Support Burlington Ed. Foundation & Shop for a Cause!

Find the magic of giving back on October 16, 2010 at Macy’s.  Purchase a $5.00 shopping pass and receive exclusive savings in every Macy’s store and online at macy’s.com.  10, 20 or 25% off most items all day and you can enter to win a $500 Macy’s gift card.  BEF receives 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the shopping pass. Didn’t see the flyer?  Contact Suzanne Gaudio sgaudio@comcast.net

Note from PAC

Attention Parents. Does your child have any difficulty with educational, social or emotional issues? Is your child receiving extra help or special education services? Do you think they should be, but don't know how to get these services? Come out on Wednesday October 20 at 7:00 P.M. and join other parents in the School Committee Meeting Room at Burlington High School. Maureen Ryan will give a very informative presentation that will help all parents learn how to help their children succeed in school and in life. For more info, email Dennis McCarron at dandmmccarron@hotmail.com or by phone at 781-273-5663. This is your chance to help your child.

Ice Cream Social

Thanks to the PTO and all of the parents and teachers who came to the ice cream social last night!

Note from PTO

Attention:  All current Pine Glen PTO members.  You should have received a recent email from the PTO announcing the extension of the Genevieve fundraiser through Columbus Day.  We're no longer using Constant Contact, but rather a new parent express email system - GroupVine.  If you did not receive this email, please contact us via email at pineglen@burlingtonpto.org and let us know so we can resolve the issue.  We are trying to maintain good communication.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Reminder:  Tonight from 6:00-8:00 p.m. is the Ice Cream Social.

Note from PTO

Box-Tops for education are due at the end of October.  Please send your Box-Tops in soon.

Note from the Principal

We were very excited at Pine Glen on Friday to see the arrival of our new copier machine.  The arrival of this will allow us to send out the 2010-2011 Student Handbook/Calendar.  Thank you for your patience waiting for this document.

As part of Pine Glen’s initiative to promote health and wellness, a Healthy Classroom Parties Guide will be included in the new Student Handbook/Calendar.  This document is an excellent resource for room parents. The occasional classroom party is an excellent time to help reinforce the healthy eating habits.  By promoting healthy behaviors, you can have a positive impact on students’ daily attendance, classroom participation, test scores, behavior, and help influence life-long healthy lifestyle habits.  Room parents can request a copy of Healthy Classroom Parties Guide from their children’s classroom teacher. 

Note from the PTO

A “TOAD-ALLY” GREAT SALE!

Genevieve’s orders are due:  October 5TH

Please make checks payable to the Pine Glen PTO.

YOU CAN make THE difference!

With your help, we can reach our goals. 

Remember, out-of-town friends and family can

order online at: www.genevieves.com

Use our Account Number:  398

Please remember to participate in the Genevieve Fall Fundraiser.

It's one of our major fundraisers of the school year.

40 - 50%! of all sales totals directly benefit Pine Glen School and its programs!

This year, every child who sells at least 6 items will receive a FREE pass to Coco Key Water Resort.  A $25 value!  Sell $100 or more and be entered into a raffle for a Family Overnight Package that includes a one-night stay (one room) for 4 and 4 water park passes to Coco Key.  Drawing will be held during the Halloween Dance.

Phones

The phones at Pine Glen School stopped working yesterday.  I was informed today that hopefully by tomorrow we will have service back.    If you need to contact the school, we will be checking voicemail at the 781 273 7640 phone number periodically.   

School Directory

The School Directory lists children’s names, addresses and phone numbers by classroom. Parents who join the PTO are entitled to a copy of the directory.   If you do not wish to have your child in the student directory, please contact Mrs. Gosselin at gosselin@burlington.mec.edu before October 5, 2010.

Note From the PTO

The PTO’s first meeting of the new school year will be tonight.   Dr. Conti will be attending the meeting and discussing re-districting.   The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the café.

Magical Moments

This week I was walking in the hallway alongside a third grade class on their way to gym.  One of the third grade students said, “Guess what Mr. Lyons?   The student had great excitement in his voice and a little bit of a shake in his body as if he was going to pop if he did not share his news immediately.  I responded back with an eager smile showing my willingness to hear his news.

“Today I was writing in class and -I had never written that much!  So I stopped, looked at it, and kept writing some more.  And, then I wrote even more.   (At this point the edges of his smile were approaching his eyes.)    I finished it.  Read it.  And it’s really good.  I didn’t think kids could write that long and that good.”

I immediately let this student know how proud I was of him.  

I recently heard Angela Maiers speak at the high school to parents (Blog post 9/5/2010 A Can’t Miss Presentation with Angela Maiers). Angela talked about how amazing it is to witness a child come to the realization that literacy matters.   Angela was correct-it is magical.

I see many of these magical moments daily.   Being a principal has so many incredibly rewarding components to the position.   One of my favorites is seeing the students’ smiles and the sparks of joy as they learn.  

Open House is tonight!

Ms. Fallon would love for you to visit the Art room:


Open House is tonight from 6:00 to 7:30!

PTO Announcements

FRIENDLY REMINDER!

PTO membership dues are just $15 per family.  Thank you to everyone who has already enrolled.  To date, about one third of all families have joined.  Our goal is 100% participation.  Please support the enrichment of our children’s education.  NEW membership perks include a FREE copy of the student directory and email notification of meetings and school updates.  There will be a PTO information table during Pine Glen’s Open House night, Thursday, September 23^rd, 6-7:30 p.m. where you can pay dues.

Come visit us!

Public Safety Night

The Burlington Police and Fire Departments are holding a Public Safety Night on Friday, September 24^th at 5pm.  This event is co-sponsored by HMart Supermarket, and will be held at their store which is located at 43 Middlesex Tp (the old Decathlon Sports store).  This event is running during HMart’s one year anniversary celebration.  Come down to check out the police cars, fire trucks and other special equipment that will be on hand.  Come meet the new Police and Fire Chiefs, as well as ‘Havoc’, Burlington’s new K9.  HMart will have food samples to try and live music will be provided by the Real School of Music.  Other participants include the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, New York Life’s Child ID unit, the Burlington Rotary and Interact clubs, the Boy Scouts,  the National Honor Society and Robotics clubs from the high school, ADT Advanced Driver Training, and the Burlington Recycling Committee.  Any questions, call Officer Jim Tigges at 781-505-4972.  

Birthday Celebrations

Due to the national focus on the health and wellness of our children, the growing number of students with food allergies, and the shortness of learning time during the school day, birthday celebrations at Pine Glen School will be food-free -- but will continue to include singing, a crown (if age appropriate!), and a pencil or sticker to honor the Birthday Boy or Birthday Girl.

A Note From The Music Room

For the next several weeks Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 students will be playing violins in music class.  We are asking that all students bring in a “bow tube” from home to use during class.  This could be an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll.  The “bow tubes” will be stored in the music room until the end of the unit, and then recycled.  Playing the violin can sometimes be uncomfortable for beginners, so it is also recommended that each student bring in a washcloth (or some other small piece of cloth that can be folded) that they can rest between their shoulder and the instrument.  This cloth would be stored in the student’s desk or backpack for use on music class days.  If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Agati @ x7766.

Instrumental Lessons

Registration for 4th and 5th grade beginners is now complete. Any registered student who still needs an instrument or Accent on Achievement method book should call Rayburn at 1-888-729-2876 (rayburnmusic.com) or the company of your choice. The first lesson will be Tuesday or Wednesday, September 21-22, the day that your child has music class. Students should bring instrument, book and folder to each lesson. Deadline for obtaining instruments is the week of October 4. Please go to the band blog at www.elemband.wordpress.com for further information. Any questions please email Mr. Napierkowski at napierkowski@burlington.mec.edu.

Burlington Education Foundation

BEF is looking for liaisons for Pine Glen and Burlington High School.  The Liaison's job is to be "The Face of BEF".  To establish good communication within the school and BEF.  This includes delivering flyers and being the contact person for teachers and principal.  If you are interested and would like to know more, please contact Kim Winn at  mailto:Kimmwinn@verizon.netKimmwinn@verizon.net.

Food Allergy Awareness Team of Burlington

Does your child have food allergies?  Get informed & be aware!  Meet with other parents who share your concerns.  Join the Food Allergy Awareness Team of Burlington on Tuesday, September 28 at 6:45 p.m. to discuss the schools' role in setting up a new Food Allergy Policy.  The meeting will be held at the Burlington Fire Department.  Please e-mail Lisa Hovasse with any questions at FAATOB@gmail.com

Per Diem Nurse Candidates

Burlington Public Schools is looking to hire per diem nurses.  Candidates need to have a RN license.  If interested, please send a cover letter, resume, 3 letters of recommendation, and RN certification to:  Dr. Cathleen Estep, Burlington Public Schools, 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA  01803.