BRIARWOOD ELEMENTARY pta newsletter
November 16, 2022 www.briarwoodpta.org
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LASH
Thankful for Bulldog Nation
With Thanksgiving Break quickly approaching, this is a great time of year to reflect on what you are thankful for. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Bulldog Nation for helping to make Briarwood an amazing place to teach and learn! Bulldog Nation is like a family, and we “work together” to support our school and make each day a great day for each of our students. At Briarwood, our students continue to flourish academically and socially because our parents, students, staff, parent teacher association, school district, and community are committed to continuous improvement and doing what is best for kids. Please review the school calendar and important school news below.
We Care, I CAN! Food Drive November 14-18
The Shawnee Mission School District is collecting nonperishable items for the food drive benefiting the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. With the growing number of Johnson County families in need, the efforts of the Shawnee Mission School District are even more deeply appreciated. At Briarwood, students can bring cans and nonperishable food items in and place them in the front hallway. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Traffic Reminders
- We have had 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.
- To make for a safe and relaxing drop-off and pick-up of students, please be patient and use extreme caution when you are near the school and in the school parking lot. This would include driving slowly, staying off your cell phone, paying attention to your surroundings, and paying attention to the crossing guard.
- Students, parents, and family members should cross at the designated cross walks. We have two designated cross walks and there is a staff member that helps cross walkers at the entrance to the car drop-off and pick up lane.Students or patrons should NEVER cross in the middle of the street even if a student has a parent or guardian with them. Please take the extra time to go to a cross walk so you can cross safely and set a good example.
- Please be good neighbors while stopped on 86th and other sides streets. Pay attention to traffic signs such as no parking or do not turn signs. Do not block the driveways to homes. Our neighbors need to be able to enter/exit the driveways to their homes. The cooperation of all drivers is appreciated.
- If your child walks or rides their bike, please review safety expectations such as staying on the sidewalk and crossing at the designated cross walks. Bike riders will walk their bike once on school property to the bike rack. Bike riders should wear a helmet and buckle the strap. Bike riders should be in 3rd grade or older unless they have a parent with them to and from school.
- Our number one priority is the safety of our students, staff, parents, and patrons.
A NOTE FROM NURSE BLIZZARD
Keeping our Students Healthy
You may have recently heard news reports about increases of illness this fall, as is typical with this time of year. In SMSD, we have begun to see increases in absence due to illness with a few physician-diagnosed illnesses and many generalized symptoms.
One of the most important things to help decrease the spread of illness is for those who are not feeling well to stay home. If your child has a temperature of over 100.0 or has vomited or has had diarrhea, they must stay home. Students may return to school when they have been free from fever (without medication), vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours.
Your child may also be ill but without these symptoms. They may have a sore throat, headache, cough, or generally not feel well. If you suspect illness, please keep your child home. If in doubt about sending your child to school, contact the school nurse or your child’s doctor.
Beth Blizzard, M.S. Ed., BSN, RN
School Nurse
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES @ BRIARWOOD
Wednesday, November 16
Dining Partner- Johnny's Tavern
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Monday - Friday, November 21-25
NO SCHOOL - Happy Thanksgiving!
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Tuesday, November 29
Picture Retake Day
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Full BW PTA Calendar is available here
THANK YOU!!!
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all that we have to be THANKFUL. The Briarwood PTA is very thankful for our teachers, staff, and the amazing Briarwood community. We couldn't facilitate all of our amazing activities and events without your support. Thank you to the following for your support:
GRADE LEVEL PARTY CHAIRS (Michelle le Roux, Erin Winters and Krissie Kiehne) as well as the Grade Level Hosts:
Kindergarten: Bruce, Dawson, Gray, Hill, Moberg, Shephard-Foley, and Snyder families
First Grade: Abruzzese, Becker, Harris, Miller, Moeder, Reddell, Rowe, Smith, and Thomas families
Second Grade: Alingh, Beckman, Fiammetta, French, Cargnel, Hall, Harrelson, and Harris, and Richardson families
Third Grade: Armato, Belko, Brubacher, Geis, Roberts, and Rowe families
Fourth Grade: Edmonds, LeRoux, Pathak, Vogel, Stetler-Embry, and Langford families
Fifth Grade: Bouillette, Hart, Hill, Hull, Kiehne, and Irwin families
Sixth Grade: Barker, Freeman, Horn, and Symonds
VETERAN'S DAY: Thank you, Katie Enger and Vanessa Watkins!
READ-A-THON: Thank you, Liz Align and Heather Rowe! And SPECIAL THANKS to Mrs. Martens, Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Boetcher for their help)
SPIRITWEAR CHAIRS: Thank you, Heather Rowe and Kristen Burkett!
JOIN THE BRIARWOOD PTA TODAY!
Briarwood’s PTA (Parent Teacher Association) works to support every student and teacher at school. The PTA provides additional extra activities, programs, and financial assistance not covered by the Shawnee Mission School District.
Joining the PTA is easy! Once you have updated/created your profile, purchase your PTA membership in the online Store. Individual memberships are $12 and Joint memberships are $24. 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
CREATE/UPDATE YOUR ONLINE DIRECTORY PROFILE
Get started today by visiting https://www.briarwoodpta.org, select “Directory”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
BRIARWOOD READ-A-THON
The Sixth Annual Briarwood Read-A-Thon was a success! We reached our reading goal of over 1,617 hours as a school! Please extend our thanks to your friends and family members who supported this fundraiser.
VOLUNTEER CROSSING GUARDS NEEDED
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).
A SPACE FOR EVERY BULLDOG - DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AT BRIARWOOD
November Celebrations & Recognitions
• Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month - this is an important time to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous people. Part of Native American Heritage Month involves reckoning with the past. In the 17th century, the Dutch arrived to what we now call New York City, an area that was then called Lenapehoking, named for the Lenape people who lived there. It is often said that Manhattan was “sold” by the Lenape to the newly-arrived Europeans – but it is unlikely that Native people saw their agreement in the same way that the Dutch did, as they did not view land as something you could own. As a result, they, like many Indigenous people, were forcefully removed from their homeland.
However, November is not only a time to remember the past; it is also important to celebrate the Indigenous people and cultures who are continuing to impact in our world today, like Marine Colonel Nicole Mann, the first female Native American to travel to space, who made her journey with NASA in October 2022, or Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who became the first Indigenous Cabinet member in U.S. history in 2021, among many others.
Recommended books about Indigenous people from NEA and Read Across America…
- All Around Us by Xelena González
- Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
- We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
- We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell
- Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story by Joseph Bruchac
- Powwow Day by Traci Sorrell
NOW AVAILABLE: SMORE TRANSLATION
- On the right side of the newsletter, a bar will appear with the Translation feature.
- Click on the Translation bar then click on the Select Language button.
- 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.
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
ELEMENTARY
MIDDLE
YOUNG ADULT
“Living Nations, Living Words: An Anthology of First Peoples Poetry”
By Joy Harjo
SMAC CLOTHING EXCHANGE
Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA (SMAC) Clothing Exchange
The Clothing Exchange offers gently used clothing and shoes to those within the SMSD boundaries. All items are clean. Donations are made possible by SMSD residents. All residents are welcome.
Website: https://www.smac-pta.org/
Please note that there are two separate upcoming volunteer opportunities for the Clothing Exchange, both on October 4.
Additional information is located on the SMAC website:
2022-23 PTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
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
GET SOCIAL!
Briarwood Elementary Bulldogs - all school Facebook page
FACEBOOK Groups are a great way to find out what is going on in your grade level community. Join your group to find out details on sports teams, scouts, and play dates happening throughout the year.
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)
Website: https://www.briarwoodpta.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/BriarwoodBulldogs
Twitter: @BriarwoodElem
Instagram: @BriarwoodBulldogs