The Cougar Connection
Weekly Update for Families - November 14, 2024
SMNW
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
Website: https://smnorthwest.smsd.org/
Location: 12701 W 67th St Shawnee, KS
Phone: 913.993.7200
X (Twitter): @smnw_office
Instagram: @smnwoffice
A note from Principal, Dr. Lisa Gruman
Dear Northwest Community,
This has been a busy week of learning at Northwest! I am so proud of our students and Student Council for all of their energy this week towards the Canned Food Drive for Johnson County Christmas Bureau! We have enjoyed the junior versus senior volleyball and powder puff football along with generous coin and cash donations! We have many students so all donations make a difference! Our students are making a difference in our community!
Tonight is our area choir festival - such a wonderful time as we welcome choir students across our feeder pattern schools! So proud of their hard work at NW today for their rehearsal!
We hope you can join us at Blue Valley West to support our football team in this next round of play-offs towards the State Tournament!! Let's Go Cougars!!
Here is an update from PTSA. We hope you will consider contributing to help make this time brighter for some of our families.
Holiday Gift Card Drive
The PTSA is partnering with SMNW Student Services again this year for the holiday gift card drive to benefit SMNW Families. The last two years we have been able to help around 30 families during the holiday season!
All gift cards are welcome, however those from Target, Walmart, and Amazon are particularly helpful for parents to complete their holiday shopping. Please deliver gift cards by Monday, December 2nd OR click the link below to donate cash and the PTSA will purchase gift cards for you!
https://smnwptsa.givebacks.com/store/items/1134720
Donations will be accepted through Monday, December 2nd.
Thank you in advance for supporting our SMNW families!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lisa Gruman
Mark Your Calendar
November 16, 2024 - Fall Blood Drive
November 16, 2024 - MSFD Dance
November 21, 2024 - NW Area Orchestra Festival - 7pm - SMNW Gym
November 25 - November 29, 2024 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
December 5, 2024 - Band Concert - 7pm
December 9, 2024 - Winter Choir Concert - 7pm
December 12, 2024 - Tri-M Induction and Combined Concert - 7 pm
Online Absence Reporting
Online Absence Reporting
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
From our Northwest Counselors
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
COLLEGE CREDIT DEADLINES
Please see the SMNW STUDENT SERVICES WEBSITE for more information on the following Real World Learning events!
Registration for the February free ACT
test for juniors is now open! The ACT test will be given at NW on Tuesday, February 25th. Please complete the link below to sign up! This test is a reportable official ACT test and is open to any junior at NW. There is no fee for the exam and students can share this score with potential colleges and scholarships.
Register by completing the Google form below. Deadline is Friday December 6th!
PTSA Updates
Visit the PTSA website for the November PTSA Newsletter!
PIES PIES PIES!
Did you know that SMNW's annual pie sale has THREE reasons to buy!!
First, each year we send every NW teacher and staff member home with a pie for Thanksgiving. It's one of their favorite staff appreciation events of the year! Second, you can order pies for your own family's Thanksgiving meal! Third, all pie sale - both on staff appreciation pies AND personal pies - supports After Prom 2025! Ordering is quick and easy through the PTSA website.
NW Athletic Links
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
Note from Athletic Director, Angelo Giacalone
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.
Northwest Passage Subscription
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
A Word from Nurse, Wendy Woods
Your SMNW student may be missing KS state required immunizations. These may include any Meningitis ACWY for Juniors 16 years or older (this is a 2-dose shot and the first should have been received in 7th grade) or they may be missing other state required immunizations. If this is the case please see the attachment for an upcoming immunization clinic at the health department.
Thank you, Nurse Wendy Woods
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
Medications at School:
Immunizations and Physicals: