Birney Buzz
Nov. 16-20th 14th Edition

🗓 MARK YOUR CALENDARS🗓
NOVEMBER-Native American Heritage Month
- Friday, November 13: Read-A-Thon Begins
- Monday, November 16: Star Party on the Blacktop @ 6 PM
- Friday, November 20: Minimum Day dismissal @ 1:15 pm
- November 23-27th: NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break
DECEMBER - Celebrates Hanukkah, Celebrates Christmas, Celebrates Winter Solstice, Celebrates Kwanzaa
- Thursday, December 3: SSC Meeting @ 5 pm
- Thursday, December 3: Birney Beekeepers Meeting (BBA) in the auditorium @ 6 pm dinner/ childcare
- Dec. 7- 11: Winter Spirit Week
- Friday, December 13: Read-A-Thon ENDS
TK : Friday 12/18 @ 11:15-12:00 am, Auditorium
Kindergarten: Friday 12/18 @ 10:00 am- 11 am, Auditorium
1st Grade: Monday, 12/14 @ 10:35 am, Auditorium
2nd Grade: Tuesday, 12/15 @ 10:50 am, Auditorium
3rd Grade: Thursday, 12/17 @ 10:30 am, Auditorium
4th Grade: Thursday, 12/17 @ 2:35 pm, Auditorium
5th Grade: Tuesday, 12/15 @ 2:35 pm, Auditorium
- Friday, December 18: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL EARLY DISMISSAL 1:15 pm
Please click here for all-year events and LINK the calendar to your phone through the BBA website.
READ-A-THON IS HERE! SIGN UP YOUR CHILD!
Birney Read-a-Thon | November 13–December 13
Get ready to turn those pages, Birney Bees! Our annual Read-a-Thon kicks off November 13 and runs through December 13, and we're setting our sights on an ambitious $70,000 fundraising goal! Funds raised will help support our Specials programs, student field trips, and IB curriculum, making a meaningful difference in the educational experience of every Birney student. There will be plenty of fun along the way, with individual, classroom, grade-level, and schoolwide prizes up for grabs! Keep an eye out for Read-a-Thon information coming home with students in the days leading up to the kickoff, including details on how to participate and help us reach our goal. You can get your student registered here and check out our new resource for corporate matching. Let's get reading, Birney Bees!
We already have donations in! You can track your class.
STAR PARTY IS THIS MONDAY
* PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS EVENT MAY BE CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER. WE WILL TEXT AND CONTACT FAMILIES IF WE HAVE TO CANCEL.
Create Your Account for the PowerSchool Parent Portal
Posted on 11/15/2025
Our records show that many families are not registered on San Diego Unified’s Parent Portal. This means you are missing out on critical information about your child’s education.
It is essential for every family to have an account. Logging into your student’s PowerSchool account does not provide you with complete access. Parent Portal is where you need to go to:
- Keep your contact information up-to-date in case of an emergency
- Complete all required annual forms
- Review your child’s grades, assignments, attendance, and schedules
Starting next year, the Parent Portal will be the only way to register your student at your San Diego Unified School. Don’t wait — Sign up for Parent Portal now!
The information you provide helps our school district receive additional federal funding that directly supports our schools and students. Every completed form matters, and your participation helps ensure Birney receives the funding it is eligible for. Your information is confidential and used for funding purposes. Thank you for taking the time to complete this important form and for supporting our Birney Bees! 🐝
Family Friday Breakfast
Birney 2027-2028 Planning Survey
COMPLETE SURVEY HERE
We are asking for this information earlier than usual so that we can make an informed decision about how many choice seats we will be able to offer in each grade level for the 27-28 school year.
So far, only 75 families have answered the survey. Please complete the survey to help us plan for class offerings next year.
Please complete this form for each of your children. Please indicate whether your child will or will not be returning to Birney Elementary for the 2027-28 school year. If your child is in fifth grade, you do not need to complete this survey.
Birney Giving Tree
Birney Giving Tree: Looking for a way to show some extra appreciation for the amazing educators and staff who make Birney special?
Check out the Birney Giving Tree wish lists, featuring our grade-level teachers, Specials and PE teachers, Library Tech, IB Coordinator, and other Birney staff. The lists include items that help support classrooms, programs, and our students. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for supporting our Birney educators and staff! 🐝💛
BIRNEY MERCH- SWEATSHIRTS, T-SHIRTS and MORE....
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!
Lost and Found - Will be donated this week!
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.
TOP 6 ATTENDANCE CLASSES- EXTRA RECESS
1.) Ms. Morais- Rm. 210 - PERFECT ATTENDANCE
2.) Ms. Brown- Rm. 22
3.) Ms. Sweeney- Rm. K1
4.) Ms. Monetti- Rm. 29
5.) Mr. Peterson- Rm. 211
6.) Ms. Rapczynski-Rm. 306
IB LEARNER PROFILE- Thinkers
IB Learner Profile: Thinkers
Check out our youngest learners being thinkers after the rain today. They asked why the sand is dry after all that rain. They determined that it is because it seeps through into the ground! We have some smarty TK students.
Stay Connected
🌐 Birney Website: https://birney.sandiegounified.org/
🌐 Birney Beekeeper Website: https://www.birneybees.org/
📧 Make sure your contact information is up to date in the school office for important updates and alerts.