Paw Power Press

As we begin the month of August, summer days continue to pass by, bringing us closer to the 2025-2026 school year! We hope this Summer Edition of Butler's Paw Power Press offers a comprehensive look at the exciting events happening in and around our school!

Our dedicated Butler Office, Technology, and Operations Teams have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming year. They have been busy organizing supplies, staffing, setting up classrooms, and ensuring the entire facility is spotless! Mr. Sutton, Mr. Garza, Mr. Gessner, and the summer custodial crew are making sure every room and hallway shines with that "first-day sparkle!" Our office team, Ms. Bernabei and Ms. Droxler, are diligently managing new registrations and other administrative tasks to support our teachers as they return. Mr. Funseth, our principal, is finalizing preparations for the new school year, including staffing, teacher training, and updates to Butler's Paw Power behavior support program.

We are all eagerly anticipating the start of school, ready and focused for an incredible 2025-2026 year! Whether your student is a new Kindergartener stepping into our hallways as a Butler Bear for the first time or a seasoned 6th Grader, we can't wait to welcome everyone back on Tuesday, September 2nd!

Please see below for staffing grade level lists. Class Placement details will go LIVE on Monday, August 4th via Parent Portal.

Much has happened since Butler's Move-Up Day on June 7th.

We are very excited to announce staff new to Butler this year!

(Listed Alphabetically)

Samantha Griggs - Speech - Ms. Griggs will be returning as our additional Speech teacher supporting Ms. Rothstein and the Butler students.

Kelly Langlois - Physical Education - Mrs. Langlois will be returning to Butler to support the PE program for a partial assignment during the PM of Day 2 of specials.

Hayley Montana - 3rd Grade - Miss Montana (former Butler Bear student), will be returning to our staff following two successful years as a 5th grade and 6th grade teacher, respectively. Happy for her return!

Megan Romano - Library - Ms. Romano will join Butler for half-days on Day 1 Library. She serves Pine Run community when not at Buter.

Lauren Sellers - Special Education - Miss Sellers served as our Special Education building Substitute to begin the year in 24-25, but then transitioned to our Building-Based Autistic Support classroom midyear. We are excited she will be returning for the 1st trimester for Mrs. Grant.

Hannah Thomas - Library - Welcome back to Mrs. Thomas will join Butler on Day 5 of the specials schedule. She serves Gayman Elementary when not at Butler.

Caela Tobin - QUEST - Miss Tobin will partner with Ms. Augustine in the QUEST program on Day 5 of the specials rotation. Miss Tobin served as Titus Elementary's QUEST teacher last year and will also support Groveland and Mill Creek.

Over the summer months, the Butler Community is saying goodbye to an important member of our school team.

Ms. Kristine Gelb, 3rd grade, took an opportunity to move to a new school in CBSD. She will be joining the Titus Elementary School Community teaching third grade. She has been a member of Butler for 8-years, beginning in 1st grade before moving into 3rd grade a few years ago. We wish her the very best in her new school!

Congratulations to former Assistant Principal, Mrs. Lauren Dowd, who will continue as Jamison Elementary School's Principal. After moving to Jamison beginning the 3rd trimester last year, none of us are surprised by the positive impact made in their community. While only serving two-years at Butler, her influence and dedication to Butler will be unmatched. Thanks to Mrs. Dowd for her time at Butler - we wish her well - knowing how excited she is for this opportunity!

Please join our principal and staff in congratulating Mrs. Gelb and Mrs. Dowd!

Summer is a great opportunity for many important projects to see completion in preparation for the new school year! This summer, our CBSD Operations Department was focused on our Butler building (circa 1965), completing many essential needs around our school and property. This included:

1. The installation of construction of a new elevator-lift system near our primary wing.
2. Additional Playground Lighting and Cameras
3. Repainting and touch-ups of our hallways and trim, some classroom spaces, etc.

Much has happened around Butler in the last two years including interior camera system, additional exterior cameras for playground safety, playground lighting, WIFI for outdoor learning spaces, repaired stage for performances, repainting of the gym/cafeteria ceiling/walls, tree and grounds work, and much more!

Thanks to the Butler PTO, our school received and installed a "back yard" sign noting "Butler Elementary School" from the Highland Drive access road. Located in front of the Kindergarten Playground, you will see the sign identification for all who visit. This gift was dedicated last school year in which the PTO coordinated efforts with both the township and district on installing this important new piece to our grounds. We continue to strive in making Butler Elementary an attractive place within our neighborhood community and are excited to be able to promote our great school community!

This summer, we are excited to partner with many of our favorite local retailers who are excited to reward our Butler Bear Readers! Read below for a full description of the program as well as a list of participating retailers!

We hope you and your child(ren) have enjoyed exploring many wonderful books this summer! Please see school email for a copy of the summer reading log. The timing of our Summer Reading Reward Program began June 23 and runs through August 30 (with the final redemption date of August 30th)! Happy Reading!

Thank you to our local Chalfont/Montgomeryville partners:

To provide children with a positive summer outlet, the Butler Principals and Reading Team issued a "rewarding" summer reading challenge (outlined above) in preparation for the new school year! When your child reads this summer, tracks their progress, and submits the online form with local companies, they will qualify for free product, food, and more! Just 15 minutes of reading per day can make a difference in students’ reading fluency, stamina, and preparedness - especially during those first weeks of school!

Reading is just one idea on encouraging children to exercise their minds during summer in powerful ways. It is only the beginning of August and there is still plenty of time to help ready your child for the learning to take place this school year! The National Association of Elementary School Principals organization published “Exercise Kids’ Minds During the Summer,” offering families ideas and strategies to help children keep their minds active outside of school.

"If students laze away the days of summer without using their minds, they can lose up to a month of learning—especially in reading and math. Stem the summer slide and keep your child engaged with these fun, brain-friendly activities..."

To read the 1-page article from NAESP, please click here.

District-wide, elementary class placement details will go LIVE on Monday, August 4th. To access, please refer to your Parent Portal account, via the CBSD website's Parent Page. For families new to CBSD, please sign-up for an Activation Key to obtain account information.

Per the July 24th District email blast, parents must complete the Annual Student information Update before access to schedules and assessments, including class placements, will be granted. That can be accessed here.

• Special Education case managers will contact families during the month of August.
• Math Placement for 5th & 6th Grades was communicated before the end of last year. Subsequent information will be shared with your child's teachers at the start of school.
• Teacher information and details are located on the Butler Website.

As a reminder, all placements are final. Our Butler Team of teachers (general education, special education, PEN, Reading Specialists), counselors, school psychologist, and principals worked extensively throughout June and into July in placing students carefully in balanced classrooms. Even one change can offset the academic and social-emotional needs the team which are so thoughtfully considered.

With 2025-2026 Class Placement Access going live on August 4th, many families will be eager to make a connection with their child's new teacher! Classroom Welcome Letters will be posted on the Butler Website of the Department/Grade Level Tab at the top (no longer individual teacher pages). To access, use Butler Elementary's Website and click your child's grade level and find the "welcome letter" link in the staff list. (Please Note: Some from our staff new to Butler are still being added by our IT Department - those letters will be sent from the new teachers, directly, and posted).

In addition to your welcome letters, please be sure to locate your child's grade-level Supply List. This was created at the end of last school year and communicated then for your planning purposes. Please refer here to review items recommended by your child's grade-level in preparation for the year ahead!

Welcome to Butler Elementary School. The Health Office is always available to students for any healthcare needs. We are happy to take care of your child!

Gina Giovinco, Certified School Nurse (M-F) ggiovinco@cbsd.org

Tara Cheney, Staff Nurse (M-W)

Eileen McNammee, Staff Nurse (W-F)

If your child has any medical needs, please contact the Butler Health Room with any questions or concerns. The Health Office number is 267-893-4265.

Pennsylvania mandates the following health examinations as indicated:

Physicals: School entry, grades 6 and 11
Dentals: School entry, grades 3 and 7

Parents are urged to have physical and dental examinations completed by their family physician or dentist and submitted prior to October 15th of the year that they are due. Exams may be completed any time after September 1st of the prior calendar year. Forms can be found by clicking HERE. Please submit these forms to the school directly or via email to cbbutlernurses@cbsd.org.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has the following immunization requirements for students:

• 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after 4th birthday) (DTaP)
• 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given) (IPV)
• 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• 3 doses of hepatitis B (Hep B) properly spaced
• 2 doses of varicella or evidence of immunity (chickenpox)

You may check your child’s school immunization record by logging onto the parent portal through the district website at www.cbsd.org or by consulting with your child’s physician. Immunization records can be sent to the school directly or via email to ggiovinco@cbsd.org.

Each year, all families are required to review and update information on their student(s) in our database. This annual update is critical for the dispensing of medication, reaching you in emergencies and urgent situations, and receiving important communications from CBSD and your school(s).

Updating your information is also required before you will be able to access student schedules and busing information when these details become available. To complete this process, log in at www.cbsd.org/parentportal. Once signed in, select "More" from the menu then "Annual Student Information Update."

If you need help, you can contact Lori Rebstock at lrebstock@cbsd.org or 267-893-5714. You can also contact parentportal@cbsd.org.

The district welcomes CB families in need of before and/or after school childcare provided by Central Bucks School District to register in the program now for the 2025-26 school year.

• Families who are returning to the program should register here.

• Families who are new to the program should register here.

The school-based CBSD Before and After School Childcare Program is a natural extension of the school day that benefits families and the community by providing a safe, nurturing space for children to grow socially and emotionally while having fun. If you have any questions, you can contact CBSD School Age Childcare Program Coordinator Dana Hahn at dahahn@cbsd.org.

Earlier this summer, the district received information from MySchoolBucks (MSB), our meal payment service, regarding upcoming pricing adjustments.

Beginning August 1, 2025, the fee for credit/debit card payments will increase to $3.50 per transaction from $3.25. Additionally, the maximum meal payment limit will increase to $150 per transaction. According to MSB, the increase is being implemented to help cover rising operational costs and to continue offering a secure and user-friendly online payment experience.

MySchoolBucks plans to send an email to families who have automatic meal payments set up through MSB by July 21. Parents and guardians can begin adding funds to their CBSD MSB account for the 2025-26 school year beginning August 1. As a reminder, parents and guardians can also send in a check with their student(s) that can be given to a cafeteria cashier. The e-check fee will remain the same.

If you have any questions, please contact MSB Admin Support at 1-800-803-6755.

Butler felt last year's Schoolhouse Driveline was a big improvement to our carline procedures. It is always our goal to make our dismissal procedures smooth and coordinated for our students, families, and staff! The system in place works BEST when EVERYONE follows the plans of the school. There is always a learning curve the first few weeks, but soon after, the efficiency of the system becomes optimal once everyone is familiar with the plan. In the next few weeks, more information will be provided on our procedures for carline process - which will include details for Schoolhouse Driveline as parents/guardians arrive to the school to pick up their child.

To access the application and understand important details regarding the "Free & Reduced Breakfast & Lunch" Program, please CLICK HERE.

Registration for all new K-6 students remains OPEN across Central Bucks Schools. Please use this link to begin the registration process for your child in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. CLICK HERE.

Kindergarten classrooms are quickly filling - and staffing needs may adjust sooner if all our potential students register as early as possible. Late registrations may result in larger class sizes. Register today!

We look forward to welcoming our new Butler Bears!

If you have moved, please make sure you update your address with Central Registration. The office can be reached at 267-893-2111 or centralregistration@cbsd.org.

Central Bucks is proud to have a long-standing relationship with Roxy Therapy Dogs, a partnership going on 20 years. Each week in CBSD, 3,200 elementary students benefit from visits by furry friends to over 130 classrooms. Dozens of students in CB secondary schools have also experienced stress relief through the program, and the dogs have brought comfort to 100s of students in CB special education classrooms. To learn more about these and other programs offered, volunteer opportunities, donations, or becoming a certified therapy team, visit www.roxytherapydogs.org.

August:

Aug. 4 - Class Placements Published (via Parent Portal Backpack)

Aug. 21 - CB School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM - 16 Weldon (ESC)

Aug. 28 - New Family Tours (AM) - See Below for Details

Aug. 28 - Kindergarten Welcome and Transportation Orientation (PM) - See Below for Details

Aug. 28 - Unami BTSN - 3:30-5:30 PM (7th Grade)

September:

Sept. 1 - Labor Day Monday - School/Offices Closed

Sept. 2 - TUESDAY - First Day of School for Students (Day 1 - Specials Schedule)

Sept. 4 - BTSN Grades: 6 & 5 (Schedule Below); NOVA Parent Presentation @ 6:00 PM (Gym)

Sept. 8 - BTSN Grades: 4 & 3 (Schedule Below); PEN BTSN @ 6:00 PM (Gym)

Sept. 9 - Picture Day (Make-Ups 10/29)

Sept. 10 - CB South BTSN

Sept. 11 - BTSN Grades: Kdg (Gym), 2, & 1 (Schedule Below)

Sept. 17 - Unami BTSN (8th & 9th Grades)

Sept. 18 - CB School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM - 16 Welden (ESC)

Sept. 19 - Butler PTO Bingo Night - Evening

Sept. 23 - Rash Hashanah (No School/Offices Open)

Sept. 29 - PTO General Meeting - 7:00 PM, Library

Sept. 30 - Half-Day for Students (12:25 PM Dismissal)

Sept. 30 - **Annual Student Update Information Due (Click Here)

On the morning of August 28th, our new students and families to Butler Elementary are invited to join our 5th & 6th Grade Butler Ambassadors and staff for "In-Person" School Tours! Come directly to the gymnasium entrance for our program - beginning at 10:00 AM. We hope to see all of our newest Butler Bears to learn all about the school and community!

On the afternoon of August 28th, our Butler kindergarten students and parents are encouraged to join teachers and administration for a school welcome in our gymnasium - starting promptly at 1:30 PM. Prior to that, students can drop off supplies to the classroom at 1:00 PM. Welcome to Butler!

With the start of school comes our Back to School Nights (BTSNs) as they are an important opportunity for all parents to meet their child’s teacher and learn about the year ahead!

BTS Nights will be held according to the following schedule:

• Thursday, 9/4 - Gr. 6 @ 5:00 PM; Presentation - National Alliance on mental Health (Gym) @ 6:00 PM; Gr. 5 @ 7:00 PM. ** 5th & 6th Grade parents are encouraged to arrive for/stay through the 6:00 PM presentation in the gym. **

• Monday, 9/8 - Gr. 4 @ 5:00 PM; PEN @ 6:00 PM; Gr. 3 @ 7:00 PM

• Thursday, 9/11 - Kindergarten @ 5:00 PM; Gr. 2 @ 6:00 PM; Gr. 1 @ 7:00 PM

*Please Note: When you arrive, walk directly to your child’s classroom so you do not miss any of your teacher’s presentation - presentations will last 45-minutes. Kindergarten and PEN - please report directly to the Gymnasium. For each of our grade levels, BTSN will start promptly at noted times.

Mark your calendars, comb/brush your hair, and find you best outfit for Butler's 25-26 Picture Day on September 9th! More details and information to be sent home in the Wednesday Folders!

Picture Retake Day is scheduled for October 29th, 2025

President: Christine Hartman

Vice President: Kelly Kaufman & Stacey Tocci

Treasurer: Alison Ficociello

Co-Recording Secretaries: Sarah Villamayor & Anne LeClercq-Hyk

Co-Family Programming Chairs: Amy Beaver & Heather Contes

Fund Raising: Amy Wigo & Jordan Maisch

Following the classroom placement process going live in CB on August 4th, the Butler PTO will send communication for a sign-up genius to begin planning for the 25-26 homeroom coordinator & party planner process. The PTO is organizing Homeroom Parent Volunteers early in order to prepare for the important school events throughout the year.

**IMPORTANT: "Volunteer Clearances" are essential to fulfill and participate in these rolls. Please be sure to complete any required paperwork (Access forms using link in email) in order to volunteer and support your child's classroom or school-wide PTO Events.

Interim 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 Weldon Drive, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools/
Twitter: @CBSDSchools

Principal: Karl Funseth

Principal's Secretary: Peggy Bernabei

Assistant Principal: TBD

Assistant Principal's Secretary: Michele Droxler

Website: cbsd.org/butler
Location: 200 Brittany Drive, Chalfont, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-4250
Twitter: @CBButler