Flynn PTO Update 1/27/13

Hey there Flynn Families - So nice to see so many families out at the family traditions dinner last Friday- thanks for braving the cold and bringing such yummy foods!

Frankenstein auditions took place during the inquiry fair last week.  Looks like we have about 45, 3-5 students joining the cast and this week we will put a call out for stage crew and 3rd grade chorus - watch the backpacks for permission slips.  Don Wright will be in on Tuesday to announce parts and do a read through with the kids.  If your child is in the play, you are too!  This is a whole family event with lots of fun ways to get involved in the production of the show.  Your involvement is critical - thanks!

We’re having our second planning meeting for Frankenstein this Thursday, January 31 at 6:30 in the learning center. Sets/props and costumes will be forefront on the agenda. If you have anyone in mind that you’d like to invite to this meeting as well, please do! Everyone is invited.Frankenstein is going to be a really fun show and I hope to see all of you at the meeting!

Music for Frankenstein is on-line at Very Merry Theatre for you listening pleasure.  Once practice has started, lyrics will be handed out.  In the meantime, add this to your Favorites and encourage your child to immerse him/herself in Frankenstein!  Click the link below.  NOTE:  Right click on the song of choice and then choose "open" - for some reason you cannot just open the songs with a double click...
http://www.verymerrytheatre.org/audio.html

**A link to the Ad sheet is below if you would like to print it and purchase and/or sell an ad for the playbill:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1VAZB13CEQ8AsV24sN8RoxBkmrAN6tJea8vxBneQXuQYZA0tDCXkJiqvPwCS5/edit

SAVE THOSE BOTTLES & CANS!  The second bottle drop of the year will be Saturday, March 10^th  at Merola's Market from 9am - 5pm.  (The Saturday of Daylight Savings Weekend)  Put aside your deposit bottles, grab them from work or tell your family and friends to save them. This is a super easy way to raise money for the PTO.  We raised over $100 in the fall and Merola's will donate 10% in addition to what we raise to the school.  More details to come as we get closer to the date.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL info from Mr. Clarke Now that all students are at Flynn School, arrival and dismissal locations will look different for most students. Please note the following:

 

 

There will be no change for Kindergarten students and siblings of Kindergarten students, they will be dropped off and picked up using the Starr Farm Rd parking lot like they have all year.

 

Students eating breakfast at school will also enter the on the Starr Farm Road side of the building.

 

All Kindergarteners and Kindergarteners with older siblings will also be picked up in this same parking lot.

Beginning tomorrow, all students in vehicles who are grades 1, 2 3, 4 and 5 will both arrive and be picked up on the North side of the building using the North Ave parking lot that we used last year.

 

 

Students who are walking home after school and walking south using the Starr Farm crossing guard, will exit the building by the front door. Parents may meet their child who is walking south on the sidewalk in the front of the school.

Students who are walking north will use the Safeway sidewalk that borders the North parking lot. They will exit the hallway door at the north end of either the Grade 1/2 wing or the new Grade 3 - 5 wing. Siblings who are walking north together will meet by the cones that will now be by the start of the Safeway pavement.   This new cone location is also where parents will meet their child who is walking north from the school.

Flynn will post this info to their website. If you have any questions please call the office at 864-8478

 January Staff Appreciation  is in full swing thanks to the third grade. A few parents of third-graders cleaned the staff break room last week.  They hung up signs to let staff know they cleaned up and to look forward to treats this week. They left some flowers (in pots) on the tables, and a bin of candies for staff to enjoy.   This week parents will be bringing in food goodies, coffee/tea/sugar, etc for staff each day. Thank you third grade families for treating Flynn staff - I know they love every minute of it!

 

 

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) at Flynn??? I understand there will be a speaker next Thursday night from 7-8, addressing the possibility of Flynn becoming a STEM school.  Here is just a little information to get you interested and thinking.   Come find out more next week (see calendar below).

How will we meet the needs of society in the future? Where will the technologists, engineers, and innovators of the next generation come from? How can we stop the erosion of interest in science, technology, engineering, and math? The answers to these questions may lie within your own classrooms. Elementary education teachers who use lessons that introduce creativity and innovation can help students with career exploration and development. You can inspire students to take an early look at “frontier occupations” like alternate energy, green transportation, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and aquaculture to name a few. It is especially important that girls and other underrepresented populations are encouraged to fully participate in STEM-related experiences. However, the increased dependence on technology will require all students

to have a solid foundation in the STEM disciplines.

An emphasis on design and problem solving in the classroom will allow students to use cross-disciplinary tools for discovery and for developing solutions to problems that are open-ended (allowing for iterative steps, rather than highly structured patterns). Such a classroom would give students an understanding of the relationships of STEM areas as they are used in the real world beyond the classroom walls. Instead of separating science, technology, engineering, and math into individual curriculum “silos,” STEM can provide our students with the integrative tools of investigation and analysis. Consequently, a STEM classroom shifts students away from learning isolated facts, to experience-based inquiry with major opportunities for independent learning. Using design as a framework

for instruction has been heralded as a means to advance academic abilities, creativity, and learning.

A STEM-influenced elementary classroom should require students to participate in solving (age-appropriate) problems that encourage original research. Such a class would offer multiple problems for students to pursue. Students would design, model, and test solutions. They would analyze data and report their findings to one another, to their peers in the school, or even to others over the Internet.

For More Info:http://www.stemschool.com/

 

Partnership for Change Learning Conversations  Will your child have the resources they need to succeed?? We need your input!!  Come participate in a Learning Conversation about educational change at BHS.

Stop complaining and do something!  This is a great opportunity to talk about Burlington schools, your child and what you want for them!  The only necessary qualifications is that you are a parent and want the best for your child!!!

Where: Flynn Elementary School (all BSD families invited)

When: Tuesday, January 29 from 6:00-7:30

Why: For an opportunity to participate in our Learning Conversation.

Do you know that the Burlington-Winooski Partnership for Change is actively working to build better relationships with community members and to solicit insight about the future of our high school? One way that the Partnership is currently doing this is by meeting with small groups of community members in their own schools or neighborhoods in the form of Learning Conversations.

There are a few specific goals for this Learning Conversation.

First, the Partnership hopes to gather feedback from us about what we feel are the essential skills, knowledge, and character traits for our BHS graduates. This information will be used to help frame the ongoing work of the Partnership and to identify points of consensus regarding graduation requirements.

Second, is to ensure that, as community members, we are informed about the vision and the work of the Partnership.

Lastly, is to share the many opportunities for us to become actively involved with the Partnership - including the February 2nd Community Learning Conversation at BHS.

Also, if you need childcare, let us know, and we will make sure we have child care available.

If you are unable to attend, but are interested in being involved, please contact Jill Jacobelli at jjacobel@bsdvt.org, and she will link you up with another conversation happening in our community. Please feel free to share this with a neighbor not on the list.

In preparation for the conversation, if possible, please watch this short welcome video.

Then, in order to best participate in the discussion, I encourage you to watch one more video and do one or two more readings:

Tony Wagner's Ted Talk

What Does Proficiency-Based Learning Look Like?

What is a Proficiency-Based Diploma?

We look forward to seeing you there!Thanks so much!

For any questions and/or to R.S.V.P. write- Kuypers5@yahoo.com

<sub>SAVE THE DATE

January 31 - Chess Club -7:30am
January 31 - Frankenstein Planning Meeting - 6:30 in the library
February 6  - Knit 2gether, drop in knitting bee, 6:30-8, Library
February 4 - Chess Club - 2:45pm-3:25pm in the library
February 7 - School Safety Protocols Q&A with Mr. Clarke, 6pm in the library - pizza provided
February 7- February PTO meeting 6:30-7, library - childcare provided
February 7 - Will Flynn be a STEM school?  7-8pm, library
February 11 - Chess Club 2:45pm
February 12 - PTO Pizza Order Forms due
February 19 - PTO Pizza pick-up 
February 20- Knit 2gether, drop in knitting bee, 6:30-8, Library
March 10 - Bottle Drive at Merola's 
March 13 - Knit 2gether, drop in knitting bee, 6:30-8, Library</sub>

 

Flynn PTO Update 1/21/13

_{Hey There Flynn Families -}

Family Traditions Dinner this Friday!!!!

 

If you remember back to last January, our annual potluck was so well attended that we had folks lined up around the cafeteria waiting to sample the buffet.  We are trying to make things more comfortable for families by having two seatings this year.   Seating will be at long tables with folding chairs to maximize seating.  We have made provisions to seat 200 per seating.  If you have kids overlapping the seating times just choose whatever works best for your family - there will be nobody to stop you!   However, the bulk of the 3/4/5 performances will be starting at 6pm and eating at 6 means you will miss them.  There will be African drumming for all to enjoy after the student performances.

Mr. Clarke plans to release a schedule of performances mid to end of the week - if he gets me the info, I will send out an email blast to families.  There will be an all school assembly on Friday at 1:15pm and 3/4/5 students will share their learning with the entire school. There will be limited standing room for parents who cannot make the dinner and would like to see their child perform.  Come in through the front doors, sign in and head to the stage gym.

Frankenstein Update: Auditions for grades 4/5 are this week.  Your child must have a signed permission slip to audition.  Contact the Production Manager, Sarah Smith if you have any issues or questions. sarah@esptrans.com

Planning Meeting: Thursday, 1/31 at 6:30pm in the Flynn library-  All parents of participating kids are invited - lots of tasks, big and small to be divided.  All parents are being asked to participate in some fashion - come to this meeting and have your first choice of how you can help make Frankenstein a raging success

Chorus: In the next few weeks, we will be having sign-ups for the 3rd graders to join the Frankenstein chorus.  In past years this has been wildly popular with about 2 out of every 3 students joining the chorus.  We are looking for a few 3rd grade parents to get involved.  We will need help at weekly chorus practices (~45min, 1x week) This chorus assistant help with kid herding, follows the lead of the chorus leader/choreographer and escorts kids from lunch to library and back to the classroom.  It would be great to have 2 parents sign on for this so that there is at least 1 parent helper per practice.  Other parents will be needed to help pull together costuming/make-up and help on production days. 

Important Dates:
1/29 - Play rehearsals begin
3/5 - Optional 5th grade only rehearsal
3/16 - Set Building/painting Day - all day - Great fun!
3/17 - Technical dress rehearsal  -full costume and make-up,  12-6
3/18- Dress Rehearsal - Dress, no make-up - 11:30-2:30
3/20 - Dress rehearsal - Dress and make-up - 2:45-6
3/21 - In School Show - 12ish
3/22 - Evening Performance - 7pm
3/23 - Matinee/final performance - 4pm

 
Playbills: Preparations for a playbill are already in full swing.  HUGE thank you to Bren Alvarez for her on-going leadership in helping us provide this great memento (and $$ generator) for the play. A link to the Ad sheet is below if you would like to print it and purchase and/or sell an ad:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1VAZB13CEQ8AsV24sN8RoxBkmrAN6tJea8vxBneQXuQYZA0tDCXkJiqvPwCS5/edit

Program Ad Sizes and Rates for Frankenstein  JJ Flynn Elementary School Production  Thursday, March 21, 2013 Friday, March 22, 2013 Saturday, March 23, 2013  DIRECTOR: Don Wright Very Merry Theatre 863-6802, donwrightvt@yahoo.com AD SALES: Sarah Smith sarah@esptrans.com FILE REQUIREMENTS: Request(Request/Demand) a jpg or psd type file  at 300 dpi at the print size of the ad EMAIL ARTWORK TO: Bren Alvarez bren@flynndog.net *We can help with your ad layout. Call or email Bren. *Three playbill ads at Flynn, Smith, Hunt Schools for price of two Contact Shireen Hart. Shirin@shirin.com Deadline: content delivered by Monday, February 25 for Flynn (February 1 for Smith school)   FULL-PAGE AD OPTIONS INTERIOR, Black & White or color,  $125 INSIDE FRONT COVER, Color,  $150 INSIDE BACK COVER, Color, $150 BACK COVER, Color,  $200 ½ PAGE AD  Half Page is 6 by 4.5 inches (4.5 inches vertical) , $75 ¼ PAGE AD   Qtr Page is  3 by 4.5 inches (4.5 inches vertical), $40   Chess club at Flynn will meet the last 2 Thursday mornings of January.   Then , starting in February, it will switch to Mondays after school until 3:45pm.  If your child regularly participates in Chess, we would love help with snacks or help during chess play. Burlington Schools Safety Survey Following the recent shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, Burlington Schools met with the Burlington Police and Fire Departments to revisit our safety protocols and conduct a security audit of our school facilities. In addition to these proactive plans, we are assessing our physical plants and determining necessary changes. We are working to develop a plan for Board consideration. That is where we would appreciate your help. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey (link below) about the safety and security at your child’s school. Your feedback will help us develop a list of recommendations and improvements in the current school year, along with budgeting for other changes going forward. The survey will remain open until February 1st. Nothing is more important than our students' safety. Please know that we will do everything we can to ensure their well-being.http://research.zarca.com/k/RQsQPPWUsQUsPsPsP

PTO Pizza MID WINTER SALE!   All Pizzas are $3 off!  Only $12!  Get your orders in by Feb. 12 (either hand in your form from the flyer into the office or email Tammy at Kuypers5@yahoo.com)

Pick up your pizzas on Feb. 19^th and Enjoy a yummy Ramuntos Pizza for a non-cook night!!

Partnership For Change needs YOUR Input.  It might feel like high school is a long time off for your child, but as you know by now, it goes fast and when you blink your eyes, your sweet munchkin will have graduated from Flynn school and be on their way to BHS.  We are so fortunate that our kids will be the BHS students benefiting from this opportunity for school transformation.  Maybe you don't have the time to join one of the planning committees that meet monthly, but this opportunity let's you be part of the solution by talking with other families about the 21st century skills out kids need to be successful.  See the invite below and take a look at the links.

Hello Everyone!

Will your child have the resources they need to succeed?? We need your input!! Our friend Sarah Bertucci is currently working with the Partnership for Change. We have agreed to host a Learning Conversation and hope you can come!

Where: Flynn Elementary School
When: Tuesday, January 29 from 6:00-7:30
Why: For an opportunity to participate in our Learning Conversation.

Do you know that the Burlington-Winooski Partnership for Change is actively working to build better relationships with community members and to solicit insight about the future of our high school? One way that the Partnership is currently doing this is by meeting with small groups of community members in their own schools or neighborhoods in the form of Learning Conversations.
There are a few specific goals for this Learning Conversation.
First, the Partnership hopes to gather feedback from us about what we feel are the essential skills, knowledge, and character traits for our BHS graduates. This information will be used to help frame the ongoing work of the Partnership and to identify points of consensus regarding graduation requirements. Second, is to ensure that, as community members, we are informed about the vision and the work of the Partnership.
Lastly, is to share the many opportunities for us to become actively involved with the Partnership - including the February 2nd Community Learning Conversation at BHS.
Also, if you need childcare, let us know, and we will make sure we have child care available.


If you are unable to attend, but are interested in being involved, please contact Jill Jacobelli at jjacobel@bsdvt.org, and she will link you up with another conversation happening in our community. Please feel free to share this with a neighbor not on the list.

In preparation for the conversation, if possible, please watch this short welcome video.

Then, in order to best participate in the discussion, I encourage you to watch one more video and do one or two more readings:Tony Wagner's Ted Talk
What Does Proficiency-Based Learning Look Like?
What is a Proficiency-Based Diploma?

We look forward to seeing you there! Thanks so much!

Tammy and Jon Kuypers
For any questions and/or to R.S.V.P. write- Kuypers5@yahoo.com
 
_{SAVE THE DATE
January 21 - No School- MLK Day 
January 23 - Knit 2gether, drop in knitting bee, 6:30-8, Library}
January 24 - Chess club - 7:30am 
_{January 25 -Annual Family FREE!!! 7-9pm, stage gym.  Monsters Inc!!! 
January 31 - Chess Club -7:30am
January 31 - Frankenstein Planning Meeting - 6:30 in the library
February 7 - Chess Club - 2:45pm-3:25pm
February 7 - School Safety Protocols Q&A with Mr. Clarke - pizza provided
February 7- February PTO meeting 6:30-8, library - childcare provided 
February 11 - Chess Club 2:45pm
February 12 - PTO Pizza Order Forms due
February 19 - PTO Pizza pick-up} 

Flynn PTO Update 1/13/13

Hey There Flynn Families - Looking forward to having all the kids and staff under one roof again!  Hope to see you on the 25th!

Correction to Family Resource Materials - If you find something you would like to borrow, take it into the office and complete the sign-out sheet with Ms. Carr - no need to do a library check out.  Thanks! 

 

Flynn Family Movie Night in the stage gym is on Friday, February 1^st from 7-9 with popcorn, water and raffle for the movie at the end of the night.  Bring a blanket or low beach chair, put on your comfy clothes and kick back with Flynn families for some free entertainment!  Contact Heather Simmons at 

heathers@lundvt.org with any questions.  

The December Flynn Family Fundraiser raised $1109.24!  Thanks to your generosity, Flynn families in need were provided with gift cards that allowed them to purchase food and essentials for the cold winter months.   

Frankenstein and Friends....  So things are getting going for Frankenstein. Don Wright met with students last week to introduce the play.  Permission slips went home  for grades 4/5 and must be returned in order for your child to audition.  Auditions will be held during the Inquiry Fair, Jan 23 & 24, 8:45-11am. We will need 2 parent volunteers each of those days and Very Merry Theatre will provide a staff member.  Is your child planning to be in the play? Do you have some daytime flexibility and can come in to help on one or both of those mornings?

Frankenstein is loosely based on Mary Shelley's book of the same name.  In this VMT production, Dr. Frankenstein and friends create a monster.  In the meantime, a local developer, Mr. Craven, is wooing Dr. Frankenstein's daughter in hopes of someday taking over the castle and turning it into a resort.  Mr. Craven gets wind about the monster and plots to ruin Dr. Frankenstein by baiting the monster.  Wackiness ensues followed by the creation of a 2nd monster (Bride of Frankenstein).  Enter angry mobs, more goofy jokes and a heartwarming twist at the end.  Prepared to be wowed by another Don Wright adaptation! 

Costumes are in the planning stages.  We will have loads of monsters - many that you might already have pieces for at home from past Halloween costumes...  Looking for:

Capes/other goodies for vampires

Dementor costume

Cookie Monster costume

2 white labcoats

tophat, tuxlike jacket

White gown for bride of Frankenstein

Godzilla costume

wookie costume

zombie clothes...

We are looking to beg, borrow and steal as much as we can to keep costs down on the production end as well as for the families.  Take a look through your Halloween goodies to see what you might be able to lend - Thanks!
Contact Kate at akbelluche@aol.com or flynnschoolpto@gmail.com

 

Knit 2gether Adult Knitting Group  started last week. People had a great time learning to knit and working on unfinished projects.

Knitters of all level are welcome to join us the next time we meet Jan. 23rd at 6:30 in the Flynn Library. Other needle workers are encouraged to come and work on their projects.

 

Come meet new friends or connect with old ones.

What: Adult Knitting Group for all levels

Where: JJ Flynn Library

Who: Parents/Guardians of JJ Flynn Students and Flynn Staff

When: Wednesday Evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 *See dates

Cost: Free Just bring your needles, project and yarn

Dates: 1/23; 2/6; 2/20; 3/13; 3/27; 4/10; 4/17; 5/8; 5/22
 

Sara Hurley is happy to lead us in learning a new skill or having time to work on an old project in a relaxed atmosphere. Other skilled knitters willing to offer advice are encouraged to come. Knitters of all skill level are welcome.

While this is time for grown-ups to relax and connect if you need to bring your child there will be some quiet activity or a DVD to watch.

Questions?

Contact Mary Mitchell 863.8983 or Maryellemo1@hotmail.com

No commitment needed, just drop in when you are able to.

**If you are a skilled knitter and willing to help others learn the craft please come or let Mary know you are willing to help.

Looking forward to seeing you there.  OTHER NEEDLE WORKERS WELCOME TO JOIN US!

 

 

Family Traditions Dinner in just a few short weeks (or long weeks depending upon how you look at it...)  Come eat, play and VOLUNTEER!   

 If you have a 3rd-5th grader, you should volunteer for shift 1 or 3.  If you have a K-2nd grader, any of the shifts would be fine.

Shift 1: 4:30-6pm - all the set-up of buffet, tables/chairs, stage gym
Shift 2: 6-7pm - Ferry foods to kitchen, put out buffet, replenish, spot check tables and garbage
Shift 3: 7-8pm - Manage food, take away empty dishes, clean up/breakdown in multi-purpose room and stage gym

Partnership Embarks on Innovation Tour in NYC January 7th, 2013                                     

Yesterday, a group of 30 individuals from Burlington and Winooski embarked on a learning journey to New York City. The group includes students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members from both cities.  This trip was organized by the Partnership for Change's Proficiency Based Learning Fellow, Sarah Bertucci, in collaboration with IDEA.  

In NYC, the group will be visiting schools and community organizations that have done exceptional work in proficiency-based learning and serving their diverse student bodies, particularly ELL students. Schools visited will be from the Internationals Network and the New York Performance Standards Consortium, among others. See the full itinerary here.

This group will learn a lot from the site visits, but the real power of the tour lies in the learning community that will be created and the information that will be brought back and shared with Winooski and Burlington. For our schools and communities to have their best future, we need to learn, grow, and work together as a diverse group from many backgrounds, playing many different roles.

Please follow their journey by watching the NYC Tour blog where they will post reflections, video, and information about their Twitter feed (@partnershipvt, #p4cnyctour).

<sub>SAVE THE DATE

January 15 - PTO Pizza pick-up!  4:30-6 in the office at Flynn
January 17 - Chess Club
January 21 - No School- MLK Day 
January 23 - Knit 2gether, drop in knitting bee, 6:30-8, Library
January 25 -Annual Family Traditions Dinner - 6-7:30pm
February 1 - Flynn Movie Night, 7-9pm, stage gym.  Family appropriate video to be announced soon 
February 7 - School Safety Protocols Q&A with Mr. Clarke
February 7- February PTO meeting 6:30-8, library - childcare provided</sub>
 

Flynn PTO Update 1/6/12

Hey There Flynn Families -  No rest for the weary.  Monday and Tuesday are your last opportunities to weigh in on the proposed budget cuts.   Join families from around Burlington in the BHS cafeteria at 7pm on Monday and Tuesday.  Can't make it?  Please take a moment to contact your school board representative and let them know your thoughts. 

Wondering what's on the table?  Me too. The info out there is pretty vague, but there are many paraeducator jobs on the chopping block.  These cuts will not be to paraeducators assigned to a single student, but are likely to be the paraeducators that assist all students in the classrooms.  The Kindergarten teachers each have one full time which allows each child to have more teacher attention.  Imagine yourself in a K classroom with 20 children just learning to read and write and count.  Some kids come to school with a wide range or skills, but many more are starting right at the beginning - 1 teacher, 20 kids...  Other paras assist a grade level and provide support for reading and math groups and an extra teacher during writing workshop - again, imagine one teacher, 20-22 students, many of them needing extra assistance.  Taking away valuable assistance in the classrooms seems to fly in the face of "no child left behind". 

A Spanish teacher is on the chopping block - likely to mean that Spanish instruction starts later in the elementary school.

Our library assistant may be on the chopping block.

This is your opportunity to provide input about what is important to your family.  School Board members are closely tracking letters, emails and parents who choose to speak out at meetings.  Your voice cannot be heard unless you're making some noise.

While you are making some noise about these cuts, consider that Flynn school has been wired for the placement of video cameras to provide for student safety and anti-theft.  While we have not had any major student safety issues, there have been many thefts at Flynn school over the past year.  If you think that some video surveillance at Flynn would be a good thing, please let your school board member know.  Principals are requesting, but parents will have to speak out and push the issue.

**Don't forget that this coming Tuesday is a 1/2 for Flynn students.  All students must go home at 11:30.


Minutes from the PTO meeting last week can be found at the end of this post.

All BSD elementary students are taught math using the Bridges Math Program.  For nearly all parents, today's math instruction looks much different that what we were taught - I like to compare it to learning a new math language.  If you are ever feeling stuck to help a struggling child or are just feeling inquisitive, pop onto the Bridges website to take a gander at the parent resources.  It is broken up by grade level
http://bridges1.mathlearningcenter.org/resources/materials/parents

BSD Superintendent, Jeanne Collins released the following letter to parents this week.   BSD Safety Protocols    Jan. 1, 2013

Dear parents and guardians:

As students return, I want to update you as to the safety planning in the Burlington Schools. 

Following the recent shootings in CT, Burlington Schools met with Burlington Police and Fire and revisited our safety protocols. Much of what is recommended is already in place in Burlington: the use of identification in the buildings, locking all but one door at each school during the school day, monthly planning meetings at the school and district levels to be as prepared as possible for safety incidents that may occur, regular lockdown and evacuation drills, and on some campuses such as BHS, cameras to help us monitor hard to see places.  

In addition to these proactive plans, we are assessing our physical plants and determining priority need for changes to be made. At the top of our list are Edmunds Elementary, where the office is on the 2nd floor, Champlain Elementary where the office cannot see the front door, and BHS, where there are many entrances. We will be working to develop a plan for facility safety improvements and will be sharing these plans with the Board in the next month or so. We anticipate making some changes in the current school year and budgeting for other changes going forward.  

We all care deeply about your children – our students. All Burlington schools have a well-earned reputation of being student-centered. Nothing is more at the center of our hearts and minds than our students' safety. Please know that we will do everything we can to ensure their safety.

Sincerely,

Jeanné Collins

Superintendent

Note: The PTO has asked Mr. Clarke to address parents on February 7th (6pm - pre PTO meeting) We are asking him to be specific about student safety at Flynn school and to answer questions about families/community members coming and going at Flynn school.  We will provide more information as soon as we can


Family Traditions Potluck Dinner on January 25th. This is the first in the line-up of Flynn Family Nights.You bring a yummy dish to share and the PTO will throw in ice cream sundaes to sweeten the deal.  We are looking for parents to volunteer to help in one of three shifts (set-up/beginning, middle, end/break-down)  Set-up:4:30-6.  Middle 6-7.  End/Break-down 7-8.   All those friendly faces that regularly volunteer would welcome you to take a shift so they can have a chance to eat and play with their families too...  Many hands make light work.  Please email Shanta Eastman to sign-up for a shift. shanta_eastman@yahoo.com


 Inquiry Fair Coming to Flynn for grades 3-5.  Mr Clarke is looking for some family support during the day to provide assistance to the inquiry fair on January 23, 24, 25.  Sorry I cannot be more specific, but if you have daytime flexibility and like hanging out with kiddoes this might be a great opportunity for you!  Contact Mr. Clarke for more information  gclarke@bsdvt.org (please cc Ms Carr at kcarr@bsdvt.org)


<sub>SAVE THE DATE



January 7, 8 - School Budget Public Comment at BHS - 7pm
January 8 - Flynn (only) early release day - not on Dist. calendar
January 8 - PTO pizza forms due
January 10 - Chess Club at 7:30am in the Learning Center - all abilities welcome! 
January 10 - Principal's Coffee at 8:30
January 15 - PTO Pizza delivery!
January 17 - Chess Club
January 21 - No School- MLK Day
January 25 -Annual Family Traditions Dinner - 6-7:30pm</sub>

PTO mtg 1/3/13

Time: 6:35

OPEN FORUM

Conferences were discussed and the fact that report cards come out after and the fact that some people feel it would be more productive to have the conferences after the report cards go out. It was brought to the group's attention that these are district decisions and would be difficult to change.

Discussed increased attendance at the meetings, Tammy brought up idea of having PTO mtg with a theme- here are some discussion suggestions generated:

- Viewing of the movie Play Again (as done at SA), Mothers Nature's Child or Race to Nowhere as an add on to PTO Mtg or as a stand alone mtg. (Kate B is looking into getting license for Race to Nowhere movie to be a part of the parent lending library)

- Internet safety (Tammy will contact Officer Beerti)

- Budgeting for college

-Pizza for February Mtg- possibly an alert now and a Flynn Flyer announcement?

Connecting with other organizations to support our learning and finance- SA has a strong connection with Shelburne Farms for example- please bring ideas to next mtg.

- Homework discussion has been tabled

UPDATES

Treasurer's Report (John Boone)

Only a few teacher grants have been awarded, John will email the staff with reminder to use their grant money. John filled out the form to reinstate our non- profit status (it was revoked because of missed filing deadline)

Principal's Corner (David Wisenstein)

- Family Tradition dinner and last day at St. Joe's will be 1/25

- Inquiry Fair-1/23-1/25: ECHO, Shelburne Farms, drumming, theatre, cooking etc. Many enrichment activities offered to students while teachers pack up and move back to Flynn. Still looking for volunteers! (David/Graham will write up a blurb about volunteer opportunities to post on the blog)

- Parents are invited to to talk to school board members about the need for security cameras

- Graham will review safety protocols at Feb PTO mtg. (new entrance, sign- in protocol, etc.)

Enrichment Update (Kate Belucci)

- There has been an initial Frankenstein mtg and letters will go home this week. Auditions will begin during the inquiry fair.

- Looking for parent volunteers! (sewing and costume making)

Fundraising Update (Tammy)

- Sarah talking to Dan's chocolates about potential fundraising opportunities

- Discussed lowering pizza cost- suggested to do a one month special for $12 pizza just for Feb, FPF ad (asking Karen Carr to post) North Ave News, something in the after school newsletter.

FSP Update (Shanta)

- Shanta asking for parent volunteers for family traditions dinner

- Suggestion of asking Lisa to check in about room parents helping to coordinate volunteers

Room Parents Update (Christine Leithead)

- 3rd grade parents going to clean the break room

Playground Update (tabled)

OTHER:

Outerwear swap- a big donation of coats, hats and gloves made by Gadues

Flynn Family Nights-

March 8th- (Family Night Event) Book swap, book mark making and prizes for book character costumes

March 29th Family Skate Night at Leddy- free! (Shanta)

April 12th Lego Night (Kate Belucci)

Open nights: 2/1, 2/8, 3/15

Field Trips- can parents drive or do kids need to take bus? More discussion and investigation needed

Adjourned at 8:10