March 1, 2024

March is here and is shaping up to be an exciting and fun month at Trailwood, as this is the month when we host our biggest fundraiser! Tickets to our Trailwood Auction are on sale now, and we hope you’ll join us. Proceeds from this fundraiser support over 50 programs at Trailwood, including field trips, mini grants, cultural arts activities, and more! Get your tickets today and keep an eye on our PTA Facebook page for some sneak peaks of some of the amazing items we have for you to bid on!

Jamie Reasons

March Events

Social Worker’s Week: March 4– 8, 2024

6^th Grade Band Concert at IWMS: March 6, 2024 at 7:00 pm

Flight Time: March 7, 2024 at 3:15 pm

End of 3^rd Quarter: March 8, 2024

No School – Teacher Workday: March 8, 2024

No School – Spring Break: March 11 – 15, 2024

Beginning of 4^th Quarter: March 18, 2024

PTA General Meeting: March 19, 2024 at 8:15 am

Flight Time: March 21, 2024 at 3:15 pm

Trailwood Auction Fundraiser: March 23, 2024 at 6:00 pm

Open House: March 28, 2024 from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

3rd Grade Field Trip to Shawnee Mission South: March 29, 2024

Save The Date

The time has arrived - tickets to the 2024 Trailwood Auction are NOW ON SALE! You are invited to attend our biggest fundraiser of the year which will be held at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center on March 23rd from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm. You don't want to miss it!

Never been to a Trailwood Auction before and wondering what to expect? This adults-only event is a great opportunity to mingle with other parents, enjoy some great food and beverages and bid on both silent and live auction items to benefit our school. While you don't have to be present at the event to bid on silent auction items online, we would love for you to join us! Our theme this year is "We Love the 90's." You are welcome to dress up in your favorite 90's attire or just show up in whatever you would wear on a casual night out. This event is all about having a great time with your fellow Trailwood parents/guardians and supporting our amazing school!

If you're ready to purchase your tickets, head on over to https://one.bidpal.net/twauction2024/welcome. Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner, dessert, two beverage tickets and one souvenir cup. Your purchase helps our PTA fund numerous programs at Trailwood, such as educational field trips, cultural arts assemblies, teacher classroom stipends, fun community events, and so much more! Ticket prices increase on March 18th, so order yours today!

Online bidding will open on March 19th, so be on the lookout for more information coming soon! Please direct any questions to PTA President, Jamie Reasons, at jamisonlyn@yahoo.com.

PTA Memberships and Yearbooks On Sale Now

Support our PTA by purchasing a membership. We’re managed solely by parent volunteers, and our funding comes from membership dues and fundraising. Becoming a member does not obligate you to attend meetings or volunteer (although, we’d love to have you!). Our PTA provides students, staff and families with a variety of fun and educational opportunities here at Trailwood. Our success depends on your support!

You can also purchase your child’s yearbook and pay their yearly activity fee here. Yearbooks will be delivered in May.

Order here: https://www.trailwoodpta.com/packet/4625

Legislative Update

Legislative Update March 2024

Flat Tax- Last week the Kansas House failed to override the Governor’s veto of the Flat Tax bill. That bill is dead.

Kansas PTA opposed this bill because of the significant reduction in state revenues it would generate, putting public school funding at risk. General education funding was just recently restored after the 2012 tax experiment. And we are still advocating to the legislature to fully fund special education which is underfunded by $173 million.

Fully Funding Special Education- A bill was introduced that would undermine efforts to fully fund SPED, and circumvent the Special Eduction Task Force recommendations to increase funding for SPED. That bill received 97 pieces of opposition testimony and had just 1 proponent (paid lobbyist). Large amounts of opposition testimony really make a difference!

We are still waiting to see how and if proposals to fully fund SPED will be incorporated into budget bills. SMSD has to use $10 million in general education funds to cover the state shortfall!

If you haven’t already, email our SMSD legislators and tell them how important it is to ALL students that special education is fully funded. This link (bit.ly/SMACFullyFundSPED) includes talking points and emails!

PTA Flower Sale

PTA Flower Sale- Begins March 4th!

It's time to start planning your spring pots and gardens! Next week the annual Trailwood PTA Flower and Plant Sale will open for orders!

During the month of March, you can shop a wide range of premium-quality bedding plants and flowers, including annuals, perennials, and established tomato plants, as well as beautiful mixed pots and hanging baskets for both sun and shade. These premium plants are grown to order by a local grower (a former SMSD family)!

Trailwood receives approximately 50% of all sales, so this is a great way to spruce up your outdoor space and support our school at the same time!

Look for an email next week with details and a link to order. Please direct any questions to Emily Meissen-Sebelius or Christina Geiger.

6th Grade Celebration Updates

Sixth grade is a special year at Trailwood for the students who are moving on to middle school. The beginning of the semester included a Valentine’s Day party and a service project, where the kids packed first aid kits for Johnson Countians experiencing homelessness.

Thanks to the parents who submitted baby pictures for the yearbook spread. The photos will also appear as part of a “guess who” game in the final days of school. Swing by and see how they’ve grown!

Speaking of photos, please don’t forget to upload seven photos of your 6^th grader (one for each year, K-6) for the slide show. Folders are organized by teacher and can be accessed by using the links sent in the 6th Grade email. Upload the photos in the folder with your kid's name on it by spring break.

What’s Coming up?

Keep an eye out for several fun events to mark the end of the year, including:

High school senior/6^th grade kickball game
Popcorn “give back” at the carnival
Boys in the Blues Brothers skit at the Talent Show
Presentation of the class gift
AND SO MUCH LAST DAY FUN!
1. Parents, please plan to attend the Last Day Breakfast, where we’ll watch the slide show, hear snippets from the kids’ Last Will and Testament, shower the teachers, and say goodbye to Trailwood.
2. The kids enjoy a schoolwide “clap-out” and silly string fight at the end of the (half) day.
3. Finally, party in the park! Swing by Meadowbrook after school for a popsicle and games.

How Can You Help?

We have several spots for parent volunteers in these last weeks! Please email Megan Foreman at foremanmeg@gmail.com by March 22^nd to volunteer.
Needs include:

Techy types to put together the slide show (needed ASAP)
Crafty types to make banners and invitations for the last day celebrations, and to create the baby photo “guess who” display
Creative types to organize a Talent Show skit with the girls (Taylor Swift theme, anyone?!)
Hosty types to help with the last day breakfast and park party
Gifty types to organize class gift and teacher gifts
Bipedal and breathing types we’re tired! Need help!

Thank you, Wingmen!

Trailwood dads and father figures! There is still time to volunteer as a Wingman this year! Check out the Signup Genius below to find a date and time (morning, afternoon, or both) that work for you! And, don't hesitate to reach out to Leif Peterson (leifepeterson@yahoo.com) with any questions you might have.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090944A8A82EA7FF2-trailwood3#/

Thank you to these volunteers who shared their time with our staff and students during the month of February!

Tom Hipp

Bradley Osborn

Eric Sornson

Mark Botsford

Andrew Maddux

Eric Foreman

Upcoming Dining Partner

Come to Peter Piper Pizzeria on Tuesday, March 5th, from 4:30 - 8:00 pm, and Trailwood will receive a portion of the proceeds! Present the flyer below, or use code FRESHDOUGH if ordering online!

Trailwood PTA

5101 W 95th St.

Overland Park, KS 66207

SUBJECT: March 2024 PTA Newsletter