Pembroke Press

After 25 remarkable years at Pembroke of inspiring minds and shaping futures, we are honored to announce the retirement of Renee Hart. While currently teaching 3rd grade, throughout her career Mrs. Hart has taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.

Mrs. Hart has made an incredible impact on generations of students, colleagues, and the school community. Known for her passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to education, she has touched countless lives inside and outside the classroom.

After 31 years, we proudly celebrate the retirement of Mrs. Allen. Throughout her career, she has been a steady source of support, inspiration, and encouragement for countless learners. Mrs. Allen started her career at Pembroke teaching 1st grade and then started the kindergarten/1st grade loop. For the last 23 years she has been a reading specialist both at Pembroke and other buildings across the district.

Mrs. Allen’s unwavering commitment to every child’s success, has made a lasting impact on generations of students and families. Beyond the classroom, she has been a trusted colleague, a mentor to many, and a positive force within the entire school community, leaving a legacy that will continue to shape the school for years to come.

After 28 years of dedicated service, Mimi Otterbein will be retiring from Pembroke. Throughout the years, Mimi has served our community as a Kinder Plus teacher, preschool teacher, and Kids Club Director, touching the lives of countless children and families.

Her commitment, warmth, and passion for early childhood education have made a lasting impact on our school. She has helped create a nurturing environment where students feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to grow. We are deeply grateful for her many contributions and the positive difference she has made in our community.

A retirement celebration will be held on Thursday, June 4th from 4-5pm at Pembroke, and all are welcome to attend! A separate invitation will follow.

Let’s honor Mrs. Hart, Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. Otterbein for a lifetime of service, dedication, and love for teaching. Congratulations on a well-earned retirement!

At Birmingham Public Schools, we are committed to utilizing instructional technology to help prepare our students for success and the in-demand careers of tomorrow. We also take numerous measures to help ensure all students use this technology responsibly both inside and outside the classroom.

As technology continues to evolve, Birmingham Public Schools is conducting a thorough review of district policy regarding digital resources used for teaching and learning, including school-issued devices, digital tools, and the i-Ready platform.

The District Curriculum Council, which includes teachers, administrators, parents, students, and Board of Education members, has been reviewing community survey results on this issue and is making recommendations related to instructional technology use at Birmingham schools. These recommendations are aligned with the most up-to-date research, best practices, and community input. A separate committee is evaluating the use of smartphones and personal devices at school.

Families, staff, and community members are invited to review the draft recommendations and complete the feedback survey linked below. Input gathered will help inform final revisions.

Updated Administrative Regulation

Outlines district expectations for student use of school-issued devices, digital tools, internet access, and responsible technology use.

Companion Guidance Document

Provides practical examples and recommended practices to support consistent implementation in schools and classrooms.

Link to the feedback survey is here: Feedback Survey: Draft AR 8001 & Companion Guidance

We will have additional updates at our Tuesday, May 19, regular board meeting.

As we head into the final stretch of the year, please remember that when utilizing the car rider line, families should pull as far forward as possible. No students should be dropped off by the staff lot. If you are utilizing the car rider line, students should exit the car near the main entrance and walk to the appropriate door.

Friday, May29th is Pembroke’s Field day!

• Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade are participating in the morning (9:15-11:15).

• Then, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are participating in the afternoon (1:15-3:30).

If you are interested in volunteering, please see the signup genius link below.

In order to volunteer you must have your iChat form on file.

Field Day Signup Genius

BPS is pleased to provide information regarding its district-wide process for identifying students in grades 2-8 who may be prepared for advancement in mathematics. The Pathway to Mathematics Progression has been carefully developed to utilize assessment data to identify students who could benefit from grade-level acceleration in mathematics. The district has reviewed M-STEP and i-Ready assessment results and has extended invitation letters to students who meet the established criteria.

If your child did not receive an invitation but you believe they are ready to advance a grade in mathematics, you may register your child to take the assessment. This assessment is a rigorous exam lasting approximately 90-120 minutes, covering standards for the upcoming grade level. Please note that this will include content not yet covered in your child's current instruction. Students who pass the assessment will be eligible for grade-level advancement in mathematics.

It is important to clarify that participation in the Pathway to Mathematics Progression is not the only way for BPS students to accelerate in this subject area. All students have the opportunity to enter an advanced mathematics program as they begin 6th grade, without the requirement of additional testing. Our middle school accelerated courses are designed to enable students to be one grade level ahead by 8th grade. Participation in the Pathway program results in a double advancement, meaning an 8th-grade student who qualifies will be enrolled in a 10th-grade level mathematics course.

If you believe your student is prepared for this level of mathematical progression and wish to register them for the MPA exam, please complete the registration form by Friday, May 8. The assessments are scheduled to take place at your child's school in late May or early June. Each school will share its specific testing schedule with registered families prior to the testing dates. To learn more about the Pathway to Mathematics Progression and to see Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our website.

At this time of year we begin planning for staffing and student placement for the 26 - 27 school year. If your student/s will be entering grades 1 - 5 next school year and you will not be returning, we would appreciate you taking a minute to fill out this form, so we can plan appropriately for next year. Thank you so much. Again, this form should only be filled out if your child is not returning to Pembroke next year and would be in entering grades 1 - 5.

As the school year winds down and schedules fill up, the last thing parents want to think about is back-to-school shopping. That's where EduKit comes in.

EduKit makes it easy:

🛒 One simple order gets your child everything they need for next year

📦 Supplies are curated specifically for your school

🙌 No hunting through store shelves — we handle it all

Spend the rest of the school year enjoying the moments that matter, and let EduKit handle the rest!

www.edukitinc.com

Search: Pembroke Elementary

Each spring students in K - 5th grade participate in Health Education lessons. Typically, these lessons will begin in late April or May. Please see the letter included below with more information on health education and directions on how to opt students out, if you would like. An overview of the topics taught are listed below. For more information on specific curriculum please see the included letter.

Kindergarten – Third Grade

Mon., May 4 - Fri., May 8 - Teacher Appreciation Week

Mon,, May 4 - Fri., May 8 - Kindergarten & 1st Music Informances

Wed., May 6 - Walk, Bike, Roll to School!

Wed., May 6 - Final PTA Meeting - 9:15am - Refreshments provided!

Wed., May 6 - 5th Grade Band Concert at Seaholm

Thurs., May 7 - District Art Show

Wed., May 13 - 5th Grade Orchestra Concert at Seaholm

Fri., May 15 - Pembroke Spring Fling 6-8p

Thurs., May 21- Shavuot begins (at sundown)

Fri., May 22 - 5th Grade Field Trip to DIA

Mon., May 25 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Tues., May 26 - Eid-al-Adha begins (at sundown)

Thurs., May 28 - 5th Grade visit to Derby in AM

Fri., May 29 - Pembroke Field Day

Wed., June 3 - Pembroke senior alumni breakfast

Sat., June 6 - Eton Street Singers perform at UWM Field

Wed., June 10 - 5th Grade Ceremony & Celebration

Thurs, June 11 - 1/2 Day -Dismissal at 11:50

Fri., June 12 - Last Day for students - 1/2 Day -Dismissal at 11:50

We have almost completed the first year of implementing our new ELA/Literacy materials! As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are collecting feedback from students, teachers and caregivers. Please consider sharing your perspective through the following survey, which will be open through April 27: K-12 ELA Implementation Caregiver Survey

Eton Street Singers Performing at UWM Field on Saturday, June 6th

You are invited to join the Eton Street Singers for our annual baseball game at UWM (formerly Jimmy John's) field. The students will be singing the National Anthem to begin the game! We would love to have our Pembroke families join us for a fun evening at the baseball field. We'll sing around 5:15 PM and the game begins at 5:30 PM. Click on the link to purchase tickets and see the flyer for more details. Hope to see you there!

Ticket Purchase Link: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/GroupPortalPEC.asp?HoldID=1529&SponsorID=19324&EventID=357101

5th

April 27

May 5, 6, 7, 11

4th

May 5, 6, 7

3rd

April 28, 29, 30

Each class is a one-day session from 3:50–5:20 PM. Don’t miss out—sign up today at www.communityed.net.

🍪 Oreo Cookie Bouquet
🎂 Cake Pops

Spots are limited, so grab yours now!

Visit www.communityed.net to sign up today!

We need volunteers to help make Spring Fest a success again! Please sign up here!

Thank you to everyone who donated items to stock the lounge this week! We have a wonderful week planned to celebrate the amazing staff that makes Pembroke such a wonderful community!

The last PTA meeting of the 2025/26 school year will be Wednesday May 6th, in person. Come stop by for coffee and donuts after Walk/Bike/Ride to school that morning and hear what exciting events we have planned for the end of the year!

We will vote on the slate at the May 6th PTA meeting. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest and who has volunteered for a position!

President: Tracey Savcic

VP: Brad McDonald

Treasurer: Britt-Marie Fleury

Secretary: Lindsey Peck

May 4 - May 8th - Staff Appreciation Week

Wednesday May 6, 2026 -Final PTA MEETING 9:00am ---Following Walk, Bike, Roll to School

Friday, May 15, 2026 - Pembroke Spring Fling