Burr Elementary School in Auburndale is one of fifteen public elementary schools in the City of Newton, Massachusetts. All parents and guardians of students at Burr are members of the Burr PTO. You are invited to participate in PTO meetings and activities throughout the year. Parent involvement in the school is a fundamental part of what makes the school community at Burr rich and fulfilling.

Keep up with the latest information from the Burr PTO below...

Burr School PTO News

Please help us plan for next year's Kindergarten!

During the first week in January we will be in touch with families of children who are eligible to enter kindergarten at Burr next year (those who are 5 years old on or before August 31, 2012).

On Monday, January 30, 2012 at 6:30 PM (snow date is Tuesday, January 31), we will have an orientation program for parents of next year's kindergarten class. Any parent who is currently in the Burr district and who has a child eligible for kindergarten should plan to come to this meeting. Various Burr staff will present information about the kindergarten program, the upcoming kindergarten registration sessions scheduled for Tuesday, March 1 & 8, and the school in general.

If you know of any families with kindergarten age children who may not have been counted on the last census (e.g. people who have moved in recently) please ask them to call the school or let us know. Thanks for your help in reaching out to these new members of the Burr community!

Modular Update

Per Mindy Johal, the construction crew has been busy during our break working on the modular classroom. Mr. Gaita's class will be moving into the modular and Ms. Jaquith will be moving her art classroom upstairs into the space vacated by Mr. Gaita.

Before the break, Mr. Gaita, with the assistance of several other staff members, packed up his classroom materials ready for the move. We will not move the art classroom upstairs until the first graders are completely moved into the modular. All plans were made with careful consideration to minimize any disruptions to student learning. Many thanks in advance to Mr. Gaita, Ms. Jaquith, and Ms. Frail (construction site neighbor) for their flexibility during this time and Mr. Tobin and Mr. Marrazzo for all the heavy lifting involved.

Auburndale Parents Yahoo Group

Join the Auburndale Parents Yahoo Group & stay informed about:

  • Community News
  • Local Familly Activities (including camps, classes, etc)
  • Parenting Issues
  • And much more!

To join, visit Auburndale Parents Yahoo Group. Questions? Email Maren Oslund.

Upcoming Burr Events

Burr's Witty Winter WingDing in February

Q: Why did a hot Burr tomato go out with a prune?
A: Because she couldn't find a date!

Say, we've got a hot date for you!

What: Witty Winter WingDing - Burr School's Comedy Night
Where: Turtle Lane Playhouse When: February 11th, 2012, 7-10pm

There will be raffles to win and drinks to swill! Mark your calendars now. And you can bring whomever you like (as long as they're at least 21 years old). Tell all of your friends and neighbors. You don't have to be a Burr parent to attend.

Burr Parent Night Out at the Skellig

Yet another opportunity to hob knob with your fellow Burr parents and friends! On Saturday, March 3 from 6pm to 9pm, the Burr PTO is planning a band night at the Skellig. Steve DeJesus' band will be playing. Stay tuned for more details.

7th Annual Burr Ice Skating Event

Please join us for our 7th Annual Burr Ice Skating Event on Sunday, March 4!

When: Sunday, March 4, 2012, 3:00pm - 3:50pm
Where: Newton/Brighton Daly Ice Skating Rink
Who: Everyone is welcome - bring the entire family
Cost: FREE, FREE, FREE - paid for by the Burr PTO
Skate Rental available : $5.00 per person

Directions to follow. If you have any questions now, please email Jean Giglio or leave a message at (617) 527-3464.

World Cultures Festival

A beloved Burr school tradition! Please mark your calendars now for the Burr World Cultures Festival on the afternoon of Saturday, March 24. Burr school families will work together to transform our school into a bustling international festival. If you are from another country or your family continues to celebrate a tradition of your ancestors, we'll look forward to working with you in the upcoming months to make this year's festival a success! For volunteer opportunities, see below.

Can you lend a hand with any of these activities!?

World Cultures Festival Planning Meeting

We encourage parents to join us for our planning meeting on Wednesday, February 1 at 7:00 pm in the Burr library. Our festival relies on the participation of many Burr families--the last time we held the festival (in 2010) there were 29 different country "hosts". We want to break that impressive record this year...

Don't have a particular culture to share, but want to help celebrate our diverse Burr community? We have lots of ways for you to become involved! Please be on the lookout for a flyer outlining volunteer opportunities in your child's folder this week. If you would like to be involved in the planning of this year's World Cultures Festival, please contact Dana Hanson, Ann Langenfeld, or Jackie Gelb.

Newton School Volunteers Wanted

"I think I'm getting smart!"

Become a Newton School Volunteer and hear these words from a student.

  • Tutor a 2nd - 5th grade child in basic mathematics concepts once a week for 30-45 minutes
  • Select your preferred school, grade, day, and time
  • Play special math games that reinforce skills and help students gain confidence and competence
  • Training, Everyday Math books and learning materials, and ongoing support are provided
  • No teaching experience is needed

For more information, please email Ellen Bender or call (617) 559-6131.