Fall 2026 BREA (PTO) General Meeting
Wednesday, September 30 · 7 – 8pm
Video call link
Our Purpose
01
Community & Spirit
Increase school spirit and create community.
02
Transparent Fundraising
Transparently fundraise to support Buffalo Ridge Elementary staff, students, and facilities.
03
PTO Leadership
Represent Buffalo Ridge Elementary as the PTO under the guidance of the district foundation.
BREA Members – 2026/27
Jen Murdock Jacoway PRINCIPAL Terra Shaffner and Kris Littlejohn STAFF LIAISON |
Marélie Kok and Amber Jackson CO-PRESIDENTS Kirby Cullinan and Abby Strakal STUDENT ACTIVITIES | Kirsty O’Brien TREASURER Meredith Doehling SECRETARY & COMMUNICATIONS Kathryn Hansen FUNDRAISING |
EXECUTIVE BOARD
BREA Members – 2026/27
Jessica Gingher | Student Activities support Group A |
Lindi Holden | Student Activities support Group A |
Aly Welch | Student Activities support Group B |
KC | Student Activities support Group B |
Jennifer Finley | Spirit Activities (Homecoming & Trunk or Treat) |
BREA Members – 2026/27
Felice Vasquez | Hospitality support and Red Envelope Co-Lead |
Kerstan Sokoloski | Hospitality Lead |
Megan Blackstock | Hospitality support |
Bailey Fravel | Hospitality support |
Melanie Kloos | Fundraising support |
Sarah Lux | Herd Stampede Co-lead |
Mckenzie Ellis | Outdoor classroom project manager, Fundraising support and BRE brand creation |
BREA Members – 2026/27
Sarah Ramos | Science fair |
Laura Brown | Garden Club Co-Lead |
Shannon Santos | Garden Club Co-Lead |
Kassie Dunning | Road to the Rockies |
Jessica Hovland | Room Parent Coordinator |
Position Responsibilities
Co-Presidents – 2026/27
Marélie Kok & Amber Jackson
01
Lead the Board
02
Oversee executive meetings
03
Meet with Principal at least monthly
04
Organize Back to school events
05
Prepare Back to school slides about BREA
06
Monitor BREA email inbox
07
Review budget ongoing basis
08
Represents BREA at SAC and DCF meetings
BRE and Staff Liaisons - 2026/27
Kris Littlejohn & Terra Shaffner
Responsibilities:
Terra
Kris
**For any BRE questions or needs, please reach out directly to Terra and/or Kris**
Treasurer - 2026/27
Kirsty O’Brien
BREA 2026/2027 Budget
payments
EXPENSES
track_changes
TARGET
Fundraising
savings
REVENUE
Current balance: $144,800
($4,400 from Moms night, $2,500 from Carnival)
Secretary & Communication - 2026/27
Meredith Doehling
Kids: Ada (6th) and James (3rd)
Responsibilities
Monthly Meeting Notes
Take notes at monthly meetings and share with foundation
Social Media
Manage social media channels and community outreach
BREA Website Management
https://sites.google.com/site/buffaloridgebrea
Biweekly Newsletters
Published via HERD Happenings
Email Communication
One-off requests for email communication (as needed)
Fundraising this year: HERD Stampede
School Fundraising Goal
$50,000
💰 Where Funds Go
Raising funds to complete Basecamp with grass, classroom furniture, and learning accessories.
Purchasing new sports equipment for our brand new turf field.
🎂 School Celebration
In honor of 30 amazing years at Buffalo Ridge, students have something BIG to work toward!
When we reach our goal, the entire school will celebrate with a BRE 30th Birthday Bash on October 9th!
How can you help?
We need enthusiastic parents and community members to make these events unforgettable!
Sign up to volunteer at the event or the celebration
Fundraising: Dream Big
Cheers to 30 Years — Friday, March 5
Honoring our Legacy. Building Our Future
🥳 Casual Celebration
This year we will celebrate our 30th anniversary a little different and more casual at Wide Open Saloon.
🎓 Supporting Students
This event directly supports Buffalo Ridge students and helps build a bright future for our school community.
More details to follow soon
Stay tuned for event additional information!
Moms Night Out - September 9th
Parents and teachers enjoyed a fun night of connection, conversations, and margaritas at Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood in Lone Tree.
We raised over $4,445 for teachers and staff appreciation week.
Hospitality - 2026/27
Committee Members
Felice Vasquez, Kerstan Sokoloski, Megan Blackstock, Bailey Fravel
Key Responsibilities
Back to School Night
Hospitality & information hosting
Fall & Spring Conferences
Providing meals & refreshments for teachers
Stock the Lounge
Fall and Spring teacher lounge stocking
Veterans Day Celebration
Honoring veterans and community guests
Apple Awards
Recognizing outstanding educators & staff
Teacher Appreciation Week
Spoiling teachers all week long
Hospitality -
Meals for Meet and Greet and Back to school night
Spirit Activities
HOMECOMING PARADE FLOAT
Thursday, Oct 1 • 5:00 PM
Meet at Redstone Elementary • Parade ends at Rock Canyon HS
TRUNK 'N TREAT
Wednesday, October 28
Rock Canyon High School
Join us for trick-or-treating, decorated car trunks, and Halloween spirit!
Veterans Day • November 11
HONORING OUR VETERANS
Annual Celebration Event
Join us as we honor and express our gratitude to our community veterans and service members.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Volunteer Opportunities
• Event Set Up
Help prepare the venue, arrange seating, and hang welcome banners.
• Welcome & Hospitality
Greet visiting veterans, assist guests, and facilitate hospitality tables.
• Event Clean Up
Assist with teardown and clean up after the event concludes.
Garden Club 2026/27
Co-Chairs: Laura Brown & Shannon Santos
-Start Seeds
2nd graders plant seeds in their classroom.
-Garden Prep
Clean out garden.
-Earth Day
Earthworm Day!
All Day Schoolwide Event – April 22, 2027
- Planting Day
2nd graders transplant seedlings into garden beds
-Summer Help
Sign up to help us weed/prune/harvest!
-Fall Clean Up via Signup Genius
-Fall maintenance projects
-Holiday Garden Sale
New products this year!
Yearly collectable BRE/Buffy ornament, farmer’s market style gift baskets, poinsettias, etc.
-Install new garden beds and benches
-Harvest Time!
Produce given to staff lounge, tables set up for samples in the hallways
Garden Club
Student Activities 2026/27
Committee: Kirby Cullinan, Abby Strakal, Jessica Gingher, Lindi Holden, Ally Welsch, Cassandra Zienin
(Divide into Group A and Group B)
GROUP A
Responsibilities:
•Carnival
•Family Volunteer Night
GROUP B
Responsibilities:
•Buffy’s Bash
•5th Grade Dance
Activities this year
340 tickets sold
Buffy’s Bash • October 30th
Taking place during regular school hours
Sign up for Bash Committee
Help plan and coordinate logistics for the event
Assist during school hours on October 30th
Provide small prizes & items for student activities
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Herd Family Volunteer & Bingo Night
Monday, January 20th
VOLUNTEER NIGHT
Give Back Together
A fun-filled night dedicated to supporting a local charity with friends and family.
✓ Hands-on community service projects
✓ Suitable for all age groups
✓ Make a positive impact together
FAMILY BINGO NIGHT
Games & Prizes
Stick around right after volunteering for our family bingo game night!
✓ Exciting prizes for winners
✓ Fun game rounds for the whole family
✓ Snacks & community fun
Science Fair
Monday, April 28th • During school hours
EVENT OVERVIEW
Student Favorite
A fun, hands-on educational event popular with students across all grades.
131
Students Participated Last Year
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Get Involved
We need parents and volunteers to help make this event a success!
✓ Sign up for the Science Fair Committee
✓ Volunteer on event day during school hours
Outdoor Classroom Project
CURRENT STATUS
In Progress
A retaining wall being installed this weekend.
LOOKING AHEAD
Upcoming
Further improvement planned for the rest of the year: Grass, furniture and learning accessories.
Other Programs We Support
payments
Start up funds for 50 school employees
forest
$ to help students attend Outdoor Ed
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Staff gift cards
groups
Meet and greet social
flag
Veterans day breakfast
campaign
Kinder and 5th grade yard signs
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Battle of the Books
celebration
5th grade last day celebrations
Get Involved!
event
Volunteer for an upcoming event.
campaign
Be a sponsor for fundraisers.
card_giftcard
Donate / join King Soopers rewards / use MINT code
groups
Be a member of BREA.
Contact Us
BuffaloRidgeBREA@gmail.com
Get Connected
newspaper
Bi-weekly Newsletter
“HERD Happenings”
language
Webpage
https://sites.google.com/site/buffaloridgebrea/home
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Buffalo Ridge Elementary BREA
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@buffaloridgebrea
Email Us
BuffaloRidgeBREA@gmail.com
Questions?
Thank you for supporting your BREA.
End of General Meeting.