NORTH NEWS August 24, 2020

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

Last week, SMSD released information stating that all students would begin the school year learning remotely. Teachers have been working hard to prepare for remote learning and will continue to do so leading up to the first day of school and beyond.

We can't stress enough that this will be different than 4th quarter of last year. Expectations and requirements for students will be much different than the way that we ended last school year. Additionally, SMSD has purchased a new learning management system, Canvas, that will be utilized by all teachers to help facilitate and organize the learning process. Here is a link to a Canvas webpage with an overview video of what Canvas looks like from the student view: Canvas Video. Over the next several weeks, you will be receiving information about what learning will look like in this remote environment.

We do encourage families to check your students district provided device and make sure that it is operating properly. Proper functioning of the device will be critical as we operate in this remote learning environment. Addressing technology issues now allows families and the school to troubleshoot issues before the school year begins and will allow students to begin accessing their courses on first possible day. If you have technology issues, please submit a heat ticket or contact them by phone at 913-993-8880

Finally, we are preparing for distribution of laptops to our new students in the next couple of weeks. In order to start laptop distribution, schedules and rosters need to be “turned on” in the Skyward system. Normally, this would not be a problem, as those schedules and rosters would have been completed and entered. However, we are working on a different timeline than usual for the start of school. Please Note: Although rosters and schedules may be visible in Skyward in the coming days, please know they are NOT correct and that they could easily change between now and the start of school. We are still making last minute adjustments with scheduling and staffing to meet the needs of our students. We are targeting September 4 to have all schedules and rosters ready to go for our first day of school on September 8, 2020.

We appreciate your patience as we work through this process to prepare for the upcoming school year!

If you are student currently enrolled at SMN that does NOT have a MacBook checked out to him/her. Please sign up for a scheduled time slot to check a device out on the Sign-Up Genius link below. Scheduled appointments will take place in the front entrance of SMN. Please be advised that a mask will be required to enter the building to check-out a device. Please be on time as we will be booked with appointments throughout the day and want to avoid any backup.

Available time slots before the 1st day of school are the following dates:

Friday, Aug 28th from 8am to 11:20am

Wednesday, Sept. 2nd from 12:20pm to 3pm

Thursday, Sept. 3rd from 8am to 11:20am

MacBook Distribution Sign-Up Genius

1. Click on the link

2. Find the date and time that you want to sign up for

3. Click “Sign Up” in the box on the associated date and time, then click “Submit and Sign Up” on the bottom of screen.

4. Type the student’s first and last name in the My Comment box. Then click on “Display an alternate name on the sign up” and again type the first and last name of your student.

5. Each time slot has either 2 spots available. If all spots are filled, please choose another time slot

6. Lastly, if your student brings his/her Student ID number, it will make things go faster, but not mandatory. We can look it up during the appointment.

All freshman MacBooks have been transferred with the student to SMN, meaning that incoming 9th grade parents and students DO NOT need to return the device to Hocker Grove. The device you currently have will stay with you through your time at North.

Tuesday, Sept. 8 - 9th grade and 12th grade only

Wednesday, Sept. 9 - all grades

All classes will meet remotely. Additional information about schedules for this day, connecting with classroom teachers, etc. will be provided in the coming weeks

Since we are beginning the school year remotely, we are going to provide students an opportunity to retrieve personal items from their lockers from last year. Access to building is by appointment only at this time. Please contact Penny Angell (pennyangell@smsd.org or (913)993-6905) to schedule a time to clean out your locker.

Students will need to check in and check out in the front office. Masks are required while in the building. Students will have a 15 minute window to collect their belongings. Appointments will be made from Aug. 25-28.

1. Get a physical if your child plans to participate in a sport. Please have your doctor fill out the physical paperwork using the KSHSAA physical form (click link)
2. Pay fees ONLINE
3. Check your family’s address, phone, email and emergency information in Skyward for accuracy. Make any changes necessary, and please notify the office of any changes in address, marital status, or custodial rights.
4. Complete your Skyward Online Verification (both parent and student need to complete this step).
5. Join PTSA and Booster Club (highly encouraged, but optional): Parents, grandparents, teachers, and community members: Your membership helps support your student and his/her school!

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

• The Online fee payment portal will be open on August 24th. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online" to find out if it is available. The site can also be found at this link. https://www.smsd.org/families/pay-fees

• If you need to pay by check, You will need to go to the pay fees online portal to find out your students fees. Please Make your check payable to SM North, Mail your check with your students ID number listed to SM North, attn: Bookkeeper, 7401 Johnson Dr., Overland Park, KS 66204

• All payment plans and KanCare can be completed over the phone or email. Please contact our bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help with this. Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.

Fall sports have been suspended at this time. We will update you when that changes. Please contact your coach with any questions.

Football - Andy Walter

Boys Soccer - Jaime Velez Acosta

Cross Country - Aaron Davidson

Volleyball - Crystal Foss

Girls Golf - Walter Mansfield

Girls Tennis - Jon Durham

Gymnastics - Sarah Gregg

All students that will be providing their own transportation or will be taking other students to games or matches will need to have the Transportation Release form on file. Parents and students must sign the form. Please turn the form in to your coach/sponsor. English and Spanish forms can be downloaded below.

If you are a Senior or Junior interested in joining NHS, the application deadline has been extended to September 2, 2020. The Google Classroom code for the application is: nfzrat6. Students will need a letter of recommendation from a teacher, supervisor, coach or other member of the community. Recommendation letters can be sent via email to: nopogore@smsd.org. If you have any questions concerning the application, please feel free to email Mrs. Pogorek at nopogore@smsd.org.

If you are a current Senior member of NHS or a Junior who has already filled out the application, you do not need to apply again.

Due to the late start of many K-12 schools, JCCC is extending the enrollment deadline for College Now and Quick Step Plus courses to October 16. Enrollment guides for College Now and Quick Step Plus can be downloaded below.

Please be sure to complete all steps in the enrollment process. If a student obtains a placement waiver, student will still need to log in to MyJCCC, register for the course, and pay tuition.

More information can be found by clicking here

Our school district has adopted Canvas, a Learning Management System (LMS) that will allow students to manage all of their respective class expectations, assignments, feedback and grades. This will be the one place students will go for course information. Once school opens, we will provide you directions on how to set-up your Canvas parent account. Teachers will provide instructions for students on how to navigate each of their classes in Canvas. Here is a link to a Canvas webpage with an overview video of what Canvas looks like from the student view: Canvas Video.

• If students are having issues with their MacBook (damaged or not working properly), continue to contact the Technology Help Desk (913-993-8880) until further notice.

• The district has purchased a new internet filtering application called Lightspeed. This will replace the VPN from last year. The update to Lightspeed will take place in the background once the device connects to district wifi. If you are having internet issues, it is advised to go to any SMSD school and get close enough to the building to connect to the wifi and then restart your computer. Open up the Manager app and wait 3 to 5 minutes. If you run into issues, again you may call the Help Desk for assistance. (913-993-8880)

• Notification to all students that the district is now blocking all audio/video streaming (Including Netflix) and social media websites (excluding Pinterest) during school time hours (7am to 4pm). This is to help minimize potential distractions during learning time.

1. Visit support.smsd.org to submit an online help desk request.
2. Call (913) 993-8880 Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The SMN All-Activities Booster Club is dedicated to providing our student clubs, teams, and groups with the financial boost they need to be successful. Each year we fund grant requests from coaches and sponsors for expenses not funded by the school district. Our Booster Club raises funds in a variety of different ways - through memberships, sales of Official SMN Spirit Wear, an Annual Golf Tournament, Trivia Night, and more. During the past 13 years we have granted over $150,000 to groups within Shawnee Mission North.

Go to our website (link below) to purchase your 2020-21 Booster Club Membership ($10 per adult) or to order SMN Spirit Wear...

As we wait for our 2020-21 spirit wear inventory to arrive, all items currently on our website are 10% OFF the listed price with coupon code SMN10 (while supplies last).

For SMN Booster Club news and updates like us on Facebook...

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

Follow SMNorth Booster Club on Twitter...

https://twitter.com/SMNorthBooster