Nieman News
September 14, 2023
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Hello Fall!
September is just flying by! As a reminder we do not have school this Friday as teachers have professional development. Teachers will be working across the district with grade-level or content related teachers on our reading and math resources, Open Court and Project Lead the Way.
Please remember to sign and return your Title I Family Compact (tan paper) as well as your Opt In Letter (green paper) for our upcoming Student Reflection Survey. These are due on September 22nd. As a reminder, our student reflection survey is for our school to be able to help know how our students are feeling about coming to school, our use of social emotional learning strategies as well as their coping strategies. We want to be able to help students as needed on an individual level and this survey will help us to do this.
Also, thank you to everyone who nominated a Nieman Teacher for Kansas Teacher of the Year! Our building winner is Ms. Pagan- if you see her tell her congratulations! See below for pictures of all our nominees!
We will be practicing our Code Red Drill this coming Monday, September 18th in the afternoon. During this time students will practice what they would do in case of a CODE RED. We move into classrooms, lock and barricade interior doors, we take attendance and remain silent and wait for the all clear.
Principal Tenbrink
Ms. Pagan- PreK
Ms. McGinnis- 1st Grade
Ms. Kahmann- 1st Grade
Ms. Kilgore- 3rd Grade
Ms. Orth- 3rd Grade
Ms. Aue- 4th Grade
School Information
Wednesday is Attendance Count Day! Special Treat for Students!
Title I School Information
- See the information below on what it means to be a Title I school. Also, you always have access to our building grade card from KSDE by visiting our school website or utilizing this link https://nieman.smsd.org/about/ksde-nieman-grade-card.
Family Engagement Policy:
- Linked here is our current Family Engagement Policy. We will be reviewing this at our upcoming PTA meeting and making any necessary revisions we deem necessary. If you have any feedback please email kileytenbrink@smsd.org.
Attendance and tardies- school starts at 8:10am!
We have seen a major increase in chronic absenteeism at Nieman. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% of their educational time. Please know that teachers and office staff will be in constant communication if your child starts to accumulate excessive tardies or absences.
Celebrating High Attendance Classrooms!
Ms. Amber's AM and PM classes!
Ms. Horner's class!
Ms. Cohen's class!
Ms. Jonason's class!
Ms. Macher's class- 100%!!!
Ms. Messer's class!
Ms. Hammouda's class!
Ms. Berkowitz' class- 100%!!!
Arrival
Also, students should not be dropped off prior to 7:40am as there is no supervision. 7:40am students can go in to eat breakfast. All other students may enter the building at 7:50am. Thank you for your partnership in helping ensure we keep students safe!
Therapy Dog
Last year we began the process of bringing a therapy dog to Nieman. We surveyed families and with a positive response moved forward with the planning. Beginning this week, Nieman Elementary will welcome a Therapy Dog. Third Grade teacher, Mrs. Orth (Harris), will be bringing her dog, Penny. Penny has completed Therapy Dog training, and is a certified volunteer through Pets for Life, Inc.- Kansas City, where she has shown her good temperament, and ability to handle a variety of stressful situations while remaining calm. Penny is a Goldendoodle breed, which is one of the hypoallergenic breeds of dogs. She is brushed daily and groomed monthly or as needed, which will minimize allergic contact. As part of Penny’s certification, she is up to date on all vaccinations, and regularly sees her veterinarian.
Research has shown a lot of positive benefits of using therapy dogs in schools. Therapy dogs help to calm students who are anxious and crying. They increase the overall morale of the building. In addition to this, research shows that they decrease blood pressure, increase dopamine and serotonin levels, assist in social skill-building, and boosting self-confidence in reading. When a child is upset, the presence of the therapy dog may help them to refocus and settle.
While there are pros, there are also things to consider. We understand that dogs are not for everyone. We have already taken into account the need to consider people who have severe canine allergies. The dog is a hypo-allergenic breed, which can diminish the severity of allergies. Another concern is the fear of dogs. Many people are afraid of dogs and bringing them into the classroom and school as a whole may be more alarming to them, rather than assisting them, it could increase their anxiety. Knowing this, students will not be forced to interact with the dog, and we will make sure to ask all students before any interaction occurs.
MVP Training
My Volunteer Pal (MVP) Program is a volunteer program for all Shawnee Mission Schools. If you are interested in volunteering in a classroom or chaperoning on a field trip, you will need to be MVP trained.
Ms. Kwon has the next one scheduled at Nieman on September 25th at 6pm.
You do not have to train at the specific school you would like to volunteer at. If you are unable to attend these two dates, feel free to look on the district website for other locations and dates. Once you are trained, you do not need to renew for another 5 years. https://www.smsd.org/families/volunteer-mvp
Contact Ms. Kwon, annekwon@smsd.org to check on your MVP status.
PTA Information and Updates
PTA has so many ways for you to get involved, connect with one another, and support Nieman.
Become a PTA member through Givebacks- scan the QR code or visit the link below!
Help us help kids!
Thank you 6th Grade Families!
5th Grade Stock the Lounge- Let's do it!
5th grade families, please help us spoil our teachers and show them our appreciation for our October Stock the Lounge. Please bring the goodies to the front office by Friday, September 29th. Our teachers are amazing and we would love to be able to refuel their energy throughout the day! Thank you!
5th Grade Families- Sign Up Here!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054AA4A929ABFC1-nieman1Stock the Lounge Schedule
November- 4th Grade
December- PTA Provided
January- 3rd Grade
February- 2nd Grade
March- 1st Grade
April- Kindergarten/PreK
May- PTA Provided
First Dine Out- September 25th
See the yummy menu here:
Important Dates for Families
September:
Friday 15th: NO SCHOOL
Monday 18th:
- CODE RED DRILL
- Choir Rehearsal 3:15-4:00
- Girls on the Run 3:15- 4:30
Tuesday 19th:
- Caring for Kids 5pm
- PTA 6:30pm library
Wednesday 20th:
- Choir Rehearsal 3:15-4:00
- Mathletics 3:15-4:00
- Student Council 3:15-4:15
Thursday 21st:
- Movement Club 3:15-4:15
- Girls on the Run 3:15- 4:30
Monday 25th:
- Choir Rehearsal 3:15-4:00
- Girls on the Run 3:15- 4:30
- MVP Training at Nieman 6pm
Wednesday 27th:
- Choir 3:15-4:00
- Mathletics 3:15-4:00
- Student Council 3:15-4:15
Thursday 28th:
- Movement Club 3:15-4:15
- Girls on the Run 3:15- 4:30
- Skate Party @Skate City 6-8pm
District Information
September is Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Here at Nieman the students are focusing on what helps them grow as individuals since our theme this year is Ready, Set, Grow. Talking about who is a safe trusted adult and coping strategies will help remind our students what they can do when they are having big feelings. I can’t wait to show you what our school wide project will turn out at the end of the month!
This is a time to raise awareness and discuss this highly stigmatized topic. In addition to shifting public perception and stigma, this month is also used to spread hope to people affected by suicide. Our goal as a district is to ensure students, staff, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.
- If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
- You can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
Other links for Suicide Prevention Month:
- https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/mental-health-resources/suicide-prevention-month
- https://988lifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/
- https://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/suicide-prevention-month-ideas-action
- https://afsp.org/national-suicide-prevention-week
- https://jasonfoundation.com/get-involved/suicide-prevention-month/
SMSD Job Fair
SMSD Mic'd Up!
Shawnee Mission's premier podcast, hosted by Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard and Dr. Jeremy Higgins, Secondary HR Director. New episodes drop every other Thursday wherever you download your podcasts!
Shawnee Mission Mic'd Up is an opportunity to meet our community in a unique medium and shine a light on the staff and students who make us ONE Shawnee Mission. This podcast will explore a variety of topics in every area of our district with a focus on transparency, candor and of course, humor.
Episode 1: Welcome to the first episode of the Shawnee Mission Mic'd Up Podcast. SMSD Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard and her co-host Jeremy Higgins introduce us to this new platform while sharing some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into back to school!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8u-7-8xPZU
Episode 2: Join us as we explore Shawnee Mission’s brand new Pawnee Elementary School! This episode features interviews with Principal Kari Otero and Secretary Debbie Garren describing the features of the newly rebuilt elementary facility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPeHdKsUG5M
Episode 3: Summer camp for administrators, welcome parties for new teachers and our first student guest! In this episode we’ll explore the “off-season” for SMSD staff and the upcoming SMSD Fall Breakfast Spectacular that will WOW! the community!
Community Resources
BIST Parenting Series
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As part of ongoing support for families, your child’s school is offering a series of classes for parents and guardians through a partnership with the Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST). These training sessions are designed to provide ways you can support your child’s developing academic and behavior skills, as well as increase consistency between home and school.
BIST Virtual Parenting Series
5:45 PM - 6:00 PM Enter Zoom Room
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Informational Session
6:45 PM – 7:00 PM Questions and Answers
September 19th: Punishment vs. Protection
September 26th: Enabling vs. Equipping
October 3rd: Cultivating Accountability to Grow Seeds of Empathy
These classes are designed to:
• Create consistency between school and home
• Provide language for adults to use when redirecting children
• Share ways to problem solve to increase your child’s success
• Increase generosity and kindness in your children
• Bring a sense of calm to your home
Please join us for any or all three sessions!
How to Register for Free Training
These virtual classes are provided free of charge, however, we do ask that you please register through our website on or before Friday, September 15th, 2023. Instructions for registration are on the page below.
We are excited to offer this opportunity to you!
Sincerely,
Marty Huitt, Director
Behavior Intervention Support Team/Cornerstones of Care
8150 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64114
@MartyHuitt
To register for this class:
1. Go to http://BIST.org
2. Use the dropdown menu “My Account.” Click Log In/Log Out.
3. Create a username by clicking “Click Here” under the large LOG IN heading. If you already created a username by previously enrolling in a BIST class, just log in.
4. Enter your information (Name, Email, and a Password). This will register you on the website, but not for the class.
5. Select the class you wish to attend. Click “Register” to the right of the class name.
6. Follow the instructions.
a. Be sure to select “Pay Later via PO” under the Payment Method. This Parent Class is free, but you must select the “Pay Later via PO” option in order to register.
b. Select your child’s District and School from the dropdown menus.
c. Select your position as a Parent unless you are a school staff member. If you are both a parent and a school staff member, you may select either.
7. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link for the training sessions.
a. If you do not receive a confirmation email by noon on Monday, September 18th, please contact our office at bist@cornerstonesofcare.org for assistance.
Repeated but Important Information
Panorama
Panorama:
Parent information regarding the 1st Semester Panorama Survey below.
This school year (2023-2024) the Shawnee Mission School District is once again utilizing the Panorama Social-Emotional Learning survey to assess student’s perseverance, grit, determination, school culture and student-teacher relationships. The Panorama Social-Emotional survey takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete and will be administered during the first semester. The first survey window is scheduled for October 16 through November 10, 2023. Parents/Guardians must consent for their student(s) to participate in the Panorama survey; this would have been done during the 23-24 registration process. Survey data will be reviewed at the district and classroom level to determine areas of strength, as well as areas where more instruction and/or support is needed. Once survey results are returned, parents/guardians are welcome to see and discuss the results with their students’ teachers, social workers, and counselors. Sample survey questions can be found here and here.
We encourage you to visit the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) website to learn more about how Social Emotional Learning benefits your child and their environment. All data is maintained by SMSD and will remain confidential. Please visit this site for more information about the Panorama SEL survey.
Changes in Dismissal Routine
Student safety is of the upmost importance to us. Please know that frequent changes in dismissal routines causes safety concerns. We ask that you have a regular dismissal routine and communicate this with the classroom teacher at or before Sneak.
If a change has to occur the safest way to ensure the change is communicated is to email the classroom teacher BEFORE school starts and then ALSO call the office BEFORE 2pm. Teachers have different plan times and lunches, and they are not regularly able to read email. Any dismissal change received after 2pm is NOT GUARANTEED. We will do our best, but the end of the day is a very hectic time in a school. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring the safety of your child.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Our Shawnee Mission Student Handbook provides information on our philosophy of education, code of conduct and a of variety policies and procedures. Students and parents can read this handbook to better understand the behavior expectations of Nieman Elementary and also the Shawnee Mission School District.
Please note specifically the updated cell phone policy that was approved summer 2023:
- SMSD is committed to providing highly effective and consistent learning spaces across the district. During instructional time, the personal use of cell phones and other electronic devices that are not district-issued is prohibited unless explicitly directed by school staff. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices are to be turned off and put away during the day in order to respect the educational environment of the classroom. Medical exemptions may be applied. Initial violations will fall under the Discipline Matrix as a Level 1 offense. Subsequent violations will result in progressive disciplinary action.
Principal Tenbrink
Email: kileytenbrink@smsd.org
Website: https://nieman.smsd.org/
Location: Nieman Elementary School, West 67th Street, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-4000
Twitter: @Tenbrink512