BRIARWOOD ELEMENTARY pta newsletter

August 8, 2023 www.briarwoodpta.org

MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LASH

I hope everyone is enjoying the final days of summer break in Bulldog Nation! The Briarwood staff and I are excited and looking forward to welcoming students and families back this Thursday at Popsicle Pop-In! Briarwood is a community that fuels a passion for learning while educating all students to achieve their full potential. Please review the important school news below.

On-line verification/Student Fees/Free or Reduced Lunch Applications

● This is a reminder to login to Skyward Family Access and complete the online verification forms as soon as possible. The online verification forms are located on the left side of the screen on the tab that reads "2023-2024 Returning Student Annual Online Verification" in green. You need to complete this process for every student in your home. If you have any questions or can't get logged in, please feel free to call the school office at 913-993-2200.

● To receive free of reduced cost meals in the 2023-2024 school year, families will need complete a meal benefit application. Click here for more information. https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service/free-reduced-meals

Class Placement

● On Thursday, August 10th you can find your child’s class placement by logging into your child’s Skyward account and clicking on the Student Information tab. If you have a kindergarten student, you will be receiving additional information about your child’s conference time on or by August 7.

Popsicle Pop-In, Thursday, August 10th

● Students can visit their classroom, meet their teacher, drop their school supplies off, and enjoy a treat from the PTA. This is the teachers second day back from summer break so their classrooms will still be under construction.

● If your last name begins with the letters A-L you will attend from 3:45-4:30 and if your last name begins with M-Z you will attend from 4:30-5:15. For any reason you can always switch your time if needed. The purpose of this is to help reduce the number of people in the building at one time to make for a more enjoyable experience.

SMSD Elementary School Handbook

Please click the link below to review the student handbook.

SMSD Elementary Student Handbook

Briarwood Website/Social Media:

● Our school website is full of important information such as the classroom supply list, lunch menu, school calendar, and school highlights: https://briarwood.smsd.org

● To help deliver school news and to positively brand our school, you can follow me on Twitter at ChrisLash@Bulldogs512 https://twitter.com/Bulldogs512

I am looking forward to an amazing amazing school year ahead!

It is a GREAT day to be a Bulldog!

Take Care,

Chris Lash

Principal

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IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES @ BRIARWOOD

Thursday, August 10th

Popsicle Pop-In, Grades 1-6

Last Names A-L 3:45-4:30pm

Last Names M-Z 4:45-5:15pm

*

Tuesday, August 15th

First day of School, Grades 1-6

**Early dismissal at 12:30 pm**

*

Thursday, August 17th

First day of School, Kindergarten

*

Thursday, August 17th

Boo Hoo Coffee, 8:10-9:00 am

*

Tuesday, August 22nd

Back to School Night Grades 1-3

Parents/Guardians Only

*

Wednesday, August 23rd

Back to School Night Grades 4-6

Parents/Guardians Only

*

Thursday, August 24th

Dinning Partners- Culvers Night

*

Monday, August 28th

General PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm (via Zoom)- see details below

*

Thursday, August 31st

Room Parent Meeting, 6:00 pm @ BW cafeteria

*

Thursday, August 31st

PTA All Chair Meeting 6:30-7:30 pm @ BW cafeteria

*

Friday, September 8th

Briarwood Auction Kickoff Party 7-10:30 pm @ The Smith/Ormsby Home

*

Friday, September 22nd

Family Movie Night @ Briarwood- look for more details soon

Full BW PTA Calendar is available here

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Boo Hoo Coffee

Attention Kindergarten Parents!

Join Kindergarten Parents/Guardians on the front lawn (adjacent to the Kindergarten entry doors) for a cup of coffee and pastries after drop-off on Thursday, August 17th

JOIN PTA

JOIN THE BRIARWOOD PTA!

The simple act of joining PTA provides instant financial support for our students! The PTA provides additional extra activities, programs, and financial assistance not covered by the Shawnee Mission School District. It's also a great way to stay informed about what's happening at school and connect in meaningful ways with other parents.

Together we can do a lot of good. Join now by clicking here!

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DONT FORGET TO 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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PTA General Membership Meeting

Please join us on Monday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. for our first General PTA Membership Meeting of the school year (via Zoom):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9134816375?pwd=NGw2ekR4bitzMFlRMEEwTy9PZFJ2dz09

Meeting ID: 913 481 6375
Passcode: 5300

During this meeting, learn about upcoming PTA events, fundraisers, how to get involved – and vote on the 2023-2024 budget. For your reference, the proposed budget can be accessed here.

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Become a Room Parent!!

Help support our teachers and students by serving as a Room Parent! We’re looking for 2 volunteers per classroom to help throughout the school year. Here are the basics:

Share classroom updates and information about PTA activities, through email, with the parents/guardians of your classroom’s students
Gather financial contributions from parents/guardians to purchase and deliver gifts for your teacher throughout the year (birthday, holidays, etc.) on behalf of the class
Offer general support to your classroom teacher

Sign up here!

Contact Allison Stedman at allisonjstedman@gmail.com for questions or details.

PLEASE NOTE: You will be notified of your student's classroom assignment on August 10th in their Skyward account under the Student Information tab. You will not be able to volunteer as a room parent until you know your student's teacher.

Auction Kick Off Party

You're invited to help us start this year's auction fundraising at our Kick-off Party!

Please bring cash/check/credit donation or an item/good/service for the silent or live auction as your "ticket" to the party.

Then mark your calendar for March 2, 2024 for Briarwood Night at the Masquerade!

Visit Briarwoodauction.com for more info

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JOIN THE 2024 AUCTION COMMITTEE!

We are looking for the next auction leadership team and volunteers to make the March 2024 Briarwood Auction a huge success! The auction is Briarwood's largest fundraiser and funds most of our PTA budget for two years. Do you have a special talent or skill? Are you looking for a way to get involved and give back? We'd love to talk with you and answer any questions you may have. Please reach out to Katie Enger (katieenger@hotmail.com , (913-972-7091) and Clarissa McMillan (mcmillan.clarissa@gmail.com).

Thank you for helping make our 2024 auction a great success!

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Briarwood Foundation

The Briarwood Foundation provides that little extra for our students. Directed by a board of parent/guardian volunteers, our primary purpose is to fund programs and supplies not provided by federal, state, school district or PTA budgets.

FRIENDS & FAMILY SIGN
When you purchase a Friends & Family sign for $100, your donation will go directly to the Briarwood Foundation. Your sign will be displayed at Briarwood events such as the Bulldog Jog, Veterans Day, Open House and the Carnival. Please complete and return the form by September 15th.

For more information visit: https://www.briarwoodfoundation.org/

Watering and Weeding through September 29

Our landscape committee has made so many improvements to beautify our school, but we need your help to keep it that way over the summer!

Please sign up to help water and weed each week, through September 29. You can either sign up for the beds in the front of the school, or the pollinator and raised beds in the back.

We've made improvements to our watering system, so it will be easier this year. We will send an email to all volunteers with more detailed instructions by the last day of school.

If you need to cancel your time slot, please be sure to call Katie Stramel 479-409-4400 to make other arrangements!

Sign-up here to help keep our school beautiful!

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August Celebrations & Recognitions

National Back to School Month

Don’t Be A Bully Month

National Black Business Month

August 7 – Purple Heart Day

August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican)

August 19 – World Humanitarian Day

August 21 – Senior Citizens Day

August 26 – Women’s Equality Day

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Great Reads & Recipes

Great Reads

Many kids might be feeling anxious about going back to school after a long summer break. Others may feel nervous about starting school for the first time. Parents/guardians can help ease the transition back to school by being able to recognize the symptoms of stress and anxiety and implementing some creative strategies.

• How to Ease Back to School Anxiety and Stress

• Back to School Anxiety

Around the World Recipes

20 Authentic Jamaican Recipes

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Featured Volunteer Opportunity/Organization

Operation BBQ Relief

Get ready to sink your teeth into this volunteer opportunity! Operation BBQ Relief is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that started in 2011 when pitmasters from nine states came together to cook up a storm and feed those affected by a tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Since then, they’ve served over 10 million mouth-watering meals to people impacted by natural disasters, COVID-19, and even to those in need through The Always Serving Project. Now that’s what we call BBQ with heart! They have many ways to volunteer and/or donate time and treasure. They even have an app, for iPhone and android, where you can sign up and get notified when they have a need.

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VOLUNTEER CROSSING GUARDS NEEDED

Please help Briarwood students get to school safely! The intersection at 86th and Juniper does not have a SMSD-staffed crossing guard; the school relies on volunteers. All volunteers are welcome, but if your student uses this intersection, please consider signing up once per month.

SHIFTS:

7:50 - 8:10 am (school starts at 8:10 a.m. for all grades)
3:05 - 3:20 (dismissal at 3:10 p.m. for all grades)
12:25 - 12:40 p.m. on half days (half-day dismissal is at 12:30 for all grades; half days are indicated on the sign-up calendar)

CROSSWALK RULES:

Cars are not permitted to turn LEFT off 86th Street onto Juniper (you may have to remind drivers)
Students must walk themselves and/or their bikes/scooters across the crosswalk

CROSSING GUARD DUTIES:

Manage pedestrian and vehicle traffic for safe street crossing
Remind students to follow street crossing rules
Help control car and pedestrian traffic conditions

Thank you!

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

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