Birney Buzz

• 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.

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! 🐝

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.

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: 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! 🐝💛

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!

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.

1.) Ms. Brown- Rm. 22

2.) Ms. Esparza- Rm. 305

3.) Mr. Marking- Rm. 28

4.) Mr. Medlock - Rm. 25

5.) Ms. Tuchscher- Rm. 213

6.) Ms. Rapczynski-Rm. 306

IB Learner Profile: Thinkers

How Can We Be Thinkers and Problem Solvers?

At Birney, being a Thinker means using our creativity, curiosity, and critical-thinking skills to solve problems. Thinkers don't give up when something is challenging. They ask questions, consider different possibilities, try new strategies, and learn from their mistakes. Being a thinker means understanding that there is often more than one way to solve a problem!

Here are some simple ways to practice being a Thinker at home:

TK / Kindergarten: Little Thinkers
At this age, we are learning to explore, ask questions, and try things on our own.

• When a toy doesn't work, ask, "What could you try?"

• When building with blocks, ask, "How can you make your tower taller without falling?"

• When getting dressed, encourage your child to figure out how to put on their shoes or zip their jacket.

• When something spills, ask, "What can we do to clean it up?"

1st–3rd Grade: Growing Thinkers
Students are developing strategies, making connections, and learning to solve problems independently.

• During a game, ask, "What strategy could help you win?"

• When reading a story, ask, "What do you think will happen next? Why?"

• When a homework problem is challenging, encourage your child to try a different strategy.

• When siblings disagree, ask, "What are two ways you could solve this problem?"

4th–5th Grade: Independent Thinkers
Older students can practice analyzing situations, considering different perspectives, and evaluating solutions.

• Ask your child to plan a family activity within a set budget.

• When facing a challenge, ask, "What are three possible solutions? What are the pros and cons of each?"

• Encourage your child to research a question they are curious about and share what they discover.

• When something doesn't go as planned, ask, "What did you learn, and what would you do differently next time?"

A Question to Ask at Home This Week:

"What is one problem you faced today, and how did you solve it?"

Remember, we don't have to give children all the answers. Sometimes the best way to develop a Thinker is to step back, ask a thoughtful question, and give them the opportunity to figure it out!

🌐 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.