Blue Valley Northwest

The week of February 3-7 will continue as a normal week with late start/even days on Tuesday, February 4 and Thursday, February 6.

We will be making a small shift during our Parent/Teacher conference week which is the week of February 10th. We will be swapping our even and odd days which means we will have late starts/even days on Monday and Wednesday (school begins at 8:35) and odd days on Tuesday and Thursday(school begins at 7:35).

Here is the revised schedule for the week of February 10th:

• Monday, February 10 - Even (Late Start)

• Tuesday, February 11 - Odd

• Wednesday, February 12 - Even (Late Start)

• Thursday, February 13 - Odd

• Friday, February 14 - No School (due to P/T conference schedule)

Here’s a link to our bell schedule.

Our odd/even/traditional calendar has been updated here and it will be updated in our Principal’s Newsletter this week.

• Monday, February 3rd - Future Husky Night (for the class of 2029 and their parents)

• Monday, February 10th - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:30-7:00 via Zoom.

• Wednesday, February 12th - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:15-6:45 either in person at BVNW or via Zoom.

• Friday, February 14th - No School

• Saturday, February 15th - Sweetheart Dance

• Monday, February 17th - No School, Presidents’ Day

• April 2/3 - State Science Assessment (juniors)

• April 3/4 and 9/10 - State ELA Assessment (sophomores)

• April 8 - Spring Test Day: PreACT (freshmen), State Math Assessment (sophomores), ACT (juniors)

If a student chooses to drop a class, a “W” for the withdrawal will be recorded on their transcript. The last day to drop a second semester class is March 21, 2025. After this date, a student will stay in the class and keep the grade earned.

Scholarship for Athletics/Activities Seniors

In partnership with Capitol Federal Foundation, the KSHSAA will award True Blue Scholarships intended to support Kansas High School graduates in postsecondary efforts. This one-time scholarship is for students graduating during the 2024-25 school year. To learn more about this scholarship, please visit this website.

We are excited to announce our 2nd date for signing day! This is an opportunity for individuals that have signed to participate in collegiate athletics to be celebrated at BVNW. We will be hosting our own “Signing Day” ceremony on 2/20 @ 3:15 in the main gym. If your student athlete is signing to play at the next level, please complete the short Google Form: https://forms.gle/1VyLQ4V8uDknVQGN8 The deadline to sign up is 2/7. I will send more specific information to those that sign up.

Spring sports are quickly approaching. The first day of practice is 3/3. There will be an information meeting during AST on 2/24. If you have questions about a specific sport, please have your student athlete ask the head coach.

Extra Duty Workers: We are always looking for PAID help at our sporting events. From ticket takers to running the scoreboard, we need help! This pays $20 an hour and you do not have to be an employee of the district. If you are interested in working extra duty, please reach out to Meredith Dubill @ MJDubill02@bluevalleyk12.org.

Repeat, but IMPORTANT!: It is hard to believe it, but spring sports are almost here! Please make sure your athletes have their physicals complete and uploaded to rSchool. If your student has participated in a previous sport, they do not need to re-upload. Please view the following link to help you answer any basic questions:

Instructions on submitting a completed physical exam (click)

Athletic Registration (click)

KSHSAA Physical Packet (click)

An important reminder that on February 14th, from 4-6:30 PM, our Student Government is hosting a Sweetheart Carnival for our community! Tickets to play various games sponsored by many of our activities will be available in person only. All community members are invited to come enjoy before that evening’s basketball games!

Celebrations (We realize this is not a comprehensive list of everything going on around Husky Nation, but we’ll try to share some highlights each week!)

• Congratulations to our Pack Dance Team who competed last weekend at Lee’s Summit North! They placed first in Team Performance, second in Game Day, and 4th in Lyrical Jazz! We are so proud of our talented dance team!

• KAY Club went to Olathe East this morning for a leadership conference. KAY Club is a leadership building, service program. They do great work for our school and our community.

• Our STUGO and Pep Club officers are hard at work planning for Sweetheart on February 15th. Spirit week is the week of Feb 10th, which they also plan.

• Congratulations to our Journalism teacher/sponsor Jim McCrossen on his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Journalism Education Association. Mr. McCrossen has done an incredible job developing our student journalists over the years, and we are so grateful for all he does.

Upcoming Events: Click here to view all athletic/activity schedules

Once you click the link, you can select specific schedules under the “view schedules” tab on the right side of the screen.

**COLLEGE VISITS ARE BACK!

SEE BELOW FOR SCHOOLS, DATES & TIMES**

We’re offering college visits again for you to attend this semester. Here is the current list but, check back often as new schools will be added frequently. Once you sign up you will receive an email and this will be your pass to show to your teacher to be able to attend. No passes will be sent for you to attend the visits, you are responsible for keeping track of when & where the visit is happening and getting yourself there.

University of Oklahoma - Tuesday, February 11th at 1:30 - come to Student Services Office

Pittsburg State University - Wednesday, February 19th at 10:00 - come to Student Services Office

United State Marine Corp. - Lunch visit on Wednesday, February 19 - 11:15-1:10 - stop by this table as you like during lunch

Our next PBC Meeting is Monday, February 3rd @ 7:00PM at BVNW’s Library. We will be voting to approve Spring Grants, talk about possible changes to our organization, and open positions for next year. Get involved and join us!

*Senior Parent Night – This event will be held in the commons on February 19th at 6:00 PM. Details will be shared closer to the date. Save the date, you don’t want to miss it!

Have you ever wondered how to monitor your child’s usage on their Blue Valley device? We have parent tools that allow you to receive notifications to ensure your child is using their device safely. School staff members monitor these devices during the school day and intervene, when necessary. However, parents can receive alerts if concerns arise when students use devices after school hours–including weekends and school breaks. Check out the Securly Home Parent Portal App here.

High school course fee payment for the second semester is open and online now. Your ParentVUE login and password are required to pay course fees.

• Course fees are assigned based on the master schedule and your student’s enrollment.

• Course fees are assigned for the second semester only.

Questions regarding fee payment should be directed to our bookkeeper, Melissa Gibson.

We are looking forward to the opportunity to update you on your student’s academic progress at the start of 2nd semester!

We are offering a combination of virtual (via Zoom) and in-person conferences this spring.

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all of our schools. Through the convergence of physical and intellectual security measures, we are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of emergencies. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

We had our annual presentation about off-campus learning options through our Career Ready Programs this week. To review opportunities for rising 11th and 12th graders please see the slideshow from the program here. This will go over opportunities to pursue certifications in areas such as Fire Science or Automotive as well as Dual Degree Opportunities through JCCC. There are many upcoming information nights at JCCC about these programs that are detailed in the presentation.

Future Husky Night is Monday, February 3rd beginning at 6:15. If you have an incoming 9th grader who will be part of our Class of 2029, you will be receiving an email with more information soon!

Enrollment for next school year begins on Tuesday, 1/14! Students will receive their enrollment cards in Advisory on Tuesday. These cards are due to their English teacher on Friday, January 24th.

As we get ready to launch another semester on January 6th, we appreciate your partnership. As you know, our staff has been hard at work this year implementing structured expectations for our school community along with how we teach and reinforce them in all settings.

Our structured expectations include language about our district’s personal electronic device policy. Students are expected to stow away their phone from bell to bell during each class and they may not take them out of the classroom if they leave to use the restroom in the middle of class. They may have them out during passing periods and at lunch.

Click here to read a few points about why structured expectations are important to our school.

· KASFAA is offering three virtual FAFSA assistance sessions, which provide families with the chance to meet one-on-one with a financial aid professional for assistance completing the FAFSA. This come-and-go opportunity, launched last year, was a tremendous success and is back by popular demand! Please help us support even more students this year by sharing this valuable resource with your students and families and promoting it on your school’s social media platforms.

https://www.kasfaa.org/student_parent_counselor_resou.php

· Additional FAFSA help events through Johnson County Library

Step-by-step through the FAFAS event

January 14- Advisory lesson: Enrollment cards distributed, access to Canvas Enrollment Course

January 14 - 23 All students must:

• Work through Canvas course
• Reference the HS Courses IPS booklet
• Complete enrollment card
• Input course requests in StudentVUE by 1/23

January 24 - Enrollment cards due in ELA class

January 29 & 30 – Counselors meet individually with current 10th graders

February 5 & 6 – Counselors meet individually with current 11th graders

February 12 & 13 - Counselors meet individually with current 9th graders

*If you have questions for your counselor, please write them on your form and do your best to complete enrollment steps. Counselors will be happy to answer questions and make any needed changes when meeting individually with students.

JCCC’s College Now and Baker CCCP are a dual or concurrent credit options for students in approved classes at BVNW. What is dual credit? When a high school student takes an approved BVNW HS class from an approved high school teacher, they have the option to earn both high school and college credit. Students must enroll separately through JCCC or Baker University to earn the college credit.

BVNW College Now (JCCC) In-Person Classes (2nd semester)

AP English Literature (12th grade)

Honors Spanish 5

AP Calculus BC

JCCC College Now Website

JCCC College Now Enrollment Guide

BVNW College Now Spring ’25 Course Schedule (CRN’s)

JCCC COLLEGE NOW ENROLLMENT DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 14.

BVNW Baker Concurrent Credit Program In-Person Class (2nd semester)

AP US History (with Mr. Lange)

AP US History (with Mr. Bates)

Enroll online through Baker CCP Website by FEBRUARY 7.

Students who are taking a 2nd-semester-only AP course and plan to take the AP exam(s) must register and pay for exams by February 28, 2025. There are 2 parts to registering for an AP exam:

1. Confirming exam registration in AP Classroom (through student’s College Board account)

2. Paying for the exam through Total Registration.

AP exam cost is $110. Detailed instructions on how to register and pay can be found on BVNW Counseling Canvas Course.

**Students who missed the 1st semester registration deadline (for 1st semester and/or yearlong AP classes) and would like to take an AP exam, may register during this window. College Board charges a $40 late registration fee. Student needs to pay for the AP exam through Total Registration, and then Mrs. Hadley, counselor, will update student’s registration/exam order on College Board side.

Students in grades 9-11 will be taking a standardized test on Tuesday, April 8th from 7:30-noon as follows:

• 9th grade: PreACT

• 10th grade: State Math Assessment

• 11th grade: ACT (score reportable to colleges)

There is no school for seniors. More information will be coming later this semester!

Families can expect automated attendance messages by email, phone, and text if a child is absent and their absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to report an absence or reply to the automated email or phone message.

What is the purpose of attendance notifications?

We realize that students may occasionally need to miss school for planned absences, illnesses, and appointments. However, when a student does not arrive at school or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to make sure you are aware that your child is absent.

How can I get push notifications?

Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. If a child has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance, then a push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device.

Interested in push notifications? Simply download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings and select attendance notifications through in-app settings. Once the app is downloaded, these instructions will help you complete the set-up.

Do you know a Blue Valley educator who goes above and beyond to inspire, engage and innovate in the classroom? Help the Blue Valley Educational Foundation (BVEF) recognize their extraordinary impact by nominating them today for the BVEF annual Innovative Educator Award! This BVEF award recognizes two exemplary teachers (one elementary, one secondary) who creatively apply innovative teaching methods, foster critical thinking skills and ignite a passion for learning in their students. Honorees will receive a $1,250 grant for their classroom. To nominate a teacher, fill out the 2025 BVEF Innovative Educator Award form by Monday, February 3.

While not affiliated with or endorsed by BVNW, we wanted to let you know about a 2-session ACT prep class being held at Hilltop Conference Center the evenings of Jan. 29 and 30. Classes will meet from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. You can register here: http://actprep.info/bluevalleynw

State Assessments for sophomores and juniors will begin in April! More information to come. Please do your best to avoid scheduling appointments on these days so that testing is not disrupted. See “Important Dates” below for specific dates.

The Husky Hero Award is designed to honor the exceptional contributions and dedication of our educators at Blue Valley Northwest High School. This recognition seeks to spotlight educators who consistently go above and beyond in fostering a positive and impactful learning environment.

The nomination form is open to nominate your “Husky Hero!” Here’s the link: https://forms.gle/zj1Gi9gft1GTELrb7.

At the end of each semester, courses in Canvas will conclude and will no longer be visible on the Canvas app. However, a concluded course remains visible through the Canvas website by selecting ALL COURSES and then PAST ENROLLMENTS.

Please note: The dates are subject to change based upon calendar updates or technology needs.

How do I view my child’s report card?

• Log in on ParentVue.

• Select the student’s name

• In the left navigation bar, choose Report Card

Each new semester, classroom teachers will publish their next semester’s Canvas course. As courses are published, students and families will again be able to see current courses on the Canvas app and Canvas website. For Canvas parent resources, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/canvas.

"Communication from the School Nurse and Athletic Trainer:

We have a new fax number for any and all medical records and documents. Please send these to our new fax number: (913) 239-3434

The Femineer Program was created to empower K-12 female students to develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue majors and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. It has since expanded to include other under-represented individuals in these fields.

If you are interested in returning to the program, please fill out the application linked below, scan it and return it to the Femineer Program advisor Karen Stohlmann at khenderson@bluevalleyk12.org.

Femineer Program Application 25.docx

Website: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/bvnw
Location: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: (913) 239-3400