March 4, 2026
March 4, 2026
A Message from Principal Lash
2026-2027 Kindergarten Enrollment
Calling all future kindergartners! Now is the time to enroll for the coming school year. If you haven’t already enrolled, please do so now as we need your child in our count. Our projected staffing is based on the enrollment numbers so if you know that you will be attending Briarwood next school year, please enroll today. You don’t have to wait to submit an enrollment until after your child’s physical. Upload the current immunizations and we can update the immunizations and physical later.
To enroll your child, go to www.smsd.org and look for the Families tab and then click on Enrollment and follow the directions listed there. If you already have a child in SMSD, go to Skyward and look for the new enrollment tab on the left side. Kindergarten Kick-Off will be April 9, 2026. More information will be sent out to all enrolled families. We look forward to meeting all of our incoming Kindergartners!
Featured News
It takes more than 60 volunteers to run all the PTA-funded activities and programs at Briarwood. We'd love to know more about you and how you can join our team. We have roles big and small! Fill out the form below, or contact Jamie Carr at jamieweatherly82@gmail.com.
HERE ARE FIVE SPECIFIC ROLES WE'RE SEARCHING FOR:
1. Belonging Chair (PTA Executive Board Position)
The Belonging Chair role provides oversight to ensure all PTA programs and events meet belonging standards—remaining affordable and accessible for all students. The position guides budgeting, newsletter content, cultural programming, and school-wide celebrations, while also coordinating volunteer involvement and external partnerships. In addition, the role includes attending monthly Executive meetings.
2. Bulldogs Around the World Co-Chair
The Bulldogs Around the World Chair plans and leads all aspects of the event in partnership with the PTA and school administration, including developing the vision, coordinating participants and performances, managing logistics, communications, volunteers, and budget. The role ensures the event is inclusive and respectful, serves as the primary liaison among stakeholders, and oversees post-event wrap-up and documentation for future planning
3. Canva Designer: you'll create simple, eye-catching designs for social media and school communications.
4. Social Media Chair: you'll work with our VP of Communications and Canva Designer to keep our facebook and instagram pages up to date.
5. Yearbook Chair: you'll join our experienced yearbook team to help take photos at school events and create a yearbook layout that students will treasure for years to come
Upcoming Events Overview
March 6th: Chat & Chew (Grades 2nd through 6th) Ends
March 7th: Briarwood Bulldog Bash, The Uptown Theater, 7:00 PM
March 11th: 5th Grade Band Concert, Indian Hills Gym, 5:30 PM
March 11th: 6th/7th Grade Band Concert, Indian Hills Gym, 7:00 PM
March 13th: NO SCHOOL; Teacher Workday
March 16th – 20th: NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
March 25th: Giveback Partner Night, Culvers, 5:00-8:00 PM
March 25th: 6th Grade Honor Band Festival, SMNW Auditorium, 7:00 PM
April 2nd: Bulldog TED Talk – Briarwood Cafeteria, 7:00 PM
April 8th: Giveback Partner, Skate City Skate Party, 6:00-8:00 PM
April 9th: Kindergarten Kick-Off
April 14th – 16th: Used Book Fair
April 16th: Open House
April 16th: 3rd and 4th Grade Music Performance
April 17th: NO SCHOOL; Professional Learning
April 22nd: Parent Info Night at Indian Hills Middle School for incoming 7th graders, 6-7pm
April 23rd: Briarwood Bulldogs Around the World
April 29th: East Area Band Festival
April 30th: PTA 2026-27 Slate Approval Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 PM
Belonging
Disabilities Awareness Month:
- We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
- Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
- Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Women’s History Month:
- She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton
- Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Francesca Cavallo
- Who was Frida Kahlo by Sarah Fabiny
Greek American Heritage Month:
- The Parthenon by Elizabeth Mann
- Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne
- The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Irish American Heritage Month:
- Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie DePaola
- St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
- Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
BULLDOGS AROUND THE WORLD - A CULTURAL CELEBRATION on April 23rd!
This is Briarwood’s 2nd year!! What is Bulldogs Around the World? 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 Bulldogs Around the World. Typically that means you bring whatever you’d like to represent and share your culture. This could be small bites, games, music, artifacts, photos, poster board, 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
Helpful Resources
More Ways to Stay Connected at Briarwood
Website: https://www.briarwoodpta.org/
Instagram: @BriarwoodBulldogs
Facebook: facebook.com/BriarwoodBulldogs
Bulldog Bash Instagram: @briarwoodbulldogbash
Bulldog Bash Website: https://www.briarwoodbash.com/
Grade-level Facebook Groups (Private Groups For Parents/Guardians):
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2032 (6th grade)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2033 (5th grade)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2034 (4th grade)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2035 (3rd Grade)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2036 (2nd Grade)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2037 (1st Grade)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2038 (Kindergarten)
Briarwood Elementary Class of 2039 (Incoming Kindergarten)
Sync the Briarwood Elementary Calendar
Sync the Briarwood PTA Calendar
Helpful Links
Instructions for Newsletter Translation
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.
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. 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.
Contact the PTA
Co-Presidents Rachel Wymore and Craig Dawson: president@briarwoodpta.org
General Contact and Questions: info@briarwoodpta.org