Friday, May 2

Families,

We know this school year has already brought several changes due to the ongoing construction at Burton, and we appreciate your continued patience and flexibility. In addition to our school project, the City of Huntington Woods will begin a separate construction project at the Gillham Recreation Center that will also impact traffic, parking, and walking paths around our school starting in mid-May.

Key Dates & Changes:

• May 15: The Gillham Rec Center will begin staging materials for their roofing and HVAC project. Ten parking spaces in the center of the Rec Center lot will be blocked off to accommodate this setup.
  

• May 19: The walkway between the Rec Center and Burton Elementary will close. This will temporarily cut off the usual path between the Rec Center and our school grounds. A detour will be in place, and the alternate walking route to the playground, ball fields, and school entrances will be clearly marked in blue on the map provided. The walkway is expected to reopen on June 2.

Important Reminders:

• Student drop-off will continue to take place in the Rec Center parking lot. All students can enter the Plaza Doors at 8:00am (7:55 am only for Kindergarten and TK).

• A safe, fenced pedestrian path will be created along the north side of Nadine Avenue, allowing students and families to walk safely around the construction zone and enter Burton Park.

• Thru-traffic on Nadine Avenue between Scotia and Henley will be closed, and barriers will be in place.
  
  

Go Blue Jays!

Lauren Fragomeni

Principal

While at Forgotten Harvest three teams of fifth graders, parent chaperones, and teachers worked hard in different areas of the warehouse. One group sorted groceries that were rescued from various local grocery stores. A second group boxed non perishables like powdered milk, oats, and canned food. Forgotten Harvest works hard to be sure what is sent out to their pantry partners provides nutritious and balanced meals for those facing food insecurity. The last group was repacking food to be distributed. This food included rescued catering from Comerica Park, Little Caesars pizzas, and frozen pizzas that can be sent to their pantry partners.

Another exciting event during our trip was the opportunity for our fifth graders, on behalf of the Burton Elementary Community, to present Forgotten Harvest with our Candy Gram fundraiser donation. The total raised during the Candy Gram fundraiser was $1,107.25!! It was an amazing morning of giving back in two ways. Our fifth grade leaders and all Burton Blue Jays really demonstrated kindness, respect, and empathy for Forgotten Harvest and the community they support. It was a wonderful trip!!

Burton Elementary School is thrilled to host our Cultural & Diversity Festival—a special evening dedicated to celebrating the many cultures, traditions, and lifestyles that make our community unique!

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Location: Burton Elementary School

Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Food trucks will be on-site from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.)

We are looking for individuals and families to share their heritage, customs, or way of life through food, music, dance, storytelling, crafts, or other engaging activities. Whether you have a cultural background to showcase or a unique perspective to share, we’d love for you to be part of this meaningful experience for our students and families!

If you're interested in hosting a booth, performing, or contributing in any way, please let us know!

In celebration of the 2025 Burton Culture and Diversity Fest, the Burton Diversity Alliance is proud to support Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center as the beneficiary of this year’s fundraising campaign.

The Diversity Alliance is a student-led club for Burton Elementary students in grades 3–5. The club empowers young learners to explore their own cultural identities, learn about the traditions of others, and understand important topics such as equity and discrimination. Through age-appropriate discussions and activities, students discover meaningful ways to support and uplift all communities—within our school, our neighborhood, and beyond.

Founded in 1989, Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center provides a safe, inclusive space for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and cultural backgrounds. The center’s mission is to offer support, unconditional acceptance, and opportunities for individuals to learn, grow, and connect in a welcoming environment.

If you would like to support this student-led initiative, please consider making a donation here!

Burton is implementing a whole-school transformational process called the Leader in Me, which teaches 21st-century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.

Our school will be conducting surveys to learn more about key areas of strength and areas of needed growth in our school. In order for us to have a holistic picture of what is going on in our school, we are asking all full-time staff members, parents/guardians, and students in Grade 4 and up to participate.

Parent Participation
If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete a survey (without sharing your name or other identifying information) that will be available through the weblink below. The survey is completely voluntary, but we do hope to get feedback from one member of every household.

The parent/guardian survey takes about 12 minutes to complete and will ask questions about your child and about his or her experience in our school. If you have more than one child attending the school, you will be asked to think about the oldest child's experiences as you answer questions related to his or her growth.

Please take this survey by tapping the button below.

Save the date! Burton's 2025 Field Day will be held on Friday, May 30 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. for grades TK-5. The rain date is Monday, June 2.

Friday, May 30th

K-5 Helpers Volunteer Here:

Burton's Field Day would not be a success without our wonderful volunteers. Your child's classroom room parent is arranging for a water bottle wagon, a volunteer to pull the water bottle wagon, and water balloons. Thank you room parents!

We need 300 toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes cut in half for our pasta relay. If you can help out, please send them in with your student/s. There will be a box outside of the gym. If you would like to run a game, please sign-up below. Volunteers, if possible, please wear a red shirt on field day in order to stand out as one of our amazing volunteers.

TK Helpers Volunteer Here

Miss Posey's parents, your games will be in front of the HW Recreation Center. If you would like to volunteer to help with the TK games, please sign-up below. We appreciate your help. We could not do it without you!

What to Wear and Bring to Field Day:

On this day please have your kids wear their Fun Run t-shirt. No t-shirt, no problem. Your child can wear a shirt of the same color, a Burton shirt, or a past Fun Run shirt. Your child should bring a labeled water bottle, tennis shoes, and a change of clothes in case they get really wet at the water game stations. In addition sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses may be a great choice for your child.

Fan Zone:

Field Day is a special Day for kids and families. We welcome friends and family to come watch the Burton Blue Jays participate in a day of fun and games. In order for the event to run smoothly and safely, please enjoy the opening and closing ceremonies from the sidewalk behind the track or the outside lane of the track (our torch runners need lane 1) and the games from anywhere on the track. It might be fun to bring a blanket or camp chair and move around the track during the games, as needed, to get the best view of your athlete/s. If you prefer to be in the mix, consider volunteering at one of the kids' games. We could not do it without our fearless parents! Thank you in advance.

Questions or Concerns:

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mrs. Grabowski, Burton's PE teacher, at tracy.grabowski@berkeyschools.org or 248-837-8620.

Be sure to check our morning announcements this week, they feature our ASD Burton team!

We’re exploring interest in restarting the Burton Chess Club for Fall 2025!

If your child might like to join, please fill out the form linked below. All skill levels are welcome! Be sure to indicate if you're available to volunteer—we’d love your support in helping run the club.

If there’s enough interest, the club would meet after school and run until approximately 4:15 PM. Exact dates would be shared at the beginning of the school year.

Questions? Reach out to ronit.wagman@gmail.com.

Elementary
Berkley Summer Difference Program

STEM Camp

July 21-24, 2025

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am -11:00 am

Classes held at: Norup International School (14450 Manhattan St, Oak Park, MI 48237)

The Berkley Summer Difference STEM program is intended for students currently in Grades TK-5. The STEM camp will focus on problem solving, engineering design and offer hands-on opportunities. Classes will be taught by certified, highly-qualified elementary teachers. Depending on enrollment, multi-grade sections may be organized to better meet staffing needs. The summer program will be educational and enjoyable.

SCHEDULE

• All students are enrolled in the morning program: 8:30 am - 11:00 am, Monday through Friday.

• Students may bring water bottles and a light snack.

FEE

The Berkley Summer Difference STEM Program is $50 per student. For students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, the fee is $20 per student.

It’s already time to order supplies for next school year! Our pre-packaged supply kits, tailored to each grade level, will be delivered directly to the school and waiting for your student in their classroom this fall! Ordering is open until July 1st!

Please use the Kiss & Go to safely drop off students each morning. Please follow the procedures below:

• Drop off your child in the "Drop Off Zone," see picture above.
• Pull forward as far as possible before dropping of your child.
• Burton Traffic Team is there to help assist, therefore staying in your car is best.
• Students should exit on the passenger side, if it's not possible, they are to cross behind your vehicle.
• If parking in the parking lot, please use PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK. This helps to safely cross students and families and help us control the flow of traffic. Please be patient while backing out of parking spot, student drop off and safety is priority.
• After drop off, parents - please use the PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK too. This helps to control the flow of drop off traffic.
• Please do not "frog jump" or pass a car waiting to drop off.
• No right turn from 8-8:30am and 3-3:30pm.

A big thank you to the Burton Traffic Team! Each morning they are outside at the Kiss & Go drop off to assist families and greet our Blue Jays! Thank you Mrs. Grabowski, Mrs. Murphy, Ms. Stinebaugh, and Ms. Terry!

Teachers are like great books. They can change a person forever. Let's thank them for helping to shape the story of our children's lives.

We are asking for your help to show our staff just how appreciated they are during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Throughout the week we will hold a gift card raffle for all Burton Staff . We are looking for $5-10 gift cards to gift every Burton staff member. Please sign up if you are able to donate a gift card. Detailed instructions in the SignUp Genius, please tap the button below.

We will also be providing lunch and snacks for the staff throughout the week. We are looking for a few donations each day to make the lunches special. Please sign up

below. Thank you for all of your help during Teacher Appreciation Week!

Thank you!!

Elizabeth Scott

ELHiggins@gmail.com

Cheetah's Running Club is back! We need your help! If you're interested in volunteering, please tap the button below to sign up.

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!

May:

*May 6: District Closed - Election Day

*May 7: Bike and Roll to School Day

*May 8: Burton Culture Fest

*May 13: PTA Meeting at 7:00pm

*May 19: Coffee with Superintendent Francis 5:30pm-6:30pm

*May 21: TK/Kindergarten Round Up

*May 22: 5th Grade Food Science Night

*May 26: No School - Memorial Day

*May 30: Field Day

June:

*June 6: 5th Grade Ceremony (during the school day) & Ice Cream Social (5:30-7:30)

*June 13: Last Day of School (1/2 day)

Tuesday, May 13 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

Please see the documents below for the allergen information for lunch and breakfast.

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!