BECS Family Update

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support of the PTO during our holiday fundraisers—your contributions make a meaningful difference in our school community. At Burbank, we are proud to foster a nurturing and vibrant environment where children thrive, and it’s all possible because of the strong partnership we share with our families. As we approach Thanksgiving, we wish you a peaceful and rejuvenating break filled with quality time and cherished moments with your loved ones.

This week, we’re excited to highlight Jessie Perez, one of our dedicated team members who has been an integral part of the Burbank community for four years. Starting as an aide in the Young Preschool program, Jessie has also worked in General Education Preschool and is now in her second year supporting students in the intervention program.

Jessie’s passion for working with children shines through in everything she does. She loves providing not only educational assistance but also the emotional care and support that helps children thrive. Whether it’s helping a child learn their letters or offering a comforting hug, she finds joy in meeting their needs with love and dedication.

During her time at Burbank, Jessie has seen significant professional growth, building a diverse "toolbox" of skills to address the varied needs of students. Transitioning from a 15-year career in sales to education, she made the shift to align her work with her children’s schedule, allowing her to spend more quality time with her family.

Jessie and her wife are UA residents. She is a proud mom of two—a college freshman and a seventh grader—and is a former New Yorker with over 20 years spent in the city. Her journey reflects a commitment to balancing her personal and professional life while making a meaningful impact in her role at Burbank.

We are so grateful to have Jessie as part of our team!

Looking for a thoughtful and cozy gift this holiday season? Purchase a UA fleece blanket and help support the Burbank PTO! A portion of the proceeds will go directly to funding upcoming events and activities for our students and school community.

Details:

• Price: $30 for a standard blanket or $40 with personalization.
• Order Deadline: December 2, 2024. Limited supply—place your order soon!
• Delivery: Orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom or designated address by mid-December.

Order & Payment Instructions:

• Place your order online: https://tinyurl.com/burbankblanketsale
• Payment options: Venmo to @burbankpto (include your contact info in the comments) or cash/check dropped in the PTO mailbox at the Burbank school entrance.
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Sales are open to the entire Upper Arlington community, so feel free to share this opportunity with friends and family! Thank you for supporting the Burbank PTO.

The holiday season is here, and so is our Burbank Holiday Sale! Shop for fun and festive gifts for friends and family while supporting the Burbank PTO. Proceeds from this sale will help fund supplies and activities for our school, making a difference in the lives of our students.

Details:

• Sale Dates: November 14 - December 2, 2024
• How to Shop: Use the QR code or visit www.tinyurl.com/BurbankHolidaySale
• Proceeds: Directly benefit Burbank PTO initiatives

Stock up on unique holiday items while giving back to the school community! Don’t forget to share the link with friends and family to spread the cheer. Thank you for your support, and happy shopping!

Digital Wellness Activity for Families During Thanksgiving Day Break

As an extension of the October 2024 Digital Safety Week and Screenagers viewing, we wanted to provide families with some Digital Wellness tips and strategies to consider during the Thanksgiving break. These five days are an opportunity to exhibit a healthy balance with device use. Here is an exercise to try:

• Commit to a plan around having no phones or devices out as family from out-of-town are visiting or if you are visiting others. Explain that it’s an opportunity to connect with family and anything online can wait.

• Set an expectation for the entire family so parents/guardians can model a similar ability to know when it is appropriate to be on devices.

• Find other times during the weekend as your family moves from one activity to another to preemptively define if this is a time the family has devices out.

By Sunday, discuss questions with your students related to this activity, such as:

• Did you feel more present with your family?

• What was the most challenging part of the day for you?

• What was the first thing you did when you got your device out? Why is that specific thing important to you?

• Can you help our family create a plan to make this a more frequent practice?

If you do this with your family and feel comfortable to share, please share an anonymous feedback about the process. The Excellence and Engagement Office is committed to supporting families with exercises like these to help create a healthy digital balance for our students.

Once again, the district is partnering with Tri-Village Packers (TVP) to provide grocery support during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This food distribution can offset some of the increased food expenses associated with an extended break from school. Groceries are distributed at no cost to families who sign up for the program. Volunteers work to honor dietary needs/restrictions, and delivery is available for those who experience transportation barriers.

If you would benefit from this assistance, please sign up by completing this Google Form by November 8.

Your voice matters! Phase two of facilities master planning

It’s time to join your friends and neighbors and get involved in phase two of facilities master planning! Serve as an expert and committed stakeholder for your school(s) of choice by signing up to volunteer for one or more building teams — Hastings, Jones or Burbank. Each team will have three meetings between December 2024 and April 2025. To sign up and learn more, visit the Building Teams page on our website.

Please take note of the following important dates and when our school will be closed.

• November 18th - WellKids
• November 27th - 29th - Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• December 3rd - Facilities Planning Building Team Meeting
• December 18th - Winter Parties
• December 23rd - January 6th - Winter Break

Be sure to mark your calendars, and as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions