November 5, 2025
Safety First/Traffic Reminders
Thank you for helping to make arrival and dismissal run smoothly. To make for a safe and relaxing drop-off and pick-up of students, please be patient and use extreme caution when you are near the school and in the school parking lot. This would include driving slowly, staying off your cell phone, paying attention to your surroundings, and paying attention to the crossing guard. Our number one priority is the safety of our students, staff, parents, and patrons.
No Left Turn Reminders: Vehicles entering the big circle drive must come from the east because there are no left turns. At arrival and dismissal times vehicles are not allowed to turn left onto Nall from 86th street.
When parking on the side streets do not park within 30 feet of a stop sign. This can cause traffic to bottleneck and cause limited visibility when patrons are crossing the street.
If your child walks or rides their bike, please review safety expectations such as staying on the sidewalk and crossing at the designated cross walks. Students should not be riding their bike or scooter in the street. We have had reports of students riding in the street and almost causing accidents. Students are expected to ride their bike and scooter on the sidewalk. Do not walk or ride your bike in our neighbors’ yards or driveways. Bike riders will walk their bike once on school property to the bike rack. Bike riders should wear a helmet and buckle the strap. Bike riders should be in 3rd grade or older unless they have a parent with them to and from school.
Students, parents, and family members should cross at the designated cross walks. We have two designated cross walks and there is a staff member that helps cross walkers at the entrance to the car drop-off and pick up lane. Students or patrons should NEVER cross in the middle of the street even if a student has a parent or guardian with them. Please take the extra time to go to a cross walk so you can cross safely and set a good example.
- Please be good neighbors while stopped on 86th and other sides streets. Pay attention to traffic signs such as no parking or do not turn signs. Do not block the driveways to homes. Our neighbors need to be able to enter/exit the driveways to their homes. The cooperation of all drivers is appreciated.
Inclement Weather Procedures
We want to be sure families are as ready as possible for possible schedule changes or bad weather cancellations. Click here to review Shawnee Mission’s Inclement Weather procedures for the 2025-26 school year. This webpage also includes information about how you can be informed about any inclement weather announcements from the Shawnee Mission School District.
Briarwood Visitor Update
The safety and security of our students and staff are always top priorities in the Shawnee Mission School District. Across the district, schools are reviewing safety procedures, in order to ensure consistency and adherence to Board policy. One of the items all schools are looking at is consistent visitor check-in procedures.
As a reminder, all visitors are required to check in at the main office before entering the building or contacting anyone on school grounds. Visitors must provide identification through the district’s screening system (Raptor) as part of this safety protocol. This tool conducts a background check on all visitors, and allows us to always know who is in our buildings, information that is critical in case of an emergency. Visitors will receive a badge to wear as they enter the building.
Moving forward, all visitors will be required to check in at the main office before entering the building or contacting anyone on school grounds. Visitors must provide identification through the district’s screening system (Raptor) as part of our safety protocol. This tool conducts a background check on all visitors, and allows us to always know who is in our buildings, information that is critical in case of an emergency. Visitors will receive a badge to wear as they enter the building.
We have a table outside by the office doors for parents who simply need to drop something off for their student. These parents will not need to be logged in through the Raptor system, provided they do not enter through the second door.
These procedures align with Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education policy and help ensure that everyone in our buildings can focus on teaching and learning in a secure setting.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
Skate Party • 11/5 • 4-6 PM • Skate City Overland Park
Don't miss the Briarwood Skate Party at Skate City Overland Park on Wednesday, Nov 5th from 4-6pm!
Veteran's Day Ceremony • 11/11 • 9am • Briarwood Gymnasium
- RSVP any Veteran that will be attending by signing up here.
- Volunteer for donating items or helping by signing up here.
- Help your child decorate and add the name of a veteran in their life to the STAR pattern that will come home in their backpack. Cut it out and return it by 11/6.
Please note: Due to space limitations, only asking Veterans and their guests may attend. There is also a Veteran's Day Parent Program for 4th grade parents on Nov. 10th at 10:20am in the gym.
Tiki Taco Giveback Partner Event • 11/12 • 11am-9pm
Student Picture Retake Day • 11/18
Please note: during original school picture day, one of the photographer’s camera had a dust spot on it. The dust spot shows up on pictures that were taken by this photographer. Inter-State will have the images affected by this spot reprinted and sent to Briarwood around November 6th. Digital packages with the issue will also be resent.
Briarwood Pottery Palooza • 12/3 • 6:30-8:30pm • Briarwood Cafeteria
Looking for playdates over the long holiday breaks?
Get access to the school directory by joining the PTA! It's a one-time donation for programs for our students, no time commitments or volunteering!
November Celebrations & Dates
National Adoption Awareness Month
National and American Diabetes Awareness Month
Native American Heritage Month
November 1st – All Saints' Day
November 1st & 2nd – Dios Los Muertos
November 13th – World Kindness Day
November 14th – World Diabetes Day
November 20th – World Children’s Day
Great Reads
Adoption Awareness Month
A Mother for Choco by Keiko KaszaTell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Diabetes Awareness Month
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie ConnorEpilepsy Awareness Month
When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne CollinsA Storm of Strawberries by Jo Cotterill
My Friend Has Epilepsy by Anna Levene
Native American Heritage Month
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble MaillardJingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
Thanksgiving Kindness Focus
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
Recipes Around the World
18 Recipes That Celebrate Indigenous American Food Traditions
Many thanks are owed to the Native Americans who first roamed the land and cultivated so many foods still enjoyed today, like corn, squash, and beans. Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks, but it's also a solemn day of mourning for many Indigenous Americans grappling with the painful history. And while many Indigenous Americans opt out of the festivities altogether, some use the day to celebrate family, nature, and the riches of the land.
Try these 18 traditional Native American foods with Thanksgiving dishes created by Indigenous chefs