Principal's Desk
Burr Elementary School
January 17, 2020
Dear Burr Families,
Happy Friday and happy long weekend!
I wanted to invite you to my Principal's Coffee next Thursday, January 23rd at 2:00. The topic is writing workshop. This is a great opportunity to learn all about the work we are doing with writing this year and visit a classroom or two to see it in action. Please join me! It will be a lot of fun! If you know you are coming ahead of time, please RSVP at jbluestein@fairfieldschools.org
One Book, One School is coming. The book is a secret although we think you will love it as a read aloud at home. It's fun, funny, and has a great message. Our kickoff is Monday, February 3 and will run throughout February. We have some exciting assemblies and visitors planned at school. More to come soon.
Have a great long weekend!
Jason
Walking the red carpet in first grade - celebrating writing!
All the amazing feedback our first grade writers received!
Our third graders are learning how to write literary essays.
Invention Convention
This winter (2020), all 5th graders in the Fairfield Public Schools will be participating in the Connecticut Invention Convention as part of the district’s STEAM program. Each elementary school will hold a school-based Invention Convention at the end of February. Finalists from each building’s competitions will be offered the opportunity to participate in the state-level CT Invention Convention (CIC).
The CIC Annual State Final event provides students an opportunity to present their prototypes to their peers and adult judges from across the state of Connecticut. This event is hosted by the University of Connecticut School of Engineering and gives students and parents an introduction to careers in engineering with exhibits staffed by UCONN's students and professors which showcase engineering disciplines, including civil, mechanical and chemical engineering – helping students discover engineering and science as possible careers.
In order to provide an authentic audience to the building-level competitions, we are looking for individuals from local businesses, civic organizations and other volunteers to come and judge student exhibits using CIC-provided judging materials.
The STEAM teacher in each building, along with building administration, will be planning the building-level events and making the arrangements for their own judges. We are looking to compile a list of individuals who might serve as judges for these building-level events.
If you are interested in participating as a judge, please add your name and contact information to our list of potential judges using the following link:
Writing
Staff Developers - This past week, our grades 3-5 Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project Staff Developer joined our third, fourth and fifth grade teachers. Next week our K-2 staff developer will be visiting Burr. When a staff developer works with teachers, there are usually three components to the work. First, we learn something new or deepen our knowledge about a topic - like how to confer effectively with students or how to get students to write with more volume. Then, we go into a classroom, watch the staff developer model the work with students and then practice the work together. Finally, we debrief what we learned and make a plan for their next visit. It's awesome professional development - hands-on, practical, and connected deeply to our curriculum and instructional methodology.
Current Writing Units of Study
K- Writing for Readers
1- Writing Narrative Fiction
2- Informational Writing
3- Baby Literary Essay
4-Literary Essay (Argument Writing)
5- Memoir
Branches - We are looking for a parent to help us put together our Branches Literary Magazine this year. Every year, students in grades 3-5 submit a favorite piece of writing to be published in Branches. The PTA then publishes this writing as part of a school wide literary magazine that also includes art work. It is truly a gift and a wonderful showcase for our student's writing. The magazine (it's more like a book) is distributed to students and teachers in grades 3-5 in late May/June.
You do not need to be a writer or editor to help us. In fact, the skills that would be most helpful is someone strong at design and layout. We could even have some of our students work with you to help design the layout of the magazine. If you are interested, please e-mail me at jbluestein@fairfieldschools.org This is a great opportunity to support our school.
Family Handbook
I have included a link to our family handbook. It contains practical information about our school as well as links to many district resources.
lost and found
Please have your child claim their clothes. Every 6-8 weeks, we donate what's left to Goodwill and/or shelters. I would also suggest discussing taking care of clothes with your children. It's a good opportunity to talk about responsibility, and your expectations for how they manage their belongings. In elementary school, students should be responsible for getting their clothes to and from home to school.
Behavior handbook
Below is a link to our Behavior handbook. For the month of January, please review the Bullying policy on page 8. Some quick thoughts:
- We deal with issues of inappropriate behavior all the time at Burr. It is rare that we investigate and make a determination of bullying. I would ask that you to use the word with care - with your children and amongst your friends and members of the Burr community.
When determining whether an incident is bullying vs. inappropriate behavior, we consider:
- Is the incident part of a repeated pattern of behavior?
- Does this pattern create a reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or a hostile environment for the student (s)?
- Do the students involved all attend school in Fairfield?
- Does the pattern interrupt the orderly functioning of our school?
If you need to report a bullying pattern of behavior, you can:
- Tell the principal or elementary program facilitator directly - either through e-mail or by appointment.
- Report through the district’s anonymous TIPs hotline. This can be accessed on Burr’s website. It is located in the middle of the page.
Of course, if you know of an incident of inappropriate behavior, you can contact your child's teacher, Mrs. McCarthy or me through e-mail or phone as well.
Upcoming Dates
Monday, January 20 - No School - Martin Luther King's Birthday
Thursday, January 23 - Principal's Coffee at 2:00 (Writer's Workshop)
Friday, January 31 - Dream Dare Do Share Grade 5 at 2:00
Monday, February 3 - One Book, One School Start - Text Title Coming Soon!
Thursday, February 13 - Early Dismissal at 1:40
Thursday, February 13 - STAR Reports Available in Infinite Campus
Friday, February 14 and Monday, February 17 - No School, President's Weekend