September 2026

Greetings from the Bach PTO!

The 2026-2027 school year is well underway. Week one was exciting, to say the least! We hope the transition is going well for you and your family.

The PTO is gearing up for our largest fundraiser, Fun Run. Please read on for some important information about this and other upcoming events.

September Meeting Recap

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

Please Update Your Family Profile!

Hopefully, you've seen our beautiful new home: bachpto.org. The new site is more modern and searchable, with loads of information about upcoming events, fundraisers, and much more.

For maximum use and benefit, please update your family profile. First, log in by clicking the button in the upper right corner. Next, navigate to your child and select their teacher. Due to privacy constraints, this is the ONLY way to receive communications from room parents regarding class parties, field trips, teacher appreciation, and other needs. Registered families also have access to a searchable directory that can be used to contact other families and arrange playdates and birthday parties (or just quickly remind yourself of the name of that parent you've met seven times and really should know by now). Not sure how to use the new site? Take a look at our quick step-by-step guide.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER EVENTS

Fun Run — September 25th during the school day

The culmination of Bach's biggest fundraiser. Each class has a chance to walk, run, or skip around an obstacle course in support of community events, field trips, curriculum materials, library books, and assemblies throughout the year (basically, everything that make school fun!). Note: in the event of rain, the Fun Run will be moved to October 2nd.

THANK YOU to our Bach Champion sponsors: Gordon Group Agency, McNamara Orthodontics, Edwards & Schaefer Orthodontics, Marygrace Liparoto - REMAX Associate Broker, Ann Arbor Dental Associates, Liang Photography, and Vault of Midnight.

Additional information: Fun Run event page
Contact: Jen Larson (jen.gidleylarson@gmail.com)
Get involved:

• Help with fundraising — Work with your child on asking family, friends, and neighbors for support. Every contribution gets us closer to our school-wide goal! You can create a student fundraising page and QR code here. While this step is completely optional, personalized pages are powerful. If you do not wish to create a page, you can direct supporters to the main donation page.
• Help recruit local businesses — If you're connected with any local businesses, please share our sponsorship options with them. This year, we're offering a tiered structure; the entry level is just $100. Feel free to contact our Fundraising Chair, Kendrin Sonneville (kendrins@umich.edu) if you have any leads for us to explore.
• Help spread the word — We have flyers and yard signs. Signs with QR codes will be available for pickup after school this Friday (9/11) in the playground circle and at Curriculum Night on 9/16.
• Volunteer on September 25th — We need lots of volunteers to ensure a smooth and safe event. Sign up here.

PTO Meeting — October 2nd from 9-10am

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

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

Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day — October 7th from 8:15-8:45am

Celebrate national Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day! Join us in biking or walking to school together for a fun, active start to the day. Gather at Wurster Park (corner of Madison & Fourth St) where we will kick off the group movement promptly at 8:25am. Cyclists can choose between riding on the street or the sidewalk as we make our short, safe journey to Bach. Once at school, volunteers from local bike shops will be on hand to provide tune-ups.

Additional information: Walk, Bike, and Roll to School event page
Contact: Erin Pons (erin.e.pons@gmail.com)
How you can help: We need volunteers to assist with setup and student safety. Sign up here
.

Bach Family Picnic — October 22nd from 5:15-6:15pm

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)

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

In addition to the events listed above, we need volunteers to assist during the school day, lead events, and so much more. 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.

Room parents — Several classrooms are still in need of room parents to help coordinate field trips, class parties, and other fun happenings. You can view openings and sign up here.

Event leads — We are still seeking individuals to co-lead a handful of events, including Dance Night in November, 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).

COMMUNITY RESOURCES & SUPPORT

Do you speak a second language?

The PTO would love to support you. Please take a moment to fill out this brief form regarding your language preferences and needs.

Do you have a new middle schooler?

Sarah Barbrow (parent of a Bach 5th grader and Slauson 7th grader) is hosting another Zoom conversation to address all of your burning questions about PowerSchool, after-school activities, and so much more. The next one will take place on Friday, September 18th from 2-3pm. If you'd like to join, please RSVP here. Parents of older children are welcome, too! Questions? Email Sarah directly (sbarbrow@gmail.com).

Shop at PTO Thrift!