LTC's New Overdue Notification Emails

Here in the LTC, we love watching students borrowing books every week. And we especially love it when students find themselves engrossed in a great book. However, sometimes students forget to bring those books back so others can enjoy them, too.

LTC's Borrowing Policy:

• Borrowing time for books is 3 weeks
• Borrowing time for magazines is 1 week
• An item will be happily renewed if more time is needed
• There is no limit as to the number of items students may borrow (Exception is Kindergarten--2 items at checkout regardless of items previously checked out)
• Students with overdue items will not be prevented from borrowing
• However, students with 4 or more overdue items will get a temporary hold on borrowing

We are happy to announce that we are now using an email notification system to alert you of your child's overdue library items. Every Monday at 8am, if your child has an overdue item, you will receive an email. It is not an overdue bill, merely a notification.

 Here are the reasons why we are implementing this new notification system:

• Better communication between the LTC and parents 
• Better return rate of overdue items when parents are involved
• Less work for the LTC staff
• Faster resolution of overdue issues such as lost items 
• Less paper!
• Less work with a higher return rate! (Did I mention that one already?) 

However, this system won't work if your email is not on file with Pine Glen. If it is not, please consider it and contact Mrs. Gosselin in the Main Office. Until then, your child will continue to receive paper overdue notices at school.

As always, please contact me if you have any questions about your child's library items.

Thank you for your support in helping our children to become strong readers & responsible library users.

Fondly,
Laura D'Elia, School Librarian
delia@bpsk12.org

A Typical Day at Pine Glen - Guest Post by Assistant Superintendent Larkin

Today I had the privilege of filling in for Mr. Lyons at Pine Glen. As is normally the case, there were too many fun things happening to keep up.  Below are a few of the pictures from my time in various classrooms. Thanks to the staff and students for being so welcoming and taking the time to fill me in on all of the exciting learning activities that they are involved in. I look forward to filling in again on Friday, February 7!

When I arrived in Ms. Hayes' classroom, she and her students were on a train ride through New Hampshire.   

The second graders are involved in a research project on famous people from Massachusetts. It was great to talk to them and hear how much they know about their historical figures.  A couple of the girls told me that they are excited to make a visit to Oxford, MA to see Clara Barton's House. I am impressed with how excited and committed these students are about their research.  I am excited to see visit their wax museum at the end of February when each student will take on the persona of their historical figure.

It was neat to see the different methods students utilized to go about their work. Some with iPads, some with Chromebooks, and some with pencil and paper.

More research from Mrs. Lynch's class.

They were also working hard in Mrs. Cunha's room.

Mrs. Cunha's class doing their research.

Some great art work of the banks of the Merrimack River through history.

Message to Pine Glen Community

Dear Pine Glen Community,

Tomorrow I am undergoing surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital.  I will be returning to Pine Glen on February 24, 2014.  I will miss seeing the student's smiling faces in addition to their academic as well as personal growth during the next month.  In the event an administrator needs to be contacted please call or email Mrs. Gosselin, our school secretary, (781-270 1712) or (gosselin@bpsk12.org) and she will connect you with an administrator who will be overseeing the school during my recovery.

Assistant Superintendent Patrick Larkin, Special Needs Director Louise D'Amato and English Language Arts District Coach Renee Sacco will be available on different days to provide assistance during my leave.  These administrators and the teaching staff will see to it that Pine Glen will continue to be as a safe, nurturing learning environment that engages students and promotes a life long love of learning during my leave.

I am constantly reminded during my daily walk-throughs of the fantastic teachers and instruction that happens everyday at Pine Glen Elementary School.  I look forward when I return to hearing of all the growth and engaging lessons that happened during my time away.

Sincerely,

John Lyons, M.S.Ed.
Principal
Pine Glen Elementary School

Adopt a Class

  Adopt a Class

Math Mixer

Please join us at Pine Glen School’s… 

Math Mixer

Come play and take home some math fun for everyone!

Wednesday January 29, 2014

5:30 pm-7:30 pm

This free event is open to all Pine Glen families (Grades K-5.)  

Please join us to learn easy and exciting new ways to bring math into your home.

We hope to see you there!

The Weather

Second Grade Students worked really hard with Miss Fallon and their classroom teachers to create weather forecasting videos.  Mr. Callahan worked with students on the technology components.  We are all extremely proud of their efforts!

Room 210's (Ms. Anderson) Weather Video

Room 211's (Ms. Varrell) Weather Video

Room 201's (Mrs.Lane) Weather Video

Thank You Pine Glen PTO!

We would like to say a big thank you to the Pine Glen PTO.  The PTO recently purchased new equipment for recess.  The students will greatly enjoy the new equipment!

Bridges Program

The following pictures from today are of Mrs. Visocchi's Fourth Grade Class. Mrs. Visocchi's class is participating in the Bridges: Growing Older, Growing Together Program. This award winning program has older adults and elementary students working together to gain knowledge from each other while supporting the Common Core Curriculum.

Kindergarten Guided Reading Group

During my daily walk-throughs today I saw Ms. Parnell working with a guided reading group. This group was reading non-fiction and looking at text features.

Grade 4 and Eggs

Wendy from the Burlington Science Center visited fourth grade today to discuss the life cycle of a chicken.

Message from Burlington Hockey

Come Support the BurlingtonHigh School Boy's Varsity Hockey Team: Monday January 20th from 6pm-10pm at OrangeLeaf Frozen Yogurt. Orange Leaf will donate 15% of your purchase for anyone who mentions the team. BHS hockey is fundraising for a few cancer organizations. Come help them and enjoy some delicious yogurt. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt,1 Center St., Burlington, MA 01803

Message from the Planning Board

Meeting with the Planning Board to discuss medical marijuana in Burlington - Burlington must adopt a new bylaw to regulate the production and sale of medical marijuana in town.  Please come and share your opinions with the Planning Board as they prepare a warrant article for the May 2014 Town Meeting.  A meeting is being held at Burlington High School in the Fogelberg Auditorium.

Message from Cub Scout Den 9

CUB SCOUT 

Den 9

PACK 105

Please donate socks, hats or mittens to help 

children and adults in need.

Boxes are located at your school 

January 13th - January 24th.

All donations will be delivered to 

People Helping People in Burlington. 

Thank you for supporting our community!

Second Grade Persuasive Writing

This morning during my daily walk through I saw the three second grade teachers instructing their students in how to write a persuasive paragraph. In the first two pictures Mrs. Keough-Lane and Ms. Varrell are showing models of good persuasive writing using Explorations in Nonfiction Writing. We adopted this Common Core writing curriculum this year in the primary grades. The third picture is Ms. Anderson reading her students work and reflecting on their writing once the lesson was complete. The students were very engaged in their learning seeing a real life connection and application.

Lights

We were very excited coming back from winter break to see all new lights throughout the building. The new lights are much more energy efficient and last for a longer duration of time then the prior lights we were using. Students and staff love how much brighter they have made our learning spaces.

BECC Open House

BECC Open House

for the 2014-2015 School Year

The Burlington Early Childhood Center (BECC) will be hosting an Open House for new students on Friday, January 24, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The BECC is an integrated public preschool for children ages 3-5.  We support children of all abilities in both general education and special education settings.  We also provide support in the areas of speech-language, motor, and social skill development.

Our Open House will provide families with an opportunity to view the programs, meet the teachers, and pickup registration packets to enroll their children for the 2014-2015 school year.  Students must be 3 years old by August 31, 2014 to be considered for enrollment for the fall of 2014.  

For more information about registration/Open House, please call 781-270-1808.  For more information about our program, please visit the Burlington Early Childhood Center Website The BECC is located in Burlington High School at 123 Cambridge St.  Our entrance is at the back of the building between the two playgrounds.

We look forward to seeing you on January 24^th.

Parent Technology Night

Twitter? Instagram? Snapchat? Vine? Parenting in the digital age brings with it many challenges. Our January Parent Tech Night will provide parents with information on the latest digital tools students may be using to connect and interact with others. Parents will walk away from this session with a better understanding of what they can do to help guide their children towards responsible digital citizenship and keep them safe online. Strategies on how to get the conversation started with students about their online activities will be provided.

Assistant Superintendent Patrick Larkin and Burlington High School Instructional Technology Specialist Jenn Scheffer will offer advice on how students can use social media to their advantage as they begin the college admission process. Mrs. Scheffer is also a former assistant director of admission. She will provide a unique insight into how colleges look at the digital behavior of our students.

Time during every Parent Tech Night session is also dedicated to technology related questions and support.

Computer Lab

This morning during my walk throughs I saw Ms. Hayes fourth grade students in the computer lab working on writing. The students are using a program called WPP online which enables students to challenge themselves while simultaneously building their writing skills. I love the graphic organizers utilized by the program.

Art

This morning during my walk through I saw Ms. Fallon showing students how to make cranes.

Grade 1 Guided Reading

During my daily walk throughs today I saw Ms. Smith and RTI tutor Ms. Christie instructing first grade students in guided reading groups.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Registration of children entering Kindergarten in September 2014 will be held the following dates and times at the elementary school they will be attending:

• Francis Wyman School - February 3rd and 4th - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

• Fox Hill School – February 5th and 6th - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

• Memorial School – February 10th and 11th – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

• Pine Glen School – February 12th and 13th – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

If you are unable to attend registration for your child at the above dates and times, you may register your child at The Student Information Office located at the Burlington High School beginning Monday, February 24, 2014 thru Friday, February 28, 2014 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We will also hold registration during the evening of February 26, 2014 between the hours of 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

A child entering kindergarten must have attained the age of five by August 31, 2014. At the time of registration, parents are required to bring:

• Original birth certificate for your child.

• Two proofs of residency need to be provided in the Town of Burlington. One proof must be: a settlement document on a new home, presentation of a lease, a recent mortgage statement or property tax bill. The second proof can be satisfied with a recent utility bill, bank statement, payroll records or insurance bill.

• Medical forms with current physical and up-to-date immunizations must be completed by your physician and returned to school two (2) days prior to the opening of school. Children will not be able to attend school in September 2014 unless a complete medical form is provided. Your family physician must detail that your child has been given the following immunizations and also indicate the dates the
immunizations were given:

 5 doses Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DTaP)

 4 doses Polio

 3 doses Hepatitis B

 2 doses Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

 2 doses of Varicella Vaccine or Chicken Pox disease

 Proof of Lead Screening

 Vision and Hearing Screening

The medical forms can be picked up at registration or by referring to the following links:

http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/com_health/school/health_record_form.pdf

http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/cdc/immunization/record_certificate_of_immunization.pdf

Family Math Night

.

Our Annual Family Math Night

When -  Wednesday, January 29th

Time - 5:30  - 7:30

Where - Pine Glen School

Why - Come, explore, and embrace Mathematics through  the eyes of your child.  Learn about our new Math program, enVisionMATH Common Core!

Pizza Night!

Tuesday, January 7th is Flatbread Pizza Night for Pine Glen!!!

We earn $3.50 for all large flatbread pizzas and $1.75 for all small flatbread pizzas ordered on January 7th.  This applies to all take out or eat in orders! 

No need to tell them it's for Pine Glen and no coupons to present.  Just order and enjoy and Pine Glen gets the credit! 

The Flatbread Pizza restaurant is located on the Bedford/Burlington line at 213 Burlington Rd, Bedford, MA 01730, Phone 781-275-8200. 

Look forward to seeing you there. 

Lexington Symphony

Today members from the Lexington Symphony talked to third graders.

Message from the Planning Board about Medical Marijuana in Burlington

Meeting to Discuss Medical Marijuana in Burlington

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

7pm to 9pm

Burlington High School

Fogelberg Auditorium

Burlington, MA

Burlington must adopt a new bylaw to regulate the production and sale of medical marijuana in town.  Please come and share your opinions with the Planning Board as we prepare a Warrant Article for May 2014 Town Meeting.