Hello, Brentwood families!

Did you know that March is officially Women's History Month? See below to learn about a few interesting and accomplished Texan women you may have never heard of...

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) The first black woman (as well as the first Native American woman) to earn a pilot’s license, Coleman was a pioneer in aviation. During World War I, no one in the United States would teach a woman or an African American to fly. Undeterred, Coleman went to France to learn to fly. She became a "barnstormer" or exhibition pilot, giving air shows in Chicago. Coleman died in an accident at the age of 34. 

Caro Crawford Brown (1908-2001) Brown was the first Texan and first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in reporting, in 1955. She wrote a series of articles exposing the virulent corruption of political boss George Parr; it was her fearless reporting that led to his eventual downfall. Brown was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1986.

Emma Tenayuca (1916-1999) Born and raised in San Antonio, Tenayuca was a worker on the picket line, striking against the Fink Cigar Company, when she was first arrested at the age of 16, in 1932. A fierce labor rights activist, Tenayuca led 12,000 San Antonio workers, mostly Hispanic women, in the Pecan-Shellers Strike of 1938 to fight wage cuts.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911-1956) Named the greatest female athlete of the first half of the 20th century by the Associated Press, Zaharias mastered nearly every sport, from basketball to boxing. During a time when females playing sports were frowned upon, she qualified for five events in the 1932 Olympics. Then, while battling cancer, she won her third U.S. Women’s Open in golf and her sixth Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award.

Hermelinda Rodriguez (1922-1998) Rodriguez was a bilingual education pioneer, becoming AISD’s first Mexican-American principal, in 1967, and implementing Austin’s first bilingual curriculum—earning her national acclaim and the nickname “mother of bilingual education.” Rodriguez worked with faculty at UT–Austin, and her curriculum ultimately became the standard for teachers. Rodriguez was nominated to the White House Council on Education in the early 70s. In 1981 she was named AISD’s Director of Elementary School Management, the highest district post held by a Mexican American up until that time. Rodriguez Elementary School, in southeast Austin, is named for this Mexican-American trailblazer.

Here are some books you and your kids can read this month:
Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz 
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed The World by Susan Hood 
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Every year, to honor the experiences and contributions of LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families, Austin ISD hosts its own Pride Week. This is a time to highlight the district's commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. 

This year marks Austin ISD’s 10th year celebrating and recognizing Pride and the theme is “A Decade of Pride.” Pride Week takes place March 18–23, 2024 and aligns with National LGBT Health Awareness Week. 

Our PTA Diversity Committee, counselor, and administrators have selected the following activities from the district’s curated resources (located in this public BLEND course) and aligned them to district-wide themed days. 

Monday, March 18: "All are Welcome" We’re kicking off our Pride Week with a contest… Create an art piece (either visual art or a poem or essay) using one of the daily themes of Pride Week. Tell or show why celebrating Pride Week is so important, or what Pride Week means to you. The top five applicants will be selected for a $20 gift card to Black Pearl Books. Submissions can be turned in at the office and are due by the end of the school day on Friday, March 22.

Tuesday, March 19: "Differences are Awesome" Wear different colored socks to show that differences are a great thing. Read a Pride-related book and/or participate in a brain break with your class sometime during the day.

Wednesday March 20: “Austin ISD Shows Respect” Make a friendship bracelet during recess with colors that represent what it means to be safe, supportive, and inclusive. Meet in the school courtyard for our annual Pride Week Meet and Greet from 5-6:30 p.m. Come enjoy popsicles and popcorn while decorating signs for the Pride Parade.

Thursday, March 21: "Pride and You, Creative Expression" Dress in a way that shows your creativity—accessories are welcome! Use chalk to express your personality and/or interests on the sidewalks in front of the school, by the picnic tables, or under the covered court.

Friday, March 22: "Local Pride and Spirit Day" Wear your Brentwood pride shirt, or any pride or rainbow shirt.

Saturday, March 23: Brentwood Pride March Meet in front of Brentwood school at 10 a.m. for a short parade that ends in the park. Pride stickers and flags available while supplies last. Join students, staff, and families from across the district at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) to celebrate "A Decade of Pride" from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Don't forget to return to Brentwood later in the day for Brentwood Rocks from 3-6 p.m.!) 

In the previous Bark, we discussed recapture and how our tax dollars contribute to school funding. Now we’ll take a look at our personal discretionary funds, specifically the funding that families and community members provide to schools through PTA.  

Did you know that the primary role of PTA is advocacy and not fundraising? Watch this 10-minute video from National PTA describing common misconceptions about PTAs. But why do so many PTAs end up spending so much time and effort on fundraising? A big reason is because our schools are underfunded, especially in Texas, which ranks 48th in per pupil spending. Check out Just Fund It TX to learn more.

Families and community members try to fill the funding gaps for our schools through organizations like PTA. While the intention is coming from a place of kindness and care and is meant to help provide what we can for our children, what can happen is schools with communities who can raise more funds end up exacerbating inequities between their school and those schools that do not have the capacity to raise as much.

In May 2021, Austin ISD grappled with this very issue, addressing funding of staff positions by local PTAs and ultimately reforming PTAs' funding role in the district.

In the next edition, we’ll take a look at some ways our PTA and others are trying to address equity issues in funding.

T-shirt pre-orders are due TODAY (March 3). Please reserve your T-shirt size by ordering now. You can still purchase shirts after today, but quantities will be limited since there will only be an extra 2 to 5 T-shirts for each size.

Need some reading material for spring break? Join us for the Used Book Sale starting tomorrow through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday, Thursday till 7 p.m., and Friday till 1:30 p.m. If you can’t make it, fear not! Simply send some change with your kiddo—books range in price from 50 cents to $1, puzzles and games are $1-3. On Friday, everything will be half price (and free after 11:30 a.m.)!

Brentwood Night, on Thursday, March 7 from 5-7p.m., showcases some of the learning taking place in the classrooms, including art, the library, music, and physical education. The evening is designed for families to interact with one another by participating in various activities and games.

Ninja Nation will also be on site with their mobile course. Each child will need the following waiver completed to participate in the course. https://www.waiverfile.com/b/NinjaNationAustinMobile/Waiver.aspx?id=a506bf54-f165-42c3-9ec4-4229f170dc74

We're getting excited for the upcoming Brentwood Elementary Talent Show on Friday, May 3, at 5 p.m. Any parents interested in helping to organize, please contact ssnorris@gmail.com. More info on signups soon!

Mar 4-8: Brentwood Used Book Sale 
Mar 6: 2nd Grade Annual Market Day
(send your kids with some quarters to purchase handmade items)
Mar 7: Brentwood Night (5-7 p.m.)
Mar 8: Incoming Families Campus Tour (8:30 a.m.)
Field Day
Mar 11-15: Spring Break
Mar 18-22: AISD Pride Week
Mar 19-27: BOOSTER Bulldog Bolt Fun Run FUNdraiser 
Mar 23: Brentwood Elementary Pride Parade
Brentwood Rocks

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

The latest on our Lost and Found inventory: as of the last day of February, there are 198 jackets! Pop in to check it out if you haven’t seen that beloved sweater or favorite coat in awhile.

The Brentwood PTA runs a one-time per year fundraiser called the Bulldog Fund, used for important programming like literacy, math, books, music, art, and more. Donate today!

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 Instagram: @BrentwoodPTA

PTA Facebook: Brentwood Elementary PTA

Brentwood Elementary Twitter: @BrentwoodAISD

Brentwood Elementary Instagram/Threads: @BrentwoodBulldogs_AISD

Brentwood Elementary Website: http://brentwood.austinschools.org/