NORTH NEWS May 8, 2023

Website: https://smnorth.smsd.org/
Location: 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-6900
Twitter: @SM_NORTH_HS

North Community,

Today marks the beginning of the final week of school for the Class of 2023! We are so proud of this group and all that they have accomplished! Seniors will have their final exams this week, and the week will end with their graduation rehearsal, senior luncheon, and yearbook distribution.

For the rest of our school, it is two more weeks to achieve at the highest level possible before final exams! It's been a long school year, but keep working hard and finish strong!

Calendar Updates:

Please review the following calendar for May. Key important dates that affect the entire school community are included. Please reach out to the office if you have any questions!

Congratulations to our Spring Court Winners Gage Chapman and Maya Wallace! As well as our First Attendants KeJuan Blake and Ty’Aira Carter and Second Attendants Junior Lopez and Sofia Mcghee.

Yearbooks are expected to arrive in the next two weeks. Only limited numbers are available and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Books can be purchased from the bookkeeper or online at www.yearbookforever.com for $65. Purchase yours before they run out.

Dear SMSD Families,

We are coming to the end of another successful year in the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD). This time of year is full of celebration for all that has been accomplished, along with feelings of nostalgia over what will be missed as students and staff move on to what comes next.

I am writing to share the dates for the end of the 2022-23 school year in the Shawnee Mission School District:

• The last day of school for Pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) students will be Monday, May 22, 2023.
• The last day of school for K-11 students will be Tuesday, May 23, 2022 (early dismissal)

We are close to the finish line, but there is still important work to be done. Let’s dig deep and finish the year strong. Thank you for all you do to support the education of your children. Together, we are One Shawnee Mission!

Sincerely,

Has your student failed a required class? Do they need to make it up this summer to stay on track to graduate? SMSD offers two summer programs: Summer Academy and Summer eSchool. Please refer to the websites for details. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

Registration for summer programs will be at North in Student Services.

If you have questions about what class your student needs to take, please reach out to your child’s Alpha Counselor.

A-D & ELL Jeinny Morris jeinnymorris@smsd.org

E-K Leah Murray leahmurray@smsd.org

L-Q Jennifer Fontaine jenniferfontaine@smsd.org

R-W Deanna Griffey deannagriffey@smsd.org

We are in the final countdown for seniors

Email #5 was sent out today.. Please click the link below for more information.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19gqBlWVOCdK2cfhYXKWS8HUlJZCJTb1OS0USzs3QTDA/edit?usp=sharing

Class of 2023, we are having a class reunion celebration Tuesday, May 16, 4-5:30pm in the BJF library for all graduates.

Bring memories to share and we hope to see you there!

Have questions? https://www.facebook.com/events/500984558741087

• Student fee email notifications were sent out on Friday, February 10th.

• The Online fee payment portal can be found at https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/55790 You can set up an account or pay as a guest using the student’s last name and ID number.
• Fees not paid by June 1st or graduation for seniors may be sent to the Collections agency.

• Any questions regarding fees, payments, or to arrange a payment plan should be directed to SMN bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis at Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.
• Families qualifying for free or reduced lunch can receive a waiver for part of the fees if they provide the bookkeeper with a copy of their Food Service benefits letter.

To those families who are contacted through the remainder of the school year, by the nurse’s office staff.

We will be excluding students we have identified as missing required vaccinations until they receive them. We have exhausted our efforts at getting those done.

To prevent a delay in enrolling in the fall, those students who are missing any vaccinations will be called to the nurse’s office and parent/guardian will be called to pick them up.

If you believe you have a student in need of a required vaccine please feel free to call 913-993-9704 or 913-993-6916.

There are community based supports that we may recommend so that your student may remain in school.

We are here to help!

You may have recently heard news reports about increases of illness including allergies this spring, as is typical with this time of year. In SMSD, we have begun to see increases in absence due to illness; with a few physician diagnosed illnesses and many generalized symptoms.

One of the most important things to help decrease the spread of illness is for those who are not feeling well to stay home. If your child has a temperature of over 100.0 or has vomited or has had diarrhea, they must stay home. Students may return to school when they have been free from fever (without medication), vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours.

Your child may also be ill, but without these symptoms. They may have a sore throat, headache, cough, or generally not feel well. If you suspect illness, please keep your child home. If in doubt about sending your child to school, contact the school nurse or your child’s doctor.

Please always check the school calendar for the most up to date schedule SMN Calendar

• May 5 : North Relays
• May 12: Senior Last day
• May 17: Graduation

LOOKING FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT:

Crumbl cookies is now hiring! Text "4COOKIES" to 22100

Swimming Pool Rovers call Dennis at 816-682-3710 or metropoolkc@gmail.com)

JCPRD Lifeguards Aquatic Jobs | Johnson County Park & Rec, KS (jcprd.com)

Advance Auto Parts - Click here to apply

Charlie's Car Wash - Two Overland Park locations - stop by or go to charlies.com

Freddy's - freddys.com/careers

Jefferson's - Hiring Kitchen staff - call 1-785-727-3000

Overland Park, City of - apply at recruit.opkansas.org

Papa Murphy's on Shawnee Mission Parkway - 913-638-4552

Stretch Lab - Leawood and Overland Park locations hiring - Click here

Stanley Steamer - Career opportunies - Email: dfry@steemer.com

UPS - Lenexa, KS email - sford@ups.com

Tidal Wave Auto Spa - Click Here

Go to student services for more information.

May 2 - 7

Boys Golf: The weather was nice but windy in Lawrence as the Sunflower League took to the links for the final Sunflower League Tournament of the season. Shawnee Mission North had another strong showing shooting a team score 388. Seniors Cole Hageman and Jason Culp led the way followed closely by Juniors Nathan Oberle, Aiden Wiegers and Robert Wilson. North has one more varsity meet next Tuesday then on to Regionals.

Softball

Kelsey Hoekstra didn't allow a single run as SMN defeated Pittsburg, 5-0. The righty went 7 innings, allowing 0 runs, striking out 17. The offense was fired up in the second inning when Eve Frame doubled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run. The Bison tallied three runs in the sixth inning. Shawnee Mission North big bats were led by Brooklyn Bonewits and Tyra Wright, who each had RBIs in the inning.

SM North beat Bishop Ward 13-3 and lost to Bonner Springs 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Shawnee Mission North took the late lead in the game in a 3-2 victory over Gardner-Edgerton on Thursday. The game was tied at two with SMN batting in the top of the seventh when Alyson Worthy singled on a 1-2 count, scoring 1 run. Worthy went 2-4 at the plate to lead the Bison in hits, barreling up the ball every at bat. Kelsey Hoekstra was in the circle for SMN. The righty lasted 7 innings and struck out 10.

Jessica Brown had the hot bat on Tuesday, going 4-4 at the plate. Brown homered in the first, singled in the second, singled in the fourth, and homered in the sixth. Kelsey Hoekstra got the start for Shawnee Mission North. The righty went seven innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out 19. Brown, Hoekstra, and Alyson Worthy all managed multiple hits for the Bison.

Baseball

SM West Vikings Runs Away With Early Lead in Victory; Shawnee Mission North watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 7-4 loss to SM West Vikings on Thursday. SM West Vikings scored on a walk by Goodwin and a double by Nick Paredes in the second inning. SM West Vikings pulled away for good with five runs in the second inning. In the second Goodwin drew a walk, scoring one run, Gage Handzel was hit by a pitch, driving in a run, and Paredes doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring three runs. Handzel got the start for SM West Vikings. The pitcher allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out five. Emmit Gates led things off on the mound for Shawnee Mission North. The righty went five and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and striking out four. Cale Fossett threw one and one-third innings in relief. Fossett led Shawnee Mission North with two hits in three at bats. SM West Vikings racked up seven hits in the game. Paredes and Brandon Stone all had multiple hits for SM West Vikings.

Girls Swim & Dive

The girls had a fantastic second day at League. Meaghan Driever started off the day ranked 3rd in diving. After setting a new personal best of 376.45 points, Meaghan placed 1st. This is the first diving league win the girl's team has had in a long long time. Serena Clark placed 15th in the 200 IM, for a great second-day showing after achieving her State Qualifying Time during Prelims! Elli Brunsvold (Freshman), had a chance to come back and swim her 500 freestyle on day two, after a series of scratches. When given the choice between not swimming, and being the only girl in her heat, Elli took it upon herself to swim it again to try and better her time! We are super proud of her for being brave and trying something few people would ever try at a championship meet. Both relays dropped time today as well. The 200 Medley, consisting of Taylor Duckworth (Back), Isobel Asbury (Breast), Naomi Culley (Fly), and Serena Clark (Free) placed 10th, after dropping to a 2:11.63 finish. The 200 Freestyle, consisting of Eve Turner, Naomi Culley, Elli Bunsvold, and Serena Clack placed 8th and medaled, after getting a State Qualifying time of 1:50.77! We had several girls come back from day 1, who did not make it to day 2, to support their team and act as alternates and cheerleaders for their teammates who were swimming! SMNorth swim will be at the Last Chance meet on Wednesday at the Aquatic Center at 3:30, trying for some final state times. If you can come out and support the team, the girls would be so excited! We will be in Topeka from the 18th-20th for State so come support us then as well!

Shawnee Mission North swam and dove this past Thursday and Friday at the Sunflower Varsity League Meet. Meaghan Driever will be participating in the Diving Finals, going in at 3rd place. Claire Nash finished in 23rd with a fantastic showing! The 200 Medley ended the day in 10th place, the 200 Free Relay ended in 8th place, with a state qualifying time of 1:51.40. Serena Clark had a fantastic meet, making a state Qualifying time of 2:25.32! We are super excited for our kids to return for finals tomorrow! Our meet is at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center. The meet will be starting at 11:00.

Soccer - girls varsity soccer dropped both matches last week vs. Mill Valley & SM West.

SM North Summer Camp Information and registration information is available on the SMN Bison Website. We’re excited for your student to join us this year.

Physicals for 2023-2024: Just a reminder for those that may be new to this. Any physical and concussion form that is dated after May 1st can be used for the 2023-24 school year.

Check out the Sunflower League calendar/schedule to keep up with our events and activities. Our league also has a website you can check-out.

Save the Date:

• Friday, May 5 North Relays

If you need to visit with varsity spring coaches please see the information:

Varsity Baseball Coach

Rusty Jones

btl359@gmail.com

Twitter: @SMN_Baseball

Varsity Girls Softball Coach

Julie True coachtrue22@gmail.com

Twitter: @SMNorthSoftball

Varsity Tennis Coach

Steven Alcala

Stevenalcala6@gmail.com

Twitter: @SMNtennis

Varsity Golf Coach

Walter Mansfield

Waltermansfield@smsd.org

Twitter: @SMNgolf

Varsity Track and Field Coach

Aaron Davidson

Aarondavidson@smsd.org

Twitter: @SMNTrack

Varsity Girls Swim and Dive Coach

Kailey Morash

Kaileymorash@smsd.org

Twitter: @SMNGirlsSwim

Varsity Girls Soccer Coach

Jaime Velez

Jaimevelezacosta@smsd.org

Twitter: @smngirlssoccer

Live Eligibility

• Reports will be provided to coaches daily from skyward. We use the canvas platform which must be synchronized with Skyward; due to syn issues;

• Eligibility reports are Bi-weekly process

• 1st and 3rd Monday of the month

• If a student shows the AD between reports, he/she improved their grade then he/she is immediately reinstated.

• If a student does not improve and is on the next report they become ineligible for contests until they can show they are passing 5. They regain eligibility as soon as they can show proof and the process starts all over again.

SM North subscribes to Core Course GPA. If your student is interested in participating in collegiate athletics please visit the website and begin the registration process. SMSD will host a college eligibility informational session in late fall. It’s never too early to begin this process.

CoreCourseGPA.com now makes it easier than ever to educate your student-athletes and families on various aspects of NCAA/NAIA initial-eligibility and recruiting. Just click on the 1-Minute Recruiting Webinars below:

NCAA Core Course GPA vs Cumulative GPA

What are the NCAA D1 Initial-Eligibility Requirements?

• KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form, Transportation Release Form- HS - English [Required Athletic Forms for High School Students]

• KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form, Transportation Release Form- HS - Spanish [Required Athletic Forms for High School Students

• 2022-2023 SMSD Concussion & Head Injury Information Release Form

• 2022-2023 SMSD Concussion & Head Injury Information Release Form - Spanish

• 2022-2023 SMSD Student Transportation Consent and Release Form

• 2022-2023 SMSD Student Transportation Consent and Release Form - Spanish

• Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (English)

• Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (Spanish)

• Voluntary Student Accident Insurance (Managed by K&K Insurance)
  Our school district has selected the Student Insurance Plan from K&K Insurance Group to make reliable coverage available to parents. If you don’t have other insurance, this plan may be a resource to consider. Additionally, even if you have other coverage, this plan can help fill expensive “gaps' ' caused by deductibles and copays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

High School Sports Information

• High School Sports - Athletic Schedules

• SMSD Athletic Stadium and Athletic Complex Locations

• Kansas State High School Activities Association

• SMSD one page calendar

• SMSD HS Activity Handbook

• SMSD Athletic and Activities Webpage

Congratulations to Noah Panjada. His artwork was chosen 2nd place for the Congressional Art Competition. His art will be displayed in representative Sharice David’s office for one year!

The state of Kansas offers the opportunity for students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. In order to do so, they must achieve a qualifying score both in English and a second language. Traditionally, students who strive for this certification are in language classrooms and speak English as their first language.

For the last few years, we have specifically promoted this opportunity to English Language Learners. As a staff, we want to celebrate the students who are able to communicate in two languages, understand two cultures, and thrive in both.

As of today, Shawnee Mission North has 39 Seniors students who have earned qualifying scores for the Seal of Biliteracy this spring. We are still waiting on scores from several more tests and believe several more students will qualify in the next few weeks. Many of our Sophomores and Juniors have also achieved qualifying scores this spring.

Way to go Bison!

Seniors who earned:

Italia Galindo

Alex Dufourmantelle

Wyatt Boyd

Mia Villamar

Jade Morales-Gomez

Isabella Oviedo

Jimena Alvarez

Enrique Muñoz Marinero

Octavio Villanueva

Gerardo Lopez

Brandon Lozano

Serena Clark

Eric Betancourt

Maeliss Larcher

Dante Williams

Christian Iraheta Palma

Jocelyn Armendariz

Alexia Avendano

Naomi Culley

Jennifer Diaz Palacios

Elizabeth Doring

Meaghan Driever

Andy Garcia

Jovanni Hernandez

Joseph Jimenez

Ted Koller

Erick Merino-Diaz

Luis Montañez

Aby Tajin-Hernandez

Jackson Dinh-Phan

Paul Villalba

Fatima Hernandez Perez

Alexia Martinez

Leilany Luna

Lizbeth Baena

Sofia Bustamante

Ivey Delgadillo Siles

Naylea Fuentes

Esteban Suarez Gutierrez

Edgardo Lorenzo Leiva

Teacher Appreciation Week:

For Teacher Appreciation Week, STUCO will be bringing around a drink and snack chart to show our appreciation for them

STUCO Rep. Voting:

Vote for your 2023-2024 Student Council Representative this week! Voting will be in Canvas and will start next Monday, the 15th, and end on Thursday, the 18th.

The SMN BOOSTER CLUB online store is ALWAYS OPEN!

SMN 100th Anniversary Spirit Wear items are now 25% off - use the coupon code 100YEAR when purchasing online!

You can also order your gear through our online store using the link or QR code below…

https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

• Join PTSA (optional, but highly encouraged): Parents, grandparents, teachers, and community members: You can now become a PTSA member. Your membership helps support our students and their school!

Check PTSA out on Twitter @SMNorthPTSA or https://twitter.com/SMNorthPTSA

Check PTSA out on Facebook @SMNorthPTSA or https://www.facebook.com/SMNorthPTSA/

Check the PTSA Website http://smnorth.smsd.org/Pages/parent-involvement/PTSA.aspx

Join the PTSA Here - https://smnorthptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Memberships

As the winter months approach, it is especially important for our community members to be aware of inclement weather procedures and how they can be alerted if plans for building closures are announced.

Procedures

If conditions make it necessary for the SMSD to close schools, the district will implement one of three plans: A, B, or C.

Click here to view the plans.

Inclement Weather Announcements

If plan A, B, or C is announced, this information will be shared broadly.

Staff and families can receive direct emails, texts, and voice messages.

Families can sign up to receive alerts in the manner that works best for them.

Click here for details on how to sign up for alerts.

Additional Resources:

The main page of the district website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Local radio and television stations

24-hour information line at (913) 993-7380

No announcement will be made when schools are to remain open.

• ** Please Note- If you have an account from previous years (even Hocker Grove), there is no need to create another account.
  
• New users: Download the Canvas Parent App from the App Store or Google Play store.
• Follow the prompts to create your account. Create a username and password.
• Search SMSD (Shawnee Mission School District) > Shawnee Mission North > Eventually it will ask you for a “Pairing Code”
• To find your student’s “Pairing Code”
1. In your student’s Canvas account have your student click on “Account” (Top Left)
2. Click on “Settings” > then click on “Pair with Observer” (Right side)
3. Enter this “Pairing code” when prompted in your Canvas Parent App.
• Note that each parent needs a different code, therefore repeating this process to generate a different code. If more than one student, you will be prompted to “add student” on the app. Repeat the process to generate their observer code.
• If your student will not provide the code to you, please reach out to the school to get the Pairing Code. 😊
• Additional Canvas gradebook information can be found here.
• Canvas has the most up-to-date grade information for your student, if you have questions about missing assignments, please contact your student’s teacher.

Skyward

To get information about your login information for your Skyward parent account please contact Student Services at 913-993-6930. Skyward helps parents keep track of attendance, pay school fees, view national and state test scores, complete the online verification process and much, much more.