Office Hours 7 AM - 3:30 PM

913.993.7200

Attendance

Attendance Hotline 913.993.7245 (All Day)

Attendance Office 913.993.7242 (Partial Day)

Email: lisagruman@smsd.org

Dear Northwest Community,

We have had a busy week both in our classrooms and with our activities and events. Our fall athletes are working hard in their respective competitions and we open our concert season tonight with Orchestra at 7 pm. I would encourage you to glance at the calendar below for most of our upcoming concerts.

The next three weeks include a variety of exciting events. Please see the highlights below:

• October 4th is our Homecoming Assembly, Parade, and Football Game. We have spirit days all week and the energy is always next level for this time of year! Our Cougar Pride is strong and we are ready to continue to bring our best to these Northwest traditions.
• October 5th is our Homecoming Dance from 8 to 11 pm.
• October 11th is the End of First Quarter. There is no school as it is a teacher workday. This is an important time to check your student's progress in Skyward and Canvas. Teachers sync their grades between Canvas and Skyward. Canvas is our learning management system with more detailed information and Skyward maintains student records for the longer term.
• October 14th is a Professional Learning Day with our staff. Students are not in school on this day.
• October 15th is an Odd Block Day due to the activities of the week
• October 16th is our testing Day and a 7-Period bell schedule
• Freshmen will take the Pre-ACT 8/9 in the morning.
• Sophomores will take the Pre-ACT 10 (some have registered for the PSAT instead)
• Some juniors have registered to take the PSAT/NMSQT exam to potentially qualify as a National Merit Scholar.
• Seniors and Juniors not testing will follow their typical 7-period day schedule.
• October 16, Evening - Parent Teacher Conferences from 5-8 pm. Teachers are in their classrooms and accessible to parents without an appointment. We hope you will be able to join us to visit with your child's teachers that night.
• October 17th - Even Block Day with Late Start
• October 18th - Parent Teacher Conferences and No School for Students. Conferences are by appointment on this day.

In this week's podcast we are talking with students from Student Council and Spirit Club about the upcoming Homecoming week! We also have the exciting honor to talk with leaders from our Shawnee Mission Education Foundation about Scholarship Shawnee Mission!

Have a wonderful weekend.

All the Best,

Lisa Gruman

September 26, 2024 - Orchestra Concert - 7PM - NW Auditorium

October 1, 2024 - Fall Choir Concert - 7pm - NW Auditorium

October 4, 2024 - Homecoming Parade - 1 pm

October 5, 2024 - Homecoming Dance - 8 pm - SMNW Cafeteria

October 8, 2024 - Jazz Band Concert - 7pm - NW Auditorium

October 11, 2024 - No School, Teacher Workday

October 14, 2024 - No School, Professional Learning

October 16, 2024 - Parent Teacher Conference Night

October 18, 2024 - No School, Parent Teacher Conferences

This option is for reporting all day absences and late arrivals only.

When requesting an early dismissal please call 913-993-7242 or email jamieprosser@smsd.org

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

RWL ACTIVITIES

📢 Skilled Trades & Career Ready Programs Event
Date: October 16, 2024 (Parent-teacher conference night)
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

Calling all students and parents! Are you curious about career opportunities outside the traditional 4-year college path? Join us for an eye-opening event where industry professionals will share how they built successful careers in the skilled trades. Hear firsthand about the benefits of entering the workforce debt-free, earning competitive salaries early, and gaining specialized, in-demand skills.

✨ Why Attend?

• Learn about FREE welding, construction management, HVAC, plumbing, electric, auto and other courses through JCCC's Excel in CTE and Career Ready programs.
• Discover how you can fast-track your career while still in high school!
• Panelists will cover the advantages of skilled trades careers, including job security and financial independence.

This is an incredible opportunity for future seniors to take advantage of life-changing programs before they graduate. Don’t miss out on learning how to jumpstart your career!

Attention 9th and 10th graders!

Mark your calendars for October 16th, as you’ll be taking the Pre-ACT. This is a great opportunity to practice for the ACT and get a feel for the test format. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep and bring your #2 pencils and a calculator. Good luck and do your best!

More information about the Pre-ACT can be found at the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zwjys04jdeP2ab_YBKWMdXh3qsn0Into/view

Be sure to check out the test practice question at the following link:

https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/free-act-test-prep.html

The calculator policy can be found at the following link:

https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ACT-calculator-policy.pdf

If you have any questions, please see your academic counselor.

What parents need to know about suicide prevention

September is the national month for suicide prevention. It’s important to have conversations pro-actively, before our kids struggle, to prevent suicide and keep them safe and healthy.

How can I talk to my teen about mental health and suicide? Make a point of incorporating mental wellness into daily conversations by asking how they are feeling and coping with stressors. If you are concerned about suicide, it’s important to ask directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?”

Research shows people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way. Findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation.

The acronym ACT is a simple way for people to remember how to respond when someone opens up to you about suicide

Acknowledge: Ask open-ended questions, i.e. those that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. Resist the urge to offer quick fixes or solutions and avoid lecturing, all of which tends to shut down dialogue.

Care: Validate and support their feelings, even if you disagree with them. At this time in their brain development, teens are wired to hear and see negative intent. Let them know you are on their side.

Tell: If you are concerned about your child or your child is concerned about a friend, utilize the new local hotline by talk or text at 988.This hotline connects to local crisis counselors 24 hours a day.

How does my child get support if needed at SMNW? As part of our valued system of care for students, SMSD employs two licensed mental health professionals available to all students in each high school. Your NW student has a clinical social worker assigned to them by alphabetical order just as they have their academic counselor.

If you or your child have concerns during the school day, Tina Clark (A-K) and Melissa Osborn (L-Z) are available for support. They can be reached directly 913-993-7233 (Clark) and (913) 993-7236 (Osborn) or via Student Services.

Parents often report difficulty engaging with their teens in conversation. Oftentimes, teens are more easily engaged around their interests. Try sitting down next to them to play their favorite video game or listening to their music. Teens often feel less vulnerable driving with you in the car, going for a walk or engaged in a task such as playing catch.

Zero Reasons Why, a community campaign to prevent teen suicide, provides this helpful Back to School Toolkit for Parents.

What is Sources of Strength? We are privileged to have a group of trained peer leaders as part of our Sources of Strength wellness program at SMNW. These leaders spread messages of hope, health, and strength throughout the school year. This evidenced based national program is approved by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and promotes a culture where teens look out for each other and normalize help seeking behaviors.

County Resources:

Johnson County Mental Health Center: Crisis Line (913) 268-0156

https://suicideprevention.jocogov.org/

National Resources:

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

NAMI Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Trevor Project- LGBTQ+ Resource: 1-866-488-7386

Visit the PTSA website for the September PTSA Newsletter!

The wonderful SMNW PTSA is asking for assistance to feed the teachers!! Please see the link to sign up fir the Fall Conferences Staff Dinner 2024

SMNW PTSA also does great things for HoCo! Please see the link for volunteer opportunities for 2024 SMNW Homecoming

ALL-SPORT PASSES NOW AVAILABLE FOR 24-25 SMNW ATHLETICS

All Sports Passes are now available for purchase! All ticket sales including the All Sports Pass are available digitally through GoFan!

All Sports Passes are ONLY available in the digital format. You will have access to your All Sports Pass through the GoFan platform throughout the entire school year. There are two types of individual sports passes:

(1) Individual Sports Pass–Adult: Admits one adult with the cost being $75

(2) Individual Sports Pass–Student: Admits one person, who is not a SMNW student (with valid ID) to get into games. Please remember that all individuals grades K-12 are considered students. Cost is $50

The Shawnee Mission Northwest All Sports Pass allows you to pre-purchase your admission to Shawnee Mission Northwest regular season home regular season athletic events. This convenient option can allow for quicker access by eliminating the need for cash at the entrance gates. The All Sports Passes are not valid for KSHSAA post-season events and regular season tournaments hosted by Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

In summary, two different passes available:

Individual Pass–Adults are $75.00

Individual Pass–Students are – $50

See below to order your individual passes today. For questions contact the SMNW Athletic Office at 913-993-7400 or email angelogiacalone@smsd.org

SMNW All Sport Pass

The month of September has seen all sports teams have some memorable moments, and all continue to work hard (coaches and student athletes) and entertain.

Want to also take this opportunity to remind our students that NO BACKPACKS will be allowed in the football game, as this would be considered the same as a school assembly. If you have a backpack please make sure it gets back to your car. We want to admit you into the game, but will not do so if you have a backpack, food and/or drink. Thank you for your cooperation in cheering on the Cougars in a responsible manner.

We want to keep our parents, athletes, and others throughout the community informed and we are hopeful that you enjoy our latest edition for the EveryDay Champion Newsletter. We hope you enjoy this September 30th edition. Keep up with all the schedule information and other pertinent areas to “keep you in the know.” If questions regarding athletics/activities you can reach out by emailing Mr. Giacalone, angelogiacalone@smsd.org, or Mrs. Alvey, victoriaalvey@smsd.org or you can reach out by phone at 913-993-7400.

You can click the link below for the week of September 30, 2024
EveryDay Champion Newsletter Week of Sept. 30

Subscribe to Shawnee Mission Northwest’s national award-winning student-run newspaper, the Northwest Passage! A $20 year-long subscription will get you an issue delivered directly to your house every month and will help cover the cost of printing and operations of the publication. The newspaper, which has been publishing for 54 years, covers all things Northwest, from sports to the arts to classes and everything in between. The paper is routinely a NSPA Pacemaker Winner, naming it one of the top 15 student newspapers in the country.

To subscribe, sign up with this Google Form: https://forms.gle/L4DESESc5b5sLdx26

For any questions about this, please email adviser Chris Heady at christopherheady@smsd.org.

Senior Parents: Senior ads are open for purchase right now. We will close them off early in the second semester. Here is the link to purchase and upload photos and text for us to design:

https://yearbookforever.com/school-store/LaBX1JdcUsjybDQKQlVUKd7B

Happy back to school time families of SMNW!

This is a friendly reminder that your 9th and/or 11th grade students need vaccinations prior to the start of the school year. Please check with your student’s physician about obtaining those vaccines as soon as possible.

Please provide proof of vaccination to the nurse aid or I. You can email this to myself at wendywoods@smsd.org or the nurse aid Brenda Renteria at brendarenteria@smsd.org.

Please turn any athletic papers to the athletic secretary in the main office.

I would also like to introduce our new health office nurse aid Brenda Renteria; she will be helping with vaccinations, paperwork and everyday office needs.

Feel free to email or call with any questions or concerns about your student’s health or vaccine needs! You can reach me, Wendy Woods (nurse) at 913-993-7216 or Brenda Renteria (nurse aid) at 913-993-7606.

Thank you,
Wendy Woods, RN, BSN, MSN

NW Nurse

• https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/illness

• https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/medication

• https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/immunizations-physicals

2024-2025 Fees
DS Bus Lines will start receiving payments for the 2024-2025 school year after June 10, 2024.

Early payment discount before July 22, 2024
$160.00 per student, per semester or $320.00 per year for school year. Must be received or postmarked by July 19, 2024.

Payments received after July 22, 2024
$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.