PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION

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Welcome letter

August 2017

Dear Brent Families,
 
Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! On behalf of your PTA Board, we are excited about the upcoming school year. A special welcome to our new families that are joining Brent this year. You are joining a diverse and dynamic family that is proud of our community and sincerely interested improving the lives of each child who walks through Brent’s doors. This year will be one of new beginnings as the Brent Community is pleased to welcome Ms. Norah Lycknell as our new principal. We are also excited by the continuing growth, as we will be welcoming to the school our largest Kindergarten and 5th Grade classes in recent memory.
 
The PTA board has been working throughout the summer to ensure a year filled with academic opportunities and magnificent experiences for each child in the school, and we need your help to make it happen. Over the course of the next year, there will be several opportunities to contribute.
 

• Would you like to be the first to know what is going on it your child’s classroom? Sign up to be a room parent.
• Do you like making a big impact on the success of Brent? Our Annual Fund drive is Brent’s biggest fundraiser and offers flexible, short term volunteer opportunities.
• Do you love the smell of fresh sap in the morning? Our annual tree sale in December offers several ways to get involved (unloading the trucks, cutting and bailing the trees once they are purchased, even some jobs that are inside).
• Do you enjoy throwing and/or attending fabulous parties? Our annual Spring Gala is an amazing event that offers a chance for the Brent community to dance the night away. However, it would not be possible without the volunteers that contribute their time to make it happen and they could use your help next spring.

 
The PTA also sponsors several committees that offer the community a variety of ways to contribute to the success of our students. This year’s committees include Community Outreach, Diversity, Fundraising, Grants, Grounds, Middle School, and Student Enrichment.
 
We look forward to seeing everyone at the Back to School Open House on August 18th. Once you have visited the school (and the new windows!), please join us across the street in X Park for our annual “Popsicles in the Park” to connect with old friends and meet new ones. Also be sure to connect with the school on social media via Robert Brent Elementary School on Facebook and @BrentElementary on Twitter.
 
Welcome back and Go Brent Bears!
 
Your Brent PTA Board
 

How to help

• Cut and save Box Tops. For each Box Top submitted, the PTA receives 10 cents. They add up!
• Make Brent PTA your charity of choice and shop. Amazon contributes .05% of your purchases to the PTA.
• Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to Brent PTA (#7117) and 5% of your purchases are donated to the PTA. Note: you have to do this again at the start of each school year.
• Purchase clothes and uniforms from Lands End (use preferred school #900176801).
• Buy Items at the Brent's Holiday Sale in December.
• Contribute to the Friends of Brent Annual Fund (FOB), which kicks off in September.
• In-kind contributions
• Attend, bid, donate items at the annual gala in the spring.
• Your time and talent: If you are willing to volunteer, please send us an email or fill out the volunteer form below and we will connect you with opportunities.

The mission of the PTA is to foster connections between parents, enable parents to be of service to the school and build a community of parents, staff and administration committed to ensuring that Brent Elementary is a world high achieving educational environment for addressing the learning challenges of all students. Your support will help us achieve our mission.
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The PTA is involved in many different areas of school life, such as organizing a parent orientation each school year, coordinating room parents and class potlucks, organizing the Annual Spring Gala, appreciation breakfasts and lunches. There are always opportunities to volunteer and get involved. As a Brent parent and member of the PTA, you make these things happen. Take a look at our PTA event calendar to see our programs and events. 

The PTA Board contains annually elected officers, teacher liaisons and the school principal. All PTA Board meetings are open to the Brent community.  All PTA Board and school-wide meeting dates are posted on the calendar. PTA meetings are generally held on Wednesdays and start at 6:30 pm. All general meetings include childcare paid for by the PTA.

• PTA Board Members
• PTA Reimbursement Request Form
• Volunteer Form

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Ben Champa
​President
Email

Nazanin Ash
Vice-President
​Email

Amanda Catanzano
Treasurer
Email

​Christina Muedeking
Secretary
​​Email

Margaret Cooney
​Board Member

Scarlett Utsick
​Board Member

Carol Harlow
​Board Member

Keri Maruska
Board Member

Norah Lycknell
Principal
​Email

Matt Portolese​
Board Member
​​Email​

Jim Rendon
Board Member
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Candace Fleming
Board Member
​Email

Dunnzy Kaufman
Board Member
​Email

Lyndsey Medsker
Board Member
​Email

Diana Rubin
​Board Member
​Email

Victoria Gentry
​Board Member
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Elisabeth Kraemer
Board Member
​Email

Chloe Patterson
Teacher Liaison
​Email

Genevieve Taft Vasquez
Board Member
​

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Executive Officers

President: Ben Champa
Vice President: Nazanin Ash
Treasurer: Amanda Catanzano
Secretary: Christina Muedeking

Board meetings are open to the public. They are typically at 6:30 p.m. the 4th Wednesday of the month, but some dates are different so be sure to check out calendar for the actual dates.

General PTA meetings are usually the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6:30 - 8 p.m. with free childcare provided. Join us! Make sure to check the Brent calendar for updates.

PTA Sponsored Events

• Brent Annual Spring Gala
• Appreciation Breakfast and Lunches
• Brent Family Welcome Picnic
• Class Potlucks
• Talent Show
• School Play
• Annual Holiday Sale

Get Connected & Stay Informed

• Volunteer
• Reach out to the PTA board members
• Like our Facebook Page
• Join Brent Neighbors
• Read Brent NewsTues News (Distributed to each student every Tuesday)
• Attend PTA Meetings (Second Wednesday of every month)​​

PTA Minutes and Presentations

SY 2017-2018
PTA General Meeting Presentation (9.27.17)

SY 2017-2018
August board meeting minutes (8.16.17)
September board meeting minutes (9.13.17)
October board meeting minutes (10.11.17)
November board meeting minutes (11.15.17)
January board meeting minutes (1.17.18)
February board meeting minutes (2.13.18)
February joint PTA/LSAT meeting (2.28.18)

Tax Exemption

The Brent Elementary PTA is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit tax-exempt organization.  As such it is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with IRS Code section 170.  Our EIN is 16-1713470.

Please click here to download a copy of our IRS letter certifying our status. For more information of the PTA Bylaws click here.

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SUPPORT

The PTA organizes community events, like the Spring Gala to raise funds for the school. These funds help Brent grow and expand your child's education. To learn more about supporting Brent click here.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Interested in helping the PTA? Take a few minutes to fill out the volunteer form above. The PTA relies on our community of parents to help create a nurturing learning environment at Brent. Together we can brighten Brent's future! 

FINANCES

​The PTA closely manages funds donated to our organization. Through our annual budget, we align our funding to the school's strategic initiatives.