Brackett PTO
May Newsletter
Year-End PTO Community Meeting - Thursday, May 23rd
Join us for our year end review of the Brackett PTO. We'll present a budget update and overview of next year. Please come to learn how to get involved and share your feedback.
The PTO is looking to add more people to the PTO Board in all roles - these positions would include training and support from existing board members. Please email Shaun at president@brackettpto.org or come to the PTO meeting to learn more.
RSVP & Virtual Meeting Link here
Get Involved
Field Day and Movie Night - May 31st
- Field Day information can be found here
- If you haven't signed up to volunteer and would like to, there are still more time slots available in the SignUpGenius
- Movie Night details are below, volunteers are needed to help make it happen
- A few more volunteers are needed to help with Menotomy Day (May 24th) in third grade classrooms - check out the opportunities here. Thank you!
Thank You!
PTO Teacher and Staff Appreciation Lunch
Made possible by funds donated to the PTO, the PTO hosted a luncheon for teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week to show how much we value all of our Brackett educators and staff!
STEM Night Book Donations
Last month, STEM-related books that were "sponsored" by families at STEM Night were added to the Brackett Library!
Upcoming Events and Reminders
Dates (Details Below)
- 05/23 - Brackett Community PTO Meeting (6:30-8pm) - In Person and Virtual
- 05/24 - Menotomy Day - Third Grade
- 05/31 - Field Day (during the school day) & Brackett Movie Night (7:30-10pm at Robbins Farm Park)
- 06/06 - Scooperbowl (6-7:30pm)
- 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
Event Details
- After a fun Field Day, wind down with a picnic and movie at Robbins farm field. Please pack your picnic blanket, your dinner, your water bottles, and some $$ for popcorn! Sales will be donated to the PTO.
- Movie selection being chosen by student vote, stay tuned
- This is an a free, all-school event
- WE NEED A FEW VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN! Please sign up here to help the PTO bring this event to life
Scooperbowl - Thursday, June 6th, 6-7:30pm
- Come get an ice cream (including GF and DF options) served by your Brackett teachers and staff
- Bring your dance moves and please leave your furry friends at home!
Reminders and Updates
Brackett Snack Program
- Did you know that Brackett PTO, with support from Arlington EATS, has a snack program in the front office?
- Please take a second to read all about it, along with some reminders and ways to help.
Lost and Found
- Photos of items are posted here and students and caregivers can search for lost items in the cafeteria.
- The last day to collect lost and find items for the year will be June 14th
- 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.
- With all of the pollen in the air, the library goes through tissues and paper towels at a fast pace, if you're able to send some in with your child to donate to library, it would be much appreciated!
Looking for a past PTO Newsletter or Family Newsletter from Dr. Vice? Find them here.
Community News and Events
Honor an Arlington Educator with an AEF Star
- Give a STAR to recognize an educator that shines bright! A donation of $20 to AEF purchases a STAR Certificate of Appreciation for the person you choose to recognize. Recognize 4 or more people and each STAR is $15.
- Purchase your STAR Certificate anytime before May 31, 2024 and your honoree(s) will receive their printed Star Certificate delivered in early June. STARs can be purchased for anyone at APS, not just for your child’s current teacher! Specials teachers, custodians, nurses, administrative assistants and even lunch staff can all receive STARs!
- Your donation goes to fund Innovation Grants and Continuing Scholar Grants for Arlington Educators - learn more and donate a star here
Teach an After School Class
- Do you have an interest or skill that you would like to share with children?ACEKids (Arlington Community Education) is making plans for our after school classes in the Fall and always like to include talented community members as part of our teaching team.
- Here are some class ideas we thought up, but certainly aren't limited to: Build a Garden, Sewing Superhero Capes, T-Shirt Art, Paper Crafts, Popsicle Stick Palooza, Propeller Toys, Sketching Party, Bringing Books to Life, Make a Stuffed Animal, Basic Japanese among Friends, Write an Adventure Story
- We are planning now for classes that will meet in the public schools starting in late September and running through November. Classes meet once a week, for 6-9 weeks in a school classroom. ACE will provide registration assistance and help teachers with supplies, but we would like interested teachers to have their own curriculum ideas. If you are interested in teaching, or would like more information,please complete our course proposal form. We are planning now, and would like to hear from you by June 10. All ideas are welcome.
Arlington Public Schools Annual Textile Recycling Competition - ends May 30th!
- 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 now until 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:
Saturday, May 18th - Book Sale, District-Wide Pride Celebration, Scoopermania
- Robbins Library Children’s Book Sale- Saturday, May 18 (9am-1pm) at the Robbins Library in the Community Room. Support Arlington’s Libraries by purchasing books for children and teens, movies, and music. There will be craft activities to keep children occupied as parents search for books. Come browse all the wonderful picture books, early readers, chapter books, books for teens, puzzles, games, and more! Lots of great books for inexpensive prices – children’s hardcovers for $1.00 and paperbacks for 50 cents.