Hello Families,
We hope you all enjoyed the Fall break. Thanks to everyone who was able to attend the PTO meeting last week. The meeting notes are available online here. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m.
IMMEDIATE VOLUNTEER NEEDS
The Burns Park Community is only made stronger by it’s volunteers and we have some immediate needs:
Yearbook Committee - Work on the Burns Park Yearbook starts early, and the committee is seeking more volunteers to help with layout, photo curation, and communication. No photo skills are needed and much of the work can be done outside of school hours. Those interested should contact chair Mary Evans at yearbook@bpepto.org.
Library Morning Helpers - Rachel Erdstein, our building library/media specialist, is collecting all due library materials first thing in the morning. We need a core group of 4-5 volunteers to regularly check-in and shelve materials just after drop off from 8:45-9:15 am. If you are available and willing to help sign up here.
Walk & Talk Coaches - Walk & Talk is an optional lunch recess activity where students in grades 1-5 can choose to walk or run together around a specified loop in Burns Park. For miles completed, kids earn "toe tags" they collect on a chain and wear proudly! Coaches are needed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during lunch recess to organize and distribute student lap cards, keep track of laps completed, and distribute toe tags. Sign up here.
ART ANGEL AND LIBRARY HELPER CHANGES
After discussions with Sarah Connor and Rachel Erdstein, we have decided to end the practice of creating massive all-school SignUp Genius lists for Art and Library. Volunteers are not needed in every Art Class every day. Sarah said she will send an email out when volunteers are needed for specific events. Those wishing to still volunteer during your child’s art class can contact Sarah at conners@aaps.k12.mi.us. For Library/Media, Rachel is relying on the Morning Library Helpers (see above) to restock the shelves. Help is still needed in the younger grades during media classes. Room Parents with the younger classes may be creating a SignUp Genius for parents wishing to volunteer during class time. Parents can also contact Rachel directly at erdstein@aaps.k12.mi.us.
JOIN THE PTO DIRECTORY
The PTO website has a Directory that allows families to create an account and share contact details and class information, enabling parents to reach out to each other within class, grade level, etc. to set up playdates and otherwise foster a sense of community. Our current PTO directory is opt-in, meaning that families have to proactively create an account on our site to join. Returning families need to update their class assignments and new families should definitely sign up!
SPECIAL EDUCATION MILLAGE RENEWAL INFORMATION SESSIONS
On November 5, 2024, voters residing in school districts served by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (ISD) will vote on a 12-year, no tax increase Special Education Millage Renewal proposal.
Washtenaw ISD will be holding community information sessions and welcome all community members to attend to learn more about the millage renewal. See the dates and register here:
Monday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. (register here) - Held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District's Teaching and Learning Center located at 1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, MI
More than 6,000 students, or 1-in-7 students, from preschool through age 26 receive special education services in Washtenaw County, plus nearly 900 additional children ages birth to 3 also receive special education services before entering preschool.
If the millage is renewed, the renewal keeps $57 million in unrestricted general funds available for programs and services that could benefit every public school student. This could include advanced placement coursework, improved learning environments, mental health supports, extracurricular activities, school safety and more.
If the millage is not renewed, special education services in Washtenaw County would be underfunded by $57 million and school districts would need to use general operating funds to cover this shortfall.
Your Burns Park PTO,
Kory Zhao, President
Michelle Ding, President Elect
info@bpepto.org
