BRIARWOOD ELEMENTARY pta newsletter

Pre-K and Kindergarten Enrollment

Please help spread the word that Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enrollment is beginning soon! Enrollment opens online at 8 a.m. on Friday, February 10, 2023. Families will be able to complete applications and reserve their spots. Those without technology access are encouraged to contact their area school for Kindergarten. Pre-K families are encouraged to contact the Early Childhood office. Everyone in the district is encouraged to share this information with any families who have 4 or 5 year olds. Click here for more information and for the enrollment page that opens on Feb. 10. (to enroll in Kindergarten, your student must be 5 years old by August 31, 2023) Briarwood does not offer a Pre-K program, contact the Early Childhood office for information on where it is offered in the district.

Kindergarten Kick-Off at Briarwood will be on Thursday, April 20th at 6pm for incoming Kindergartners AND their parent or guardian. More information about that will be forthcoming. In the meantime, after February 10th, please go ahead and enroll your student so that we have an idea of how many will be attending that evening.

Traffic Reminders

• We continue to have an increase of families dropping off students in the small circle drive during morning drop off between 7:50-8:10, which is causing traffic issues and delays. Only families who have a kindergarten student should be dropping off in the small circle drive. It is okay to drop off and pick up using the small circle drive between 8:10-3:00.
• Vehicles waiting to pick up in the big circle drive will use JUNIPER LANE as the preferred waiting que for vehicles. PLEASE DO NOT LINE UP ON 86TH STREET. Vehicles may be stacked only on the west side of Juniper. If you would like for your child to walk from school to a designated location for pickup do not park or wait for them on Juniper.

Thursday, February 23, 7:00 pm

PTA General Membership Meeting

Briarwood Cafeteria

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Friday, March 10

NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday

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Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17

NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

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Thursday, March 23

Dining Partners - Culver's

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Friday, March 24

Last day to order yearbooks. Visit the store now to get your copy!

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Thursday, March 30, 4:00-6:00 pm

Skate Party

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Full BW PTA Calendar is available here

Support our Public Schools- Volunteers needed!

SMAC PTA - Legislative Alert:

The Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA is sponsoring a postcard project asking legislators to Support our Public Schools. There are a number of bills being introduced this legislative session that will negatively impact our schools, ALL our students, and teachers, so we need to remind our legislators that they should stay focused on keeping our public schools strong.

We are looking for at least 20-30 parents/guardians/community members who are willing to write 4 postcards to their Kansas State legislators. Please pick up 4 postcards from the table outside the Briarwood office, or feel free to use your own cards from home. Using the detailed instructions and a script provided at the table, write 4 postcards to our KS legislators to encourage them to VOTE NO on HB 2218. Return written cards to the tub on the table by Friday, March 3.

We need to keep public dollars with PUBLIC schools. Our KS schools need MORE funding, not less!

February (full month) Black History Month

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH:

During Black History Month, communities across America commemorate the history of people of African descent, and they pay tribute to the many achievements of Black individuals. Perhaps the most important community members to get involved in this annual celebration? Our children.

Today's need for greater racial equity and inclusion requires kids to be exposed to diversity at a young age. To uplift all voices that have an impact on our country, it's critical that Black history is studied and celebrated—not just in February, but throughout the entire year. African American history is American history, and when kids understand the fuller picture of the past, it will also help them understand the fuller picture of today.

THINGS TO DO RELEVANT TO BLACK HISTORY

Negro League Baseball Museum is FREE for the month of February

TO LEARN MORE:

Ways to Celebrate Black History month with Kids

Teaching Diversity to your kids

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Special Olympics-

Briarwood is excited to be the first elementary school in SMSD to pilot the Special Olympics Unified Champions Program!

This new program will create a more socially inclusive environment and help create acceptance of ALL. There will be a new focus each month and every class will be engaged in thematic monthly lessons and activities that promote inclusion:

• January focused on Identity and student's read the book All My Stripes by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer.
• February's theme is Belonging
• March's theme is teamwork

PTA MEMBERSHIP

PTA Memberships are for sale year round in the Briarwood School Store. Individual memberships are $12 and Joint memberships are $24. The Briarwood PTA works to support every student and teacher in our building and our goal is to have 100% participation from our families/caregivers and teachers. PTA memberships are also a fundraiser for Briarwood PTA. PTA members receive exclusive access to the online directory.

To join PTA and pay online now, please visit our PTA website at: briarwoodpta.org/join_pta

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2022 - TAX INFORMATION

Your support of the PTA in 2022 is appreciated. Donation letters have been sent, as required, to donors who made donations of $250 or more. If you would like a tax donation letter and did not receive one, please contact Michelle Wiens - mwiens678@gmail.com.

Get started today by visiting https://www.briarwoodpta.org, select “Directory”

1. Update or create an account through Membership Toolkit. Once you update/create your account, you can decide what information is shared in the online directory, which is ONLY accessible to other BW registrants.
2. Our directory will only be as useful as YOU make it. Please register to help us build a stronger community network for parents/caregivers and students.
3. Download the Membership Toolkit app from the App Store or Google Play for on-the-go access.
   
   

Questions? Contact Karen Moore: karen.jeanne.moore@gmail.com

Shawnee Mission students have an exciting opportunity to turn their ideas into reality this spring!

The Next Great Idea competition gives students a chance to share their ideas for solving a problem, with an opportunity to win prize money to advance their idea. The Next Great Idea is a part of the district’s Research and Development Forum (R&D Forum), a districtwide celebration of student innovation and achievement.

How to apply: Application information can be found on the R&D webpage. The deadline to apply for the pitch competition is Friday, March 3, 2023. Optional practice sessions with industry mentors will be available for students who apply to compete.

About the contest: Applicants chosen as finalists will pitch their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges during the morning of April 29, 2023, at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st Street. 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.

More about the R&D Forum

Student Showcase:

The R&D Forum student showcase, with display-only and competitive exhibits, will be held in April 2023. Students, families, and staff members are encouraged to enter student-created projects, experiments, or art projects to share in this district-wide event. All submissions must be registered and information on how to register can be found online. The deadline to register for the showcase is Friday, March 24, 2023.

The SMSD community is invited to take part in this year’s 61st R&D Forum by attending the following events at the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA), 8200 W. 71st Street.

SHOWCASE OPEN HOUSE RECEPTIONS

• April 25, 2023: 4 - 7 pm
• April 26, 2023: 4 - 7 pm
• April 27, 2023: 4 - 7 pm

Entries will be on display at CAA, with a reception for all entrants and families.

NEXT GREAT IDEA LIVE PITCH

April 29, 2023:

• Morning - Finalists will present their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges. Public voting will follow the presentations.
• Afternoon - Awards ceremony for Showcase Entries, Regnier Award winners, and the Next Great Idea Pitch Competition award winners

About the R&D Forum

The Shawnee Mission Research and Development Forum celebrates its 61st year in 2023. It is one of the SMSD’s biggest student project showcases of the year!

Sincere appreciation is extended to the Regnier Family for 61 years of generous support for the SMSD R&D Forum.

Click here for more information and contacts if you have additional questions.

CROSSING GUARDS STILL NEEDED :) Please help us keep our students safe by volunteering to serve as a crossing guard at 86th and Juniper.

• Remind children to walk themselves and/or their bikes/scooters across the crosswalk.
• Help direct the before/after-school traffic and remind drivers that cars are not permitted to turn left off of 86th Street.
• Crosswalk volunteer shifts are 7:50-8:10am and 3:05-3:20pm (12:25pm-12:40pm on half days).

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B44A5A822A64-briarwood

1. On the right side of the newsletter, a bar will appear with the Translation feature.
2. Click on the Translation bar then click on the Select Language button.
3. Choose your language of choice from the drop-down menu of languages and click close. The newsletter will now be translated.
   

En el lado derecho de la pagina, aparecerá una barra con la función de traducción. Haga clic en la barra de traducción y luego haga clic en el botón Seleccionar idioma. Elija español en el menú desplegable de idiomas y haga clic en cerrar. El boletín ahora se traducirá.

Website: https://www.briarwoodpta.org/

Twitter: @BriarwoodElem

Instagram: @BriarwoodBulldogs

Facebook: facebook.com/BriarwoodBulldogs

Grade-level Facebook Groups (private):

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2029 (6th grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2030 (5th grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2031 (4rd grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2032 (3nd grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2033 (2st grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2034 (1st Grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2035 (K)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2036 (NEW GROUP!)

Co-Presidents:

Mary Boomer • maryseltzerboomer@gmail.com

Deana Curtin • deanacurtin@gmail.com

President-Elect:

Ashley Hunt • ashleyhunt910@gmail.com

VP Administration:

Rachel Wymore • rla08@hotmail.com

VP Communications:

Terra Snyder • walker_terra@hotmail.com

VP Community Events:

Kristin McClasky • Kdp1202@gmail.com

VP Student Services:

Susan Jarrold • susan.jarrold@gmail.com

VP Funding:

Jessica Becker • jessica.becker85@gmail.com

VP Finance:

Denise Wheeler • denisetompkins@mac.com

Treasurer:

Michelle Wiens mwiens678@gmail.com

Secretary:

Diana Beckman • dianalbeckman@gmail.com

Briarwood Foundation:

Wendy Hill • Wendyhill329@gmail.com

Diversity & Inclusion Chair:

Jessica Bryon • bryonfamkc@gmail.com