Blue Valley Northwest

Many families have reached out asking how they can help the Kyle family, and we wanted to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate.

A Meal Train has been organized to provide meals for the Kyles, and if you would like to help, you can sign up using the link below:

🔗 Meal Train for the Kyle Family

The Husky Hero Award is designed to honor the exceptional contributions and dedication of our educators at Blue Valley Northwest High School. This recognition seeks to spotlight educators who consistently go above and beyond in fostering a positive and impactful learning environment.

Don’t forget to nominate a Husky Hero! This is a great way to recognize staff members who go above and beyond to make a difference at BVNW. If you know someone deserving, be sure to submit a nomination.

We have rescheduled the senior parent reception for Wednesday, February 26th, at 6:00 PM, in the commons. The first half hour will be spent covering the basics of graduation events, and the second half hour is reserved for social time. We are still looking for volunteers to help with setup and cleanup. Sign up here!

Congrats to our Girls Bowling Team as they win Back to Back EKL Championships! Congrats to Caitlyn Klingler on earning 1st place and Bailey Kinkelaar earning 2nd place in individual scores.

Good luck to our boys swim team as they competed in prelims this morning and will swim finals saturday morning at 9:00 am at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center.

Good luck to our boys wrestling team at regionals Friday and Saturday at Olathe Northwest High School.

It is rivalry night @ BVN! Come cheer on the girls and boys basketball teams. 5:30 and 7:00 start times.

Winter signing day has been postponed. Mr. Richards will be sure to communicate the new date/time with the families that have athletes signing. The new date will also be posted in the newsletter.

Spring sport meeting will take place on 2/24 during AST.

Baseball: South Gym

Softball: PAC

Track and Field: Main Gym

Girls Soccer: Aux Gym

Boys Volleyball, Boys Golf, Girls Swim: Already met. Please reach out to coaches with questions. You can find coach names below.

Boys Volleyball tryouts will be Sunday from 11-12:30 in the main gym.

Be sure to check out the EKL Schedule for all the specifics: https://www.easternkansasleague.org/public/genie/997/school/9/

Repeat:

Spring sports are quickly approaching. The first day of practice is 3/3. There will be an information meeting during AST on 2/24. If you have questions about a specific sport, please have your student athlete ask the head coach.

Extra duty workers: We are always looking for PAID help at our sporting events. From ticket takers to running the scoreboard, we need help! This pays $20 an hour and you DO NOT have to be an employee of the district. If you are interested in working extra duty, please reach out to Meredith Dubill @ MJDubill02@bluevalleyk12.org.

It is hard to believe it, but spring sports are almost here! Please make sure your athletes have their physicals complete and uploaded to rSchool. If your student has participated in a previous sport, they do not need to re-upload. Please view the following link to help you answer any basic questions:

Instructions on submitting a completed physical exam (click)

Athletic Registration (click)

KSHSAA Physical Packet (click)

• Black History Month - created to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and rich cultural heritages of African Americans. Black History Month highlights the triumphs and adversities that have helped shape the United States.
• World Hijab Day - February 1 - recognizes the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab. Inviting women of all identities to wear the hijab for one day, it promotes understanding of other cultures and personal freedoms of religious expression.
• Magha Puja Day - February 12 - an important Buddhist festival celebrating the gathering between Buddha and his first disciples. Some families will attend temple, meditate, listen to teachings, perform giving alms, and hold candlelight processions.
• The Lantern Festival - February 12 - the last night of Lunar New Year celebrations. Occurring on the first full moon of the lunar year, it serves as a symbol of unity and completeness. Some families will light colorful lanterns - some with riddles written on them, dance, and eat sweet rice balls or dumplings in soup.
• Maha Shivaratri - February 26 - a solemn Hindu festival that marks the “overcoming of darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. Some families will celebrate by chanting prayers to the god Shiva, fasting, and meditating on virtues of honesty, charity, and forgiveness.

The BVNW Parent Booster Club (PBC) is in need of senior parent volunteers to help set up and clean up for the special "Senior Parent Reception" on Wednesday, Feb. 19th from 6 - 7 PM in the BVNW Common's Area. If you are interested in helping - please click on the Sign-Up Genius Link: BVNW Volunteer: Senior Parent Reception Volunteers

While not affiliated with or endorsed by BVNW, we wanted to let you know about an ACT prep class being offered at K-State Olathe on Saturday, Feb. 22. You can use this link to register and pay: http://actprep.info/bluevalleynw.

Do you know a Blue Valley educator who goes above and beyond to cultivate a learning environment where relationships are the cornerstone, where kindness and compassion are guiding principles, and making a profound difference in the lives of young people is not just a goal but a lived reality? Help the Blue Valley Educational Foundation (BVEF) recognize their extraordinary impact by nominating them today for the BVEF annual Champion for Students Award! This $2,500 BVEF award recognizes three exemplary teachers (one elementary, one middle, and one high) whose impact extends far beyond the learning environment, shaping the trajectory of their students’ journeys and leaving an enduring legacy of excellence.

Any member of the Blue Valley Schools’ Community (e.g., school administrator, student, family member, staff, etc.) is welcome to submit one nomination on behalf of an educator (any staff member in Blue Valley Schools - teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, kitchen manager, etc.). The application window will open on February 10th and close on March 7th.

To nominate an educator, complete the 2025 BVEF Champion for Students Award form by Friday, March 7th.

We are short for Prom this year and need your help! Please help us pay for our DJ, dance floor, tables, linens, and photo booth. Donate here: https://app.schoolfundr.org/fund/bvnwprom25. Every little bit helps!

We had our annual presentation about off-campus learning options through our Career Ready Programs this week. To review opportunities for rising 11th and 12th graders please see the slideshow from the program here. This will go over opportunities to pursue certifications in areas such as Fire Science or Automotive as well as Dual Degree Opportunities through JCCC. There are many upcoming information nights at JCCC about these programs that are detailed in the presentation.

Students in grades 9-11 will be taking a standardized test on Tuesday, April 8th from 7:30-noon as follows:

• 9th grade: PreACT

• 10th grade: State Math Assessment

• 11th grade: ACT (score reportable to colleges)

There is no school for seniors. More information will be coming later this semester!

Have you ever wondered how to monitor your child’s usage on their Blue Valley device? We have parent tools that allow you to receive notifications to ensure your child is using their device safely. School staff members monitor these devices during the school day and intervene, when necessary. However, parents can receive alerts if concerns arise when students use devices after school hours–including weekends and school breaks. Check out the Securly Home Parent Portal App here.

High school course fee payment for the second semester is open and online now. Your ParentVUE login and password are required to pay course fees.

• Course fees are assigned based on the master schedule and your student’s enrollment.

• Course fees are assigned for the second semester only.

Questions regarding fee payment should be directed to our bookkeeper, Melissa Gibson.

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all of our schools. Through the convergence of physical and intellectual security measures, we are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of emergencies. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

Families can expect automated attendance messages by email, phone, and text if a child is absent and their absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to report an absence or reply to the automated email or phone message.

What is the purpose of attendance notifications?

We realize that students may occasionally need to miss school for planned absences, illnesses, and appointments. However, when a student does not arrive at school or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to make sure you are aware that your child is absent.

How can I get push notifications?

Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. If a child has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance, then a push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device.

Interested in push notifications? Simply download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings and select attendance notifications through in-app settings. Once the app is downloaded, these instructions will help you complete the set-up.

State Assessments for sophomores and juniors will begin in April! More information to come. Please do your best to avoid scheduling appointments on these days so that testing is not disrupted. See “Important Dates” below for specific dates.

At the end of each semester, courses in Canvas will conclude and will no longer be visible on the Canvas app. However, a concluded course remains visible through the Canvas website by selecting ALL COURSES and then PAST ENROLLMENTS.

Please note: The dates are subject to change based upon calendar updates or technology needs.

How do I view my child’s report card?

• Log in on ParentVue.

• Select the student’s name

• In the left navigation bar, choose Report Card

Each new semester, classroom teachers will publish their next semester’s Canvas course. As courses are published, students and families will again be able to see current courses on the Canvas app and Canvas website. For Canvas parent resources, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/canvas.

If a student chooses to drop a class, a “W” for the withdrawal will be recorded on their transcript. The last day to drop a second semester class is March 21, 2025. After this date, a student will stay in the class and keep the grade earned.

**COLLEGE VISITS ARE BACK!

SEE BELOW FOR SCHOOLS, DATES & TIMES**

We’re offering college visits again for you to attend this semester. Here is the current list but, check back often as new schools will be added frequently. Once you sign up you will receive an email and this will be your pass to show to your teacher to be able to attend. No passes will be sent for you to attend the visits, you are responsible for keeping track of when & where the visit is happening and getting yourself there.

Johnson County Community College - Tuesday, February 25th at 1:30 - Come to Student Services office

Wichita State University - Wednesday, February 26th at 9:30 - Come to Student Services office

William Woods University - Tuesday, March 11th at 1:30 - Come to Student Services office

*Senior Parent Night – This event will be held in the commons on February 19th at 6:00 PM. Details will be shared closer to the date. Save the date, you don’t want to miss it!

· KASFAA is offering three virtual FAFSA assistance sessions, which provide families with the chance to meet one-on-one with a financial aid professional for assistance completing the FAFSA. This come-and-go opportunity, launched last year, was a tremendous success and is back by popular demand! Please help us support even more students this year by sharing this valuable resource with your students and families and promoting it on your school’s social media platforms.

https://www.kasfaa.org/student_parent_counselor_resou.php

· Additional FAFSA help events through Johnson County Library

Step-by-step through the FAFAS event

Students who are taking a 2nd-semester-only AP course and plan to take the AP exam(s) must register and pay for exams by February 28, 2025. There are 2 parts to registering for an AP exam:

1. Confirming exam registration in AP Classroom (through student’s College Board account)

2. Paying for the exam through Total Registration.

AP exam cost is $110. Detailed instructions on how to register and pay can be found on BVNW Counseling Canvas Course.

**Students who missed the 1st semester registration deadline (for 1st semester and/or yearlong AP classes) and would like to take an AP exam, may register during this window. College Board charges a $40 late registration fee. Student needs to pay for the AP exam through Total Registration, and then Mrs. Hadley, counselor, will update student’s registration/exam order on College Board side.

"Communication from the School Nurse and Athletic Trainer:

We have a new fax number for any and all medical records and documents. Please send these to our new fax number: (913) 239-3434

The Femineer Program was created to empower K-12 female students to develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue majors and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. It has since expanded to include other under-represented individuals in these fields.

If you are interested in returning to the program, please fill out the application linked below, scan it and return it to the Femineer Program advisor Karen Stohlmann at khenderson@bluevalleyk12.org.

Femineer Program Application 25.docx

Website: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/bvnw
Location: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: (913) 239-3400