In this Issue
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February
Volunteers of the Month
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Earlier this year, PTA purchased 20 Android tablets for student use. They are currently being set up and will soon be ready for classroom teachers to check out through the library for multiple uses by the students. PTA is excited about this contribution to Brinker, and hope that the Androids will supplement the learning process for our students.
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 Brinker PTA Awarding $1000 Scholarship!
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Spring Break is near, what will your Brinker be doing?
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Shop Tom Thumb and Earn $$ for Brinker!
It's easy to earn money for the Brinker PTA by shopping at your local Tom Thumb. Just stop by Customer Service and ask them to link your Rewards card with Charity #4857 and a portion of all of your purchases will come back to your school! Click here for a form that you can complete and drop off. | |
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2012-2013 Exec Board and Chair Members
Click here to see a full listing of the names and contact info of the 2012-2013 Executive Board and Chair Members. | |
Questions regarding the Bear Facts Newsletter?
If so, please contact:
Julie Wax
1st VP Communications
Brinker Elementary PTA
communication@brinkerpta.org
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Quick Links
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Quick Links
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Mark Your Calendar!
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Thru Mar 8
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Mar 7
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Brinker Open House, 6-7pm
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Mar 8
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Early Release at Noon
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Mar 11-15
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Spring Break
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Mar 19
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General PTA Meeting, 6:00pm
Note Time Change!!
- Executive Board Election
- Student Recognition Night
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Mar 20 - 21
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Mar 26
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Class Pictures
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Mar 29
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Student / Teacher Holiday
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Apr 2, 3, 23-24
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STAAR Testing
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Apr 8-12
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Quiggly's Clayhouse: Pottery Wheel
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May 6-10
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Teacher Appreciation Week
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May 8
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Early Release at Noon
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May 31
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5th Grade Luau
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Jun 4
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General PTA Meeting and 4th Grade Talent Show
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Jun 6
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5th Grade Recognition Ceremony
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Jun 7
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Brinker Bash
Early Release at NoonLast Day of School!
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Book Fair Photos and Online Book Fair
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Find More Great Books ONLINE!
Dear Parents and Families,
Did you have the opportunity to visit our Spring Scholastic Book Fair last week? It was such an exciting event for your children! If you weren't able to stop by, or if you would like to purchase some additional books from an expanded selection, we wanted to let you know you can now visit the Fair online at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/brinker The online Fair: - offers an exciting, expanded book selection for all ages - from preschool to adult.
- will be available through Friday, March 8, and all orders ship FREE to our school and will be delivered to your child's classroom.
- provides a chance for you and your child to create and send wish lists to invite grandparents, family and friends to participate in the Book Fair.
- continues to support our school since all online purchases help us to gain the Scholastic Dollars we need to purchase new books for our library, including Bluebonnet titles.
Thank you for your continued support of our Book Fair! We are so fortunate at Brinker to have parents that make reading a priority. Please check out our Online Book Fair, you will be glad that you did!
Your Scholastic Book Fair Co-Chairs,
Shelley Lowe, slowe@brinkerpta.org &
Felicia Giambalvo, fgiambalvo@brinkerpta.org
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| Dining Fundraiser at California Pizza Kitchen | | |
Mark your calendars for
March 20-21. When you return from spring break, treat yourself to a night out at California Pizza Kitchen! Your child will bring home a CPK flyer that you will give to your server or cashier. Click hereto view or print extra flyers. When you bring it in to your server or cashier, Brinker PTA will receive a percentage of the sale. Purchases are eligible anytime during March 20-21, and include lunch and dinner, dine-in or carry out!
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| Movie Night with Dad | | |
MOVIE NIGHT WITH DAD!
Thank you to all who attended last Friday's PTA sponsored Movie Night with Dad. It was a great success and we're so glad you were a part of it!
Raffle winners were:
Claire Keating: Learning Express Gift Card
Kaylin Cuevas: Bag of Brinker Spirit Wear
Camryn McPhail: Lunch with the Principal, Mrs. Lange Samantha Hebert: Dave and Buster's Basket
A special thank you to Cinemark, Learning Express, and Dave and Buster's for their donations!
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Brinker Science Program
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Brainopolis!
Brainopolis Science will start a new 7 week-module the week of March 19th.
Create your own Zoo
Tuesdays 4-5pm - Grades K to 2nd
Join us in this animal expedition as we build our own zoo. In each session we will learn about different kinds of animals, their habitats, and their classification such as reptiles, amphibians, mammals, etc. You will create a different section of your own zoo in each session.
Create your dream house
Thursdays 4-5pm - Grades 3 to 5th
Design your future home while you learn the science behind architecture and design. Learn about electric circuits and install a fan and light bulb in your home model. Learn about architecture around the world, recycling, gardening zones as you create the structure of your dream house, apply wall paper and build mini furniture. Kids will be able to take their home model on the last day of class.
Click here for the registration form. Please fill it out, attach a check and mail to 5824 Farr Oak Dr. Plano TX 75093. For questions please contact:
Rachel Pearlman at rachelpearlman@rocketmail.com or Dafne Oronoz at dafneoronoz@yahoo.com
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Brinker Chess Program
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 Did you know that chess is not only FUN to the kids playing, but there are many BRAINY BENEFITS of chess too?
NOW ENROLLING - Session IV
(4/4 - 5/9)
A simple Google search of chess will lead you to numerous articles and research that show that chess teaches children important life skills.
For example, chess:
- improves logic and reasoning
- builds strategic thinking and problem solving skills
- teaches patience and discipline
- enhances competitive skills while encouraging development of good sportsmanship
- increases attention, focus, and concentration
Whether your child is new to chess or has been playing for several years, they are invited to join Chess Club on Thursdays from 4:00 - 5:15. Coach Bobby Hillman is a staff member at Plano West Senior High and has been teaching chess to Brinker students for years. He is a USCF certified chess instructor and would love to teach your child! Each session runs for 6 weeks and culminates with a Brinker Chess Club chess tournament.
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| Tuesday Tunes | |
Music speaks when there are no words 
Musicians practice, practice, practice so that they can perfect and perform. TUESDAY TUNES allows Brinker student-musicians the opportunity to showcase their talent (and hard work) in a unique setting! Unlike recitals and stage productions, TUESDAY TUNES takes place in a casual, relaxed environment.
Every Tuesday morning a Brinker student performs in the lobby for students and teachers as they enter the building to start the school day. The student plays his/her instrument continuously from 7:30 am to 7:45 am. Immediately following, the student is introduced as the musician of the day on the "Good Morning Brinker" broadcast!
TUESDAY TUNES...because every performance counts!
If you have any questions regarding Tuesday Tunes, please contact:
Katrina Parker at kparker@brinkerpta.org.
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We Need YOU!!
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PTA Volunteer Opportunities
Please help out! 
Please consider volunteering some of your time to help out the school! The following areas are currently in need of volunteers:
1. VIP (Very Important Partner) Tutors
With the end of the 1st semester coming to a close soon, teachers are requesting additional help from you to help our Brinker students with one-on-one (or possible two at a time) tutoring in Math or Reading. These are students who could use a little extra time and attention during the school day. We help these teachers and students through one of our most crucial and successful programs, VIP.
Please consider joining our VIP team of caring mentors beginning in January to provide opportunities for these children to maximize their learning potential. The commitment is once a week for 30 minutes during the school day, with you choosing the day and time most convenient for you. No experience is necessary, just a caring heart. For more information, please contact:
Tamara Tool at ttool@brinkerpta.org or
Julie Barnard at julie.barnard@pisd.edu.
2. Greeter Desk
THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped out with greeter desk this fall! We need you once again to help out this spring. The spring schedule is posted on the Membership Toolkit so please look at your calendars and sign up now as it fills up quickly. We need one volunteer who is security cleared for each day of the week from 7:45-9:30am. It is a great way to be involved in the school and super easy to do!
3. Brinker Workroom
If you can count to 28, staple & cut, then the Brinker Workroom needs YOU! We need 4-5 volunteers each week to help our teachers prepare assignments for the following week. All instructions and supplies are provided.
The Brinker Workroom is located in the back of the school office and is open Tuesday through Thursday, between 7:30am and 2:45pm. This is a great opportunity for you to see what your children are working on and give a helping hand to our amazing & wonderful teachers! Please be sure you have cleared security, you may sign up online at Membership Toolkit. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nikki Moulinet at nmoulinet@brinkerpta.org.
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