Paw Power Press

This week, NOVA (Victims' Assistance Organization) came to Butler to speak to our students about personal safety. Part of the 5th grade presentation involved Cyber-Bullying and how to protect themselves against the dangers of online activity. In this week's National Association of Elementary School Principals - Report to Parents article, they share about 10 Best Practices to Protect Kids Online. It explains how to "Know the Threats" and ways to "Take Action."

"In the last decade, child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) has increased exponentially. In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 36 million reports of child sexual abuse material online—up from 1 million in 2014. Armed with a greater understanding of the problem and strategies to take action, families can teach their children best practices in navigating the internet to keep them safe."

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

From time to time, the health room provides clothing options for students to change into due to unanticipated incidents on the playground (mud, wet, etc.) or during the school day. Currently, our office needs both boy and girl clothing for students who have to borrow an item. We are especially in need of pants (for either gender) in all sizes including larger sizes. If anyone can donate, thank you in advance!

- Nurse Gina

This year's PSSA Calendar has been set and Butler wanted to share our scheduling plans. Please review if your child is in Grades 3-6.

Please note, Science PSSA will be completed in the 5th Grade ONLY at Butler - a CBSD email was shared outlining the State's planning earlier this year.

When possible, Butler does anticipate 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.

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.

At Butler, the use of student cell phone/SMART Watch/personal device usage in school is prohibited (medical exemptions apply). As a reminder, these devices are to be silenced and remain in backpacks during the school day. Should there be a need for communication, that would take place with the support of the school office during the school day. Please be sure to share these expectations with your child as this policy will be enforced by teachers/staff in coordination with District policy.

CBSD provides a written review of Policies and Expectations for all students (and families) in the Central Bucks Family Handbook.

Additionally, Butler has a Parent/Student Handbook that applies these district policies specific to our school.

Please familiarize to both important documents as we continue throughout the school year.

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.

A comprehensive directory of local supports for families; a guide for special education services in the district; and information about Title IX are three of several new resources that have been recently added to the district's "Making Practices Public" webpage. We invite families and community members to visit the page often for regularly added resources in our efforts to keep everyone informed!

Students can next try their hand at winning the March round of the special laptop "Lock Screen" contest, inspired by our "Thoughtful Collaborators" Portrait of a Graduate attribute. Submissions are due February 20th. More details

Did you know there's a webpage on CBSD.org where you can get information on various community events and activities happening around Central Bucks? Flyers that used to go in backpacks or were sent home with students are being collected on the district's "e-Flyer Folder" webpage. Check it out now! Recent additions include information on a CB West baseball clinic; the Young Rembrandts after-school art club; the Shining Knights after-school chess club; and Bricks4kidz at many CBSD elementary schools.

Waffles meet pizza in the most delicious way possible! In this edition of "The Feed," a food services newsletter from Aramark, get the inside scoop on the February limited-time-only item: the sweet and savory Pizza Waffalaco! Also read heartwarming stories from holiday events in the CB community and learn about school lunch vs. packed lunch. Read the newsletter.

Many students across the district currently have negative balances in their lunch accounts. We ask all parents and guardians to please check their MySchoolBucks account to view their balance and, if negative, to please make a payment. Even if you pack a lunch for your child(ren), they still may be purchasing cafeteria items.

To make a payment: Log in to MySchoolBucks and click MAKE A PAYMENT. Click CAFETERIA MEAL PAYMENT. Select or enter a payment amount. Click ADD TO BASKET. Click CHECK OUT NOW to complete the payment process.

For complete instructions on how to use your MySchoolBucks account, go to http://learnmyschoolbucks.com/Parent. You can also use MSB to monitor what your student is purchasing for breakfast and lunch and check your child(ren)'s account balance(s). If you have questions or concerns related to your child(ren)’s account(s), please call the Aramark Food Services office at 267-893-5758.

From January 1 through March 31, the GIANT Company invites customers to join in supporting its "Feeding School Kids" initiative by rounding up at the register. The GIANT Company will directly support customers’ generosity by matching all donations up to $100,000. The Barclay Elementary School Farmers Market is the beneficiary of the funds, which help to support families across CBSD's 23 schools.

All CBSD community members are invited to town hall meetings where members of district administration will share information and gather feedback regarding the future of Doyle, Kutz and Linden Elementary schools, with the goal of the School Board deciding on a plan to address the capital needs at these schools in May 2025. The remaining town halls will take place on Feb. 27 at CB East and March 27 at CB South, each beginning at 7 p.m. Learn more and submit comments or questions.

The CBSD instructional calendar for the 2025-26 school year was approved by the Board at its monthly meeting on Dec. 2. View the calendar

Welcome to CBSD! Online registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open for families of students who will be eligible for kindergarten in CBSD and students in all grades who will be new to CBSD next school year. Learn more about registration here and start a new registration application here.

CBSD welcomes qualified candidates to apply for a range of full-time career opportunities, many with benefits. School bus aides might be the perfect fit for parents and others looking to make a difference while working the same hours as a school day. View all available positions and apply now!

February:

Feb 2 - Groundhog's Day (Sunday)

Feb 3-7 - Special Eagles Super Bowl Spirit Week! (See Schedule Below)

Feb. 7 - PTO Butler Ball (Gymnasium) (Snow Date: Feb. 13)

Feb. 10-13 - World Kindness Week - Spirit Days (See Schedule Below)

Feb. 13 - Spirit Day - Valentine's Celebration!

Feb. 13 - School Board Meeting - 7:30 PM - ESC, 16 Weldon Dr.

Feb. 14 - No School - Professional Development Day (Office Open)

Feb. 17 - No School - President's Day (Office Closed)

Feb. 19 - PJ Whelihan's PTO Dine & Donate

Feb. 21 - Family Fun & Fitness Night - 6:30 PM (Non Drop-off Event)

Feb. 25 - *UPDATE* 6th Grade Parent Middle School Orientation - 7:00 PM (Unami)

Please see the schedule (below) to help planning for our special Super Bowl Spirit Week - Go Birds! Our first day of celebration will be Monday, February 3rd! Good luck in New Orleans and Super Bowl LIX!

A special Philly Eagles Soft Pretzel Sale Form went home in Wednesday Folders on 1/29. Please note they are due back on 2/4 (Tuesday) and will be delivered for our students on 2/7 - as a special snack for the day. All proceeds to benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation!

The CB South Middle School Hockey Teams continue to perform with the AA team is sitting one point out of a playoff position with one game to go against the 2nd place team. The B team is in second place and heading to their playoff! Best wishes to our Butler Bears on the Middle School Teams. Upcoming schedule below to show support!

Please see the schedule in planning for Kindness Week - Being Kind is one of our Butler Pledges each of us promises as a member of this school community. It also honors our support of the Kind Like Joey Foundation! Please help your child plan ahead for the week of 2/10!

Plan dinner and support Butler for February 19th at PJ Whelihan's! The tIming of our event occurs from 4 PM-9PM - Thank you PTO!

Find the QR Code for details about the next session - which begins on February 4th. Young Rembrandt Drawing classes provide students with a unique experience in design, composition, and illustration following a step-by-step drawing process. Classes begin February 4th for the next session.

Beginning February 3, Chess Wizards offers challenging chess lessons, fun group activities, exciting tournaments, and more! If your child is new to chess, we will teach them the basics and get them playing right away! If they're a seasoned checkmate artist, they'll learn new ways to show their creativity on the chess board. Please see below for more information!

Session 1: 6:00 PM -7:30 PM

Session 2: 8:00 PM -9:30 PM

This is not a drop-off event!

Register now on My Payments Plus for the Butler Ball. This event is designed to be a special night experience for your Butler Student and their VIP Adult Guest. There will be a DJ and professional photographer to take photos. Admission is $8 per student and includes one special VIP adult guest. Select which session you'd like to attend before registration closes on February 5th at 12:00 AM. Refreshments and snacks will be served. (Snow Date 2/13)

Please see details below about the CB East Children's theater Workshop:

Calling all elementary school students! Do you love to sing and dance? You are invited to be a "Junior Patriot Player" for the day!

February 22, 2025 - 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM; CB East Auditorium (Front Entrance). Proceeds benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.

Dear 6th Grade Parents - Please join the Middle School Staff at Unami -NOW- on Tuesday, Feb 25th from 7-9 pm. More details will be shared after the New Year in anticipation of the date. Unami Middle School is excited to host the parents of future 7th graders!

Communication and planning support family-efforts on important school events. See below!

Last week, Butler student counselors (Mrs. Milotich and Mrs. O'Connell) held our 2nd Trimester Town Hall Meeting with students and staff - focusing upon our pledge to "Being Respectful." To help us better understand this value, Butler Parent, Major Alex Sharkey (father to Evelyn (Gr. 5) & Emersyn (Gr. 3)), shared the importance of Respect in his profession as a pilot in two branches of the military - having served in (both) the Army and Air Force! He has a really interesting background and was asked great questions by curious students during each session (primary & intermediate). Thank you to Major Sharkey for his time at Butler on January 23rd!

Central Bucks has a District partnership with NOVA organization in their efforts to support students. On January 31st, NOVA brought their programs to Butler to speak to our 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade students during a portion of the day. In the presentations, students learned about personal safety at age-appropriate lessons. Grade 2 - Safe Touches; Grade 4 - 4U to Know; and Grade 5 - Cyberbullying. Thank you to the team of presenters in their support of student safety.

The Butler PTO coordinated a fun, energy-filled assembly on Tuesday, January 21st when they invited "Brain Challenge" to our school to entertain the students and staff with a TV Trivia Game Show experience! The gym was divided into the red or the blue team - and students from several grade levels represented their colors by answering questions on stage! The children did great, and the hosts discussed sportsmanship, enjoying the moment, and celebrating our friends and classmates. Thanks to Mrs. Beaver and the Butler PTO for sponsoring this special event!

Butler Bears from our intermediate grades held an exciting Jump Night at Skyzone - Chalfont - on Tuesday, January 28th. Lots of energy and excitement were generated as the children exercised and enjoyed time together outside of school. Thank you to our Butler PTO for organizing this fun event!

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 "Breakfast with the Principals".

1/24 Winners: Joey A. (Kdg.), Will P. (Gr.1), Carolina T. (Gr.2), Jacob B. (Gr.3), Mia S. (Gr.4), Niall D. (Gr.5), Joey I. (Gr.6), Staff Winner - Mrs. Casey

1/31 Winners: Sasha S. (Kdg.), Wyatt D. (Gr.1), Kieran S. (Gr.2), Liliana T. (Gr.3), Mitchell C. (Gr.4), Joanna C. (Gr.5), Blake L. (Gr.6), Staff Winner - Mrs. McCusker

Individual student winners choose a special activity from the "Choice Board" - where they identify a special event in which they will participate.

"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.

The PTO, in consultation with Butler administration, has made the difficult decision to not run Butler Bear Clubs this year. This decision was made based on a few factors, the most significant being difficulty securing enough volunteer support to successfully run the clubs. We understand that this may be disappointing news for many. We are open to continuing the clubs in the future if we have the necessary volunteer help. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please reach out to ButlerESPTO@gmail.com. Thank you.

Superintendent: Steven Yanni, Ed. D.

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

Assistant Superintendent-Elementary: Nadine Garvin, Ed. D.

Website: cbsd.org
Location: 20 Welden 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: Lauren Dowd

Assistant Principal's Secretary: Michele Droxler

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