Congratulations to the following students below who have achieved the rank of 5 Start Generals in our Pine Glen Reading Corps.
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Friday, February 18, 2011
5 Star Generals
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Math and Cooking
I love being a principal and loved being a teacher. One of my favorite subjects to teach students was math. I also greatly enjoyed teaching teachers about math. Prior to coming to Burlington I had the opportunity to provide professional development to teachers in several districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire on teaching math and specifically ways to differentiate instruction for all learners. One of the great things about being a principal is that I can share this knowledge with staff daily.
When I went from teaching sixth grade to second grade, I became aware of a spiral. I saw the instruction I was providing in second grade being the foundation for future higher level math and science. For example, a traditional algorithm with regrouping which is similar to what I imagine most of us received instruction in school had multiple steps with the main one being “carrying.” This was not a bad instructional approach. However, students often didn’t get the concept of place value. The partials method on the other hand, another way of doing multi-digit addition I found had many added benefits.
Solving a multi-digit problem with the partials method would look something like the example below.
49
+28
40 + 20 = 60
8 + 9 = 17
60 + 17 = 77
Grasping the concept of part to whole relationships is an underlying concept to grasping algebra, fractions, and balancing chemical equations. Often in the past students would simply just memorized computational facts. When student arrived at older grades in the past, they often didn’t have number sense.
I greatly appreciate how parents reinforce the importance of reading at home. It is wonderful how parents read to their children at night, have home libraries with fiction and nonfiction, and model being a reader for their children. Students are learning how to read at school and parents are helping to instill an enjoyment and love of reading at home.
There are likewise many things that can be done in the home to help instill number sense. One of the best ways is having your children help you cook. Their is an unbelievable amount of math involved in cooking. Also, children love to create. It is a way to make abstract concepts such as math be concrete in the manner of food. Furthermore, it is a great way to teach sequencing, following directions and health.
Cooking with your child is also a terrific bonding experience. Food Network Celebrity chef, Giada De Laurentis, has talked in interviews about how she came to the United States in the 70's and didn’t speak a word of English. She found the adjustment very difficult. Giada found that learning to cook helped her to feel better about herself and boost her confidence. Dr. Robert Brooks would call this building an “island of confidence.” Capitalizing on children’s strengths is a way to boost children’s self-esteem. The smile I have seen on my first grade daughter's face when we sit down to a dinner she has prepared is amazing. It is the same smile I saw as I teacher. As a principal I continue to regularly see this same smile from students and teachers delighting in their student's achievements. It is why I love being a principal.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
DORA Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the slideshow in this post for more information about the DORA.
DORA-Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment feb 4
DORA-Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment feb 4
Note from PTO
“FREE” WAYS TO SUPPORT PINE GLEN SCHOOL!
NEW!
Send in Coke bottle caps or donate points directly by logging onto www.mycokerewards.com. By entering codes found under caps or inside carton boxes, Pine Glen will redeem points for art supplies. You may send in the caps/carton codes to school or log on yourself and enter codes. Simply log onto the website, click right-hand tab "Donate to Your School", enter 01803 zip code, tab down to "Pine Glen", register and enter codes. Contact Laura Kaye at LLKayenc@yahoo.com with any questions.
Send in Campbell’s Labels for Education to help redeem points for school supplies. Last year, Pine Glen acquired great outdoor recess equipment that all students enjoyed playing with. Simply cut UPC labels on specially marked products such as Campbell’s Soup, Goldfish snacks, Bic, V-8, Post, etc… and send them into school.
Send in Box Tops for Education to help provide additional funding for library books. Last year, this program raised hundreds of dollars that were used to purchase books for the Pine Glen Library. Keep sending in those Box Tops!
Note from BEF
- Winter Trivia Night! Friday, March 11, 2011
- As you while away the “Weekend in New England”, get ready for Burlington Education Foundation’s 3rd Trivia Night. Last year’s movie theme was spectacular and featured stars from Weekend at Bernie’s, Men In Black, Braveheart and Titanic. “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” that this year’s theme is Music Trivia. So dig out those 8-tracks, LPs, Walkman and iPods and show us how well you listen! Last year’s attendees remember “Oh What a Night” it was, as the Freeport Friends and the Castaways battled it out to “The Final Countdown”. Again this year, teams of four to ten people will compete throughout the night. The Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Eric Conti himself, will “Shake it Up” with specially selected and prepared trivia questions. Last year’s Movie Trivia night teams came dressed to play. They prepared savory spreads and decorations for their tables, and put their heads together to come up with the right answers. There was fun, surprises and lots of laughter. It was a real “Thriller.” Congratulations again to the winning team of The Buddhas! Don’t forget that this winning team gets to enter our March 2011 Trivia Night free of charge! We again plan to have prizes for the winning team and for the best costume. A total of 20 teams in last year’s event created “Good Vibrations” when they helped raise close to $2,500. So if “You Got the Beat”, and are in the mood for a “Party in the USA”, give your teammates a “Wake Up Call” and get them in on the gig! And if you have a wealth of music knowledge, we’d love your “Help”. Contact Stephanie Marchese at stephaniemarchese@comcast.net or 781-365-4005 with any ideas! Plan now to take a “Slow Ride” over to the Woburn Sons of Italy on Friday, March 11, 2011. “We Will Rock You!”
BHS Music Boosters
The BHS Music Boosters will host Youth Movie Night this Sat (2/12/11) and featuring Toy Story 3 from 6-9 pm in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center. Safe check-in and check-out, babysitting by Select Singers and parent volunteers. Benefit for Select Singers Carnegie Hall performance. Games and prizes. Concessions .Reservations preferred … request more info at www.bhsmusicboostersassn@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Thursday Morning DORA
On February 16th parents will receive a summary of their child's most recent DORA (Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment) results. This information will be sent home in children’s backpacks.
To help parents have a better understanding of this test, there was a Parent Information Meeting on DORA that was held on Monday, February 7, at 7:00PM at the Francis Wyman Elementary School auditorium. This meeting was for parents from all four elementary schools. Dr. Conti and the four elementary school principals shared information about the test to help parents have a better understanding of this assessment.
I will be hosting a morning Parent Information Meeting on Thursday, February 10, at 9:00 AM at the Pine Glen Elementary School for Pine Glen parents who were not able attend the Monday evening meeting. I will be sharing the same information that was presented on the 7th.
Monday, February 7, 2011
After School Program
Big News! The Burlington Public School's After School Program is coming to the new Memorial School in September 2011. Registration for the Francis Wyman and Memorial programs will be open from February 7 through February 18. Registration forms are available at www.burlington.mec.edu under the Resources tab or in elementary school offices. For additional information, please email Laura Driscoll at ldriscoll@burlington.mec.edu.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Public Library
One of my favorite T.V. shows when I was little was Happy Days. I particularly loved the character of the Fonz. In one episode the Fonz gets a library card. After this show aired, there was a huge national increase in the number of people visiting public libraries and the number of new library cards that were issued. This was also a time when people in the country had ten or less T.V. channels and cable television was rare.
Recently, I came across an interesting study reported by the BBC. (The link below can bring you to the article.) The article stated that, “Children who use their local public library are twice as likely to be above average readers.”
The article further went on to state, "Family engagement is well understood as a key element in supporting educational achievement, and it seems that public library use, as well as being associated with similar positive child outcomes to school library use, has in addition a particularly specialized correlation with family support for reading.”
It has been my experience that my children love to go our public library. The children’s room is a fun, exciting and safe environment. The best part is that it is free. If you are feeling a little “cabin fever” from all this snow the library is a great place to visit. We might not have the Fonz to encourage us but this research is compelling. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12366478
DORA
In the next couple of weeks, parents will receive a summary of their child's most recent DORA (Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment) results. To help parents have a better understanding of this test, there will be a Parent Information Meeting about the DORA on Monday, February 7, at 7:00PM at the Francis Wyman Elementary School auditorium. This meeting is for parents from all four elementary schools. Dr. Conti and the four elementary school principals will share information about the test so that parents will have a better understanding of this assessment.
Burlington Public Schools Allergen Policy for Students with Life Threatening Allergies
The Burlington Public Schools recognize the increasing prevalence of student allergies and the life-threatening nature of the allergy for many students. The Burlington Public Schools cannot guarantee to provide an allergen-free environment for all students with life threatening allergies, nor prevent any harm to students in emergencies. The goal is to minimize the risk of exposure to food allergens that pose a threat to those students, to educate the community, and to maintain and regularly update a system-wide protocol for responding to their needs.
The Burlington Public Schools will maintain a system wide procedure for addressing life threatening allergic reactions by incorporating measures to reduce the exposure to allergens and procedures to treat allergic reactions. For any student whose physician (primary care or board certified allergist) has informed the school in writing that the student has a life threatening allergy, the school nurse will oversee the development of an Allergy Action Plan or Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP), which will includes an Allergy Action Plan (AAP) that addresses the management of anaphylaxis. Parents/guardians have the responsibility to inform the school district when a child’s medical condition might affect the child’s welfare or safety. Effective communication is vital among all parties.
The district wide procedure addresses:
1. The training and education for all Burlington Public Schools employees. The training will include the education on
a description of severe allergies
signs of anaphylaxis
the proper use of an epipen and
the specific steps to follow in the event of an emergency.
2. The Burlington Public Schools is making every reasonable accommodation to lessen the possibility of exposure to food allergens by designating that at all schools, during the school day, implement the following: birthday recognition will be food free, classroom snacks will be “known allergy free” in accordance with the Individual Health Care Plans of each child of the students within a given classroom, and the use of food for curriculum purposes will be restricted to approval by the Principal. Notification will be sent to the parent/guardian if food is used with principal approval for curriculum purposes. The parent can choose to provide a food or non-food based alternative. The use of food as a reward in school will be eliminated. The Principal will implement a No Food or Utensil Sharing practice with particular focus at the elementary level.
3. The school nurse in conjunction with the parent/guardian and the primary care provider/allergist will prepare either the Allergy Action Plan (AAP) or the Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) which incorporates an Allergy Action Plan (AAP) for any student with a life threatening allergy. The IHCP and AAP will be updated annually. The nurse will review the IHCP and AAP with teachers of the students in their classes and respond to emergencies as per the emergency protocol documented in the IHCP or AAP. The Teachers will leave pertinent information in a substitute file.
4. Each elementary school will provide an allergen sensitive table(s) in the cafeteria. At the middle school and high school appropriate accommodations will be made as needed.
5. The school nurse will recommend to administration the appropriateness of each field trip and consideration of safety of the student with life-threatening allergies. Parents of a student at risk of anaphylaxis will be invited to accompany their child on school trips, in addition to the chaperone.
6. The Principal and Food Services personnel will establish a routine cleaning protocol for all food consumption areas (to include a protocol for hand-washing and table/desk cleaning before and after food/snacks have been consumed).
First Reading: 1/11/11
Second Reading: 1/25/11
Adopted by Burlington School Committee: 1/25/11
iPads
Dr. Eric Conti and Burlington High School Principal Patrick Larkin were on the news this morning discussing the high school utilizing iPads. The following link contains more information.http://burlingtonhigh.blogspot.com/2011/02/becoming-11-fox-news-comes-to-bhs-to.html
Monday, January 31, 2011
Orange Cone at Drop-Off
This morning I woke-up to hear a newscaster report the next upcoming storm will be a "Monster." In anticipation of the new storm the Department of Public Works has several vehicles on site today at Pine Glen clearing snow out of the parking lots. Another change that will be implemented is that we will put an orange cone outside in the morning during drop-off. At 8:35 A.M. when teachers need to leave the drop-off area to teach a teacher will bring the orange cone inside. (We utilize cell phones for the most accurate and consistent time.) Removal of the cone will be a visual signal that the time is 8:35 A.M. After 8:35 A.M., parents must park their cars and bring students into the building to sign students in. Students entering the building after 8:35 A.M. are tardy. Thank you all for your assistance and support!
Important Notice From PTO - Carnival
Hi Everyone,
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. After all of this snow – I think it would be a good idea to focus on SPRING! The Pine Glen Carnival is coming in March. This is an exceptional event that is fun for the entire family as well as a vital fundraiser for the school. We need your ideas, creativity, and input – which is what the upcoming meeting is all about. The first meeting will be held on 1/31 (weather permitting) at Panera in Burlington @ 7 pm.
This is an amazing event & we need you! Warm up with a cup of soup – while we plan for spring!
Looking forward to seeing you!
Michelle Grossman, Deb Murphy, & Jolene Fogarty
Carnival Co-Chairs
Please email us & RSVP – so we can plan on how many seats we need to reserve.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Community Service Project
My name is Meghan Groom, and I am a sophomore at Burlington High School. I will be running a soup drive called the Souperbowl to benefit the Burlington Food Pantry at Pine Glen School. The collection will run from Monday January 24th to Friday February 4th. There will be a labeled box in the main lobby where donations can be left. I understand that these are hard economic times for everyone, but any donation will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support.
Safety
Thank you very much to everyone who has and continues to follow the safety guidelines for drop-off and pick-up. These guidelines where developed in conjunction between myself, the Burlington Police and the Burlington Fire Departments. Past weather conditions have presented us with high snowdrifts and unfriendly road conditions. We have all recently experienced challenging commutes in our corner of the world.
The daily safety of students makes it critical that no one drops off or picks up students in areas of the parking lot other than the official spot. It is critical that cars stay to the perimeter of the parking lot when picking up or dropping off students. This allows for the greatest volume of vehicles to proceed through a limited area at a time. At 8:35 A.M. teachers need to leave the drop-off area to teach. After 8:35 A.M., parents must park their cars and bring students into the building to sign students in. Students entering the building after 8:35 A.M. are tardy.
Monday, January 10, 2011
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Registration of children entering Kindergarten in September, 2011 will be held at the Fox Hill, Memorial, Pine Glen and Francis Wyman Schools on Monday through Friday, February 7, 2011 through February 11, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. each day. A child entering kindergarten must have attained the age of five by August 31, 2011.
At the time of registration, parents are required to bring:
1. Birth certificate for child.
2 Proof of residency in the Town of Burlington. This requirement can be satisfied with the presentation
of a lease or a recent utility bill.
3. Medical form must be completed by your family physician, and returned to school two (2) days prior
to the opening of school. Children will not be able to attend school in September of 2011 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)
1 dose of Varicella Vaccine or Chicken Pox disease
Proof of having Lead Screening
Vision and Hearing Screening
4. Pre-school form will need to be completed by the pre-school provider and returned at the time of your child’s scheduled kindergarten screening in the spring of 2011.
The medical forms can be picked up at registration or by clicking the following link:
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/cdc/immunization/record_certificate_of_immunization.pdf
Friday, January 7, 2011
Notice from the Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus along with the Burlington Recreation Department is sponsoring a free throw shooting contest for girls and boys ages 10-14. The event will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Marshall Simonds Middle School from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The event is free. Times are: 13 and 14 yrs. - 1:00 p.m., 12 yrs. - 1:30 p.m., 11 yrs - 2:00 p.m. and 10 yrs. - 2:30 p.m. If you can't make the designated time just come between 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. For more info. please contact Knights of Columbus Representative Bill Breen 781 2720-2493 or David Grubb from the Recreation Dept. at 781 270-1694
Burlington Integrated Preschool
The Burlington Integrated Preschool and the LABBB Early Childhood Program will be hosting an Open House on Friday, January 21, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Burlington High School - where the programs are located. This Open House provides families with an opportunity to view the programs, meet the teachers and pickup registration packets to enroll their children for next year. Students must be 3 years old by August 31, 2011. For more information call Laura at 781-270-1808.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Bank Robbery
I have consistently informed the community that the safety and security of the students at Pine Glen School is our number one priority. On Wednesday, January 5, 2011 a suspect robbed Central Bank at 85 Wilmington Rd. at around 9:30 Wednesday morning. Dr. Conti, school superintendent, was in communication with the police and it was decided as a precautionary measure that we would have a partial lockdown at Pine Glen School and Fox Hill School. A partial lockdown means that people are not allowed to enter or leave the building. Students do not leave the building for recess or physical education until the police inform us that the lockdown is lifted. Students are allowed during this period to make transitions to specialists with teacher supervision, and can use the hallway restrooms. In addition, the superintendent’s office made a ConnectEd call before and after the event to inform parents of the situation.
I would like to thank parents and staff for their assistance and cooperation yesterday. It was through our great continued and consistent communication with public safety as well as the dedicated professional staff at Pine Glen School that yesterday was a safe day. With the exception of a few announcements over the public announcement system, i.e. students would have indoor recess; high quality instruction went on like any other typical day.
Sometimes an event that happens in a community even though it does not directly involve a child can be frightening. Even this morning, my daughter overheard on the news that a fire was taking place at a home in Weymouth, and she immediately became scared wondering if our home could ever catch on fire. If your child is nervous or needs to discuss the situation, please know staff will always be available to meet with your child and discuss concerns. In addition to your child’s teacher, Ms. May (School Guidance Counselor), Mrs. Ferrick (School Nurse), and I love to help children and are more than happy to talk with your child about the event. The best thing a parent can do if questions are brought up is reinforce that Pine Glen School is a safe place and if they don’t feel safe there is always someone they can talk too.
School Pictures
Picture re-takes will be on January 13th. Please notify the office if you would like a re-take: gosselin@burlingtonmec.edu.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Grant from Burlington Education Foundation
This summer I had the opportunity to study at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. A component of that program was Project Adventure (a group confidence building program). Project Adventure allowed for great intrapersonal thinking and team building ideas. It was wonderful to bring the knowledge gained from my time this summer to Pine Glen School. I related my experiences with Project Adventure to Ms. May, Ms. Govoni and Mrs. Nicholas in the fall of 2010. They agreed that this would be a fantastic program for the students at Pine Glen School.
I am pleased to announce that the Burlington Education Fund (BEF) has awarded Ms. May (Guidance Counselor), Ms. Govoni (Physical Education Teachers) and Mrs. Nicholas (Physical Education Teacher) a grant to implement Project Adventure. This grant will allow collaboration between the guidance and physical education departments to empower students and develop strategies for conflict resolution.
Note from the PTO
Happy 2011! Just a friendly reminder that this Thursday, January 6th at 7 p.m. will be the first PTO meeting of the new year. Guest speaker Marilyn Belmonte plans to discuss recent progress made by the Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force.
*****Also, Principal John Lyons will give a tour of the school building highlighting recent improvements and future plans for Pine Glen. This should be a real treat!*****
We hope to see many of you there. Thank you.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Holiday Note to Parents and Staff
Dear Parents and Staff,
This past weekend I again watched the students’ Holiday Performance via my Blog. While watching the videos, a quote from the movie Elf kept replaying in my brain, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” I don’t just think of it as Christmas cheer but holiday cheer for one and all.
Elf is one of my favorite movies to watch during the holiday season. It speaks to the joy one can experience as an adult when he/she tries to see the world through the eyes of a child. Over the holiday break please take time to be a kid again. If we get snow, go sledding, throw snowballs, or make a snowman. Locate your old toys or play with children’s, nephews, nieces, or friend’s kid’s dolls, action figures or board games. Enjoy a favorite holiday movie or one from when you were little. Make a play-date to get together with family, friends, or call someone you haven’t talked to in a long time. Dance around the house singing 1980’s music or any other fun music that reminds you of your childhood. Get a group of friends together and play touch football. Most importantly, take some time to have fun. I truly believe that when everyone on earth begins to look at the world through the eyes of a child we will have peace on earth and goodwill towards all.
I would like to wish everyone a fun, safe and most joyful holiday break!
Yours Truly,
John Lyons
Principal
Pine Glen School
P.S. I would not suggest showing the movie Elf to your own children prior to viewing it yourself to see if you deem it appropriate to show to your children.
Note from the PTO
Hi Fellow PTO Members,
We would like to thank all PTO members for their constant, steadfast support of the Pine Glen PTO and its mission to provide educational enrichment for all our students. Since the beginning of the new school year, we have been able to make a variety of contributions. The PTO purchased new iPods, splicers, and headphones that will be used by all students in classroom reading centers. To provide books on tape, the PTO also purchased iTunes gift cards to be used at the staff's discretion. The PTO also bought the new Town of Burlington flag for the school building and paid for the publication of handbook/calendars for all families, as well as student directories for PTO members. We would like to thank Julie Gosselin for all her help with these publications.
There were a couple of successful fall fundraisers as well. The Genevieve catalog and the Scrip Gift Card Fundraisers. We would like to thank everyone who participated in any way. Especially, Maria Woods, and Kathleen MacMunn who chaired these committees and Jolene Fogarty for the extra Treasurer's work involved. The funds raised will be used to continue to fulfill the PTO mission.
We also would like to thank everyone who participated in the 50/50 raffles held during the holiday concerts. The monies raised will be deposited into the Pine Glen PTO Family Fund that assists Pine Glen families in need. The two raffles, including an generous anonymous donation by member(s) of the staff, raised $396 for this fund. A special thanks to Robin Hurley, Jolene Fogarty, Michelle Grossman, and Nicole Woods for helping to run these raffles. Congratulations to Allison Theirrien who won the evening concert raffle. A special thanks to Bill Withycombe who won the day concert raffle and then generously donated his winnings back to the Family Fund.
Please mark your new 2011 calendar: Thursday, January 6th at 7 p.m. will be the first PTO meeting of the New Year. Principal John Lyons plans to conduct a school tour for all in attendance. He will highlight recent improvements and plans for the building.
We hope you and your families all enjoy a wonderful holiday season and we hope to see many of you at the January meeting.
Thank you,
The Pine Glen PTO Board
Friday, December 17, 2010
Video: First, Second, and Third Grade Winter Concert
Earlier today we had the Winter Concert done by the first, second, and third grades. Ms. Agati and Ms. Rzasa helped put together a very active performance by the students. Thanks to all the parents who could attend!
Video: Fourth and Fifth Grade Winter Concert
Pine Glen held its annual Fourth and Fifth Grade Winter Concert on the evening of December 14. Thanks to the parents for their great performances; Ms. Agati, Ms. Rzasa, and Mr. Napierkowski for getting the students ready for the show, and all of the parents who attended.
The video is in 3 parts, embedded below. Part 1 features the band, and parts 2 and 3 feature the chorus.
The video is in 3 parts, embedded below. Part 1 features the band, and parts 2 and 3 feature the chorus.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
PTO News
PTO News- Gift Cards have arrived
Thank you Pine Glen Families and Friends! We sold a total of $ 15,713.10 worth of gift cards and earned a profit of $ 1,129.14!!! Your gift cards have arrived and were delivered to the school, on Wednesday, December 15th! Please watch for your gift cards in your child's backpack. Please review your order for accuracy and contact me rmacmunn@msn.com with any questions.
For those parents requesting a pick-up at school --- if you wish, you can pick them up at the Grade 1,2 & 3 Concert on Friday, December 17th at 9:00 a.m.
A Special thanks to Katie Capobianco, Nicole Hillis, Deb Murphy and Lauren Terranova for assemblying and distributing the gift cards! I could not have done it without them! Also, thank you Allison Theirrien and Julie Gosselin for the copies. Don't forget our devoted PTO members Maria Woods and Jolene Fogarty.
Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!
Kathleen MacMunn
Scrip Coordinator - Pine Glen PTO/Volunteer
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Note from the Principal
This week on my drive into school I questioned myself as to whether process is as important as content. It didn’t take long for me to find my answer. I simply walked into a classroom and arrived at the answer within five minutes.
When I am in classrooms in the morning, I will occasionally join in on the morning meeting. During the morning meeting teachers use an independent, evidence researched based approach called the Responsive Classroom. This approach helps students to be successful academically and socially. It helps students gain social skills such as cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. The Responsive Classroom also helps create learning environments where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. It is a very productive instructional practice to help implement our Pine Glen School Mission of being a school that creates life-long learners.
The fourth grade morning meeting I joined was fantastic. Much like a house will not stand without a foundation, a student still will not learn if she or he does not take intellectual risks. During the meeting, I witnessed a strong sense of community where students felt and knew they were safe. In addition, students were learning from each other by noticing and internalizing expected behaviors through modeling. The great positive language by the teacher and her kind tone were not only establishing a sense of community but promoting active learning and self-discipline. Students had a means by which they were allowed and knew how to fix and learn from their mistakes in a dignified way. Students were being creative and responsible. The wonderful interactions amongst students in an organized structure promoted social and academic growth. During a 15 minute time period, I saw students learning geography, math multiples, pragmatic language, oral expression, problem solving skills and written expression while simultaneously having a sense that they were part of a community that cared about them.
This exemplar continued to reaffirm in my mind that Pine Glen School is a special place to learn. It also confirmed that the greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction and providing academic choice. Leading me to think that ultimately, process is just as crucial as content.
Note from School Nurse
Puberty Information Night for Parents of 4th and 5th grade students will be presented by Anne Azarian RN, BSN, Supervisor of Nurses, at the Burlington High School, School Committee Room on Tuesday January 11, 2011. (Snow Date is January 12, 2011) Grade 4 Parents' Night will be held from 6:30pm--7:30pm. Grade 5 Parents' Night will be held from 7:30pm--8:30pm. Please call Anne Azarian at 781-270-1702 or the Pine Glen Nurse at 781-270-1713, if you have any questions. Subsequently, the grade 4 and grade 5 students' puberty classes will be held at school on Friday January 14, 2011.
Note from Music Teachers
Winter Concert Reminders
Here are the dates and times to remember:
4th and 5th Grade Chorus and Band Concert: Tuesday December 14th @ 7 p.m.
Students should arrive at 6:45 p.m. wearing black and white.
1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Concert: Friday December 17th @ 9 a.m.
Students should come to school wearing their dress-up outfit for the concert.
Additional information is available on the Pine Glen Music Blog:
www.pineglenmusic.wordpress.com
We are looking forward to seeing you all there!
Mrs. Jennifer Agati
Mrs. Jennifer Rzasa
Music Specialists
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE BOOTH SALE
Troop # 77231 will be at Shaw's Supermarket this Saturday 12/11 from 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. kicking off the cookie selling season, so come on by and support Troop # 77231 and get your girl scout cookies early. Troop # 77231 will also be collecting donations for "Cookies for a Cause" which they will deliver to Hanscom Air Force Base in March for our troops.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Principal Notes: Creating a Science Zone
Students, particularly in the primary years, are fascinated by sea life such as lobsters, crabs, and barnacles that live in our New England coastal zone (tide-pools). This rich curriculum provides wonderful opportunities for higher order thinking skills like compare and contrast as well as categorization. When walking down the stairs to enter first floor where the majority of the kindergarten and first grade classrooms are located, one encounters unused space. It is my hope to make this area a science zone. The theme in this area would be the different marine life zones in the rocky shore located in New England. We are hoping to put a mural up that the students would draw illustrating these different zones. Likewise, we are hoping to fill the area with artifacts related to the ocean. We are looking for donations such as lobster traps, buoys, or a small boat. The boat could not be bigger than 6 feet wide by 10 feet long and would need to be fiberglass. If you would like to make a donation, please feel free to contact me at jlyons@burlington.mec.edu.
PTO NEWS: Pine Glen PTO Scrip Fundraiser
Have you placed your scrip/gift card order? Time is running out! The deadline is next TUESDAY, December 7th. Don't forget no school on Monday! All orders must be received on this date, so they can be processed! Unfortunately, any orders received after this date will be returned to your child's classroom unprocessed.
Enjoy your long weekend and let your fingers do the shopping! Any questions, need forms via email or instructions to shop on line contact Kathleen at rmacmunn@msn.com or 781-229-1805.
Happy Holidays! Thanks for your support.
NOTE FROM TOYS FOR TOTS
- Pine Glen will be collecting Toys for Tots. Any unwrapped toy can be dropped off outside the main office. The boxes will be collected on December 12, 2010.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
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!
Friday, November 19, 2010
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
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
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.
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.
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