Friday, September 29, 2017

Weekly Bulletin September 29, 2017

Dates to Remember 
Tuesday 10/3 - 8:30am or 7:00pm - Parent Meeting with School Committee members regarding School Hours Changing for 2018-2019.  All parents are invited to attend. **see below 




A warm welcome to some new faces at Francis Wyman!



Mrs. Guanci is our newest Kindergarten team member although she comes with many years of teaching experience in Burlington.  Welcome aboard!
Mrs. Jennifer Hazen is our new school nurse.
She has recently moved from her school nurse position in Maine
 and we are fortunate to have her join our FW community!

Students & staff eagerly begin a new school year!



A warm welcome to some of our newest
Kindergarten friends.  They have spent the first
month practicing classroom routines,
meeting new friends, and learning to work together!

Mrs. McDonald delivers the 
"Golden Falcon Seal" to each
student's passport.  This final stamp
demonstrates that the child has practiced
our SOAR expectations throughout all
areas of the school.  
Congratulations!




Ms. Hayes conducts a "Morning Meeting" with her
 class as all teachers work diligently to implement 
Responsive Classroom strategies and build
positive classroom communities with their new students.
                                                                                  

 Thank you PTO for cleaning out two sandboxes on the playground and adding brand new sand!  
And here, Mr. Doiron spray paints a new hopscotch pattern on the new asphalt.







**Reposted from the Superintendent's Blog...

September 20, 2017

Over the last two years, Burlington has been part of a larger public health conversation focusing on high school start times. The Middlesex League High Schools - Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Lexington, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn - all committed to having local conversations about the benefits of starting high school at 8:30 or later.

In Burlington, we have had a standing item on School Committee agendas and last spring discussed a
specific proposal that maintains our current transportation costs. This proposal is for the start of school in the fall of 2018. In addition, we hosted Dr. Judith Owens, sleep expert, at the high school to discuss current research and benefits of delaying the start time of high school.

Please know that the district is approaching this decision carefully and in the best interest of the greatest number of students. We understand that any change is difficult. Before making this decision, the School Committee would like to have community conversations on this topic. These conversations are scheduled for Tuesday, October 3rd and Thursday, October 5th at 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The October 3rd meetings will be in the Francis Wyman Auditorium. The October 5th meetings will be in the High School Auditorium.

If you did not have the opportunity to participate in Dr. Owen’s presentation, you can review her
information at the website we set up to share information on this topic
(http://bpsschoolstarttimes.wordpress.com/faqs/).
Community Forums:
Tuesday, October 3, 8:30 a.m. in the Francis Wyman Elementary School Auditorium
Tuesday, October 3, 7:00 p.m. in the Francis Wyman Elementary School Auditorium
Thursday, October 5, 8:30 a.m. in the Burlington High School Auditorium
Thursday, October 5, 7:00 p.m. in the Burlington High School Auditorium

Burlington Special Education Department & SEPAC Invite Parents and
Caregivers to a Meet-and-Greet

Hosted by Burlington Parent Advisory Council
Place: Grandview Farm/Marion Tavern
Doors open 6:45 pm, presentation to begin at 7 pm

The Special Education Department and Burlington SEPAC invite parents and caregivers to a meet-and-greet
on October 4th from 6:45 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.at Grandview Farm/Marion Tavern's Conference Room (2nd floor).
Meet with SEPAC co-chairs and Special Education staff from each school.  Topics will include the array
of special education programming and how special education is being implemented into the district.  
Questions, please contact burlingtonspedpac@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there!


People Helping People
Come help People Helping People food pantry by purchasing a pumpkin at the fifth annual Pumpkin Patch from October 1 through October 31 at St. Mark's Church, 10 St. Marks Road in Burlington. The patch is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.  All proceeds will benefit People Helping People and the Food Pantry. 



Monday, September 18, 2017

Weekly Bulletin Sept. 18, 2017

Dates to Remember:
September 19 - Back to School Night 6pm - 8pm, see below
September 27 - School Photos
October 21 - Parent Academy, more information to follow

Scroll down to meet some new teachers!

Our annual Francis Wyman Back to School Night will be held Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 6:00-8:00pm for all grade levels.  This evening is designed for parents to meet their child’s teacher(s), learn about grade level curriculum materials, and hear about classroom expectations.  Please refer to the schedule below and plan to attend the presentations that are conducive to your needs. 

Back to School Night Schedule
6:00 - 6:30  Grades K-2 presentation 1
6:15 - 6:45  Grades 3-5 presentation 1
6:35 – 6:45  Confidentiality Meeting with the Administration
6:45 - 7:15  Grades K-2 presentation 2
6:50 – 7:00  Confidentiality Meeting with the Administration
7:00 - 7:30  Grades 3-5 presentation 2


A Confidentiality Meeting will be held in the auditorium at 6:35 or 6:50 pm for parents looking to volunteer for any school activity.  This meeting needs to be completed once during your years at FW and the signed documentation will be kept on file in the main office.

Drop-off Reminder... Students may be dropped off in the morning between 7:55 and 8:10am. Drop-off is done in the back of the building, where we have staff on duty.  If you arrive to school after that time, please park and walk your children into the building.   

Pick-up Reminder... Students in grades 1 - 5 will be released out the front doors, starting at 2:15pm. Please refrain from parking in the Handicap Parking Spaces. 


Elizabeth Franson is a new Kindergarten Instructional Assistant.
Paige Sheldon joins us as a Special Educator.

Maureen McGurl, who joined us last year as a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant, works with Brendan Murphy, a new Permanent Substitute. 
Here's Veteran teacher, Ms. Hayes reviewing a lesson in Grade 2!

As our students learn the FW SOAR values, they receive their "Golden Falcon Wings".  



BRIDGES Together in Burlington starts at Francis Wyman on October 5th! Do you know anyone who might be willing to volunteer? We need adults ages 55 and over willing to spend one hour a week with fourth grade students for six weeks, beginning Thursday October 5 from 12-1PM.  The program ends before Thanksgiving. Classroom teachers lead the lesson and volunteers spend time talking with students to build a relationship and get to know one another. Two volunteers work with a group of 4-6 students.  An orientation is provided for new volunteers prior to the first session, and volunteers do not need to be Burlington residents.   Contact Courtney Wasserburger by phone at 781-273-4109 or register online at http://tinyurl.com/bridgestogether1718, or through Facebook (Bridges Together Burlington).

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Weekly Bulletin, September 12, 2017

Welcome Back!

Dates to Remember:
September 19 - Back to School Night for all grades  6pm - 8pm
September 27 - School Photos
October 21 - Parent Academy, more information to follow


FW Used Bookstore Looking for Volunteers
Do you have one hour available to volunteer on a Wednesday morning once a month from 7:40-8:40?  I am looking for volunteers to help with our used bookstore.  You can bring your children with you.  I need people to help unpack our used books and set them up on the cafeteria tables, help students shop, and then pack up the books.  Students come down after they check in with their teachers to shop.  All our books are 50 cents or students can trade a book from home.  If you can help, please email me at dmurphy@bpsk12.org or call at 781-238-6859.  Thanks

A huge Thank You to the PTO for beautifying our school grounds!  The weeds have disappeared and the new mulch looks gorgeous. When you see these families around town, please thank them for a job well done! THANKS TO... The Woodbury's, Kosinski's, Collin's, Walker's, Brady's, Fricke's, Delaney's, and Gray's

Another Thank You to our Garden Volunteers this summer!  We grew numerous tomatoes, squash, and gorgeous flowers too. ⚘ Every year gets a little better and we are so fortunate to be working all together to make it happen. Thank you to these generous families...
Stead's, Bruno's, Ohols, Screnci-Hughes, Ruiz', Ellis', and Stefanowicz'

Back to School Pictures...













****Calling All Golfers****

In support of the current 5th Grade Class (Adopt a Class- 2025) our sponsor Newtowne Grille is hosting a Golf Tournament Monday, September 25, 2017 (rain or shine).  Windham Country Club, Windham, NH Check-In Time: 8:00 AM Shot Gun Start: 8:30 AM  Fee is $125 per player.  Spots are filling up!  Luncheon, Awards, and Raffle will be held at Newtowne Grille, Billerica beginning @ 2:30 PM.  To make a donation to this event, to register or for more information please contactjoanmtremblay@gmail.com.