Dear Burbank Families,
Burbank Elementary School
Thank you for a truly wonderful school year. I continue to be amazed by the dedication, warmth, and support of the Burbank community. It has been both a joy and an honor to be part of this special place, and I’m so excited to continue our work together next year.
Our teachers and staff have poured their hearts into this school year. Their care, commitment, and ability to meet students where they are, day in and day out, are what make Burbank such a special place. I’m deeply appreciative of all they do to support our students, and I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team.
To our parent volunteers and PTA: your time, energy, and creativity have brought so much joy to our students and to our entire school community. From the Fall Festival, Burbank Lights the Way, and Multicultural Night to the Family Dance, STEM Night, Teacher Appreciation Week, and so much more. Thank you for keeping the joy and momentum going all year long!
The end of the school year has been filled with celebration, from our grade-level open houses and Kindergarten Beach Day to the First Grade Flag Day Parade, the super fun Third Grade vs. Staff Volleyball Game, and the Third Grade Family Picnic. And of course, we wrapped up the year on a high note with our beautiful Third Grade Moving On Ceremony, a meaningful and memorable way to close out the year.
We send our warmest wishes to Mrs. Sacca, Mrs. Johnston, and Mrs. O’Regan as they begin their well-deserved retirements. We will miss them tremendously and are so grateful for their incredible contributions to the Burbank community and for the lasting impact they’ve had on students, families, and colleagues alike.
To our third grade students and families: we will miss you! It has been such a pleasure getting to know you, and we wish you all the very best as you take your next steps. And of course, to all of the third grade parent volunteers, thank you for everything you’ve done over the years. You’ve truly left your mark on our school community.
And to any families who may be moving on to new places for various reasons: we will miss you and wish you nothing but the best in your next chapter.
Most of all, I want to thank our students. Thank you for showing up each day with curiosity, kindness, and courage. Thank you for being yourselves, and for helping make Burbank a better, brighter place just by being here. You continue to inspire all of us.
We’ll be in touch with updates later in the summer. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Warmly,
Lisa
A Few Important Highlights:
The Third Grade Tiles have been hung!
A big thank you to Martin Guentert and Suzanne Zwierlein for their incredible work, and of course to our third graders for creating such a lasting memory. You can find these beautiful tiles displayed across from the Staff Bulletin Board near the main office. Be sure to stop by and take a look!
Staff Assignments
There are a few changes to our grade-level teams next year. Families can expect to receive class placements in mid-August.
Kindergarten: Melissa Chalmers, Wendy Hurwitz, Jennifer McKenzie
First Grade: Hannah Kulik, Diana Sidman, TBD ( We’re in the final stages of the hiring process!)
Second Grade: Patrick Mongeau, Brianna Normile, Elise Smith (welcome back to Burbank!)
Third Grade: Janet Flaherty, Lisa O’Sullivan, Sarah Pierson
Reading Specialist: Laura Edmonds
Administrative Assistant: We’re thrilled to welcome Mrs. Christina Robinson to the Burbank team! A fun fact. She’s a Burbank alum herself. We’re so excited to have her return to the school as a staff member and join our wonderful community.
Specialist Assignments
We are deeply grateful to all of our specialists from this past school year:
Wayne Franey, Darren Martinez, Ted Trodden, Vickie Livermore, Shannon Sinclair, Liz Sobkiw-Williams, and Kim Tolleson.
Thank you for your dedication, flexibility, and for bringing creativity and joy to our students despite a challenging schedule. Your impact was truly felt and appreciated!
Looking ahead to next year, we’re pleased to share that the following specialist teachers will be assigned to Burbank, all of whom are familiar faces who have worked with our community either this year or in the past:
Art: Liz Sobkiw-Williams
Music: Shannon Sinclair
PE: Aimee Doherty & Wayne Franey
Welcome (back) to the Burbank team! We’re excited to continue our great work together.
Exciting Summer Updates to Burbank by Facilities:
Library: The entire library, including accent walls, will be repainted. Parent volunteers will add quotes, selected by and in honor of our retirees, to an accent wall. A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers for their time and creativity!
Staff Lounge: The staff lounge will receive new flooring (a combination of carpet tile and vinyl) and a fresh coat of paint.
Gym: The gym floor will be replaced.
Burbank School Advisory Council Open Positions
Burbank School is seeking two parent representatives and one community representative to join our School Advisory Council.
The School Advisory Council is a school-based committee made up of the principal, parents, teachers, community members, and at the secondary level, students. This council is required by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C.
The council works closely with the principal to support the school by:
Adopting educational goals aligned with local policies and statewide student performance standards
Identifying the educational needs of Burbank students
Reviewing the annual school building budget
Developing the school improvement plan
The School Advisory Council typically meets six times per year.
If you’re interested in serving as a parent representative, or know of anyone who may be interested in being a community representative, please email me at lwilliams@belmontschools.net. A vote to select new parent representatives will be held at the beginning of the school year.
We encourage all who want to have a positive impact on our school community to consider joining!
Reminders:
Lost and Found - Please remember to take a look at our Lost and Found across from the Gym doors. All items left behind will be donated. Thank you!
School Community:
Belmont Summer Enrichment
Are you looking for fun, educational opportunities for your children this summer? If so, Belmont Summer Enrichment is a great choice for you! BSE offers a variety of different classes for incoming Pre-K through incoming grade 7 students, in addition to an intern program for students in grades 8 and up. Some of our courses include Engineering, Coding, Chess, Sports, Improv, Graphic Design, and Art Creations and many are taught by our own BPS teachers! This is a great way to keep curious minds thinking over the summer and maintaining good learning habits so your child will be ready and excited to learn in the fall!
See a full list of courses and register on our BPS Website:
https://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/page/summer-program
You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!
Important Dates summer 2024
Session 1: Monday-Thursday: July 7-10
Monday-Thursday: July 14-17
Session 2: Monday-Thursday: July 21-24
Monday-Thursday: July 28-31
Location: Belmont High School
Time: 9:00 - 12:00 (early drop-off option available!)
Cost per Session: $275
Email: belmontsummerenrichment@belmontschools.net
Erin Severy (She/Her)
Director, Belmont Summer Enrichment
belmontsummerenrichment@belmontschools.net
Belmont Summer Enrichment Webpage
Dates to Remember:
June 17 - Last Day of School (11:40 dismissal)