Construction of New Awning

Below are some pictures of the construction work taking place at Pine Glen School this summer.  We are all looking forward to the new awning that awaits us this fall.  The first picture shows Mrs. Redfern and her class on Mrs. Redfern day and the old awning in the background.

Summer Reading at Pine Glen

What is the one thing parents can do to help their children retain all that hard work and progress they achieved this past school year? Get as many books as you can (print or digital) into the hands of your children and let them Read, Read, Read this summer.

And please don't forget--summer reading is all about reading for fun. Letting your children choose what they want to read not only builds good readers but life-long readers, too. All kinds of reading counts.

Below check out all the new things happening this summer for Pine Glen students and families.  If you have any questions about any of the programs or policies this summer, please contact me at delia@bpsk12.org.

Happy Summer Reading!
Laura D'Elia
School Librarian
Pine Glen Library & Technology Center

**Please Note: Pine Glen students are not required to return all of their library books before the end of the school year. They may keep the ones they are still reading or want to read. They may return their books during the last week of school, during the Summer Library Hours listed below, or in the fall.


All overdue items should be returned as soon as possible.

For Students Entering Grades K-3 Printable Handout

For Students Entering Grades 4-6 Printable Handout

Summer Library Hours at Memorial Elementary School 125 Winn Street                                   Thursday, July 19, 9am--1pm                                 Wednesday, August 1, 9am--1pm                              Wednesday, August 15, 12pm--4pm Open to all Burlington students. Return a book or check out a book. Keep reading this summer! Printable Handout

Visit the Burlington Public Library this Summer!

Note From The School Nurse

 
Please stop in the health office by Wednesday, June 20, 2012 to pick up any medications that you brought in for your child.  After this date, the medications will be discarded.  Also--Reminder to All Third Grade Parents--Updated physicals are required by State law for students entering fourth grade.  Please send a copy of your child's most recent physical to the health office.  If you have any questions, please call me at 781-270-1713.

Attention 3rd graders and parents re: 4th grade Instrumental Lessons

3rd graders recently attended an assembly that demonstrated the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and trombone. Students interested in beginning lessons on one of these instruments received a notice describing the instrumental program. For more information please go to elemband.wordpress.com.  A commitment to practicing at home is essential for success.  Beginner lessons will start the week of September 17.  Any questions please email Mr. Napierkowski at napierkowski@bpsk12.org 

Message From the PTO

Dear Members,

We need a few parents to help serve refreshments after the moving-up ceremony for fifth graders on Thursday, June 14th from 6 - 8 p.m.  (The moving-up ceremony begins at 6:30). Parents of fifth graders will already have set up the room.  We just need a few people to serve cake, fruit salad, & drinks and clean up afterward.

TO DATE WE ONLY HAVE ONE VOLUNTEER!  We need a few parents of non-fifth graders to step up.  We do not expect parents of the Class of 2012 to volunteer, but rather enjoy time with their child and fellow parents for their final gathering at Pine Glen.  The same will be done for you when your child "graduates."

If you can help, please contact Joanna DeFrancesco at joanna.defrancesco@gmail.com.  We truly appreciate any time you can give.

Thank you so much,

Maria Woods and the Pine Glen PTO Board

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAM IN BURLINGTON

Burlington Presbyterian Church and Farmer Dave’s, a sustainable farm in Dracut, MA, continue to bring locally-grown, fresh fruits and vegetables to the town of Burlington with a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In the CSA program, consumers will receive a share of freshly-harvested produce throughout the growing season. Shares will be available for pick-up on Monday afternoons from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Burlington Presbyterian Church, 335 Cambridge St.  The season starts on June 11 and runs through Oct 22. For more information about 2012 CSA membership, contact Farmer Dave's at (978) 349-1952 or visit http://www.farmerdaves.net to register.

Summer Literacy Program

There is space still available for the Summer Literacy Program to be held at the Memorial Elementary School.  The program will be held Monday through Thursday from July 9^th through August 2^nd from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  You can sign up for 1 two-week session or for the entire month.  Any questions please contact Rosemary DeSousa at 781.270.1804.

Burlington Youth Soccer

Burlington Youth Soccer is now registering grades Pre-K through 5 for fall soccer.  You can register your child at http://www.sportsmanager.us/links/BurlingtonSoccer/OnlineRegistration.asp.  Register now and avoid the late fee.

DARE DAY June 9th 2012

On Saturday, June 9th, the Burlington Common will be the site of our 24th annual D.A.R.E. Day on the Town Common. We are inviting you to join us on D.A.R.E. Day! Bring your family and friends to the Burlington Common from 11am to 3pm. Enjoy raffles, prizes, games and rides and much, much, more! To volunteer, make a donation or for more information; please contact the Burlington D.A.R.E. Program at 781-270-1919.

School Spirit

On Friday May 25th we will be having a School Spirit Day.   Students and staff are invited to wear their Pine Glen Shirts donated by the PTO.  We greatly thank the PTO for this contribution.

Also, please note the last day of school for the 2011-2012 school year is a half-day on June 21st.

Announcing! Volunteer Library Positions 2012-2013

 

The Pine Glen Library & Technology Center is looking for adult volunteers who can assist with running the library by:

 

Checking in/out books using library software	Assisting students/faculty in the LTC
Reshelving	Accomplishing collection maintenance projects
Refilling displays	Managing overdue notices
Keeping the library shelves neat and organized	Managing hold requests
Processing and labeling new items	Delivering occasional read-alouds/storytimes

REGISTER HERE

If you need more information before registering, please plan on attending one of the following Information Sessions in the LTC:

Tuesday, June 12 10:00--10:45 am

Tuesday, June 12 6:30--7:15 pm

Thank You!

Laura Beals D’Elia, School Librarian

delia@bpsk12.org

Pine Glen School in the Boston Globe

If you happen to read the Boston Globe today on page B5 (The Business Section), you might see some familiar faces.  Yesterday the Boston Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray visited Pine Glen School which he referred to in the article as an "Unusually tech-savvy K-5 school."   The reporter and photographer were very impressed and had a great time talking to students about the ways in which iPads and apps are utilized to provide great instruction.  Dan Callahan our technology integration specialist was sought out by the reporter to do this article.   The reporter was looking for information on apps that are great for children and discovered one of the best resources on great educational apps was Mr. Callahan.  If you go to http://bostonglobe.com and have a subscription to Boston Globe.com, you can read the article and see the pictures.  The article is also available at Boston.com http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2012/05/17/apps_in_hand_the_kids_are_all_right/ which does not include the pictures.

Mr. Callahan and Mrs. D'Elia (librarian) our Library and Technology Team have an amazing blog page at http://pineglen.info/ which I frequently check for professional information and ideas to use as a parent.   It is my number one resource to check for apps.

Third Grade Students

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, please contact Joanne Ferrick, school nurse, at 781-270-1713.

Youth Related Resources for Military Families

We honor and thank the brave men and women in our military branches who keep us safe.  I am posting below some websites that can be of assistance to families who currently or in the past have had a family member deployed.   Ms. May, guidance counselor, and I would be very happy to help families with loved ones in the military connect with additional resources.

https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/ is a Department of Defense-sponsored website to help military kids support one another and learn coping and resilience-building skills.

https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/ recognizes that when parents deploy, kids, deploy too.

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/MOS/f?p=MOS:HOME:0:::: 24/7 resource and referral for all kinds of topics. 1-800-342-9647

http://www.militaryfamily.org/ Search "Operation Purple Camps," a free week of summer fun for military kids with parents who have been, are currently, or will be deployed.  Locations are throughout the United States and U.S. Territories.  Check in February for a listing of camp locations.

http://www.naccrra.org Search "Operation Military Child Care." Child care fee assistance for National Guard and Reserve who are activated or deployed and whose children are enrolled in non-DoD licensed child care programs or call Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246.

http://www.operationhomefront.net/ Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale assistance for our troops, for the families they leave behind, and for wounded warriors when they return home.

http://www.operationmilitarykids.org/public/home.aspx Organizing volunteers in local communities to support military youth by presenting free Ready, Set, Go! workshops to increase awareness of community members of the impact of deployment on military families; organizing and training teams of teens to "Speak Out for Military Kids;" packing and delivering Hero Packs to military youth to show appreciation for their sacrifices; providing support at a variety for activities for youth; and hosting camps.

http://www.ourmilitarykids.org/ Grants for enrichment activities and tutoring for military youth.

http://www.sittercity.com/dod new program to help all military service-members find in-home care providers: babysitters, nannies, elder care companions, even pet sitters.

http://www.tutor.com/military free around the clock tutoring in 16 subjects

Spring Concert

Spring Concert 2012

Healthy Kids Websites

In the section of this Blog marked Favorite Links and Great Parent Resources I have included some new websites.  These websites are all related to health and wellness. 

http://kidshealth.org/kid/

Kids Health Website

• tabs for kids, parents and teens
• like how they have a kid’s dictionary of medical terms
• Like a WebMD for kids
• Also has recipies section and keeping safe
• Has games and movies

http://www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_health_fitness.shtml

• Provides links to other government health and fitness websites

http://www.kidnetic.org/

• Fun kids website
• Has a fitness challenge section
• Has a “Kid Connector”  - kids can type in their parents e-mail and then send them a message – prompts are there such as “Things I do with friends”, “Help me be better at this”, and “This is what I like to eat for dinner”

Principal for the Day

Dear Pine Glen Community,

I am Jonathan Wolinski and I am Principal for the Day. Below are some pictures from when I did walk throughs of the classrooms.  During the day, I made sure teachers had what they needed and the students were learning.  Some day when I grow up I would like to be a principal or a superintendent.

Jonathan Wolinski
Principal of the Day
Pine Glen School

Message from the PTO

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

School Calendar 2012/2013

12-4.13 Students' Calendar Final Version

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 31^st!

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 31^st.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.