Bradford School PTA Meeting –
Support Bradford During Our 2023 No Fuss Fall Fundraiser!
Thank you so much for helping us reach out goal for the 2023 No Fuss Fall Fundraiser!!
Your donations will help support our students, teachers and school community throughout the year. Read below to learn about where the money will be spent.
The No Fuss Fundraiser goal represents about a third of the yearly budget for all of the amazing activities and school support that allows the Bradford community to thrive.
Why We Do It
Your donation enhances the learning environment for Bradford teachers and staff and makes our student’s elementary experience the best it can be! All money raised will directly support our amazing Bradford Elementary School community in these three key areas:
Student Support:
- Enhance personal development through Anti-Bullying Assemblies, Neurodiversity education & assembly
- 1st Day of School Ice Cream Truck
- Character Education assemblies
- Fun and Engaging Cultural Assemblies & Celebrations
- Spring Festival celebrating the end of state testing (inflatables, pizza party and ice cream truck)
- The in-school STEAM fair featuring local science and tech partners (including MHS Robotics team, Montclair State clubs and numerous parent-led stations)
- New and diverse books added to classrooms and the library
- Music & Band support
- Paraprofessional support for ASE classes
- Counselor-directed support to ensure all school opportunities are equitable – vouchers for field trips, book fair, community events, related arts requests, additional school snacks and winter coats for families in need of assistance.
Teacher Support:
- $200 stipends to assist with classroom set-up and expenses
- Purchases approved throughout the year (for example, new whiteboards, laminating machine, etc.)
- Professional Development workshops selected by Principal Aboushi
- Teacher Appreciation events including a Welcome Back Luncheon, Holiday Breakfast and Teacher Appreciation Week
- MFEE (Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence) requests not covered through MFEE Grant process.
School Support:
- Community events including:
- Popsicle Social,
- 1st Day of School Welcome Back Breakfast & Coffee
- Movie Night
- Fall Festival
- Family Skate
- School Beautification through PTA Grants to the Garden Committee
Grade Level Competition
At the end of the fundraiser, the grade level with the highest percent participation of parents/caregivers earns a pizza party!
Daily Spirit Wear Raffles
Your student’s name will be entered into a prize raffle when you donate. Drawing winners will be notified in our next PTA newsletter.
Thank you for providing much needed support for our students and staff!
Join Us For Bradfords’s Pancake Breakfast + Community Bulb Planting
We are so excited to be bringing back Bradford’s Pancake Breakfast, with delicious fresh pancakes flipped and served on site! It will be a full morning of food and fun in the Bradford Gym, complete with live music by the local favorite band — Chewing the Fat!
We highly encourage everyone to purchase their pancakes in advance. We will also accept day-of payment, via cash or Venmo.
- $10 for regular or gluten free pancakes.
- Includes 2 pancakes, fruit, and a drink (orange juice or coffee).
During the Pancake Breakfast, the Bradford Garden/Green Committee welcomes families to help plant bulbs around Bradford’s property. Volunteers will provide families with bulbs and hand shovels so children can place bulbs in pre-dug holes and cover them with soil. Come Spring they will be able to see the fruits of their work – beautiful daffodils, croquis, allium, and muscari all over the grounds!
Order Pancake and Donate Bulbs here
Special 5th Grade Fundraising Table
Please join us in support of the Bradford 5th grade as we prepare them for transition to middle school! Each year, we engage the broader Bradford community to celebrate the 5th grade so students in younger grades can share the excitement of what they too will enjoy during their 5th grade year! In the spirit of the season, we will have a table offering miniature pumpkin crafting kits. All funds raised will go directly to initiatives designed to celebrate this milestone year, and foster and promote skills our 5th graders will need as they journey beyond the Bradford nest. Learn more with a visit to the 5th grade pumpkin table.
Everything You Need To Know About Family Movie Night
Mark your calendar for Family Movie Night!
When: Monday November 6th from 6-8:30pm (Movie starts at 6:30)
Where: Bradford Field (next to the playground). Please bring your own chairs and blankets to sit on.
What’s Playing?: The Super Mario Bros. Movie. (approx. run time is 90 minutes).
Does This Cost Anything? No! This community event is FREE for Bradford families.
A few reminders:
- We need volunteers to help with setting up, handing out pizza, selling snacks and cleaning up. Please consider signing up to help here: VOLUNTEER SIGNUP
- Order PIZZA in advance of the movie, we’ll have it ready for pick up at the event: CHEDDAR UP PIZZA ORDERS
- We will have snacks and trinkets available for sale.
- All proceeds from pizza, snacks and trinkets will benefit the PTA and go to movie night costs, future community events and student and teacher support.
Please find a social story HERE that families can read to their child(ren) before coming to Family Movie Night.
Volunteer Opportunity: Bradford Class Representative
Want to help us create a sense of community within your child’s class and the school?
If so, please consider volunteering as a class representative (aka class parent) for this year.
As a class rep volunteer, you’d support your child’s teacher, communicate and engage with other families in class, and provide feedback to the PTA on how we can meet the needs of our Bradford community.=
Please find a more detailed description of the role here.
If you want to volunteer, please complete this form and we will be in touch. If you want to learn more or have any questions, please reach out to Eliza Burgess (elizaburgess23@gmail.com), the Class Representative Coordinator.
All About Transportation: How Kids Get To and From Bradford
Drop off and Pick Up are the busiest times of day at Bradford. Here’s a list of information about what to do (and where to go) if you’re kid is a walker, busser, biker, or anything else!
Big call out – any questions or concerns about transportation, call the Transportation Office at 973-509-4055 OR 4062.
Important Car Line Drop Off Details:
- Pull up to the car drop-off line at the College Ave. curbside cut-out heading north. The street will be one-way during drop-off time (8:30am-9am) and you will only be able to drive in this direction (North).
- Drive up to the forward most spot available so others can pull up behind you.
- Discharge on curbside ONLY
- Don’t double-park and let your child walk between cars to get to the curb.
- Don’t discharge your child until you are IN the cut-out.
- Do not get out of the car. A Bradford staff member will be around and help your child if necessary.
- Staff supervises kids as they walk to Courtyard Door F.
- The child’s safety is our primary concern.
Pick-Up: At Dismissal time (3:05pm), adults should wait for their child in the courtyard. If you are picking up your child early in the day, go to the office, sign the student out, and the child will be called down to the office to meet you. Changes to your child’s normal pick up (walker pick up vs. busser) should be sent to your child’s teacher in writing by a parent/guardian.
Bussed Children Routine (Bussers): Your child’s bus name (Black Squirrel, Red Fish etc) as well as pick-up and drop-off times are in Genesis on your child’s profile. Each bus has a bus driver and aide along for the ride. Buses drop off at Mt. Hebron Rd. circular drive. Children enter Door Q, then walk directly to their classrooms. Children must go home on their assigned bus routes (they can’t go on a friend’s bus for a play date etc). In the event you miss picking up your child from the bus stop, here’s what happens: All children continue on the bus route and then ARE BROUGHT TO THE NEXT SCHOOL ON THE DAILY BUS ROUTE. You can ask your bus driver where you can pick up your child in the event such a situation occurs.
Walking Children Routine (Walkers): Walk your child to Courtyard Door F (not on the front doors on Mt. Hebron Rd.). Doors don’t open until 8:40 am and close promptly at 8:50am. Do not park on the school side of College Avenue. Street parking is tight, so be ready to walk a bit. Don’t park on College Ave. cut-out, in either staff parking lot, or a resident’s driveway.
Biking to School? The bike rack is located outside the music room near College Ave. parking lot. Children should enter through Courtyard Door F. Don’t forget to bring a bike lock!
Late Drop-Off: If you arrive after 8:50am, you won’t see staffers at the College Ave. curb cut-out. Don’t drop off your child there – Courtyard Door F will be locked. Park and bring the student to the office, using the front doors on Mt. Hebron Rd.
Final Reminders:
- When parking near the school at any time, please don’t block a resident’s driveway – even “just for a minute.”
- If your child’s caregiver is responsible for drop-off/pick-up, please share this with them.
- College Avenue is one-way going north from Mt. Hebron Rd. to Brainard St. from 8:35 am-8:50am. Cars will not be allowed to travel south during this time period
- The pick up and drop off area around school is a no idling zone. Please respect this and turn off your cars.
Bradford PTA Upcoming Events
Bradford School Upcoming PTA Events
The PTA works hard to create events and programs to provide families an opportunity to learn and grow in the community. Here’s a list of some of the 2024/2025 events we’re working on for this school year. Dates are subject to change, and we’ll do our best to communicate updates quickly.
September:
- 3rd: Welcome Back Teachers Lunch
- 4th: Popsicle Social (K and Transfer students)
- 5th: 1st day of school/courtyard coffee
- 13: Coffee with the Principal (new families only)
- 18: Back to School night
- 20: Family movie night
October:
- 1st: Parents Night Out at Pineapple Express
- 3rd and 4th: District Closed (Rosh Hashanah)
- 9th: PTA General Meeting
- 19th: Pancake breakfast and book fair
- 31st: Cast of Characters Parade
November:
- 1st: District Closed (Diwali)
- 5th: District Closed (Election Day)
- 7th and 8th: District Closed (NJEA conference)
- 28th and 29th: District Closed (Thanksgiving)
- TBD: Restaurant night fundraiser
December:
- 4th: Bedtime and books
- 18th: Winter concert
- 24th -1st: Winter recess
PTA Meeting Minutes – 5/31/2023
Bradford School PTA Meeting –
PTA Meeting Minutes – 4/24/2023
Bradford School PTA Meeting –
PTA Meeting Minutes – 2/27/2023
Bradford School PTA Meeting –