Brackett PTO

• Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up soon - May 6th-10th! This is a time to celebrate and show our gratitude for all the teachers at Brackett. More details will be sent out to class representatives soon to share with families. The PTO will also be hosting a luncheon for teachers and staff that week.
• Did you know that the PTO helps to coordinate and provide funding for appreciation days for all the wonderful professionals, in addition to teachers, who make Brackett so great? We've recently celebrated Mrs. Alfonso and Ms. Troha, (school librarians), Mrs. Kelly (crossing guard), Mrs. Robinson (Administrative Assistant) and Mrs. Duvadie (Building Sub) with notes of appreciation and special treats.
• Upcoming appreciation days are Principals Day (05/01), Lunch Hero Day (05/03) and School Nurse Day (05/08). Take a minute to show your appreciation to these individuals!

Teacher & Staff Appreciation Luncheon - May 8th

If you're interested in helping to coordinate food orders in advance or help the day of (anytime from about 12:30pm-2pm), please reach out to laurenarcoma@gmail.com

Menotomy Day - Attention 3rd Grade Families!

Volunteers are needed to help with Menotomy Day (tentatively May 24th) in third grade classrooms - please reach out to Lauren at laurenn@brackettpto.org if interested. Thank you!

• 04/24 - Brackett PTO Fundraiser - Andrina's
• Now-04/26 - 5th Grade Online Auction
• 04/30 - Brackett Shopping Day at Maxima
• 05/01 - Coffee with Dr. Vice (8:05-8:45am)
• 05/06 - 05/10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
• 05/11 - Brackett Community Flea Market (8am-12pm)
• 05/23 - Brackett Community PTO Meeting (6:30-8pm) (UPDATED DATE)
• 05/31 - Field Day
• 05/31 - Brackett Movie Night (7-10pm at Robbins Farm Park, more details coming soon)
• Every Friday at 7:20am - Math Mornings for 3rd-5th Grade
• 3rd graders- Library; 4th- Room 204; 5th graders- Room 201
• Every Friday from 8-9am - Brackett Bank

Andrina's Pizza PTO Fundraiser - Thursday, April 24th

• Mention "Brackett" while ordering pizza from Andrina's (781-648-4800) and the PTO gets 20% back - make dinner easy while supporting the PTO!

Fifth Grade Online Auction - Extended to Friday, April 26th!

• An online silent auction to benefit the Brackett grade 5 graduation fund has been extended to Friday, April 26 (ends at 9pm). Proceeds will pay for yearbooks, graduation activities, etc., but the auction is open to anyone! We still have plenty of good items available. Check it out!

• Any questions, contact caitlin.sweeney@gmail.com

Brackett Shopping Day at Maxima - Tuesday, April 30th

• Located at 212 Mass. Ave. (East Arlington), Maxima is a gift shop owned by Brackett alumni parents. Come support this small business and pick up gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day! Mention "Brackett" at checkout and 15% of proceeds will be donated back to the PTO.

Coffee with Dr. Vice - Wednesday, May 1st, 8:05-8:45am

• This month's topic will be class placement - come talk with Dr. Vice and fellow Brackett caregivers over a cup of coffee.

Brackett Community Flea Market - Saturday, May 11th, 8am-12pm, Brackett basketball court

• Sell or shop treasures, socialize, and support our school community. Proceeds from the entry and seller stall fees go to the 5th grade graduation fund.
  
• Find more info here!

Brackett T-Shirts Available for Purchase in Class Colors

• The Brackett Spirit Wear shop is open again and Brackett t-shirts are available to order in class colors for Field Day (05/31) - purchase of a t-shirt is optional, kids are always welcome to wear something they already own in the class color!
• Deadline to order is May 1st

Chick Hatching

• The Brackett STEM Committee is excited to announce that Chick Hatching for the 1st grade classrooms is scheduled to start at the end of April and run through May 21st. Throughout the duration of this activity, each first-grade classroom incubates and hatches up to 7 chicken eggs over 21-28 days while engaging in accompanying curriculum.
• This activity, along with all other STEM activities are only possible with the help of parent volunteers. Consider being on our volunteer list for next year. Email us at stem@brackettpto.org to learn more about this activity and our other activities throughout the school year.

Lost and Found

• Photos of items are posted here and students and caregivers can search for lost items in the cafeteria.
• Labels help your items make their way back to you! If you purchase labels through Mabel's Labels (search "Brackett Elementary School" on the fundraising page), you get free shipping and 20% is donated back to the PTO

Library Volunteering

• Come help Ms. Alfonso with shelving, circulation and more! Class times and sign ups can be found here. Please reach out to librarycommittee@brackettpto.org with any questions.

Looking for a past PTO Newsletter or Family Newsletter from Dr. Vice? Find them here.

Arlington Public Schools Annual Textile Recycling Competition

(April 30-May 30, 2024)

• Announcing our APS annual textile recycling competition! Please support your school and help reduce waste by bringing your old, worn, torn textiles (clothing, shoes, towels, bedding, stuffed animals) to your school's collection bin from April 30th-May 30th. The bins at Brackett are located at the back of the staff parking lot off Fayette Street. All donations must be bagged. The volume of donated textiles at each school will be tracked by Bay State Textiles.
• Brackett won 1st place last year! Like last year, we will award 1st and 2nd place prizes. You will receive weekly updates on the weights collected across the district in order to see where the competition stands and push for the top two spots!
• For a list of acceptable donations click here. For questions about the competition or to report bin overflow, please contact Arlington School Sustainability Coordinator Rachel Oliveri at roliveri@arlington.k12.ma.us.
• Want to learn more about Textile Recycling? Here are some resources:
• "The Secret Double Life of Donated Textiles"
• MassDEP Textile Recovery
• "Donate, Recycle, Don't Throw Away"

Robbins Library Children’s Book Sale- Save the Date - Saturday, May 18 at the Robbins Library. We will be selling children’s and Young Adult books, puzzles, games and more. Donations will be received at the Robbins Library beginning in early May. Start cleaning off those bookshelves! Teens may earn Community Service hours helping to prepare for the Sale.