Race to Nowhere screening at BHS

The District along with Wilmington will be hosting the screening of "Race to Nowhere" on Thursday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the Burlington High School Auditorium. Click the invitation below to reserve your tickets ($10 in advance, $15 at door).

Math Camp

We were very excited to start our first day of Math Camp today.  Students enrolled in Math Camp will be dismissed at 3:45.  Parents are welcome to wait in  the lobby to pick up students. 

Food Allergy Awareness Team

The Food Allergy Awareness Team of Burlington will be holding a meeting to discuss the new food allergy policy. Parents of children with or without food allergies are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held at the Burlington Fire Department on Tuesday March 22nd at 7PM. Please contact Lisa Hovasse with any questions......faatob@gmail.com

Artware

The Deadline for your child’s artware projects has been extended to this Friday March 18, 2011.  This is the very last day to send in your orders due to the processing time and to have them back for Mother’s Day, Easter, etc.  If you have any questions please email Nancy O’Callaghan at snoctrale@verizon.net.

Walkthrough

Mr. Lyons did a walkthrough of a couple classrooms yesterday with a Flip Video camera. Here's some video of what he saw in just a few minutes of walking around Pine Glen!

Beauty and the Beast

Burlington High School presents Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” on March 25, 26 and April 1 at 7:30, April 2 at 2:00 and 7:30pm, and April 3 at 2:00pm. Filled with all the enchantment, wonder and surprise that has made it an international sensation, the production will take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School, a handicapped accessible venue. Tickets are $10 for students and senior citizens; $15 for adults. Tickets are available at www.BurlingtonTickets.org. For further information, call 781-A-FUN-TIC.

B&B Postcard Final

Note from the Principal: Technology and The Brain

Two recent events I witnessed this week while in fourth grade classrooms have made me think of the year 1993.  The first was a commercial campaign ran by AT&T that year that was titled “You Will” and the second was how much was known about the brain in 1993 while I was studying psychology in college.  If you go on You Tube and put in AT&T and “You Will,” you can probably view this old commercial.    Tom Selleck does the narration and the listener hears a series of questions such as:

“-Have you ever borrowed a book from thousands of miles away?

-Crossed the country without ever asking for directions?

-Sent someone a fax from the beach?

-Have you ever paid a toll without slowing down?

-Bought concert tickets from a cash machine (touch screen-technology)?

-Or tucked your baby in from a phone booth (video screen)?

-Attended a meeting in you bare feet?

-Ever watched a movie you wanted to the minute you wanted to?”

Tom goes on to say that “You will and the company that will bring it to you is AT&T.”   It is funny to think that the cell phone wasn’t even mentioned in this commercial as a way to do a lot of these things.  In fact, there is a scene where a mom goes into a phone booth to use a videoconference to talk to her baby.   Many of these things that appeared to be science fiction in 1993 are now common in 2011  - i.e. eBooks, GPS’s, iPads/lap-tops, Fast-Lane transponders, Skype/Facetime (video conferencing) and On-Demand television.

When I walked into a fourth grade classroom this week I witnessed the students using a Skpe connection and the interactive white board to talk to a classroom in Arizona.  Students study regions of the United States in the fourth grade curriculum and the students were at that time studying the South East.  The Pine Glen students were directly asking other students what it was like to live in that area of the country and vice-versa.  To me this was science fiction in 1993 but to students in fourth grade in 2011 this normal.

Last night my first grade daughter asked that instead of my wife or I reading her a bedtime story she could read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to her two-year old sister.    While reading the story, she would stop at appropriate places and ask her sister to make predication questions and any connections (to herself, other books she has heard, or the world).  My first grade daughter was clearly modeling her teacher showing a “best-practice.”    While in another fourth grade classroom this week, I witnessed a guided reading group and the teacher was asking predicting questions, having students make connections and many other great “best-practices.”  This likewise made me reflect that in 1993 we didn’t have the brain research to show empirical proof that some teacher strategies or “best-practices” actually had an effect on the brain.  I remember finding it incredibly thrilling and rewarding 6 years ago when four of my former students had brain scans done prior to me delivering reading instruction at the beginning of the year and then the same scans done at the end of the school year.   We could see actually physical growth and a change in their brains.   These “best practices” are so commonly understood now that across the country and at all grade levels teachers are utilizing them.

This is an incredible time to be in the field of education.    When I come back to my office, after doing walk-throughs in classrooms or an observation, several people have asked me, “Why do you have such a big smile on your face?”.    I frequently respond I that I just saw students learning.   Maybe I should include that I just time traveled into the future.    In the words of Christopher Lloyd as “Doc” Brown from the 1985 movie Back to the Future “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”

Adopt a Class

From Adopt a Class:

Earn Points for Scholarship!  “Have questions about Adopt A Class”   Come join us for 

coffee.  We will be having an informational meeting on Tuesday March 29th at 7:30 p.m. at 

the Town Hall Main Hearing Room.  The BSCF Adopt A Class board will be there to answer your 

questions and give out information regarding the program.   If have always wondered about 

Adopt a Class, please come to this meeting and bring a friend.

Any questions, please email Debbie Keene at dkeene@burlmass.org, Diane Creedon at 

dianecreedon@verizon.net, or Anisha Shaikh at Anisha@rcn.com

Prevention Connection

Embedded in this blog post is the Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force's Winter issue of their newsletter, Prevention Connection.

Newsletter Winter 2011

Adopt-A-Class

• T'S NOT TOO LATE:
• We are extending the deadline for ordering Brax Spirit cups to support Adopt-A-Class 2016.  All orders should be turned into your school office by Friday, March 18.  The top seller for each school will win a $25.00 Visa Gift card, a pack of cups of their choice and an NFL popcorn tin.  The second place seller will win the sample pack in each school.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact: Michelle Tigges tigges@burlington.mec.edu(781-272-5187) or Jennifer Jankowski jbjtwins@aol.com (781-272-4334).  ALSO: IF YOU ARE A PARENT OF A 7TH GRADER AND WANT TO EARN POINTS FOR YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP PLEASE CONTACT MICHELLE OR JENNIFER.

DORA

     On February 16^th parents received a summary of their child's most recent DORA (Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment) results.  This information was 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 also hosted 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 shared the same information that was presented on the 7^th.   I will be sharing the presentation again on March 10, from 2:00-2:30 in the cafeteria at the Pine Glen Elementary School for Pine Glen parents. 

    I will be presenting the Power Point that was shown at the two previous presentations.  It is also available to be viewed on my Blog.  It was posted on Wednesday February 9, 2011 and is titled DORA Frequently Asked Questions.  

Notice from Pupil Services

Are You a Nurse?

Burlington Public Schools are looking to hire per diem nurses.  Candidates need to have a BSN and current MA RN license.  If interested, please send a cover letter, resume, 3 letters of recommendation, and a copy of your current RN license to:  

Dr. Cathleen Estep, Burlington Public Schools, 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA  01803.

MCAS

     It is very important that students are here to take MCAS.  I strongly encourage parents not take vacations or make appointments during school hours and particularly during MCAS testing.  If a student is absent due to sickness, that is very understandable and hopefully the student will be recovered in time to come in on a make-up day.

     If a student misses the scheduled MCAS testing date and the make-up date, that student needs to bring in a signed and dated note from a medical doctor.    Failure to bring in a note from the medical doctor would result in not only a reflection of score for that student but the entire school.    

MCAS Schedule

March

22^nd

Grade 4 English Language Arts

23^rd-24^th

Grade 3 English Language Arts

25^th, 28^th

Grade 5 English Language Arts

29^th-30^th

Grade 4 English Language Arts

May

10^th-11^th

Grade 4 Math

12^th-13^th

Grade 5 Math

16^th-17^th

Grade 5 Science

18^th-19^th

Grade 3 Math

Artware

Just a reminder that Artware went out in students backpacks last week and need to be returned with full payment by Friday March 11, 2011. Your children’s art work would make great gifts for Mother’s day/Fathers day and Grandparents .  Help support our school and PTO.  If you have any questions please contact Nancy O’Callaghan @snoctrale@verizon.net.

Notice from MSMSPTO

MSMSPTO Spring Fundraiser ... "Not Your Average Cause" at Not Your Average Joe's (Wayside Common) ... every Tuesday (all day/night) during March (8, 15, 22, 9) & April (5, 12, 19, 26) ... 15% of what you purchase goes directly back to the MSMSPTO ... bring in the certificate (located at http://marshallsimonds.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/messages-from-the-msms-pto/) and hand it to your server ... use your smartphone & show the certificate to your server ... mention MSMSPTO to your server & they will have certificates there ... take out orders count!!!!  Please support the students of MSMS & get a great meal at the same time!!!

Notice from BHS

Burlington High School's Post-Graduation (all-night) Party has only one fundraiser. Shop at Roche Bros. on Wednesday March 16th from 3 to 6 pm. They will donate 5% from all the shopping during those 3 hours. No time to shop? Buy a gift certificate to use later! We do NOT ask for money! We just need your receipt. The Post-Graduation party offers the graduating seniors an exciting, alcohol-free, safe celebration with their classmates. Please call Vicki Kikuchi if you have any questions or would like to help with this event (781) 273-5089.

Notice from BHS

Burlington High School presents Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” March 25,26, April 1 and 2 at 7:30 pm and a matinee finale performance on April 3 at 2 pm. Purchase tix at www.BurlingtonTickets.org or at the high school music office from 9 am – 2 pm. For more info call 781-A-FUN-TIC. $15 adults, $10 students/sr citizens.

Volunteer for the Pine Glen Carnival!

Would you like to volunteer to help out at the Pine Glen Carnival on March 26? Are you a baker supreme who could donate a cake to the cake walk? Do you have any goodies you could donate for the Carnival Stage Raffle? If so, download and print the form embedded in this post, then send it back to the school! You can also contact the people listed on the form directly.

carnival volunteer form 2011

Note From Principal: Traditions and the Month of March

One of my favorite books is Raising Resilient Children: Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child by Robert Brooks (http://www.drrobertbrooks.com).  In fact, not just as an educator but as a father I frequently refer back to his book reflect and gain guidance.  Jessica May, our school guidance counselor, last year did a presentation on the book at one of the PTO meetings.  Several of my friends have this book in their homes.  I also have heard Dr. Brooks speak and found him extremely entertaining. 

Dr. Brooks talks about the importance of traditions in order to raise resilient children. Creating traditions and special times with our children is so important to them. Dr. Brooks is of the opinion that making certain to not miss significant events is a way parents show love.

I was reminded of this fact earlier this week when my daughters (ages 2 and 6) looked at a calendar saw it was March and started jumping up and down with excitement.  It is not because they are big basketball fans and can’t wait to cheer for their favorite college teams in the March Madness Tournament or the equally important Frozen Four College Hockey Tournament.  My daughters started immediately talking about how they would start thinking of ideas on how to make their Leprechaun Traps.

One of our family traditions is the night before St. Patrick’s Day we leave out traps that my daughters have made in the hope of catching a Leprechaun and getting his pot of gold.   We have not caught one yet.  However, Leprechauns over the years have left new books and other small items.   Some years we have found chocolate golden coins.

When my daughters are in their teens, my wife and I will probably need to continue this tradition.  One couple we know have daughters, two in college and one in graduate school, who share the same level of enthusiasm as my two young daughters.   In fact, this holiday season we had some friend’s children call up and see if we needed babysitters over the holidays while they were home for winter break just to see they could be around little girls and be reminded of how much they enjoyed holiday traditions when they were little.  I loved this too because I got out with my wife to a restaurant without talking animals on the walls. 

Traditions do not always need to be tied to holidays.   For example, my family always makes chocolate chip cookies to celebrate the first snow.   We also get together with friends to go to the beach.   In the fall, we meet up with friends to go apple picking.  My entire family and friends meet up in the fall to attend the football game during homecoming weekend (my parents and their 5 children all attended the same college). 

March is a particularly busy month in education.  The month is also not the best in regards to weather.  It typically has snow and ice on the ground. Likewise, March is often cold and dark.  I have constantly heard from people over the years in places like the line at Dunkin Donuts “It’s the most difficult month.”  Although, through the traditions we honor with our children we will fill our hearts with warmth and light.   Traditions will not only help our children develop resiliency but us as adults too.   Just think, after March one of our favorite traditions is coming; the words “Play Ball” will be said at Fenway Park: GO RED SOX!

Pine Glen Carnival!

The Pine Glen Carnival will be on March 26. Go to the Carnival Blog for more information.

carnival1 2011

Note from PTO

We hope you enjoyed a terrific winter break.  Just a friendly reminder that the next PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, March 3rd at 7 p.m.  Principal John Lyons is planning a tour of the school building highlighting recent improvements and future plans for the facility.  We will also update members on plans for the Pine Glen Carnival scheduled for Saturday, March 26th, 9 - 2 p.m.

We hope to see many of you there,

The Pine Glen PTO Board

Note from the Music Department

4th and 5th grade bands will be performing in the All-Town Band Concert on Thursday March 10 at the Burlington High School gymnasium. Reporting time for 5th graders is 6pm, reporting time for 4th graders is 6:20, followed by the concert at 7pm. Performing bands will include- Combined 4th Grade Band, Combined 5th Grade Band, MSMS Concert Band, MSMS Symphonic Band, BHS Concert Band. The concert should be complete by 8pm. Any questions please email Mr. Napierkowski at napierkowski@burlington.mec.edu.

iPad

The link below will take you to an interesting article that was in The New York Times on the iPad.   We currently have two iPads at Pine Glen School.  They are constantly signed out of the library and are a favorite educational tool for both teachers and students.

New York Times and iPad link 

St. Jude Children’s Hospital

We recently received a letter from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital congratulating Pine Glen School on the success of our Math-A-Thon, which was held on October 5, 2010.    Pine Glen raised $1,294.00, which will help doctors find cures for childhood cancers and provide pediatric care for children with cancer.   Along with the letter came a plaque that is now proudly hung in Pine Glen’s lobby.

Principal Notes

Throughout the school day I talk to students.  It could be while they are lining up, at recess, in the café, walking through their classroom, etc.  The students tell me everything.  They tell me about their interests, what they are learning, what they want to do in the future, how they might want to change the world, what is funny, how the Mickey Mouse tie I am wearing today is better than the alphabet tie I had on yesterday.   They also have tons of questions for me.   I love these conversations!  

Some of the most insightful and humorous comments I have ever heard have come from elementary students.   There is an honesty and passion to children this age that is nothing short of being just wonderful.   Children never stop imagining and dreaming.   Elementary students have the highest levels of creativity and it is when we engage their creativity they learn.

Last night as I was watching the Boston Celtics game I was thinking back to how my experience at the elementary school age related to whom I am now in my 30’s.  My mom, one of my role models, was an elementary school teacher so it naturally made sense that I went into education.  My dad was and still is a huge Celtics fan.  So again, it would naturally make sense that I would feel the best book I have read this year is 100 Things Celtics Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. 

As I thought more about watching those great Boston Celtics Teams of 80’s with my dad and brother I realized I wasn’t just watching them.   I can remember my dad throughout the game asking questions such as:

-“O.k. this player’s free throw percentage is 68%, do you think he will make this shot?

-“He is mostly a perimeter player, what’s better man on man or zone defense?”

What I realized in this reflection was that my dad was teaching my brother and I math.  He more specifically was teaching us number sense, probability, and key math vocabulary. 

 I also thought how we had a subscription to Sports Illustrated (SI Kids didn’t exist then).  My brother and I would read articles particularly related to basketball so we could be ready for questions.  The great thing was although the text was a written for an older audience we knew a lot of the content vocabulary like basketball terms and player names so we had an internal sight word list. 

       In fact, today when I talked to my dad we discussed how “The Truth” (aka Paul Pierce) had over 30 points.  We then immediately went into mathematical comparisons to previous Celtics teams prior to the All-Star Break.  (Somehow in all this my brother became more of a Bruins’ Fan as an adult and went into biotech.)    

       A great idea to do over February vacation is bring your children to the public library and introduce them children’s magazines. This is a terrific way to promote reading non-fiction.   Likewise, when watching sports with your children have a blast with the math talk.   Most importantly enjoy the humor, brilliance, and creativity in conversations with your children.   It is really at this time in their lives you are helping to create their life-long dreams, interest and desires.  

Burlington Baseball & Softball

BBSA - As a friendly reminder, the Burlington Baseball & Softball registration is ending Monday, February 28, 2011.  If you have not registered yet, it’s not too late – go on-line at www.bbsaonline.com/Registration for registration.

Notice from PAC

 Dear PAC Members,

Our next PAC meeting will be held on Wednesday March 2, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. in the school committee room at Burlington High School. 

Understanding My Child’s Learning Style: The different ways people take in and generate information can greatly affect how and whether they succeed in school and in life. This workshop will delve into different learning styles and show how they can be understood and harnessed to achieve success in many different environments, including the classroom. This seminar will be presented by Melinda Parry from the Federation for Children with Special Needs

As always, I ask you to share this information with everyone you know. Many children struggle with aspects of their life and understanding how they learn is a huge boost in the right direction.

   

 Sincerely,

 Dennis McCarron

  

Fox Hill Character Breakfast

Fox Hill Character Breakfast
Saturday March 12, 2011
8:30-11:00 am
Fox Hill Elementary School Cafeteria

Come join in the fun and visit with SpongeBob, Scooby-Doo!, and Elmo at our character breakfast.  Continental breakfast buffet served.  Admission $5 for children, FREE for adults and children under age 1. 

Burlington Girl Scouts

The Burlington Girl Scouts will be having a cookie booth at the Burlington Papa Ginos on Wednesday, February 23rd from 11a to 8p.  While there, relax and have a sandwich, some pasta or some tasty pizza! When you come, bring the flyer posted here (www.burlingtongirlscouts.org) and the Burlington Girl Scouts will receive 20% from your order.  So come and join us for great food and support a great cause!

Project Bread

"Join us on Sunday, May 1, 2011 for the Walk for Hunger! 

The Walk for Hunger is an annual tradition and a rite of spring in Massachusetts! Join 40,000 caring friends and neighbors and raise money for those struggling to make ends meet.   For more information visit www.projectbread.org"

5 Star Generals

Congratulations to the following students below who have achieved the rank of 5 Start Generals in our Pine Glen Reading Corps.  

Zachary	Aloisi
Robert	Aloisi III
Andrew	Buxton
Cole	Capobianco
Dilan	Churchill
Maitri	Dedhiya
Judith	Desmond
James	Desmond
Elaine	Felizardo
Alexandria	Floyd
Erin	Mackey
Shreya	Majumdar
Madison	O'Toole
Divyansi	Pandey
Julia	Papasodoro
Jeenal	Patel
Jayson	Poland
Seema	Risman
Poleena	Risman
Ellie	Risman
Angela	Russo
Valerie	Wine
Victoria	Withycombe
Nadia	Zaganjori

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.  

        

DORA Frequently Asked Questions

Please see the slideshow in this post for more information about the DORA.
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 3^rd 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

Thursday Morning DORA

On February 16^th 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 7^th. 

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.

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

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