PreK-2nd Holiday Performance (12/12)
KINDNESS ADVENTURE ASSEMBLY AND FANTASTIC FRIDAY (12/15)
Briarlake Elementary School PTA | briarlakeblog@gmail.com | http://briarlakepta.org/

Need to make an announcement to the school? Email by Wednesday of each week to post information in the Sunday newsletter:  briarlakeblog@gmail.com
PTA Info, Events, and more
Parent Principal Forum 1/9/18

Save the Date: The next Parent Principal forum will be held on Tuesday, January 9th in the media center immediately following the PTA meeting at 6PM.  Please contact Mrs. Haratine concerning childcare.  

Holiday Giving at Briarlake

Please consider donating to these Briarlake holiday gift funds

Collection bins for these gift funds will be in the front office at the  PTA  info station by the front door.
  • Briarlake Elementary School Staff Holiday Gift Fund: This holiday gift fund shows our appreciation to all of the Briarlake staff who work outside of our classrooms or who serve the entire student body (e.g., Coach Cocks, Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Thomas)
  • Briarlake Child-in-Need Holiday Collection: There are children and families within our own Briarlake community who are struggling financially and could use our help during this season of giving. Our Briarlake counseling team will use these funds to help purchase items for these children during the holidays. 
Beta Cub Logo
Jr. Beta Club State Convention

Nineteen of Briarlake's Jr. Beta Club Members participated in the Jr. Beta Club State Convention November 29th - December 1st in Savannah, Ga..  

Ms. Clishe' Thomas and Ms. Natasha Stansfield were the staff members that chaperoned the students.  The trip was also made possible by eight of our parents that were willing to chaperone.  Many thanks to Staci Beckwith, Jason Butler, Hiba Jaafar, Gretchen Waters, John Gerstle, Liberty Garcia, Ruta Haile, and Camille Smith!  We would also like to thank Ava Waters' parents and Green Light Graphics & Design in Norcross for donating the beautiful banner that we were able to enter in one of the competitions (Eduardo Whittaker, owner, is also a Briarlake parent).  All nineteen students participated in at least one competition. We applaud their competitive spirit! They all represented Briarlake very well!

 Individual Competitions:
Language Arts D1 5th grade:  Jackson Holt   
Sketching Division I:  Emerson Cowles        
Sculpture Division I:  Fletcher Courtney-Long         
Poetry Division I:  Hunter West   
Pastels or Charcoals Division I:  McKenna Smith          
Painting Division I:  Elise Garcia    
Color Photography Division I:  Elise Cowles   
Black & White Photography Division I:  Joshua Yancy  
Math DI 5th Grade:  Sienna Beelner           
Science DI 5th Grade:  Aaron Gerstle 
Social Studies DI 5th Grade:  Vivian Dolensky          
Special Talent Division:  Troy Butler, Amanda Beckwith, Joshua Yancy
Team Competitions
Advertising Design Division I:  Tess Cobb, Ava Waters, Troy Butler, Fletcher Courtney-Long
Book Battle Division I:  Jackson Holt, Vivian Dolensky, Rand Musawi
Quiz Bowl Division I:  Troy Butler, Aaron Gerstle, Harrison Miller, Haaven Siye
Tower of Power Division I:  Fletcher Courtney-Long, Sarah Frierson, Rand Musawi, Jackson Holt, Amanda Beckwith
Club Competitions:  Banner, T-Shirt, & Songfest

Our students placed in four of the competitions:
1st place- Pastels or Charcoal Division 1- McKenna Smith
1st place-Sketching Division 1-Emerson Cowles
Runner Up-Social Studies DI 5th Grade-Vivian Dolensky
Runner Up- Book Battle Division 1-Jackson Holt, Vivian Dolensky, Rand Musawi

 
Aftercare - Chess is Back! 


Chess classes are now being offered at aftercare on Wednesdays from 3-4. 


Kindness Adventure Assembly on 12/15

We will have a Kindness Adventure Assembly on  December 15, 2017 from 8:30am - 9:15am for grades 1 - 5.  This assembly will be a part of our No Place for Hate Initiative. 


Click here for more information.


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day Volunteer Opportunity, 1/15/18

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., make this holiday a day "on" of helping others instead of a day off! Help beautify our school campus on  Monday, 1/15/18  from 10 am to 2 pm (two-hour shifts: 10-12pm; 12-2pm).

We will pick up litter, pick up debris, and repaint the front columns and awning. There will be projects for all ages and abilities!

Coffee, hot cocoa, and snacks will be provided for all volunteers. 



International Night will be held January 23rd, 2018 at 6pm and the team is in search of BES students/parents to perform.

If you or your child are interested in taking part in any dance, singing, etc. with cultural/international significance, please contact Angela Barnett at angelabarnett@gmail.com and/or Erica Bland at Ericabland@gmail.com.

We currently have Japan & USA represented and would like more. Thank you!
Save the Date: Briarlake Spelling Bee is Thursday, January 18th at 8AM in the cafeteria
DeKalb Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl: Saturday, January 27th at 1PM at Arabia Mountain HS

The DeKalb Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a fun, exciting, and memorable event for students, teachers, and parents.  The competitions this year are scheduled to take place on  Saturday, January 27, 2018, at Arabia Mountain High School.  Same as last year, the event will consist of split competitions, middle and high schools at  9:00 AM and elementary at  1:00 PM. Please indicate your preference to volunteer (morning or afternoon), or both competition sessions. 
 
Over 70 teams registered last year. Each team will consist of up to 10 students. In order to provide for an efficient operation of the reading bowl competition, rooms must be staffed with four volunteers per room to include: a moderator, a console judge, a score keeper and a time keeper.  Please consider volunteering and encouraging your friends to get involved in this exciting event!
 
Volunteers will receive a brief training of duties before each competition begins; therefore, volunteers are asked to arrive before the competition start time. Breakfast will be provided for morning volunteers. Also, there is a Volunteer Training PowerPoint available on the HRRB website:  http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/helen-ruffin-reading-bowl/. 
 
A volunteer form is attached to complete and submit via email or courier to: O'Rhonda Ingram, Teacher-Librarian, Flat Rock Elementary School, o'rhonda_ingram@dekalbschoolsga.org.  Registration can be completed online.
Start Gathering Used Books 

As you give new gifts this holiday season, please remember to hold onto any used books you might be pulling out. 

The  USED BOOK SALE is around the corner (2/2-2/3), and your donated books are what make it possible. Collection will begin in January. 

If you would like to volunteer for this fabulous fundraiser, email Marjorie Hall Snook at  marjorie.hall@gmail.com. There are things you can do on your own time leading up to the sale, as well as sorting and helping during setup and the sale itself. 

Technology Fair
What: Technology Fair
WhenJanuary 20, 2018
Who: Grade 3-5
Teacher Sponsor: Ms. Green
Parent Sponsor: Liberty Garcia ( libaydc@gmail.com) - available to coach participants every  Friday @Innovation Lab  3:10-3:30pm (beginning 12/8)  She can remain longer upon prior request.  

informational session slides:  http://briarlakepta.org/techfair-slides.html 
informational session PDF - attached

Co-Chair Needed for Briarlake Foundation Auction

BESF ANNUAL AUCTION CO-CHAIR NEEDED!
SAVE THE DATE:  Friday 2/23/18

Are you organized? Have lots of energy? Love to party plan? Or love to seek donations? If yes to any of these items, the Briarlake Foundation needs your assistance with BESF's Annual Auction to be held  Friday 2/23/18 .  The funds raised will be used to create a magical media center for years to come. Additional funds will be used for STEM and other technology needs of our wonderful school.

Allison Bower has graciously agreed to be our Co-Chair for the event but we are seeking a second person to assist her with all the details. Please do not be deterred if the commitment of co-chairing a committee is too time intensive for your family right now. We understand that. However, Allison has lots of small tasks that can be delegated to even the busiest of parents, so please reach out to her if you're willing to help!  

You may contact Allison Bower at  allisonbower78@gmail.com  or Co- Presidents  Ann  Mancuso  annbriarlake@gmail.com  or Paul Grant at  pgrant@ggc.edu  for all the details.

As always the BES Foundation thanks you in advance for your time and effort in assisting the Foundation in providing our students with a well-rounded education.

Warm Regards,
BESF

Calendar
Upcoming Dates
 
 
     
12/11...........................MAP winter screening window opens (12/11-2/9)
12/12...........................Briarlake Holiday Musical Performance - PreK-2nd, 6pm
12/14...........................Science Olympiad Meeting (families of team members only), 5pm
12/15...........................Fantastic Friday Holiday Lunch for Staff (Principal provides the meal; 2nd grade and PTA coordinate desserts/drinks )
12/19...........................Class Holiday Parties, 1 pm
12/20...........................Last Day of 1st Semester
12/21-1/3...................NO SCHOOL, Winter Break


December Breakfast               December Lunch 
 



Don't want to miss a thing?  Sync your Google calendar automatically to the Briarlake calendar!  Head over to the PTA website and click +Google Calendar!
Cluster/Community News

DeKalb School of the Arts December Happenings!
 
Winter Music Concert
December 12 at 7:00 pm
Featuring  the  entire Music Department including Choir, Band, and Orchestra with a variety of selections to celebrate the season!
Avondale First Baptist Church, 47 Covington Road, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
$5 suggested donation but no one will be turned away
More information at www.dsa.dekalb.k12.ga.us
LAKESIDE FOUNDATION 5K


The Lakeside Viking 5K is Saturday, December 16. Click here to register. Please email info@lakesidefoundation.org with any questions. 




Lakeside Vikings Spirit Wear
GET YOUR LAKESIDE GEAR FOR CHRISTMAS!
 
Just in time for Christmas, get new Lakeside gear for yourself, your kids and any other Lakeside fans in your life! Check out our two new fan wear sites and place your order today. Select from great new items by Under Armor, Nike, Badger and Mizuno.
 
1) Lakeside Baseball branded gear: 
 
2) Lakeside Vikings branded gear:
 
Orders are generally processed in 8-12 days and shipping takes 3-5 days.
 
The Lakeside Dugout Club receives a percentage of all orders as a fundraiser, so buy generously and please...PASS THIS ALONG TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO NEED GREAT NEW LAKESIDE GEAR.
 
Go Vikings!