July 2020

Dear Burr Families,

I hope you are having a good summer. In these unprecedented times, I hope you are finding peace and solace in simple things. It's been a great reminder to my family to appreciate each other as well as the little things about the world that often go unnoticed.

I am sure you still have many questions about how Fairfield will reopen schools and how this reopening will translate to the daily workings of Burr Elementary School. The district staff and the Burr staff have done a lot of thinking and planning over the summer about both the logistical and instructional elements of a reopening plan.

As we transition into August (and get closer to the start of the school year), I will be communicating those things to you. Two things need to happen first, however. The Board of Education will be meeting next week to discuss reopening plans and will most likely make additional decisions about Fairfield's plan. Also, a survey will be blasted out to families from the district that will help gauge which families want to start the year with distance learning for their children, and who will be sending their children to school beginning on September 8th. The results of this survey have implications on our direct planning. I appreciate your patience as we gather this important information. My goal is to have some type of virtual meeting later in August with Burr parents in order to describe our school's plan.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to read the district's plan and watch the district's virtual Q/A held this week. You can use the following link:

https://www.fairfieldschools.org/2020-reopening-plan

Finally, some of the usual opening of school information - staff changes, homerooms, forms, etc. will also be communicated in the weeks ahead and will be available on our website. Right now, our school supply list is available on our website at the following link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/161Gcz71YWxjZ-VLvg0a_4IzjyxXN1VoUxmubX0OK0yQ/edit

If you have any additional questions, feel free to e-mail me at jbluestein@fairfieldschools.org

Be well, and talk soon.

Jason

hiring - lunch/recess aides

We are looking for anyone interested in working as a lunch/recess aide. I am not sure yet what the specific responsibilities of this role will look like for the beginning of the school year, but, in the past, lunch/recess aides cover both the lunch room and recess. If you would like to spend some time in school and get paid for it (or if you know of anyone) , please e-mail me at jbluestein@fairfieldschools.org

invention convention

A huge congratulations to outgoing fifth grader Graham Gosselin who won first place (for the entire country for fifth grade) for his invention - Sure Contact Cane. What a monumental achievement for a great young man!

https://inventionconvention.org/blog/2020/07/02/invention-convention-u-s-nationals-2020-winners/

what i am reading

I am currently reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Told in the form of a letter from an African American father to his son, it's a complicated book about a complicated subject. However, it has given me a lot to think about. With all of the discussions and actions happening with race in our country now, it's an important book, and I would highly recommend it.