A note from Principal, Dr. Lisa Gruman
Dear Northwest Community,
We hope this newsletter finds you enjoying your summer! Our last day in the offices for summer is June 18th. Our offices will reopen on July 24th with our usual hours of 7 am to 3:30 pm. I will check my email periodically throughout the summer, so feel free to reach out if a time sensitive matter arises at lisagruman@smsd.org.
This newsletter contains a lot of information in our sections below. Please take a moment to glance through those sections and reference as needed. There is a section regarding applications for Free and Reduced Lunches – this extends beyond your student eating school lunches to provide support with school fees and busing.
Before we close for summer, we want to make sure you have some key dates for your calendar. These dates mark items that need to be completed for a successful start to our upcoming school year. We will send another edition of our newsletter in July with additional details. Please reach out if you have any questions.
July 12th – Online Fee Payment Opens
July 21st – Online Verification opens in Skyward. The online verification process is important to ensure we have you most current contact information as well as updated medical information on your student. Online verification must be completed by a parent or guardian listed in Family 1 through the Family Skyward portal. Students will complete their verification in their student portal; this includes the Responsible Use Policy for their computers. Both verifications need to be completed prior to students receiving their MacBook.
July 25th – Students can view their course schedule for the upcoming school year in Skyward.
July 29th – 8 am to 12:30 pm – MacBook checkout and Fee Payment in Person
July 30th – 12 to 6 pm - MacBook checkout and Fee Payment in Person
**Students new to SMSD – August 5th from 2 to 6:00 pm is your MacBook checkout time as there is an orientation to technology included and assistance with account set-up for Google. We will send you a Sign-Up Genius in July to reserve your appointment.
We will work with our families regarding any fee payment plans during the dates scheduled for in person payment. If you have conflicts with our July dates, you are welcome to come to the office as your schedule allows. We are committed to ensuring the fees collected are used to support student learning opportunities and projects in our classrooms as well as financing student activities. The participation fee provides free admission to all students for home athletic events and theater. That fee is divided across our athletic and activity programs to assist with financing for those programs. We will include additional explanations for fees in our July newsletter.
Have a wonderful June!
Lisa Gruman
2025-2026 Bus Registration is Open NOW!
Early payment discount before July 11, 2025
$160.00 per student, per semester or $320.00 per year for school year.
Payments received after July 11, 2025
$185.00 per student, per semester or $370.00 per student for the school year.
Transportation Enrollment Forms
To enroll students for transportation visit DS Bus Lines website.
Those that have registered for busing by the early pay deadline can access bus information via the student's Skyward Family Access account prior to the start of school. The school of attendance will also have a list of bus stops and pick-up times the week prior to the start of each school year.
Once student bus information is available in Skyward Family Access, please sign up for the late bus notification system Textcaster. Both parents and students can sign up to receive bus notifications via this text system.
Terms and Conditions
Bus service is available at schools where 50 or more students are contracted to ride the bus, or where pay ridership has been mandated.
Service will not be started until a signed contract with payment is submitted to DS Bus Lines. Secondary students will be required to show student I.D. to the driver. They will not be allowed to ride the bus without showing student I.D.
Kindergarteners and first-graders must have an adult receive the student at the bus stop.
Bus fare is payable by credit card, money order, or check. CASH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Bus fare is payable by mail or in person to:
DS Bus Lines
5519 Merriam Dr.
Merriam, KS 66203.
913-384-1190
Mark Your Calendar
2025-2026 Fee Payment and Macbook Pick-Up Sessions:
Tuesday July 29 - 8am to 1pm
Wednesday July 30 - Noon to 6 pm
* Don't forget to complete your online verification prior to coming in! This needs to be completed to be able to pick up your Macbook for the school year. You can find this in Skyward via your parent account log in - available July 21.
Monday Aug 11 Freshman First Day
Tuesday Aug 12 Upperclassman First Day
Tuesday Aug 12 Picture Day (more info to come)
Wednesday Aug 13 Picture Day (more info to come)
Thursday Aug 21 BTS Night 6-8 pm
Zach Cash A-D zacharycash@smsd.org
Barb Legate E-J barbaralegate@smsd.org
Katie Cole K-Pe katherinecole@smsd.org
Jessica Andrade Pf-R (ELL) jessicaandrade@smsd.org
Jordan Landis S-U jordanlandis@smsd.org
Erica Jablonski V-Z (RWL) ericajablonski@smsd.org
