Weekly Family Newsletter

October 2, 2022

We know Burns Park isn't the only place with a regular Sunday news edition, but did you know on this day in 1853, the Detroit Free Press became the first Michigan newspaper to have a regular Sunday edition newsprint?

We were very excited to see so many of you at our Fall Picnic. The event turned out perfect and it was wonderful to see so many Burns Park families having a great time with one another. We look forward to more events like this throughout the school year.

As it continues getting cooler, please help remind your students that it is important to dress accordingly. We are still eating outside for lunch and it is important that students have what they need to feel comfortable outside.

As always, thank you for your support!

Heather & Leslee

Library News

We have been very busy in Library over the past few weeks rolling out devices to students and beginning our first book checkouts of the year. Students have been taught how to properly care for our library books, following our Library Procedures, as well as the rules for using our school technology, following the AAPS Acceptable Use Policy. The following slides are used to teach the acceptable use policy to Young 5s-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade, emphasizing that our devices are not personal devices, but school devices that are being loaned out (much like a library book) for school work and to learn. Just like we would not put stickers, add pictures, or alter library books in any way, we should not be doing those things to our school devices. This includes using devices to access websites that are not school sanctioned in Clever, Schoology, or otherwise provided by a teacher for additional learning. We thank you for your support in helping our students follow these same rules and procedures at home!

Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are a very important part of building partnerships and support between families and the staff at Burns Park Elementary. Teachers are beginning to send out conference sign ups. This info can be found in their weekly communication. Teachers are offering in person, zoom and phone conferences. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student's teacher.

AAPS Masking Policy

As of today, October 2nd, Washtenaw County is in the CDC MEDIUM/YELLOW Community Level. Masks are encouraged indoors. Link to CDC Community Level page here.

For more detailed information about the AAPS Fall 2022 COVID and Health Guidance, please click here.

Breakfast/Lunch

School meals will no longer be provided free of charge for all as they were in the 2021-2022 school year. Families will need to fill out free & reduced lunch forms to qualify: 2022-2023 Free & Reduced Lunch Application. Please note that families are responsible for the cost until the application is approved. If you need help, please refer to this document. Paper copies will be available in the main office once the school year begins.

For more information about this change and to learn how to load funds onto your child's account, please click here. Student ID information was sent home the first week of school. You may set up your meal magic account with that information.

Please have a conversation with your child if you would like them getting food from school or not. Families are responsible for the cost of food. We will ALWAYS feed children if they say they don’t have food. We will not question it. Make sure they know the plan.

Also, please make sure your child knows which item is their snack. This is helpful for the classroom teacher.

Items from Home

Personal belongings (i.e. toys, trading cards, etc.) need to remain at home. Burns Park staff will not be responsible for managing the care and safety of personal belongings. Students who bring sports items for recess have an understanding that they are agreeing to share with others. If this agreement is not the understanding, students should not bring personal sports items. Please check backpacks before your student comes to school.

Dear Fantastic BPE Families,

I hope that everyone had a faultless fifth week of school last week. It was great to see the return of the Back to School Fall Picnic, I would like to thank all the PTO volunteers who helped put together the event. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the parents that signed up as Room Parents/Art Angels/Library Helpers last week. If you are still looking for a volunteer opportunity, please consider Walk & Talk below.

Walk & Talk: Last week saw the return of Walk and Talk, with sessions scheduled for Monday / Wednesday / Fridays at 11:15 to 12:30pm timeslots from now to Thanksgiving. Please visit the singup genius link and volunteer. To run effectively each session needs 6 adult volunteers based on the number of kids that participate instead of the 3-4 adults that were able to volunteer last week. If you would like more information before volunteering, please email the organizers at walktalk@burnsparkpto.org

Annual Fund: All PTO led and/or sponsored activities this school year, past (Popsicles in the Park, Back to School Fall Picnic), present (Classroom Subsidies, Walk & Talk, etc.) and future (Field Trips, Science Olympiad, etc.) are only possible because of our volunteers and the financial support of the community. This past week, our two wonderful Fundraising Coordinators, Rachel Ufer and Karen Healy kicked off our Annual Fund campaign for this year with an introductory letter. If you are able and interested in supporting the PTO, please visit the donate section of the PTO Website.

Our PTO Meetings are always the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm via zoom. Please join us in two weeks on October 12 for our next meeting.

Your Burns Park PTO

Al Masias, President

info@bpepto.org