Birney Buzz
Oct. 26-30th 11th Edition
We are so grateful for your commitment to our school and for helping bring our community together. Thank you for making the magic happen!
A few highlights from this year:
Attendance: Over 3,000 community members!
Funds raised: $32,000+!
Birney volunteers: 98 Volunteer shifts filled!
Pumpkin Patch Smiles
Community Fun
Crafts - Bookmarks and Pumpkin Decoration
Did you know you could donate, small or large, or even make monthly donations to support our Specials? Funds raised by FOABE make it possible for all 547 students at Birney to experience Birney’s IB programming - including classes in garden, dance, art/theatre/music, and Spanish, and Field Trips, buses, museums, activities, and more.
Even small monthly gifts add up to big impact, sustaining programs and helping us respond quickly when needs arise. Plus, it’s convenient for you: once you sign up, your gift is automatic, and you’ll know you’re making a lasting difference every single month. Friends of Alice Birney Elementary (FOABE) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves as Birney’s fundraising. DONATE HERE
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In Spanish class, Birney Bees have been learning about Día de Muertos. During their lessons, Sra. Goudy has invited students to bring a photo, drawing, or item of a loved one who has passed away (maximum 3 per family, please) to be included on the school ofrenda in room 3. If your family wishes to have a photo or item featured, please include your student's name and room number on the item.
Drop it off in the front office, in the big Green Bin.
- All items will be returned by mid-November when the ofrenda is dismantled.
PrimeTime Attendance Reminders:
You should have already received an email from the district outlining these expectations. We would like to reinforce this information and ask for your partnership in helping us maintain a safe, organized, and smooth-running program for every child.
Student safety is our number one priority. To ensure we can account for each and every student, we ask all families to please follow these procedures beginning Monday, November 2, 2026:
1. Attendance & Absence Notifications
If your child will be absent from PrimeTime for any reason, please notify your designated Site Supervisor by phone, text, or email as soon as possible.
TK–2nd Grade: Ms. Ana
Email: birneypt2@saysandiego.org
Phone: (858) 276-9712
3rd–5th Grade: Mr. Ricardo
Email: birneypt@saysandiego.org
Phone: (858) 298-7870
When a student is expected to attend but does not arrive, staff must verify their whereabouts and contact families if an absence has not been reported. Timely communication helps us account for every child and prevents unnecessary calls or searches. It also allows us to focus our attention on supervising students and maintaining a safe environment.
2. Please Share Your Child’s Recurring Weekly Schedule
If your child has regularly scheduled commitments, appointments, or other obligations that prevent them from attending PrimeTime on specific days, please reach out to your designated Site Supervisor with their weekly schedule.
For example, if your child attends PrimeTime Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday but has a recurring commitment every Wednesday and Friday, please let us know so we can accurately update our attendance logs.
This information is especially important for student safety and accountability. Having accurate attendance records helps us distinguish between an expected absence and a student who has not arrived as anticipated. It will also help prevent unnecessary absence notices and make our daily attendance and pick-up processes more efficient for everyone.
3. First-Hour Attendance (earliest pick-up time is 4:20 pm)
Students are expected to remain in PrimeTime for at least one hour after the program begins. This first hour allows staff to complete check-in procedures, verify attendance, and confirm the whereabouts of every student expected to attend.
We kindly ask families to schedule routine appointments and other non-emergency commitments outside this first hour whenever possible. If your family has a recurring commitment that requires an early pick-up, please consider notifying your child's teacher that they will attend regular school dismissal instead of PrimeTime on those days.
Families are permitted up to four emergency early pick-ups per school year, with a maximum of two per semester. If an emergency requires an early pick-up, please notify your Site Supervisor so the appropriate early pick-up slip can be issued.
4. Pick-Up & Check-Out Procedures
Please follow all established PrimeTime check-out procedures and ensure that your child is released only to an authorized adult. These procedures are essential to protecting each child's safety and ensuring that we maintain accountability from arrival through departure.
We understand that families have busy schedules, and we appreciate your patience as our staff work to coordinate dismissal and pick-up for all students. Following these procedures and communicating schedule changes in advance will help us make pick-up smoother and more efficient while ensuring every child is safely accounted for.
We also ask that all communication with staff remain respectful and professional so we can work together to resolve concerns and maintain a positive environment for our students.
Thank you for your continued partnership and cooperation. We understand how important PrimeTime is to your family, and we appreciate your help in keeping our program safe, organized, and supportive for every child.
Thank you for helping us prioritize the safety of every student and create a smoother, more efficient PrimeTime experience for all families!
Ms. Ana
PrimeTime Site Supervisor | TK–2nd Grade
Mr. Ricardo
PrimeTime Site Supervisor | 3rd–5th Grade
Take a look at the new merch! Orders are live and you can order directly on the web: Families can shop at birneybees.org/merch. Fridays are Birney Spirit days. Don't forget to wear your Birney gear!
Families, please take a moment to check our Lost & Found! It is located in front of the office near the Meade Street gate, and you are welcome to stop by anytime to look for missing items.
As a reminder, please write your child’s first and last name on their belongings. This helps us reunite lost items with their owners quickly.
Thank you for helping us keep our Lost & Found manageable and get items back to your child.
Primetime Lost and Found is also growing; they will add these missing items at the end of school on Friday, so our Lost and Found will double in size. Please take a look, and if you recognize anything, stop by and pick it up.
1.) Ms. Miller- Rm. B17
2.) Ms. Morais- Rm. 209
3.) Ms. Johnson- Rm. B16
4.) Ms. Rapczynski- Rm. 306
5.) Mr. Marking- Rm. 28
🐝 October Learner Profile: PRINCIPLED
This month, we challenge our Birney families to practice being Principled at home! Being principled means being honest, fair, responsible, and doing the right thing, even when it is not the easiest choice.
Make it fun by playing “What Would You Do?” Share everyday scenarios with your child. What would they do if they accidentally broke something and nobody saw? What if they found money on the playground? What if they saw a friend cheating or leaving someone out? Talk about why honesty, fairness, and standing up for what is right matter.
Try a family role-play! Take turns acting out situations such as admitting a mistake, including someone who feels left out, or speaking up when something unfair happens. Practice what your child could say and do. Ask, “How can you stand up for what is right while still being kind?”
During family game night, practice being principled by following the rules, taking turns, accepting when you lose, and celebrating others when they win. When things do not go your way, how do you respond? These everyday moments provide wonderful opportunities to model integrity and good sportsmanship.
You can also start a family tradition by sharing one principled choice each day at dinner or bedtime. Did someone tell the truth, keep a promise, take responsibility for a mistake, or help someone in need? Celebrate these moments and talk about how our choices build trust.
Remember, being principled does not mean being perfect. It means having the courage to make good choices, taking responsibility when we fall short, and learning from our mistakes.
Our challenge to Birney families: Ask your child each day, “What is one principled choice you made today?” Let's work together to raise children who do the right thing, even when no one is watching. That's how we help our Birney Bees grow into principled, caring members of our community!