Tuesday, February 28, 2012

BEF

We Will Rock You! Burlington Education Foundation is hosting the 4th annual Trivia Night on March 9,2012 at 7pm at the Sons of Italy in Woburn. Please join us for an evening of music trivia and tons of laughs! After gathering 4 - 10 friends to make a team, contact Debbie Mungillo at debbie.mungillo@agilent.com. The cost is $150 per team and don't forget this is a tax deductible contribution to the BEF. Hope to see you there!

Girl Scouts

Marshall Simonds Middle School Girl Scout Troop 77245 will be collecting new and gently used pants for sizes newborn to 18/20 from March 1st to 31st at each elementary and middle school lobby. They will be donated to Cradles to Crayons, an organization that will distribute the pants to local children in need. To learn more about them visit cradlestocrayons.org If you have any questions about the drive, please contact Nancy_Kiehl@comcast.net or 781-221-8581.

PTO Information

Hi Members,

We hope you all enjoyed the winter break and the mild temperatures with your children. Just a friendly reminder that the next PTO meeting will take place this Thursday evening, March 1st at 7 p.m.

We also would like to congratulate the following students who participated in the Winter Box Tops for Education drive by submitting sheets of twenty Box Tops. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents and will be redeemed to purchase books for Pine Glen School. Completed forms were entered into a contest to earn free tickets for the upcoming Pine Glen Carnival that is scheduled for Saturday, March 31st from 9 - 2 p.m. Congratulations to:

1st Place Winner of 25 Carnival tickets:

Ashlyn Biundo with 21 sheets

2nd Place Winner of 15 Carnival tickets:

Emma Naddaff with 14 sheets

TIED for 3rd Place Winners of 10 Carnival tickets:

Caroline Macri and Erin Shortell with 8 sheets each.

We look forward to seeing you this Thursday evening.

Sincerely,

The Pine Glen PTO Board

All-Town Band Concert

On Thursday, March 8, the All-Town Band Concert will take place in the gymnasium of Burlington High School beginning at 7:00 pm. All band students and band teachers from Burlington Public Schools will participate in this showcase for friends and family. An event not to be missed! Free admission.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Burlington Special Education
Parents Advisory Council

Presents

IEP Workshop

Wednesday March 7, 2012
7-9pm

Burlington High School
School Committee Room

Presented by Special Education Advocates
Melody Orfei and Sue Terzakis

The IEP is the most powerful tool parents have to create a successful
learning environment for their child. In this presentation, you will learn
about:

The different parts of the IEP -- their purpose and function
How to work with the school to develop a document
that drives a successful program for your child
Using evaluations to write annual measurable goals
How to measure your child’s progress

If your child is on an IEP you should bring it with you to the workshop.

At the conclusion of the program, the presenters will discuss with the
attendees general questions about individual IEP issues.

For more information or to register for this workshop, please contact Dennis McCarron at
781-273-5663 / dandmmccarron@hotmail.com
Carnival 2012
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/82959647?access_key=key-11idzg9z5l3tl9b35j09
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/82959647?access_key=key-11idzg9z5l3tl9b35j09

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Bus Route, Pick-Up and Drop-Off

Burlington Public Schools


February 15, 2012

Dear Parents,

I would like to thank everyone for their continued cooperation and assistance at car pick-up and drop-off. More than ever, Pine Glen children are being dropped-off and picked-up by car in the morning and afternoon. More vehicles create a longer wait for all who happen to be in line. It has come to my attention from staff and parents that our procedures could benefit from some additional structure. Therefore, we will be incorporating some new steps into the process to increase student safety. Safety is the number one priority at Pine Glen School and we are always thankful to the Burlington Police and Fire departments for their expertise and assistance. Likewise, we want to get your child into school on time and we want you to be able to get to work on time.

The bus company shares similar concerns. The bus company has looked at ways of streamlining routes. The afternoon stops for Bus 12 will be done in a slightly different order. The Skelton Road area will be getting dropped-off at the beginning of the route. This will result in these students getting to their bus stops a bit earlier. Please be mindful of these changes and adjusting the time you are at stops waiting for your children. This change will be begin the afternoon of February 27th, the Monday we are back from February Vacation. If you have additional questions related to the bus stops, the phone number for A & F Bus Co., Inc. is (978) 663-8145.

We will be sending home two red laminated cards this week, which will have your family’s last name on them. When parents come to pick up students beginning February 27th (Monday after vacation), the cards will need to be put in the left hand corner on the driver’s dash or be hung from the driver’s side visor. (An elastic band could go around the card to attach it to the visor so you can simply lower the visor) Staff on duty will only let a student leave with their parents following this procedure. If a car does not have the red card, the driver will need to come to the office and show identification before leaving with the student.

If a student is going to be picked-up by another Pine Glen family (i.e. play-date, carpool), please continue to send in a note to the child's teacher. The student will be dismissed with the designated family at the pick-up line, with a note from the office.

We are also asking that students leave and enter vehicles on the driver’s side. Students are not to be outside parents’ vehicles for any reason other than to leave or enter the building. Teachers are on duty at 7:55 AM; students are not to be dropped off prior to this time and left unsupervised.

Students that walk to school should not walk through the parking lot. If students are walking, please wait for your child at the outdoor stairs leading up to the United States map and do not crowd the door.

Other current procedures are posted below.

A.M. Drop-Off is (7:55 – 8:10 am), PM pick-up begins at 2:15 pm

· Do not pass school buses while they are discharging students. By state law, buses may never be passed if their lights are flashing.

· Vehicles should be in the park gear while students are entering and exiting the vehicle.

· Keep the car speed under 5 mph in the school yard. Do not get out of line to go around or pass cars in front of you. Stay in the single line.

· Do not text while operating your vehicle.

· Please do not talk on the cell phone while in the pick-up and drop-off line.

· All vehicles should proceed through the parking lot and enter the horseshoe path in front of the side academic wing of the building.

· Only allow children to exit on the driver side of the vehicle.

· Train your children to be ready to exit by the time you enter the school-yard. Teach them to be independent about getting out of the car seats and seatbelts.

· Messages and goodbyes should be taken care of in the car en route to prevent backup in the drop-off line.

· The drop-off/pick-up procedure is not to take place at other locations other than the designated area.

· Parents leaving their vehicles and walking students in to “by-pass” this procedure will be asked by staff to return to their vehicles and follow the procedure.

· If parents need to enter the school with a student in the morning or afternoon during dismissal/pick-up for a related medical reason or educational purpose (to carry in a special project, provide medicine to the school nurse, etc), you must park your car in the parking lot and enter through the school’s front main entrance.

· Under no circumstances should children be crossing the traffic line between the lot and the school without an adult.

· After 8:10 am, once staff on duty goes inside, parents need to park their cars in the front lot and must walk their children to the main office. For example, if bringing a student back from an appointment at 11:35 am that student cannot be dropped-off in the parking lot to walk in by him or herself. They need to be accompanied by an adult who will sign them in at the office.

· Students have finished the school day once they have left the building unless staying for a school-sponsored event (i.e. homework club, math club, music concert, etc). We cannot allow students (accompanied by a parent) back into the building to collect items they have forgotten.

For the safety of everyone – children, parents, and staff members – please follow these very important guidelines. Staff on duty will offer reminders to parents if they need additional guidance in how to follow these guidelines. I will send home a letter if after a reminder from staff this continues to require more explanation of the guidelines. A corresponding copy of this letter will be sent to the appropriate personnel that could also help with enforcement of these guidelines. Public Safety (Burlington Police and Fire) and the Pine Glen Staff greatly appreciate your past and future assistance with the beginning and end of the school day.

Sincerely,

John Lyons

Principal

Pine Glen School

Note from Fox Hill PTO

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM DINNER & AUCTION AT THE BURLINGTON MARRIOTT
MARCH 3RD, 2012

Looking for a night out but don’t want to feel guilty about spending the money on dinner?
Join us! Feel great about supporting your community and the Fox Hill School by purchasing
tickets to our first Dinner & Auction! Fox Hill PTO is hosting a cocktail hour and a superior
three-course dinner at Marriott's Grand Ballroom. The event will feature two auctions, with
many extravagant gift packages donated for the benefit. The silent auction at cocktail hour will
be accompanied by a mix of classical and contemporary piano vocals by Covergirlsmusic, the
duet team of Burlington’s own Debbie Gruber and Debye Delorean.

Enjoy the evening mingling with parents, teachers, Burlington administrators, and other
friends in our local community. Take the opportunity to treat yourself, and join in on the
excitement as the bidding starts for luxurious gifts including: a hot air balloon ride; a winery
tour with tasting; Bruins tickets; James Taylor at Tanglewood; dinner for two atop a
lighthouse! Your child might also be excited to become "principal for a day". The proceeds
will enable the PTO to fund its goal of purchasing an Apple iPad for each classroom at the
Fox Hill School. The benefit will run from 6pm to 11pm; tickets are $50 per person. For more
information, contact Cheryl Moschella at camoschella@verizon.net. Contact Maureen Drossos
at maureenpd68@verizon.net to purchase tickets or order tickets online at www.foxhillpto.org.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Cool Collections Contest Sheets

Just a reminder that this Friday (2/17) is the deadline for submitting the Cool Collections contest sheets.

Pine Glen Carnival Ticket prizes will be awarded to the three students who turn in the most sheets:

1st Place - 25 tickets

2nd Place - 15 tickets

3rd Place - 10 tickets

Additional Cool Collections sheets are available in the front office. Winners will be announced after the winter break. The Pine Glen Carnival will be held on March 31st from 9am to 2pm.

Thank you to everyone for their support with the Box Tops Program. In the fall, we collected $447 dollars worth of Box Tops. All proceeds from this program go directly to support the Pine Glen Library.

Translation Option on School Web Page

The school web page now has a language translation option. Parents can click on the small globe at the top of the web page which will now open the translation option.

Friday, February 10, 2012

BEF Presents Anti-Bullying Training

Burlington Ed. Foundation presents an Anti-Bullying Training for all elementary parents on February 29, 7pm Francis Wyman Auditorium. Students and teachers will have similar sessions during the week, so please come check it out. This program is lead by the Melrose Alliance Against Violence and comes highly recommended.

Student Council

Pink for a Day!

The Student Council is asking the students of Pine Glen to donate $1.00 and to wear PINK, RED or PURPLE on Tuesday February 14th. The money raised will be donated to the Mass General Hospital Marathon Team. All of the funds will be used to help support children with cancer. Our very own Mrs. Visocchi is running the Boston Marathon to honor Emma, an 8 year old girl from Massachusetts who has neuroblastoma. Please consider supporting this amazing cause and Mrs. Visocchi reach her goal!

Puberty Information Night and Head Lice

Puberty Information Night for Parents of 4th and 5th Grade students will be presented by Anne Azarian RN,BSN, Supervisor of Nurses, in the Burlington High School Cafeteria on Monday, February 27, 2012. The presentation to grade 4 parents will be held from 6:30pm--7:30pm. The grade 5 parents presentation will be held from 7:30pm--8:30pm. This presentation is for parents only--no students/siblings. Please call Anne Azarian at 781-270-1702 or the Pine Glen Nurse, Joanne Ferrick at 781-270-1713, if you have any questions. Subsequently, the students' grade 4 and grade 5 puberty classes will be held at school on Friday, March 9, 2012.

Also--Please be aware that there have been a few cases of lice in some of the schools. The nurses would like to remind parents to check their children's head at least once a week. Remind your children to avoid sharing personal items (i.e.combs, brushes, hats,helmets, hair accessories.) Also, please notify the school nurse if your child has lice or has recently been treated for lice (even if your child has lice over vacation.)

Pictures

Picture retake day for Pine Glen will be February 16, 2012.

Pictures

Picture retake day for Pine Glen will be February 16, 2012.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Field Day 2012

Field Day will be held on June 7, 2012. The rain date is June 8, 2012.

BEF Trivia Night

BEF Flyer Trivia Night 3-9-2012