North Notes
Blue Valley North's Parent Newsletter - August 23, 2024
A Letter from Your Principal
Blue Valley North Families,
I want to thank everyone who attended Back to School Night this week and we continue to have a GREAT start to the year. Athletics have started, classes are in full swing, and our first soccer game against BVNW is next Friday! I would like to thank our Father’s Club for welcoming our students on Wednesday by passing out donuts and breakfast sandwiches. Just another illustration of how we are a MUSTANG COMMUNITY.
As I have shared with you before, we have experienced traffic congestion due to construction projects at North. We are currently working with our district administration to create a new drop-off, pick-up location on campus that I will communicate in the next week or so. In the meantime, I want to inform you about changes to the traffic flow around our school. These changes are designed to enhance safety and reduce congestion:
- No Left Turns onto 123rd St.: New signs will be posted to prohibit left turns from our main entrance onto 123rd Street at dismissal.
- No Queuing on 123rd St.: Standstill traffic on 123rd St. before dismissal has raised safety concerns. If you arrive early, please park on Lamar Ave. and move to 123rd St. once dismissal begins.
- Traffic Tip: To help avoid the busiest traffic, consider arriving near or after 3:00 p.m. for pick-up.
We will continue to evaluate and make adjustments to ensure everyone's safety. Thank you for your cooperation and support and have a great weekend!
Absence Reporting & Procedures for Doctor Appointments: Your Help is Needed!
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.
Questions? Please contact the Attendance Office directly.
Email attendanceBVN@bluevalleyk12.org or call (913) 239-3001
Back to School Care Packages - deadline Wednesday, August 28
Order a Back-To-School Care Package to support the Class of 2027!
- Orders will close on Wednesday, August 28th.
- Care Packages will be delivered to student advisories on Thursday & Friday, August 29th & 30th).
Thank you for your support of our students and the Class of 2027.
Homecoming T-Shirt Orders - deadline Friday, August 30
Pre-order your 2024 Homecoming T-Shirt to support the Class of 2027!
- Orders will close on Friday, August 30th.
- Orders can be picked up in the Stampede (school store) during lunch on Wednesday, September 18th & Friday, September 20th and worn at the Homecoming football game on September 20th.
Thank you for your support of our students and the Class of 2027!
Mark Your Calendars (new dates)
August 26 - Odd Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
August 27 - Even Day: 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
August 28 - Odd Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
August 29 - Even Day: 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
August 30 - Traditional Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
September 2 - NO SCHOOL / Labor Day
September 3 - NO SCHOOL / Professional Learning for Teachers
September 16-21 - Homecoming Week
October 11 - NO SCHOOL / End of Quarter 1
October 21 - Parent-Teacher Conference Week: Times TBA
October 25 - NO SCHOOL
November 25-29 - NO SCHOOL / Thanksgiving Break
December 18-20 - Final Exams
Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 - No School / Winter Break
January 6 - School Resumes
Upcoming All School Events
All BVN events, activities, sporting events and additional calendar adjustments are found on the EKL calendar: www.easternkansasleague.org
Click here for the 2023/2024 Blue Valley School District Calendar.
BVN Counseling Department Information
Here is your counseling news for this week!
- PSAT Reminder: PSAT registration closes on August 29th. The PSAT is being administered on October 11th, which is a non-school day. Please see this document for more information.
- Senior Transcripts: official transcripts will be available to send mid-September. Transcripts are requested through Xello. Please see the Senior College and Career Counseling Canvas page for more information.
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.
BVN Hope Club School Supply Drive (new)
The BVN Hope Club is holding a Back-to-School Supply Drive to help the KCK Public School District!
Please bring extra school supplies, AP exam prep books, SAT/ACT prep book donations to
Amy Wiese’s room 105. Mrs. Wiese is a Science Teacher. The Hope Club is a community service organization that supports the KCK Public Schools. A huge thanks to Mrs. Wiese, Hope Club Sponsor!! Thank you for your support!
Hearing & Vision Parent Volunteers needed - October 10
Your Blue Valley North School Nurse needs 6 parent volunteers to help with the annual hearing and vision screening on Thursday, October 10, 2024 from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please email Nurse Amanda Collichio at ajcoillichio@bluevalleyk12.org if you are available to help. Six volunteers are needed for the success of this important event. Thank you for considering!
Donations Needed for Classrooms
Boxes of Kleenex, Puffs, or any brand of tissues are needed for our classrooms. If you are able to donate, please drop them off in the BVN Main Office between 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are grateful for your help! Thank you to those parents who's students have dropped off donations!!
School Picture Day and Senior Photo Make-up Day (new)
School Picture Day for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students was August 16th. The photo will be for the yearbook and students went during their English class. Photo packets can be ordered anytime at www.rollandkc.com using your student's ID number as the access code.
If seniors did not get their senior pictures completed over the summer with Rolland Studios, they will have their photo taken on Monday, September 23, 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. during their lunch. This day will also be a chance for Re-takes if a 9th, 10th or 11th grade student is unhappy with the photos from August.
If you have questions about school photos, please contact Rolland's Customer Service at www.rollandkc.com or email them at cs@rollandkc.com .
Parents, Are you Moving or Have you Moved? (reminder)
If you have moved or plan to move, please contact the BVN Registrar, Ann LaGrange, by email at ALLaGrange@bluevalleyk12.org. Thank you!
Rising Seniors--Info for the Class of 2025
Deadlines are coming quickly for Senior Tribute ads in the 2025 yearbook! The ad is a way of recognizing the memories, achievements and hopes you have for your child’s future. The flyer below is full of information to help you gather materials for your student’s senior ad. Be sure to check past yearbooks for ideas!
If you have any questions, Northern Light staff is here to help. You can reach out to us at bvnseniorads@gmail.com.
Hopefully, all seniors have had their senior portrait taken by Rolland Studios for the yearbook during the summer. (You can choose another company for your personal senior photos which can be used in the Senior Tribute Ads, but only a photo from Rolland Studios will be used for the “Senior Section” of the yearbook.) Info about packages and proofs, go to www.rollandkc.com . If you did NOT have your portrait taken this summer, plan to be in the BVN library on Monday, September 23, between 10:30 am - 12:30 pm for the LAST CHANCE to get this done!
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. Please complete as soon as possible. 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
National Honor Society
Are you a student who is in the class of 2025 or class of 2026 and have a 3.5 GPA or higher? Are you interested in being a candidate for National Honor Society induction in the fall? If so, please read on. Students need 40 hours of community service from January 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. These hours must come from non-profit 501c3 organizations. We will not count hours such as walking dogs, babysitting a neighbor, helping someone move, tutoring, volunteering at country clubs etc. Students should already be on x2VOL, the platform that tracks hours, and should be recording and verifying hours on this online platform. An individual from the organization must verify hours with an email that is from a .org email address. Look online for opportunities that are posted on the x2VOL website. If you are questioning if hours count as community service, please contact Mrs. Cornelius and Mrs. Stein to get prior authorization.
Information will be sent out in the fall. But, tentative dates for the initial information meeting are Wednesday, September 18, at 3:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 19, at 8:00 a.m. both in the PAC. Attendance at one of these two dates is mandatory! We will hand out all information to students at this meeting. Other than community service hours, students are not working on anything else before this meeting.
Mandatory induction practice is Monday, November 4, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. and Mandatory Induction Ceremony is Monday November 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Family is welcome to attend the induction ceremony! Mark your calendars!
Feel free to reach out to Ms. Cornelius (acornelius@bluevalleyk12.org) or Mrs. Stein (sistein@bluevalleyk12.org) with any questions. Thanks!
Click on this link for all NHS information:
Nurse Notes
Updates for the 2024-2025 School Year
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 Amanda Collichio, School Nurse, at ajcoillichio@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 ajcollichio@bluevalleyk12.org to set up an appointment.
Board & Committee Members Needed!
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!
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE BUCKAROO BASH! This year's parent-only party will be held on Saturday, October 12 at ALoft Hotel in Park Place. Watch for more information and ticket sales in the coming weeks!
Thank you for your consideration!
Durham Bus Riders
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.
We are Mustang Proud!
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.
Blue Valley North High School
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@BVNOstroski
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BVN Instagram:
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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