Volunteers Needed

As we kick off the 2022-2023 school year, the Bryant PTSA has some major volunteer opportunities for those looking to get involved with the school. If you can be flexible and want to shake things up in any of these roles, please come and join us! We would love to add a third Bryant Weekly Editor to join two other editors on a rotating basis, but the following roles are also needing to be filled:

• Website Editor
• Treasurer (check writer)
• Facebook and Social Media Editor

There are several other roles that will impact the 2022-2023 school year and we are looking to have as many community members involved as possible. Please email volunteer@bryantschool.org if you are interested or have any questions. 

The Bryant PTSA is compiling data from parents and caregivers of all students at the school through a 3-5 minute survey of the school climate.  We plan to use this data to determine future state and district advocacy and family engagement efforts.  This survey, in part, follows the approach of the SPS “School Climate” surveys that 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students participate in during class each fall.

This survey aims to help assess the degree to which the school, the district, and the state are meeting their core commitments to students and the degree to which students have positive social relationships, are respected and engaged in their work, and feel safe and competent.  

The survey can be completed here.  The deadline for completion is Friday, June 10.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to communicate your family’s experience.

From the Bryant PTSA Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs

Carrie Lee and Nicole Witenstein Nowicki

Over the year, the Bryant PTSA has advocated for education funding and policies to support the school. Advocacy efforts are critical ways for the school community to be engaged with decisions made at the state and local government as well as school district levels that impact schools’ resources.

Bryant PTSA advocacy efforts this year have worked to:

1. Support the school’s operational effectiveness and academic competitiveness
2. Promote the school’s recovery from the pandemic on both a social and emotional level as well as in terms of stabilizing enrollment and leadership
3. Expand community engagement

The PTSA in coordination with the organization’s Advocacy Committee have worked to support these goals through advocacy activities on the state level promoting enrollment stabilization funding and at the local level supporting the passage of the SPS School levies.  Further, over the year, the Bryant PTSA has advocated for adequate and stable school funding from SPS as well as policies that promote the school’s operational effectiveness.

Upcoming Advocacy Efforts and Engagement Opportunities

As Bryant PTSA members continue to work together and with schools across the district to promote ample and stable funding as well as programs to improve the educational outcomes of students, we invite interested Bryant school community members to add your support and to get involved in advocacy efforts.  For those interested, please contact advocacy@bryantschool.org.

Learn more about Bryant PTSA’s advocacy at the State, Local and School District Level. 

Each year, the Bryant PTSA recognizes community members who have impacted our students and school community through service over the years.  Please take a few minutes to tell us about the individuals in our community who have made a difference for you and your students.  The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, June 3rd. 

Dear Ms. Davies,

Following last week’s release of the SPS proposal to alter the district’s school schedule, the Bryant PTSA created and sent a survey to understand the needs of families and provide critical family engagement regarding the announcement of the change in school bell times.

In less than 72 hours, 63% of Bryant families responded to the survey, and they shared with us what we believe to be universally true for elementary families across the district. The overwhelming majority of responses indicated that the SPS proposed changing school start times will be extremely difficult for families. 

• 69% of respondents stated they would need before school care

• 51% of respondents would need after school care

• Yet, 67.9% of respondents do not know what child care options are available to them.

• 63% of respondents stated that the change in bell times would negatively impact their livelihoods. The 9:30 AM time seems especially hard because it affects most morning and afternoon work schedules.

The qualitative data collected in this survey pointed to several major themes:

• There will be a significant, different, and relatively immediate need for childcare coverage. Currently, in the Bryant Community, the need for childcare is far greater than the options available, and the proposed bell times would widen this gap both at Bryant and city-wide. 

• Livelihood impact – an example from one parent: “With older siblings in earlier start times in middle school, I will have to go part-time to provide morning child care for my elementary student. A 9:30 start is a huge disruption for working parents, especially those who have to be in person.”

• Student impacts – mental health, afterschool activities, playtime, special needs for special education, etc. 

We’ve attached the full report to this email if you want to look it over.  

Due to all these hardships, we ask that you reconsider placing any elementary schools in the 9:30 AM tier.  This request is in alignment with Bryant’s building administration’s request.

Thank you for your time and consideration,