October 1, 2025
Briarwood Families,
It is hard to believe but we are just a couple weeks away from the end of the 1st quarter. Thank you for your ongoing support at home. Working together, the school year is off to an amazing start! We are looking forward to parent teacher conferences in a couple of weeks. Please make sure you have scheduled a time with your child’s teacher. These conferences are a great way to collaborate as we work together to help our students reach their full potential. I want to thank our PTA for providing our students and families a fun and meaningful night at the Bulldog Jog and Movie Night. We had an awesome turnout, and the kids had a blast.
Conferences October 16th 4:30-7:30, October 17th 8:00-3:30)
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for the evening of Thursday, October 16 from 4:30-7:30 and Friday, October 17 from 8:00-3:30. Teachers are in the process of reaching out to families to schedule a conference with each family. Parents can request an in-person conference or Webex conference. At these conferences teachers will review classroom progress academically and socially, and standardized assessments results for Acadience, NWEA MAP, iReady, and Kansas Assessment results as applicable by grade level.When reviewing your child’s progress, I encourage you to focus on what your child 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.
Also, when setting goals with your child, focus on specific academic or social skills that your child can practice and measure the results of their effort. The more they can see the correlation between their effort and achievement, the more they will succeed.
Kansas Assessment Program Results for Students in Grades 4-6
The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) includes computerized tests in English language arts, math, and science aligned to grade-level Kansas curricular standards. KAP meets federal and state accreditation requirements and must be administered annually each spring in all schools. Results show whether students are meeting grade-level Kansas curricular standards.
The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) Summative Score Reports from spring 2025 are now available in the KITE Parent Portal, including English language arts (grades 3-8, 10), mathematics (grades 3-8, 10), and science (grades 5 and 8).
- You can access the KITE Parent Portal here: https://parentportal.kiteaai.org/login
- Detailed instructions are found here: https://parentportal.kiteaai.org/login
- If you need assistance accessing your child’s reports through the KITE Parent Portal, please contact Nicole Fisher at NicoleFisher@smsd.org or 913-993-2200.
Additional information about the Kansas Assessments can be found on the Families page of the KAP website. Your classroom teacher(s) will also be ready to discuss your child’s assessment scores during parent-teacher conferences in October.
Building, District, and State summaries of the Kansas Assessment results will appear on the Kansas State Department of Education Building Report Card site by mid-October.
Student assessment scores for ALL district and state assessments can be found in Skyward Family Access under the Test Scores section on the left-hand side. This includes iReady Math (K-8), NWEA MAP (Grades 1-9), and Acadience Literacy and Math (K-6) results.
Overviews of each of the assessments administered in SMSD can be found here.
Anti-Bullying Week, Spirit Days October 6-10
Anti-Bullying Week: By joint resolution, the Kansas State Senate and the Kansas State Board of Education have declared the first full week in October (6 through the 10) "Anti-Bullying Awareness Week." To help raise awareness, our Briarwood student council came up with the following spirit days below.
- Monday, Oct. 6: “Show your Inner Self” Inside out clothes day
- Tuesday, Oct. 7: “Sneak away from bullying” Wear spy clothes or all black
- Wednesday, Oct. 8: “Winning Wednesday” Everybody wins when you’re nice - wear your best to win for picture day
- Thursday, Oct. 9: “Put bullying to bed” PJ day
Fall Celebration
Our traditional costume parade and classroom parties will be on Friday, October 31. Families are invited to the costume parade outdoors on the playground. Please plan to arrive at 2:00 on the playground and the parade will begin at approximately 2:15. Gates will be open to enter the playground at the back. There is no need to enter the building through the front door. Classroom parties will take place immediately after the parade and are being planned by the room parents and teachers. For the safety of students and staff and for students to have room to play games, make crafts and eat, visitors will be limited to the room parent and needed volunteers for the classroom parties. Room parents and volunteers do need to check in at the office.
Please review the costume guidelines below.
- Students are allowed to wear costumes to school but NO make-up or masks during the day.
- Please, 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 to others or frightening.
- Students should be able to see in their costumes.
Chipotle Giveback Partner Night • 10/1 • 4-8PM
Briarwood Bash Kick Off Party • 10/3 • 7PM
Student Picture Day • 10/8
Mark your calendars and break out your student’s favorite outfit: School Picture Day is Wednesday, October 8th!
Sugaring LA Giveback Partner Event • October 20-25
Fall Celebration Class Parties and Costume Parade • 2:15 PM
Joining the PTA is a one-time donation for programs for our students, plus access to the school directory! If volunteering is your thing, we’d love to have you.
Great Reads
Bullying Prevention Month
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Blubber by Judy Blume
Restart by Gordon Korman
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
My Friend Isabelle by Eliza WolosonWe’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Learning Disabilities & ADHD Awareness Month
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
It’s Hard to Be a Verb by Julia Cook
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
Focused by Alyson Gerber
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The Goodbye Cancer Garden by Janna MatthiesA Kids Book About Cancer by Dr. Kelsie Storm & Sarah Porter
Recipes Around the World
Adam Libby is a chef with Down syndrome who has gained a large following by sharing his cooking videos online. His positive energy and love for food highlight the creativity and independence people with Down syndrome bring to the kitchen.