Friday, January 24

Families,

What a unique week we’ve had! With the MLK holiday and two unexpected cold days, students only had two shortened days of learning this week. It was wonderful to have all our Blue Jays back together!

Upcoming Music Concerts:

I look forward to seeing students and families in grades 2, 3, and 4 on Thursday evening for the Burton & Pattengill shared music performance.

When: Thursday, January 30

• 2nd Grade - 6:00pm
• 3rd Grade - 6:45pm
• 4th Grade - 7:30pm

Where: Norup Gymnasium

PTA Update:

Please scroll down to the PTA section for important information about Founder's Day voting, DEI Parent Birdhouses, and Utopia Sweets by Elyse.

Go Blue Jays!

Lauren Fragomeni
Principal

Share Some Sweetness While Supporting a Great Cause!

This Valentine’s season, Burton 5th grade leaders are excited to announce our annual Candy Gram Fundraiser! Here’s your chance to spread kindness and joy while making a difference in our community. All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to Forgotten Harvest, an organization dedicated to fighting hunger and providing food to those in need.

Who:

All Blue Jay students

What:

A Candy Gram is a note with a Hershey Kiss attached and is sent to a student or Burton staff member to spread kindness! All students at Burton will receive a Candy Gram.

Why:

5th grade leaders want to spread kindness during the month of February in our building and the surrounding community. The money raised from Candy Grams will be donated to Forgotten Harvest.

When:

• Sales Begin: Wednesday, January 29 through Friday, Feb 7
  Students can purchase a set of Candy Grams (4 notes) for $2.00 cash. Your child’s classroom teacher will send home the Candy Gram sets.
• Return Date: Monday, February 10
  At home, please fill out your child’s name, recipient’s first/last name, classroom teacher name, and cut out each Candy Gram.

How It Works:

1. Purchase a Candy Gram: Each Candy Gram includes a sweet treat and a personalized message.

2. Send Some Love: Write a kind note to a friend, teacher, or staff member, and we’ll deliver the Candy Grams on February 14 with the help of our 5th grade leaders!

3. Support Forgotten Harvest: Every Candy Gram you send helps us contribute to Forgotten Harvest’s mission of reducing food waste and feeding families in need.

Let’s Make a Difference Together!

This Valentine’s Day, let’s share the love within our school and beyond by supporting Forgotten Harvest. Together, we can help fight hunger and spread kindness!

Student leaders last year sorting, attaching hershey candies, and distributing Candy Grams.

Teachers will continue with NWEA assessment next week. Students will take the NWEA assessment in the area of reading and math. The NWEA assessments are adaptive, meaning the test adjusts. If the student answers the question correctly, the next question will be harder. If the student answers the question incorrectly, the next question will be easier. This allows each student a personalized testing experience that is not based on grade or age, but achievement. Please tap the button below to learn more about the NWEA assessments. Your child's NWEA assessment score will be posted in MiStar at a later date.

Throughout the next several weeks, teachers will complete the Fountas and Pinnell reading assessment. This assessment allows teachers to understand your child's reading behaviors and their reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. This assessment is given one-on-one with your child and their classroom teacher.

Please know the Burton team uses the NWEA, Fountas and Pinnell reading assessment, formative and summative assessments, as well as anecdotal observations to help make decisions that are best for students.

Tips to help for next week:

• A good night's rest
• Eating a healthy and filling breakfast
• Pack a snack and a water bottle

The most important message we can share with your Blue Jay is for them to give their best effort, that's all that's important!

Phase 2 of construction is scheduled to begin in February (exact timeline is TBD). Phase 2 will significantly impact staff parking, visitor/family parking, sidewalks, and student safety.

• Closures: The North Nadine sidewalk and public parking will be closed for the remainder of the school year and throughout the summer.
• Completion Timeline: All bond work including the multipurpose/cafeteria, Nadine sidewalk, and staff parking should be completed by August 2025.
• Safety Measures: To ensure student safety, a crossing guard will now assist students near the Burton Park entrance. All students are required to cross the street at the designated area where the crossing guard is present.

Thank you families for your patience as we all navigate the construction and parking challenges. Carpooling, bike riding, or walking is a great option even in the chilly weather.

Please continue to use the Rec Center "Kiss & Go" to help with a safe drop off area. Students dropped off prior to 8:00am are asked to line-up with their classrooms. At 8:00am, all students can enter the Plaza Doors. Please note that Kindergarten and TK only enter at 7:55am to avoid congestion. Students in grades 1-5 can enter at 8:00am.

Winter Temperatures:

When the temperature "feels like" is 9 degrees or below, we will have indoor line-up and indoor recess. In the morning (beginning at 7:50am), our 5th grade safeties will open the doors and allow students to line-up inside the building. Students will then walk and line-up outside their classroom.

Student Drop Off:

• Please utilize the rec center drop off area to ensure students are exiting vehicles safely.
• Please pull forward before dropping off your child.
• All students should exit and walk on the sidewalk for student safety.
• If students arrive prior to 8:00 am, they may walk and line-up with their class
• Indoor line-up: Students can enter through the playground doors (near clock tower) at 7:50am
• Please do not drop off students near the Nadine doors. This area is utilized for families in the ASD program.

Looking for a glimpse into all the learning, fun, and creativity at Burton? Please follow me, principal_fragomeni on Instagram.

The spirit wear shop features Burton's updated logo. The crest, much like the classic football clubs, signifies the strength and lineage of our community. The bricks proudly represent our school building, the welcoming front sign, and the iconic clock tower—a true testament to our heritage. And, of course, our Blue Jay has been given a modern look, embodying the spirit of growth and innovation that defines us.

Let's show off our Burton pride!

January

*January 30 - Music Concert at Norup for grades 2 (6pm), 3 (6:45pm), 4 (7:30pm)

*January 29 - Candy Gram Sale Begins!

*January 31 - Report Cards Posted

February:

*February 3-14: TK/Kindergarten Online Enrollment

*February 4: PTA Meeting - 7pm Burton Media Center

*February 7: Last Day to Purchase Candy Grams!

*February 10: Candy Grams Must be Returned

*February 12: Count Day

*February 14: 1/2 Day for students (AM only) - Dismissal at 11:20am, Candy Grams Distributed

*February 17 - Feb 21: Mid-Winter Break (no school). School resumes February 24

March:

*March 4: PTA Meeting - 7pm Burton Media Center

*March 5 - 7: 5th Grade Camp (4th grade safety patrol takes over)

*March 20: Spring Conferences, 5pm-8pm (virtual)

*March 21: Spring Conferences, 8am-4pm (no school for students)

*March 24-29: Spring Break (district is closed)

*March 31: School Resumes

All families are invited to join a 3-part parenting workshop focused on anti-racist parenting. Participating is free-of-charge with funding from Oakland Country. Please see flyer/PDF for details and registration.

PTA Founders' Day 2025:

February 17th marks the date the National PTA was founded (in 1897) and we celebrate their mission to support teachers and students by voting for our Teacher of the Year, Staff Member of the Year and Parent Volunteer of the Year. We will have a couple weeks to cast our votes, and the winners will be recognized at a district-wide dinner in March (date TBD). Tap the button below to cast your vote! Please reach out to Natalie Friedman with any questions natazoe@gmail.com

Mrs. Emery was recognized as Teacher of the Year

Mrs. Fragomeni was recognized as Staff Member of the Year

Leah Wallbillich as Parent Volunteer of the Year

Let’s Build Community with the Burton Caregiver Bird House Program!

Are you looking for ways to connect with other parents, guardians, and caregivers in the Burton community?

The Burton PTA DEI Committee is exploring launching a Caregiver Bird House Program to bring us closer together!

Here’s how it works:

• We’ll create small groups of caregivers from across different grade levels, providing opportunities for social engagement, connection, and mutual support.
• If you're interested, please complete the form below. Someone from the PTA DEI committee will follow up with you.

Let’s join forces to build a stronger, more connected Burton community!

Any questions regarding the Parent/Caregiver Birdhouse, please contact Ellie Mosko,
elliemosko@gmail.com

Utopia Sweets by Elyse:

Our HW neighbor, former Burton parent, and Burton alum, is offering us a SWEET deal! Utopia Sweets is unique and creative homemade desserts and confectionery creations. Elyse is giving back 15% of each Valentine's Day order to Burton PTA. Click on her Facebook or Instagram pages to view her custom chocolates and DM, call or txt her to order: Elyse 248-230-0400 and mention Burton!

Tuesday, February 4 at 7:00pm in the Burton Media Center or join for a "listen only" on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 880 9518 4741

Passcode: 26315

All are welcome! Please join the Burton PTA to help support our community!

President: Leah Wallbilich

Vice President: Natalie Friedman

Secretary: Ciara O’Laoire

Treasurer: Max Shear

Chair of Standing Committee: Elizabeth Scott

Principal: Lauren Fragomeni

The Burton PTA Tree of Giving highlights incredible contributions from our PTA, each leaf showcases items they've generously funded for our school community.

Each week our morning announcements on kindness, respect, and empathy featuring:

• The Pledge from a different classroom each week
• Wednesday Would You Rather? and Too Cute Tuesday!
  
• Friday Read Aloud
• Important events happening at Burton

On Tuesdays, Domino's Pizza will be among the five food choices students can select. All students ordering pizza will receive ONE free slice and a vegetable, fruit, and milk. If your child would like an additional slice of pizza (2 slices total), they must preorder it in the morning and have at least $2.00 in their student account. On Tuesday mornings, classroom teachers will ask students if they would like one slice or two. This is helpful so the lunch team is accurate on the total pizza slices to decrease food waste.

To add funds to your child's account, please access the Parent Portal.

Go Blue Jays!