NORTH NEWS September 28, 2020

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

Through the first 3 weeks of school, attendance rates have been very high - that is a great thing! Not only are students attending their remote classes, they are also engaging with their teacher, classmates, and course content. There is, though, room for improvement when it comes to student engagement. This is no different than when students are attending class in person. We can ALWAYS improve student engagement during class - it is never 100% perfect!

As you talk with your student about their school day/week, please continue to encourage them to engage with their teachers and their classmates. Social interaction is an important part of the learning process. Even though everything is being done remotely, we still have an opportunity to engage with one another. I can promise you that teachers are going to continue to develop lessons that strive to engage all students; we need our students invested in this process as well!

9th Grade Students Only: Our 9th graders will begin remotely MAP testing in the upcoming weeks in both their ELA and math classes. All testing dates and information will be shared with your student by both their ELA and math teacher so that they can login into the MAP testing platform from home. Testing dates will be communicated by your student’s teacher!

If for some reason your student is absent during MAP testing, please communicate with your child’s ELA/math teacher so we can develop an alternate window for your student. All MAP testing has to be complete by October 16th.

MAP Testing Reminders:

• Student fall MAP data provides teachers, parents, and students a baseline for where students are in the learning continuum.
• MAP data is a great resource for teachers to know students' strength areas and growth areas and can drive the instruction taking place in the classroom.
• Teachers want to know what your student knows. This is low stakes. Please talk with your student about this being an opportunity to show what they know. There is no need to access outside “help” during the test to gain answers to the MAP test questions.
• Teachers want students to do their best so they can use the information provided by NWEA to better understand your student as a learner.

Although students are learning remotely at this time, we still need to know if your student is ill or has a doctor’s appointment so we can excuse their absence. Students who do not show up to an online course/period without reason will be considered unexcused absent and you will be notified. An accumulation of unexcused absences can result in a student becoming truant. You can call the school's attendance HOTLINE - open 24 hours - at 913-993-6945 or you can email the attendance clerks: Mindy O'Connell and Lou Baker.

If you feel your student was marked absent in error, please email the teacher. If a corrections is needed the teacher will contact the Attendance Center.

If you missed picking up your 2020 yearbook, and you purchased one, they are waiting for you in the SM North office. You can stop by and pick them up weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Wear a mask, please). Or if you would like to purchase a 2020 yearbook, the yearbook company sent an extra 45 yearbooks and you purchase them now. Purchase the 2020 SM North yearbook at www.yearbookforever.com – just make sure and choose 2020 as the year (NOT 2021). Once you’ve paid and receive the receipt, just forward it to beckytate@smsd.org and I’ll have the yearbook ready in the office where you can pick it up any weekday between 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

STUDENTS: If you are Interested in being involved in the FIRST EVER virtual Hispanic Heritage program to celebrate, sing, dance, play an instrument, display your art, recite poetry, a speech, or work behind the scenes?

If so, complete the Google form below by Oct. 5th. You can also contact Mrs. J.B or Josie Lenati.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7C0NgCt7P_RhOO6przrMjb5Obm10nfu8OCufebAklAh83NQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

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

• The Online fee payment portal is now open and we appreciate your patience as student schedules should now be finalized. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online" The site can also be found at this link. https://www.smsd.org/families/pay-fees

• Any questions regarding fees or fee payment should be directed to SMN bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help with this. Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.

If you have not already done so, please complete the parents acknowledgements regarding remote learning on Skyward Family Access. The request comes because the Kansas State Department of Education recently changed its requirements for how we verify student learning and attendance. Once you acknowledge the three assurances, we will no longer need to require that students complete and parents sign a daily learning activity log, which would have gone into effect once we entered hybrid learning mode. Your help and cooperation is greatly appreciated. Please log on to Family Access to complete the form.

Si aún no lo ha hecho, por favor complete la confirmación de los padres con respecto al aprendizaje remoto en Skyward Family Access. La solicitud se debe a que el Departamento de Educación del Estado de Kansas cambió recientemente sus requisitos sobre cómo verificamos el aprendizaje y la asistencia de los estudiantes. Una vez que confirme las tres garantías, ya no necesitaremos que los estudiantes completen y los padres firmen un registro diario de actividades de aprendizaje, que habría entrado en vigencia una vez que ingresamos al modo de aprendizaje híbrido. Se agradece mucho su ayuda y cooperación. Inicie sesión en Family Access para completar el formulario.

We have asked members of the Shawnee Mission School District community (students and staff) to avoid participating in large gatherings, particularly where mask and social-distancing guidelines are not being followed. If you have participated in a large gathering, either indoors or outdoors, where (either)

• Masks are not worn, or
• Social distancing is not observed

Please quarantine for 14 days after the date of departure from the large gathering. We are seeing cases rise in our community and want to do all we can to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. Thank you for doing your part.

The food service department is pleased to announce that we will be offering FREE meals to all SMSD students regardless if they are learning remote, hybrid or in person. This includes breakfast and lunch meals. We encourage families to continue to apply for free and reduced meals in the event the funding is no longer available by clicking here. Qualifying may allow for other support through the district so it is important to continue to apply for free and reduced meals.

See the Teen Food & Fitness newsletters below from Food Services or check them out at the

Food Services website

Please contact the Food Service office with questions at (913)993-9710 or foodservice@smsd.org.

Families interested in bus transportation for their students should visit https://www.smsd.org/families/transportation.

Click on the box below for the Athletic Update for 9/28/20

Parents of fall student-athletes:

You may pre order PEC pricing and free shipping by using this link. Contact Brock Stubbs brock@pecsports.info if you have additional questions.

http://pec-sports.hhimagehost.com/SHAWNEEMISSIONNORTH2020fallsports

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

Canvas Parent Directions:

• Download the Canvas Parent App from the App or Google Play store.
• Follow the Canvas instructional guide here to setup your observer account.
• To find your student’s “Pairing Code”

1. In the 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.

• Spotify- Start Up Helper Issues: If you have the Spotify app installed on your computer you may be getting an error pop-up preventing students from using their device? Here is are the directions to fix it. Fixing Start up Helper

• 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

PSAT/NMSQT exam is coming up on October 14th. This is the qualifying exam for the very competitive National Merit Scholarship program. Cost of the exam is $20. You will need to pay through Total Registration at https://user.totalregistration.net/PSAT/172000 before October 3rd. If you have any questions, please contact Leah Murray at Leahmurray@smsd.org.

Scholarships (students will need to sign up to access page): See the form below for more info.

https://studentscholarships.org/newsletter.php

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.

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

SMN Booster Club Spirit Wear Sale

Monday, Oct 5 – 2:30-7:00pm – SMN Fieldhouse Driveway

This is your chance to check out our NEW spirit wear options IN-PERSON!!

Please wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines.

You can also place an order at our online store for quick and easy pick-up at the sale!

SMN Booster Club Store