BRIARWOOD ELEMENTARY pta newsletter

2nd Quarter Lunch Sign Up

With the return to normal seating in the lunchroom, we do not have a lot of extra space for visitors to sit. To help manage the number of people in the lunchroom at one time, we have created a sign up link for each grade level -- parents and guardians can sign up in advance and we can monitor the number of visitors. When lunch visitors arrive to Briarwood, they must check in at the office to receive a visitor sticker. Then, they will meet up with their student in the lunchroom and proceed to the designated guest area. The guest area includes a separate table in the lunchroom/hallway -- or guests and students can eat outside on nice days.

• 2nd Quarter Lunch Sign Up Link

Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for the evening of Thursday, October 20 from 4:30-7:30 and Friday, October 22 from 8:00-3:30. Teachers are in the process of reaching out to families to schedule a conference. Parents/Guardians can request an in-person conference or Webex conference. When reviewing your student's progress, I encourage you to focus on what your student can do and how their effort determines their success. Below is a link to a powerful video on the importance of praising children based on their effort versus their intelligence.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoRY

Also, when setting goals with your student, focus on specific academic or social skills and measure the results of their effort. The more they can see the correlation between their effort and achievement, the more they will succeed.

Fall Celebration

I am excited to share that we will have our traditional costume parade and classroom parties on Monday, October 31. Parents/Guardians who want to attend the parade can begin checking in at 2:00 in the office. The parade will begin at approximately 2:15, followed by the parties. Please review the costume guidelines below.

• Students are allowed to wear costumes to school but NO make-up or masks during the day.
• No costumes with blood and/or weapons. Pirates, knights, soldiers, ghosts, and goblins can come in costume, but not armed.
• Logos, wording on shirts, hats or other apparel should be appropriate for a school setting.
• Costumes should not be insulting, offensive or frightening to others.
• Students should be able to see in their costumes

Wednesday, October 19 @ 7:00pm

General PTA Meeting in the Briarwood Cafeteria

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Friday, October 21

No School

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Thursday, October 27

Skating Party- see flyer below for more details

*

Monday, November 7-Friday, November 11

Read-a-Thon Week!

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Tuesday, November 8

Picture Retake Day

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Friday, November 11

Veterans Day

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Wednesday, November 16

Dining Partner- Johnny's Tavern

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Full BW PTA Calendar is available here

Please join us for the first IN-PERSON PTA General Membership meeting in years! We'll meet in the Briarwood Cafeteria on Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m.

During this meeting, Dr. Tyrone Bates, SMSD Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, will talk with us about creating a fully unified, equitable, and inclusive culture at Briarwood. Bring your questions for Dr. Bates!

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

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

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.

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

Briarwood's Grade Level Parties are fun events for all of the grown-ups in each grade to get to know each other – and to raise $ for PTA. Parent volunteers plan, pay for, and host each party. While there is no fee to attend, donations are encouraged to fundraise for the PTA general fund, which supports many programs at our school. Food and drinks will be provided. Click here for more info.

Questions?

Contact: Erin Winters, erinlynnwinters@gmail.com OR

Michelle Le Roux, michleroux3@gmail.com

OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS & RECOGNITIONS

• National Bullying Prevention Month
• Oct. 28 – National Immigrants Day
• Oct. 31-Nov. 2 – Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
• Blindness Awareness Month

Some info

Empathy & Bullying

Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s condition from their perspective. We often use the example of “putting ourselves in their shoes.” It is a key element of emotional intelligence, and a skill that helps us build and maintain relationships. Empathetic children understand their feelings and use them to make decisions. They also understand others, which helps them manage stress. Teach empathy at home by talking to your kids about how another person might be feeling in any given scenario - then discuss positive ways to handle stressful situations. In the end, imparting empathy, not only prevents bullying but also prepares kids for success in life.

El Día de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2.

El Día de los Muertos is not, as is commonly thought, a Mexican version of Halloween, though the two holidays do share some traditions, including costumes and parades. On the Day of the Dead, it’s believed that the border between the spirit world and the real world dissolve. During this brief period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to feast, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones. In turn, the living family members treat the deceased as honored guests in their celebrations, and leave the deceased’s favorite foods and other offerings at gravesites or on the ofrendas built in their homes. Ofrendas can be decorated with candles, bright marigolds called cempasuchil and red cock’s combs alongside food like stacks of tortillas and fruit.

Things to Do

• Videos on Empathy for Kids: (kidworldcitizen.org)
• How Teaching Kids Empathy Can Prevent Bullying (verywellfamily.com)
• Spirit Day - Wear Purple on October 20 to support LGBTQ Youth
• Dia de los Muertos Festival - Nelson-Atkins - Kansas City – Oct. 30
• Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) – History.com
• Day of the Dead Info and Activities for Kids (nationalgeographic.com)

• 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

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:

https://www.smac-pta.org/volunteer

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

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