PTO CORNER > 
CANCELED: 6-8 COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
The breakfast originally scheduled for Friday, 12/7 has been canceled. It will be rescheduled after the new year.
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PARENT MEETING: ENRICHMENT AND CHALLENGE SUPPORT
Monday, 12/17, 7-8pm @ School Committee Room, Town Hall
The Brookline Schools Enrichment and Challenge Support (ECS) Program will soon start a year-long process to review the Program. At this meeting, parents will learn about the Program Review process and the mission and work of the ECS Program, and will have opportunity to ask questions and help shape the Review. Contact pierce.pto@gmail.com with questions.
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PARENT OPPORTUNITY: PROGRAM REVIEW COMMITTEES Have ideas for improving the Enrichment and Challenge Support (ECS) Program? Join the team! A committee is forming now for the Program Review, which will begin in January. Two or three parent representatives will be needed to serve alongside teachers and administrators. This is an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively with a cross-section of the community on improving achievement for all students.
To learn more and to apply to serve, please contact Amy Martin at 617-730-2427 or
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SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE
Please check the website for this month's notes on the Parent Leader meeting with Dr. Lupini. Agenda items include: Social Competency, Bullying Prevention, and Enrollment Growth.
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LITERACY COLLABORATIVE - VIDEO OF PRESENTATION
Do you have questions about the Literacy Collaborative initiative at Pierce and what it means for your child's learning? If you missed the presentation by Brookline's Coordinator of K-8 English Language Arts, Patricia Kinsella, you can see a video on the School Council page of the Pierce website:
Ms. Kinsella explains why Brookline joined the Collaborative, describes how participation will impact students and teachers in Brookline, and answers parent questions.
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ATTENDANCE REMINDER FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
As we approach the December vacation, please remember to contact the office (617-730-2580) regarding any student absences. If you neglect to call, it is the district's policy that we call home. Please be aware that teachers may not always be able to pass attendance information to the office. You may call at any time; please leave a message if the office is closed. Thank you!
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PIERCE PTO ANNUAL APPEAL - PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TODAY!
THANK YOU to the 118 Pierce families who have donated to the Pierce PTO Annual Appeal. Your generosity has helped us top $23,000! However, 79% of Pierce families have not yet contributed. If you haven't, and are in a position to do so, please make a donation today. Any amount helps; we have received $5 and $25 donations, and all are vital in helping the PTO fulfill its mission to help teachers and students. The PTO raises funds to reimburse teachers and specialists for supplies and critical classroom technology, and to pay for in-school arts assemblies, field trips, and so much more! Donate online at http://www.pierceschoolbrookline.org/, or drop a check in the PTO mailbox at school.
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HOLIDAY SHOPPING TO BENEFIT THE PIERCE PTO!
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SCHOOL CORNER >
BYE BYE BIRDIE TICKETS GOING ON SALE!
Tickets $7, available to purchase Monday, 12/10 through Friday, 12/14, from 7:45-8:15am outside the main office. Showtimes:
Thursday, 12/13 @ 7pm
Friday, 12/14 @ 7pm
Saturday, 12/15 @ 2pm
Saturday, 12/15 @ 7pm
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EXTENDED DAY SKATING PROGRAM - USED SKATES NEEDED
Pierce School Extended Day (PSED) offers a skating program for students in Grades 1-5, and is in need of used children's skates for those who do not own them (renting at the rink can be problematic). If you have skates you're no longer using, PSED will gladly accept them. PSED also welcomes donations of adult skates for our teachers. Drop-off at the PSED office, 2nd floor, Pierce Historical Building. Thank you!
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3-6th GRADE SCHOOL PLAY IS.......WILLY WONKA, JR.
For complete registration, audition, and rehearsal details, please visit:
http://www.pierceschoolbrookline.org/school-plays.html.
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AND ANNOUNCING...
5th & 6th Grade auditions Dec. 19-20. Prior registration required to audition; registration link will be printed week of Dec. 10. The 5-6th Grade cast will be limited to 68 kids, on a first-come, first-served basis, when the registration page goes up. Registration for 3rd-4th Grade Chorus, Tech Crew, and Set Crew will go up Sunday, 12/16. A link to these registration pages will be sent out the week before. Parent volunteers are needed. Contact Joshua Abrams at jlabrams@me.com.
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7th & 8th GRADE PLAY NEEDS SET & PROP PIECES FOR BYE BYE BIRDIE
We urgently need rotary telephones, OR just the telephone handsets. Please contact Blanka at belablanka@me.com. if you have a phone to lend, or are interested in helping us find other needed items.
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SAVE THE DATE: CALDECOTT NIGHT
Thursday, 1/31/13, 5-7pm
Save the date for Pierce's inaugural Caldecott Night, for students and families in grades K-3. For a complete list of books up for this award (great teacher gift ideas!), check out:
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SPECIALIST'S CORNER >
Grades K-2: Ready, set... go! Using their knowledge of pathways, students played various games involving chasing, dodging, darting, and fleeing.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD: What is the difference between chasing and fleeing?
Grades 3-6: Congratulations on completing the Team Building/Adventure unit, a non-traditional P.E. segment focused on building cooperation and group communication skills. Each grade level completed different teamwork challenges, then debriefed about solutions and strategies after each class. We've been impressed with students' growth and communication skills.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD: What roles and types of communication were necessary for success in your activities? What role(s) did you play?
Grades 7-8: Students aced our Fitness unit! They used free weights, stability balls, jump ropes, trampolines, and other fitness equipment, and wore heart-rate monitors to record exertion levels. We're accumulating more fitness equipment, and are excited about developing a fitness room to enhance our P.E. program!
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD: What are the different components of physical fitness? What did you do in class to work on them? What is your target heart rate zone when exercising? How do you determine it?
All students in grades 4-8 have embarked on the FitnessGram assessment, which measures cardiovascular endurance, upper body strength and abdominal strength/endurance, flexibility, and body composition among all public-school students district-wide. Completed reports will go home with students, and will be used to guide them in improving/maintaining their overall level of physical fitness.
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PROBLEM OF THE WEEK >
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COMMUNITY CORNER >
BHS MATTRESS FUNDRAISER SALE!
Saturday, 12/8, 10am-5pm @ Brookline High School
Brookline High School Ski & Tennis teams announce a Mattress Fundraiser Sale. Need a mattress set? Buy at the fundraiser, and save 30% to 60% off retail! Profits go directly to teams. https://www.facebook.com/CustomFundraisingSolutionsBoston.
For more information and to save an additional $50, please contact ski team member (and former Pierce student) Bela at belablanka@me.com.
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SNOWFLAKE FESTIVAL & OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, 12/9, 1-5pm @The Brookline Arts Center
The Snowflake Festival and Open House i s a free event with art activities, games, hot cocoa, and fun for the whole family. For more information, check out http://brooklineartscenter.com/ or call 617-566-5715.
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B-PEN NEEDS PARENT FEEDBACK
B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network) has made a concerted effort to keep parents informed and involved through our newsletters, parent networks, presentations, and website. B-PEN is conducting a short survey to evaluate our effectiveness. Go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B-PEN by December 12.
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ALASTAIR MOOCK'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
Saturday, 12/15, 10:30 am @ Coolidge Corner Theater
Boston family music favorite Alastair Moock will feature Christmas and Hanukkah classics, witty originals, a 20+ student chorus, and fun for the whole family! Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids, but there's a discount code available to the first 100 families that sign up. Visit this link, and where it asks for a Promotion Code, type in MOOCK15 to get $2 off adult tickets:
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BROOKLINE PASSPORT TO HEALTH AND FITNESS
A great stocking stuffer or Chanukah gift! For $10, Brookline residents 18+ can purchase a 10-class Passport to stay healthy and fit for the holidays and beyond. You get access to Brookline gyms and fitness centers; yoga, Pilates, and martial arts studios; and lots more. Passport registrants may try out one complimentary class each at ten different partner locations anytime between January 1 and April 30, 2013. Participating partners as of 12/1 include Beacon Hill Athletic Club (Brookline Village location), Boston School of Boabom, The Body Center, Brookline Tai Chi, Commonwealth Sports Club, Inner Space, Karna Fitness, Koko Fit, Lavinia Borcau Skin Care, and Roni Brissette Yoga, with more to come. For further
information or to purchase a passport, call 617-730-2069 or visit www.brooklinerec.com.
The Passport program is being introduced in conjunction with Brookline Climate Week, the town's climate action initiative to be celebrated in January 2013. The project is also supported by the Brookline Departments of Economic Development, Public Health and Recreation.
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DECEMBER PERFORMANCES AT BROOKLINE HIGH SCHOOL
Enjoy fabulous performances at BHS this December, including a Winter Concert that's free for elementary students! Other performances include an Improvised Music Festival with the BHS Jazz Band, and the freshman class play You Can't Take It With You. For complete details, please click here.
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BROOKLINE WINTER FARMER'S MARKET
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CLASSIFIEDS >
DanceFIT STUDIO
DanceFIT Studio, Brookline's leading ballet & fitness studio, is accepting new students (18 mos to 12 yrs) for our winter ballet program beginning 1/3/13. Our "studio in the church" is a comfortable and nurturing learning environment that teaches the art of ballet - the perfect start for every young dancer. We also offer children's birthday parties, Kids' Dance Nights, and an award-winning adult fitness program. Learn More: www.dancefitstudio.com or email info@dancefitstudio.com. Classes held at Church Of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth Street.
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MYOPIA (NEARSIGHTEDNESS) CONTROL Is your child's nearsightedness getting worse each year? Do you know there are ways to prevent myopia progression? The earlier (younger) you start, the better chance for success. Make an appointment today. For more information, please visit us at www.optimumvisioncare.com, or contact us at 617-903-3538 or info@optimumvisioncare.com. ________________________________________
NEED AN ILLUSTRATOR WHO WILL GET YOUR COMPANY NOTICED?
Local artist Line Olsson creates illustrations that complement your marketing and advertising designs. Whether it's a poster illustration or a flyer or drawing for an article or book, Line will make the art work for you. Line is skilled with ink and pencils, watercolors, acrylics, block print, mixed media techniques, and digital media. Her clients include The Boston Globe, DGVE Law, and The Etiquette Academy of New England. View Line's work at www.lineolsson.com, or contact her at 617-816-8747 or line.olsson@gmail.com.
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KOLTUN BALLET ACADEMY
Pre-professional ballet training in an inspirational environment for young people ages 6-19. We aim to provide students with a rich knowledge of classical technique, and the ability to adapt to all styles and techniques of dance. We offer a hands-on approach, individual attention, and dedication to our students. For more information, please visit us at www.KoltunBalletAcademy.com or call 617-901-3792.
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PIANO INSTRUCTION
Berklee & New England Conservatory graduate with 30+ years teaching experience. Beginners welcome. Build a high-quality musical foundation with a patient, caring teacher. Gloria Jasinski, phone: 617-566-9704, email: piano566@comcast.net
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