Burlington police officers and fire fighters met me at the front door. Mrs. Agati (one of our music teachers) was in the gym singing songs with the entire student population and faculty. The fire fighters and police were very impressed at how quickly and quietly all the students had assembled and were being so well behaved in the gymnasium. They were also very impressed by our quick and very appropriate response.

The public safety members and I investigated the burn smell further and found a wet vacuum had overheated and some of the plastic was burning. The vacuum was removed from the building and the students went back to classrooms. The students were in the gym for at the most 10 minutes. I have worked with the police and fire departments this summer in examination of pick-up/drop-off procedures and throughout the year (DARE, fire safety etc.) and feel so fortunate to work with such an amazing and professional team of talented men and women.

I then issued a second Connect Ed. call home to parents to inform them of the situation. Students continued to have quality instruction and I continued to walk through and inspect classrooms. We then noticed water coming through the ceilings on the second floor. We immediately called facilities and they dispatched a roofer to go on the building and seal the roof particularly at the seams where the water was likely coming in and penetrating the roof. At this point in time, I was thinking back to the school committee meeting recently when I was presenting the budget proposal and the talented high school students who went on ahead of me and performed some numbers from the musical Titanic. We had water coming up through the floor and the ceiling.

Late that afternoon I requested the Dr. Conti issue a Connect Ed. call to cancel school tomorrow as we still were having ground water enter the building. On Tuesday, teachers came into the building and we started on clean-up while our custodial staff was still fighting incoming ground water.

Although we did not have students on Tuesday, we were able to have the DARE graduation (please see attached photos) as the gymnasium and cafeteria are clearly above the water line and did not experience the water. I was so proud of our 5th graders at the DARE graduation. Officer Shepard and Officer Cross did a great job with the graduation as did the students. When I left the building at around 10:00 P.M. that night, we still had ground water coming up through the art room and storage area or the ends of the crescent.

On Wednesday we needed to double up the kindergarten classrooms again to put all the materials back into the rooms. I have to thank the kindergarten teaches in particular who have put in countless additional hours to plan for doubled up rooms to ensure instruction is taking place and clean up of their rooms. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated kindergarten team.

We were also delighted to have high school students come to Pine Glen and perform scenes from Titanic (please see attached photos) on Wednesday. The Pine Glen students were captivated by their performances and likewise analogies were made to structures taking on water. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing the premiere performance tonight. The students also took great pleasure in seeing all the Pine Glen alumni in the cast.

Thursday morning all kindergartners were back in their classrooms and the water had stopped entering the building. Thursday was also the day that Pine Glen hosted Administrative Council at our building. The Administrative Council meetings are composed of the principals (elementary, middle, high school), curriculum heads, superintendent, other central office administrators, and two invited teachers (different for each meeting). Each building takes a turn hosting the meeting and this week was Pine Glen’s scheduled turn. Part of the meeting time is devoted to the administrative team doing walk-troughs of the classrooms. Throughout the walk-troughs all members were very complementary at the excellent instruction they witnessed and the condition of the building. They could not believe that the meeting room we were in and some of the classrooms earlier in the week were in ground water.

Last night I attended the Science Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. It was a lot of fun to see pictures over the years of students doing experiments and the various animals the center has provided home to over the years. I was thinking how lucky we are in Burlington to have this incredible asset to enhance the children’s science instruction.

Every day, I am eager to leave and head out the door to Pine Glen. I leave knowing I work with an incredible group of teachers that work together as a coordinated team at the building and grade levels. A group of teaches that even in flood conditions value literacy to such a degree that quality instruction does not stop. Teachers that are so devoted that on a canceled school day are still in the building working with the principal to talk about instruction and getting the building back in place. I also know I work with an unbelievable central office. A facilities manager, Craig Robinson, who has spent countless hours helping us maintain the building this week and deal with the onslaught from mother nature. In all my conversations Mr. Robinson has first at the top of his mind the students in the building. A superintendent, who is a talented leader and likewise always focuses on student’s learning and achievement. (I am currently working with Mr. Robinson and Dr. Conti to develop plans to aggressively be prepared for another attack from Mother Nature in the future.) A secretary who cares so much about our children she saved the Winter Carnival. A Science Center who fills our instruction with hands-on material and likewise enhance our curriculum. Richard Connors, middle school principal, told me yesterday it is not what we say we will do but, what we do. I want to thank the parents of Pine Glen students for letting us have the opportunity to do so much with your students. We are so fortunate to have a community that supports us and allows us to put students first.

NOTE FROM BEF

Trivia Registration...Limited Tables...Deadline Friday 3/26!! You won’t want to miss out on our Trivia Night premiering Friday April 9th, 2010 from 7-12 at the Billerica Elks. The theme is “Movie Trivia” and the Master of Ceremonies will be Dr. Conti. Teams may consist of four to eight members, at a cost of $150 per team. To register your team or volunteer at the event please contact Stephanie Marchese at Stephaniemarchese@com cast.net or at 781-365-4005. Be sure to act quickly to secure your team's spot for the event! Trivia: What Jerry Lewis movie was a twisted take on the Jeckyll and Hyde story? Please see www.burlingtonedfoundation.org for answer. Cast a vote for your favorite Road Race T-shirt design on our website! Some of our BHS Graphic Design students have created awesome designs for our Road Race T-shirts. Look for the special t-shirt button on our website to cast your vote for your favorite!

NOTE FROM PTO

Unplugging Your Child: Raising Healthy Children in the Information Age - Wednesday, March 24, at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Marshall Simonds Middle School Auditorium. Join the Burlington PTO for a free, informative talk as Meghan Gardner from Guard Up! speaks about how to get our children and teens "unplugged" long enough to experience the rest of life surrounding them. Meghan will discuss why the internet, social media, online gaming and texting hold such allure for kids. Parents will be provided with important tips and ideas on how to teach children to balance technology with "real life". Most importantly, Meghan will cover the vital ingredients to helping kids step away from the online games.

NOTE FROM LUNCH SERVICE

On Wednesday, March 24 we will begin using the new cafeteria lunch system. The system is most successful when students know their pin number. Their pin number will be on a card that each student will receive before the system start day. The card will stay in the classroom and not go home so that students have less chance of losing the card. Parents can help by either logging onto Paypams.com and registering their child and putting money onto the child’s account to be used for buying lunch or they can send in a check made out to Burlington School Lunch with the child’s name on the memo line. Cash will be accepted until April vacation at which time the school will become cashless. Every student must enter their pin on the keypad or scan the barcode on the card every time they buy lunch. Reduced lunch children must still have the 40 cents for lunch and will need that amount put on their account when the school is cashless. If you have any questions please email Paul Virgin the Food Service Director at food@burlington.mec.edu. Please forward any calls with questions/concerns regarding the new Cashless Lunch Program to X-5312. The outside number is 781-238-5312. This is a voicemail set up specifically for the new program.

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

MONDAY----------Chicken Teriyaki Dippers, Rice, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
TUESDAY--------- Nacho Grande, Vegetable, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Turkey & Cheese Sub, Potato Chips, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Pork Ribblet Slider Sandwiches, Veggie Dippers, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------Tuna Sandwich, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Coming Attractions – No School April 2, 2010 Good Friday

Note from the School Nurse

Grade 4 students' puberty classes will be held by the Pine Glen Nurse during school on Friday, March 26, 2010. Grade 5 students' puberty classes will be held by the Pine Glen Nurse during school on Thursday, April 1, 2010.

Note from School Nurse

Puberty Information Night for Parents of 4th and 5th grade students will be presented by Amy Doughty, Burlington High School Health Educator, at the Burlington High School Cafeteria. Grade 4 Parents Night will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 6:30 pm--7:30 pm. Grade 5 Parents Night will be on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 7:30 pm--8:30pm. Please call Amy Doughty at 781-273-7094 or the Joanne Ferrick, Pine Glen Nurse, at 781-270-1713, if you have any questions.

Note from the Burlington PAC

Celine Saulnier, Training Director of the  Autism Program Yale University Child Study Center, will be presenting an in depth seminar on Friday March 19 in the Marshall Simonds Middle School Auditorium.  The Burlington PAC is presenting it free of charge (Donations will be gratefully accepted).

Guest Post by Room 209

Each year, the Massachusetts Children’s Book Awards are given to books nominated and voted on by children in grades 4-6. In order to vote for the MCBA, students must have read (or had read to them) a minimum of five books from the list of 25 nominees.

On Thursday, 37 Pine Glen 5th graders qualified and cast their votes for their favorite books. Found (The Missing, Book 1), by Margaret P. Haddix, was far and away the local winner with 13 votes. Swindle and How to Steal a Dog were next in line with 4 votes each. The Lemonade War, Billy the Fish, Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat, The Green Glass Sea, The Big Field, and Paint the Wind also received multiple votes. The overall winner and runners-up will be announced by Salem State College in May.

It has been wonderful to hear the conversations between students as they have reviewed books and made suggestions to their friends. Students looking for a new book during independent reading have looked to the MCBA bookshelf for kid-recommended titles.

Just because the voting has closed, there’s no reason to stop reading these great books. Check them out in the Pine Glen library or from the Burlington Public Library. A list of all books are available at: http://www.salemstate.edu/academics/schools/3698.php . Just click on the link for Master List.

Pine Glen School will not have school today (3/16/10).

PRINCIPAL NOTES – Security

We are very fortunate to have a very safe and secure school at Pine Glen. The staff at Pine Glen and I have as our number one priority the safety and security of the students. Therefore, we are never complacent when examining our practices. During the day we have many guests at Pine Glen School. It is of great importance that all guests go through the front door (being buzzed in by the school secretary), sign in at the office, and take a visitor badge or visitor sticker. Likewise, when guests leave the building it is also very important that they sign-out and go through the front door. Please do not enter the building through the academic wing at pick-up and drop-off. In addition, I am asking parents to never open the door to admit anyone into the building even if they know the person. The school secretary, school nurse, guidance counselor and I keep a very watchful eye as well as staff on the front door. We all care deeply about the students in the building and want to make sure that our school is safe. We have visitor stickers and/or badges that must be worn if volunteering or visiting a classroom. I greatly appreciate all the parents that help us maintain the practices and procedures we have set up with Burlington Public Safety. Public safety officials and I last summer looked closely at all our procedures to make sure that we keep all children at Pine Glen School safe.

MENU----------WEEK OF March 15, 2010 Full Lunch $2.50 Milk $.50

MONDAY----------Chicken Nuggets, French Fries, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
TUESDAY--------- Taco’s, Vegetable, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Hamburger/Cheeseburger, French Fries, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Pasta w/butter/meat sauce, Veggie Dippers, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------Grilled Cheese & Soup, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Coming Attractions – No School April 2, 2010 Good Friday

NOTE FROM PAC

Dear Parents, Do you know what an Individual Educational Program (IEP) is? What it must contain? How it helps your child learn? Please join the Burlington PACE on Monday March 15 at 7:00 PM in the School Committee Room at Burlington High School. This eight page document can make or break your child's educational outcome. Learn what it is, how to build it properly and how it can advance your child's opportunities. Maureen Ryan will present detailed strategies. Bring your IEPs and your questions.

NOTE FROM PTO

The PTO is pleased to be sending home the ArtWare Spring Fundraiser projects next week. The students have worked really hard to create beautiful colorful projects that will look great on a Mouse Pad, Coffee Mug, T-Shirt, and Trivet Tile, to name a few of the possibilities offered by ArtWare! Orders should be available for pick up in the school lobby the week before Mother’s Day – ArtWare makes the perfect gift for Mom’s, Dad’s, Grandparents, and Care Givers! Orders are due back to school by Monday, March 22nd. Please make checks payable to Pine Glen PTO. Please be sure to include a phone number so we can call if there are questions regarding your order. If you wish to combine sibling orders or add additional projects or photos, please # the back of the project (or photo) lightly, in pencil, and then mark the corresponding number on the order form. If there are any questions, please call Julie Gordon at 781-273-6280 or send an e-mail to jgordon@sensitech.com.

NOTE FROM THE LIBRARY

Our Spring Book Fair will take place in the Pine Glen Library April 8 through April 15. I could use some help during this time. If you have a couple of hours on your hands and are interested in assisting with collecting money at the Book Fair, please contact me with your availability. I can be reached at downes@burlington.mec.edu.  Please note that you must have a CORI check before working with the children. Thank you very much.

NOTE FROM BURLINGTON POP WARNER

Burlington Pop Warner Football & Cheerleading will be holding registration for its 2010 season at the Marshall Simonds Middle School Cafeteria, on Saturday, March 27th, 2010 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (both dates are for cheerleading and football). Football players (between the weights of 45-160 pounds) and cheerleaders ranging from ages 7-15 years old (as of July 31st, 2010), are eligible to participate at five different age groups/teams. For additional information visit our website at Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. and click on the FAQ (Frequently Asked Quest ions) link or call the Burlington Pop Warner phone line @ 781-273-0747.

TAKE A SEAT IN MEMORY OF MIKE PETERS

The staff at Pine Glen is collecting money to dedicate a granite bench in honor of a favorite teacher, colleague, and friend. Mike Peters was a teacher at Pine Glen for many years that passed away last June of pancreatic cancer. If you or your family would like to donate toward this memorial bench, please send a check in the amount of $10.00 (or whatever you can afford) made payable to Mike Peters’ Memorial to Denise Keough-Lane or Krystel Anderson c/o Pine Glen School, Pine Glen Way, Burlington, MA 01803.

The Pine Glen Carnival!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 27 – The Pine Glen Carnival!  The Pine Glen PTO is holding the annual fundraising Carnival on Saturday, March 27 from 9am to 2pm.  This year there will be RE/MAX Hot-Air Balloon Rides from 9am to 11am (weather-permitting).  All of your favorite events and activities will be there including antique fire engine rides, games, prizes, raffles, bungee slide, food, the cake walk and more.  We look forward to seeing you at this great family event. 

NOTE FROM BYS

The Burlington Spring U-6 (Kindergarten) and U-8 (1st and 2nd graders) Soccer Clinic programs will begin Saturday April 10th and run 10 weeks through Saturday June 12th at Lower MSMS with U6 running 2:30-3:30 pm and U8 running from 4-5:30 pm. You can register now on-line at www.BurlingtonSoccer.org. The fee is $60, after April 10th a $15 late fee will apply. We will be holding an in-person registration night at the Recreation Department Friday March 19th from 7-9 pm.

NOTE FROM LUNCH SERVICE -

I would like to introduce you to the new computerized register system being implemented at the Burlington School cafeteria. All students will be issued an ID card with their name, picture and PIN number. The card is linked to the students online lunch account. The student can access the money either using the bar code on the card or entering their PIN number. Parents can add money to the account online at www.Paypams.com, by sending in a check made out to Burlington School Lunch Program or sending in cash. The system will go cashless after April vacation and parents will either have to log in to www.Paypams.com or send in a check. The first time you log into www.Paypams.com click the bottom right where it says register now and follow the prompts. The elementary students will leave their ID cards in school to help eliminate losing them. Hopefully this will be a seamless transition and since cash will be accepted for the first few weeks parents may not even notice the change over. The Elementary schools will be changing over the week of March 22, 2010. If you have lunch tickets continue to use them, they will be honored always. Look for more updates as the date draws closer. Any questions please contact Paul Virgin 781-505-1154.

TAKE A SEAT IN MEMORY OF MIKE PETERS

The staff at Pine Glen is collecting money to dedicate a granite bench in honor of a favorite teacher, colleague, and friend. Mike Peters was a teacher at Pine Glen for many years that passed away last June of pancreatic cancer. If you or your family would like to donate toward this memorial bench, please send a check in the amount of $10.00 (or whatever you can afford) made payable to Mike Peters’ Memorial to Denise Keough-Lane or Krystel Anderson c/o Pine Glen School, Pine Glen Way, Burlington, MA 01803.

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

MONDAY---------- No School Professional Development Day
TUESDAY--------- French Toast Sticks, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY --- Meatball Sub, French Fries, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
THURSDAY-------Mac & Cheese, Veggie Dippers, Fruit Slushie, Juice/Milk
FRIDAY------------Pepperoni Pizza, Fresh Fruit, Juice/Milk
AVAILABLE DAILY—Pizza, Bagels, Peanut Butter & Jelly/Fluff, Cereal & Yogurt, Assortment of Snacks & Ice Cream

Note from the Principal-How can I help my child prepare for MCAS and do better in school?

Many parents often ask me, “How can I or what can I do at home to help my children do better on MCAS and in school?” Parent involvement in childhood literacy is one of the greatest ways to help boost MCAS performance and determine later success in school. A great way to promote childhood literacy in the home is through a Read Aloud.

The point of a Read Aloud is not to simply get through a story. Often when I was in school there was an understanding that the reader (parent, teacher, and librarian) would start and finish the book without stopping. There was a fear that to do so would ruin the flow or the pleasant sound of the words.

However, this is not the case. When reading a story to a child, it is of enormous benefit to stop and ask questions. This enriches the story and builds up reading comprehension. Part of the enjoyment we have as adults when we read is talking to other adults about what we have read. A Read Aloud provides a means for parents to model and actively engage their children in this practice. It serves as motivation for children to want to read. People will buy more of a product if it is advertised daily as being entertaining and pleasurable. A daily Read Aloud will make a conditioned response with a child’s brain that reading is fun. The more Read Aloud experience a child receives the more the reader and child will enjoy it and getter better at it.

If wondering what book to use, a great resource is your child’s classroom teacher and/or a librarian. Listening skills and reading comprehension congregate typically around age 13 or eighth grade. That being the case, a Read Aloud book can be at least three grade levels above where a student is currently reading. Also, it is great fun to read not just fiction, but non-fiction. In fact, a large majority of the MCAS requires the reading of non-fiction text.

A Read Aloud has many added benefits. It builds attention span in students. The reader serves as a model for how to show enunciation and expression while reading. Also, a Read Aloud exposes children to rich language and vocabulary. In fact, if one were to compare a conversation between two college graduates to a Read Aloud, one would find three or more times as many uncommon words in the children’s book. Moreover, when reading fictional text it provides knowledge of story structure. Listening comprehension is the preview or appetizer before we receive the restaurant’s main entre, reading comprehension. In addition, a Read Aloud provides bonding time. With all our demands as parents to stay on top of email, the ringing cell phone, and work, a Read Aloud might be the only part of a day when a child could have a parent’s undivided attention.

There are several ways to incorporate questions and higher order thinking. Some of the most common ways to incorporate this in a Read Aloud are:

• encourage and model making text to text, text to self, and text to world connections

• ask your child to retell the story or chapter after you have read to him/her

• encourage your child to make inferences – ask how or why questions rather than who, what, or where questions

• don’t show the illustrations in the text you are reading and encourage your child to visualize what he/she is reading and describe their “picture in their mind” to you

We are so fortunate at Pine Glen to have wonderful instructors who are experts at these strategies. A child will not get hurt re-doing the same strategies used in school. In fact, it will be really beneficial. Your child’s teacher can serve as a great resource in answering questions about strategies you can practice at home and in fun way. In addition, two books that are a great resources for parents on the topic of Read Aloud are (1) 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read and Get it! (Hutchinns, C. & Zimmerman, S. 2003 New York, NY: Three Rivers Press) and (2) The Read-Aloud Handbook, (Trelease, J. 2006 New York, NY Penguin Group).

Don’t feel you need to read these reference books to do Read Aloud at home. As a parent you can do the items mentioned in this Blog. All you need to start a Read Aloud is being willing to accept the fact that you will have uninterrupted time with your child that will build strong relationship bonds while simultaneously helping him or her become a better reader, and showing them a daily expression of your love for them.

Note from the PTO

Just a friendly reminder that there will be a PTO meeting tonight, Thursday, March 4th, at 7 p.m. in the cafetorium.


Bring a friend!

We look forward to seeing you this evening.

The Pine Glen PTO Board