March 11th Newsletter

· With warmer weather and longer days ahead, children will be playing outdoors in the neighborhood more during non-school hours. Please review all the safety guidelines associated with playing unsupervised outside. I recommend doing some role playing by asking your child the following questions:

o What would you do if someone you were playing with was injured? (cut, fell and hit head, etc…)

o What would you do if a stranger in a car came by and started asking you questions?

o What would you do if a stranger was walking down the street and approached you and your friends?

o What would you do if you went over to a friend’s house and his/her parents were not home?

· These types of questions provide opportunities for the exchange of valuable information. It can reassure the parent that their child has a good handle of what to do in a potential emergency situation and can provide a chance to do some teaching or re-teaching if needed.

Please help spread the word that Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enrollment is now open. To learn more about our Pre-K and Kindergarten programs and to enroll, click the link below.

· https://www.smsd.org/families/enrollment/pre-kandkindergartenenrollment

Those without technology access are encouraged to contact their area home school for Kindergarten. Pre-K families are encouraged to contact the Early Childhood office. Everyone in the district is encouraged to share this information with any families who have 4 or 5 year-olds. To enroll in Kindergarten, your student must be 5 years old by August 31, 2025. Briarwood does not offer a Pre-K program. Contact the Early Childhood office for information on where it is offered in the district.

Kindergarten Kick-Off at Briarwood will be on Thursday, April 10th. Please click the link below to sign up for a session at 5:30, 6:15, or 7:00.

· https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EACA92FA2F5C34-54617094-briarwood

E-scooters can be a fun and efficient way to travel, but they can also be dangerous. Unsafe riding and collisions can cause serious injury. Take the proper precautions to keep yourself and others safe when riding your scooter. These helpful tips will ensure we all remain safe while having fun: • Wear a helmet • Check your scooter for damage before riding • Test the brakes • Watch out for obstacles • Keep hands on the handlebars • Slow down when going downhill or over a bump • Ride solo, with no passengers • Obey all traffic signs and signals • Do not perform stunts on your scooter • Park your scooter correctly • Ride responsibly and safely You may ride your scooter where a bicycle is allowed, but always look for the bicycle roadway signs. If riding on the roadway, do not take up the lane, be as close to the curb as possible. Opt to ride on the sidewalk in Prairie Village, but yield to pedestrians. Riders must obey stop signs, yield signs, and crosswalk lights. To make sure we are all safe on the roadway and sidewalks, please follow all these tips.

In honor of Women’s History Month and just in time for International Women’s Day (March 8th) we are excited to introduce you to one of SMSD’s fastest growing programs: Women in Leadership! This program has grown from about 50 participants to more than 400 in just a few years. Today, at their annual celebratory breakfast, more than 300 students and local leaders came together to educate, empower, and inspire the leaders of tomorrow. Hear from the founder and a senior in the program about the impact it’s had on our community. #ALLinSMSD #OneShawneeMission

Watch or listen on your favorite podcast app by clicking the link below.

· Podcast Link

Congratulations to Jiya Bhavsar for winning the 2025 Johnson County Spelling Bee! Jiya has won the Briarwood Spelling Bee three consecutive years and has won the Johnson County Spelling Bee two times! Bulldog Nation is proud of you and wishing you the best as you go on to compete in the Sunflower State Spelling Bee!

March 14th - NO SCHOOL; Teacher Work Day

March 17th - 21st - NO SCHOOL; Spring Break

April 21st - NO SCHOOL; Professional Learning

Tuesday, March 11th

Briarwood Giveback Partners

Culver's

5:00-8:00 PM

*

Wednesday, March 26th

Bulldogs Around The World

Briarwood Elementary

6:30 PM

More Information Below

*

Thursday, April 3rd

The Anxious Generation Presentation and Discussion

Shawnee Mission North Library

6:00 PM

More Information Below

*

Thursday, April 3rd through Tuesday, April 8th

Briarwood Giveback Partners

Rhea Lana's of Overland Park

More Information Below

*

Thursday, April 10th

Briarwood Kindergarten Kick Off

Briarwood Elementary Cafeteria

5:30, 6:15 or 7:00 PM Registrations Available

More Information Above In Principal Lash's Message

*

Tuesday, April 15th through Thursday, April 17th

Briarwood PTA Used Book Fair

Briarwood Elementary

More Information Below

*

Wednesday, April 16th

Briarwood Elementary Open House

*

Saturday, April 26th

Briarwood PTA Progressive Dinner

More Information Below

*

Friday, May 2nd

2nd Grade Bike Rodeo

More Information Coming Soon

*

Friday, May 9th

Briarwood PTA Carnival

More Information Coming Soon

Our biannual Progressive Dinner is coming up on April 26, 2025 at 6pm. You’ll start at an assigned home for appetizers, move to separate dinner houses, then join together for dessert.

If you’re open to hosting or co-hosting 8-12 people for dinner, please fill out the form below, or reach out with questions to Sarah Richardson (srichardson@lockton.com) or Lindsey Pryor (lindsey.pryor@compass.com).

When you join the Briarwood PTA, you're not committing your time to volunteer or attend meetings. You’re providing a one-time donation for PTA-organized activities and programs for our students, and you’re gaining access to the school directory (hello, playdates!) while allowing us to communicate directly with you about upcoming events and initiatives. If volunteering is your thing, we’d absolutely love to have you!

Questions? Contact Karen Moore: karen.jeanne.moore@gmail.com

Thank you to all our PTA supporters. Donation letters have been emailed to donor's. Please note that this includes donations outside of the Bi-Annual Briarwood Auction. This would include donations to events such as class parties, read-a-thon, and general PTA donation. It does not include any cash donations. Donation receipts for the Briarwood Auction were emailed separately at the time of the event. If you have any questions please email Michelle Wiens at mwiens678@gmail.com.

What is Cultural Night? It’s an event where we come together to celebrate our shared heritage and diverse communities.

We want YOU to share your culture!

We would love for Briarwood families to share their cultures by hosting a table at cultural night. Typically that means you bring whatever you’d like to represent and share your culture. This could be small bites, games, music, artifacts, photos, just to name a few. Help us learn more about your culture by signing up using this link! To learn more or for any questions, contact Telma Weisman - telmaweisman@gmail.com

March Themes

• Cooperation
• Be Kind

March Descriptions and Skills

• Working together to reach shared goals
• Perspective taking
• Conflict resolution
• Leadership

Any questions please contact Briarwood's Social Worker Cassie Horn via email at casiehorn@smsd.org

Kindergarten Families!

Does your child enjoy playing outdoors, hiking, splashing in water, making forts, creating art, cooking, observing nature, collecting bugs, picnics, reading books, or being with friends? Then, this is the camp for them!

Briarwood, kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Powell, and Mrs, B. offer a nature camp for kindergarten students at Meadowbrook/Roe/Franklin Park. The camp is for students entering kindergarten and current kinder students headed to first grade next fall. Find a week that works with your schedule and sign your child up! It will be a fun summer and a great opportunity for your child to get to know two Briarwood Kindergarten teachers and some of their new peers.

Please read the brochure thoroughly and complete all steps of the enrollment process.

Please consider signing up for volunteer times in the Briarwood Library and/or Art classrooms

To learn more about the school breakfast and lunch process, we encourage you to visit the SMSD Food Services website via https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service/menus/menus. Please note that their menu is subject to change without notice due to supply chain issues. While they strive to provide the best service and quality meals, they apologize in advance for any inconvenience those changes may cause.

Lunch with your student(s) will happen on Wednesdays through Thursdays this school year. Please sign up individually for each adult attending (one adult name per form submission). You are allowed to bring in an outside lunch to share with your student. Due to our large population, we ask that you only sign up ONCE per quarter to allow others to have the opportunity to eat with their students. You can sign up through the button below.. Bon Appétit!

Summer Enrichment enrollment is approaching! We have many of our popular classes back again this summer and several new classes will be offered. Enrollment is open starting February 6th in Skyward. The course catalogue and enrollment instructions can be found at the Website below:

https://www.smsd.org/academics/summer-programs/summer-enrichment

1. On the right side in the newsletter when viewing on a computer device or at the top of the newsletter on a mobile device, 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.

Co-Presidents:

Ashley Hunt • ashleyhunt910@gmail.com

Rachel Wymore • rla08@hotmail.com

President-Elect:

Craig Dawson • craigdawson@icloud.com

VP Administration:

Jamie Carr • jamieweatherly82@gmail.com

VP Communications:

Allison Stedman • allisonjstedman@gmail.com

VP Community Events:

Nick Reddell • nickreddell@gmail.com

VP Student Services:

Jamie Smith • jamie3smith@gmail.com

VP Funding:

Heather Rowe • hgreenlaw_01@yahoo.com

VP Finance:

Javier Centonzio • jac@centonziolaw.com

Treasurer:

Michelle Wiens • mwiens678@gmail.com

Secretary:

Brooke Miller • brooke@flatironequity.com

Briarwood Foundation:

Valerie Moeder • ValerieLMoeder@gmail.com

Diversity & Inclusion Chair:

Telma Wiesman • telmaweisman@gmail.com

Website: https://www.briarwoodpta.org/

Twitter: @BriarwoodElem

Instagram: @BriarwoodBulldogs

Facebook: facebook.com/BriarwoodBulldogs

2026 Briarwood Auction

Instagram: @briarwoodauction

Grade-level Facebook Groups (Private Groups For Grade Level Parents):

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2031 (6th grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2032 (5th grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2033 (4th grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2034 (3rd Grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2035 (2nd Grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2036 (1st Grade)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2037 (Kindergarten)

Briarwood Elementary Class of 2038 (August 2025 Incoming Kindergartners)