Trailblazer Family Newsletter
December 20, 2024
Principal's Message
BA Families,
The SMSD transfer window is the period of time when a student can apply to transfer from their home school (determined by place of residence) to a different school.
If your transfer request has been initiated by a change of address, please contact our school office for instructions on how to apply for a transfer.
If you are requesting a transfer for other reasons, you must go through the annual transfer window. The In-District transfer window opens February 1, 2025 and closes on February 28, 2025. This transfer window will apply to the 2025-2026 school year.
For more information, please visit https://www.smsd.org/families/transfer-procedures
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season & break! We look forward to your child returning to school on Monday, January 6.
Mr. Horne
BA Event Calendar
DECEMBER
20- Early Release, 12:30 Dismissal K-6 (no school for PreK)
Dec 23-Jan 3- No School, Winter Break
JANUARY
1- PreK & Kindergarten Enrollment Opens on Skyward
6- Classes Resume
16- 6th Grade Trailridge Wildcat Night, 6:00-8:00 pm
20- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
21- Professional Learning, No School
FEBRUARY
1-28: SMSD Transfer Window, see Principal's Message above for more info
6- District Night Event for Parent Conferences PreK-6
7- Parent Conferences, No School
17- Presidents' Day, No School
18- Professional Learning, No School
MARCH
14- Teacher Workday, No School
17-21- Spring Break
APRIL
17- PreK & Kindergarten Kickoff, 6:00-7:30 pm
21- Professional Learning, No School
MAY
22- Last Day for PreK
23- Last Day for Grades K-6, Early Release- 12:30 Dismissal
BA Club Calendar
Running Club, 7:50-8:05 am in the Gym
- Mon/Wed- Grades K-3
- Thurs/Fri- Grades 4-6
- No Club on Tuesdays
Choir
- Tuesdays, 7:00-7:50 am in Room 227
Grades 4-6
- Parent Permission Slip Required
Good News Club
- Mondays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 219
- Grades K-6
- Pre-Registration Required
- Meets every Monday that school is in session
Math Club
- Some Wednesdays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 224
- Grades 4-6
- Parent Permission Slip Required
- Meets twice a month
Student Council
- Some Thursdays, 7:30-8:10 am
- Grades 4-6
Chess Club
- Thursdays, 3:10-4:00 pm
- Grades 4-5
- Parent Permission Slip Required
- Limited spots available
2nd Quarter Trailblazers of the Quarter
Congratulations to our 2nd Quarter Trailblazers of the Quarter! These students were selected by their teacher for exemplifying the Trailblazer Way: Being Safe, Respectful and Responsible.
PreK- Sailor C
KBU- Boyd C
KPE- Calin J
KSH- Audrey D
1HA- Maeve S
1MA- Knox W
1RE- Omar G
2JO- Louise G
2ST- Emilia W
2WE- Lyric S
3MC- Arte P
3WE- Ruby H
4FA- Elon W
4GU- Clara M
5LO- Maryam P
5MA- Zahra P
5ME- Karla G
6WI- Anshdeep S
6ZI- Sarneet L
Mrs. Langton- Maddox V
Running Club Award Recipients
iXL Students of the Quarter
One student from each grade level was recognized for most iXL skills completed in their grade level during second quarter!
Lincoln, KSH
Silvey, 1MA
Sloan, 2ST
Delilah, 3WE
Jaiden, 4GU
Karla, 5ME
Jade, 6WI
Broken Arrow Spelling Bee
Congratulations to Phoenix Cooper, 6WI, and Keaton McCoy, 5MA, who placed 1st and 2nd in the Broken Arrow Spelling Bee!
Phoenix will represent Broken Arrow at the Johnson County Spelling Bee in February.
Current 6th Graders: Trailridge Wildcat Welcome
Hello Future Wildcats!
We are excited to host you and your family for our annual Wildcat Welcome on January 16th, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Trailridge Middle School. Come Travel Through Trailridge on an epic and exciting journey. This celebration of our school will allow your students to explore everything Trailridge has to offer and collect passport stamps on their travels. Through engaging activities future students will learn about the classes they will take, clubs that we offer, athletic teams that they will be able to participate in and much more!
All future Trailridge community members are welcome! Mark your calendars and see you then! If you have any questions, please contact the Trailridge Office at 913-993-1000.
PreK & Kindergarten Enrollment Opens January 1
Know of a family with a child who is Pre-K or Kindergarten age? Help us spread the word! Share this message and let them know SMSD is ready to help their little learners start strong.
Click here to learn more about Pre-Kindergarten in the Shawnee Mission School District
Click here to learn more about Kindergarten
How to Enroll
Online enrollment for Pre-K and Kindergarten opens at 8 a.m. on January 1, 2025. Click here for enrollment links, which will go live on January 1.
Please note that the enrollment application must be completed on a desktop or laptop computer or a tablet. It will not work on your mobile phone. If you do not have access to one of these devices, please make an appointment to enroll in person. For Kindergarten enrollment, please contact your area school. If you are unsure what school your child will attend, please use School Finder.
For Pre-K enrollment, please visit https://www.smsd.org/academics/early-childhood/pre-kindergarten or contact the Early Childhood department at 913-993-6441.
This online enrollment:
- Allows families to complete the enrollment application for Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten
- Provides for early enrollment, helping to ensure a student’s placement within the Pre-K program, which has a limited number of slots. Kindergarten has an unlimited number of slots. (Note: All necessary documentation must be submitted before enrollment is finalized.)
- Allows the district to begin planning a welcome for our incoming early learners to our schools
About Starting Pre-K in the SMSD
To be able to enroll for Pre-Kindergarten, children must be four years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 (but not Kindergarten eligible). Click here to read more about enrollment requirements.
Pre-Kindergarten is a half-day program in Shawnee Mission. Fee and no-fee options will be offered in the 2025-2026 school year. Sessions are held from 8:10–10:55 a.m. and 12:25-3:10 p.m.
Wraparound care options are available at some sites through Johnson County Park and Recreation and YMCA. For more information regarding site locations and programming, enrollment steps, and availability:
Johnson County Park and Recreation link
About Starting Kindergarten in the SMSD
A child must be five years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025, to enroll in Kindergarten, by state law.
SMSD offers free, full-day Kindergarten for every student. The elementary school day takes place from 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Kindergarten Kickoff events will be held in every SMSD elementary school in the spring of 2025. Individual schools will share information about exact times and event formats with incoming families and on individual school websites. At these events, students and families are able to spend time in the school and learn more about the Kindergarten experience. Information regarding Jump Start, a summer program for incoming kindergarten students will also be shared.
Our school communities look forward to welcoming future Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students and we look forward to working with families in support of each child’s success!
SMNW Youth Basketball Night
PTA News
SMSD News
Debate camp is held at SME but open to all SMSD 5th-8th graders.
Title I Information
From Our Social Worker
Resources always available to Families:
- Clothing for SMSD students & families: https://www.smac-pta.org/clothing-exchange
- Homelessness Resources
- Health Partnership Clinic
- Resource Request Form
MY VOLUNTEER PAL (MVP) TRAINING
If you would like to volunteer on a field trip with your child's class you must be MVP trained prior to the Field Trip.
- On-site training will take place at Broken Arrow following the PTA Meeting on Monday, September 16 at 6pm in the Cafeteria.
- Click here for other MVP Training dates/times.
Volunteer Pals are utilized for a variety of in-school activities including:
- Classroom or school volunteering
- Sharing career interests or special talents with students
- Tutoring
- Chaperones for Shawnee Mission School District approved field trips
Please visit this link for more info on how to become a MVP.
From Our Nurse
Click HERE for monthly updates and health information from Nurse Kay.
From Food Service
MENUS:
The school meals menus are on https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION. To log on, select View menus (as a guest). School Café also show allergen and nutritional information.
MEAL BENEFITS:
Did you know filling out the Free or Reduced Lunch Application helps with more than meals? Applying and qualifying can benefit families and students with reduced fees, transportation, broadband, and other discounts.
Families are encouraged to complete an application for meal benefits- free or reduced priced meals as part of the Online Verification. The link to the Child Nutrition Program Meal Benefit Application is available on Skyward or the online application is on School Cafe. Contact the Food Service Office by calling 913-993-9710 for questions on the meal benefit application.
LUNCH MONEY:
Need to add breakfast or lunch money to your student's account? Bring cash or check to the office - be sure to write your students name & class code on the envelope. Payment by card can be made online or by calling the Food Service Office at 913-993-9710.