We hope you and your children are settling into the new school year!

The Butler PTA is made up of volunteers, and we play an important role in our children’s education. Enrichment programs (like the outing to the LEGO car rally workshop and visit with a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe) and family social events would not happen without your financial donations and volunteer time. Your generosity makes these additional activities possible! 

This monthly newsletter is intended to keep all of us connected by recapping past events, describing what’s coming up, and suggesting ways to get involved. For more info, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (PTA) section of the Butler website. For updates, please join our private (yet searchable!) Facebook group Butler Elementary Belmont MA Parents. 

Thanks and see you soon!

Colleen Hartley and Sara Carson
PTA Co-Presidents

11th Annual Butler Fun Run 
Friday 10/18 (rain date: 10/28)
during school

This is the PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year! In the past, we’ve raised over $20,000 at this event because of generous sponsors and donors. This year, we’re off to an amazing start with generous donations from Anne Mahon at Leading Edge Real Estate and Buono Pest Control.

Enrichment programs for our children count on fundraised dollars. And so, with the decreased student body this year, we are reaching out to YOU to help contact new local businesses for their sponsorship. If you know the owners of local businesses listed below, please let us know by emailing: kazukot@bu.edu

New Fundraiser: Original Works 

We’re thrilled to announce that we will be starting a new fundraiser in a couple of weeks! It’s art based, kid centered, and fun focused! We have partnered with Original Works, a company that transforms children's artwork into products like notepads, magnets, coffee mugs, key chains, and more. Butler will receive about 30% of the total amount made in sales. 

Over the next few weeks, our children will create beautiful artwork with Elizabeth Sobkiw-Williams, our new art teacher. In early November, the PTA will send home packages showing the artwork and will include the product order forms and prices. These orders will be fulfilled and custom products returned to Butler before the holidays—an opportune moment to gift a loved one with an item designed by your favorite Butler student/students! Interested in learning more or volunteering? Please email: vrsavage@gmail.com

Fun Run and Library Volunteers

We welcome volunteers for a half hour or longer during these events and activities:

-Fun Run: Though this run happens on Friday 10/18 (during school), or 10/28 if there’s rain, volunteers help with many tasks before and during the event–like fundraising prior to the event and guiding students during the day of the run. 

-Library: Anyone interested in volunteering in the library for the first time is required to attend the in-person library orientation on Tuesday 9/24 (9:00-10:00 am) with Ms. Joanne, our library aide, and Sarah Albright, our library parent coordinator. Just sign up on Butler Library’s SignUp page. If you have a calendar conflict, please let us know so we can help find an alternative solution.

As always, we are seeking help with gardening, picking up rubbish, and keeping the front entrance flowers fresh. Many hands make light work!

Interested? Please email: butlerpta@gmail.com

Please click here for the complete list of the position descriptions and commitment levels. We are especially in need of:

-Secretary: The secretary records meeting minutes and retains them for record. They maintain a membership list with names and addresses of members. 

-VP, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The VP of DEI supports the Butler school – students, staff, and caretakers – to create a community of inclusivity, acceptance, and allyship. This VP partners with Butler’s Equity Team, made up of Butler staff members, to determine and execute actions for the school year.

-Assistant Bookkeeper: We are looking for an assistant bookkeeper this year, who can shadow our current bookkeeper and treasurer with deposits, payments, and account reconciliation. The hope is this individual will learn this year and move into the Treasurer or Bookkeeper role next year. While a background in accounting is helpful, it is not required. 

This summer, we were able to host 3 kindergarten playdates and the New Family Picnic! It was lovely to meet so many new families!

During the first week of school,  Ms. Babson welcomed our new kindergarten parents and caregivers by offering more information over coffee, snacks, and conversation.

Thanks to the PTA, the beautiful WELCOME BACK, BUTLER sign welcomed faculty and staff returning to kickoff another school year. It expressed joy and also served as the backdrop for family photos as students, parents, and caregivers arrived for drop-off and pick-up.  

Thanks to the GREEN TEAM, Butler’s school grounds looked organized, bright, and ready for the start of school. The clean, attractive environment contributes to our children’s health and well-being; it also encourages our children to take pride in their school.

Thank you, parents and caregivers, for joining us at the PTA Welcome Back Ice Cream Social and Membership Drive! Your presence and participation made the event special, and it was wonderful to see such enthusiasm and engagement as we kicked off the new school year!

A huge thank you to Moozy’s for donating all the ice cream our kiddos––and all of us––enjoyed. And shoutouts to the volunteers who helped scoop ice cream or sell raffle tickets, as well as to the local businesses (listed on this homemade thank-you poster) that donated prizes!

Missed it but still want to contribute to the PTA? You can donate and become a member by clicking here.

Donations to the PTA fund our children's enrichment programs. Families who donate between now and Curriculum Night on Thursday 9/26 will be entered into a drawing to win additional gift cards to local Belmont businesses and restaurants.