Pembroke Press

Hello Pembroke Families!

Excitement is in the air. It was great to see so many of you at our popcorn event last week. Whether it was reconnecting after summer or meeting new PRIDE families having our community back together is always fun! The Press continues to be jam packed with back to school information. I appreciate you taking the time to read carefully and prepare for the new year. In addition, I hope you take a minute to check out the introductions to our new staff below!

Mrs. Hoyne

• Michael Burkett - Band and Orchestra
• Amy Darby - Art
• Ernest Fackler - Art
• Sam Hutzley - Art

• Lindsay Stone - Academic Interventionist

• Sarah Peterson - LRC Teacher

• Jason Juif - Building Sub

• Ashleigh Plonka - GSRP associate teacher

Student Teachers & Interns:

• Shay Manchester - 4th Grade Student with Mrs. Sawmiller

• Tecora Harvey - LRC with Mrs. Kleinstiver

Half Days & Bus Schedules!

Monday, August 31st & Tuesday, September 1st are BOTH 1/2 days!! Dismissal at 11:50am!

Parents/Guardians of JK, K, and 1st Grade students must meet the bus at their stops after the early dismissals.

NOTE - JK & Kindergarten students will have 1/2 days on Wednesday & Thursday as well. There will be NO Bus service on those 1/2 days for Kindergarten students. There WILL be Bus service for 1-5th graders that stay the entire school day at dismiss at 3:50pm.

Arrival and Dismissal procedures will be the same as during last school year. Please click HERE for detailed information on arrival and dismissal.

• Arrival between 8:35-8:40 am
• Pick-Up between 3:45-3:50 pm

Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Pick up and drop off will be on the Blacktop behind the building

2nd Grade: Witherbee Loop

3rd Grade: Line up by the side door near staff parking lot

4th & 5th Grade: Line up near the front Main entrance

We are pleased to continue using PowerSchool Forms for returning student registration for the 2026-2027 school year.

If you completed this process last year, it should feel very familiar. For families who are new to the process or need a refresher, we have included step-by-step instructions to guide you through updating your student's information.

Key Points:

• Start Date: Registration will open August 7.

• Deadline: Please complete the registration process by August 21.

• Multiple Students: If you have more than one child enrolled in Birmingham Public Schools, you must complete the registration process separately for each student.

• Instructions: Please use the PowerSchool Forms Instructions linked below for detailed directions on completing the registration process.

• New Students: If your student is new to Birmingham Public Schools this school year, you completed the new student enrollment process and do not need to complete returning student registration. This process is only for students returning from the previous school year.

PowerSchool Forms Instructions

Updated Information: ALL Transportation Requests need to be made directly through PowerSchool

1. Sign Up within PowerSchool - All Students (See details how to below)

2. Look for a direct email from no-reply@stopfinder.com to view your child's transportation (coming out 8/19-8/28)

3. Download the Stopfinder App

Should you have any questions, please reach out to Brad Johnson (Transportation Manager) at BJohnson2@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Returning Families: BPS is making it easier than ever to request bus transportation for your student for the next school year. We have replaced the previous Google Form with a new streamlined request form that takes just a few moments to complete. All families requesting transportation for next school year must complete this form in order to receive bus service. A short video is available to walk you through how to access the form and submit your request: Watch the How-To Video

New Families:

As part of the enrollment process, you were prompted to select whether or not you were requesting bus transportation service.

School supplies are out in stores and for those students that like to pick out their own supplies here is a link to the suggested school supply lists by grades.

Dear Families,

We are looking forward to welcoming students onto campus in the coming weeks for the start of the school year. Under recent updates to Michigan’s Revised School Code (MCL 380.1303a), public school districts statewide are now legally required to restrict student access to personal cell phones and wireless communication devices during school hours. To ensure our district is in full compliance with these state mandates, we wanted to take a moment to make sure our students and families are aware of updates to our wireless communication device policy (Policy 2006). While our elementary families are used to students not having access to cell phones and personal laptops or iPads, this legislation includes additional personal wireless devices our students have brought to school in previous years.

Personal electronic devices include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, smart watches capable of texting, calling, internet access, recording, or receiving notifications, earbuds, AirPods, Bluetooth headphones, smart glasses, AI glasses, wearable technology, and any other device capable of communication, recording, or accessing digital content. Earbuds, AirPods, Bluetooth headphones, and similar listening devices may not be worn in either ear during the instructional day unless expressly authorized by a staff member.*

Personal Electronic Device Expectations

Personal electronic devices must remain out of sight and may not be accessed or used from the first bell until dismissal unless specifically authorized by a staff member for an approved educational or emergency purpose. Devices should be stored in a backpack, locker, or other designated storage area.

Our goal is to provide information in the easiest, most accessible, and most digestible way possible. The new format will organize information more clearly, making it easier to quickly find what you need when you need it. Instead of having to search through previous newsletters for important information, families will be able to access key resources and updates through consistent links and dedicated information hubs that are always available.

This is the first step in a broader effort to modernize how we communicate with our community. The district newsletter will transition first, with school newsletters gradually moving to a similar format over time.

We're also excited to share that a new Birmingham Public Schools mobile app is expected to launch early this fall. The app will provide another convenient way to access district and school information, giving families another simple and efficient way to stay connected.

If your child will be absent for any reason, please call the school before 9:00 a.m. at 248 203-3888, then press #2 for absence reporting and leave the following information:

• child’s name

• grade & teacher’s name

• brief reason for absence

The office records absences from the call-in messages and checks them against the teacher attendance lists. If a child is not in school and the parent has not called, the school will need to call your home or place of work. Please be sure to call, otherwise, the school office must follow-up on absences not reported.

Tardiness

All students arriving at school after 8:49 a.m. are to report to the school office before going to their classroom. They must take a green tardy pass to their class. It is very important that students maintain good attendance and arrive at school on time. Excessive absenteeism and tardiness are detrimental to a student’s ability to achieve his/her very best.

If your child needs medication during the school day or has allergies, please see the link below to forms. Forms are also available in the main office.

https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/programs-services/health-wellness

Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit in the classrooms of their children. However, in order for the class routine and instructional time to not be disturbed, please use the following guidelines for observations and visits:

• Make arrangements for classroom visits with the teacher at least 24 hours in advance.

• Limit your visit to no more than 1 hour in duration unless otherwise arranged by the teacher.

For the protection of the children, the school must identify all adults visiting the school. All visitors, volunteers, and parents are required to sign in at the school office and wear a visitor’s badge before visiting our school. Please do not go directly to your child’s classroom without an appointment or your assigned work area without checking in at the school office. Visitations by older or younger children as well as houseguests will not be honored. Such visitations interrupt the effectiveness of the school instructional program.

I-Chat forms are required to volunteer in your child's classroom and for building/classroom events. These forms will be available at curriculum night and in the main office. Parents or guardians must fill a new I-Chat form every year. Please reach out to Tracy Longe in the main office if you have any questions.

We Love Celebrating Birthdays at Pembroke, but please note several years ago, Pembroke transitioned to FOOD-LESS birthday celebrations within all classrooms across the building. This policy is focused not only on the health and wellness of our children, but also on the value of instructional time. Food-less birthday treats decrease the frequency of sugary treats served during the school day, decrease the opportunities for allergic reactions that can be life-threatening to many of our children and decrease the amount of time spent out of the classroom delivering treats to past teachers, office staff, etc.

Each classroom will still celebrate your child on his/her birthday. Each teacher, &/or Grade Level Team, will provide a “Birthday Celebration Menu” with celebration options. You and your child will select how she/he wishes to celebrate their birthday, and communicate your selection with the teacher a few days prior to the celebration so that they can plan accordingly.

Students can continue working on their summer learning gameboard! If your child completes the activities and crosses them off, they can turn them into the office in the fall and receive a special prize.

Birmingham Public Schools' School Age Child Care (SACC) program is ready for another great year of before- and after-school care for students in Junior Kindergarten through fifth grade. Formerly known as Kids Club, the program provides a safe, engaging environment where students can learn, play, and grow before and after the school day.

Registration opens online on Saturday, August 1, at 8 a.m. Families may begin submitting registrations at that time. Please note that registrations will not be reviewed or accepted until Monday, August 3, when the SACC office reopens.

The program operates from 7:00 a.m. until the first school bell each morning and from dismissal until 6:00 p.m. each afternoon. Program highlights include:

• Discounted rates for families enrolling for a full week

• Pre-approved drop-in care where space is available

• Highly qualified staff with ongoing training

• Programs that meet or exceed all state licensing requirements

• Daily activities including gym time, outdoor play, games, arts and crafts, and other creative opportunities

Click here to learn more and register for the 2026-2027 BPS School Age Child Care program.

We encourage families who may qualify for income-based free or reduced-price meals to complete the Child Nutrition and Education Benefits Application through the Meal Magic Family Portal.

The application is available through the Birmingham Public Schools website under Food Services (Here).

Completing an application is important because it:

• Helps secure important state and federal funding for our schools
• Supports educational programs and services
• Ensures eligible students continue to receive available meal benefits
• May provide access to additional benefits and reduced-cost programs

Families who believe they may qualify are encouraged to complete an application even if they are unsure whether they are eligible.

For assistance with the application or meal program, please contact the Food Service Department at pguck@Birmingham.k12.mi.us.

• Thursday, August 27th - Kindergarten Meet & Greet - 3:00 - 4:00 pm - Details to follow!

• Monday, August 31st - 1st Day of School - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:50 am

• Monday, August 31st - PTA Welcome Back Coffee - immediately after arrival

• Tuesday, September 1st - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:50 am

• Wednesday, September 2nd and Thursday, September 3rd - JK/Kindergarten Only - Half Day Dismissal 11:50 am

• Wednesday, September 2nd - K/1st Curriculum Night - 6:00 - 6:30 and 6:45 - 7:15

• Wednesday, September 9th - 2nd - 5th Curriculum Night -6:00 - 6:30 and 6:45 - 7:15

• Wednesday, September 9th - 5th Grade Camp Meeting 5:30 - 6:00

• Wednesday, September 16th - PTA Meeting - 7:00 PM - Pembroke Library

• Friday, September 18th - Welcome Back Picnic - 6:00 PM and New Family Welcome 5:30 PM