Two weekends ago, 850 alumni and their families returned to campus for an expanded Alumni Weekend. Events culminated on Sunday morning when Ray Beckman, who coached soccer at Burroughs for 51 years and is now in his 80s, was on hand for the dedication of the new Beckman Field. It was a great weekend, and of course I always love to hear from alums about what their years at Burroughs have meant to them.

Last weekend it was all about the school’s future as we welcomed 600-plus visitors at the Open House. Many current students, parents, teachers and alums came together in common purpose to make our visitors feel welcome and to help them learn about us. As head of school, it was my job to sell Burroughs. I began that job by delivering a rather comprehensive (yes, long) speech, structuring my remarks around the central tenets on which the school is based. That’s what makes the “sell” a pleasure and a point of pride — that solid connection between our founding philosophy and today’s reality.

Also last weekend, the JBS Players' production of Steel Magnolias marked Wayne Salomon's seventieth at JBS, that on the heels of learning that the St. Louis Arts and Education Council had named him Art Educator of the Year.

In athletics, Sydney Lehman ’12 claimed her second State tennis title, and the team took first in Districts. Over the next few weeks, we will have the opportunity to witness the culmination of what has been a great season in other sports. Continue reading

In This Issue:

October 28, 2010

Art Educator of the Year
More National Honors
Books to Cambodia
Good Works
The Quadratic Function
Reserved for Carpoolers
Plant Ops to the Rescue
In the Bonsack Gallery
Bring on the Snow

News

News and Events

Parents Council

Calendar

Art Educator of the Year

The Arts and Education Council has named Wayne Salomon (Theatre; Speech/Debate) as the 2011 Art Educator of the Year. Though Salomon has worked as a professional actor and director since 1973, this award honors his 23 years at Burroughs, where he has taught (speech, debate, acting and an honors English seminar) and directed dozens of JBS plays and musicals. The 20th annual award presentation dinner will be January 24 at the Chase Park Plaza. More

More National Honors

In addition to the 20 National Merit semifinalists, Burroughs claims six semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Competition (the most in the state), three finalists in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, 17 commended students (National Merit) and two outstanding participants (Achievement). More

Books to Cambodia

What started as an opportunity to enrich the teaching of the Asian Literature in Translation class at Burroughs has turned into a cause that will benefit Cambodian schoolchildren. Rick Sandler (English) plans to create partnerships in which independent schools in the U.S. send books in English to Cambodian schools. This week he kicked off the collection of children's and young adult books (in new or near-new condition). To help defray some of the transportation costs, Dr. Sandler is creating a Cocoa for Cambodia project. He'll sell cocoa and tea before school. More

Good Works

The Montgomery Plan recently took 60 volunteers to Chouteau Island, where they picked up trash along the Mississippi riverfront. (See Campus Candids for photos.) Upcoming activities will have student volunteers collecting donations for Old Newsboys Day on November 18. (Save your donations for the JBS volunteers at the corners of Clayton and Price Roads, Ladue and Price Roads and the Clayton Road entrance.) Then, on November 20, students will weatherstrip the homes of elderly and disabled St. Louisans. Anyone who has a project idea for the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day on January 17, please contact Susan Dee.

The Quadratic Function

With the volume cranked and the concert goers singing along, student performers fed the crowd's enthusiasm, demonstrating not only their musicianship, but their showmanship, at the all-school gathering on October 2. More

Reserved for Carpoolers

Last school year, Devon Camp ’10, Sam Margo ’10, Najja Marshall ’10 and Cameron Smith ’10, as part of their Global Youth Leadership Institute learning plan, proposed that members of the JBS community who carpool to school should get prime parking spaces. Students may apply for use of these carpool spaces in the Clayton Lot at GYLI's page on the website. They should return forms to Brian Connor (Industrial Technology; Theatre).

Plant Ops to the Rescue

Tom Norton and Mark Schuckmann (Plant Operations) recently rescued a lethargic great horned owl that was sitting out in the open on a dirt pile near the head's house. They captured the bird, and Norton delivered it to Wild Bird Sanctuary. Caregivers there suggested that the owl was too weak and disoriented to fly or hunt. The prognosis was good for recovery and release back into the wild.

In the Bonsack Gallery

St. Louis-based artist Barbara Simon will exhibit her textile and paper collages in the Bonsack Gallery from November 12, 2010 through January 4, 2011. All are invited to a public reception hosted by the artist from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, on Friday, November 12. The Billyo O'Donnell exhibit entitled "Selected Works from Painting Missouri" continues in the gallery through November 9. Copies of the book, Painting Missouri, The Counties en Plein Air (text by Karen Glines) are available for sale in the Bookstore (10 percent of the $50 purchase price goes to Burroughs).

Bring on the Snow

Unexpected school closings and delayed openings will be conveyed to parents as follows:

For weather-related closings or late starts, we will
• send a phone blast to local home phones,
• place a recording on the school's main phone lines (314-993-4040, 314-993-4045),
• post an announcement on the school's homepage and
• notify local radio and TV stations (KMOX-AM 1120, KMOV-TV Channel 4, KTVI FOX 2, KSDK Newschannel 5).

For daytime closings (such as power or water outages), we will send a phone blast to local parent home, business and cell numbers.

For emergencies, we will send a phone blast to all phone numbers in our data base - home, business and cell numbers (including those out-of-town).

Unique Boutique is just around the corner. Don't miss the fun.

Now in its 15th year, Unique Boutique brings together the quality, one-of-a-kind gifts and fine art of four dozen locally and nationally known artisans and stretches them from one end of the Schnuck Wing all the way to the Kuehner Gallery. With a festive transformation of the Brauer Building as the backdrop, this shopping event from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 will set the tone for the season. You won't want to miss it. Bring friends.

But with the big days so close, lots of hands are needed to make Unique Boutique happen. From crafting an item for the Signatures Booth to stringing lights to manning a booth, your time and talents can be put to good use. For volunteer opportunities and this year's exciting Unique Boutique developments, as well as updates from Family Network, Potpourri 2011 and the Lost and Found committee, continue reading.