Dear Parents:
What better time to foster family engagement then the start of a new school year?
From the White House to our homes, we all recognize the need to prepare our children to be healthy, happy, well-educated citizens! In 2010/2011, we hope to reach out to Browning parents & staff with our “Healthy Habits/Healthy Minds” theme to further strengthen the ties between school & community. By promoting good eating habits & encouraging physical activity, we can help emphasize the important roles we all play in keeping our children healthy and ready to learn.
On behalf of the entire Browning Elementary family, the PTA would like to invite you to support our efforts in this initiative & to help supplement the classroom learning environment. Without PTA fundraising dollars & our amazing volunteers, the opportunity for on-site learning experiences, field trips, playground equipment, supplemental learning materials, and, as in the past, Family Fun Events would not be possible.
Please check out our calendar of events & membership materials! We look forward to working with you to support our students and staff in another “Browning the Best” year!
Browning PTA Team
As the school year has ended and summer is well under way, please accept our sincere thanks for all you have done this year for our school, students, staff, and families!
Volunteering can be frustrating and sometimes thankless and time-consuming but our school is a better place because of the wonderful people like you! Great teachers teach in a better environment thanks to you! Students find their school more welcoming and home-like because of you! Families have connections with school that they wouldn’t have without you!
Research indicates that schools with higher levels of parental involvement serve students better. While well-run schools with talented teachers are great, schools with amazing volunteers like you are what makes Browning the icing on the cake. This year’s MEAP scores & our PTA sponsored events are a testament to that!
Thanks again for giving your time, talents, & enthusiasm for everyone at “Browning the Best!” Together, we are making a difference! Please visit our website (www.browningpta.org) periodically for updates on Back to School events, etc.
Here’s hoping the remainder of your summer is filled with lots of family fun time, much deserved rest & relaxation, and parents upset about how you ran an event! Enjoy!
Best Regards,
Your Browning PTA
Please consider these important actions as you begin your summer vacation:
1. Rep. Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), the chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that has oversight over the K-12 budget, composed a letter to Gov. Granholm opposing using school aid dollars for anything but K-12 funding. Legislators from both sides of the aisle have signed this letter. Please encourage your state legislators to do the same.
“Michigan’s schools are the cornerstones of our communities and the building blocks of our future. Although safeguarding funding may require difficult decisions, diverting resources away from educating our children in order to fund other programs in the state budget is irresponsible. As such, we the undersigned oppose any transfer or appropriation of School Aid Fund dollars away from K-12 public schools.“
2. Attend candidate forums this summer before the primary and ask candidates how they intend to fund public education. Ask if they support restoring funding to our public schools to the 2008-09 level.
Sample Questions
- Many people feel that our elected leaders in Lansing have let partisan differences get in the way of working together when it’s really needed. What would you do to help promote problem solving over politics?
- Does Michigan need to change how it currently funds schools? Why or Why not?
- In the past few years Michigan reduced funding for pre-school education. Would you support increasing state funding for public pre-schools for at-risk children?
- What specific measures would you support to help create jobs in Michigan? What role do you believe education can play in addressing the employment problems in Michigan?
- Do you believe that Michigan is facing an education funding crisis?
- What is your number one funding priority and why?
- What specific proposals do you have to fund education in Michigan? Should the state raise more revenue? If so, what measures would you support to raise that revenue? (For example, new taxes and which ones, eliminating tax credits, which ones, etc.)
- What roles do you see charter schools and private schools playing in Michigan’s education system in the future? Do you support charter schools? Do you support private school vouchers?
3. Contact your United States Congressman and ask him or her to sign on to the Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R. 5211). The Family Engagement in Education Act ensures shared responsibility between families, communities and educators for closing the achievement gap.
4. Share this info with someone else!
With all of these actions, identify yourself as a concerned parent, educator, voter, & public education supporter! For more information on how this affects UCS, please visit www.uticak12.org !
Your action does make a difference!!
Jessica is a Browning Graduate (7th Grader at Bemis) diagnosed in June 2009 with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Stage III.
To learn more about Jessica & her brave fight to beat this, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jessicabaker10
What: Golf Outing FUNdraiser to Benefit Baker Family
Where: Golden Hawk Golf Club (9861 Meisner Lane, Casco Twp. MI. 48064)
When: Saturday, September 11, 2010
Cost: $85 per player
Prepay to reserve your spot
Check in at: 8:30 AM & Shot Gun start at 9:30A.M
Enjoy a complete program of special events, 18 hole scramble (including cart), hot dog at the turn with two drink tickets, dinner, door prizes and an exciting awards banquet…
Vegetarian menu available – please request at time of registration
50/50 raffle at dinner
Gift raffle at dinner
Closest to the pin challenge
Longest drive- Men and Women
In order to make this event a big success, please pre-register and pay by contacting Michelle Koupparis, one of the team managers for the U-13 Girls Kickers @ (586) 786-6061 or @ [email protected].
Please view the attached document from Dr. Christine M. Johns, Superintendent of Utica Community Schools.
CFEP 2010-2011 Budget Update
Many thanks to our fantastic physical education teacher Mrs. Irvine for coordinating Browning’s 5th Annual Fun Run on May 21st to support a sense of community, charity, and physical fitness. All donations collected by the students (>$4000) were designated to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in honor of Browning 6th Grader Jessica Baker.
This year, we h
ad a unique opportunity to make the Fun Run extra special for our students and reward them for their philanthropic efforts with a high energy assembly by Radio Disney. Students enjoyed a 1-hour performance featuring hit music, dancing, “game show” elements, and lots of prizes. This assembly would not have been possible without the generous support of Barron Industries, Detroit Sausage Company, TDIC, Inc./Waller Family, Goss Family, Schneider Family, Steixner Family, Pugh Family, Washeleski Family, Browning PTA, etc. Every sponsorship (large or small) was greatly appreciated!
Once again, Mrs. Irvine has inspired our students to make a difference in the lives of others!
Best Regards,
Your Browning PTA
Many, many thanks to Marcy, Pete & the rest of the Steixner family! Due to all of your hard work, efforts, & time, Browning earned over $2500 with our 1st ever Browning Golf Outing! Great Job! We all hope you consider co-chairing this event next year!
Many thanks to Cindy Werbrouck for chairing/coordinating this family fun event! As a result of her efforts, Browning earned >$700! Great job Cindy!
Have a great summer!
