The Cougar Connection
Weekly Update for Families - August 22, 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
Twitter: @smnw_office
Instagram: @smnwoffice
A Note from Principal, Dr. Gruman
Dear Northwest Community,
We are excited to welcome our families for our Back to School Night tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 pm. We are starting to create some familiar routines in our schedules and learning activities. Today we celebrated students' achievements in academics, athletics, and activities from the spring season in our Everyday Champions Assembly. We discussed how we take care of one another in our shared spaces and work hard each day to make a positive difference. I am always so proud of our students and how they represent our Cougar community.
We have many activities ahead, so mark your calendars for a few below:
- August 23 - Freshmen Mixer from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
- September 4 - Bonfire is our kick-off to fall sports at 7 pm
We hope you will check out our Everyday Orange podcast below for more insight to high school life at NW. Episode 2 is out now.
Have a wonderful weekend.
All the Best,
Lisa Gruman
2024-2025 Fees
DS Bus Lines will start receiving payments for the 2024-2025 school year after June 10, 2024.
Early payment discount before July 22, 2024
$160.00 per student, per semester or $320.00 per year for school year. Must be received or postmarked by July 19, 2024.
Payments received after July 22, 2024
$185.00 per student, per semester or $370.00 per student for the school year.
Transportation Enrollment Forms
To enroll students for transportation visit DS Bus Lines website.
Those that have registered for busing by the early pay deadline can access bus information via the student's Skyward Family Access account prior to the start of school. The school of attendance will also have a list of bus stops and pick-up times the week prior to the start of each school year.
Once student bus information is available in Skyward Family Access, please sign up for the late bus notification system Textcaster. Both parents and students can sign up to receive bus notifications via this text system.
Terms and Conditions
Bus service is available at schools where 50 or more students are contracted to ride the bus, or where pay ridership has been mandated.
Service will not be started until a signed contract with payment is submitted to DS Bus Lines. Secondary students will be required to show student I.D. to the driver. They will not be allowed to ride the bus without showing student I.D.
Kindergarteners and first-graders must have an adult receive the student at the bus stop.
Bus fare is payable by credit card, money order, or check. CASH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Bus fare is payable by mail or in person to:
DS Bus Lines
5519 Merriam Dr.
Merriam, KS 66203.
Mark Your Calendar
August 22, 2024 - Back 2 School Night @ 630 pm
August 23, 2024 - Freshman Mixer @ 6 pm
August 27, 2024 - Senior Graduation Presentation by Josten's during seminar time (info to follow meeting)
August 29, 2024 - Freshman Stuco Elections during seminar time
September 4, 2024 - Bonfire - West Lot
September 11, 2024 - Sophomore Ring Presentation by Josten's during seminar time (info to follow meeting)
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
PTSA Updates
Visit the PTSA website.
Click the following links to sign up:
Freshman Mixer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AAA923A5FA7-50360508-freshman
August Staff Appreciation - Ice Cream Social (Senior Families):
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AAA923A5FA7-50459360-august
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
Parents, athletes, and others throughout the community, we are hopeful that you enjoy our latest edition for the EveryDay Champion Newsletter, n hopes of keeping you updated with pertinent information in the SMNW athletic/activities. We hope you enjoy this August 26th edition. 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 to uw by emailing Mr. Giacalone, angelogiacalone@smsd.org, or Mrs. Alvey, victoriaalvey@smsd.org or you can reach out by phone at 913-993-7400.
You can click the link below for the week of August 26, 2024
EveryDay Champion Newsletter Week of August 26th
- Individual High School calendar: Sunflower League
- Combined High School calendar: https://www.shawneemissionactivities.org
- Visit our Athletics Website for schedules of upcoming events: https://smnwcougars.com/
- Check out the NW Track Results: MileSplit
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.
From Nurse Wendy Woods
Happy back to school time families of SMNW!
This is a friendly reminder that your 9th and/or 11th grade students need vaccinations prior to the start of the school year. Please check with your student’s physician about obtaining those vaccines as soon as possible.
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: