Dear Brentwood families,

There was quite a lot going on in the past few weeks (!) and also much to be thankful for… First off, to everyone who participated in our annual Pride Week Celebration last week, we so appreciate you. We sent postcards of support to transgender Oklahomans and celebrated a colorful and supportive March throughout the neighborhood. Let’s continue this support year-round! Congratulations to the winners of our Pride Week Art Contest: Alma (Kindergarten), Olive (2nd grade), Zach (3rd grade), Dean (4th grade), and Aurelia (5th grade).

Secondly, the community event Brentwood Rocks was a huge success! Again, thanks to all who attended, volunteered, performed, and planned—and made sure the weather was a 10 out of 10! From delicious food and local maker booths (one volunteer’s house is now home to 2 adorable crocheted “emotional support pickles”) to fun and exciting performances by Moving Panoramas, School of Rock, Samba Knights, and Lamar Dance Company, this annual gathering just keeps getting bigger and better.

This year, the proceeds from Brentwood Rocks are being donated to the non-profit Heartsong Music Foundation. Last May, during our annual budget vote, our general body chose to designate a to-be-determined beneficiary of the income produced by this event for two main reasons: 

1. Brentwood Rocks was created for the sole purpose of bringing the community together. Thus, it’s meant to "break even." However, in the past few years, the income has surpassed expenses.  
2. Our PTA is committed to exploring ways in which we can promote equity, both through outreach and financial support. 

This enabled a group of Brentwood 5th graders to learn how their voices can be heard as student members of the Brentwood PTA and about organizations that serve to close some of the aforementioned gaps in our community. They voted to name the Heartsong Music Foundation—whose mission is to bring music programming to underserved preschools in Austin—as the 2024 Brentwood Rocks beneficiary. 

We wanted to share this appreciation from Heartsong: "We are blown away by your generosity. We teach early childhood music classes and give scholarships to families who wouldn’t ordinarily get to take these Mommy, Daddy, and Me classes. Also, we are working on starting a Music Together class for visually impaired children and their parents, free of charge to the families. Your donation will help us significantly in this goal!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” –Carey Youngblood, Director of Heartsong Music

Please make sure to mark April 11th on your calendar, the date of our PTA general body meeting. Not only will we continue to learn about equity in education funding by AISD’s former superintendent, Dr. Paul Cruz, but a full financial report, including details from Brentwood Rocks, will be available. If you are interested in joining our annual budget committee or financial reconciliation team, please email us at hello@brentwoodpta.com. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting!

Picture it: a dreamy late April evening out among other grown-ups, listening to music and nibbling on tasty bites, all while supporting our incredible Brentwood community. But it’s not just some fantasy—this is real! It’s a thing! Brentwood After Dark is our annual adults-only event, featuring a silent auction, along with a fun opportunity to connect with your neighbors. This year’s gathering will be held at The Violet Crown Wine Bar & Coffee Shop, on Sunday, April 28. Tickets are available now.

The silent auction is shaping up with some nice items—including special experiences with Brentwood teachers and staff. If you would like to contribute auction items, please fill out this 2024 BAD Silent Auction Donation Form. Think concert or event tickets, professional services, time at a vacation property… Brentwood PTA is a 501(c)3, so your tax-deductible contribution will help support programs that enrich our school and community, like teacher supplies, fine arts supplies, visiting authors, and STEM programming. 

Middle school Girl Scout Troop 42619 is Red Cross Babysitter Certified and ready to put their skills to work in the Brentwood cafe/gym, so you can have a great time at Brentwood After Dark! Please register for babysitting here. Contact Erin Zehr if you have questions or would like to help at hello@brentwoodpta.com.

The Brentwood Talent Show is coming up May 3, from 5-9 p.m., in the Brentwood Auditorium. All G-rated acts are welcome, up to three minutes in length. Past events have featured singers, dancers, musicians, magicians, comedians, gymnasts, and many, many more. Note that there is no audition required to participate—all Bulldogs are welcome! To sign up, you’ll need a description of the act; participants’ names; a list of equipment needed; any recorded audio; and any lyrics. Sign up here by April 8 (audio and lyrics due April 12). 

Interested in volunteering? Staffing one of our upcoming sign-up tables ensures a sneak peek at what our Bulldogs have in store! Please email ssnorris@gmail.com.

Brentwood will host incoming Pre-K and Kinder families—including children—for two information sessions, on Friday, April 5, at 8 and 8:45 a.m. respectively. Visit teachers along with Principal Hosack and her staff, get to know other incoming Brentwood families, and pick up some start-of-school-year tips from the Brentwood PTA. Please share this message with your incoming Pre-K and Kinder neighbors. Encourage them to subscribe to the Bark for future updates and to reach out to Principal Hosack with questions!

We have just a few more limited-edition keychains and magnets, made by our sweet friends at Make at Rosie, available in the PTA Store. (Speaking of, be sure to check out this Brentwood family’s awesome crafting studio!)

Please check the Lost and Found before Monday, April 8. All items remaining after the 8th will be donated due to space constraints. Volunteers displayed all the items on the Yates entrance sidewalk during drop-off on Tuesday, April 2. (There is SO much.) Please stop and take a look to make sure your students haven’t lost anything. (Did I mention that there is SO MUCH?) Pictures of items can also be found on the PTA website.

Get your orders placed this week—by Wednesday, April 3rd at 10:55 p.m. Order online with code YB30136.

Dance and cheer summer camps are coming to McCallum! Elementary and middle school students are welcome to participate. Register online for one or both camps, being held in late July and early August. 

It’s time to nominate our 2024-2025 Brentwood Elementary PTA Board members. The current nominees include:
President—Erin Zehr
Vice-President—Stephanie Brown
Secretary—Amanda Nichols
Treasurer—Hillary Bringardner

Any PTA members wishing to run from the floor must fill out this form by April 6. We will vote during the PTA General Body Meeting on Thursday, April 11.

Apr 1-5: Assistant Principal Appreciation Week/Librarian Appreciation Week
Apr 3: Yearbook Ordering Deadline
Apr. 4: Early Learning Day (incoming Pre-K families, 8 a.m., incoming Kindergarten families, 8:45 a.m.)
Apr 8: Lost and Found Deadline; Solar Eclipse Day (AISD Information)
Apr 10: Student Holiday: Eid al-Fitr/Staff Development
Apr 11: PTA General Body Meeting (6:30-7:30 p.m.; dinner provided)
Apr 12: Incoming Families Campus Tour (8:30 a.m.);
Spring Climate Survey closes
Apr 16: 3rd, 4th, 5th STAAR ELA
Apr 17: Makeup STAAR ELA
Apr 18: 5th STAAR Science
Apr 19: Makeup STAAR Science
Apr 25: 3rd, 4th, 5th STAAR Math
Apr 26: Makeup STAAR Math
Apr 28: Brentwood After Dark fundraiser (6-9 p.m.)
May 2: UT Science Professors Present for Grades K-5
May 3: Talent Show (5-9 p.m.)
May 6-10: Book Fair
May 10: Incoming Families Campus Tour (8:30 a.m.)
May 23: Last day of school for all students!

Subscribe to our Brentwood Elementary Google Calendar to stay up-to-date on upcoming school events, holidays, and PTA activities.

Have a program, event, or volunteer need that you want published in the Bulldog Bark, PTA website or social channels? Email communications@brentwoodpta.com.

PTA Website: http://brentwoodpta.com
PTA Facebook: Brentwood Elementary PTA
Twitter: @BrentwoodAISD
Instagram/Threads: @BrentwoodBulldogs_AISD
Brentwood Website: http://brentwood.austinschools.org/