North Notes

Mustang Community,

In this season of gratitude, I would like to express how grateful I am for your support in making this a great first semester of the school year. As we head into the last few weeks of the semester, there are a couple items that I wanted to put on your radar.

Construction and Parking Update

Our athletic wing construction is progressing on time, and it is great to see these exciting facilities take shape. Spring Break is the goal for completion and at that time we will gain back all the student parking spaces that have been fenced off. With that said, our Band Room construction project on the south side of our school will begin December 23rd. We will still utilize the drop off and pick up lane during this 2nd semester construction; however, students will need to enter our main entrance after being dropped off at the end of the loop. We will have administrative and security personnel outside to help with direct students where to enter for the first week of school in January. This project will take over additional parking spaces and we will be directing our student drivers to utilize the overflow parking along Glenwood during 3rd quarter.

Be advised on city traffic signs

To prevent accidents in high traffic times during the day, No Left Turn signs have been placed by the city on Lamar when entering the drop-off/pick-up loop and at our main exit. These signs are in effect during 7:15am-9:00am and 2:15pm-3:00pm. The Overland Park Police Department may issue traffic tickets for any violations during those hours.

• When using the Lamar Drop-off/Pick-Up Loop, please enter from the North from 7:15am-9:00am and 2:15pm-3:00pm.
• When exiting the main entrance onto 123rd street, turn right from 7:15am-9:00am and 2:15pm-3:00pm.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we work through these construction projects. Have a great Thanksgiving!

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.

Are you or your teen stressed about Finals Week? Finals are scheduled to start on Wednesday, December 18, which is soon! Purchase a Care Package for your teen, your friends, or yourself at the school store or at https://bvn-stampede.square.site/s/shop for $10. It has all sorts of good treats to help get through Finals Week. Good Luck! Thanks for your support!

Order Deadline: Monday, December 9th

Kits Delivered: Tuesday, December 17th during 2nd hour

Here is the link: https://bvn-stampede-store.square.site/product/finals-study-kit-please-put-student-name-and-grade-in-comments-when-checking-out-/445?cs=true&cst=popular.

The breakfast you provided on Thursday of this past week was fabulous! We want to give a huge thank you to the parents that shopped, cooked and dropped off food items so the staff could enjoy a beautiful breakfast during American Education Week. We also want to give a huge thank you to the Mustang Fund Hospitality committee members, Elizabeth Tridle and Shannon Mills, for not only cooking breakfast casseroles but arriving extra early to set up a lovely spread for the staff to enjoy. We are grateful for all of you and your generous donations!

The following BVN students participated on November 12th in the Math Day competition sponsored by Washburn University: Sean Akkulugari, Anass Alshobaki, Dilsha Chebolu, Matthew Chen, Sriram Kalki, Prakhar Suryansh, Trivikram Yellapu, and Max Zhang. All students placed very well among 173 students from 24 Kansas schools!

Students earned individual medals for:

Seniors category:

- 1st place and 1st place overall - Sriram Kalki

- Honorable Mention - Max Zhang

Non-Seniors category:

- 1st place and 2nd place overall- Matthew Chen

- 2nd place - Sean Akkulugari

- Honorable Mention - Dilsha Chebolu

BVN placed:

1st in Teams - team of Sriram Kalki, Matthew Chen and Sean Akkulugari

Congratulations to all team members!

Congrats to the Varsity Boys Soccer team on a competitive season. The following players received All-EKL recognition!

1st Team

Nathan Broekhuizen

2nd Team

Bennett Christie

Beau Chiaverini

Honorable Mention

Jack Hamilton

Alex Moynihan

Cael Verzani

Abraham Rios

Congratulations to BVN’s National Merit Scholars we celebrated on November 21!

These incredibly smart students were honored for the following achievements.

NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALISTS:

Paritosh Patel

Fathia Rahman

Nathan Roelofs

Olivia Russell

Joshua Shin

Sriram Srinivasa Kalki

Athan Tran

Adele Van Lieshout

NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLARS:

Connor Cott

Elijah Dixon

Isabella Glasow

Sainishitha Gudla

Hamsini Isukapalli

Miles Jackson

Rikki-Anne McLeod

Mithran Rajesh

Shivram Venkatachalam

Davis Weber

Max Zhang

NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN RECOGNITION:

Elijah Dixon

NATIONAL FIRST GENERATION RECOGNITION:

Shayan Surani

NATIONAL HISPANIC RECOGNITION:

Sebastian Gonzalez Layton

Please mark your calendars for The Lightning Thief on December 5 & 6 at 7:00 p.m., in the Little Theatre. Tickets are general admission at the door only, and we are requesting a cash donation to support the department. Thanks for your support!

If you enjoy performing and meeting new friends in a fun group, consider joining our Indoor Colorguard Team! This team will meet once a week (plus a few evenings or weekends) to work on dance and flag skills and perform 2-3 times in February and March! Consider attending our Try-It Sessions, which will take place on December 5th and 12th from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the OTMS Commons!

Questions? Email BVN Colorguard Coach, Mrs. Babkin, at SEBabkin@bluevalleyk12.org or BVN Director of Bands, Mr. McCarty, at PMMcCarty@bluevalleyk12.org.

The Girls and Boys Bowling Team Tryouts will be the week of December 9-13 at Bowlero. Physicals and Athletic Participation Forms must be completed online to participate. Interested? Please talk to Mrs. Nathan, room 242, AND fill out this form https://forms.gle/RQoHXTpsmsrfyAVP9 .

Thank you!

Please contact Coach Spadoni, JDSpadoni@bluevalleyk12.org or in room 234.

December 2 - Odd Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

December 3 - Even Day: 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

December 4 - Odd Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

December 5 - Even Day: 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

December 6 - Traditional Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

November 25-29 - NO SCHOOL / Thanksgiving Break

December 18-20 - Final Exams

Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 - No School / Winter Break

January 6 - School Resumes

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

Upcoming All School Events

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

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.

2nd semester schedule changes are allowed to be requested December 4th-6th. More information with details will be emailed out in the coming weeks.

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.

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, 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 December Celebrations & Observances:

• International Day of People with Disabilities - December 3 - a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities, promote an understanding of disability issues, and mobilize support for the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of people with disabilities.

• Bodhi Day - December 8 - commemorates the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment. Some Buddhist families will practice meditation, study the Dharma, chant Buddist texts (sutras), and share a traditional meal of tea and cake.

• Christmas - December 25 - a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Some Christian families will celebrate by attending church services and exchanging gifts.

• Hanukkah - evening of December 25 - evening of January 2 - an eight-day Jewish festival of lights. Some Jewish families will celebrate by lighting a Menorah and eating foods cooked in oil.

• Kwanzaa - December 26 - January 1 - a seven-day African-American holiday celebrating culture, family, and community. For some, celebrations may include song, dance, storytelling, and a large traditional meal.

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.

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 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!

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

A limited number of printed books are 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. Or 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!

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, please 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 the week of November 25th due to the Thanksgiving Break.

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