NORTH NEWS November 30, 2020

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

We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

As was previously announced, all secondary schools in SMSD will be learning remotely for the remainder of 1st semester (Jan. 22). The schedule we will be utilizing is below. Despite note having students in the building, staff will continue working diligently with students to finish out the first semester on a strong note!

If your student is already in, or is at some point placed in mandatory quarantine, please call Nurse Kelly (913-993-6916) with all the needed information and dates. Here are a couple of general FYI's regarding student attendance while on quarantine.

1.Students on quarantine are expected to attend class via WebEx on their "in person" days and on Friday remote learning days.

2. Attendance for each class hour will be taken and recorded as if the student was in person (even though they are on WebEx). This option is available only to students on mandatory quarantine.

3. Students on "at home" days during quarantine will look at Canvas for asynchronous learning directions from each teacher.

4. Students not present will be marked absent (unexcused).

5. Parents still need to call in absences for students on quarantine who do not feel well or begin to present symptoms of COVID-19. If attendance is not called, absences will be marked unexcused. Attendance Hotline 913-993-6945

Again, in a mandatory quarantine situation, specifics for the quarantine protocol and any questions you have regarding the process will be answered by the school nurse.

As we continue to navigate our remote learning circumstances, please partner with us in protecting and maintaining the confidentiality of all students. Parents should not interact with teachers via their student’s WebEx during the instructional day! If you would like to visit with the teacher, please use appropriate measures during appropriate times to communicate with them. Again, parents are to NOT become involved in your student’s online classes during instructional time. If you have a question for the teacher, please use the appropriate means to communicate with the teacher at a different time. Interacting with the teacher directly during their WebEx session is not deemed appropriate in order to maintain student confidentiality (Federal law).

• 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.

Plan ahead and add lunch money online under “optional fees” in case students want to purchase ala carte lunch items to supplement the free lunches the USDA is providing. Checks & cash are accepted in the cafeteria as well.

If you want to purchase items from the vending machines, please bring exact change, the office will not be making change this year.

We are asking ALL parents to pay fees ONLINE this year.

• The site for the online fee payment can be found at this link. https://www.smsd.org/families/pay-fees. You can set up an account or pay as a guest using the student’s last name and ID number.
• Prior year fees are now past due and need to be paid to avoid being sent to collections.
• Any questions regarding fees, payments, or to arrange a payment plan should be directed to SMN bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help. Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.

We are pleased to announce the 17th Anniversary of KC BizFest 2021. This year our event will be held virtually on February 10th -13th, 2021.

KC BizFest is a scholarship competition for Latinx Junior and Senior students in the Kansas City Metro Area. The competition is sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

It is a four-day competition that is business-focused. Students participate in a virtual conference-style event for three days where they learn how to write a business plan. On the fourth day of the competition, students present their business plans to panels of judges, and the top students receive scholarship money.

Online applications are due December 11th.

Check out the flyer below for more information

College Rep Visits:

Tuesday 12/1/20 - Donnelly College 3:00PM

Wednesday 12/2/20 - Truman State College 3:00PM

Sign up sheet - click here

Scholarships (students will need to sign up to access page): Click on the link for more information.

https://studentscholarships.org/newsletter.php

Scholarship Database

Advent Health - Nutrition Service Worker click here

Advent Health - Dietary Aide - Food Services click here

Lowe's Careers - Seasonal Worker - click here

Johnson County Park & Rec - Before & Afterschool worker click here

Panera Bread - Mission location click here

Our Shawnee Mission community is looking toward the future. Click here to learn more about the SMSD mail-in bond election coming in Jan. 2021.

Residents will soon be asked to consider a bond proposal, designed to provide lasting facilities improvements and to strengthen student learning. View a video overview about the proposed bond here.

The Board of Education, unanimously approved a resolution to place a $264.2 million bond proposal on a mail ballot this January.

The goal is that the Shawnee Mission School District can continue to be ranked among the finest school districts in the nation, employing exceptional educators who work in state-of-the-art facilities, where learners achieve their full potential.

Did you know some ways to keep you and your family healthy during the holiday season? Please follow these 4 basic food safety steps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.

Clean: Wash Hands and Surfaces Often

· Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of foodborne illness. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after handling food.

· Wash all counters, cutting boards, dishes, and utensils with hot soapy water.

· Keep books, backpacks, or shopping bags off the kitchen table or counters where food is prepared or served.

Separate: Don't Cross Contaminate

· Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from all other foods in your grocery shopping cart/bags, in your refrigerator, and while preparing items.

· Designate one cutting board for fresh produce and another for raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.

· Replace empty platters instead of adding fresh food to a dish that already had food on it.

· Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs.

Cook: Cook to Proper Temperatures

· Use a food thermometer to ensure your foods have been cooked to the proper minimum internal temperature.

· Keep food at 140° F or above after cooking.

· Microwave food thoroughly to 165° F.

Chill: Refrigerate Promptly

· Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours. Remember to store leftovers within 2 hours as well.

· Cooling food rapidly helps prevent bacterial growth. Large amounts of food should be divided into shallow containers before refrigerating.

· Never defrost food at room temperature. Food must be kept at a safe temperature during thawing.

· Know when to throw food out. When in doubt, throw it out.

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.

The winter season is in full gear. Teams are practicing and preparing for competition this week!

The swim team kicks off their season on Thursday, December 3 @ Summit Trail vs Olathe Northwest; The Girls and Boys basketball teams are in action on Friday, December 4 versus Blue Valley West and our wrestling team will host Manhattan, Hays and KC-Turner on Saturday, Dec. 5. Our Bowling team is hosting try-outs this week.

Please note all events will be streamed through the NFHS Network An annual pass is $69.99 year or a monthly fee of $10.99 is available. More importantly this provides an opportunity for you to see our teams play live.

Football: Congrats to Cotter Knowles (DB), Jake Schneider (LB) and Logan Oberle (TE) were names to SFL Honorable-mention football team.

KSHSAA: The KSHSAA Board of Directors (BOD) met in a virtual format with all 78 members in attendance on Tuesday to discuss several items pertaining to the winter activity season.

The BOD voted in favor to begin the winter activity competition season Dec.1st and continue through Dec. 22nd before taking a winter moratorium for practice and competition (no practice and no competition) beginning Dec. 23rd.

The winter moratorium usually runs from Dec. 23rd to Dec. 27th however the board took action to extend the moratorium on practice and competition through Jan. 3rd. Practice may begin on Jan. 4th and competition may resume on Jan. 8th. This action was taken for high schools and middle schools.

The BOD also took action resulting in the requirement for all participants (including but not limited to athletes, coaches, officials, spectators, support staff and all others attending/participating in school activities) to wear a face covering in the manner it is intended to be worn while at the event venue and for the duration of the event. The only exception is provided for athletes during the time they are competing and for officials during active play.

Other items resulting from the KSHSAA Board of Directors Meeting:

· Basketball may have a maximum of 20 games, exclusive of the postseason.

· Swimming and Diving may have a maximum of 10 competitions, exclusive of the state meet.

· Boys and Girls Wrestling may have a maximum of 18 events and no more than 30 competitions points, exclusive of the postseason.

· Bowling may have a maximum of 10 competitions, exclusive of the postseason.

By KSHSAA Board of Directors adoption, no spectators will be permitted for high school and middle school contests, Dec. 1 through Jan. 28th, 2021.

• Student Support Tech Link: Lastly, if you have not already, please have your student check out the Black SMSD Icon in the dock next to the life preserve (Hep Desk) icon. This Student Technology Support link will direct you to helpful information and be a reference when troubleshooting your MacBook during remote instruction. Student Tech Support Reference

• Please contact the front office for support 913-993-6900

For SMN PTSA/Booster Club news and updates like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter....

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402

https://twitter.com/SMNorthBooster

https://twitter.com/SMNorthPTSA