Tonight: Donate concession supplies for our Band and Orchestra Concert

The 5th Grade Band & Orchestra team approached the PTA with a wonderful idea to run a concession stand during their concerts tonight, Tue, May 23. We need the Burroughs Community's help to execute!

Students plan on running concessions but need donated items to sell! Check out this list of their requested items and sign-up for items you can bring to school prior to 5:30 p.m.

All fundraising proceeds will go to new viola and violin bows for the 5th Grade Instrument Music Program.

Social Emotional Wellness (SEW) Committee

The Social Emotional Wellness Committee is partnering with Canvas Health and our School-Based Therapist, Beth Hopkins, to provide three Wellness Moments for students to engage in throughout this school year. These moments are aligning with the SEW themes for the year: Restore, Play and Connect.

Our final SEW Wellness Moments Kit for Students was sent home in student backpacks on Friday, May 19. In addition to the wellness activity supplies, the kit included a slip of paper for a caregiver to sign and return to a bucket in the front office by morning announcements this Friday, 5/26. We will draw participation prize winners during morning announcements. Participation is optional. This month our Wellness Moment focuses on the CONNECT theme and emphasizes the importance of connecting with one another.

Our third and final Wellness Friday for Staff event of the school year also took place last Friday! This event also focused on our theme of “Connect” by providing staff with a chance to reflect internally, connect with each other with their own dice activity and, as usual, enjoy delicious breakfast items to start their day off well.  If you’re interested in continuing to play with the foam die with your kids at home, try this D-icebreaker - it was a hit with the staff and some of our kids at home, too!

If you would like to learn more about the SEW Committee or join us, please contact Maggie Skrypek. All are welcome and we would love to have you!

- Social Emotional Wellness (SEW) Committee at Burroughs - Creating Connection & Building Resilience for a Stronger Community

Fun in the Sun Field Day 2023



Please join your child this Wednesday, May 24 for our annual Fun in the Sun Field day. Students have been practicing their skills and are anticipating a great event!

We need many parents, family members, and friends to help. Visit the Burroughs PE webpage for complete details, including a list of field day events, and check out the Fun in the Sun flyer and volunteer form. If you are able to volunteer for a full day (preferred), or a half day, please print out the form and return the completed section to Mr. Hill via paper or email.

Who: All grades are invited to participate

What: Fun in the Sun Field Day Event

Where: Lynnhurst Park

When: Wednesday, May 24 (rain date Thursday, May 25)

What Time: Grades 3-5 (9:45 a.m. - Noon) and Grades K-2 (1:15 - 3:00 p.m.)

How Can I Attend/Volunteer: Anyone can attend as a spectator, but please consider volunteering!

Spring Picnic is coming June 8

Burroughs Community! Come join your fellow students, friends and community for our Spring Picnic. The PTA will provide pizza, drinks and snacks for you enjoy while hanging out with fellow students and caring adults. In addition to the playground and our gaga pit, we will have a balloon artist, crafting, and bounce houses for maximum fun.

We need your help: Volunteers are essential to host the crafting table, serve pizza, monitor the bounce houses, clean up, etc. Please sign up today.

Call for Volunteers: Burroughs Movie Monday

Burroughs will host a movie morning & movie afternoon on June 12. We still need seven additional volunteers to make it happen. If you are available to help supervise please sign up today.

Volunteer Opportunities for the 2023/2024 School Year

Did you know that most of the special activities that bring Burroughs students and families together are led by volunteers? As we look ahead to next year, we hope you will raise your hand for one of the following opportunities:

• PTA Core Team - We are looking for more people to the PTA Leadership team. You don't have to commit to a title, just join us! We are a fun group that listens to what Burroughs families want and helps make it happen! We run PTA meetings, manage the PTA budget, and put on a few events over the year. We do minimal fundraising. We're mostly about bringing the community together. Email Megan OMeara to learn more.

• Families for Equity and Justice Lead/Co-Leads - This group works to make Burroughs a more just and inclusive place. They are responsible for the Native tribes banners in the cafeteria, run multi-cultural book exchanges, etc. Contact Elizabeth Odette to learn more.

• Book Fair Team - Join third grade parent Jen Bertolatus to host two book fairs a year, which are beloved events that also raise money for the PTA and equip teachers with lots of new books. Contact Jen Bertolatus for more information.

• Sleepunder Team - This widely popular event happens in the winter. Students get dropped off at school in their PJs for an evening of games, movies, and treats. This is a well established event and has a super clear plan for a a volunteer team to execute on. And if you run it, your Burroughs student is guaranteed a spot! Contact Megan OMeara for all the details.

• Burroughs Parent Facebook Group moderator - We need a parent to moderate the Burroughs Facebook Parents group, where a lot of important info and discussion happens. The moderator makes sure members are current Burroughs families and that discussion is respectful and on-topic. Contact Madeline Lohman for more info.

• Social and Emotional Wellness (SEW) Committee - This group supports the social and emotional well-being of staff, students and families at Burroughs. They are responsible for the Resiliency Tree Mural hanging in the atrium, our recent Parents as Sexuality Educators event, student Wellness Moments Kits, and staff Wellness Fridays. Contact Maggie Skrypek to learn more!

• The Art Adventure Team needs one adventurous parent to join an established group of passionate and experienced leaders. This program introduces art into each Burroughs classroom over two lesson periods and culminates in a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It takes place in early fall and is complete by mid-November. Contact Lynsey Tjaden for all the details.

• Read-a-thon - We're looking for committee members to secure community sponsors, contact and schedule community guest readers, organize our used book event, choose and order prizes, and support the 5th grade play. Does this get you excited? Contact Debbie Bloss to learn more.

Volunteer Spotlight

Erin Kelly-Collins is an editor for the Burroughs Bulletin. This team of 8+ volunteers collects content of importance to the Burroughs community from the PTA, various committees and school staff to generate our weekly newsletter. When her work schedule allows, Erin picks up other volunteer gigs at Burroughs like Art Adventures, School Picture Day and Chess Club.

Erin and her husband Lorne joined the Burroughs community in 2018 when their daughter Genevieve (now in grade 4) started kindergarten. They've seen great growth in G over the years, especially thanks to some outstanding teachers who honor her strengths and help her navigate challenges with patience and empathy.

Erin was raised in Southern California and moved to Minnesota in 2003. She is a communications specialist at a global tech company based in Colorado. She's a fan of audiobooks and traveling. In a shocking turn of events, the K-C family recently hosted three different foster cats. We'll see what the future holds. Erin is team #BackyardChickens, Genevieve wants a dog.

The Burroughs Bulletin editorial team welcomes new members annually. If you'd like to learn more, email us.

Language Learning at Burroughs

Beginning in the fall, Burroughs will offer after-school Spanish and before-school Mandarin for students in grade K-5. Space is limited. Enroll online at Language Sprout. Contact Susan Raynaud with questions.