Greetings, Brentwood families,

We hope you had a wonderful and safe spring break! We are excited to celebrate Pride Week at Brentwood with some fun events and activities. Read on for more details…

Monday, March 18: "All Are Welcome" We’re kicking off Pride Week with a contest! Create an art piece (either visual art or a poem or essay) using one of the daily themes of the week. Tell or show why celebrating Pride Week is so important, or what it 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 demonstrate how differences are a beautiful thing. Read a Pride-related book and/or participate in a special brain break with your class throughout the day.

Wednesday March 20: “Austin ISD Shows Respect” 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 welcome! Make a friendship bracelet during recess with colors that represent what it means to be safe, supportive, and inclusive. Or use chalk to express your personality and unique 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 will end in the park. Pride stickers and flags are 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. Come back with the family for Brentwood Rocks from 3-6 p.m.

Don’t miss this very special annual fundraiser, happening this Saturday. Purchase wristbands online or in person at the main school entrance any day this week from 7:15-8 a.m. or during the event. Children under 12 are free of charge. There are also a limited number of T-shirts still available. Check out the variety of food trucks and local vendors (including Brentwood families!) selling items such as jewelry, soaps, and vintage clothing. Kids and caregivers alike will love the obstacle course along with a “crazy” hair booth, provided by Austin Youth Fitness and Club Z!. Support the Fifth Grade Girl Scout troop and the Brentwood Archery team at their bake sale and lemonade stand. And then, of course, don’t forget the amazing performances! Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy a fun-filled Saturday afternoon at Brentwood.

In the last edition of the Bark, we discussed the primary role of PTA being advocacy, especially when it comes to school funding, given that Texas spends “$4,300 less per student each year than the national average.”

Because our schools are underfunded, PTAs and others try to find ways to fill the gaps. But some schools are able to raise much more than others, which can increase the inequity between well-resourced and under-resourced schools. Some PTAs have tried to address these opportunity gaps.

In Evanston, Illinois, the PTA Equity Project distributes funds across the district “so all students can access important enrichment and community-building opportunities, regardless of the school they attend.”  The Project’s website, particularly the FAQ section, includes great information, including how Title I funding plays into the equity equation. For an even deeper dive, read Hidden Money: The Outsized Role of Parent Contributions in School Finance.

Brentwood PTA currently allocates 1.6% of its budgeted income to donate to schools beyond Brentwood—including the ACPTA mini-grant program, which offers grants to PTAs within AISD—as well as a financial donation to Brentwood’s sister school, neighboring Wooten Elementary. This year, money raised at Brentwood Rocks (BROX) will be donated to an array of music-related enrichment opportunities in the Austin area, chosen by the 5th grade classes.

So until school funding is equitable, what else can we do? In fact, there are a few different ways to contribute to schools across AISD. The Austin Ed Fund disperses grants—you can even choose specific schools you’d like to support. Donors Choose also allows you to select schools and projects to fund. You can filter projects by school, project type, amount, and even historically underfunded schools. Stephen Colbert gives Donors Choose a shout out in this short video. Finally, you can seek out PTAs at other Austin schools and donate directly to their fundraising efforts.

However, the number one way to help is to get involved with advocacy. Our next installment will take a look at overall funding disparities at the national level, followed by more information on how to become an advocate.

Mar. 18-22: AISD Pride Week
Mar. 19-27: BOOSTER Bulldog Bolt Fun Run FUNdraiser
Mar. 23: Brentwood Pride Parade
Brentwood Rocks
Mar. 28: Wooten Spirit Night at Dairy Queen (tentative)
Mar. 29: Student Holiday: Good Friday, Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Day
Apr. 10: Student Holiday: Eid al-Fitr
Apr. 12: Incoming Families Tour (8:30 a.m.)
Apr. 28: Brentwood After Dark fundraiser

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

Brentwood PTA runs an annual, one-time per year, no-hassle fundraiser we call the Bulldog Fund. The funds collected from the Bulldog Fund are used for important programming like literacy and math software, library books, music, art, and more! Donate HERE.

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/