The Runkle News · We can improve asthma care with prevention, education, medication and early...

The Runkle NewsNewsletter published weekly by the Runkle PTOSubmissions by Wednesday, 12:00 pm to [email protected] main phone number: (617) 879-4650 Absence line: (617) 879-4249 Website: www.runkle.orgNewsletter Editors: Emily Dolbear, Emeshe Juhász-Mininberg, Shalini Kasida

Issue: #3-10 September 27, 2010

From the PrincipalDear Families,

We have had another great week! Last Friday, we had ourfirst K-2 Morning Meeting and we are gearing up already for theHalloween Fair. Please be on the lookout for more information fromthe PTO. There will be plenty of opportunities for volunteers as well.

Just a reminder... Please remember to send in a note if yourchild(ren)'s dismissal plan is changing on a particular day. Forexample, if we are used to seeing your child in bus line everyday andthen he or she is not present, it would help us to know in advance sothat we do not hold up a bus unnecessarily. Thank you!

Lastly, I would like to thank all of the parents and the PTOfor their involvement in the Family Picnic and Staff Dinner thatoccurred on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. It was a great time tosocialize with one another and enjoy our new surroundings! Thankyou all for a lovely (and delicious) event!

Sincerely,Vanessa Beauchaine, Ed. D.Runkle School Principal

More FAQs...

Several people have asked other questions about the transportation plansince our last FAQ sheet was sent out: 1. What exactly do the students do when they arrive early?

Students are escorted to different areas of the building depending

upon their grade level. For example, the Kindergarteners are escorted off ofthe buses first and are led to the R.E.D. room where they may choose tolook at books, listen to a story read by the person in charge, play a gamewith a buddy, or play with a toy they have brought from home.

When the rest of the students get off of the buses, they are led to

either the Library (grades 1 and 2), the Gymnasium (grades 3-4), or theCafeteria (Grades 5-8). In the Library, the person on duty along with theLibrarian have put out browsing bins of books and magazines, or thestudents may be invited to listen to a story, or the students may choose toengage in reading a book that they brought with them, or engaging withtheir peers in a game or something else the students have brought withthem. In the Gymnasium, students were previously engaging in a game of

This Week's Events

PTO MeetingTues., Sept. 28, 8:05 a.m.in the cafeteria

Picture Day, Grades K-8Thurs., Sept. 30 3rd Grade Informal Parent CoffeeThurs., Sept. 30, 8:00 a.m.133 Buckminster Rd

Back to School Night, Grade 6Thurs., Sept. 306:45 p.m., in the library, until about 8 p.m.

Back to School Night, Grades 7 & 8Thurs., Sept. 307 p.m., in the cafeteria, until about 8:45 p.m.

5th Grade Informal Parent CoffeeFri., Oct 1, 8:00 a.m.133 Buckminster Rd

2nd Grade Potluck DinnerSat., Oct 2, 7:00 p.m.185 Buckminster Rd

Remember to Hand InSummer Reading Logs and Math Calendars!

Deadline: Thurs., Sept. 30

Students, please return your completed SummerReading Logs and Math Calendars to yourclassroom teachers by this Thursday, Sept. 30.

Runkle News, Sept. 27, 2010 https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_previe...

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their own choosing, but now that there is a more consistent group ofstudents present in the mornings, a "game of the day" will be led by theperson on duty and students can choose to take part in the game or they maychoose to enjoy the minutes before school either engaging a peer in a quietactivity or reading a book. Finally, in the Cafeteria, many of the studentshere have been using their time wisely to finish up homework or to engagein reading before beginning their day.

Overall, this morning time at the school has worked well as a way

for the students to ease into their day and has allowed for them to connectwith their friends and allowing them to make some choices about how tospend their "before-school" time. In each area, for example, there may besome activities that are available to the students, but we do not mandatetheir involvement. Therefore, the students who prefer to engage in a quiettime to read before school or to work on an assignment are afforded the timeto do so.

2. Can the students eat breakfast at school in the morning? Yes...students can buy breakfast in the morning. Breakfast is

served at the school beginning at 7:30 a.m. each morning in the Cafeteria. Food is not served in the other areas of the building. Therefore, students ingrades K-4 who are not usually in the cafeteria before school, would need togo to the Cafeteria to have breakfast. The staff is aware that students maybe going to the cafeteria for breakfast from these areas as well.

While the answer to the first question lists what students in various

grades do before the beginning of the school day, we may alter this plan ifmore and more students begin to take advantage of the opportunity to eatbreakfast at school.

3. When are the teachers' office hours? A schedule of each teacher's office hours will be posted outside the

classrooms shortly and the schedule will also be shared with you via theRunkle News in the next edition since "dropping by" the school to see theoffice hours in person is more difficult in our new location.

From the School NurseWelcome Back! I hope that this year will be a healthy and happy one for your children. Please inform me if there have been any changes in your child's healthstatus over the summer, or if there are any special medical needs that yourchild might have so that we may make the necessary accommodations. Nursing coverage at Runkle is full time. If your child requires daily medication in school, or occasionally, as aninhaler for asthma, please come see me so we can discuss the medicationsand treatment plan and fill out the appropriate paper work. Students inthe upper grades may carry their own inhalers, but it is often helpful tokeep one in the nurse's office just in case. Asthma is the number onechronic childhood disease and we see this reflected in the numbers atRunkle. We can improve asthma care with prevention, education,medication and early referral. In the coming weeks we will start hearing and vision screening inkindergarten. Hearing tests are done individually and vision screenings

We celebrate our summer accomplishments in October!

Please Save the Date for ECS Parent Coffee

Parents interested in learning more about theEnrichment and Challenge Support (ECS)program at Runkle should plan to attend a coffeestarting at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12th. Moredetails will follow.

Yard Sale to benefit 8th Grade trip to NYC a BigSuccess!Thanks to the 8th graders and their families for putting togethera very successful yard sale this weekend and thank you to all theRunkle families who donated and shopped for goodies onSaturday. We were able to raise $3300 to benefit the 8th gradetrip to New York. Unsold items were donated to various groupsincluding Runkle's after school program, Cradles to Crayonsand the Brookline Library. Special thanks to Beth Harris andChristina Suh for organizing and to Linda and Bob Mast forgraciously hosting the event. Another special thank you to FerrisWheels of Jamaica Plain for helping us with a generous purchaseof second-hand bicycles. If you need a new or used bicycle, partor repair, call them! We really appreciate your support andpurchases. Perhaps the 7th grade parents will continue the YardSale next year and it will become an annual Runkle event! Thanks again!

- From the 8th Grade


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in small groups. If your child has trouble with these you will receive aletter or phone call from me indicating what the problem is so that youcan follow up with your pediatrician. In 7th grade updated physicals and immunization records are required,indicating a tetanus booster has been given. If you wish to have yourdoctor fax these to me the fax number is 617-739-7675. Please feel free to call me or stop in if you have any concerns about yourchild's health, need medications to be given or have medical questions Imight be able to help you with. Barbara Hedges, RN, MSRunkle School [email protected]

From the PTO

Potluck Suppers 2010Looking forward to seeing everyone!!

All dinners run from 7pm to 9pm and are for parents only--kids need to stayhome for this one! Your room parents will contact you as the date drawscloser to coordinate who brings what.

This year's grade-wide potluck suppers will be held as follows:

1st Grade - Becca Brendel, Oct 16th, 46 Hyslop Road2nd Grade - Lynne & John Chuang, Oct 2nd, 185 Buckminster Road3rd Grade - Linda Carlisle & Bob Mast, Oct 23rd, 233 Fisher Avenue4th Grade - Rachel & Ron Rubin, Oct 30th, 175 Clark Road5th Grade - Sue & David Sturman, Oct 30th, 255 Clinton Road6th Grade - Christina & Bob Suh, Oct 16th, 33 Clinton Road7th Grade - Jenn Meader & Mark Lowenstein, Nov 6th, 158 Winthrop Road8th Grade - Beth & Mitch Harris , Oct 2, 239 Clinton Road

As you can see, we still need a host for the Kindergarten class. Pleasecontact Rosemary McElroy at [email protected] if you are able to host orwould like more information.

PLEASE REMEMBER Our new school location has two safe drop zones

at the Brookline Hills stop

on the corner of Cypress and Walnut streets

Please consider picking up older students here to speed upyour pick up and decrease congestion at the school.

CLASSIFIEDSPlease note: The Runkle News and PTO have not researchedand are not responsible for the services, products, and/orrequests made in these ads.

Baby Sitter AvailableResponsible and fun seventeen year-old girl. Attended Runkle K-8. Lots of experience as campcounselor and working with children of all ages. Available Fri., Sat. & Sun. Please call Madison at617-721-1795 or email [email protected]

Baby Sitter AvailableExperienced and responsible BHS sophomore andRunkle grad. CPR certified. Fully bilingual inSpanish. Can offer support/enrichment with Spanish


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From the Community

Brookline Car-Free School DayWednesday, October 6, 2010, 7:30 am - 8:30 am

walktoschool.org

Who: 6,000 children attending Brookline's public schools.

Walking to school is an excellent way to get physical activity andto establish healthy lifestyle habits and exercise patterns thatcan be continued into adulthood. Kids need to move. Obesity

homework. Please contact Lena at 617-505-5144 [email protected]

PhotographerAmara Cohen Photography is available to capturethe moments of your family's life. Contact AmaraCohen, a Runkle parent, at 617-799-6008 [email protected]. Visit website:amaracohenphotography.com Piano Instruction5 blocks from Runkle. Learn Jazz/Blues/Classical,theory, sightreading from a Berklee & New EnglandConservatory graduate with 30 years teachingexperience. Beginners welcome. Gloria Jasinski,phone: 617.566.9704, email: [email protected]

A Step Ahead Basketball Offerings after-school and Saturday classes for ages7-13. Classes are skill based and focus on thefundamentals of the game. All classes are held inNewton and are offered: Monday, Wednesday andSaturday. For more information please contactCoach Smith [email protected] / 617-909-5990 --- Or visit http://www.asahoops.com

Looking for pdf versions of theRunkle News?

Pdfs of the weekly newsletter areposted online on the runkle.orghome page.

For prior issues, please clickon "News and Events" on the Toolbar to the left,then "Runkle News".


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rates among children have more than doubled in the past twentyyears.

Replacing car trips to school with walking, biking, or similar modesof travel can help reduce air pollution. Motor vehicle use isrecognized as the source of more air pollution than any othersingle human activity. In Brookline, CCAB (Climate Change ActionBrookline) and Selectmen's Climate Action Committee have joinedforces to fight climate change at the local level. Car Free SchoolDay is a great way for the school community to help the Townmeet its greenhouse gas reduction target.

Brookline Car-Free School Day is linked to International Walkto School Day held annually, attracting over 3 million schoolchildren in 21 countries.

Sponsored by the Public Schools of Brookline and the School Green Teams;Brookline Departments of Public Health and Recreation; Climate Change ActionBrookline; Selectmen's Climate Action CommitteeFor further information call Lynne Karsten at 617 -730 2336,[email protected]

Closing Reception with the Artists"Attractions: New Art Coming to the Brookline Arts Center"Thurs., Sept. 30, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Brookline Public Library MainBranch, Main Floor and Hunneman Hall, 361 Washington Street,BrooklineFree and open to the public, with refreshments.

Brookline Town-Wide Ice Skate ExchangeSun., Oct. 3, 3-5 p.m., Schick Park on Addington Rd. Brookline will hold its first town-wide Ice Skate Exchange at theAspinwall Hill Neighborhood Association's Annual Picnic and GreenNeighborhood Fair. Donate and/or select skates including both figureand hockey skates. Skates that remain after the Exchange will besold with proceeds going to the Friends of Brookline Recreationsports scholarship fund and the Aspinwall Hill NeighborhoodAssociation.

Indoor Play SpaceFor children 6 months to 3 years old Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30a.m. to12:00 noon beginning October 12. Soule Recreation CenterGymnasium, 652 Hammond Street, Chestnut HillAre you looking for a safe, warm indoor place to bring your child on acold winter day? Visit our indoor play space drop in. Watch your childhave fun and socialize with other children while you get a chance tosocialize with other parents. We will supply the mats, some toys andthe space. For more information contact the Brookline RecreationDepartment at 617.730.2069.

Baby Sign LanguageWednesdays, Sept. 29 - November 17, 10:00-10:45 amEliot Recreation Center Baby Sign language - Talk with your baby . . . before your baby learnsto talk! Have you ever wondered what your baby is thinking? Or whyyour baby is crying? The Baby Signs® Program teaches babies touse simple, easy-to-do gestures for communicating with their parents


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and caregivers. Fun games, songs, and activities highlight importantdevelopmental skills. To register please visit our website atbrooklinerec.com or call 617.730.2069.

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