North Notes

Mustang community,

Being out at the carline before and after school, I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the smiles, waves, and encouragement as we work through our construction and snow mess. This weekend more construction items will be moved out along Glenwood to open more parking spaces as well as some other measures to alleviate congestion. The reality is that the next two months will be tough, but your support and patience has been great as we work through it.

Beyond parking lots and snow days, this has been a great start to the semester. Last night we had a huge turnout for our 8th Grade Enrollment Night for the Class of 2029 and we talked about the importance of not just being a school, but being a COMMUNITY. I want to thank all of you for contributing to our ongoing success and showing our kids what a community of support is all about.

Be looking out for information on Spring Parent Teacher Conferences and we hope to see you at our upcoming Chicago musical and all the winter season sports in the months ahead. Have a great weekend and GO CHIEFS!

If you are looking for a unique way to show you care, a fun Valentine's idea, or just a fun way to treat or troll the important people in your life, please consider ordering a Serenade with the Blue Valley North Orchestra!

Here's how Serenades work: you order a Serenade by filling out the form below and following the Serenade directions listed on the form. On WEDNESDAY, February 12, all of the BVN Chamber Orchestra students will travel to various locations around Overland Park to Serenade your Sweethearts with our lovely music!

You get to choose the song, a personalized message to send, and you can even send a rose to your Sweetheart! Your imagination (and Overland Park, KS City limits/Blue Valley School District area) are the only limits to sending a Serenade! We'd love to deliver to other classrooms/schools, workplaces, retirement homes, businesses, homes, etc....

Deadline to order is WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2025. Please follow the directions and complete this GOOGLE FORM to order a Serenade. All proceeds from this fundraiser go towards the orchestra scholarship fund, which helps our students travel and gain broader musical opportunities during their high school orchestra careers.

Thank you for supporting the fine arts and our incredible BVN students!

Blue Valley North Track and Field will host our first annual "Mustangs Run Wild" youth track and field camp for the first 200 registered girls and boys K-5 on April 12th starting at 10AM. All details are in the flyer above.

Our band will host a Pancake Dinner on January 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the BVN Commons. Use the QR code below to purchase your ticket, $10 in advance or $12 at the door. There will also be a silent auction to raise money for this fabulous program! Come bid on Trader Joe's favorites, hair products, KC Current tickets, KU football tickets, KC Chiefs gear, a BBQ basket and much more!

The International Thespian Society is a theatre honor society for middle and high school students. ITS recognizes, rewards, and encourages student achievement and celebrates the work of students in all aspects of theatre – performance and production. Each student is honored on a national level and gains access to opportunities and resources beyond those of their school.

Each year, approximately 1600 high school theatre students attend this three- day festival. Attendees can choose from nearly 200 workshop sessions taught by college theatre professors, high school drama teachers, and guest artists from around the country. Colleges bring displays to promote their theatre programs. Students compete in Individual Events for a chance to qualify for the International Thespian Festival in June. Five schools from across the state bring a show to perform on one of the main stages in Century II Performing Arts Center. Students can also compete in a variety of theatre activities including playwriting, improvisation, creative costuming, and Tech Challenges. Thespians who are seniors can audition for the colleges that attend the conference. One senior from each school has the opportunity to compete for $10,000 in Thespian Scholarships.

The International Thespian Excellence Awards (or Thespys for short) recognize the highest level of achievement in school theatre performance, technical theatre, playwriting, and filmmaking.

Students who score “superior” overall ratings qualify to move on to the final round of adjudication, which takes place annually at the International Thespian Festival. Students present their work again, incorporating feedback from previous rounds of adjudication, and the highest-scoring superior-rated students in each category receive Thespy Awards.

• 11 BVN Thespians attended this year’s festival.
• 9 competed for the Thespy Awards.
• 1 Senior competed for scholarships.

FOUR BVN Students received a Superior Rating and are now eligible to compete at the International Thespian Festival and Thespys this summer! Those students are Mirabella Bedell, Anne Henderson, Camryn Moore, Joslyn Selser.

ONE BVN Senior was the recipient of a Kansas Thespian Festival Scholarship. Only FIVE were awarded in the State. That student is Sebastian Gonzalez Layton.

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Both the Boys and Girls Bowling Teams came in first place at the first meet of the season on January 13! Maya Nathan was the top girl with a 599 series, top game 247, and the top boy was Eli Nathan with a 586 series. Congratulations to the entire team for taking first place at the meet!

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The Mustangs have enjoyed a fast start to the season. Congrats to those listed below with State Qualifying and State Consideration times in both Swim and Dive! Good luck to the team as they compete in two meets this weekend.

State Qualifiers:

Jan Beltran - 200 IM/100 Breast

Khasar Chinbat - 200 IM/500 free

Christian Eide – Diving

Connor Golding – 100 Breast/200 Free/50 Free/200 IM

Jack Munro - 100 Back/100 Fly

Henry Parisi – 200 Free/100 Free/50 Free/100 Fly

Noah Pratt - 100 Fly

Jack Ramsey - 100 Fly

Wilson Riekhof - 200 Free/100 Free/50 Free

Caleb Twyman – 100 Back

Trey Wichman - Diving

State Considerations:

Jan Beltran - 100 Free/100 Fly/50 Free

Khasar Chinbat - 100 Free

Connor Golding – 100 Free/100 Fly

Johnny McMonagle – 100 Free/50 Free/100 Fly

Jack Munro - 100 Free

Henry Parisi - 50 Free

Noah Pratt - 500 Free/200 Free/100 Free/100 Back

Jack Ramsey - 200 IM/100 Bk/500 Free/200 Free

Wilson Riekhof - 100 Fly

Additionally, a big shoutout and hearty congratulations to the BVN Swim and Dive seniors, who will be celebrated poolside at BVN on Tuesday, January 21.

We would like to congratulate Mary Burke for being selected as the Blue Valley Employee of the Month at the Food Pantry for both November and December 2024. Mary earned this honor for her positive customer interactions, ability to work independently, and her overall positive attitude. Great job, Mary!

January 20 - NO SCHOOL / Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 21 - Even Day

January 22 - Odd Day

January 23 - Even Day

January 24 - Traditional Day

February 10 - Parent-Teacher Conference Week

February 14 - NO SCHOOL

February 17 - NO SCHOOL / Presidents' Day

March 14 - NO SCHOOL / Professional Learning

March 17 - 24 - NO SCHOOL / Spring Break

April 8 - ACT Testing Day for all 11th grade students

April 25 - NO SCHOOL / Professional Learning

May 21-23 - Final Exams

May 23 - Last day of School

Upcoming All School Events

All BVN events, activities, sporting events and additional calendar adjustments are found on the EKL calendar: www.easternkansasleague.org

Please take a look through the BVN Mustang Fund's new Winter Activity Guide! Here is a link to the on-line edition: https://anyflip.com/qzkqi/puqo/

A limited number of printed books will be available if you would like your own copy—first-come, first-served! Contact Amanda Palan at amanda@amandapalan.com or Heather Glenn at bvnpbcpresident@gmail.com. Once they are printed, you can pick one up in the front office until they are gone . . .

This is a great way to see photos of the athletic teams & performing arts students, find out more about their coaches and directors, and read a greeting from the BVN Principal & the Mustang Fund Presidents. Please take time to see the advertisements from our corporate partners and give them your business whenever possible. We thank them for their support of the Mustang Fund and our Blue Valley North students. Enjoy!

Senior Transcripts: official transcripts are ready to send. Transcripts are requested through Xello. Please see the Senior College and Career Counseling Canvas page for more information.

Senior Parents: Please make sure you have signed the Diploma/Transcript Authorization form.

Counselors at BVN are assigned by the first letter of a student's last name:

• Bridgett Brownlee: A–Da
• Catalina Donnelly-Vazquez: De-H
• Jenn Weber: I–Moo
• Linda Hardy: Mor-Sho
• Amanda Levin: Shu-Z

Questions? Contact the Counseling Administrative Assistant, Kawaini Duson, at kjduson02@bluevalleyk12.org.

This important message is for any family or staff that will travel out of the United States during the school year. Please click here to read the restrictions and recommendations for Out of the Country travel. Blue Valley resources such as Canvas, Classlink, and school email are not accessible out of the country unless you have a personal device with a VPN on it. We do not recommend BV Devices leave the country.

We are excited to share that the Kansas State Department of Education is again paying for a full ACT for all 11th-grade students. This year’s exam is on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025. This is an opt-out testing event, meaning that unless you tell us otherwise, we will plan on testing your junior student on this day. All students test at their home school, and Blue Valley Academy students test at BVA.

We understand that the ACT might not be applicable to students as many colleges and universities are moving to a test-optional format. Other programs, such as JCCC and trade schools, do not typically require an ACT score for admission. It is your decision to determine if the ACT is the correct standardized assessment for your student's future plans. We strongly encourage you to contact the college, university, or trade school your student is considering attending after high school to receive the most current information. Your Blue Valley North Counselors are also a great resource to help you navigate these decisions.

If you decide to opt your junior student out of the April ACT, please complete the Opt-Out form listed below by January 17, 2025. Juniors will start school at 7:35 AM on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, and will be dismissed after testing (roughly between 11:30 and Noon).

OPT-OUT FORM

WorkKeys Information for Juniors and Seniors:

Lastly, we will offer the ACT WorkKeys for juniors and seniors interested in a work-based assessment. The opt-in form, which can be found below, must be completed by January 17, 2025. Additional information about the WorkKeys assessment will also be provided.

WorkKeys Opt-In Form: WorkKeys Form

WorkKeys Information: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/act-workkeys/act-workkeys-assessments.html

Senior Outreach Day

For any seniors who do not wish to take the WorkKeys exam, you have the option to select a Senior Outreach opportunity. Please indicate your choice on this form in order to be excused from school: https://forms.gle/KQYJhywhZ3sdvZFG8

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Cory Cox, Assistant Principal of Curriculum & Instruction at ccox@bluevalleyk12.org .

The Career Ready Programs department is offering several exciting opportunities for Blue Valley students to earn college credit at little to NO cost to families through Johnson County Community College (JCCC). Students can earn an associate degree OR career-ready certification in high-demand, high paying fields. Areas include: Automation Engineering Technology, Automotive Technology, Culinary & Hospitality, Cybersecurity, Electrician Technology, Electronic Technology, Emergency Management & Fire Science, HVAC, Plumbing, and Welding/Metal Fabrication.

The information shared at these sessions will be most relevant for current sophomore and junior students and parents/guardians. We invite you to attend one or more of our community-wide family informational sessions in January. We encourage parents/guardians/students to all attend. You do not need to RSVP to any of these events. Please make plans to attend and learn more about these programs.

January 22, 2025: Learn more about the Dual Degree option and how to earn your associate degree AND your Blue Valley diploma at the same time! Join us on the campus of Johnson County Community College in the Regnier Center, at 6:00 P.M. Link to JCCC Campus Map

January 27, 2025: Learn more about the Emergency Management & Fire Science program with our partners at the Overland Park Fire Department (OPFD) at the OPFD Training Center at 12401 Hemlock at 5:30 P.M.

January 29, 2025: Learn more about the career ready certification program in:

• Automation Engineering Technology

• Automotive Technology

• Electrician Technology

• Electronic Technology

• Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning

• Plumbing

• Welding/Metal Fabrication

We will meet in the JCCC Hugh Libby CTEC building lobby at 6:00 P.M. We will hear from Blue Valley staff, JCCC Deans, Department Chairs, and Blue Valley students currently enrolled in these programs. Link to JCCC Campus Map

January 30, 2025: Learn more about the career ready Cybersecurity and Culinary & Hospitality certification programs in the JCCC Wylie Culinary Center building lobby at 6:00 P.M. We will hear from Blue Valley staff, JCCC Deans, Department Chairs, and Blue Valley students currently enrolled in these programs. Link to JCCC Campus Map

Questions? Please visit the Blue Valley Career Ready Programs website or please feel free to reach out to Sarah Beren, Liaison to JCCC for Blue Valley Career Ready Programs, at 913-239-4141 or sberen@bluevalleyk12.org and Adam Wessel, Director of Career Ready Programs, 913-239-4023 or ajwessel@bluevalleyk12.org.

Join friends for a great adult night out with live music, a silent auction, a wine and bourbon pull and more! Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support music and performing arts programs throughout the district, and YOU can be part of the fun! Check out our new location at Fiorella’s event space in OP for a great over-21 night out.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and YOU choose the “Best of Blue Valley” live band when the competition wraps up at 10 p.m. Bands are made up of BV parents, teachers and staff and funds provide significant funding for performing arts programs including band, orchestra, choir, theater, debate and competitive speaking. Get tickets today at Event Details.

Can’t make it to the event in person? No worries! Visit Silent Auction to start your bid on incredible auction packages and see what your school submitted. Check back frequently as more items are added to the offerings every week. The auction will close on Friday, February 21 at 8:45 p.m. and you do not have to be present to win!

You can also vote by donation for your favorite adult school-affiliated band, and the winner receives a $1,000 grant to their school of choice. The 2025 band names, order of performances and school representations are as follows:

Young Medicine- Lakewood Elementary

Modern Thieves- Mission Trail Elementary, Leawood Middle, Blue Valley North

KC Prime- Leawood Elementary and Leawood Middle

Hope to see you Friday, February 21, 2025, as we Rock the Valley for BV Schools!

We are thankful for the ongoing partnership and support we experience in our school community. Working together we ensure the best possible student experience allowing them to realize personal success. There are times, however, when issues arise which require our continued collaboration to resolve. Families may utilize the matrix linked on the district website to best address questions and concerns that may arise throughout the course of a school year. Finally, all staff and visitors should conduct their business free from intimidation, harassment, or bullying. The district’s Board of Education states expectations regarding civility within Policy 6341. Again, thank you for your partnership in helping to maintain a safe school community environment for all.

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all our schools. We are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of situations. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

In the latest Blue Valley Schools’ BV Unmuted podcast episode, Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan discusses the upcoming Kansas Legislative session and the district’s five priority positions with Board of Education members Gina Knapp and Jan Kessinger and Chief Financial Officer Jeremy McFadden.

🎙️ To listen to the podcast episode, visit www.bit.ly/BVPriorities.

In the latest Blue Valley Schools’ BV Unmuted podcast episode, Dr. Katie Collier, Deputy Superintendent for Learning, is joined by Overland Park Interim Police Chief Simon Happer and Director of Safety and Security Dan Carney to discuss school safety and the importance of understanding threats and their consequences.

To learn more about how families can partner with the district to ensure a safe and secure environment for our students and staff, listen to the podcast: BV Unmuted: Understanding Threats and Their Consequences.

Some January Celebrations & Observances:

• National Poverty in America Awareness Month - raises awareness about the struggles millions of Americans face living in poverty. It encourages learning about the causes of poverty, supporting those in need, and working to create solutions that promote economic equality and opportunity.
• World Braille Day - January 4 - a day to raise awareness and attention to accessibility for those with visual impairments and celebrate Braille's invention. This tactile writing system was invented in the 1800s by Louis Braille.
• Lohri - January 13 - celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus, the festival marks the end of the winter solstice and harvesting of winter crops. Some families will sing and dance around a bonfire, exchange gifts with friends and family, and tell tales of bravery.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 20 - a day that honors the life and legacy of the civil rights leader. Some families will participate in a day of service to their communities.
• Lunar New Year - January 29 - celebrated by families of Chinese and other Asian heritages, some people celebrate with religious ceremonies honoring ancestors, giving and receiving red envelopes containing small amounts of money, lighting colorful lanterns, and eating traditional foods such as dumplings and sticky rice balls that symbolize family unity.

Please volunteer with BVN Concessions! You get to see all the kids in their element and hear parents cheering for all! And - you get to hang out with great volunteers and help serve your school and community. We welcome students, siblings, parents, and grandparents! For more info and to sign up, click here: CONCESSION VOLUNTEERS

If you have moved or plan to move, please contact the BVN Registrar, Ann LaGrange, by email at ALLaGrange@bluevalleyk12.org. Thank you!

At Blue Valley Schools, student safety is our top priority. Our approach to safety blends proactive prevention, fostering strong adult-student relationships and maintaining robust physical security measures. Central to our strategy is understanding and addressing potential threats.

What Constitutes a Threat?

A threat includes any expression of intent to harm, whether spoken or written. Identifying and responding to these expressions is crucial to the safety of our school community.

The Role of Threat Assessments

Blue Valley’s comprehensive threat assessment process has two primary objectives:

• Preventing Violence: We work to intervene before potential threats escalate.

• Resolving Underlying Issues: By understanding the reasons behind a threat, we can resolve conflicts and provide necessary support.

Structured, Evidence-Based Approach

Blue Valley Schools follows the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), a nationally recognized, evidence-based program. This approach ensures that we not only prevent violence but also support individuals in need.

Since the fall of 2023, Blue Valley building leaders have been trained in and actively using this Threat Assessment approach. This consistent use of CSTAG has equipped leaders with a common vocabulary and protocol, enabling them to resolve situations more effectively when threats arise.

By staying committed to this structured and compassionate approach, Blue Valley Schools ensures that students and staff are supported, safe and able to focus on what truly matters–learning through extraordinary educational opportunities.

More information about Blue Valley’s threat assessment process is available on the district website.

You can see your proofs and photo packets can be ordered from www.rollandkc.com using your student's ID number as the access code. Rolland Studios is BVN's official yearbook photographer, so only Rolland Studio portraits can be used in the student sections of the yearbook. If you have questions about school photos, please contact Rolland's Customer Service at www.rollandkc.com or email them at cs@rollandkc.com .

Please mark your calendars for the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2025 on Saturday, May 17, at 5 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the ANT-DAC Stadium (Antioch District Athletic Complex) located at 162nd and Antioch. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will move inside to the BV West Gymnasium at the regularly scheduled time.

Senior Class Picture

During Advisory on Monday, January 27, the senior class will gather in the gym for a group photo. We will get a framed print and hang it on the wall at North. A link to purchase your own print will be available soon.

Senior Tile Wall

It's time to honor our seniors on the Class of 2025 Tile Wall in the halls of Blue Valley North! This tradition dates back many years. Please order today until Monday, February 2, at the Mustang Fund website: The Mustang Club (BVN Parent Booster Club) - Senior Tile Order Form - 2025

Cap & Gown: Please get your order placed for your graduation cap & gown: www.jostens.com . We still have 100+ seniors who need to order. If you own a gown from the Class of '23 or '24, then you can re-use it, and all you'd need to purchase is the cap & tassel. Contact the Jostens office with any questions at 913-291-1636.

Senior Diploma Form and Transcript Release- ACTION NEEDED: Our diplomas will be ordered at the end of the first semester in order to have them for May graduation. Please click on the link below and complete the Senior Diploma/Transcript Form. This form also authorizes the release of senior transcripts for college applications. Click here: Diploma/Transcript Authorization.

Senior Outreach Day--Coming up on April 8 (Action Required)

For more information, please click this form: https://forms.gle/KQYJhywhZ3sdvZFG8

SENIOR INFO PAGE

All this info and more can be found on our Senior Info Page! Click here: 2025 BVN SENIORS

COVID/FLU

We urge you to stay informed and prepared by visiting the Blue Valley School District COVID/Flu guidelines at this link: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/Page/36106. These guidelines are crucial for the health and safety of our school community.

Students may not attend classes until both are true: symptoms are improving, and there has been no fever for 24 hours without medication. Upon returning to normal activities, take additional precautions over the next five days, such as avoiding close contact with high-risk individuals and maintaining good personal hygiene.

Authorization For Medication/Procedure To Be Administered At School. Please have medical orders faxed to 913-239-3038. This is especially important if your student has a health condition that requires medical care at school and is required each school year.

Medications can be dropped off by appointment only during normal school hours of

7:35 a.m. -3:00 p.m. Please e-mail Alex Norval, BVN School Nurse, at ANNorval@bluevalleyk12.org to schedule your drop off time.

Immunization News

Refer to Link regarding requirements: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/Page/34370

Need to speak with the nurse?

If you need to speak with the nurse, please e-mail ANNorval@bluevalleyk12.org to set up an appointment.

Blue Valley North has 1600 students, so we have a full-time staff member, Stephanie Lange, dedicated to managing all absences and requests when students need to leave for an appointment. Since we do NOT want to interrupt class, and call into the classrooms, we ask you to plan in advance so we can have your student waiting for you to prevent you from waiting on your student.

Need to pick up your student early? We need 2 hours’ notice!

• You and your student discuss the appointment the night before to plan.
• Check the daily bell schedule (see below) for the best time to leave.
• (1) Send a note with your student and provide:
• Student’s first and last name
• Student’s ID# (see ParentVue)
• Reason for absence
• Date/time student needs to leave/return (not the class period)
• Your name, phone number & signature
• Students can drop off the note at the Attendance Office before school.

OR (2) Email attendanceBVN@bluevalleyk12.org at least 2 hours in advance of the time your student needs to leave the office. Include all info listed above.

• A pass will be delivered to your student in class with time of release.
• Your student will sign out in the attendance office and wait in the office until they see you pull up to the circle drive. Parents do not need to come into BVN.
• If they return to school after the appointment, they will sign into the attendance office and get an “excused” pass to give to their teacher.

Will your student be gone all day due to illness, a college visit, etc.?

• Provide the information bolded above.
• Report your absence in ParentVue, the most efficient way to report an absence.
• OR Email attendanceBVN@bluevalleyk12.org by 8:00 a.m. the day of.

Notification of Unexcused Absences

Families of high school students will receive automated attendance messages via email, phone, and/or text message at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. if a child is absent and his/her absence has not been reported by a parent/guardian. If parents forget to report an absence? No worries. Reply directly to the phone call or email and make the edit in the attendance reporting. To avoid these notifications, follow the procedures listed above.

Did you know? Families can select “Religious Holiday” as an option for a child’s absence in ParentVue, when applicable. This notation could be helpful to our school staff so they can plan accordingly for your student’s absence.

Questions? Please contact Stephanie Lange, Attendance Office Manager directly. Email attendanceBVN@bluevalleyk12.org or call (913) 239-3001

Thank you!

We are committed to ensuring that BVN extracurricular activities receive financial support, regardless of other funding mechanisms, so that all students are able to participate and compete at the highest levels available. Our goal is to foster experiences for our students outside the classroom in arts, athletics, and activities that match the excellence and quality that Blue Valley North offers within the classroom. Funds also go toward staff appreciation, hospitality rooms, State Cakes, Senior Day Activities, the Homecoming Parade and SO MUCH MORE!

Giving Levels start at just $55! Please visit www.bvnmustangs.com and click on the DONATE NOW button on the home page!

PLEASE CONTACT HEATHER GLENN AT bvnpbcpresident@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out with any of the above positions!

Thank you for your consideration!

Durham will continue to transport our bus riders in the 2024/2025 school year. If you have questions, please call Durham School Services at 913-681-2492 or contact them via email at admin6700@durhamschoolservices.com.

North Notes is a newsletter for the parents and students of Blue Valley North High School. If you have questions, contact Janet Roush, Assistant to the Principal, at JRoush@bluevalleyk12.org .

BVN Office hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The BVN Offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

BVN Twitter:

@MustangsBvn

@BVNOstroski

@TheKurle

@BVNCounseling

@MustangsOfBVN

@bvnnews

@BVNMustangsPBC

BVN Instagram:

@bvnmustangs

Email: Jroush@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/BVN/
Location: 12200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, 66209
Phone: (913) 239-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/BVNMustangs/
Twitter: @bvnnews