NORTH NEWS August 17, 2020

Website: https://smnorth.smsd.org/
Location: 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-6900
Twitter: @SM_NORTH_HS

Now that families have made their learning model selection for the first semester, our team has started re-working our master schedule in an effort to meet the course selection needs of students. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, academic counselors will be rescheduling those students who will be learning in the remote only option and verifying student schedules for those students who will be learning in the in-person option. During this process, counselors will be in contact with families if conflicts arise with courses not being offered. If you have a question or want to request a change regarding your schedule, please email your alpha counselor:

Student last name A – D - jordanlandis@smsd.org

Student last name E – K - leahmurray@smsd.org

Student last name L – Q - jenniferfontaine@smsd.org

Student late name R – Z - deannagriffey@smsd.org

I also wanted to share that remote only learning will operate as a "school within a school." Essentially this means that our remote only students will continue to have primarily SMN teachers as teachers of their courses. However, to meet the needs of remote only students and their scheduling needs, these students could have teachers from other buildings within the district.

We appreciate everyone's patience as we work through the process of verifying and rescheduling students into their courses. The hope is to have schedules posted in Skyward on Monday, Aug. 31 but this date may need to be adjusted.

The school office is open at this time (Mon-Fri, 7:00AM-3:30PM), but the building is accessible by appointment only. You can schedule an appointment by calling the front office at 913-993-6900. Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns you may have.

1. Get a physical if your child plans to participate in a sport. Please have your doctor fill out the physical paperwork using the KSHSAA physical form (click link)
2. Pay fees ONLINE
3. Check your family’s address, phone, email and emergency information in Skyward for accuracy. Make any changes necessary, and please notify the office of any changes in address, marital status, or custodial rights.
4. Complete your Skyward Online Verification (both parent and student need to complete this step).
5. Join PTSA and Booster Club (highly encouraged, but optional): Parents, grandparents, teachers, and community members: Your membership helps support your student and his/her school!

We are asking all parents to pay fees ONLINE this year.

• The Online fee payment portal will be open soon. The district is working on getting it updated and ready to go. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Familes " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online" to find out if it is available. The site can also be found at this link. https://www.smsd.org/families/pay-fees

• If you need to pay by check, You will need to go to the pay fees online portal to find out your students fees. Please Make your check payable to SM North, Mail your check with your students ID number listed to SM North, attn: Bookkeeper, 7401 Johnson Dr., Overland Park, KS 66204

• All payment plans and KanCare can be completed over the phone or email. Please contact our bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help with this. Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.

Parents interested in bus transportation should visit the district transportation page. The bus contract can be found here or if you need the Spanish form click here.

The 2019-2020 yearbooks are in production and are scheduled to be delivered in early September. Once a firm delivery date is determined, the yearbook staff will solidify a distribution plan. If you have questions, please contact Becky Tate (beckytate@smsd.org).

Fall sports begin Monday August 17th. You must have a KSHSAA sports physical turned in that was completed May 1, 2020 or after. your physical can be brought to the main office or turned in to your coach. Contact your coach for tryout information.

Football - Andy Walter

Boys Soccer - Jaime Velez Acosta

Cross Country - Aaron Davidson

Volleyball - Crystal Foss

Girls Golf - Walter Mansfield

Girls Tennis - Jon Durham

Gymnastics - Sarah Gregg

If you are a Senior or Junior interested in joining NHS, the application deadline has been extended to September 2, 2020. The Google Classroom code for the application is: nfzrat6. Students will need a letter of recommendation from a teacher, supervisor, coach or other member of the community. Recommendation letters can be sent via email to: nopogore@smsd.org. If you have any questions concerning the application, please feel free to email Mrs. Pogorek at nopogore@smsd.org.

If you are a current Senior member of NHS or a Junior who has already filled out the application, you do not need to apply again.

Due to the late start of many K-12 schools, JCCC is extending the enrollment deadline for College Now and Quick Step Plus courses to October 16. Enrollment guides for College Now and Quick Step Plus can be downloaded below.

Please be sure to complete all steps in the enrollment process. If a student obtains a placement waiver, student will still need to log in to MyJCCC, register for the course, and pay tuition.

More information can be found by clicking here

• If students are having issues with their MacBook (damaged or not working properly), continue to contact the Technology Help Desk (913-993-8880) until further notice.
• If you are a student that is new to SMN and have chosen remote learning, communication will be coming soon about how to schedule a time to get a MacBook from SMN. If you are new and have chosen In-person learning, you will receive your MacBook on the first day of school.
• The district has purchased a new internet filtering application called Lightspeed. This will replace the VPN from last year. The update to Lightspeed will take place in the background once the device connects to district wifi. If you are having internet issues, it is advised to go to any SMSD school and get close enough to the building to connect to the wifi and then restart your computer. Open up the Manager app and wait 3 to 5 minutes. If you run into issues, again you may call the Help Desk for assistance. (913-993-8880)
• Notification to all students that the district is now blocking all audio/video streaming (Including Netflix) and social media websites (excluding Pinterest) during school time hours (7am to 4pm). This is to help minimize potential distractions during learning time.

1. Visit support.smsd.org to submit an online help desk request.
2. Call (913) 993-8880 Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The SMN All-Activities Booster Club is dedicated to providing our student clubs, teams, and groups with the financial boost they need to be successful. Each year we fund grant requests from coaches and sponsors for expenses not funded by the school district. Our Booster Club raises funds in a variety of different ways - through memberships, sales of Official SMN Spirit Wear, an Annual Golf Tournament, Trivia Night, and more. During the past 13 years we have granted over $150,000 to groups within Shawnee Mission North.

Go to our website (link below) to purchase your 2020-21 Booster Club Membership ($10 per adult) or to order SMN Spirit Wear...

As we wait for our 2020-21 spirit wear inventory to arrive, all items currently on our website are 10% OFF the listed price with coupon code SMN10 (while supplies last).

For SMN Booster Club news and updates like us on Facebook...

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402

Follow SMNorth Booster Club on Twitter...

https://twitter.com/SMNorthBooster