Hello Walkathon Champs! 

Stratfield School Community, you have absolutely blown us away. Friday’s Walkathon was a VIBE.

There was sunshine, joyful fans, colorful tees, energetic walkers (students and staff alike!), great tunes, delicious coffee, and more importantly, that happy feeling you get when you realize your community is actually awesome. (Scroll down for pics!)

We have so many thank yous to share this week, and the biggest one goes to YOU, SES community! 

Not only did you all show up for our walkers on Friday, but you have shown out for our fundraising. As of press time on Sunday afternoon (including both online and cash contributions), we have raised more than $18,500. Read that one again! The generosity you and your families, friends, and neighbors have shown is magical and humbling. Every donation - big or small - makes a difference, and you have proved that one donation at a time. With our moonshot goal of $20k in mind, we have decided to extend our fundraising window until 8 pm on Friday, October 9th. Could we hit $20k after all? You never know until you try, right?

Last week’s Walkathon Fundraising Winner is 2nd grade! They have earned an extra recess. Congratulations!

The Scholastic Book Fair is this week! Our fall Book Fair kicks off on Tuesday, October 6th and will be held in the Library. Visit the Book Fair homepage here to set up your child’s eWallet, sign up to volunteer, and get all the details you'll need.

Registration for Above and Beyond (our awesome afterschool enrichment program) is open! This fall’s classes are so fun, even the grown-ups want in. Classes begin October 19th. You can register here and find more details below. Registration closes Wednesday, October 8th.

The Bike/Walk/Roll to School Day is this Friday! Our fall Bike to School Day will be Friday, October 9th. Be sure to sign up here.  Advanced registration is required to participate this year. More details below!

Remember to sign up for fall teacher conference(s) with your child’s teacher. Conferences are Tuesday, Oct 13th and Tuesday, October 20th (note that these are both early dismissal days at 1:00 pm!) Double-check ParentSquare if you haven’t signed up yet, as teachers sent individual links to each class.

Evening Conference Playcare is back! Attention Stratfield Dads…our very own Dad-Inspired childcare program (held during evening teacher conferences) is back on October 20th from 5-8 pm, and we are looking for volunteer caregivers to join the ranks. To volunteer, please text SES Parent Chris Fernald at 860-836-8826. Register your kids below!

Don’t forget to renew (or join for the first time!) Your PTA Membership: You can join or renew on our website here.

Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. 

Warmly, 

Kristyn + Christine

Kristyn Miller, President 

Christine Marks, Vice President

'26-'27 Stratfield Elementary School PTA

• Parents Kate O’Connor, Ashley Howard, Adrian Don, and Annie Kruger for your generous help with Photo Day last week. Photo Day is almost entirely run by PTA volunteers every year, and we’re so grateful to all of you for stepping in to support this for our kids and teachers! Thank you also to Ashley Howard for offering to lead Photo Day next year!
• SES Administration and staff for so generously supporting our students every step of the way on Walkathon Day. Special thanks to Mrs French and Mr Cote for kicking us off!
• The Fairfield University Women’s Basketball team for joining us on Walkathon Day and walking the route with our students!
• Officer Fusco and the entire team of School Safety Resource Officers (SSRO) at the Fairfield Police Department for helping us plan the day and for ensuring that everyone had a safe and fun experience while walking the route.
• Barista Jamie and Owner Jeff of Sound Coffee for caffenating our cheering fans, and for supporting us as neighborhood sponsors.
• Premium Stacks (owned by SES students Lucy and Charlie Whitehead) and the Stratfield Village Association for sponsoring the Walkathon. We’re so grateful for your support!

The Above and Beyond program is an after-school enrichment activity for students in K-5. Programs vary from session to session and are led by SES teachers and specialists. The program fees support the annual PTA budget. The Fall 2026 AAB program classes can be found below. Registration will close this Wednesday, October 8th at midnight. You can register on our PTA website here. As a reminder, you must be a PTA member to sign up.  

Our goal is that all SES students have the opportunity to participate. If you have a question or need financial assistance, do not think twice and email us at stratfieldschool.aboveandbeyond@gmail.com.

We also need 1 volunteer to support this program as on-site coordinator for Thursdays from 3:20-4:45. This is a great opportunity for a parent whose child is participating!

Need childcare during evening parent‑teacher conferences?  Stratfield’s Playcare program will be open from 5–8 PM on Tuesday, October 20th in the gymnasium.  Kids can enjoy board games, homework help, and fun activities while parents meet with teachers.

Sign-up here: https://forms.gle/LJ6tALUXkey8Y3k88

We’re also looking for dad and student volunteers to help greet families, supervise play, and make the evening fun!

To volunteer, contact Chris Fernald at 860‑836‑8826.

• Calling all bookworms! Our library volunteer program will open for registration this week after Book Fair. 
  
  
• Join us as a THURSDAY ONLY on-site coordinator for Above and Beyond! We need a volunteers to support as on-site coordinators on Thursdays from 3:20-4:45pm, October 19-November 9th. This is a great volunteer opportunity for any parents planning to have a child participate in the program. Email stratfieldschool.aboveandbeyond@gmail.com for more details. If you have availability for Mondays as well, please raise a hand!
  
  
• We’re looking for a Program lead (or co-leads) for the 26-27 National PTA Reflections Program! This wonderful initiative offers students the opportunity to create original works of art inspired by an annual theme. This is a medium-sized commitment, but comes with a structured set of materials and guidance from the National PTA. For details, visit the Reflections site or email president.stratfieldpta@gmail.com.

The PTAC held its first meeting on September 30 at McKinley Elementary School. Here is PTAC’s September and October newsletter if you’re interested.

PTAC sponsors teams from Fairfield for Odyssey of the Mind, an international educational program and competition that teaches students creative problem-solving, teamwork, and engineering skills through hands-on challenges. If you are interested, please reach out to me, Seulhan Lee (seulhanlee@gmail.com).

At this meeting, we had a guest speaker, Emily Larkin from Fairfield Community Services. She shared information about several initiatives, including the K–5 Parent Series, Middle School Meet-Ups, and materials and resources for families who are struggling. Fairfield Community Services also provides resources for crisis support, food, clothing, mental and behavioral health, support groups, and childcare.

Our next meeting will be a roundtable discussion focused on fundraising on October 14 at 7:00 PM. Everyone is welcome!

- SEPTA Trunk or Treat on 10/18 at North Stratfield Elementary School from 3-5pm

- SEPTA fundraiser: Lyman Orchard pie sale (local pick-up on 11/18) https://my.mcmfundraising.com/2026-fall-fairfield-septa/fairfield-septa

- To sign up to be a member visit our website www.fairfieldsepta.org

- Next meeting on 10/28 at 7pm at McKinley Elementary School

Board of Education Update: On Tuesday, September 22, the BOE unanimously approved a firm kindergarten cutoff: starting with the 2027-28 school year, a child must turn five on or before September 1 to enroll. The superintendent also raised a safety concern, saying the district continues to see young people riding e-bikes and e-scooters irresponsibly around town. He encouraged families to attend a community e-bike and e-scooter safety panel, sponsored by the Fairfield Safe Streets Alliance, with doctors, police officers, firefighters and first responders. He also shared that the district is exploring keeping middle school Chromebooks at school on nights students don't need them. 

The next BOE meeting is Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 PM in the FPS Central Office Board Room. All are welcome, and public comment is at the start of the meeting. If you would like to reach out to the BOE directly, you can email them at boemembers@fairfieldschools.org. 

If you are requesting to follow us on instagram, please DM us your name and your kiddo's name so we can accept!

Stratfield Elementary PTA - Fairfield Public Schools, CT

1407 Melville Ave.

Fairfield CT 06825