The Blaze | 12.7.25

Issue 15 | 12.7..25

A Message from Dr. Hilton

Dear Bradfield Families,

Wow! We had a packed week at Broncoland. We kicked off the week with Scots Shine Together, where our students participated in a variety of activities focused on kindness, inclusion, acceptance, and empathy for others. We even had the HPHS Spirited Scots welcome our students on Friday. Additionally, our Bronco Bites team baked over 600 cookies for our school. A special thank you to Mrs. Golman for starting the Bronco Bites program and supporting our amazing students!

We also had guest author Greg Pizzoli come to our campus and share how he writes and illustrates his stories. He even taught our Broncos a new joke. “What do you call an author who also illustrates his own books? AMAZING!!” Thank you, HPArts and Mrs. Penman, for bringing this “amazing” author to our campus.

Our first graders also had the joy of learning about meteorology from meteorologist Julia Fife. She even coached some of our Broncos on how to deliver a meteorology report.

Finally, thank you to the Armstrong Bradfield Preschool Association (ABPA) for continuing to support Armstrong and Bradfield Elementary schools. The 26th annual ABPA Homes for the Holidays Home Tour was a well-attended event and has become a tradition for many of our families during the holiday season. Over the past twenty-plus years, ABPA has raised more than one million dollars for the Kindergarten and First Grade programs at Armstrong and Bradfield. Thanks to families who opened their exquisite homes, and I have no doubt this year’s gift will be as generous as years past.

Also, a warm thank you to the ABPA Home Tour Committee: Landen Tillery, Hayley Eckert, Cindy Revol, Katharine Rutherford, Stuti Reddy, Haley Holmberg, Claudia Conard, Amanda Toussaint, Lauren Jordan, and Kelly Ongena for all of your hard work and dedication to make this year a huge success!

I hope you all are having a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you and your children at the front door!

Kindly,

Dr. Aimee Hilton

Exciting News from Dr. Hilton

Dear Bradfield Families,

We are excited to share that, thanks to the generosity of La Fiesta and the HP Education Foundation, Highland Park ISD has purchased two trained therapy dogs to support the well-being of our students and staff.

Both dogs are Bernedoodles, selected for their calm temperament, strong capabilities, and hypoallergenic qualities. They have begun visiting campuses on a limited basis and will be fully deployed after the start of the new year.

The therapy dogs are handled by Chief Rowden and Officer Bridgewater (HPHS SRO), both of whom have extensive experience and training in working with dogs. The dogs will make occasional visits to Bradfield and can also respond to specific requests for support.

If you prefer that your child not have contact with the therapy dogs due to allergies, fear of dogs, or other concerns, an opt-out form will be available in the front office for the legal guardian to sign.

Thank you for your partnership as we continue supporting the emotional well-being of our students.

Kindly,

Dr. Aimee Hilton

Dear Parents,

This is a reminder that the School Experience Survey launched on Monday, December 1. The primary contact for each student should have received an email from a third-party administrator with a link to participate. If you don’t see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.

In addition to parent feedback, we will also be gathering input from all teachers and students in grades 3–12. If you would like to opt your child out of the survey, please complete THIS form, print it, and send it to your child’s homeroom teacher. The opt-out form must be submitted by December 10th as the survey will be administered to students the week of December 15th.

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, Dec. 19. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us recognize our strengths and identify areas for improvement. Thank you for your participation!

A Message from our PTA President, Kamela Aboussie

Dear Bradfield Families,

It’s feeling a lot like December! Lights in trees and carriages around the neighborhood are signs the holidays are in full swing. And around Bradfield our red poinsettias are potted, PTA volunteers dressed up like little gifting elves to pass out holiday surprises to our staff this week, and the display case chairs literally transformed our display case into a winter wonderland, it is a MUST SEE!

On Thursday I took my kids to the Highland Park tree lighting on Armstrong, and the mayor shared a brief history of the Town of HP, the pecan tree and the lighting celebration. The first tree lighting celebration was held in 1927, Bradfield’s second year of school! Everyone’s favorite festive destination, Highland Park Village, opened a few years later in 1931. So much history and so many traditions were established in our neighborhood during Bradfield’s first years.

I’ve been doing a dive into Bradfield and Highland Park history as we look forward to the many celebrations planned during our Spring semester to celebrate Bradfield’s 100th. We have monthly tributes planned starting in January with Bradfield’s 100th Year keepsakes, and the launch of our Centennial Campaign. February will bring our Millennial Centennial Auction, and in March we have a special Open House planned. This will all culminate in a week-long 100th Year Celebration in April! I am really excited to honor our school and I hope all our families will join in the celebrations! Please reach out to me to get involved if you’re interested in helping!

Check out the aerial photos below. One is from 1931 when Highland Park Village opened (you can see Bradfield off to the right), and by contrast aerial photos 94 years later this fall during our field opening. It’s the best of our neighborhood, staying grounded to our history while always moving forward.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love,

Kamela

Staff Gifting Co-chairs: Colly Beecherl, Rebecca Bell

Staff Gifting Deliveries: Colly Beecherl, Rebecca Bell, Claudia Conard, Jen Morton, Cindy Revol, Allison Small

Display Case: Ashley Reid, Medley Turner

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Keep an eye out for class holiday party information from your teachers.

December 8-12: 4th grade KC Club Service Project: Details HERE!

Make sure to stop by Lost & Found! All remaining items will be donated on Friday, December 19.

December 16: 4th Grade Winter Concert

December 19: Early Release (1:15PM)

December 22-January 6: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

January 7: Classes Resume

January 9: School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day

January 19: NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day

January 22: BDC Father/Daughter Dance

January 26: ABPA Kinder Readiness Meeting

January 30: Science Fair

February 21, 2026: Millennial Centennial

Become a Family Sponsor Today!

Our 4th grade Kindness Club has partnered with

the International Esperanza Project.

They will be collecting new cooking utensils to send over to the families in Guatemala to use with their new stoves. Collections will take place Monday, December 8th- Friday, December 12th. There will be collection bins in the atrium for students and families to drop off items.

Details on Items Needed Here!

Questions? Janet Adams

Being part of the PTA is a wonderful way to meet other parents, stay connected, and support our amazing school.

If you’re interested in getting more involved next year, please take a moment to share your interests below.

This is just an interest form, not a commitment!

Submit Your Interest HERE

View PTA Roles

Responses are due Friday, January 9.

Questions? Jennifer Morton

Cookies are $6.00 per dozen or $8.00 per dozen with icing.

Please contact Susan Graeber to order.

Dust Off Your Neon and Get Ready to Rewind!

Please join us for a totally rad Millennial-themed party as we celebrate Bradfield's Centennial Year! This is a blast from the past, with all the 80s and 90s vibes, as we celebrate 100 years of our beloved Bradfield Elementary. Nostalgia this strong knows no limits, so come dressed in your best retro attire! Channel your inner Ferris Bueller, assemble your Breakfast Club crew, zip in like Marty McFly, or show off your best Saved by the Bell style. So put the Pac-Man game on pause, tease that hair and find us on the dance floor for this year's auction!

Save the Date:

February 21, 2026

Dallas Country Club at 6:00PM

As we rewind these VHS tapes and press play on a totally rad year, our Auction Team is calling all Bradfield families! We’re looking for gnarly family donors and sponsors to help make this year’s Millennial Centennial Auction a blockbuster hit! Whether your family or business wants to take center stage like Freddie Mercury or go full Top Gun Maverick status, your support keeps our school totally tubular. Visit the Bradfield PTA Auction Page to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can join the fun. Let’s make this year’s auction the raddest one yet!