Burbank PTA

The Buddy Buzz

PTA Newsletter: June 3, 2024
buddynewsletter

In this issue...

  • New BPS Website & Newsletter Makeover

  • Garden Summer Signups

  • Kindergarten Enrichment

  • 3rd & 4th Grade Moving On Celebrations 6/10

  • Library Volunteers Needed 6/4 & 6/5

  • Last Day to Vote for 2024-25 PTA Board & Budget

  • Extracurriculars Update

  • Volunteer Interest Form for 2024-25

  • A Letter from the BEA

  • Belmont Buzz Around Town

New BPS Website & Newsletter Makeover

Belmont Public Schools has rolled out their new website and app! We are navigating the new format and hope this platform will allow you easier access to our PTA newsletters. An exciting improvement is the ability to translate the newsletter into multiple languages! You'll find the translate button in the upper right corner of this page.

If you download the app and save Burbank as a preferred school, you will see PTA updates on events and volunteer needs as well as a new PTA calendar feature.

Download for Android Download for iPhone

calendar
Calendar Example

Garden Summer Sign-Ups!

garden
Classroom Garden

We have a huge thank you shout out for Hillside Garden Ace Hardware for donating all the seedlings for the third graders' Three Sisters garden and the second graders' veggie plots. We are incredibly grateful for this helping hand from Jerry and his crew.  Also a huge thank you to Harriet Wong and family (Burbank alums!) for the donation of herbs to fill in the herb beds in the Garden Classroom.

Now that we are planting, we need YOU to SIGN UP to help this SUMMER!  Pick a week you are around to water and weed, and you can watch the gardens thrive.  It's a wonderful family activity that you can fit into your schedule as it works for you, and you are welcome to pick ripe vegetables (and herbs).  Sign up here - please take only one week to start with.

Garden questions?  Email Heather at hrubeski@gmail.com

Kindergarten Enrichment

Kindergarten enjoyed a PTA-sponsored enrichment program organized by Ms. Pond and Ms. Ianuzzi on April 11th! The program called "Word Play," included live musicians, clowning, and puppetry to take the audience on an adventure through the alphabet.

For more information about this group and the show, visit: Word Play — Puppet Showplace Theater

KindergartenEnrichment

3rd & 4th Grade Moving On Celebrations

Monday, June 10th at the Burbank Gymnasium, we will be celebrating our 3rd and 4th Graders as they prepare to move on to the CUE!

  • 9:00 AM 3rd Grade Moving On Ceremony

  • 10:00 AM 4th Grade Moving On Ceremony

Monday, June 10th on the Burbank Front Lawn the 3rd graders and their families will celebrate with a class picnic!

  • 5:30 PM 3rd Grade Picnic

Is your child moving up to Chenery Upper Elementary next year and you're interested in getting involved? Check out the CUE PTO's Volunteer Interest Form!

Picnic

Burbank Library Help Needed!

books

Please consider joining us after drop off on June 4th or 5th for the Library Shelf Read.  Volunteers will help go through all the books in the library to put them back in order so the library is neat and tidy going into the summer. Come to the library right after drop off on Tues. 6/4 or Wed. 6/5.  The shelf read runs until 9:45am, but you don't need to stay for the entire time; any time allotment you can give is greatly appreciated! It is a wonderful opportunity to check out our Burbank Library, get to know other parents, and maybe see if you'd like to join the library committee next year. 

Any questions, please contact Julie, PTA Library Liaison. Thank you for volunteering in the Burbank Library!

VOTE for the 2024-2025 PTA Board and Budget

Voting is now open for next year's PTA Board Members & Budget and will close on Tuesday, June 4th.

Please take a moment to review our 2024-2025 PTA Board Member candidates and budget proposal and cast your electronic vote:

'24-'25 Burbank PTA Voting Form

Thank you for voting and helping us start the next school year strong!

thank you

Extracurriculars Update!

Thank you to everyone who signed up, instructed, supported, or helped out our PTA classes this year. We are very happy to announce that we have made a significant impact at Burbank, raising over $10,000 through our class offerings this year! This money allows the PTA to fund and support our teachers in planning engaging enrichment programs, as well as buy materials and supplies not covered by the annual budget.

Please be on the lookout for information regarding our fall session!

2024 Final Session Dates:

  • Coding: June 10th

  • French Club: May 28th

  • Spanish Club: May 28th

  • Ocean Explorers: June 6th

  • Fun with Food: May 31st

  • Garden Club: June 7th

  • Before School Sports: June 4th

French club art
French Club Artwork

Volunteer Interest Form

Volunteer

The Burbank PTA is an all-volunteer organization that facilitates many curriculum-enhancing enrichment programs, community building events, and teacher and staff support.  We do this partly by fundraising but most of our success comes from parent involvement. 

Sign up for one or multiple opportunities including Room Parent, garden committee, library committee, events, welcoming, and so much more!

For all Event Committee volunteers, we have guides for how to plan events at Burbank along with details on what has been done in previous years.  This includes vendor information, flyer templates, instructions, etc.

If you know of any new families coming to Burbank in the fall, please let them know about these volunteer opportunities!

A Letter from the BEA Concerning Guidance Counselor Positions

Dear PTA Members,

In late March, we were informed that the guidance positions at two of our elementary schools would be reduced to half time. We are deeply concerned about this reduction, as it will adversely impact our school community and students. Our hope is that you will join us in letting the Superintendent, School Committee, and Warrant Committee know that mental health cuts are not the answer to the budgeting challenges our community faces. 

We have written a letter stating our concerns and objections regarding this reduction to Dr. Geiser. We were also fortunate to obtain signed support from educators across the district. At a recent School Committee meeting, we shared our concerns regarding the guidance reduction, and submitted the letter for their review.

We are asking that you share the following flyer with the members of your school community and encourage them act by sending a letter to Dr. Guiser, the School Committee, and the Warrant Committee through the Action Network. We truly appreciate your support! 

Best,

Belmont Education Association

Belmont Buzz Around Town

Belmont Soccer Association

Fall Registration is now open for the Belmont Soccer Association!

Belmont Recreation

Belmont Recreation has many summer programs to check out!

Belmont Voice

Belmont's local newspaper, the Belmont Voice, interviewed Burbank's Ms. Cox, our wonderful kindergarten teacher!

Join the Belmont High School Boys and Girls team members, the Belmont Recreation Department, and the Friends of Belmont Tennis for a FREE tennis clinic on Sunday, June 9, 10-11 am at the Winn Brook tennis courts. Come play games with student coaches and build connections across our local tennis community. All elementary-aged children (PK-4) are welcome, and you can sign up here. We look forward to a fun tennis-filled morning!

For more information please contact: friendsofbelmonttennisma@gmail.com

TennisClinic
Buddy Bear PTA

Contact Us!

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Want to get involved? Please email the Burbank PTA at maryleeburbankpta@gmail.com

Have Burbank News or Around Town content to share with Burbank Families? Email the PTA Secretary

Burbank PTA Board & Committees

Burbank PTA Meeting Minutes