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

Friday March 13th is an early release at the High School Level. Please see the document below with the schedule. All students will be required to leave the building at 1:10PM, so please make sure your student has made proper arrangements.

Dear SMN Parents and Guardians,

I am writing to let you that Shawnee Mission North High School will be having its last Thursday late start on Thursday, March 26, 2020. This is a change from our original schedule, which we need to do in order to ensure that our high school students have sufficient minutes of instruction (per Kansas Department of Education guidelines) to be able to graduate.

This year, several different factors came together to put us in this position. First, we lost a day of instruction when the district closed on the Wednesday of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a problem, because we build snow days into the calendar. However, we have already used all of the built-in snow days for the year. In addition, a quirk in the calendar has resulted in graduations coming a week earlier than usual. To remedy this situation, we will be returning to regular school starting time on Thursdays. Again, our last day for late start will be on Thursday, March 26, 2020. On Thursday, April 2, school will start at the regular time of 7:40AM.

Thanks for your understanding of the need for this change. Please contact the main office at SM North (913-993-6900) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Higgins

Principal, SM North HS

Spring Testing Dates:

· Kansas Assessment

o 10th Grade English – March 25th – 27th

o 10th Grade Math – March 31st, April 1st - 2nd

o 11th Grade Science – April 8th, 9th, & 14th

· MAP

o 9th Grade ELA – April 22nd – 23rd

o 9th Grade Math – April 29th – 30th

• AP/IB Exams
• Window is from May 1st – May 22nd

Please continue to encourage students to complete steps in their college preparation process. Ms. Debes is available in student services to meet with students for help with applications, FAFSA, scholarships, and more.

Upcoming dates:

March 24th: College tour to JCCC and KCKCC (and their technical campuses). Juniors and Seniors only. Must be in good academic standing. Permission forms are available in student services.

April 9th: JCCC will visit after school to assist students with enrollment for Fall 2020 in the learning commons.

The SMN PTSA invites all parents, teachers, students, and community members to help support the numerous activities occurring at SMN by joining the PTSA. Your support is needed and is much appreciated. You can join online at the following website - https://form.jotform.com/41480960832961. Joining is quick, easy, and helps to support the students and staff at SM North!

SM North High School PTSA would like to invite you to our

2020 Career Fair!

Thursday, April 2nd, 2020

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please see the letter below for more info.

Please sign up if you are available to represent your company or field at the SMN career fair.

At this event, you can focus on answering questions on career exploration and/or hiring for internships or summer positions.

SMSD Families and Staff:

Since the Novel Coronavirus has been in the news, I wanted to share some information about this new virus. SMSD currently has no cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus. However, we have received questions about the virus and what we can do to stay healthy.

Coronavirus Information
Symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

AND

• History of travel through Wuhan City, China in the last 14 days
• Or close contact with a person who is diagnosed/under investigation for Coronavirus

Spread of the Coronavirus is thought to occur between those with close contact to an infected person through respiratory droplets that may include:

• Coughing/sneezing
• Using same utensils
• Kissing
• Shaking infected person’s hand then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands​​​​​​​

Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019 Coronavirus infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information about 2019 Novel Coronavirus visit the CDC webpage at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/index.html

Shelby Rebeck
Director of Health Services

Email: jondurham@smsd.org
Phone: (913) 993-7138

Email: leahmurray@smsd.org
Phone: (913) 993-6935

The Shawnee Mission North DECA had quite an impressive State Competition these last few days on K-State’s campus, and we are proud to say that it is on to Nationals!! 6 of our fine DECA members qualified for the International Competition in Nashville, Tennessee in late April.

Congratulations to Brian Blood and Harden Boldt for teaming up to become State Champions in their Business Law event!! This is the 3rd year in a row that Harden has won State!! Congrats to Zoei Heyd, Saygan Trusty and Zach Setzkorn for placing 2nd in their Finance Research event. And congrats to Hananeel Morinville for placing 5th in the extremely difficult Marketing event! All six of these exceptional students made it to Nationals.

Congrats as well to Samantha Morinville, Ore Oni, and Dylan Deathe for making Top Ten at state in their category either overall or in their Role Plays. Great Job to all the North DECA team, and way to proudly represent North!!

Congratulations to the following journalism students who placed in the Kansas State Scholastic Press Association’s regional competition held at the University of Kansas on Feb. 21. These students will move on to State competition at KU on May 2. Wish them well as they represent SM North.

Regional Contest Results

Location: Wakarusa Regional (Region A of 5A/6A)

Contest A: Copy Editing

Honorable Mention - Evan Whitaker

Contest B: Sports Writing

Honorable Mention - Matthew Cunningham

Contest C: Editorial Cartoon

Honorable Mention - Madison Cole

Contest D: Yearbook Copywriting

Honorable Mention - Vada Nelson

Honorable Mention - Abby Schiller

Contest E: Feature Writing

3rd - Mystika Allison-Barnes

Honorable Mention - Anna Miesner

Contest F: News Writing

3rd - Mystika Allison-Barnes

Contest G: Cutline Writing

3rd - Matthew Cunningham

Contest H: Editorial Writing

Honorable Mention - Wyatt Boyd

Contest J: Yearbook Sports

1st - Vada Nelson

2nd - Evan Whitaker

Contest K: Academics Photography

2nd - Matthew Cunningham

Honorable Mention - Audrey Caravello

Contest M: Advertising

Honorable Mention - Oliver Fowler

Contest N: Headline Writing and Design

2nd - Wyatt Boyd

Honorable Mention - Mystika Allison-Barnes

Contest P: Infographics

Honorable Mention - Anna Miesner

Contest R: Photo Illustration

2nd - Natalie Medina

Honorable Mention - Audrey Caravello

Contest S: Sports Photography

1st - Audrey Caravello

2nd - Matthew Cunningham

Contest T: Student Life Photography

Honorable Mention - Jaclyn Honn

Honorable Mention - Alexis Kelly

Contest V: YB Theme and Graphics

3rd - Evan Whitaker

At the end of February we were up in Omaha competing in an Inter-Service Drill meet against 15 other schools. Our kids were outstanding and came away with the Overall Championship. It was a tough competition and we had several kids not there because of other “state wide” competitions. The kids that stepped-up answered the call!!

This is also a neat competition in that instead of trophies being presented the host school awards Scholarships. We finished 1st in the “Armed” categories of the competition and received a $500 scholarship and of course we were also the “Overall” champions and that resulted in a $1,000 scholarship – so a total of $1,500 in scholarship money is headed our way – so we will be able to help out some families for college next fall!

With the victory the kids improved their record to 42-0 on the year with the National Championship in Pensacola remaining. We have five weeks of preparation left – so we will see how hard they are willing to work down the stretch and where that will take us?

Here is a breakdown of each event:

OVERALL – 1st Place

Armed Overall – 1st Place

Armed Regulation – 1st Place

Armed Exhibition – 1st Place

Unarmed Regulation – 2nd Place

New Cadet – 2nd Place

Overall Unarmed – 3rd Place

Unarmed Exhibition- 3rd Place

Unarmed Color Guard – 3rd Place

Armed Color Guard – 4th Place

Only 65 extra yearbooks were ordered. These books will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The extra 2020 Yearbooks can be purchased through the bookkeeper in the main office or at www.yearbookforever.com . Cost is $65 if purchased at school.

New, this year only, students who purchased their books before Jan. 10 will have a cover that represents their grade level. Books purchased after Jan. 10 will be given a book with a cover of the yearbook staff’s choice.

The bookkeeper will accept cash ($65) a check made out to SM North, or she can accept credit cards.

Another way to purchase the yearbook with credit card payment can be made at www.yearbookforever.com. Choose SM North. There is a $2 service fee if you choose to pay online.

Once these books are sold, none will be available.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Indian adviser, Becky Tate at 913-993-7012.

The Shawnee Mission School District and Children’s Mercy Kansas City are proud to present Dr. Shayla Sullivant's Prepped and Ready - Parenting into the Teen Years. Wednesday, March 11 at 6pm at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st Street. RSVP: bit.ly/smsdpreppedready20

El Distrito Escolar de Shawnee Mission y Children’s Mercy Kansas City se enorgullecen en presentar a la Dra. Shayla Sullivant, Preparada y lista: Crianza de los hijos en la Adolescencia. Miércoles 11 de marzo a las 6:00 pm en el Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st Street. Reservacionesj aquí: bit.ly/smsdpreppedready20

FOOD SERVICE….Did you know…………

Did you know that March 2-6, 2020 is National School Breakfast Week?

A breakfast program is available in the cafeteria every day. This is a great time to try School Breakfast. Let’s help students to perform better every day by making sure they eat a healthy breakfast at home or at school.

Students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:

· Maintain a healthy weight

· Have better concentration and memory

· Be more alert

· Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math, and score higher on standardized tests

· Drink more milk and eat more fruit daily

Eating school breakfast is associated with:

· Lower rates of absenteeism and tardiness

· Fewer behavioral problems

· Reduced number of nurse’s office visits

· Higher grades and increased standardized tests scores

· Positive learning environments

School breakfast can also:

· Decrease the risk of food insecurity

· Improve children’s overall dietary intake

· Help protect against childhood obesity

· Protect against other negative health outcomes

· Reduce students’ stress and anxiety

Don’t forget – if your child receives free or reduced meals, they are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day as part of this benefit. All breakfast and lunch meal choices are available for all students regardless of eligibility status.

The school breakfast menus, lunch menus, and other nutrition information are available on the district’s website at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service.