The Spring session of Running Club begins this week and there are still spots available! Running Club is a before-school activity that focuses on fun and fitness. Led by Mr. Acuna, students learn running technique and engage in track and field activities. K-2 will meet on Tuesdays (4/7-5/26) and 3-5 will meet on Wednesdays (4/8-5/27), from 8AM – 8:40AM.

Bradford’s annual Colorful Spring Celebration is almost upon us and we need parent volunteers! This exciting event, which marks the arrival of Spring, will take place during school on the afternoon of Friday, April 10th. We’re expecting beautiful weather, and the event will be held entirely outdoors. If you are interested in assisting with setup and handing out color to the students from 1-3PM, please contact Tarika Kapur at tdaftary@gmail.com.

The Festival of Color is a joyful tradition where participants throw colors (made from organic dyes and cornstarch) into the air, and the vibrant powder lands on clothing. On this day, we ask that you send your child with an old, preferably white, T-shirt. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Tarika Kapur at tdaftary@gmail.com. This event is a celebration of rebirth and new beginnings, and we look forward to a wonderful time together!

To kick off our celebration of Neurodiversity & Autism Acceptance Month, we will have a special Spirit Week from Monday, April 6th through Friday, April 10th. Please click here for a list of each day’s special theme, as well as for conversation starters for home!

★ Magnificent Mind (Monday, April 6th): Autism is a neurological variation, which means the brains of autistic people work differently than the brains of allistic (non-autistic) people – and that’s amazing! Celebrate how amazing it is that all our minds work in different wonderful ways by wearing a hat/ fun hat!

★ Autism Acceptance Day (Tuesday, April 7th): Love and acceptance go a long way. Wear gold (or yellow) to show your support and acceptance of autistic individuals!

★ Neurodiversity Wednesday (Wednesday, April 8th): To celebrate the beauty in the diverse spectrum of the human mind, wear rainbow and/or tie-dyed clothes to school!

★ What’s Your Passion (Thursday, April 9th): One common characteristic of autistic people is to show incredibly focused passion for topics of interest. What are you passionate about? Dress to show something you love/are passionate about!

★ Sensory Friendly (Friday, April 10th): Autistic people often have a variety of sensory sensitivities. Dress up today in your most comfy clothes (including school-appropriate pjs) and use as much natural light in your classroom (instead of fluorescents) as possible.

We are excited to be preparing for our school-wide Earth Day celebration on Wednesday, April 22nd! Students will rotate through hands-on stations focused on sustainability, recycling, and caring for our environment.

We are asking for donations of clean, safe, recyclable materials to support these activities.

♻️ Recycled Materials for Art Stations

• Cardboard
• Bottle caps (plastic only)
• Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
• Small clean containers or lids
• Scrap paper, magazines, or packaging
• Styrofoam peanuts
• basically anything that looks like it can become art

🐝 Bee Rest Stop Materials

• Clean small metal cans (labels removed if possible)
• Tops fully removed with no sharp or jagged edges
• Additional paper towel/toilet paper tubes (for filling)
• Scrap paper (for rolling into small tubes)

🌱 Planting Station (Optional Donations)

• Clean yogurt cups or small containers (if available)

All materials should be clean and safe for children to handle. Please avoid glass, sharp items, or anything unclean.

Donations can be to your child’s teacher who will bring it to Doc Cahill.

Thank you for helping us create a meaningful and sustainable Earth Day experience for our students!

MFEE is calling for nominations for the 2026 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching! Now administered by MFEE, the awards were established by Josh and Judy Weston in 1991 to acknowledge and celebrate Montclair Public Schools teachers. The awards honor both master teachers and those on their way to achieving that status. Inspired teaching combines a range of skills across several core areas. Ultimately, it excites students to learn, helps them feel valued, and responds to their individual needs and strengths.

Last year, MFEE received more than 300 nominations, and 17 honorees won $2,000 each. All parents/guardians of current Montclair Public Schools students, current MPS students, and recent alumni, are encouraged to nominate teachers or a counselor. Nomination due by 4/12.

AAPI New Jersey’s Color Run is returning to Brookdale Park on Sunday, April 26.

This event celebrates the vibrant spirit of two incredible festivals: Holi, the Hindu “Festival of Colors” and “Festival of Spring,” which marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil, and Songkran, the Thai New Year, which symbolizes renewal and prosperity through the tradition of water cleansing.

Inspired by these traditions, AAPI New Jeresy is excited to bring the community together for a morning of movement, joy, and cultural celebration. We’d love for you to join in a closed-course race, where participants will get splashed with colorful powder along the route!

Click HERE for more information and to register.

Montclair Baseball Softball Club (MBSC) is now registering for its Rookie Softball program for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders.

This is a fun, beginner-friendly way for young players to learn the basics of softball in a supportive environment.

Details:
Starts: Monday, April 22
Practices: Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 PM
Games: Sundays, 2:00–3:00 PM

Register here:
https://montclairbsc.sportngin.com/register/form/387350878

ASE Classes return this week for a full school schedule. Remaining meeting dates below –

Tuesdays:

May 7, 21, 28All classes run from 3:15 – 4:15 PM on their scheduled dates.

Upcoming Events & Reminders:

• 4/7 & 4/8 – Running Club starts
• 4/10 – Spring Celebration (in school)
• 4/16 – School Closed (Special Election)
• 4/22 – Earth Day of Service (in school)
• 4/25 – MSU Math Workshop (Bradford Library 10am – 12:30pm

Thanks for reading,

Your Bradford PTA Squad