School and Community Connections

SCHOOL CONNECTIONS

Burning Tree's website

Please click here to go to the Burning Tree website. School policies / Parent Tip sheets

Communicating With the School Office
Ms. Cathy Shaub, the Principal's Secretary, can assist you with questions about the school, calendar clarifications, requests for appointments with Mrs. Erdrich or Mr. Tark, or any other school concerns. Her e-mail address is Cathleen_F_Shaub@mcpsmd.org. You may also call her at 301-320-6510.

When visiting Burning Tree, please:

1. ENTER and EXIT BY THE MAIN DOOR
   In order to ensure the safety of our children, the Main Office must be able to monitor who enters the school building at all times. In order to do this, all visitors must enter through the main door -- even when it is inconvenient. IT IS A SAFETY NECESSITY! All other doors will be locked.


2. PLEASE SIGN IN AND OUT
   Please sign IN and OUT at the Main Office each time you enter the school. A visitors log is conveniently located on the credenza just inside the Main Office Door. By signing in/out you ensure that we will have accurate information about who is in the building in case of emergency.


3. ALWAYS WEAR A GUEST IDENTIFICATION BADGE
   You must always wear an Identification Badge to identify yourself as a welcome visitor. This badge indicates to our teachers, support staff and to our children that you have permission to be in the building. If you plan to volunteer regularly, you may have a personal identification badge prepared by contacting Olivia Lai, PTA Vice President for Volunteers, at 301-365-0417 or laigill@comcast.net.


4. NEVER PARK AROUND THE CIRCULAR DRIVE
   Parking on the circular drive is prohibited by the Fire Marshall at all times, including days and hours that school is not in session. Please park only in the spaces designated for VISITORS or in the area adjacent to the Burning Tree playing fields. Please do not park in spots designated for staff at any time.


5. DO NOT ENTER CLASSROOMS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY (unless volunteering or for a pre-arranged event such as a birthday).
   Please do not enter any classroom during the school day even if it is only to pick up your child for a doctor's appointment or to deliver a forgotten lunch. Any such classroom entry -- no matter how brief -- interferes with class instruction. Parents should enter the Main Office ONLY and ask the administrative staff for assistance.


6. SAVE THE SCHOOL PHONE FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY
   Please discourage your child from using the phone to call home during the day EXCEPT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. Children are not permitted to call home from school to arrange play dates. All play date arrangements must be made before or after school.


7. SCHOOL HOURS
   School begins at 9:10 a.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m. We are not able to receive children earlier than 9:00 a.m.

For information on Burning Tree's Student Safety and Discipline policy, please click here.

Homework and Testing
For information on homework policies at Burning Tree, please click here. For information on Testing, click here.

Getting your Child Extra Help: the Educational Management team
If you believe that your child needs additional support to facilitate his/her academic achievement or social adjustment, you should first raise your concerns with the classroom teacher directly. Burning Tree provides support services to ensure the success of every child. The classroom teacher can refer you to the appropriate service or to the Educational Management Team.
For more information on the EMT, please click here.

Drop-off, pick-up procedures and school bus schedule
For information on the drop off and pick-up procedures, please click here.
For a bus schedule, please click here.

Absences, arrivals and dismisal
For information on the absences, arrivals and dismisal procedures, please click here.

Health Issues
For information on health issues, please click here..

Parent visits and volunteers
A visit can be an excellent way to gain better understanding of your child's learning routine and to observe your child's interaction with his/her teacher.Please realize that you may only visit the classroom by appointment.
Burning Tree celebrates volunteers, and there are abundant opportunities for volunteering.
For more information please click here.
For volunteers who come in to help with recess, please click here for specific recess volunteer guidelines.

Emergency information

• CLOSINGS, LATE OPENINGS, AND EARLY DISMISSALS
  School may be closed, open late, or dismiss early due to extreme heat, inclement weather, power failure, or another emergency. Information about emergency school closings, late openings, and early dismissals is broadcast on television channels 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9; and radio stations WMAL 630 AM, WRC 980 AM, and WTOP 1500 AM. Information is also available at www.schools-out.com, or through the MCPS Information Line at (301) 279-3673. Notice of emergency closings will be given as early as 6:00 a.m. and is repeated throughout the morning hours. On late opening days school is delayed by 2 hours.
  Emergency early dismissals are announced when the Superintendent has made such a decision. On early dismissal days all Recreation Department and Enrichment programs are canceled. All students need a plan for Emergency Early Dismissal. Please discuss this plan with your child and be sure your child knows where to go when school closes early.


• EVACUATION PLANS
  Burning Tree has an evacuation plan which was developed under the guidance of MCPS. In case of a fire, students are evacuated from the building to the blacktops surrounding the school. Plans are also in place in the very unlikely event of a more serious emergency. Should there be any situation requiring an evacuation to a slightly further distance, the school will take students to the far side of Burning Tree Park by the tennis courts. If the situation requires students to leave the premises entirely, they will be taken to Pyle Middle School. Should this situation arise, parents should call Pyle Middle School at (301) 320-6540 to get information.


• LOCAL OR REGIONAL EMERGENCY
  The safety of students and staff is paramount at Burning Tree. In the event of a local or regional emergency, we will follow the directives of MCPS, Montgomery County and other authorities. Parents will need to follow staff and official instructions concerning pick-up of their children. Sufficient food and water is stocked at Burning Tree in the unlikely event that students are required to shelter in place (remain at school significantly beyond regular hours).
  In case of emergency and depending on the circumstances, we will make every effort to communicate with parents including use of BTNET. Parents are responsible for making sure that Burning Tree has up-to-date telephone numbers and emergency dismissal plans for their children. To sign up for BTNET, click here. .

For more back ground information on weather decisions (what factors are considered, who makes the decisions), school closings, delayed openings, early Dismissals, Code Blue and Code Red situations, please click here.

Communicating with Teachers

At Burning Tree, the staff work to provide a safe and motivating learning environment in which all students experience academic and social success. Teachers communicate openly with parents and value communication.
Please voice any concerns about your child's education to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. You, the parent, must bring your concern to the attention of the Burning Tree staff in order for it to be understood and addressed. DO NOT let your concerns intensify. Give voice to concerns in sufficient time to allow the teacher to act on them.

Any concerns you have should always be raised first with the appropriate staff member (teacher, specialist, support staff, bus driver, etc.). Please do not go to others or to the principal until you have tried to have your concerns resolved by the staff member directly.

Back-to-School Night

During the first month of school, you will be invited to attend Back-to-School Night. Though NOT an opportunity to share or gain information about your child specifically, Back-to-School Night is designed to answer questions about your child's academic program in general.

Back-to-School Night is an opportunity for you to visit your child's classroom and to hear from your child's teacher. Your child's teacher will discuss his/her objectives for the year and will communicate what is expected of your child at this grade level. You will have time to ask questions about the class and instructional program and to learn more about your child's daily schedule.
The teacher will also share his/her requests for volunteer assistance both inside and outside of the classroom. Room Parents, who are volunteers responsible for coordinating classroom events, will also present information about their plans for the year and will ask for your support.

Notes or E-mails

Teachers will let parents know at Back-to-School Night how they would like to be contacted. Generally, the most effective way to communicate concerns or questions to a staff member is to write a note. Notes should be delivered to school through your child's backpack or dropped at the Main Office. Please ensure that notes are sealed and clearly labeled with the appropriate staff member's name. Some teachers welcome e-mail and will share their e-mail address at Back-to-School Night. Please be sure to respect the teacher's wishes with respect to e-mail. Please be specific and concise in your note or e-mail. In addition, to support and encourage a constructive and informative dialogue, please share your concerns without criticizing. Criticizing a teacher's work can diminish the relationship between parent and teacher rather than foster an educational partnership. Please allow at least two school days for the teacher to respond recognizing the many competing demands on the teacher's time. Also provide a phone number or e-mail address so the teacher can respond to you as easily as possible.
Please DO NOT “copy to” the principal. Mrs. Erdrich receives an extremely high volume of e-mail, so unless it is very important she is included in any e-mail conversation, there is no need to copy to her.

Phone messages

You may call the school at (301) 320-6510 and leave a message for a teacher to return your call. Please be aware that our teachers DO NOT have phones in their classrooms, and they are generally not available during the school day. Please allow time for the teacher to respond and please leave specific information about your availability to receive the return call.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

During the fall semester and prior to the issuance of the first report card, you will be invited to attend a parent-teacher conference. You will be able to sign up for your conference at Back-to-School Night. The conference is an opportunity for you to meet alone with your child's teacher to discuss your child's progress and to review samples of your child's work. At any other time of the school year, parents are encouraged to request additional conferences as needed to address concerns that cannot be effectively resolved by note, phone or e-mail. Conferences can be scheduled directly with any staff member for a mutually convenient time.
Conferences provide an opportunity to

• share specific concerns
• offer examples of the problem to the teacher
• work with the teacher to generate possible solutions
• set a time frame to implement the solutions
• arrange a follow-up meeting or phone call to evaluate the solutions

Please click here for a list of all Burning Tree's teachers and staff members, and for staff e-mail addresses.
Please note that this list is not yet complete, for more information contact the Burning Tree office.

The Learning Center

From Burning Tree parents Eva Scheer and Yvonne VanLowe:

The Learning Center Article Series, # 1

Burning Tree is one of 11 elementary schools in Montgomery Country with an Elementary Learning Center serving children with multiple needs in grades K-5. The goal of the Learning Centers is to provide comprehensive special education instruction and related services to students with multiple needs and varied disabilities to enable students to achieve success in the MCPS curriculum.
Read more...

The Learning Center Article Series, # 2

The Learning Center is a part of Burning Tree Elementary School that every parent and child should take the time to understand and embrace together.
Children with special needs face many challenges and obstacles. These children will have an easier time navigating the world if the people in their lives take the time to understand them. The children, teachers, and parents at Burning Tree can make a big difference in their lives by learning more about the children with special needs in their school.
Read more...

Lunch and the Cafeteria menu

Lunch may be brought from home or purchased from the school cafeteria. Burning Tree uses a computerized cash register system in the cafeteria. Each child is assigned a lunch account which is accessed by a confidential Personalized Identification Number (PIN). The PIN number will be sent home at the beginning of the school year.
Parents may deposit money into the lunch account in any amount. Children then charge their lunch purchases to the account by using their PIN number. To deposit money into a child's lunch account, you can either send in a check made out to "Burning Tree Elementary School -- Cafeteria" indicating your child's name and PIN or you may come to the school and deposit money directly through the cafeteria manager.
If you do not wish to pay in advance into the account, students may still purchase items by paying cash at the time of purchase. Students making cash purchases will be required to use their PIN number to record the transaction.
For the 2008-2009 school year, a complete lunch will cost $2.40. Milk may be purchased for $.60.

For the 2008-2009 lunch/recess schedule, please click here.

For cafeteria menu information, to learn more about the cafeteria meal debit system, for a complete price list, to print application forms for free and reduced meals and much more, please click here.

Montgomery County Council of PTAs

The Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations serves 189 local PT(S)As and their nearly 50,000 - parents, teachers and people in our community who, through advocacy, support the mission of PTA. To find information about their meetings, their worksgroups, PTA resourses and much more, please visit their website by clicking here.

Room parent list

You talked and we listened. With parents' feedback and ideas, we have reorganized the duties of our invaluable Room Contact Parents and Room Parents for the 2008-2009 school year. The goal is to spread out the responsibilities among more parents and to have a clearer definition of the roles. For each class, we are seeking a PTA Liaison Parent, a Teacher/Classroom Liaison Parent, a Treasurer, and Coordinators for each classroom party; Halloween, Valentine's Day and End of the Year. For a flyer that details the responsibilities for each of these positions, click here. Parents may sign up for more than one position.

Lunch room and playground volunteers

If you would like to volunteer in the lunchroom or at recess, please contact Elissa Ginsky at eginsky@aol.com or (301) 365 0143.
Please note that there are recess volunteer guidelines available, to make your job easier! Please click here to read the guidelines.

Burning Tree's school improvement plan

Burning Tree has developed school improvement plans for Character Development, Reading and Writing. For more information please click here.

Other Helpful Information

For information on advertising, articles not allowed in school, bell times, bikes and scooters, birthdays, bus transportation and behavior, dogs, field trips, lost and found, playdates, report cards, withdrawl or transfer of students, please visit our FYI by clicking here.

Student Government Association

The purpose of the SGA (Student Government Association) is to give students a voice in some of the activities that take place in our school. For more information, please click here.

Quick Notes and School's Out

Stay up to date with the latest MCPS news and emergency information. Please click here if you would like to register, or for additional information on Quick Notes.
In the case of emergencies, delays, schedule changes or cancellations, School's Out can send you an email or cell phone text message alert. For more information or to sign up for Schools Out, click here.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Thomas W. Pyle Middle School



6311 Wilson Lane
Bethesda MD 20817
(301) 320 6540
Pyle's website

Walt Whitman High School



7100 Whittier Blvd
Bethesda MD 20817
(301) 320 6600
Whitman's website

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If you would like to have your organization or your event listed below, please send an e-mail to the webmaster. The PTA Executive Board will decide whether listing your organization/event is appropriate under Community Connections on the Burning Tree PTA website.


BT COMMUNITY UPDATE

The messages on the BT Community Update are considered "unofficial", and therefore not suitable for regular BTNET posts. The ads, businesses, etc., represented in these messages are not necessarily endorsed or approved by the school or the PTA.
Anyone wishing to receive or to to publish information in the next BTNET Community Update should contact Jay Kaufman at jfk@kaufmanhome.net.


THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES EXCHANGE

The Neighborhood Services Exchange is a voluntary service focused on, but not limited to, the approximately 550 households in the area circumscribed by River Road, Beech Tree Road, Wilson Lane, and Maryknoll, and including offshoots such as Frenchman’s Creek and several Courts. All our neighbors are invited to receive this newsletter by contacting Harry Rosenberg at HarryMRosenberg@aol.com


20817BB

Community Bulletin Board for residents of West Bethesda, Glen Echo and Cabin John. 20817BB allows posting of messages such as may be found on a laundromat or library bulletin board. Availability of or the need for household help, yard work, child care, babysitters, or recommendations for carpenters, plumbers, music teachers, or camps are examples of appropriate postings.
Twice each calendar year members having their own business, professionals, services or sale of goods, are welcome to post information about their business.
To subscribe send a blank, no-subject email from your email address to 20817BB-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.


GIRLS ON THE RUN

Girls on the Run is a unique, life-changing, after school program for third through eighth grade girls designed to promote healthy habits and an active lifestyle.
Girls on the Run programs are led by CPR certified and trained coaches. The coaches meet with eight to fifteen girls in grades 3-5 twice a week at fields or tracks for one hour sessions over a period of up to ten weeks.
The Burning Tree Girls meet on Monday and Wednesday, from 8 to 9am. For more information, please see the GotR website, or contact coach Celeste Wallander at cece413@comcast.net.


BURNING TREE BOY SCOUTS

Information coming soon!
Please contact Ted Torrey at TTORREY@niaid.nih.gov, if you have questions.


BURNING TREE GIRL SCOUTS

Girl Scouting is fun and educational!
Girl Scouting is available for all girls Kindergarten-age or older. Troops are run by parents with the support of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital. Individual troops meet on a regular basis (usually 1-2 times a month) to earn badges and do fun activities/outings related to the program goals listed below. Along the way, girls learn many useful skills, are exposed to new experiences, contribute to society, and make friends!

If your daughter is interested in joining a local troop, you may contact Britta Battaile (Burning Tree Troop Coordinator) at Brittabatt@msn.com or (301) 320 1637. For more information about Girl Scouting, please check the Girl Scout website.


EVENTS FOR CHILDREN IN THE DC AREA

For the Washington Parent calender, please click here.

For the Washington Family Magazine calender, please click here.

To check what the Washington Post has listed on their kid-friendly calender of events, please click here.

The Bethesda Urban Partnership publishes a bi-monthly calendar of events, for more information please click here.


PLAYING SPORTS

MSI

Montgomery Soccer is a great place to learn the awesome game of soccer and play with some of the best youth teams in the greater Washington metropolitan area. It is our mission to promote this exciting game of soccer to the youth of Montgomery County through programs that emphasize each child’s soccer skill development, personal growth, enjoyment, passion of the game of soccer, and team experience, through excellent leadership, fair play and good sportsmanship.
For more information see the MSI website.

MD sports
MD Sports was founded on the principles of respect, commitment, and teamwork. Every member of our team is dedicated to helping young athletes achieve a positive sports experience. We believe that children have the right to receive quality instruction by experienced, knowledgeable and caring staff whose primary goal is to teach both sports and life skills.
Our objective is to teach young athletes to work as part of a team, deal with adversity, communicate effectively, set and achieve goals and manage time and responsibilities.
For more information see the MD sports website.

Kid's Sports league
Kids Sports League is a Maryland-based non-profit sports program that offers a variety of sports for children between ages of 3 to 12. The players will be divided into their own age group teams at all of the locations. A portion of the proceeds from their registrationfees are donated to "Special Olympics", "Smile Train" & "Make a Wish Foundations".
For more information see the KSL website.

BCC Baseball
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Baseball was founded in 1993 to provide all children aged 6-18 an opportunity to participate in an organized program that encourages teamwork and sportsmanship while developing baseball skills. BCC Baseball advocates the development of strong fundamental baseball skills in conjunction with an appreciation for good sportsmanship.
For more information, please check the BCC Baseball website.


IMAGINATION STAGE

Imagination Stage is a family arts center that nurtures young people of all abilities through participation in professional theatre and arts education experiences.
Imagination Stage produces shows year-round: from literary adaptations to innovative world premieres, to classic plays.
Imagination Stage nurtures the creative spirit, inherent in all children, by using theatre to open hearts, inspire minds and ignite imaginations. Imagination Stage also offers a huge amount of classes.
For more information please click here.


PARENTING CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

Both MCPS and the YMCA offer an array of parenting programs and classes. For more information check the "resources for parents" page by clicking here.