San Diego Victory Gardens Fundraiser

Victory Gardens San Diego was a great help with our own Birney Garden. Tomorrow night they are having a fundraiser, so if you can help them and win some prizes too, all the better.

Wednesday, March 24
A fundraiser/mixer for Victory Gardens San Diego from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at The Linkery. In addition to some tray-passed appetizers, they'll offer food pairings with beer and wine, and $5 glasses of Steph's Mixtape wine.

More importantly, a lot of great people from the Victory Gardens movement will be there, and a lot of people from all the other San Diego food organizations that are working hard to make our community more self-sufficient and more delicious. There's no cost to come to the event, and the VGSD folks will be raffling off some great prizes including a free garden for your (or a friend's) house! More details at The Linkery.

They'll also be serving regular dinner Wednesday, including (supplies permitting) their pork belly main dish.

Spring Break Camps

For anyone who may still be trying to work out options for your kids for the time off. Here are a few.

Spring Camp at Camp Cahito
Wholesome and fun spring camp experiences are what make Camp Cahito one of the most popular camps around. Activities include hiking, archery, crafts, games, sports, and more! Plus receive a free T-shirt the first day of camp! You can also download the informational flyer here.

YMCA Spring Camps

This year, all Mission Valley YMCA spring camps will again be held at our satellite branch, the Toby Wells YMCA in Kearny Mesa. Camp at Toby Wells means a pool and waterslide, two playgrounds, a giant Gymnastics Center with LOTS of cool equipment. So whether you enjoy traditional campactivities like games, field trips, and swimming, or you have one specialty interest like gymnastics, or skate, we have the Spring Camp for you!

YMCA Intersession Camp

Ages 5-12

This program includes daily field trips, arts & crafts, sports, games and snack. Children will be placed in age-appropriate groups. Weekly calendars will be available at the Member Service Desk one week prior to the start of the program. Please register a minimum of one week prior to each session to avoid the $10 late fee.

San Diego Zoo Spring Art Camp

During these day-long art programs, you’ll experience the amazing beauty of plants, animals, and nature. Students are given both group and individual instruction. There are 10 different single-day topics under two different instructors.

They also have individual camps per grade level

Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2 & 3

Grade 4-5

Good Luck and we hope you have a fun Spring Break. See you back at Birney on April 19th.

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SAVE-THE-DATE for Passport to Adventure

Passport to Adventure will be both a school carnival and an opportunity for kids to learn about other countries. And it should be bigger and better than ever.

Saturday, June 19, 2010 11 am - 3 pm

Start saving your items now. We will be looking for prize donations. Any new (or in very good condition) item that may be used for a raffle prizes. Books, Games, Toys, Spa certificates, Dinner certificates, tickets to event, etc. If you have any items that you wish to donate for our prize drawing, or if you know of any merchants that would like to donate, please let us know. We will have a donation box starting in May.

Any and all help (whether donating a prize and/or volunteering your time) is greatly appreciated. Let’s make this 2nd annual, PTA sponsored, Birney event fun and memorable for all the children.

We will keep you posted on details. But for now save-your-prizes and save-the-date!

San Diego Science Festival 2010!

The San Diego Science Festival, widely-known as the largest celebration of science on the West Coast, is back for 2010! Hosting dozens of countywide events promising to “excite the minds” of thousands of students and their families, activities take place March 20-27. The 2010 SDSF will feature events such as an eight-person team Rubik’s Cube Speed Tournament involving over 45 K-12 schools, Family Day at Balboa Park, Science of Science Fiction, Science Sampler at SDSU, Star Party, The Illusion of Psychic Powers, and the largest event, a FREE all-day celebration of science – Expo Day – on Saturday, March 27 at PETCO Park, co-hosted by the Padres and the City of San Diego.

The San Diego Science Festival is organized by the University of California, San Diego, with the support of hundreds of community collaborators, to educate students across the region and inform the public about how important scientific discoveries influence the quality of their daily lives. Visit sdsciencefestival.com for complete details including a calendar of events.

Birney Rummage Sale and Pancake Breakfast New Date

Saturday, May 15th

It is cleaning time, so get through those closets, garages and junk drawers, and help raise money for Birney Elementary while you simplify your life. You have two great options for your treasures.

1. Reserve a space to sell your wares
2. Drop off your treasures for the PTA to sell at their table (which will raise funds to help the PTA sponsor assemblies and field trip for our students)

Families, Crafters and Artists Welcome!
This will be a community wide event, and we can only accommodate 50 vendors. Shaded spaces are approximately 9 ft x 20 ft, and are available on a 1st paid, 1st reserved basis only. Unshaded spaces are slightly larger (canopies are welcome). The Birney PTA will provide all advertisement prior to the event and pick-up of USABLE discards afterward! (a list will be provided of items that can not be left behind, on the day of the event or you can download it here)

There will also be refreshments available.

Starting on Tuesday, April 20th there will be a drop off bin
in front of the school in the morning and after school until 5:30 pm.

The rummage sale and pancake breakfast will be held on the playground at Birney Elementary Saturday, May 15 from 6:30 am - 2:00pm (gates open to public at 8:00 am)

To participate or for more information e-mail us at ptabirney@yahoo.com.
Or download the registration form here.

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Sign up is complete. Disney is done with tickets

Volunteer to work in the Birney Garden and get a ticket to Disneyland.

Go to the Disney Give a Day, Get a Day.

Search page:

Put in zip code 92103

Interest: community

Click on Find an Activity

If the box that says “Only show opportunities that allow parents/guardians to bring volunteers under the age of 18.”

Then search for the
Event: Event Volunteers/Gardeners
Organization Served: Birney Elementary PTA

When you find it click on Register Now

Then just fill out the lengthy registration form. Then wait to hear if you have been approved. Click on it.

The process can be very slow – so be patient.

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Family Yogurt - ALL DAY

Enjoy Saint Patrick's Day and Support the PTA

Join Us Wednesday, March 17th
for Family Yogurt Day at Fiji Yogurt.

50% of all sales that are accompanied by the flyer
(which can be downloaded by clicking here)

Fiji yogurt is located in the Ralphs shopping center on University.
Next to Big City Bagels and La Salsa.

PrimeTime Birney

Hello BIRNEY families

The PrimeTime application for next year, 2010-11, will be distributed to all Birney students TODAY, March 8th. Applications will also be distributed to the 5TH GRADE students FOR OUR FEEDER SCHOOL, ROOSEVELT. On March 8th, the application will also be available for download from the district website at www.sandi.net. Or you can download the PrimeTime Booklet in English or in Spanish, PrimeTime Directory and the PrimeTime Application here.

If you would like your child to participate in PrimeTime for the new school year, you must submit an application between March 8th and May 7th to be considered for enrollment. This includes students currently participating and those on the wait list. Applications must be received through US mail. To:
Birney Elementary - PrimeTime
4345 Campus Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103.

Thank you.

Day of Action in Defense of Public Education

On Thursday, March, 4, a coalition of California students, workers, teachers, parents, and their organizations and communities across the state plan to attend a Day of Action in Defense of Public Education. If there is money for bank bailouts and prisons, why is there no money for public education?

Help make March 4 an historic turning point in the struggle against the cuts, layoffs, and increases in class size by attending this rally. The San Diego Regional Rally will begin at 3 pm at Balboa Park, followed by March to governor’s office and a 4 pm Rally at the Governor’s San Diego office.

Family Dinner Night At Pat & Oscar's

Supporting Birney Elementary PTA has never tasted so good!

Tuesday, March 23 • 4 - 8 pm

Pat & Oscar’s Mission Valley
8590 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 295-6200

20% of all proceeds will be donated to Birney Elementary when you present the flyer.
Offer good on dine-in or take-out orders.

Let’s enjoy some good food and support field trips and assemblies for our Birney students.

Click here to download a Family Dinner Night Flier.

Birney Field Groundbreaking!

Well it finally happened. The field construction is under way. And a little bee told me that it should be ready to use in December. I know, seems like a long time, but as many of you know it will be here much faster than we could have imagined. After the construction the sod needs time to take hold and become permanent. So we wait...but at least we can see the progress.