Message from the PTO

Hi Members,

We would like to thank everyone who helped to host  yesterday's Staff Appreciation Day at Pine Glen School.  We've heard nothing but wonderful comments about the menu and service.  The teachers and staff were provided  with breakfast and lunch yesterday in their lounge with the help of volunteers and generous donations of food and drink.  Gift card donations were raffled off to the staff.  Many thanks to Joanna DeFrancesco for organizing this special day.  It was a fine way to say thank-you to all members of the Pine Glen staff who dedicate their work to educating and caring for our children.  

Again, thank you so much for your support and generosity.

Maria Woods and the Pine Glen Board

Note from Butterflies Team

Relay for Life’s Youth team, the Butterflies is having a fundraiser for their team. The Butterflies team is made up of 3^rd grade girls who want to make a difference in the fight against cancer. There are two ways to help: 1.) Drop off your bags of bottles/cans to 5  Mallard Way or 7 Town Line Rd. 2.) Send us an email and let us know when and where you will leave your bag of bottles/cans and we will come pick them up from you. Clean out your garage/basement and help fight cancer at the same time! The recycle drive will continue through the end of May. If you have any questions, please email the Butterflies team captains, Sophie (quinns@rcn.com) or Ella (scolwell66@hotmail.com).

Note from the BEF

Show your community spirit!

Join us at Burlington Ed Foundation’s Annual Showcase of Grants on Monday, May 9 from 3-5:00PM at the BHS lower library.  Come see exactly where your donations go.  Mingle with grant recipients, view presentations of grants awarded and enjoy light snacks. 

Join the 7th annual Exercise for Education Road Race and Family Fun Run, Sunday, May 22, 2011 at the Burlington High School.   Register and receive a specially designed T-shirt and race bag while you and your family and friends enjoy the festivities, including samples and munchies from vendors, chair massages, live music, a moon bounce, and more. If you are part of an organization in the community, and would like to have a table on race day, please contact Paula Boermeester at paulaboermeester@comcast.net.  

Take a chance on The Grand Raffle.  Prizes include a $1,000 Food and Wine Pairing for six at the Capital Grille, a weekend membership at the Burlington Swim and Tennis Club, 2 Red Sox tickets, and a Keurig Coffee Machine with K-Cups.  Chances are three for $10.00.  Check our website to enter! www.burlingtonedfoundation.org

Cranes for Japan at Arts and Technology Night

In December, our fifth grade students learned about a Japanese girl named Sadako who died of leukemia caused by radiation from the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. They learned about her courage and the Japanese tradition of folding paper cranes.

The crane is a sacred bird in Japan. It is said that if someone folds one thousand paper cranes they will be granted one wish. Sadako, a Japanese girl about our fifth graders age, tried to fold a thousand paper cranes to make herself well. Unfortunately, she passed away before they were completed. Her classmates folded the rest of the cranes for her. Her story of quiet strength and courage has made origami cranes representative of peace.

Out fifth graders folded their own paper cranes and reflected on their own ideas of peace. These artworks will be displayed on Arts Night, May 4th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. . When our students heard about the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, they sought out ways to help. Inspired by Sadako’s story, we began folding cranes. The students want to raise money for the Red Cross organization currently providing help and support to Japan. The paper cranes folded by our fifth grade students will be available on arts night. Upon any voluntary monetary donation, each donator can select their own crane to take with them. Suggested donation is a dollar a crane. Let us show how art can make a difference!

Guest Post by Principal for the Day

My name is Shea Riley and today I was principal for the day.    The thing I most enjoyed doing as principal was doing walk-throughs of the classrooms and seeing what all the students are learning.  Mr. Lyons told me this was his favorite part of being a principal too.  Below are some pictures taken of my day as principal.    The teachers requested I put lots of chocolate in the faculty room, raises, and iPads for all the students in the budget for next year.    The students would like a two-hour recess.   I also had a chance to report to Dr. Conti on the state of the school.   It was a great day!

Rock Wall!

Thanks to a generous grant from the Burlington Education Foundation, a brand new Rock Wall was installed in the Pine Glen Gymnasium yesterday!

Student Pictures

Spring student pictures will be taken on May 4^th.   Any parents that are interested in having pictures taken please have your child stop by the office to pick up an order form.

Arts and Technology Night

Arts and Technology Night will be on Wednesday, May 4, from 6PM to 8PM. You'll be able to view the Art Show and Technology demonstration, buy some books at the Book Fair in the library, and see the Spring Concert. We look forward to seeing you there!

Arts Night Flyer

Toys at School

I loved playing with toys as a child and continue to enjoy playing with toys with my children.  Toys are wonderful and play an important role in children’s development.  In fact, many school manipulatives particularly in math resemble toys but are referred to as tools. 

Please make sure to have children keep their toys at home.  This is particularly true for Pokemon cards, Silly Bandz, small connecting building blocks, dolls, and action figures etc.  This likewise holds true for not bringing in electronic devices like mp3 players, cell phones, cameras, and video recording devices.  I would particularly stress keeping toys at home that incorporate trading, i.e. Pokemon Cards and Silly Bandz, which can often lead to disputes.  Any electronic devices or toys found during the school day (recess) and on the school bus will be confiscated.  Play-dates after school are an appropriate time for students to come together and play with toys. 

Thank you for helping to support our teacher’s efforts to provide instruction free of distractions.

District-Wide Informational Night on Math

There will be a district-wide informational night for parents on math.  

When- Tuesday May 3, 2011 7:00-8:00pm

Where- Francis Wyman Auditorium

Who- Parents ONLY

Why- Learn why computation is different now in the 21st century.  

Discover strategies that promote mental math!

Camp Bournedale

On May 9th at 6:00 P.M. in the Francis Wyman Auditorium there will be a Camp Bournedale Information Night for parents of current 4th graders.  On June 13th at 7:00 P.M. there will be a mandatory chaperon meeting (the location is to be announced).

Note from MSMS

• Grade 5 Parent Orientation is Monday May 2nd at 7:00 pm in the MSMS auditorium and Grade 5 students will be visiting MSMS on May 25th.  Mr. Connors will be sending a parent handbook out soon to all incoming 5th grade parents. 

COMMUNITY YARD SALE sponsored by Fox Hill PTO

Do you have household items that you never use and would like to sell, children's clothes and toys that have been outgrown?  If so, we have an opportunity for you: The Community Yard Sale at the Fox Hill School on Saturday, May 14^th (Rain date Sunday May 15^th) from 9am - 2pm.   Reserve your 12 foot space for $20 by Friday, May 6^th.   Don’t need a whole space of your own but have some items you’d like to part with?  Donate your sellable goods to the Fox Hill PTO table.  For info contact Lauren @ 781-750-8036 or  laurenamattson@yahoo.com 

Mother-to-Mother Yard Sale

GIANT YARD SALE 

Sponsored by Mother-to-Mother

Saturday June 11th

Rain date is Sunday, June 12th

9 am – 2 pm

Memorial Elementary School 

Parking Lot

125 Winn Street, Burlington

Need to do some spring cleaning?????

Vendors and Sellers: Only $25 for each 10 foot space

Reserve your space by May 30

For more info: Contact Jenn at Jennsirois@comcast.net

MSMS

THIS JUST IN ... If you go to "Joe's" on Tuesdays (April 19th &/or 26th) each check paid (eat-in or take-out) receives a raffle ticket to win a $50 Gift Card to "NYAJ's" (winner pulled on April 27th). This is Joe's way of saying thank you for helping MSMS!!!

UPDATE ... MSMS PTO has a budget deficit of $800. We need to average $100 per eightTuesdays in order to accumulate what is needed. Your support is greatly appreciated and the PTO would like to say thank you to all who have already gone to Joe’s to help our students.

MSMS PTO Spring Fundraiser ... "Not Your Average Cause" at Not Your Average Joe's (Wayside Common). Every Tuesday (all day/night) during April (19th & 26th) 15% of what you purchase goes directly back to the students and teachers.  Just mention MSMS PTO to your server and they will have certificates there. Make a reservation to save time or order online (www.notyouraveragejoes.com.  Takeout orders count!  Please support the students of MSMS, get a great meal and possibly win a $50 gift card at the same time!

Artware

• All artware is ready for pick up in lobby. All breakable mugs will be underneath the table labeled with the child's name.

Mad Dog Hockey

• Mad Dog Hockey at Marshall Simonds Middle School will be running a hockey camp this summer August 15-19 @ 6:00 pm-7:00 pm each day at the O'Brien rink in Woburn and if anyone is interested to check out the website to learn more about Mad Dog Hockey www.maddoghockey.net This is for all next years 6,7 and 8 graders for the 2011-2012 season.

Note From The School Nurse

Third grade students are required by state law to have an updated physical upon entering fourth grade.  Health forms were recently mailed to these students.  Please return this form to the health office, as soon as it has been completed by your physician. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 781-270-1713.  

iPads come to Pine Glen

Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Villano at Marshall Simonds Middle School, Pine Glen was able to borrow a class set of iPads for two weeks. Below you'll find a video about the whole experience. If you'd like to watch more videos about each grade level, please go to the Pine Glen Technology Blog.

Chick hatching!

Crossposted by Mr. Callahan from http://pineglentech.blogspot.com/

It's that time of year again at Pine Glen, where classes get equipped with incubators to hatch some chicken eggs.

The students have learned about the life cycle of the chickens and are eager to see their chicks hatch. I helped Mrs. Gonzalez's first grade class keep an eye on things by setting up a document camera that connects to their Interactive White Board, magnifying the view so the children can keep track of the eggs from anywhere in the room.

I used a demo P2V camera provided to me by IPEVO. It's much cheaper than some of the alternatives, and can also be used as a webcam.