North Notes

Congratulations to Blue Valley North who has been named as the number one public high school in the state of Kansas by Niche.com and ranked in the top 1% nationally. This only happens because of the dedication, hard work, and relationships that teachers, counselors, administration, staff and parents form with our students every day. Blue Valley district is ranked the top district in Kansas and among the top 1% of districts in America. Check out all the rankings on the Niche website!

The weekend of September 27th, students from Blue Valley North and CAPS traveled to Ellsworth County, Kansas to participate in the 2024 Kansas Herpetological Society's Fall field trip. Students helped to collect range data on various species of reptiles and amphibians, leading to over 90 unique observations of at least 19 species of animals. KHS will use this data to update their scientific records. These students represented our district very well and I am certain if you ask them, they will have lots of stories and pictures to share. Thanks to BVN Science Teacher Chris Ollig for leading these students!

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Thank you so much for hosting such a successful food drive for the Blue Valley Food Pantry again this year! Your contributions have provided valuable job training skills for our students in the Intensive Resource Program. Students have sorted, scanned-in, stocked, and sacked groceries for customers with many of the items you donated over the last month. We are so grateful for the opportunities you have provided for our students and patrons. In addition, your food donations will help families in need right here in our community.

Buckaroo Bash -- Saturday, October 12! You won't want to miss this fun Parent Only party! Come and socialize with fellow members of the BVN community! Enjoy live music, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and silent auction baskets from our sports and clubs! Tickets on sale now! Purchase NOW! http://www.bvnmustangs.com.

Also, do you have a product, service or business that would be interested in donating something to the auction items? Please reach out to Heather at bvnpbcpresident@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support of your students, their activities, clubs, sports teams and the Blue Valley North teachers by donating to the Mustang Fund!

1. Drop-off/Pick-up moving to bus lane entrance: Family drop-off and pick-up is moving to the current bus lane. Please enter from Lamar Ave. and exit onto 123rd St. Due to construction, this entrance will be closed once school begins each day.
2. Front entrance available for midday drop-off/pick-up: The front entrance should continue to be used for drop-off or pick-up during school hours.
3. Bus loop relocating to the back entrance: The bus drop-off and pick-up area will move to the back entrance of the school. Families should no longer use this as a drop-off/pick-up location.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe and smooth arrival and dismissal for all.

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.

Parent Teacher conferences will be held from October 21st through October 24th and will be by appointment only. In-person conferences will be on Tuesday, October 22nd from 3:15 to 6:45 p.m. Remote conferences via Zoom will be held on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday of that week depending on the teacher's availability.

This document contains instructions on how to sign up for conferences and links to each teacher's sign-up forms and Zoom meeting rooms.

We look forward to collaborating with you on your child's education!

Please be sure you have completed paying for your student’s required fees, AND course fees. Remember, course fees are assigned based on your student’s enrollment. Take a moment to log in to ParentVue to see if any course fees were assigned and if you have any outstanding fees to be paid. This is also a good time to purchase a yearbook, if your student wants one.

If you have any questions regarding fees, please contact our BVN Bookkeeper, Lori Freeman, at lfreeman@bluevalleyk12.org. If you need help with ParentVue, please contact Janet Roush, Assistant to Dr. Tyson Ostroski, at jroush@bluevalleyk12.org .

Thank you for your continued support of Blue Valley North High School.

BVN will be hosting a blood drive on October 5, in the school’s Aux Gym from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Those that participate will receive a free t-shirt, snacks, and sports drinks. Anyone and everyone over age 16 is welcome to donate. The link to sign up is posted below!

https://donate.savealifenow.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/83893

Please sign up, there are major blood shortages nationwide and blood is needed now! Our goal is 100 donations, but I know we can surpass that, the time is now – Go Donate!

Boys Basketball Tryout Meeting will be on Tuesday, Octover 15, at 8:00 a.m. in the Main Gym. All boys who plan on trying out for basketball need to attend this information meeting. Coach Phifer will hand out information about the dates and times of tryout. First day of tryouts will be Monday, November 18. See Coach Phifer if you are unable to attend the meeting on Tuesday, October 15.

BVN’s America Decides class is encouraging seniors to participate in the upcoming election! Voter registration is due OCTOBER 15th so please register before then.

How to register:

● Online registration https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/home/index

● Mail-in form Voter Registration Form JOCO

What to do after registering:

● Make sure to check on myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview to make sure you are registered. If not contact the Johnson County election office.

● View the ballot ahead of time

○ ballotpedia.org/Main_Page

○ JoCoElection.org

Who can register

● Must be 18 by the election date (November 5th)

If you have questions, please contact:

● Rachel Bronson

○ rebronson@bluevalleyk12.net

● Luke Wakeman

○ lewakeman@bluevalleyk12.net

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/

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!

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

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

October 9 - Odd Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

October 10 - Even Day: 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

October 11 - NO SCHOOL / End of Quarter 1 / PSAT Testing Day:

The PSAT will be administered to students who signed up.
This is a non-school day for all students who have not signed up for the PSAT.

October 21 - Parent-Teacher Conference Week: See info in this newsletter.

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 2024/25 Blue Valley School District Calendar.

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.

AP Test Registration is open and will close for year-long and 1st semester classes on November 1st. Please see the Counseling Canvas page for more information.

Junior Parents: Save the Date: October 7th from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Come learn about resources available in Xello for college and career planning and hear from our JCCC Career Ready Program liaison. Please visit our Canvas page for additional 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.

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 November? 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 was provided at the mandatory informational meetings last week. Mandatory induction practice is Monday, November 4, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. and the Mandatory Induction Ceremony is Monday November 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Families are welcome to attend the induction ceremony, so 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:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tc2fEZe4ZDztC5ljcr7u2GZn4O_rIkbH/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117665179597290868537&rtpof=true&sd=true

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.

• National Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 to October 15 celebrates the history, diverse cultures, and contributions of those with Hispanic and Latinx heritage.

• Hunger Action Month - dedicated to taking action to end hunger. The BV Food Pantry, located at Hilltop Conference Center, is available to all Blue Valley community members.

• Suicide Prevention Month - recognized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Raises awareness of mental health and resources available to discuss suicide prevention and seek help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.

• Labor Day - September 2 celebrates the achievements and contributions of workers to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

• Constitution Day - The United States commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

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. Photo packages from Picture Re-take Day have all been distributed to students. 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 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.

Cap & Gown: Please get your order placed for your graduation cap & gown: www.jostens.com . Fall Order deadline is Friday, Oct. 25. IF you already 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 tassel. Contact the Jostens office with any questions at 913-291-1636.

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

COVID/FLU

Dear Parents and Guardians, 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.

https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/Page/36106

Exclude 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!

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 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.

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