Programs and Activities

Hospitality

• TLC (Totally Luscious Cakes) - provides cakes to the Brinker staff on their day of choice.  It could be their birthday, ½ birthday, Anniversary or any other occasion. The staff member chooses the cake and the Brinker volunteer bakes and delivers the cake to the school.
• Random Acts of Kindness - to acknowledge each and every staff member with a little treat at a "random" time throughout the school year. The idea is to give a small token on behalf of the PTA to let them know that we appreciate and recognize all of their effort and hard work. 
• Staff Appreciation
• Family Picnic - This event is hosted by the PTA and is for all members of Brinker families. Fun for all ages, refreshments, entertainment and great socializing!!  Generally held at the end of September or early October on the school grounds.
• Newcomers

Ways and Means       

• Community Partners - works with Grocery Stores to enroll parents into the store programs; works with the parents and children promoting contests to collect General Mills box tops; recycles printer ink cartridges.
• Book Fair
• Gift Wrap
• Spirit Wear

Volunteers

• V.I.P. - A very worthy cause to help those children who need a little special attention with their reading, science, and math skills.
• Field Day - Outdoor games and activities for the kids! This is an all day event and usually occurs in the first week of May.
• Shoebox Science - Provides the students age appropriate science experiments to check out on their regular library day.  Each box contains all materials needed to perform the experiment at home. 
• Science Fair

Arts in Education

• Art Club - An after school program where students create several projects using different mediums.  Instruction is provided by Artworks.  The club meets Mondays from 2:45 to 4:00pm. The cost is $60 for a 6 week session.
• Spanish Club - An after school program where students learn Spanish in a fun, interactive setting using games, music, and hands on activites. The club meets Thursdays  from 2:45 to 4:00pm. The cost is $120 per 12 week session.
• Author Visits - Guest authors visit with students and share their experiences and knowledge about writing and publishing.
• Tuesday Tunes - Each Tuesday morning a Brinker student plays a musical instrument in the lobby as the students enter the school.  Any Brinker student who has been playing an instrument for at least two years is invited to perform.
• Reflections - An optional national art contest in which students can enter visual arts displays, photography, music and literature.

Programs

• McGruff House - A McGruff House is a safe house where children can go to receive help if they find themselves in a frightening or emergency situation. A McGruff House is identified by a bright yellow McGruff House sign in the front window of a house. McGruff House participants summon authorities by dialing 911. You can help make your neighborhood safer for children by participating in this program. Click here to access a McGruff House Application, or you may call the Crime Prevention Unit at (972) 941-2431 for information and an application to be mailed to you.
• Parent Education
• Cultural Diversity
• SAGE (Special and Gifted Education) - click here for more information.
• Environmental - encourages environmental awareness and participation within Brinker Elementary and the surrounding community. Goals include increasing Brinker’s participation in local, state and national environmental awareness programs as well as encouraging individual student environmental responsibility at home as well as in school. We strive to keep Brinker Elementary and its surrounding grounds clean, safe and beautiful throughout the year!
• Community Outreach - PTA selected projects that make a positive impact on our local community.  Events include the Wipe Out Kids Cancer (WOKC) Fun Run & 5K at the Addison Oktoberfest.  For more info on the 2007 WOKC Event, click here.