You can make a difference.

This September, during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Erie's Public Schools is reminding our whole community: a mental health crisis deserves the same response as any other emergency. You don't need to be a therapist — you just need to notice, reach out, and get help.

A.C.T. if you're worried about someone:

Ask — Start the conversation. Be direct, and listen without judgment.
Care — Show you care. Stay close and keep them connected.
Tell — Bring in a trusted adult or trained professional.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available: 📞 Call or text 988 — free, confidential, 24/7 📱 Safe2Say Something: 1-844-SAF2SAY ☎️ Erie Crisis Line: 814-456-2014 🏫 Talk to a school counselor, mental health specialist, or any trusted staff member

In immediate danger? Call 911.

Every student, every day. We're in this together. #SuicidePreventionMonth #EriesPublicSchools

Let's lock in and crush our attendance goal! September is the most important month for setting up successful school habits and our All-Star Attendance Challenge should help provide a little motivation! Every student has a chance to win every day! Just be present and in your seat when your teacher spins the Wheel of Names at 8:20.

Due to extreme weather and power outages, school is cancelled and the building is closed today. There were previously scheduled days off for Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7. Classes will resume on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. Please be safe!

Happy Wellness Wednesday from Pfeiffer Burleigh! Our 5th graders had a visit from our neighbors, the Erie SeaWolves today! As part of their C.A.R.E week, Seawolves players teamed up with C Wolf himself to present the "Healthy Challenge". We learned about eating healthy and exercising, competed with the players, and ended with a hydration station. Thank you to the Erie Seawolves who also presented each student who completed the challenge a voucher for a ticket to one of this weekend's games! Follow Erie's Public Schools Wellness for more Wellness Wednesday fun. You just might see our Panthers featured next week!

September is Attendance Awareness Month and PB kicked off our first schoolwide attendance challenge of the year today. Every day be present and in your seat at 8:20 for the Wheel of Names. If your name is chosen, you will be entered for a chance to compete at the All Star Attendance Assembly. Every class will have a winner every day! The more you come to school the more chances you have to win!

Reminder, we have some upcoming days off.

EPS families,

Throughout the year, a number of school events, programs, and classroom lessons take place that are of interest to both school district media (cable channel, website, school newsletters, etc.) and regional print and broadcast media (newspapers, television, radio, etc.) During these activities, students and staff may be photographed or interviewed to increase public awareness of our school and/or individual student accomplishments. If you DO NOT want your children to be photographed, videotaped or interviewed, please complete and return the 2026-2027 Media Opt-Out Form available at your child’s school.

You can also find and print the form, available in English and other languages, at https://www.eriesd.org/page/optout

Than k you!

Mark your calendars for our Title 1 Family Engagement meeting on Thursday, September 17 from 9-9:30 followed by a community resource fair until 10. Meet in school support staff and learn about community resources in our neighborhood. Iced coffee bar, door prizes, and more! Watch your student's take home folder next week for invitations and how to RSVP. We want to team up with you to make it the best year yet!

We had a great first day of school! Follow us on Facebook and check out more back to school highlights!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES: Our Family Information Guide is now available at eriesd.org/familyguide. The guide includes helpful information about school bell times, transportation, health policies and more. Take a few minutes to read to help ensure that you and your children kick off the 2026-27 school year right!

PB teachers got a royal welcome back at Convocation 2026 today! We are ready for #BET 2.0

We can't wait to welcome you back! Please join us for Open House this Thursday, August 20 from 6-8pm to get all of the important first day info, meet your teacher, and see your classroom!

If you have a student starting KG at PB, please join us for a family workshop on Tuesday August 11 from 10-12. There will be interactive play stations presented by the ExpERIence Children's museum, a tour of the school, snack, and a Q and A session with school staff. Each student will receive a take home bag and PB t-shirt! Hope to see you there!

Welcome Back Panthers!!! Please join us for Open House to see your new classroom and hear all of the important details for a successful school year! Join our friends from Erie Insurance as they give you a royal, red carpet style welcome on the first day starting at 7:45. Doors open at 8:00. We can't wait to see you soon!

Navigating medical appointments can create barriers, especially for working parents and parents with multiple children. Having to leave or miss school for appointments leads to time out of the classroom and lost learning. The community school model works to bring health services into the school to bridge these barriers. Clare Weisenfluh, of United Way of Erie County collaborated with with the supervisor of Health Services for Erie's Public Schools, Kerry Roach, to bring the Vision To Learn mobile program to Pfeiffer Burleigh this May. Our school nurse, Heather Ryan, worked with the community school director, teachers, and the school's case manager to identify 23 students who would be eligible for the program. Earlier this month, the Vision To Learn van visited with a mobile lab and an optical station with more than 100 styles of glasses to choose from! On Friday, Ashley from Vision To Learn delivered the glasses, fit each student, and taught them how to "Be Responsible" with their new glasses! Thank you to everyone involved for helping our students see better! If you are in need of vision or other medical services for your student, please contact PB's community school director, Ms. Courtney or our case manager, Mr. Bruschi to see how we can help!

You know summer is just around the corner when it’s FIELD DAY time!

Tomorrow, all classes will be heading outside to participate in exciting Field Day games and activities. The weather is looking beautiful, and we can’t wait for a fun-filled day together!

Please get to school on time and remember to:
👟 Wear sneakers
☀️ Apply sunscreen at home
💧 Bring a water bottle
🌤️ Dress for the weather and play

Get ready for a great day of fun and teamwork!

Thank you to all of our teachers and staff volunteers, community partners, and PB families who helped make Summer Around Erie a success this week! We hope you will take advantage of all the great events and programs available in our neighborhood this summer such as the Inner City Neighborhood Art House , Boys and Girls Club of Erie, the Martin Luther King Center, and the Bethesda Trinity Center . Thank you to Mr. Bruschi from UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor and Ms. Wells for the Mental Health Awareness station and Community Health Net for providing summer health resources. A huge thank you to our volunteers from Erie Insurance and the Hanrahan family for manning the Summer of Reading Station and helping families sign up for e library cards and to Mrs. Abby Matz Jankowski for donating the cool stuff from HOOPLA. Thank you the PB SWPBIS team for the yummy treats, Mrs. Hirsch for the Glow Art Show, and to United Way of Erie County community schools for planning and funding the evening. If you are looking for a summer program and could not make the event, please contact our community school director, Ms. Courtney.

In case you missed it, here is a look inside Mrs. Hirsch 's impressive black light Glow Art Show that became the highlight of the Summer Around Erie event on Thursday. Visitors were immersed in floor to ceiling displays and families had a station to created their own artwork. Students have the chance to visit the display again with their class again on Tuesday during school to try to find their piece of artwork. Thank you to our talented art teacher and everyone who gave our Panthers a chance to shine in such an exciting and creative way!