Principal Notes Happy Thanksgiving

My family like yours will take part in many traditions on Thanksgiving.   Football, great food, and spending time with family are not only great traditions but a few of my favorite things.   One tradition my family has during Thanksgiving is to go around the dinner table and say what we are most thankful for over the course of the year.   In anticipation of the event I was thinking of what to say on the drive into school today.

What I am most thankful for this year is children and life.   Two events in my life this year have shaped my feelings to make think this way.   My two-year old daughter has severe allergies.  She has learned what foods to not touch or eat well as ask before given food if it will make her sick.   My wife and I have to have epi-pens available to us at all times and will need to leave one with her at all times, for example,  a play date.     

Last year my sister’s family and our entire extended family were delighted to welcome a new baby girl.  The baby came much sooner then expected and was born at 24 weeks.   This beautiful baby girl, in the words of the doctors in Boston, is a miracle.   She requires a lot of attention and has the most beautiful smile.   I also think she has the best godfather in the world.

What my niece and daughter have taught me is that life is very fragile and delicate.    It is also exciting.   Much like an artist starts with clay and makes a sculpture we as parents have the opportunity to empower our children and help mold them as they grow.  I have two daughters, two nieces, and three nephews and I would not miss it for the world to have the opportunity to see them grow.   I have dedicated my entire professional career to helping children and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else in the world.   It is why I truly love my career.

Please make sure to tell your children, nieces and nephews how thankful you are for them during Thanksgiving dinner.   Children benefit so much hearing from family members that someone cares about them.   

I hope everyone has a great long weekend.   Best of luck to Burlington football team in the their game versus Lexington.   Most importantly, on behalf of the entire staff at Pine Glen School, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Video: A Day at Pine Glen

I hope you enjoy the video A Day at Pine Glen.   I would like to thank Dan Callahan, our technology integration specialist, for all his hard work putting it together.   This video is a snap-shot of what a typical day at Pine Glen is like for our students.  

PTO NEWS:

Holidays are coming.....remember to bring that list of SCRIP PINE GLEN PTO FUNDRAISER (gift cards) to the gathering!!!  You will be surprised at how many people will love the idea (don't forget this is a condensed list of retailers so visit the website for the retailer you are looking for)!  Last minute....or.....what should I get for that special someone....Perfect....GIFT CARDS (Let them buy what they want)!   Help support Pine Glen PTO and save you and your family time and gas from running to store to store.  Enjoy the holidays---HAVE THEM delivered to you!!!  Buy your cards ON-LINE or simply complete the forms that have been provided in your child's backpack!   If you need additional copies or any questions email Kathleen at rmacmunn@msn.com or call 781-229-1805. 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping!  Everything is there at your fingertips!

Note from High School

Burlington High School will present the stage version of the holiday classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 5 at 2:00 pm in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of the high school. Bring the whole gang to this great family-friendly production.  Adults: $10 and Students/Sr Citizens: $5. Tickets available at www.BurlingtonTickets.org. For more information call 781-A-FUN-TIC.

Thanks.

Vanessa Ovian

Turkey Trot

Mrs. Nicholas would like to invite you to the Turkey Trot, next Wednesday, November 24, at 9:00.

Principal Notes- Parent Conferences

As a parent I can identify with the butterflies the flutter in your stomach prior to a parent conference.    On the drive to my daughter’s conference thoughts kept popping up in my brain and I could hear a ding like my email icon informing me a new email had arrived.  These thoughts all had a central theme - this little girl is the most important thing in the world to me and I would do anything for her.  What assisted me most going into the conference was I thought of three simple questions: 1) How is she getting along with her peers, (2) Are you happy with her rate of progress, and (3) What can my wife and I do at home to help?  I think of a conference is an opportunity to develop a game plan with your child’s teacher.   Working together as a team will mean victory.

 An additional fun question I love to ask at parent conferences is if the teacher has any recommendations for books we could purchase for our child over the holidays.   In casual conversations with parents around this time of year I am often asked for recommendations for a great developmental toy to get children for the holidays.  I always answer a book.  I also recommend writing a dated note to your child on the first page.  Children take great delight looking at the notes parents have written them years from now. 

We have books in our home library from when my wife and I were children.  Inside those books are notes our parents wrote us.  Children are fascinated to read what grandma or grandpa wrote to mommy or daddy when they were the same age.  They also can’t believe the date (warning: you might feel a little old).   A book with a note is a gift that can open new worlds to multiple generations.  It is also one of my favorite gifts to give to nieces and nephews.  

Just like I had great confidence in my daughter’s teacher, I have tremendous confidence and respect for the excellent instruction provided to your children by the teachers at Pine Glen.  Thank you for the opportunity to teach your wonderful children.   

Scrips Program Announcement:

Just in time for the holidays!  Back by popular demand, the SCRIP (gift cards) fundraiser program will begin this week.  Please look for order forms in your child's backpack.  For those of you unfamiliar with the program simply purchase gift cards through the PTO that you would normally buy in the stores (Dunkin' Donuts, Shaw's, GameStop, etc.) and the school earns a percentage of the sale. 

Let your fingers do the shopping and ORDER on-line or complete the forms and send in with your child attn: PTO SCRIP along with a check payable to the Pine Glen PTO.  Remember to ask your family and friends if they wish to participate - save time and money on gas--don't run store to store.   If you are placing multiple orders, simply complete separate forms or create a separate order on-line for friends and family.  Again, save yourself time from sorting orders--just designate to have all orders delivered to your child's classroom. 

If you have any questions or need extra forms, contact Kathleen MacMunn at rmacmunn@msn.com.  DUE date for Scrip orders are December 7th with delivery on or before December 15th.

Thank you.

Note from PTO

Our Genevieve’s Orders are In!

Please pick up your order.

DATE:         TODAY - NOVEMBER 12^TH

HOURS:      DURING SCHOOL OR RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL DISMISSAL

WHERE:      SCHOOL LOBBY 

Large orders are boxed by student separated by class.

Smaller orders have been sent home with student or are in office.

Mail the Pre-paid Correction Postcard (found in your order) immediately to Genevieve’s to report any problems.

If you ordered a Magazine Subscription or a Personalized Gift, complete and mail the 

Pre-paid Voucher (found in your order) to start the subscription or receive the gift.

Online orders may still be placed at www.genevieves.com using school code #398.

For orders of 6 or more, the CoCo Key pass was sent home with student.**

Call Maria Woods @ 781-270-4584 with any other questions.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE FALL FUNDRAISER!

Note from PTO

HALLOWEEN DANCE THANK YOU:

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered or made contributions to the annual Halloween Dance:  Parents, Pine Glen students, faculty, staff, middle and high school students, Roche Bros., NSK Inc., iParty, Genevieve, Jack Ferren, Carol McDonald Macri, Nancy and Bill Keddy, and Maria Woods.  The children and their families had a wonderful evening because of the collaborate effort of many. Thank you all for being part of this special Pine Glen tradition.

Numerous prizes were awarded that evening:

Andrew Woods - Hershey Kisses estimation jar

Madison Hoyt - jelly bean estimation jar

Denise: iParty Halloween gift basket

Robin Hurley: Genevieve gift basket of household items

Rebekah Babcock: Genevieve gift basket of wrapping paper supplies

Mary Sullivan: Genevieve gift basket of candles and Crab Tree & Evelyn products.

Kimberly Daly: VIP seating to a Pine Glen event for submitting a PTO volunteer form

April Weaver: VIP seating to a Pine Glen event for submitting a PTO volunteer form

The Grand Prize winner of an overnight stay for four including passes to the Coco Key Water Resort was Maeve O'Callaghan in Ms. Redfern's class.  All students with orders over $100 were entered into this raffle.

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween and look forward to seeing you at next year's dance.

The Pine Glen PTO Board

Note from PTO

STUDENT DIRECTORIES 

Attention all PTO Members: Your complimentary copy of the Pine Glen student directory will be sent to you via the backpack of one of your children.  One directory per family was distributed and should arrive home either today or by Monday.   It's still not too late to join the PTO.  If you're not a member yet, but would like to receive a copy of the directory, dues are only $15 per family. The PTO publishes directories for all current members.  Thank you.

Note from PTO

Just a friendly reminder that our next PTO meeting will be held this Thursday evening, November 4th at 7pm.

Our special guest speaker will be Mr. Callahan, Technology Specialist at Pine Glen School.  He will highlight the progress and additions made to technology resources at Pine Glen by the school department and the Pine Glen PTO.

We hope to see you there for we will not meet again until the new year.  Thank you.

The Pine Glen PTO Board

TREATS FOR OUR TROOPS

Too much candy after Halloween?  Buy more than you needed?  If you find yourself in this situation, don’t let it go to WASTE or WAIST!  Donate your extra treats to our troops overseas.  Drop off your extra candy to the Treats for Our Troops box on the table outside the office here at Pine Glen, and send a little Halloween spirit to our troops overseas.  Cards and notes from the children are also welcome. 

Halloween Dance

Thanks to everybody who came to the Halloween Dance!