Students in Grades 3–5 will be participating in the annual Pumpkin Painting Gardens Aglow event!

📅 Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

🕰️ Time: 6:00–9:00 PM

📍 Location: Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

Come enjoy the gardens at dusk as they come to life with beautifully carved jack-o’-lanterns created by local high school students, along with festive painted pumpkins created by our Bradford students. Families can sip cider while enjoying the glowing gardens, activities, entertainment, a mad science show, and refreshments throughout the evening.

🎟️ Admission: Free!

☔ Rain Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

The Fall 2026 ASE begin today and will be six sessions, and the schedule is as below (please make note of these dates as there are some weeks that ASE will not take place):

Tuesdays

• October 13, 27
• November 10, 17
• December 8, 15

Wednesdays

• October 14, 28
• November 4, 18
• December 9, 16

Thursdays

• October 15, 29
• November 12, 19
• December 10, 17

All classes run from 3:15 – 4:15 PM on their scheduled dates.

We’re exited to announce our Bradford 2026 No Fuss Fall Fundraiser, kicking off on Thursday, October 15th. We hope you will help Bradford PTA reach out goal of $10,000 to benefit students, teachers, and our school community. Keep an eye out for more info tomorrow!

Our Green Team has been hard at work over the last year preparing plans and updates to our outdoor alternative active play space. See the plans and timeline here.

Looking to get more involved with the Green Team to help these plans become a reality? Reach out here to learn more!

Do you know a classroom teacher or educational services professional who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program by completing this nomination form and returning it to the building principal by Monday, November 16, 2026. Administrators, staff members, students, parents and community members are encouraged to participate.

Each candidate will be scored based on the criteria below:

• Serves as an exceptionally skilled and dedicated educator in a public or charter school;
• Inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;
• Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside the classroom;
• Has the respect and admiration of students, parents, administrators and colleagues; and
• Plays an active role in the community as well as the school.

*To learn more regarding the GEOY program and selection process, please visit the following website: https://www.nj.gov/education/recognition/educators/geoy/index.sht

Bradford will have a Bike, Walk & Roll to School Day on Friday, October 16th during arrival (Rain Date: Friday, October 23rd). On this special day, students and families are encouraged to bike, walk, and roll to school! Refreshments will be available in the Bradford Courtyard as well starting at 8:40 am. We hope that you join us for this special Bradford community event!

Bradford’s new online merch store is up and running! Missed out on a tie-dye shirt in your kid’s size? Looking for a tasteful women’s sweatshirt? Want to order a pom-pom hat for Nana? Lost your Bradford tote bag? We’ve got it all. Bradford PTA is working with West Orange store Uptown Ink and Thread to offer Bradford gear all year long, with a portion of the proceeds going right back to Bradford. They’ll ship directly to you, or you can pick up from their location.

Please join us for our next SATp General Meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 6:30 pm. During this meeting we will check in with each subcommittee regarding important SATp initiatives for the 2026-2027 school year. The agenda for this meeting may be found here. This meeting will be facilitated in a hybrid format (Virtual: Teams Meeting link directly below/In-person: Bradford Library). We hope that you join us for this important SATp meeting!

Teams Meeting Join:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/26666133974811?p=mP3bLL0iPoAK9BG3v1

Meeting ID: 266 661 339 748 11

Passcode: kE9Mj6ZN

Upcoming Events & Reminders

• 10/13 – Fall ASE Session Begins
• 10/14 – 10/28 – No Fuss Fall Fundraiser
• 10/21 – Abbreviated Schedule (Middle/High School Conferences)
• 10/22 – Abbreviated Schedule (Middle/High School Conferences)
• 10/27 – School Picture Day
• 10/30 – Cast of Characters Parade, 2PM

Subscribe to the Bradford PTA calendar here so you don’t miss any special dates!

Thanks for reading,

Your Bradford PTA Squad