BARNSTABLE UNITED
MARCH NEWSLETTER
A NEW PLAYGROUND HAS BEEN APPROVED!
At last month's meeting, the School Committee voted to
approve funding for a new playground at Barnstable United
Elementary School! School Committee members met with
contractors and estimate the project will cost $100,000.
The BU PTA and Project Playground are proud to be
contributing $20,000 towards this initiative and want to
thank Project Playground, our students, parents,
administration, and the School Committee for their help
and support. The new playground wouldn't have been
possible without it!!
Yearbook:
ORDER DEADLINE EXTENDED!!! Yearbook are now on
sale for $12 per full color book, love lines are $5 for up to
15 words, covers can be personalized with name and photo
on the cover for $5 and limited advertising is
available. Please make checks payable to BUES PTA. We
are in need of photos for the yearbook, if you have pictures
you would like to contribute, please contact Anna Snow at
snow_anna@barnstable.k12.ma.us.
ALL orders due:
March 22nd.
Read-a-Thon:
Project Playground has organized a read-a-thon to raise
money for our playground. 100% of all funds raised will
go directly to the playground. Classes competed to read
the most books per grade. Winners will get an ice
cream party and the top reader from each grade will
receive a $15 gift card to Barnes and Noble. A flat rate
donation can be made or sponsorship per book. All
money pledged and donations are due by Friday
March 22nd
School Improvement Survey:
A green survey form has been sent home and we
strongly encourage you to respond as to what you would
like to see at your child’s school. Please return to
school by 3/26.
Box Tops:
The final submission deadline was March 1st. We will be
receiving our next check in May. Even though the
deadline is passed, you can start saving for next year!
Raised to date $1157.08.
PTA meeting:
*We are looking for incoming 4th grade families to join us
at our April and May meetings. Board position elections
will be held in June for the following year. Please invite
any incoming 4th grade families to our next meeting on
Tuesday 4/9 at 7:00 in the library.
*Past minutes are available on our website and the
agenda will be sent out on the Friday before the
meeting.
Clorox Power a Bright Future:
The contest is now over and unfortunately, BU didn't win
the grant to help beautify our courtyard (We did finish in
4th!). Thank you everyone for your support. The school
district remains committed to this project and is accepting
donations to help offset the cost.
Book Fair:
We will be holding our Spring Book Fair the week of April
8th and we are looking for a chairperson for this fun, money
making event. At this book fair, students are encouraged to
kick off their summer reading by taking home a book of
their choosing, purchased for them by the PTA. Please
contact Anna Snow at 508.420.2272 x129 if you can help!
MCAS:
Testing in grades 4 and 5 will be Tuesday 3/19, Thursday
3/21 and Tuesday 3/26.
PTA Q and A:
Q: How does the PTA decide on a budget and allocate
its funds?
A: We operate on a budget determined by how much
fundraising we take in and what our needs are. We then
allocate funds towards programs such as field trips, in
school assemblies, field day T-shirts, and teacher
appreciation, just to name a few. As a PTA, we are
allowed to and encouraged by the Massachusetts PTA
to carry over a balance of 50-75% of our annual
operating budget. Thus, we are unlike a PAC which has
to spend down to $0 every year. Please join us at our
meetings to learn more about how our PTA works, what
our upcoming student initiatives are, and to vote on
important issues such as new board officers and how we
allocate our funds.
Save the dates. Upcoming PTA meetings…
April 9, May 14, June 11
Check out our PTA website at…
www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/domain/123