October 2026

Greetings from the Bach PTO!

What a perfect day to walk, bike, and roll to school! Thank you to everyone who came out today — especially our volunteers who helped the ride go smoothly.

There's more fun in store. You can read all about it in this month's newsletter, but here are a few highlights:

• Fun Run was a HUGE success. Shout-out to our families, volunteers, and sponsors who all came together to raise over $35,000.
• We're bringing back the Bach Family Picnic! Meet us on the playground on 10/22.
• Show appreciation for Bach's amazing educators by signing up to bring a dish to Parent/Teacher Conference Night (11/2) or have something delivered to the teachers' lounge (wish list here).
• Extracurriculars and other community activities are ramping up. Learn more about Bach Robotics, Science Olympiad, and a Parent Pact in partnership with ScreenWise Ann Arbor.
• Want to support the PTO? There are many ways to contribute, from simply shopping local to volunteering.

Remember: our new website is your go-to resource for upcoming events, volunteer needs, and so much more.

October Meeting Recap

Missed our last meeting? We've got you covered. You can view the minutes here.

Fun Run Results

Thanks to an incredible team effort, we exceeded our fundraising goal. Let's thank our wonderful sponsors by supporting their businesses all year round.

It's not too late to donate! Every little bit helps to fund the fun at Bach.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER EVENTS

Bach Family Picnic — October 22nd from 5:15-7:15pm

Back by popular demand! All Bach families are invited to a casual picnic on the playground. Let's enjoy each other's company and beautiful fall weather while it lasts. Bring your own picnic blanket, food, and drinks.

Additional information: Family Picnic event page
Contact: Vinal Desai Burbeck (vice-president@bachpto.org)

Halloween Parade + Class Parties — October 30th

Save the date for our annual Halloween festivities, times TBA.

Teacher Potluck at Parent/Teacher Conference Night — November 2nd

Let's show our support for Bach staff working late on Conference Night. Sign up to bring a side dish, main dish, or dessert.

Contact: Ali Krauss (acostalexandra@gmail.com)

PTO Meeting — November 6th from 9-10am

All parents & caregivers are welcome to join our meetings, which are typically held on the first Friday of each month. Join us in the MPR or on Google Meet: meet.google.com/xhz-xjbt-zcm

Contact: PTO Co-Presidents (president@bachpto.org)

Dance Night — November 13th from 6-7:30pm

Come on down to the MPR for a family-friendly dance party open to all Bach families. Attendance is free. Snacks & juice boxes will be available for purchase ($1 = 1 snack) as a fundraiser for the PTO.

All ages are invited, but kids MUST be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event. Parents/guardians cannot drop off kids and leave.

Contact: Ariel Adamson (arieladamson@gmail.com)

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

The PTO is almost always seeking volunteers to assist during the school day, lead events, and help with other projects. As a fun twist, PTO Co-President Liang Sim has started a little friendly competition: Moms vs. Everybody Else! Log your hours here to be counted.

Lunch & recess — Parent/guardian volunteers play an important role in helping us supervise, support, and connect with Bach students while they eat, play, and enjoy time with their friends. If you are interested, please fill out this Google form. The Bach main office will follow up with you directly.

Event leads — We are still seeking individuals to co-lead a handful of events, including STEAM Night in January and Bengal Bash in March. Contact us if you're interested, or go ahead and sign up here.

Teachers' lounge donations — Show your appreciation for Bach's wonderful staff by sending snacks or drinks to the teachers' lounge. View their wish list and order here. Once purchased, the items will be delivered to Bach for teachers and staff to enjoy. If you'd like to purchase fresh fruit or other goodies locally, please label your items "Staff Appreciation - please place in teachers' lounge" and deliver them to the Bach main office. Questions? Contact Ali Krauss (acostalexandra@gmail.com).

Sunshine Shelf — The Sunshine Shelf is back! This is a place for any and all Bach families to get nonperishable food and other essentials. We are now accepting donations. Please see here for more information, including a list of needed items.

EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

Lego Robotics (open to 4th & 5th graders)

Are you ready to build, code, and solve fun challenges? The Bach Lego Robotics Team is kicking off, and we want you! No prior coding or building experience is required—just bring your creativity, teamwork, and curiosity. Sign up here.

Contact: Julie Klima (bachroboticsteam@gmail.com)

Science Olympiad (open to 2nd-5th graders)

The Bach Science Olympiad team is preparing for another successful season. For those who are unfamiliar, Science Olympiad is a fun tournament-style competition comprising a wide variety of events designed by the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO). Student signups will open this winter and practice regularly leading up to the tournament on Saturday, May 15th.

Please join us in fostering a love of science and inspiring the next generation of innovators. If you are interested in co-leading our team or coaching an event, see here for details and fill out this form. No experience necessary!

Contact: Leah Pinho (scienceolympiad@bachpto.org)

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Bach Parent Pact

Last year, in partnership with Screenwise Ann Arbor, Bach piloted a Parent Pact with our 1st (now 2nd) and 4th (now 5th) grade classes. Currently, we have over 50 signers, and we’re excited to expand the Parent Pact across Bach! Please go here to learn more and to sign the pact.

Whether you've signed the pact or not, please join us on Monday, October 19th at 9am on the Bach playground for an informal coffee chat. At this gathering, we will discuss potential next steps. Examples: a book club or discussion group; older kids talking with our elementary kids about phones and play-based childhood; sharing "dumb" watch and phone options to stay connected with kids on the move; or other ideas we haven't thought about yet!

Contact: Karen Brown (karander@gmail.com), Chelsea Cox (chels.g.cox@gmail.com), or Heather Esper (hmoehle@gmail.com)

My Future Fund

My Future Fund, a county-wide children's savings account program, is hosting their annual Rise & Shine celebration on November 10th. Free to attend; simply RSVP here.

SHOP & SUPPORT

Your everyday shopping can help support Bach! Check out this PDF for further details on each program. And please share these opportunities with family members and friends to help us maximize our fundraising efforts.

Groceries

• Busch’s Cash for Education: Link your Busch’s MyWay account to Bach and earn money for the PTO as you shop.
• Kroger Community Rewards: Connect your Kroger Plus Card to Bach and a portion of eligible spending will benefit the PTO.
• Arbor Farms Market: Ask the cashier to credit your purchase to Bach when you check out.
• Box Tops for Education: Download the Box Tops for Education app and scan eligible grocery receipts. Bach earns money from participating products.

Shopping

• RaiseRight Gift Cards: Purchase gift cards for everyday purchases and gift-giving. RaiseRight offers gift cards for many retailers, and a percentage of each purchase is donated to Bach PTO. If you regularly shop at certain stores, buying gift cards through RaiseRight is an easy way to give back on purchases you already planned to make. Our enrollment code is 4E3D1E2C21797.
• Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop: Shop secondhand while supporting Bach and Ann Arbor Public Schools. The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop distributes earnings from its fundraising activities to PTOs throughout the school year. Mark your calendar for Show Your Support Saturday on April 10th, when 10% of that day’s proceeds will benefit Bach.

SPECIAL THANKS

Last but not least, we'd like to recognize a few parents and local businesses for their generosity:

Lindsay Smith, Karen Brown, and the volunteers who gave the Bach planter box a glow-up on September 28th. With the help of donations from Ace Barnes, Feral Flora, and Adapt Community Supported Ecology, the planter box is now beautiful and functional.

Jefferson Market for offering complimentary drinks to Bach teachers on their birthdays.