Friday, February 28

Families,

This past week, we had two wonderful opportunities to honor the dedication and hard work of individuals that impact our Burton community.

On Tuesday, three incredible members of our Burton community were recognized at the PTA Founders' Day dinner. We proudly celebrated our Mrs. Jakuc, Burton art teacher for Teacher of the Year, Mr. Roberto, Burton head custodian for Support Staff of the Year, and Elizabeth Scott for Parent Volunteer of the Year! Their dedication and passion truly embody the spirit of the Blue Jay Way!

Later in the week, we had a very special surprise for the BSD Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Burton Elementary, Mrs. Rentrop (5th grade teacher). In a heartwarming moment, she was surprised by her class, Superintendent Francis, and BSD administrators as she was presented with this well-deserved honor. As Mrs. Rentrop's students stated, "she's cool, beautiful, kind, planned the Candy Graham Fundraiser, 5th grade safeties, food science night, and learning is fun as it's always hands-on in her classroom."

Please join me in celebrating our our PTA Founders' Day awardees along with Berkley School District Outstanding Teacher for Burton Elementary!

Go Blue Jays!

Lauren Fragomeni

Founders' Day Awardees: Elizabeth Scott, Mr. Roberto, Mrs. Jakuc

BSD Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Burton Elementary, Mrs. Rentrop.

Bea and Parker, our comfort dogs, helped deliver special messages, setting the stage for a month full of reading fun. Ms. Smith, the Birdhouse Bash MC, introduced our theme, "Barking About Reading!", and some showcased our exciting dress-up days:

Book Character Day – Dress as your favorite book character
Words T-Shirt Day – Wear a shirt with words on it
Wear Green Day – Show off your best green outfit

Pajama Day – Get cozy and wear your favorite PJs

Students learned about goal setting and reaching their goals with a celebratory pajama and movie day!

To continue with our theme, "Barking About Reading," We had a special visit from the Oakland County Sheriff K-9 Comfort Unit and their comfort dog, Chip! He is an 8 month old Cavalier King Charles. His cuteness helped to spread joy and smiles during the Bash!

And who could forget the surprise of a Burton staff flash mob? Just when the assembly seemed to be winding down, teachers jumped up to dance to "Who Let the Dogs Out?", making it a moment to remember!

Please look for the March is Reading Month information in your child's take home folder. Thank you for your support as we spread the love and joy for reading!

• Students worked together to create a structure using 100 cups.
• Practiced retelling the book, 100 Hungry Ants and group them together.
• Search and find numbers 1-100 hidden in a classroom.
• Predicted if it would take "more or less" than 100 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop!

Please join us at the Berkley Education Foundation’s Off to the Races fundraiser on March 8, 2025 at 7 pm at The Kingsley Hotel in Bloomfield Hills. The Berkley Education Foundation (BEF) is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support all students in the Berkley Schools. Their purpose is to maintain and enhance educational opportunities and programs for Berkley Schools students. Every dollar the BEF raises during Off to the Races supports teacher innovation-grants, free enrichment programs, student scholarships and the 8th grade college tour program.

How has the BEF impacted Burton?

Enrichment Courses: The BEF has supported Burton students who have enrolled in 24 free enrichment courses since 2018, including: Coding, Garden Club, Math Pentathlon, Jump Start, Crocheting, Math Enrichment, Boom Whackers, Plarning, Diversity Alliance, a coffee cart and STEM.

Teacher Innovation-Grants: The BEF has funded 29 teacher innovation-grants since 2015, including: Fine Motor Development Kits For Kindergarten, Sensory Materials, Social Emotional Learning For Kindergarten, Digital Microscope, Sensory Equipment, Flexible Seating, A Solar Powered Weather Station, Cooking & Crafting, Sensory Seats, Sensory Learning, Family Cookbooks and a Tinker Lab.

Off to the Races Details

• Saturday, March 8, 2025

• 7-10:30 pm

• The Kingsley Hotel, A DoubleTree Hotel, Bloomfield Hills

• $60/ticket

• The event includes simulated horse racing, owning & naming horses, a silent auction (powered by mobile bidding), a vacation give-away, and most importantly, funding the #BerkleyDifference.

• It is a fun event and I hope to see you there. You can learn more and buy tickets on the Off to the Races website.

• Come cheer on our Burton PTA horse

• If you can’t make it, consider buying and naming a horse to run in the races for $30. Horses can be purchased on the Buy Tickets page of the Off to the Races website

The Huntington Woods Men’s Club has voted to make improving Burton Community Field its signature auction project this year!

The plan includes improving the field’s drainage and grading, removing the south baseball field, upgrading the north T-ball field and putting up new fencing along Nadine Avenue. These changes would make the field so much better for our students and the community and would drastically decrease our number of indoor-recess days!

You can help by supporting the 44th annual Huntington Woods Men’s Club Service Auction, which takes place April 26 at the Gillham Recreation Center. Tickets go on sale March 1.

Look for an auction catalog to be delivered to your door in mid-April. Also find information at HWMC.org.

Thank you to the Men’s Club for investing in Burton Community Field and for all the other ways you have supported Burton students throughout the years!

With winter break approaching and Black History Month underway, the PTA’s DEI Committee is excited to share a lineup of enriching and fun events for you and your family to enjoy!

Black History Month Family Storytime and Movie

Feb. 15 and 22, 2025

Address: Edison Branch, Detroit Library, 18400 Joy Road, Detroit

Cost: Free (RSVP Recommended)
Enjoy storytime, refreshments, and a movie celebrating Black History Month. (Feb. 15: Space Jam (1996) & Feb. 22: Soul (2020))

2025 Black Expo at Orchard Lake Mall

Feb. 22, 2025

Address: 6445 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield

Cost: Free admission

Celebrate Black History Month with live music, Black-owned businesses, demonstrations, and exhibits.

Detroit Book City African-American Family Book Expo & Read-In 20205

Feb. 22, 2025

Address: Ernest T Ford Recreation Center, 10 Pitkin St., Highland Park

Cost: Free admission, fees apply for items on sale (RSVP Required)

This ninth annual expo features book discussions, kids’ activities, and meet-and-greets with Black authors. The first 100 adults receive a swag bag!

Join Lincoln Branch for Black History Month BINGO!

Feb. 25, 2025

Address: Lincoln Branch, Detroit Library, 1221 Seven Mile East, Detroit

Cost: Free (RSVP Recommended)

Test your knowledge of Black History with a fun-filled game of BINGO!

For more ways to celebrate, visit these iconic museums and historical sites:
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
National Museum of Tuskegee Airmen
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Motown Museum
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Historical Museum

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!

February:

*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

Tuesday, March 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!