NORTH NEWS December 21
Where tradition began, excellence continues.
Shawnee Mission North High School
Website: https://smnorth.smsd.org/
Location: 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-6900
Twitter: @SM_NORTH_HS
Message from Principal David Ewers
I want to thank our families and community for all of your support and hard work as we complete our first semester of the 2021-2022 school year. This school year has presented a different set of challenges, and I believe we have met those challenges well.
As we transition into the second semester, we are going to work to re-establish expectations for our entire building based on data we have from the first semester. We hope to see positive growth next semester in the areas of academic performance, attendance/tardies, and student behavior. We realize this is a team effort and will involve our staff, students, and the community.
We hope everyone enjoys a wonderful holiday season and brings in 2022 with joy and happiness. Have a great break Bison! We will see you in January!
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NEWS & UPDATES FROM SM NORTH
SENIORS & PARENTS - GRADUATION
Packets were sent out last week to all graduating seniors. If you didn't receive your package in the mail, we have a limited number of extras in the office. Meanwhile, here is the link to get your cap/gown ordered. Please take care of this as soon as possible.
Youth Court
Are you interested in becoming a Youth Court Judge or Attorney?
Well this is your chance!
JUDGE & ATTORNEY TRAINING - is scheduled
January 4th, 2022 – (8am-3pm) Lunch will be provided.
* Youths need to be the age of 14 by November 1st to attend*
This training will prepare you to be an active volunteer in the Youth Court program. If you would like to attend please sign up on the signup genius below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A45A4A62AAAF49-attorney1
Spots are very limited so please make sure when you sign up that you are committing to attending the training.
We hold the right in the future to remove you if you do not show up for the scheduled training.
*This training will be held in person and we will maintain all proper safety guidelines per the County. This will also make sure that our volunteers remain healthy and safe. Make sure you wear your masks*
When? - January 4th, 2022
Time? - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where? - Youth and Family Service Center, 920 W. Spruce St., Olathe, KS 66061
If you have question please call or email me. Jayro Rito at 913-715-7489 or jayro.rito@jocogov.org
REQUIRED VACCINATIONS
Thank you to all parents who have turned in updated vaccination records for our SMN students!
We still have quite a few students who are missing at least one vaccine.
Please help us out in the nurse’s office and send any updated vaccine records to valsnow@smsd.org .
Our next exclusion date for SMSD is coming up quickly in January.
PLEASE, if you’ve been emailed or contact by phone about a missing vaccine, try to get that done as soon as possible.
If possible, get missing vaccinations over our extended winter break.
Our Johnson County Health Department is a good resource for updating vaccines, as is Walgreens, CVS, Mercy and Truth Clinics.
Vaccines can also be obtained at our Health Partnership Clinic at SMW on Thursdays during clinic hours from 11am to 3pm
If you need help contacting any of these businesses, please call us at 913-993-6907 or 913-993-6916.
Stay warm and healthy everyone!!
And, as always, thank you for sharing your amazing children with us!!
Nurse Kelly and Ms. Snow.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FROM THE NURSE
In order to keep all students and staff safe at school please help us with the following:
- Report all positive cases of COVID-19 to the school nurse.
- Keep your student home when they are ill and get a PCR test.
- PCR Testing – SMSD only accepts PCR COVID tests
- SMSD offers free PCR testing Monday- Friday 8am-4pm when school is in session by calling 913-993-6218
- Free PCR testing is also offered at community testing sites such as www.gogettested.com/kansas, CVS, Walgreens, etc.
- If you or your student have a known exposure to a positive case of COVID-19 outside of school/school-related activity, please contact JCDHE at 913-715-2819 for instructions.
Weekly Schedule Reminders....
Please always check the school calendar for the most up to date schedule SMN Calendar
- January 5, 2022 - Student first day of 2nd Semester
Jan. 10 is last chance to purchase yearbook for $48
The last chance to purchase your 2022 yearbook for $48 is Jan. 10. A check made out to SM North can be taken to the bookkeeper by January 10. If you would like to pay with a credit card, payment can be made at www.yearbookforever.com. Choose SM North. There is a $2.25 service fee if you choose to pay online.
After Jan. 10, only 65 extra overstock supply of yearbooks will be available for $65. These will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they are gone, none will be available.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact yearbook adviser, Becky Tate at 913-993-7012.
Food Deliveries from Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. are not allowed at SM North. Please encourage your student to refrain from ordering food for delivery. The delivery drivers will be turned away due to not having proper approved identification and this becoming a logistical issue. We appreciate your help in this matter.
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STUCO/Pep Club Update
Have a great week North, it’s Best to be a Bison!
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NEWS FROM STUDENT SERVICES
Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year will begin in January. Academic Counselors will meet with students by grade level in seminar starting January 11th. Each student will receive an Enrollment Card and a Course Listing Sheet and will be encouraged take them home and talk with their parent/guardian about classes for next year. Counselors will then collect students’ enrollment cards the following week during their English class. Please make sure your student’s enrollment card is in their backpack.
Schedule Change Requests for Spring Semester
The last day to request a schedule change for spring semester is Thursday, December 16th.
Students can email or stop by Student Services to make a request.
Schedule changes will ONLY occur in January for one or more of the following reasons:
- You are missing a graduation requirement.
- Your schedule is incomplete, or a class is duplicated.
- You are enrolled in a course that you have already completed and received credit.
- You are enrolled in a course for which you have not met the prerequisite.
- Have a physical injury that does not allow participation in the course.
- You have a signature program error or conflict.
A – D/ELL jeinnymorris@smsd.org
E – K leahmurray@smsd.org
L – Q jenniferfontaine@smsd.org
R – Z deannagriffey@smsd.org
College Visits
Hi all-
Welcome to the 21-22 school year! We're excited to have some College Representatives visit us (virtually) this Fall.
Each week during seminar we will reserve the Conference room in Student Services to learn more about select colleges! Please keep in mind, this is a first come, first serve basis so be sure to sign up early.
There will also be Rep visits after school starting at 3:15pm, where I will provide a zoom link to join.
College Visits:
If you're interested, please email me to get signed up: moniquewesley@smsd.org
College Scholarship Information
Click on the link for more information about Scholarships.
https://studentscholarships.org/newsletter.php
Student JOB Postings
Jose Pepper's - Immediate openings
New Wingstop in Mission - click here to apply
Kansas City YMCA - click here Lifeguards needed
Panera - Text PAN to 97211 or visit panamericanjobs.com
Homer's Coffee - email resume & availability to homerscoffeehouse@gmail.com
Topper Pizza - email sally.topperskc@gmail.com
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SMN Athletics & Activities
Athletic Update
The varsity girls basketball team dropped two games last week to Lansing and at home vs Lawrence. The boys dropped games to Lansing, LHS and KC-Piper. On Friday night, Vincent Rolls 15 points, 13 rebounds and James Shepherd 13 points, 4 assists paced the Bison. On Saturday, Turnovers plagued the Bison in a 68-51 loss to Piper. Team was led by Vincent Rolls 15 points, 10 rebounds and Logan Oberle 9 points, 10 rebounds. Wrestling in the Johnson County Classic this past weekend were Samual Mosciaro, Joey Piasecki, William Fontes, and Jack Taylor. Highlight of the tournament was Jack Taylor placing 7th beating the Blue Valley Northwest wrestler who was ranked second in the state at 170. Our next competition will be after the Holiday break at Shawnee Mission South, January 8th. The North swim and dive team had two excellent meets last week, as we finished our December competition schedule. On December 15th, North nearly topped two strong teams from Free State and Lawrence High Schools, as we won 4 events and placed 2nd or 3rd in 6 other events. Cameron Lee won both of his individual events and Junior Lopez won his 100 Butterfly. New State qualifying cuts were swam by Lee in the 200 IM and 100 Free, Lopez in the 100 Fly, and the 400 Free Relay of Lee, Lopez, Jakob Rooney and Charlie Brooks.
The Bison followed that meet with an even better meet on Saturday, Dec. 18. We placed 2nd out of the 5 Shawnee Mission schools and had a bundle of personal records and more State cuts. New State qualifiers include Junior Lopez in the 200 Free (2nd place) and 100 Free (4th place) and Cameron Lee in the 100 Breast (2nd place). Charlie Brooks just missed a state cut in the 100 Backstroke as he set a PR and placed 3rd by breaking the one minute mark for the first time. He also got a state consideration time in the 50 Free. Zak Kohoutek swam a great 500 Freestyle, getting his first state consideration time and placing 2nd. Brooks and Kohoutek shined in the 200 Medley Relay as we dropped more than 3 seconds off of our season's best to place 2nd.
Our divers were exceptional on Saturday, with all 4 placing in the top 7. They were paced by Henry Duff's 3rd place and Oliver Goering's 4 place finishes, each topping the 190 point threshold. Cris Garcia and Jack Eaton finished 6th and 7th respectively, both topping 160 points.
North is off until our next home meet on January 7th. It has really been a nice start to the season, and we will continue to work hard to drop time and improve our swimming and diving. Happy Holiday Break to all of our North community!!
HOF Game is scheduled for Friday, January 14, 2022; mark your calendars to attend the girls and boys basketball DH vs SM West. This is a great event and an opportunity for our school community to shine.
Shawnee Mission North HS is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Rusty Jones as the Varsity Head Baseball Coach for the 2021-2022 school year. Coach Jones brings a wealth of coaching experience with him, specifically as the baseball coach for BTL Hornets. His coaching experience dates back to 2003 - present, coaching 3&2 Fall select, JC/BTL Hornets, and the Centra. In addition to his role as Head Baseball Coach, Mr. Jones, co-owns and operates Between the Lines Elite Sports Academy. Coach Jones attended Shawnee Mission Schools K-12 and graduated from SM Northwest in 2001. He attended Butler Community College in 2001-03 where he earned 2nd team All-Jayhawk League. He transferred to Northwestern State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. In addition, he was named All Southland conference in 05, National baseball congress All-’American honorable mention and all conference in 04. Rusty’s 8-year professional baseball career took him all around the country, playing for the KC T-Bones, Edinburg Coyotes and Laredo Broncos, the Long Beach Armada, Chico Outlaws, KC T-bones, Edinburg Roadrunners and the Long Island Ducks.
SMSD has endorsed a fundraising opportunity from a company, Giveback Schools. I know that Olathe has endorsed this company also and their high school groups are currently using it with success. The essence of this opportunity is as follows –
You will use the Giveback Schools free app, which is designed to provide the easiest way to generate funds from everyday living. This costs nothing, is not another fundraiser, and doesn’t add anything to your plate, or that of parents and supporters.
I’d suggest you watch the following 90-second video at the link that provides more explanation.https://flow.page/gb2s-schools
As you might expect, I receive oodles of emails daily offering fundraising opportunities. But this is different – it is very family, individual, and team friendly, and doesn’t require anyone to spend extra money.
Winter Coaching Staff
Varsity Boys Basketball Coach:
Email: patrickdenney@smsd.org
Twitter: @SMNBoysBB
Varsity Girls Basketball Coach:
Email: MatthewJacobsen@smsd.org
Twitter: @SMNLadyHoops
Varsity Bowling Coach:
Email: annamonteer@smsd.org
Varsity Swimming Coach:
Email: codyfothergill@smsd.org
Twitter: @smnboysswimdive
Varsity Wrestling Coach:
Email: petermant@turnerusd202.org
Twitter: @SMNwrestling
Varsity Dance Coach
Email: victoriahilger24@gmail.com
Varsity Cheerleading Coach
Email: asteele1219@gmail.com
Important Information and LInks
● KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form,
Transportation Release Form- HS - English [Required Athletic Forms for High
School Students]
● KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form,
Transportation Release Form- HS - Spanish [Required Athletic Forms for High
School Students
● 2021-2022 Transportation Release Form- HS Only - English (Corrected May
● 2021-2022 Transportation Release Form - HS Only - Spanish (Corrected May
● Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance
Campus for MS and HS Athletes (English)
● Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance
Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (Spanish)
● Voluntary Student Accident Insurance (Managed by K&K Insurance)
SMSD Winter Mitigation for Athletics - please take time to review the current SMSD mitigation guidelines.
SMN Bowling Fundraiser
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Student Recognitions
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SMN PTSA
B - ROC Bison Reaching Out to the Community
Shawnee Mission North High School and Shawnee Mission North PTSA recognize and encourage student and community volunteer efforts in conjunction with the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. Find more information and a service log sheet below
For SMN PTSA/Booster Club news and updates like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter....
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402
SMN BOOSTER CLUB
NEW BISON GEAR
The SMN Booster Club has added some NEW Bison gear to our online store - and more items are coming soon!
SMN spirit wear makes a great gift - place your orders by Dec 15th to guarantee availability for the holidays!
Here’s the link to shop online…
Booster Club Update
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 8th Annual SMN TRIVIA NIGHT!
The Trivia Night logo may look a little different, but it will be the same great party as we have hosted the last seven years! Join us at St. Pius X on January 29th from 6:30pm to 11:00pm for costumes, competition, and a whole lot of cheer!
Online registration is preferred (click on link below) or you can use the attached form and turn it in to the SMN office with payment.
https://smnorthptsa.memberhub.com/store/items/541560
To allow social distancing, we have limited the number of teams this year, so get those registrations in ASAP!!
The DEADLINE to register is January 12, 2022!!
*We will be following mitigation efforts as provided by the Johnson County Health Department and St. Pius X at the time*
Trivia Team of 8 = $280
Optional Mulligan (1 per team) = $20
Team + Mulligan = $300
As always, $100 of your team fees go directly to the SMN team/group/club of your choice!
Trivia Night is co-sponsored by the SMN PTSA and the SMN Booster Club and all proceeds will be used to support SMN students, staff, and programs!
For more information contact SMN PTSA at smnorthptsa@gmail.com or SMN Booster Club at smnboosterclub@yahoo.com
Thanks for your continued support of Shawnee Mission North!
Join the Booster Club and check out the SMN BISON spirit wear at our online store - https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/
For SMN PTSA/Booster Club news and updates like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter....
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402
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News from SMSD
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TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Canvas Parent App Directions
- Download the Canvas Parent App from the App Store or Google Play store.
- Follow the prompts to create your account. Create a username and password.
- Search SMSD (Shawnee Mission School District) > Shawnee Mission North > Eventually it will ask you for a “Pairing Code”
- To find your student’s “Pairing Code”
- In your student’s Canvas account have your student click on “Account” (Top Left)
- Click on “Settings” > then click on “Pair with Observer” (Right side)
- 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.
- If your student will not provide the code to you, please reach out to the school to get the Pairing Code.
- Additional Canvas gradebook information can be found here.