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UCS wants your feedback about Browning!

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As part of UCS’s Data Profile/Analysis and School Improvement Plan, Browning is trying to gather perception data from our parent group and community.  

A parent survey has been created online and is now available for your use. Once you click on the anonymous survey from your web browser, there will be specific directions to complete it under the Browning Elementary pull-down section.  The following link will take you to the 2011-2012 UCS parent survey:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHdSYnNyWW9FYXdiNUdrX2VoTHBvNEE6MQ&theme=0AX42CRMsmRFbUy1lZmFlYWE4Ni02MmQwLTQ0NWYtYWEyZC1kNmIxOWM2NjZkZjU&ifq

Your feedback and opinions are valued and appreciated!

Thousands of schools, one worthwhile cause. Child Hunger Ends Here!

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Nearly 1 in 4 kids in the U.S. doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from.  Child hunger knows no bounds and can be found throughout the country, in any state, in every community, and even in our own school. 

By partnering with ConAgra Foods & Schools Fight Hunger, we are joining schools across the country in the fight against child hunger. Students will learn how good it feels to help other kids in need. 

Browning can help make a difference but to be successful we need your help!

CLIP UPC codes from ConAgra Foods brands. Every UPC helps provide 1 meal.*

COLLECT food for Browning’s Holiday Food Drive.

BROWNING could WIN $10,000** for field trips!

See How Other Schools Are Fighting Hunger

Mark Salling Helps Fight Child Hunger! Find out how.

Schools Fight Hunger Program:
*For every UPC collected by schools through 12/31/11, a monetary donation will be made enabling one meal to be secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks, up to a maximum of 2 million meals for codes received by 1/12/12. ConAgra Foods will help provide up to 5 million meals to Feeding America during the 2011-12 school year (9/1/11-5/31/12). Valid in U.S. only. $1 donated = 8 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks.

**Open to accredited K-12 schools located within the 50 U.S. and DC. Void where prohibited. Begins 8/1/11 and ends 12/31/11. To enter, turn in participating ConAgra Foods, Inc., product UPC codes to your Sponsor-approved Eligible School’s Child Hunger Ends Here Coordinator OR to your participating Eligible School’s collection during the Program Period. All Submissions must be received by January 12, 2012. Or, to enter without purchase, have your Eligible School’s School Coordinator complete a 3 1/2″ x 5″ card with your Eligible School’s full name, address, city, state, zip code and phone number of the Eligible School, and send it in a properly stamped envelope to: The Child Hunger Ends Here, PO Box 1277, Grand Rapids, MN 55745-1277. All entries must be mailed separately. Subject to full official rules found at your Eligible School office or at ChildHungerEndsHere.com/schools. Sponsor: ConAgra Foods, One ConAgra Dr., Omaha, NE 68102. For full official rules, click here.

Labels for Education Book Bonanza Sweepstakes

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For more than 38 years, the Labels for Education®​ program has been committed to helping schools earn FREE educational merchandise, like art supplies, sports equipment, classroom resources and much more.

This year the Labels for Education program has kicked it up a notch! In addition to earning free educational merchandise your school can win up to $2,500 worth of Scholastic books in the Labels for Education Book Bonanza Sweepstakes! Participants enter on behalf of a school.

It’s easy to enter. Click on the ENTER NOW button below and complete the online form. The sweepstakes is open from October 15 through December 31, 2011 and you can enter once a day.

Ten lucky schools will win Scholastic books:

  • Two (2) schools will receive $2,500 worth of Scholastic books
  • Two (2) schools will receive $1,000 worth of Scholastic books
  • Six (6) schools will receive $500 worth of Scholastic books

PTA Meeting/Zumba Fun for Kids – Wed., Nov. 9th from 7-8pm

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While parents participated in a PTA Planning Meeting on Wed., Nov. 9th from 7-8pm in the Browning Media Center, students enjoyed a fun and energetic class of Zumba!

Michelle Ciacedo is a certified zumba instructor for adults and children and she really had our kids moving with fun music and a healthy workout in the gym!

Special Education Millage fails to pass! (51% No – 49% Yes)

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Thanks to all who advocated for the 30,000+ students in UCS by sharing with friends and relatives in Macomb County the importance of voting YES! on Tuesday, November 8th in support of all our children & schools. While 59,630 caring people took the time to vote YES yesterday, regretfully, 65,283 (28,869 “absentee”) voters in Macomb County decided not to support a critical millage which would have provided much needed funding.  This would have helped to offset the millions of dollars our elected officials have voted to take away from public education. 

Key FACTS about the election:

  • The needs of children with disabilities are increasing in UCS schools and throughout the county. We have more than 3,650 special needs students in Utica Community Schools – nearly 20,000 county wide – and the number is growing.
  • Every student would have benefited because these funds would have paid for mandated special education costs, focusing more of our district’s budget on teaching and learning in EVERY classroom.
  • It would have restored only a quarter of what our schools lose on an annual basis due to funding cuts. Schools will continue to institute cost saving measures to maintain programs in the face of declining revenues and state aid. YES vote would have helped maintain programs for ALL our kids!
  • To the average homeowner, this millage represented just 20 cents per day. The average adjustment in total taxes will be in the area of two-three percent – even less when you consider available credits. Use this convenient link to determine the rate specific for your household: http://mytaxcalc.com/macombisd/Introduction_Sheet.aspx

Apparently, attempts by a political organization to influence the election by distributing misleading information worked. This election should have been about kids, not politics!

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WOW! The Browning the Best Staff once again went above & beyond with their creativity & efforts with this year’s pumpkins!   We greatly appreciate it as it helped raise >$650 to help support & enhancee our children’s learning environments! 

Here are just a few pics of the “MASTERPUMPKINS!” Sample Pumpkins
 
Many thanks to all of the staff who graciously donated their time, talent, & personal touch to make this FUNdraiser a success! You truly are what makes Browning the Best!
 
Congratulations to all the winners!
Mrs. Poppe’s Black Cat – Kenndy P
Mrs. Bartalino’s Cinderella – Beesan
Mrs. Friedrich’s Elephant – Emily Q
Mrs. Misch’s Angry Birds – Red Bird Cooper V, Blue Birds David R, Andrei O, Jessica W 
Mrs. Sierzenga’s Pig – Morgan D
Mrs. Jahn’s A Bad Case of Stripes – Lexus
Mrs. Schepper’s Where the Wild Things Are – Lexi
Ms. Thompson’s Cupcake – Joseph D
Mrs. Johnston’s 3 Eyed Monster – Donovan G
Mrs. Slusher (Ms. Pamaville)’s Bunch of Eyes Monster – Alyssa Z
Mrs. Westman’s Witch M&M – Tamin
Ms. Jarboe’s Snowman – Amber H
Mrs. Pacioni’s Clown – Jenna M
Mrs. Palmer (Ms. Pianel)’s Witch – Brady W
Mrs. Bernier’s Big Red Angry Bird with Plush Pig – Abby C
Mrs. Papastamatis (Ms. Vandoorne)’s Bear – Ryan K
Mrs. Tocco’s Smurf – Cami P
Mrs. Andrews’s Bumble Bee – Alexander H
Mr. Scott’s Fish – Alexis B
Mrs. Bogoski’s Detroit Tiger Baseball – Griffin
Mrs. Surowiec’s Jeweled Pumpkin – Victoria D
Mrs. Gauthier’s Monster – Jacob G
Mr. Furtah’s Halloween Lights – Evan S
Mrs. Irvine’s Candy Corn – Cole S
Mrs. Zacharski’s Pink M&M – Renee T
Ms. Melissa’s Haunted Pumpkin House – Maria B
Mrs. Hassell’s Snorkler – Cameron

 

 

Teacher Wish Lists

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When parents & teachers work together, kids win!  As involved parents, we are willing to anything we can to help ensure that our children have the best possible learning environments.  That’s one reason why every year, when our teachers send out their classroom supply requests, we generously donate all we can.  What a difference that makes for every child at our school.

We’ve discovered a new way that makes it even easier for teachers to communicate to us what’s needed.  Simply go to www.TeacherWishList.com to find & print out your child’s teacher’s wish list in just a few clicks.   If we all give what we can, we’ll make it another great school year for our kids!

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6th Annual Browning Elementary Balloon Launch

Direct Donation Fundraiser

Hope you were able to enjoy the sight as students let them fly on Friday, Oct. 7th!  Thus far, at least 11 cards have been returned.  Two of which traveled as far away as Ontario, Canada!   As a result of your generosity, we raised over $6,000!   Proceeds are allocated to help pay for students’ Field Trips, On-Site Learning (School Assemblies), Family Fun Events, 6th Grade Activities, Library Books, Classrooms (supplemental learning supplies), Playground Enhancement, and more… 

 

How does the Balloon Launch work?

Each child filled out a postcard, including his or her first name and classroom, & it was attached to a balloon.  The postcard requested that the finder return the card to Browning Elementary.  On October 7th, the entire school released the balloons together.  Parents were encouraged to join students as they set them free! It was a spectacular display as our October/Detroit Tiger Orange Balloons drifted up, up, & away!

 

As the balloon cards are returned to school, they will be tracked for distance, mapped in the school hallway, broadcast on the morning announcements, and returned to your child. 

 

Benefits of the Balloon Launch:

  • Proceeds go directly to students!
  • Everyone starts the school year together, as one huge Browning family!
  • Every child is included.  ALL students in attendance launched a balloon!
  • Students look forward to cards that are returned, even if the cards are not their own.
  • It does not matter if you have one child or five, your donation counts for all of them.

Today,  Mr. Furtah announced the winners of the Balloon launch random drawing.  Congratulations to all!   

 

Casey L. – Mrs. Sierzenga

Kaela B. – Mrs. Aiello

Cameron P. – Mrs. Bernier

Griffin N. – Mrs. Bernier

Julianna D. – Mr. Scott

Austin H.  – Mrs. LaCroix

Nita d. – Mrs. Tocco

Michael N. – Mr. Scott

Nicholas A. – Mrs. Pacioni

Dylan D. – Mrs. Pacioni

Sierra S. – Mrs. Pacioni

Caitlin S. – Mrs. Tocco

Brandon F. – Mrs. Bartalino (AM)

Grace H. – Mrs. Misch

Austin M. – Mrs. Jarboe

 

Grand Prize Winner of the Kalahari gift certificate- Isabella C. in Mrs. Bartalino’s AM class!

 

Congratulations to all of our winners!  We’d also like to thank all the families that contributed to the balloon launch fundraiser, the Medina family & the Dawood family for prizes as well as all of the volunteers for their help on the day of the balloon launch!  Without you, this event would not have been so successful!  As always, we greatly appreciate your support! 

 How does this raise money for our school?

Our goal is to raise one $40.00 donation per family. Our hope is that each family will participate at some level, and that you might ask grandparents/aunts/uncles, to contribute towards your family goal of $40.00. Donations will be collected until October 14th.  Please make a donation that is best for your family. Please Note:  All students who raise $60.00 will be entered/eligible to win a family getaway to Kalahari Resort! Students will receive one entry for every $60.00 raised.

 Many thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make/distribute copies for event, fill & tie more than 550 balloons the morning of the launch, etc..  We greatly appreciate all of the time & effort this year’s Balloon Launch Chairperson Jill de Jesus devoted in an effort to make FUNdraiser a huge success for ALL our students! 

“It Takes a Village!”

BalloonLaunch_2011_Post Card

http://www.uticak12.org/districtinfo/news/launch.asp
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Hope you are all enjoying what we are sure will be another amazing school year! 

We’ve always been blessed with a wonderfully strong sense of community involvement at Browning and, now more than ever, it and the important connection between home and school are critical to further bolster our student achievement and prepare them for the ever changing world.  As such, we’ve adopted “It takes a Village!” as our 2011/2012 PTA theme.  We hope to provide events, initiatives, and community service opportunities to bring us all together for the greater good – our kids!

On behalf of the entire Browning Elementary family, the PTA would like to invite you to join us by volunteering just a few hours of your time throughout year & support our efforts to supplement the classroom learning environment.  As you know, budget cuts have had an impact on every school and Browning is no exception.  Without PTA fundraising dollars, your support, & 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. 

Why should I get involved?   When parents get involved in their children’s education, good things happen. Children with involved parents are more likely to graduate and go on to higher education. Schools with strong parent involvement are more successful. There are many reasons to get involved. Here are just a few examples:

  • I like to have a voice in school decisions that affect my children.
  • I get the chance to meet and share ideas with other parents & the Browning staff.
  • I can help bring opportunities to the students that they may not otherwise have.
  • It keeps me updated with information about the school.
  • It shows my kids that school is important & worth my time.

 Am I expected to volunteer?   The opportunities that we provide for the students cannot take place without volunteers. We encourage you to become involved, but it is not mandatory. We have a variety of ways you can volunteer from small tasks to large ones. We understand that not everyone has the time available to volunteer. We want to stress that we appreciate your input and ideas, whether you can volunteer or not. 

 This year, the Browning PTA includes/represents EVERY family & staff member at Browning!  No membership dues.  No enrollment.  We all have a vested interest in ensuring our children have the best possible learning environment.  Let’s “Pay It Forward” to support all of our students and our school!  Together, we can make a difference for Browning the best!!

 Browning Elementary’s 2011/2012 PTA Leaders

President – Michelle Pugh          [email protected]             566-2450

Vice President – Brad Glonka   [email protected]   871-6896

Secretary – Sue Medina                 [email protected]             247-4787

Treasurer – Tina Wyffels             [email protected]             202-0295

Events – Dawn Neubacher          [email protected]                   566-7080

Fundraising – Jill DeJesus          [email protected]       360-4404

 

“It takes a Village!” – African Proverb

Please visit our website periodically for updates & sign up for email notifications of PTA events & initiatives!

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS

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Thanks to all who participated in this year’s Entertainment Book Fundraiser!  Proceeds from the sale help to fund PTA sponsored projects throughout the school year, including offsite learning opportunities.  We greatly appreciate Mary Michalek & Cheryl Troppens once again co-chairing this profitable fundraiser. In the past few years, Entertainment Book sales have generated roughly 20% of all funds raised for PTA sponsored initiatives each year!