Highlights from our October PTA meeting!

11/8/2026 3:59 pm

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our virtual October PTA meeting! We covered a lot of ground as we settle into the school year, and we are so grateful for our engaged community.

See below for a quick overview of what was discussed, as well as a link to the full meeting notes!

🏫 School & Recess Updates

• Safe Routes & Community Focus: A huge thank you to the parents running our Bike Bus—our efforts recently earned Bolden a Gold Award for NJ Safe Routes to School!

• District Goals & Safety: Administration highlighted an academic focus on math achievement  alongside student belonging. Additionally, the school is transitioning to the national Standard Protocol for emergency drills, with a virtual info session for families planned for November.

• Free Cultural Field Trips: Principal Hutchinson announced a new connection with SOPAC, allowing students to attend live shows for free, with 3rd graders heading to their first show in November.

💡 Financial Highlights & Transparency

• Current Standing: We started the school year with a $35,000 balance, and our current balance sits at $22,550 following active investments in student and teacher programming.

• Budget & Internal Audit: Families recently voted on the SY26-27 budget. We are also still looking for two PTA members to help conduct a brief internal financial review of last year’s budget alongside our treasurers. No accounting expertise is needed!

🎒 Committee & Event Preview

Our committees are busy organizing incredible experiences for the kids this fall and winter:

• Fall Fun: Our Walkathon was a huge success, raising $39,198 toward our $40k goal. Next up is Harvestfest!

• Book Fair: Our annual Book Fair runs from December 7th to December 11th! We are utilizing the Equitable Book Fair Model again to ensure every student and teacher gets shopping dollars to select books. Look out for Teacher Preview Day on December 4th.

• Looking Ahead: Mark your calendars for Parents' Night Out at Pallet Brewery on December 8th, Trivia Night on February 19th, the Variety Show on February 27th, and our 90s-themed Parents Night Out on April 3rd.

🤝 How to Get Involved

We love our caregiver volunteers and need your help to keep these programs thriving:

1. Join the PTA: Official membership lets you vote on budget items, leadership, and stay connected.

2. Volunteer: Opportunities are available for upcoming events, committee roles, and restocking snacks in the teachers' lounge.

3. Sign Up via Membership Toolkit: Keep your family profile updated so you never miss an announcement or volunteer sign-up list.

👉 Want to read the full details? Click here to view the complete meeting notes. 

Next PTA Meeting: Tuesday, November 17th, from 8:00–9:15 PM. Our meetings moving forward will be held virtually. Check our calendar for connection details and links. We hope to see you online!