Hi Members,
The annual Pine Glen Carnival sponsored by the PTO was a great success again thanks to the efforts and teamwork of many. We would like to thank all members of the Pine Glen Community who helped to make the Carnival a major attraction in the town of Burlington. The event took place with the generous assistance and donations of many parents, high school/former students, teachers, staff, and administration.
Countless thanks go to Carnival Co-Chairs Lynn Barnstein, Michelle Grossman, Deb Murphy, and Maria Woods who took care of the many details that needed attention to run a grand-scale event. We sincerely appreciate all their efforts. Many thanks go to Kimberly Daly and Cathy Carney for organizing the Cake Walk and to Principal John Lyons and secretary Julie Gosselin for their support of the Carnival Committee.
Over fifty local businesses participated by donating gift cards/certificates, merchandise, and services to the raffle. Please thank them when using their business. Thank you to the Raffle Committee, including Monica Brown, Denise Desmond, Jill Giles, Lillian Mahoney, Jill McCabe, and Maria Woods for their time-consuming legwork and follow-up to solicit and collect raffle items. A sincere thanks to everyone who donated items to the raffle, especially the room parents and teachers who organized classroom gifts.
We would also like to thank RE/MAX for advertising and planning to give hot-air balloon rides. Unfortunately, weather conditions made it unfavorable to use the balloon. We will try to get the balloon ride again next year. Thanks also to Carol McDonald Macri for making all the arrangements for the ride. The advertising efforts of Carol and Catherine Gillespie helped to bring many visitors to the Carnival. Please see http://pineglencarnival.blogspot.com for updates, postings, and photos.
We also would like to thank retired Pine Glen Principal, Jane Dwyer, for her famous face painting skills and the D.A.R.E. program and Officer Sheppard for the police car ride. Many thanks to the Burlington Fire Department for displaying a firetruck at the front of the school for up-close inspection, Al Fay for his antique firetruck ride, and Joanne Ryan for donating the helium for the balloons.
Again, we would like to thank everyone who worked on and attended the Carnival. Proceeds will be used to enrich the educational experience of all Pine Glen students. We look forward to holding another Carnival next year and continue this fine Pine Glen tradition that has taken place for decades.
Please note that the next and final PTO meeting of the school year will be held on Thursday, May 17th at 7 p.m. We will hold a PTO Board election for next year's officers. If you are interested in a Board position, please complete and submit a nomination form that is available in the school office by April 30th.
Thank you,
The Pine Glen PTO Board
Monday, April 2, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
PTO and Carnival
50 Parent Volunteers Needed!!!!
Thanks to those who have responded to the previous email. However, we still need Parent Volunteers for the Pine Glen Carnival this Saturday, March 31st!
We need Parent Volunteers for Saturday in the afternoon! We also need strong, parent volunteers to help hold the tow ropes for the hot air balloon.
Please take the time to volunteer for this event so that we do not have to cancel these amusements!
This is an extraordinary event that is fun for families and is one of our biggest and most successful fundraisers. The money raised will directly benefit all Pine Glen School students. We desperately need your help.
Please contact Lynn Barnstein at lbarnstein@yahoo.com, 781.229.0360 or Michelle Grossman at healingoasis444@gmail.com, 781.249.2753, to let us know your availability for March 31st.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Pine Glen LTC Supports World Literacy
There are 793 million people in the world who cannot read. So last week, the students of Pine Glen and the Library & Technology Center supported world literacy in a couple of different ways.
First, we celebrated World Read Aloud Day, sponsored by LitWorld.org, on March 7 by connecting with students in Falmouth, ME and Solon, IA and reading aloud to each other through Skype. For example, Mrs. Potter's kindergarten class in Falmouth, ME shared a poem with us while Ms. Hayes' 4th grade class read Tikki Tikki Tembo. It was a wonderful day of reading, sharing, connecting, and, most importantly, showing the world’s children that we "support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world."
Second, we spent the entire week donating books to children in India who do not have books in their lives. How did we do that without ever leaving the walls of Pine Glen? We visited the We Give Books web site where if you read a book, they give a book. I signed up for a free account then chose a campaign to support with our reading--I choose Support My School India. The We Give Books web site has many wonderful fiction and nonfiction ebooks to read online. I chose a few I knew the students would love and read them aloud throughout the week as the book was projected onto my SmartBoard. When we finished a story, I clicked the Give a Book button and voila . . . We donated a book!
The Pine Glen students loved the stories and we all loved that the simple and joyful act of reading allowed us to support world literacy in a meaningful way.
Crossposted from the Pine Glen LTC.
Crossposted from the Pine Glen LTC.
Kindergarten
One of the kindergarten classrooms at Pine Glen posted on their Blog a summary of an art unit they completed. The link below will take the viewer to their Blog.
Here is the link.
http://pineglenroom101.Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
App Recommendation
I am regularly asked for app recommendations for the iPad. The picture above is a group of first graders at center during balance literacy time. The students are using an app called Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App! by Mo Willems. Mo Willems is one on my favorite children's authors. Willems' books Knuffle Bunny, Knuffle Bunny Too, and Knuffle Bunny Free are some of my daughters all time favorite read-a-loud books at bedtime. I find Willems to have an uncanny sense of humor.
I have seen and talked to an ever increasing amount of children's authors who have told me they will likely be releasing their books in the near future in an app format. The authors have told me the reasoning behind this is that not only will students have access to the book on the app but also engaging, higher order thinking comprehension activities. One author told me she is excited to put video in her app showing how she got her ideas and the process steps she followed to publish. In some ways this reminds me of when we saw movies switch from a tape on a VCR to a BluRay Disc or digital download on a variety of playable devices. Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App! is one of may favorite apps and is a preview into the future of children's literature.
This Morning at Pine Glen School
The following pictures are some of the many things I witnessed this morning on my daily walk throughs of classrooms. The first two pictures are of a kindergarten teacher and a kindergarten instructional assistant with guided reading groups. The next picture is of our reading specialist with a fourth grade guided reading group. The other pictures show RTI tutors, instructional assistants or teachers working with primary age students in small groups. One of the reasons we have seen so much progress in our students reading growth is the support we have from instructional assistants, RTI tutors, special needs teachers and reading specialists. These talented instructors are critical to providing interventions and guided reading to all students at their instructional levels.
Lost and Found
The picture below shows the Lost and Found. It is currently located in the school lobby. On March 23, 2012 all items that are not claimed will be donated to good will. Please remind your children to check the Lost and Found if they are missing any items.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Burlington All-Towne Band Concert
I was very proud last night of our fourth and fifth graders. They all did a great job at the Burlington All-Towne Band Concert. I always enjoy this concert. It is so much fun to see the progression of skills from fourth grade to high school.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thank You to the PTO
The picture below is of some of the books donated by the PTO. These titles will be used during guided reading. Staff and students are very appreciative to the PTO for their continued work on behalf of student literacy and enrichment at Pine Glen School.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
English Language Arts
Today I viewed some second graders learning about phonics. Teachers from kindergarten through third grade utilize the Fundations program for phonics instruction. In the first picture you can see second graders using the dry-erase tablets and examining the consonant/vowel magnets on the white board at the front of the room. In the next two pictures you can see a second grader using a Gel Word Board and Magic Pen. The student can write the word and then trace it again to have the word leave the board. These student manipulatives and interactive learning tools not only provide fun instruction they help students to retain the information in their long term memories.
In the final picture you can see a fourth grader using an interactive-white board to practice editing skills while discussing them with her classmates and teacher.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Burlington High School
Burlington High School will present Cole Porter’s award-winning musical, Kiss Me, Kate, on March 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 7:30 pm, and April 1 at 2:00 pm. This riotous comedy with a musical-within-a-musical theme based on “The Taming of the Shrew” will have you rolling in the aisles! Another show you don’t want to miss, tickets are now on sale by visiting www.BurlingtonTickets.org or phoning 781-A-FUN-TIC.
BHS National Honor Society
Indoor Yard Sale: Saturday March 17th from 10am to 1pm at the BHS Cafeteria. Shop for a cause as these HS student groups sell yard-sale items and baked goods to raise money for club activities and other non-profits. Free entry, sponsored by the BHS National Honor Society.
Math
Today during my walk-throughs I took some picture of students at different grade levels working on math. The first picture shows fourth graders learning about probability. The next two pictures show third graders working at math centers. In one center they are using iPads and computers. The other center shows them working with a teacher. Also, included are pictures of of two different first grade classrooms learning about measurement.
Monday, March 5, 2012
MCAS Schedule Spring 2012
Pine Glen MCAS Schedule Spring 2012
March
- March 20 Grade 4 ELA Long Composition Session 1 and Session 2
- March 21 Grade 3 ELA Reading Comprehension Session 1
- March 22 Grade 3 ELA Reading Comprehension Session 2
- March 23 Grade 5 ELA Reading Comprehension Session 1
- March 26 Grade 5 ELA Reading Comphrehension Session 2
- March 27 Grade 4 ELA Reading Comphrehension Session 1
- March 28 Grade 4 ELA Reading Comprehension Session 2
May
- May 7 Grade 4 Math Session 1
- May 8 Grade 4 Math Session 2
- May 9 Grade 5 Science Session 1
- May 10 Grade 5 Science Session 2
- May 14 Grade 3 Math Session 1
- May 15 Grade 3 Math Session 2
- May 17 Grade 5 Math Session 1
- May 18 Grade Math Math Session 2
MAAV Presentation to Students
Alice Wadley, M.Ed. from the Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV), a well-respected non-profit agency founded in 1995, spoke to students during different grade level assemblies last week.
Her presentation was titled “Just One”: Empowering Bystanders to Stop Bullying. The focus was on how “Just one” action by “Just one” person can make a significant difference in stopping or countering the damaging effects of bullying.
Topics addressed included:
• Empowering students to take action by knowing what to do when they witness other students engaged in acts of bullying or retaliation, including seeking adult assistance
• Helping students understand the dynamics of bullying and cyber-bullying• Emphasizing cyber-safety
• Engaging students in a safe, supportive school environment that is respectful of diversity• Enhancing students’ skills for engaging in healthy relationships and respectful communications and difference
A “Just One” wristband was given to each participant to reinforce the message of the program, prompt conversations at home, and serve as a reminder from teachers and faculty beyond the presentation.
Third Grade Wax Museum
The third graders did a great job on their Massachusetts Historical Presentations. Each third grader learned a lot about a famous person in Massachusetts History and their contributions.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
BEF
We Will Rock You! Burlington Education Foundation is hosting the 4th annual Trivia Night on March 9,2012 at 7pm at the Sons of Italy in Woburn. Please join us for an evening of music trivia and tons of laughs! After gathering 4 - 10 friends to make a team, contact Debbie Mungillo at debbie.mungillo@agilent.com. The cost is $150 per team and don't forget this is a tax deductible contribution to the BEF. Hope to see you there!
Girl Scouts
Marshall Simonds Middle School Girl Scout Troop 77245 will be collecting new and gently used pants for sizes newborn to 18/20 from March 1st to 31st at each elementary and middle school lobby. They will be donated to Cradles to Crayons, an organization that will distribute the pants to local children in need. To learn more about them visit cradlestocrayons.org If you have any questions about the drive, please contact Nancy_Kiehl@comcast.net or 781-221-8581.
All-Town Band Concert
On Thursday, March 8, the All-Town Band Concert will take place in the gymnasium of Burlington High School beginning at 7:00 pm. All band students and band teachers from Burlington Public Schools will participate in this showcase for friends and family. An event not to be missed! Free admission.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Burlington Special Education
Parents Advisory Council
Presents
IEP Workshop
Wednesday March 7, 2012
7-9pm
Burlington High School
School Committee Room
Presented by Special Education Advocates
Melody Orfei and Sue Terzakis
The IEP is the most powerful tool parents have to create a successful
learning environment for their child. In this presentation, you will learn
about:
The different parts of the IEP -- their purpose and function
How to work with the school to develop a document
that drives a successful program for your child
Using evaluations to write annual measurable goals
How to measure your child’s progress
If your child is on an IEP you should bring it with you to the workshop.
At the conclusion of the program, the presenters will discuss with the
attendees general questions about individual IEP issues.
For more information or to register for this workshop, please contact Dennis McCarron at
781-273-5663 / dandmmccarron@hotmail.com
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Bus Route, Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Burlington Public Schools
February 15, 2012
Dear Parents,
I would like to thank everyone for their continued cooperation and assistance at car pick-up and drop-off. More than ever, Pine Glen children are being dropped-off and picked-up by car in the morning and afternoon. More vehicles create a longer wait for all who happen to be in line. It has come to my attention from staff and parents that our procedures could benefit from some additional structure. Therefore, we will be incorporating some new steps into the process to increase student safety. Safety is the number one priority at Pine Glen School and we are always thankful to the Burlington Police and Fire departments for their expertise and assistance. Likewise, we want to get your child into school on time and we want you to be able to get to work on time.
The bus company shares similar concerns. The bus company has looked at ways of streamlining routes. The afternoon stops for Bus 12 will be done in a slightly different order. The Skelton Road area will be getting dropped-off at the beginning of the route. This will result in these students getting to their bus stops a bit earlier. Please be mindful of these changes and adjusting the time you are at stops waiting for your children. This change will be begin the afternoon of February 27th, the Monday we are back from February Vacation. If you have additional questions related to the bus stops, the phone number for A & F Bus Co., Inc. is (978) 663-8145.
We will be sending home two red laminated cards this week, which will have your family’s last name on them. When parents come to pick up students beginning February 27th (Monday after vacation), the cards will need to be put in the left hand corner on the driver’s dash or be hung from the driver’s side visor. (An elastic band could go around the card to attach it to the visor so you can simply lower the visor) Staff on duty will only let a student leave with their parents following this procedure. If a car does not have the red card, the driver will need to come to the office and show identification before leaving with the student.
If a student is going to be picked-up by another Pine Glen family (i.e. play-date, carpool), please continue to send in a note to the child's teacher. The student will be dismissed with the designated family at the pick-up line, with a note from the office.
We are also asking that students leave and enter vehicles on the driver’s side. Students are not to be outside parents’ vehicles for any reason other than to leave or enter the building. Teachers are on duty at 7:55 AM; students are not to be dropped off prior to this time and left unsupervised.
Students that walk to school should not walk through the parking lot. If students are walking, please wait for your child at the outdoor stairs leading up to the United States map and do not crowd the door.
Other current procedures are posted below.
A.M. Drop-Off is (7:55 – 8:10 am), PM pick-up begins at 2:15 pm
· Do not pass school buses while they are discharging students. By state law, buses may never be passed if their lights are flashing.
· Vehicles should be in the park gear while students are entering and exiting the vehicle.
· Keep the car speed under 5 mph in the school yard. Do not get out of line to go around or pass cars in front of you. Stay in the single line.
· Do not text while operating your vehicle.
· Please do not talk on the cell phone while in the pick-up and drop-off line.
· All vehicles should proceed through the parking lot and enter the horseshoe path in front of the side academic wing of the building.
· Only allow children to exit on the driver side of the vehicle.
· Train your children to be ready to exit by the time you enter the school-yard. Teach them to be independent about getting out of the car seats and seatbelts.
· Messages and goodbyes should be taken care of in the car en route to prevent backup in the drop-off line.
· The drop-off/pick-up procedure is not to take place at other locations other than the designated area.
· Parents leaving their vehicles and walking students in to “by-pass” this procedure will be asked by staff to return to their vehicles and follow the procedure.
· If parents need to enter the school with a student in the morning or afternoon during dismissal/pick-up for a related medical reason or educational purpose (to carry in a special project, provide medicine to the school nurse, etc), you must park your car in the parking lot and enter through the school’s front main entrance.
· Under no circumstances should children be crossing the traffic line between the lot and the school without an adult.
· After 8:10 am, once staff on duty goes inside, parents need to park their cars in the front lot and must walk their children to the main office. For example, if bringing a student back from an appointment at 11:35 am that student cannot be dropped-off in the parking lot to walk in by him or herself. They need to be accompanied by an adult who will sign them in at the office.
· Students have finished the school day once they have left the building unless staying for a school-sponsored event (i.e. homework club, math club, music concert, etc). We cannot allow students (accompanied by a parent) back into the building to collect items they have forgotten.
For the safety of everyone – children, parents, and staff members – please follow these very important guidelines. Staff on duty will offer reminders to parents if they need additional guidance in how to follow these guidelines. I will send home a letter if after a reminder from staff this continues to require more explanation of the guidelines. A corresponding copy of this letter will be sent to the appropriate personnel that could also help with enforcement of these guidelines. Public Safety (Burlington Police and Fire) and the Pine Glen Staff greatly appreciate your past and future assistance with the beginning and end of the school day.
Sincerely,
John Lyons
Principal
Pine Glen School
Note from Fox Hill PTO
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM DINNER & AUCTION AT THE BURLINGTON MARRIOTT
MARCH 3RD, 2012
Looking for a night out but don’t want to feel guilty about spending the money on dinner?
Join us! Feel great about supporting your community and the Fox Hill School by purchasing
tickets to our first Dinner & Auction! Fox Hill PTO is hosting a cocktail hour and a superior
three-course dinner at Marriott's Grand Ballroom. The event will feature two auctions, with
many extravagant gift packages donated for the benefit. The silent auction at cocktail hour will
be accompanied by a mix of classical and contemporary piano vocals by Covergirlsmusic, the
duet team of Burlington’s own Debbie Gruber and Debye Delorean.
Enjoy the evening mingling with parents, teachers, Burlington administrators, and other
friends in our local community. Take the opportunity to treat yourself, and join in on the
excitement as the bidding starts for luxurious gifts including: a hot air balloon ride; a winery
tour with tasting; Bruins tickets; James Taylor at Tanglewood; dinner for two atop a
lighthouse! Your child might also be excited to become "principal for a day". The proceeds
will enable the PTO to fund its goal of purchasing an Apple iPad for each classroom at the
Fox Hill School. The benefit will run from 6pm to 11pm; tickets are $50 per person. For more
information, contact Cheryl Moschella at camoschella@verizon.net. Contact Maureen Drossos
at maureenpd68@verizon.net to purchase tickets or order tickets online at www.foxhillpto.org.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Cool Collections Contest Sheets
Just a reminder that this Friday (2/17) is the deadline for submitting the Cool Collections contest sheets.
Pine Glen Carnival Ticket prizes will be awarded to the three students who turn in the most sheets:
1st Place - 25 tickets
2nd Place - 15 tickets
3rd Place - 10 tickets
Additional Cool Collections sheets are available in the front office. Winners will be announced after the winter break. The Pine Glen Carnival will be held on March 31st from 9am to 2pm.
Thank you to everyone for their support with the Box Tops Program. In the fall, we collected $447 dollars worth of Box Tops. All proceeds from this program go directly to support the Pine Glen Library.
Translation Option on School Web Page
The school web page now has a language translation option. Parents can click on the small globe at the top of the web page which will now open the translation option.
Friday, February 10, 2012
BEF Presents Anti-Bullying Training
Burlington Ed. Foundation presents an Anti-Bullying Training for all elementary parents on February 29, 7pm Francis Wyman Auditorium. Students and teachers will have similar sessions during the week, so please come check it out. This program is lead by the Melrose Alliance Against Violence and comes highly recommended.
Student Council
Pink for a Day!
The Student Council is asking the students of Pine Glen to donate $1.00 and to wear PINK, RED or PURPLE on Tuesday February 14th. The money raised will be donated to the Mass General Hospital Marathon Team. All of the funds will be used to help support children with cancer. Our very own Mrs. Visocchi is running the Boston Marathon to honor Emma, an 8 year old girl from Massachusetts who has neuroblastoma. Please consider supporting this amazing cause and Mrs. Visocchi reach her goal!
Puberty Information Night and Head Lice
Puberty Information Night for Parents of 4th and 5th Grade students will be presented by Anne Azarian RN,BSN, Supervisor of Nurses, in the Burlington High School Cafeteria on Monday, February 27, 2012. The presentation to grade 4 parents will be held from 6:30pm--7:30pm. The grade 5 parents presentation will be held from 7:30pm--8:30pm. This presentation is for parents only--no students/siblings. Please call Anne Azarian at 781-270-1702 or the Pine Glen Nurse, Joanne Ferrick at 781-270-1713, if you have any questions. Subsequently, the students' grade 4 and grade 5 puberty classes will be held at school on Friday, March 9, 2012.
Also--Please be aware that there have been a few cases of lice in some of the schools. The nurses would like to remind parents to check their children's head at least once a week. Remind your children to avoid sharing personal items (i.e.combs, brushes, hats,helmets, hair accessories.) Also, please notify the school nurse if your child has lice or has recently been treated for lice (even if your child has lice over vacation.)
Also--Please be aware that there have been a few cases of lice in some of the schools. The nurses would like to remind parents to check their children's head at least once a week. Remind your children to avoid sharing personal items (i.e.combs, brushes, hats,helmets, hair accessories.) Also, please notify the school nurse if your child has lice or has recently been treated for lice (even if your child has lice over vacation.)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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