Class Placement

We will soon begin the process of class placement for next school year. A great deal of time and careful effort is devoted to class placements. A school practice and procedure is in place that we will follow when making these decisions. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every student has the best possible placement each year. However, this is a difficult task, since the best placement is greatly affected by the overall classroom make-up, as well as the teaching style of the instructor. We feel it is imperative that we construct classes according to the following criteria:

• Even mix of males/females in all classes at a given grade level
• Placement of students academically to best meet their needs
• Combination of social/behavioral levels in all classes
  
  

Beyond that, we look at students with clearly exceptional learning or behavioral needs and see if one particular teacher’s style or strengths would benefit that student more than another. We will also look at the social dynamics between certain students, and if our experiences tell us that two or more students have a negative influence on each other when they are together in a classroom, then we may ensure that they have different classroom placements.

As you can see, if we were to try to place students in classrooms of their choosing, it would quickly become impossible to construct classes according to the guidelines noted above. This would not allow for the creation of the best environment in which all children could experience success. Although we do not take teacher requests, we are happy to share your information with the team that will be making the class rosters. When the decisions are made, input from the teachers, building principal, and parent/guardian is considered. As a parent/guardian, if you would like to share information about placement, please complete the attached class placement form and e-mail or turn in to the office by Friday, March 31. The specific information you provide will be combined with our knowledge and observations of your student in making the best decision possible.

Incoming 4th Grade Students: Mrs. Peters has a facility dog, Dove, that stays in her room. For any reason you would not like your student placed in that classroom please put that information on the class placement form.

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 child's schedule.

Save the Date: Open House, Thursday, May 4th

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

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

The staff and I are looking forward to Open House, and hope you will be able to attend so you can see your student’s classroom and see some of their amazing work. If your last name begins with the letters A-L, you will attend from 6:00-6:45, and, if your last name begins with M-Z, you will attend from 7:00-7:45.

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

Skate Party

*

Thursday, April 6 @ 7:00pm

PTA General Membership Meeting via Zoom (see details below)

*

Wednesday, April 19

Dining Partners - Panera

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Saturday, April 22

Progressive Dinner

*

Wednesday, April 26-Friday, April 28

Used Book Fair

*

Thursday, May 4

Open House

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

Lash Names M-Z, 7:00-7:45pm

*

Full BW PTA Calendar is available here

Eat, drink, and be merry!

Join us for our bi-annual Briarwood Progressive Dinner on Saturday, April 22 at 6pm.

You'll start at an assigned home for appetizers, move to separate dinner houses, then join together for dessert.

Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, March 29th at noon at www.briarwoodpta.org/progressive.

There is a 2 ticket maximum purchase.

Hosts do not need to purchase a ticket. Click here to purchase your tickets while supplies last.

Join us for a brief PTA General Membership meeting to review/approve the proposed 2023-2024 PTA Slate, as well as review/approve some adjustments to our current budget to reflect final costs for a few line-items. We will also review a few tweaks to our standing rules - check out the proposed updates here.

Topic: PTA General Membership Meeting / Slate, Budget & Standing Rules adjustment approval

Time: April 6, 2022 07:00 PM Central Time
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4484763270

Meeting ID: 810 7052 4973

passcode: 334289

As spring is approaching and you're cleaning out your closets, please consider making a donation to Nurse Blizzard and/or the SMAC Clothing Exchange. Any donations not needed at Briarwood will be passed along to other SM school Nurses or the SMAC Clothing Exchange, which serves all residents living within the SMSD boundary.

Info for Shoppers
The Clothing Exchange is open to shoppers, alternating weeks: Thursday evenings 4:30 to 7 p.m. / Friday 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The CE is located at the Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center, 6701 W. 83rd St. The entrance is in the back of the building at door #7.

COVID-19 protocol procedures are in place. Masks are required and the number of shoppers is limited to 10 at a time. A complete list of guidelines can be located at https://www.smac-pta.org/clothing-exchange

Info for Potential Volunteers
Volunteers are always welcome at the Clothing Exchange. Those interested in volunteering should send an email to smacce@smac-pta.org.

Info for Donations
Donations of gently used and clean items are welcomed, along with packages of new socks and underwear in all sizes. The items can be dropped off to the bins outside of Door #7 of the CE, or an appointment for donation drop-off can also be scheduled. Please reach out to smacce@smac-pta.org for assistance.

MARCH CELEBRATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

March (full month) Women’s History Month

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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2023 THEME: Women Who Tell Our Stories

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration in the United States that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women all throughout the nation’s history. The annual celebration provides an opportunity to bring the experience and perspective of girls and women to the forefront of our various conversations. These discussions should include the stories, accomplishments, milestones and viewpoints of women.

Women’s History Month is both a time to confront the ongoing injustices that plague women around the world — and an invitation to celebrate and rejoice in our shared humanity as women.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

Women’s History Month Activities for Kids

10 Books to Celebrate Women's History Month With Your Little One (startearly.org)

13 Picture Books to Read for Women’s History Month | ADL

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

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