BRIARWOOD ELEMENTARY pta newsletter

January 10, 2023 www.briarwoodpta.org

MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LASH

Lunchroom Visitor Signup

Follow this link to sign up to have lunch with your student during second semester. During January & February, we're encouraging grandparent(s) and/or senior(s) special to your student to signup. Lunchroom visitors are allowed every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday through May 4, 2023. Want to know what time your student eats lunch? Click here to see the class lunchtime schedule.

Inclement Weather Guidelines As the winter months are here, it is especially important for our community members to be aware of inclement weather procedures and how they can be alerted if plans for building closures are announced. Click on the link below to learn more about our procedures and how you can stay informed.

• https://www.smsd.org/families/weather

Winter Guidelines for Recess Our goal is to provide outdoor play for our Bulldogs every day. Please be sure your student has the appropriate coat, gloves, hat and boots to be outdoors for 15 minutes in cold weather.

There will be no outdoor recess when:

• The temperature is 15 degrees or below.

• The wind chill index is 0 degrees or below.

• There is falling moisture.

Traffic Reminders

We continue to have an increase of students being dropped off at school in the small circle drive during morning drop off between 7:50-8:10, which is causing traffic/safety issues and delays. Only kindergarten students should be dropped 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.

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IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES @ BRIARWOOD

Tuesday, January 10

Skate Party

*

Thursday, January 12

Dining Partner Night - SPIN Pizza

*

Monday, January 16

No School - Martin Luther King, Jr Day

*

Thursday, February 2

Class & Briarwood Club Photo Day

*

Saturday, February 4

Trivia Night

*

Friday, February 10

No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences

*

Monday, February 20

No School - Presidents' Day

*

Thursday, February 23, 7:00 pm

PTA General Membership Meeting

Briarwood Cafeteria

*

Full BW PTA Calendar is available here

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BRIARWOOD'S CHAT & CHEW BOOK CLUB - SIGNUP BY JANUARY 13!

Chat & Chew is an optional, volunteer-led book club for Briarwood students in grades 2-6. Participating students will read 3-4 grade-appropriate books at home (or during class time reading) over the course of the program. Assigned groups will meet during lunchtime once a week to chat & chew about the book. Adult volunteers will lead the discussions. Chat & Chew begins the week of January 30

through the last week of March. Students will meet once a week.

Follow this link to access the Chat & Chew Signup Form. Due January 13!

Chat & Chew is not possible without volunteers! Contact jennie.carter1@gmail.com to help co-lead a Chat & Chew group. (SMSD’s MVP status required).

PTA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We need volunteers to help nominate the PTA chairs for the 2023-2024 school year. This committee will work together to identify candidates in March/April, and is a small time commitment (10 hours or less). Also, if you would like to be involved as a PTA chair next year,
let us know! Contact: Rachel Wymore, (913) 645-0363, RLA08@hotmail.com

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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

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A SPACE FOR EVERY BULLDOG - DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AT BRIARWOOD

Early January Celebrations & Recognitions

January 15 • MAKAR SANKRANTI • Hindu Seasonal celebration marking turning of the sun toward the North.

January 15 • WORLD RELIGION DAY • Bahá’í Observance to proclaim the oneness of religion and the belief that world religion will unify the peoples of the Earth.

January 16 • DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY • The birthday of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is January 15, but it is observed on the third Monday in January.

SOMETHING MORE

The third Monday in January is an American federal holiday honoring the birthday and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who devoted his life to freedom and justice for all. Many people take this opportunity to reflect on and commit to the work that still needs to be done for racial equality. Below are links to many activities happening between now and MLK Day in the greater KC area.

LINKS FOR LEARNING

MLK Day 2023 – Families Activities Throughout KC

Martin Luther King, Jr. – TIME for KIDS

Meaningful Ways to Celebrate MLK Day

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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).

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

READ ACROSS SMSD: January's Theme - Explore Societal Forces

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ELEMENTARY

"Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky"
By Nana Ekua Bre-Hammond
Click here to learn more.

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MIDDLE

“The Last Mapmaker"
By Christina Soontornvat
Click here to learn more.

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YOUNG ADULT

"All My Rage"
By Sabaa Tahir
Click here to learn more.

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NOW AVAILABLE: SMORE TRANSLATION

Here are instructions to change the language of your newsletter...

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.

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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