Briarwood Newsletter

Kansas State Assessments

Every spring our students in grades 3-6 participate in Kansas State Assessments for Reading and Math, as well as Science for 5th grade students and Social Studies for 4th grade students. For more information about the state assessments please visit the Kansas Assessment website, https://ksassessments.org/for-families. Classroom teachers will communicate the details of your student's schedule.

Open House, April 28th

Last Name A-L, 6:00pm-6:45pm

Last Name M-Z, 7:00pm-7:45pm

The staff and I are excited to be able to host Open House in-person this school year. We hope you will be able to make it so you can see your student's classroom and they can tell you all about what they do at school. If your last name begins with the letters A-L you will attend from 6:00pm-6:45pm and if your last name begins with M-Z you will attend from 7:00pm-7:45pm.

Evaluaciones del Estado de Kansas

Cada primavera, nuestros estudiantes en los grados 3-6 participan en las Evaluaciones del Estado de Kansas para Lectura y Matemáticas, así como Ciencias para los estudiantes de 5to grado y Estudios Sociales para los estudiantes de 4to grado. Para obtener más información sobre las evaluaciones estatales, visite el sitio web de Evaluación de Kansas, https://ksassessments.org/for-families. Los maestros del salón de clases comunicarán los detalles del horario de su hijo.

Open House, 28 de abril

Apellido A-L, 6:00pm-6:45pm

Apellido M-Z, 7:00pm-7:45pm

El personal y yo estamos emocionados de poder organizar la Casa Abierta en persona este año escolar. Esperamos que pueda asistir para que pueda ver el salón de clases de su hijo y ellos puedan contarle todo sobre lo que hacen en la escuela. If your last name begins with the letters A-L you will attend from 6:00pm-6:45pm and if your last name begins with M-Z you will attend from 7:00pm-7:45pm.

No School

Friday, April 15

Last chance to order your 2021-2022 yearbooks!

Orders due by Friday, April 15

https://briarwoodptaop.membershiptoolkit.com/login

Briarwood Skate Party

Friday, April 22

@ Skate City from 4:00pm-6:00pm

Look for below for more information

Used Book Fair- gather your donations now!

Send in donations April 18-25

Shop between April 27-29

link to volunteer below

Briarwood Day @ Culver's

April 28

Dine between 10am-10pm and give back to Briarwood!

Spring Garden Workday on Sunday, May 1 at 2:00pm

Volunteers needed, signup below

General PTA Meeting

Tuesday, May 3 at 7:00pm

Zoom link will be communicated in the coming weeks

Save-the-Date for Briarwood's Annual Carnival

Friday, May 13 5:30pm-8:00pm

volunteers needed, please watch for a sign up link in the coming weeks!

Briarwood's annual Used Book Fair is back- Volunteer today!

This fun, PTA-lead event will be held April 27-29. Students will have the chance to browse tons of used books during the school day as well as after school and during Open House. All books will be priced between $0.25 and $2.00.

But first, help us stock our shelves! During the week of April 18-25, please send elementary-appropriate (k-6 grade) used book donations with your student and they will be collected from their classroom. For larger donations, please leave them on the bench by the trophy case in the front hall at school and be sure to label the box with your student's name and teacher so the class gets credit for the popsicle party. (Please no video games or movies.)

We need volunteers to help run this event. Please click here if you can help out!

All proceeds will go towards the Briarwood PTA to fund various school initiatives.

*Coming soon - used book fair volunteer opportunities!

Briarwood Landscaping - Volunteer opportunities

Spring Garden Workday on Sunday, May 1st at 2:00pm

Please sign up to help us get our gardens and flower beds ready this year. We will be planting seeds and flowers, weeding, and installing a small fence around the front circle bed.

Signup Genius for May 1st Garden and flower workday:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545AFA92AA5FB6-may1st

Summer Water and Weeding from May 9th to September 19th

Please sign up to help water and weed our gardens over the summer months. We need two families to water and weed each week starting on May 9th and ending September 19th. You can either sign up for the Front Circle Bed or the Butterfly and Raised beds Behind the school. We will send an email to everyone who signs up with additional information on how to water the front and back beds before May 9th.

Signup Genius for Summer Water and Weeding:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545AFA92AA5FB6-summer

2nd and 3rd Grade Bike Safety Rodeo is back- volunteers needed!

The Bike Safety Rodeo is GREAT opportunity for 2nd and 3rd grade students to learn bike safety before summer. Participation is optional.

2nd Grade Bike Safety Rodeo: Friday, April 29 from 12:30pm - 3:00pm

3rd Grade Bike Safety Rodeo: Friday, May 6 from 12:30pm - 3:00pm

Briarwood's DARE officer, David Poindexter, will lead a bike safety talk, and the students will get on their bikes to practice what they learned at several different stations.

How to participate:

Your student must have a working bike and helmet. Please check over these items to make sure the tires are pumped, the brakes work, and the helmet fits properly
Parents/Guardians can drop off bikes early the morning of your student's event (beginning at 7:40 AM) behind the gated area on the north loop of the carpool lane. Volunteers will secure the bikes in the gated area.
Please be sure to label your student's bike with his/her name and teacher's name.

We cannot do this without your help, if you are interested in helping out:

2nd grade please contact Emily Luea 785-550-6554 or at emilyc21@yahoo.com

3rd grade please contact Jennifer Freund 913-424-2398 or at jfrenchjhawk@hotmail.com

**This event will occur during the school day in order to avoid weekend conflicts and allow more students to participate.

For tips on the proper helmet fit, click here

A Space for Every Bulldog- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Briarwood

Celebrations and Recognitions in April:

Arab American Heritage Month

2nd- Ramadan Begins

15th- Passover Begins

15th- Vishu

17th- Easter

THINGS TO DO

Check out one of these 10 books about Passover

Watch this video about one Muslim-American student's Ramadan experience

Learn more about Vishu Festival

If you are interested in taking an active role in diversity, equity and inclusion at Briarwood, please contact PTA Chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Jessica Brooks-Bryon @ bryonfamkc@gmail.com.

Celebraciones y Reconocimientos:

Mes de la herencia árabe americana

Mes de la Historia de la Abril:

2nd - Comienza Ramadán

15th- Comienza la Pascua

15th- Vishu

17th- Pascua de Resurrección

Cosas Para Hacer

Echa un vistazo a uno de estos 10 libros sobre la Pascua

Mire este video sobre la experiencia de Ramadán de un estudiante musulmán-estadounidense

Aprende más sobre el Festival Vishu

Si está interesado en asumir un papel activo en la diversidad, la equidad y la inclusión en Briarwood, comuníquese con Presidente de la PTA de Diversidad, Equidad e Inclusión

Jessica Brooks-Bryon @ bryonfamkc@gmail.com.

MakerSpace- updated donation list

Thank you for all of the donations, let's keep them coming!

Below is a NEW and UPDATED list that Mrs. Martens will be collecting for future MakerSpace projects. Please send donated items with your student on library day OR or contact Denise Wheeler denisetompkins@mac.com, 913-481-1572 to make other arrangements.

New Requested items:

Friendship bracelet style thread-any colors
Tacky craft glue
Felt fabric-any color

Always on the list: anything that can be used for building…

Legos of any kind -Duplo or regular

Magnatiles

Tinker Toys

Crossing Guards needed - sign up today!

We need volunteers for crosswalk duty at 86th and Juniper.

Children must walk themselves and/or their bikes/scooter across the crosswalk
Cars are not permitted to turn left off of 86th Street before and after school times
Crosswalk times are 7:50-8:10am and 3:05-3:20pm (12:25pm-12:40pm on half days)
If you are unable to make your assigned time, please find a sub or trade with someone
Please try and sign up at least once a month.

Thank you very much for your willingness to help!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4EA5AE2BA13-briarwood1

SMSD Research and Development Forum

Who can enter: Any interested student, grades K-12
How to apply: Application information can be found on the R&D webpage.
Deadline: The deadline to apply for the pitch competition is Monday, February 28, 2022.
Practice sessions with industry mentors will be scheduled for students who apply to compete.

Final Competition and Prizes:

Applicants chosen as finalists will pitch their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges during the morning of April 30, 2022 at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st St. The pitch competition will be live-streamed so friends and family can participate as well. Top awards are $2,500, of which $1,000 is a cash award to be used by the winner to pursue their passion and education and up to $1,500 will be awarded as "build it" grants to support making the winner's pitch a reality. A People's Choice category, determined by public voters, will be awarded a $500 prize. There will also be an Idea of Promise award with a prize of $500.

Student Showcase:

The R&D Forum student showcase, with display-only and competitive exhibits will be held in Spring 2022. Students, families, and staff members are encouraged to enter student-created projects, experiments, or art projects to share in this districtwide event. All submissions must be registered and information on how to register can be found online. The deadline to register for the showcase is Monday, March 28, 2022.

The SMSD community is invited to take part in this year’s 60th R&D Forum by attending the following events at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st St.

MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL ART & ALL GRADES SCIENCE SHOWCASE

April 18-21, 2022 - 3:00 - 5:00pm - Open House at CAA (entries on display)
April 21, 2022 - 4:00 - 7:00pm - Reception for all entrants and families

ELEMENTARY ART & CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) SHOWCASE

April 25-28, 2022 - 3:00 - 5:00pm - Open House at CAA (entries on display)
April 28, 2022 - 4:00 - 7:00pm - Reception for all entrants and families

Click here for more information and contacts if you have further questions

Read Across SMSD- April

Each month of the school year features a new theme and book recommendations, provided by the National Education Association. Shawnee Mission School District librarians and educators have also compiled lists of similar titles that connect to each monthly theme.

April's book is: “Kiyoshi’s Walk”

By Mark Karlins

Illustrated by Nicole Wong

Click here for additional information and related resources

Attention 6th Grade Parents/Guardians

If your rising 7th grader is interested in running cross country at Indian Hills Middle School in the fall, this summer camp at Meadowbrook Park is a great way to help them get ready.

The Conditioning & Training Summer Camp 2022 led by Danny Davis, Head Trainer & Owner of Atlas Custom Fitness Solutions, will be held for the second year in a row. Both training session options in this camp are designed for middle-school-aged athletes.

Session 1: Every Wed/Fri in June, 9am - 10:30am, $225
Session 2: Every Wed/Fri in July, 9am - 10:30am, $225
All sessions held at Meadowbrook Park

Earn Money for Briarwood while you shop on Amazon!

Go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7152153 and designate Briarwood as your charitable organization. Briarwood will earn .5% from most purchases.

Bookmark the website to use each time you shop! https://smile.amazon.com All of your account information will remain the same, but you’ll be raising money for Briarwood

Briarwood’s social worker, Cassie Horn is available to provide support to all families

Mrs. Horn can:

Help students/families with anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, peer relationships and other family/school dynamics
Help create behavior support plans with students/families/teachers
Assist teachers with social emotional teaching and trauma informed approaches in their classroom
Individual and group counseling within school setting
Provide resources to parents struggling with emotional/behavioral issues at home
Connect families to resources, such as our community partner Hillcrest Covenant Church. Resources include groceries, housing, clothing etc.

Please contact Mrs. Horn with any questions or concerns:

cassiehorn@smsd.org 913-993-2262

La trabajadora social de Briarwood, Cassie Horn está aquí para brindar apoyo a todas nuestras familias de Bulldog

La Sra. Horn Puede:

Ayudar a los estudiantes / familias con ansiedad, depresión, prevención del suicidio, relaciones con los compañeros y otras dinámicas familiares / escolares.
Ayudar a crear planes de apoyo al comportamiento con estudiantes / familias / maestros.
Ayudar a los maestros con la enseñanza socioemocional y enfoques informados sobre el trauma en los salones.
Asesoramiento individual y grupal dentro del entorno escolar.
Proporcionar recursos a los padres que luchan con problemas emocionales o de comportamiento en el hogar.
Conectarlo con recursos junto con nuestro socio comunitario Hillcrest Covenant Church para nuestras familias. Los recursos incluyen comestibles, vivienda, ropa, etc

Comuniquese con ella con cualquier pregunta o inquietud

cassiehorn@smsd.org 913-9932262