Paw Power Press

Our Butler Support Staff helps our school in amazing ways - from our facilities management to the main office, kitchen to our personal care assistants, and educational support to our supervision - our team of adults are focused and helpful in amazing ways throughout the day! Knowing that "They're the secret ingredient that makes everything rise!”, the building celebrated our support staff with coffee and pastries. Thank you to every member of the Butler Support Staff team!

We are happy to share this appreciation video on behalf of CB administration.

When possible, Butler anticipates holding recess outdoors. Health and wellness are important to the whole child and children benefit from fresh air and exercise. During the winter months, we manage our decision on whether there is precipitation and if the air temperature is at a safe level - following defined procedures provided to us by our CBSD health department. We encourage parents to have their children prepared for outdoor recess even if we need to decide to remain inside from day to day. While recess is a half-hour of time, we want to be sure students are safely prepared and dressed appropriately with coats/hats/gloves/and long pants. All students will be outside - so be prepared!

Also, if missing winter items like coats, sweatshirts, hats, and gloves - we have a collection of clothes ready to be reclaimed! Parents, please visit the front office for help and/or encourage your students to visit our lost and found located by our gymnasium.

The Holiday Gift Giving Tree is a great way to offer comfort and support to Butler families this holiday season. The Butler Giving Tree is now on display in the hallway near the main office. The tags display the names of holiday gifts that can be donated to families in our Butler Community who need extra support this season. We invite our Butler families to choose a tag (if they wish) to purchase the gift listed. We ask that you wrap the gift and be sure to secure the same tag to the outside of the wrapped gift. *Please do not take tags if you do not plan to purchase gifts - leave it for others*.

All gifts should be delivered to the main office no later than December 15 to ensure for timely holiday delivery. Thank you for all your wonderful generosity and support of our Butler Community.

For more information, please contact Peggy Bernabei, pbernabei@cbsd.org

When in school, personal student cell phone/SMART Watch/device usage are to be silenced and remain in backpacks during the school day. In some instances, students need their device to monitor health status through each day, and this will remain in place. However, should there be a need for any student/home communication, it will take place with the support of the teacher/school office during the school day. These district expectations have been shared with students, and we appreciate your support with your children as we navigate each school day.

We invite you to watch a short video as a reminder about the guidelines for student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices, including smartwatches, in our schools.

Visit the CBSD Technology and Innovation website to troubleshoot issues with any district-provided device. Place a Help Desk Ticket through the website if the tips listed on the website do not resolve the issue.

Families looking for support in managing students’ screen time can now enroll in the optional Lightspeed Parent Portal, which lets parents view their child’s after-school internet activity on district devices. The tool provides weekly activity reports and simple controls to pause browsing or block certain content outside of school hours. Parents and guardians can sign up through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus and find full details in the online Lightspeed guide.

The CB Farmers Market offers fresh food and essentials to any district family in need, and all are welcome with a quick pre-registration for a membership card and pick-up time. Families looking for support can learn more and sign up through the CB Farmers Market webpage. Community members who want to help can donate food or gift cards, or volunteer as a “grocery buddy,” with details available online.

Get the latest scoop on everything tasty happening at Central Bucks! Our newest newsletter is packed with info you need. Free Breakfast Fun Facts: Discover why your daily free breakfast is the best way to start your day! The Jalapeño Popper Burger: Get the delicious details on this month’s spicy-cheesy Limited Time Offer (LTO). Eat Well, Be Well: Find out which healthy, featured ingredients we're spotlighting in December! Read the full issue!

This year, we will continue to hold flexible instructional days (FIDs) after the first traditional “snow day” is used. FIDs provide remote learning options when school buildings need to close due to weather or other emergencies. Learn more about FIDs and our general school closing procedures.

Please Review the Below Statement from our CBSD Operations Department:

During school operating hours (7:00 AM - 6:00 PM), please note that members of the public are not permitted to enter school grounds to use district facilities. Specifically, Butler Community School (Before and After-School Programs) have first priority in using school facilities - including all playgrounds. Items with PTO organizations or community groups programs may complete facility use forms to adjust for events/schedules. Of note, the closed areas during school hours and after-school events include all playgrounds at our elementary schools where students and programs may be present.

• 4th grade artists demonstrated understanding of color theory with crystal paintings.
• 5th grade artists painted Impressionist Landscapes from a chosen photo reference. They added texture and detail with oil pastel.

Sixth grade students collaborated with group members while using their individual strengths to design a creative space. The space needed to be a place or an activity people can enjoy. Students applied math skills—such as ratio, measurement, area, and scale—to plan accurate layouts and make design decisions. Students also explored different design styles, used digital resources for inspiration, and learned how recycled materials can be repurposed into something new. Throughout the unit students used creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork to bring their designs to life.

• 2nd Grade- Young animators learned the early forms of animation, while creating their own thaumatropes, zoetropes, and flipbooks. We will next explore cell animation.
• 3rd Grade- We are wrapping up the architecture unit to begin Game On! Students will become Game Gurus as they learn about elements of game play and game design.
• 4th Grade- Our junior inventors have learned about and applied the four elements of creativity: fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Now it is time to combine these habits in preparation for our Invention Unit!
• 5th and 6th Grade- The final project for Dynamic Content Production has been introduced. Students will be working on their documentaries over the next few months, in tandem with our Robotics Unit.

Second grade has spent the month of November studying musical expression. Inspired by the book "My Many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss we learned to move and sing expressively as well as analyze music for expression.

In Unit 2 of physical education, students in grades K–6 focused on problem-solving and cooperative learning through team-building challenges during October and November. Activities included themed games for Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving, such as launching rubber turkeys in 3rd–4th grade and delivering “supplies” in 5th–6th grade, while younger students created letters and numbers with foam blocks. These experiences emphasized teamwork, creativity, and collaboration across all grade levels.

December:

Dec. 3 - Butler Spirit Day - Wear Butler Gear

Dec. 3 - End of Trimester 1 - Half Day for Students (Dismissal Begins at 12:25 PM)

Dec. 3 - AM Kindergarten Attends (PM Kdg. - No School)

Dec. 7 - Butler PTO Family Movie Event (Sunday) - Flagship Water Tower Cinema

Dec. 8 - Young Author Visit - Jerry Pallotta (K-6, Students Only)

Dec. 22 - Spirit Day - Ugly/Festive Holiday Sweater Day

Dec. 23 - Half Day - Dismissal Begins at 12:25 PM

Dec. 23 - Spirit Day - Pajama Day

Dec. 23 - PM Kindergarten Attends (AM Kdg. - No School)

Dec. 23 - Holiday Concert - 9:30 AM (Family Concert - Gymnasium)

Dec. 23 - Holiday Sing - Student/Staff Assembly (Only)

Winter Break: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 - Friday, January 2, 2026

School Resumes for All Students on Monday, January 5, 2026

Tickets on sale now for the Sunday "First Run Showing" of Zootopia 2! Scan QR code below to access!

We are thrilled to announce that renowned author Jerry Pallotta will be visiting Butler on December 8, 2025! All students in grades K-6 will have the opportunity to share this experience and learn more about his writing process and wonderful books.

Book Order Forms arrived home on Wednesday, Nov. 5th Wednesday Folder.

• Firm Deadline: All book orders must be received by November 14. Late orders cannot be accepted.
• Payment: All orders must be accompanied by payment. Payment must be made in cash only and in the exact amount of your order. We are unable to make change.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hanna in the library. We look forward to welcoming Jerry Pallotta and making this a memorable experience for our Butler Bears!

The Bucks County Symphony Orchestra (BCSO) invites the CB Community to attend its Family Concert—Tunes & Tales—on Sunday, December 14th at 3:00 in the C. B. East auditorium.

The BCSO will present the timeless classic, Peter and the Wolf, narrated by Broadway star and CB East alumnus Justin Guarini. Fourteen-year-old violinist Isabella Muñoz, BCSO’s Youth Concerto Competition winner, will play the first movement from Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole. The concert will also feature the Lenape Middle School Select Choir, joining the BCSO in performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Climb Every Mountain,” plus “It’s Possible” from Seussical the Musical. Details below - Come for an enjoyable afternoon of musical entertainment for the entire family. Attendees may enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Russo’s Music!

All students will be dismissed early on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The district's 12-month print calendar mistakenly lists early dismissal for grades 1-6. Families are encouraged to also check the district and school online calendars on the district and school websites for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

One of our best community traditions is the Butler Ball - held at two times to accommodate our school population. Tickets on sale in My Payments Plus. Questions? Contact the Butler PTO.

Please see the attached calendar for our Spirit Day Themes!

Across the country, American Education Week was recognized during the week of November 17-21, 2026. This is a time to share our collective commitment to the strength of our school community! Each day, there are meaningful and engaging experiences among our students and staff - and we celebrate the support of our families. Recently, Central Bucks visited our school clusters and created a video for the community. Please enjoy this snippet that includes our Butler students and staff!

• Barclay, Bridge Valley, Jamison, Titus, and Warwick: View video

The Kindergarten students enjoyed a variety of foods at their Thanksgiving feast. As a way to celebrate this special season, the children sat together, gave thanks, and ate turkey, cheese, rolls, mashed potatoes, and other traditional foods donated by the parents. It is a wonderful Kindergarten tradition enjoyed by all!

Across the next several Tuesdays, Butler will serve as host to the CB South School-Aged Program where High School students get to explore their interests in the teaching profession. Tuesday, November 18, students joined our teachers during a time of the day that aligns with classroom instruction. They will spend an hour each week and design an activity at the conclusion of the last session - which the classroom keeps as a memento for their time. Butler enjoys working with our future teachers in this collaborative partnership with CB South!

The school staff would like to thank the Butler PTO and each of the families who provided our "Spud-tastic" Potato Bar during Conference Night on 11/24! It was so appreciated by the many teachers who were spending the full-school day into the evening conducting conferences with students and families. Everything was delicious and the time spent on making it look and taste so delicious was appreciated! Thank you, PTO, Butler families, and chairs (Mrs. Fazzio and Mrs. Ficociello)!

Families brought their children to the Friday, November 21st annual Butler Holiday Shoppe - where children chose gifts that they will share with their loved-ones. Not only did students explore offerings on our stage, but families were able to peruse the gym/cafeteria for our Vendor Fair, as well! It was a nice opportunity to find items on a budget and will surely bring smiles during the Holidays! Thank you, PTO!

Butler collected dry-goods for the Central Bucks Farmers Market (held out of at Barclay Elementary School)! Through the support of the Butler Elementary community, our school organized and collected food Between 11/14 and 11/25! The amount of donations was truly incredible and will support families from all over Central Bucks! Thank you to all who participated! The mission of the CB Farmers Market is to support local families by offering regular access to healthy, nutritious food for those who could use extra assistance.

A glance at happenings in our classrooms!

Frankie W. (6th Grade) was honored at a recent Philadelphia Flyers game recognizing those who fight childhood cancer. She got a full "behind the scenes" tour and was able to design "skate skins" for Flyers great, Travis Konecny! It looks like the family had a great time and seems the Flyers soon learned that Frankie was not that shy in front of a camera! Congrats, Frankie!

Simon Butler's students and staff embrace the Butler Pledge, the foundation of our school's positive behavior program. Our Butler Community promises to:

Be Respectful * Be Responsible * Be Kind

This pledge to all Butler Bears upholds our traditional Pillars: B.U.T.L.E.R.

Butler (at its Best!); Understanding; Teamwork; Leadership; Educational Excellence; Respect

Each week, students earn Positive Paw Power Coupons for their good deeds and honorable actions as recognition. Children enter them into our collection bins where names are drawn to earn a special reward from the Choice Board!

11/21 Winners: Delilah S. (Kdg.), Mihira E. (Gr.1), Callie B. (Gr.2), Griffin C. (Gr.3), Stella C. (Gr.4), Cillian R. (Gr.5), Jaxon W. (Gr.6), Staff Leader - Mr. Guenst

Students are celebrated for their positive behaviors

"Welcome Back!" - The Butler PTO Newsletter is an informative publication that provides insight and info for events hosted by the Butler PTO. Please click here to open the newsletter.

Substitute Superintendent: Charles Malone, Ed. D.

Assistant Superintendent-Secondary: Charles Malone, Ed. D.

Assistant Superintendent-Elementary: Helen Sclama-Zaleski, Ed. D.

Website: cbsd.org
Location: 20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools/

Principal: Karl Funseth

Principal's Secretary: Peggy Bernabei

Assistant Principal: Melissa Brevic

Assistant Principal's Secretary: Michele Droxler

Website: https://www.cbsd.org/butler
Location: 200 Brittany Drive, Chalfont, PA, USA
Phone: 267-894-4250