Before we look back on this past year's achievements, we want to take a moment to pause and say thank you.

Principal Jones and Assistant Principal Milliron foster a culture that welcomes families to play an active role in our school community. Everything we are able to celebrate was made possible because of their support of parent involvement. For that trust, we are deeply grateful. 

From classrooms to the front office and everywhere in between, we thank our teachers, staff, and administration for the countless ways they help our students thrive. 

To BES families, thank you for donating, attending events, and volunteering. Parent involvement reached new heights this year, and it did not go unnoticed! 

And to our PTA Board and Committee Chairs—more than 30 strong!—thank you for keeping Briarlake's programs, traditions, and experiences running strong all year long. 

It can be hard to see how far you've come when you're in the middle of the journey. Without a little distance to step back and gain perspective, it's easy to miss the big picture.

This Year in Reverse gives us a chance to glance in the rearview mirror and see just how much ground we've covered together.

There's a lot of road behind us, so settle in as we take the scenic route back through the moments that made this year uniquely Briarlake.

Briarlake families will long remember the uncertainty surrounding the start of the school year and the unexpected relocation of Open House to Lakeside High School.

At the center of that whirlwind was Open House Coordinator Jodi Prevost, who transformed an unfamiliar space into a warm and welcoming Briarlake "home away from home." 

This year, Briarlake PTA was honored to receive the "100+ Members Award" from DeKalb County PTA District 7.

That recognition is already inspiring us to aim even higher as we set our sights on 200 members by the first day of September, an opportunity to earn the "Early Bird Award."

But membership is about more than awards and numbers. It is a visible reminder that PTA is for everyone who cares about Briarlake and wants to support our school community. That's the real strength behind these numbers. 

Thank you Co-VPs of Programs & Events—Noy Hawkins and AnnElise Schmidt—for bringing us collaborative art experiences, a glamorous school-wide dance, opportunities for students to shine on stage, and a celebration of cultures from around the world. 

This year served as Noy Hawkins' grand finale at Briarlake. As she takes her final bow, we send her off with a well-deserved standing ovation and our thanks for the memories and traditions she helped create for our community. 

Brushes & Buddies

Enchanted Fall Ball

2nd Annual Talent Show

International Night

Under the guidance of Laura Turner, Reflections Art Program Chair, Briarlake students once again shared their creativity and talents through art, photography, literature, music composition, dance choreography, and film production—earning recognition and honors along the way. 

Thank you to our Fall Festival Committee—Kate Bonner (Chair), Ansley Thompson, Stephanie Pope, Jaclyn Elwell, Adrienne Mogge, and Lucy Freas—for exemplifying the power of teamwork to bring the magic of fall to our community once again. Additional thanks to the student volunteers from Lakeside and Chamblee High Schools.

Angela Barnett, Parliamentarian, brought decades of PTA knowledge and experience to help guide our meetings, elections, and governance processes. What a fitting final PTA role for Angela as she closes out her Briarlake chapter this year. 

As Treasurer, Jon Hawkins helped keep the PTA on steady financial footing. From budgets and reimbursements to reports and annual audits, he managed our resources wisely. As Jon prepares to move on from Briarlake, he has written his final PTA check. We thank him for his sound judgment, careful stewardship, and years of service.

Behind every set of meeting minutes and official records was Secretary Ashley Miller, who faithfully captured and preserved the history of the year.

Co-VPs of Fundraising Eleanor Dake and Erin Rehm brought fresh ideas and new energy to fundraising. This year's initiatives focused not only on raising funds to power the PTA, but also on giving back to those who give.

Fundraising Initiatives

• Beaver Builder Fund
• Raise Craze
• "Pave the Path" Project

Ways PTA Gave Back

• BES swag
• Donor recognition
• Engraved bricks
• Prizes & experiences

BES Swag

Donor Recognition

Engraved bricks - "Pave the Path"

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Briarlake families, we reached 80% of our goal for the annual school start-up fund!

In addition to our main fundraising efforts, the Co-VPs of Fundraising introduced several low-pressure, family-centered opportunities.

   • Family Photo Sessions
   • Gather & Garnish Meal Kits
   • Moe's Southwest Grill Taco Kits
   • RaiseRight Program

Each initiative helped support our school while fitting naturally into the everyday lives of Briarlake families.

Raise Craze—Briarlake's first-ever service-based fundraiser—encouraged students to earn donations through acts of kindness and service to others.  

Campaign Highlights

• 115 Participants
• $18,550 Raised
• 521 Acts of Kindness
• 93 Student Prizes
•  "Nifty Fifty" Trophy (50 states represented!)

Party Giveaways

• Pizza Party — Donatos
• Ice Cream Party — Marlow's Tavern
• Magician Party — Southern Belle
• Movie Party — Movie Tavern

We are proud of the compassion students and families demonstrated, helping us reach 74% of our goal!

"Nifty Fifty" Trophy

Special thanks to Business Outreach Chair Bailey Coffer and Honorary Chair Sara Barta for cultivating sponsorships from the local business community, and to Jodi Prevost and Ben Leaks for their behind-the-scenes support with sponsor recognition, social media spotlights, and advertising fulfillment efforts throughout the year. 

Business Outreach efforts generated more than $30,000 through monetary donations, gift certificates, food, and services from more than 30 local businesses and community partners.

The impact extended well beyond the PTA. Thanks to the support of our sponsors, PTA was able to contribute more than $12,000 in gift certificates to the BES Foundation's Annual Auction.

These deeply-rooted partnerships reflect the strong ties between Briarlake PTA and our local business community, demonstrating what is possible when sponsors invest in our school community. 

🔗 View the full list of sponsors here.

Donated by former BES parent Eddie Whittaker of Greenlight Graphics, Briarlake's distinctive double-sided sponsorship banner has become both a valued opportunity for local businesses and a visual celebration of those partnerships. 

2025-2026 Sponsors Banner

Field Day 2026 was nothing short of epic! Thank you to the Field Day Committee—Robin Kelley and Adrienne Mogge—along with Coach Cocks and nearly 75 parent volunteers, whose enthusiasm and energy fueled the fun from start to finish.

Spirit Wear Coordinator Bailey Coffer oversaw this year's spirit wear design and sales. The first batch of spirit wear sold out by Open House—a sure sign that Briarlake spirit was already in full swing before the school year even began. The strong response prompted a second round of spirit wear sales, spreading even more Briarlake spirit throughout the community. 

The Fourth Annual Briarlake Arts Fest delivered a jam-packed lineup:

Performances

 • 3rd–5th Grade Spring Concert
 • BES Band Concert
 • Dauphin Dance Center Performance
 • Henderson Middle School Drum Line

Activities & Attractions

 • Artist Showcase by Artome
 • Family Cardboard Challenge
 • Hello Kitty & Pikachu Character Visits

Artist Market

 • Student & Community Vendors

Food & Refreshments

 • Blake's BBQ
 • Chick-fil-A
 • Popcorn 
 • Super Tacos
 • Tikiz Snow Cones

The excitement from this year's Arts Fest is already carrying into next year, as vendors and performers have expressed interest in returning for Arts Fest 2027. 

We extend a heartfelt thanks to Briarlake's Art Teacher, Dr. Sery, whose vision and brilliance transformed this year's Arts Fest into an energetic, vibrant community event.

Additional thanks to Arts Fest Coordinator Sara Barta for overseeing artist and vendor booths as well as event-day logistics.

Every Book Fair purchase helps inspire a love of reading while also earning Scholastic Dollars for our school. 

Over the years, those rewards stacked up, allowing PTA to offer nearly $8,000 in shopping power to teachers for classroom books and resources.  

Thank you to Kim McCoy, longtime Book Fair Chair, for her years of leadership and dedication and to Adrienne Mogge for stepping into the role this upcoming year to carry it forward.

Some volunteer roles took place quietly in the background. Though often unseen, these essential contributions touched nearly every part of our school community because—at some point—we all relied on them to keep things moving forward. 

• Lost & Found — Laura Turner
• Flyer Design — Bridgett Shields
• Room Parent Coordinator — Susan Pinson
• Volunteer Coordinator — Robin Kelly

We are grateful to the Communications Team for keeping Briarlake families informed, connected, and engaged in all the happenings around school. 

Rebecca Cochran, Co-VP of Communications, assembled and distributed the weekly Beaver Blast newsletter, ensuring Briarlake families never missed an update. This year marked Rebecca's final edition as she wrapped up her Briarlake journey. 

Lauren Griffiths, Co-VP of Family Engagement, ensured the legendary Friday Folders remained a trusted vehicle for delivering school news, forms, and reminders to families each week.

Sara Barta, PTA Website Manager, maintained the digital calendar, spotlighted upcoming events, managed the online store, and created a hub for parent resources.

Susan Pinson, Moderator of the BES Parents Facebook Group and Room Parent Coordinator, helped keep families connected both online and in the classroom throughout the year.

Room Parents acted as liaisons, relaying classroom information, coordinating volunteers, and strengthening connections between teachers and families throughout the year.

Yang Shen, Mandarin Liaison, expanded access to school news and updates through a dedicated WhatsApp group for Mandarin-speaking families.

Thank you to Jeff Dake and Tim Bonner, Safe Routes to School Chairs, for stepping into this important role after it had remained vacant for three years. 

Their advocacy helped bring significant safety improvements to our school footprint, with additional enhancements still in progress.

• Completed missing sidewalk segment
• Added school zone and pedestrian signage
• Upgraded crossing infrastructure and signals
• Advocated for additional crossing and speed improvements

Each improvement helped make the trip to school a little safer 

New traffic signs

Our three Walk & Roll to School events inspired students and families to get moving and make the trip to school a little more active. 

Officers from the DeKalb County Police Department donated their personal time to provide parade-style escorts for our students.

On behalf of Briarlake families, Safe Routes to School Chairs presented end-of-year appreciation gifts to the officers in recognition of their generosity and support throughout the year. 

Special thanks to the Buildings & Grounds Committee—Addison Barden, Elaine Marino, and Zac Pitts—along with Master Gardener Sally Elliott and other community volunteers.

An honorable mention to BES parent Blake Thomas, who answered the call for help with countless in-between projects whenever an extra set of hands was needed. 

Shade Sail Project

• Installed Teacher Shade Sail
• Added slate chips
• Added 8-person picnic table

Other Projects

• Reinstalled Sponsor Banner
• Relocated garden tool shed
• Added gravel to teacher parking lot
• Removed old lumber and debris

Landscaping & Beautification

• Cleared kudzu with help from goats
• Removed weeds
• Added shrubs and flowers
• Trimmed trees and shrubs
• Added mulch around campus
• Repaired and painted Briarlake sign
• Pressure washed portables
• Installed solar lighting

Thank-You Giveaways

 • Catch Air passes
 • Spirit Wear giveaways
 • Bucky's Boulder bookings

Volunteer Perks

 • Dunkin' Coffee & Donuts
 • Donatos Pizza

At the heart of every improvement was a group of volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves for Briarlake's campus.

Penny Lappan, Bulletin Boards Chair, kept our seasonal displays refreshed throughout the school.

Talented parents added their artistic flair to campus by painting Bucky's Boulder. 

One of the most unique additions to our campus this year was the Beaver Brain Station, created by Kelly Carlisle and installed near the art patio. 

Bulletin Boards

Boulder Paintings

The Beaver Brain Station

A huge shoutout to our ever-busy Co-VPs of Staff Appreciation & Hospitality, Alexa Newsome and Rebecca Becker, for turning the gratitude of Briarlake families into year-round appreciation events and hospitality experiences for our teachers and staff. 

PTA proudly recognized: 

 • Principal
 • Assistant Principal
 • Nurse
 • Counselor
 • Media Specialist
 • Crossing Guards
 • Bus Drivers
 • Administrative Assistants
 • School Nutrition Team
 • Custodians
 • Security Professional
 • School Psychologist
 • Social Worker
 • Retirees (3 this year)

 PTA hosted a variety of hospitality events:

• PTA Summer Social — Fellini's Pizza
• Welcome Back Breakfast — Bell Street Burritos
• New Teacher & Staff Gifts — Welcome Baskets
• Teachers' Lounge Gift — Ninja Hot & Cold Coffee Maker
• Open House Lunch — Marco's Pizza & Marlow's Tavern
• Weekend Warrior Lunch — Marlow's Tavern
• Playground Meetup — Kona for the K's 
• Cheers & Tears — Dunkin Donuts
• November BBQ Staff Luncheon — Marlow's Tavern
• Holiday Gift Giving — Cash Gifts & Southern Baked Hand Pies
• ASL Day Family Luncheon — Marlow's Tavern
• Senior LHS Vikings Lunch — Fellini's Pizza
• End-of-Year PTA Social — Fellini's Pizza

Welcome Back Breakfast

Weekend Warrior Lunch

Tears & Cheers Parent Meetup

Kona for the K's

Holiday Staff Lunch

"Senior Viking Walk" Luncheon

PTA showered our teachers with a week-long lineup of treats, surprises, and pampering:

• Bell Street Burritos lunch
• BES-branded handheld fans
• Here & Now Coffee Truck
• Thrive Therapeutic Massage
• Tropical Smoothie Café drinks

Special thanks to Fantastic Fridays Chair, Carolyn Baggett, for coordinating four staff luncheons, and to the many BES families who donated food and volunteer support throughout the year.

Student Recognition

• Beavers of the Month

Clubs & Activities

• Jr. Beta Club
• Drama Club
• School Clubs

Academic Teams

• County Science Fair
• Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl
• Sagamore Hills Math Tournament

Grade-Level Seed Funding

• Fifth Grade Committee

Beavers of the Month

"Seussical" Drama Production

5th Grade Gift

Jr. Beta Club

School Support

• Class Party Funds
• Classroom Start-Up Stipends
• Friday Folders
• Student Agendas

Educational Support

• Art Program — Bloxels Software
• DHH Program — Classroom Support
• Library — Cricut Software
• Music Program — Enhancements and Software
• PE Program — Gym Equipment
• SPID Program — Classroom Support
• STEM Program — Maker's Empire Software

Student & Family Support

• Career Day
• Celebrations of Learning
• Character Day Parade
• Child in Need
• Counselor Fund
• Discretionary Funds
• Nurse Fund
• Red Ribbon Week

Career Day

Character Parade

Celebrations of Learning Picnics

We hope you've enjoyed this 2025–2026 Year in Reverse and the opportunity to revisit the many ways PTA support is seen and felt throughout our school community. 

As we look ahead to the new year, we invite you to continue your support of the PTA—or perhaps find a new way to get involved—as we prepare for what's next.

🔗 PTA Memberships

🔗 Volunteer Opportunities 

Lastly, be on the lookout for upcoming parent and teacher surveys as we gather feedback on this past year and collect ideas and perspectives to help shape the future of Briarlake PTA.