Blue Valley Northwest

We are looking forward to the opportunity to update you on your student’s academic progress at the start of 2nd semester!

We are offering a combination of virtual (via Zoom) and in-person conferences this spring.

2. Conference sign up links will close at Noon on Friday, February 7th.

3. Conferences will take place on:

• Monday, February 10th VIRTUAL ONLY from 3:30-7pm
• Wednesday, February 12th VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON @ BVNW from 3:15-6:45 pm.

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all of our schools. Through the convergence of physical and intellectual security measures, we are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of emergencies. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

We had our annual presentation about off-campus learning options through our Career Ready Programs this week. To review opportunities for rising 11th and 12th graders please see the slideshow from the program here. This will go over opportunities to pursue certifications in areas such as Fire Science or Automotive as well as Dual Degree Opportunities through JCCC. There are many upcoming information nights at JCCC about these programs that are detailed in the presentation.

Future Husky Night is Monday, February 3rd beginning at 6:15. If you have an incoming 9th grader who will be part of our Class of 2029, you will be receiving an email with more information soon!

The last day to purchase a yearbook is Monday, January 20th!

To see if you have already purchased, access ParentVUE, click on "Fees," and then look for "Paid in Full. "To purchase, click on "Fees," and then "Pay Fees," where you will see Yearbook listed to add to your cart. Please note that you cannot do this from the ParentVUE app and must use a browser.

Seniors using the Common Application- your counselor will automatically send the “mid-year” report once first semester grades have been applied to your transcript, end of January. This is a district timeline and colleges are aware. You do not need contact your counselor with this request.

· KASFAA is offering three virtual FAFSA assistance sessions, which provide families with the chance to meet one-on-one with a financial aid professional for assistance completing the FAFSA. This come-and-go opportunity, launched last year, was a tremendous success and is back by popular demand! Please help us support even more students this year by sharing this valuable resource with your students and families and promoting it on your school’s social media platforms.

https://www.kasfaa.org/student_parent_counselor_resou.php

· Additional FAFSA help events through Johnson County Library

Step-by-step through the FAFAS event

January 14- Advisory lesson: Enrollment cards distributed, access to Canvas Enrollment Course

January 14 - 23 All students must:

• Work through Canvas course
• Reference the HS Courses IPS booklet
• Complete enrollment card
• Input course requests in StudentVUE by 1/23

January 24 - Enrollment cards due in ELA class

January 29 & 30 – Counselors meet individually with current 10th graders

February 5 & 6 – Counselors meet individually with current 11th graders

February 12 & 13 - Counselors meet individually with current 9th graders

*If you have questions for your counselor, please write them on your form and do your best to complete enrollment steps. Counselors will be happy to answer questions and make any needed changes when meeting individually with students.

JCCC’s College Now and Baker CCCP are a dual or concurrent credit options for students in approved classes at BVNW. What is dual credit? When a high school student takes an approved BVNW HS class from an approved high school teacher, they have the option to earn both high school and college credit. Students must enroll separately through JCCC or Baker University to earn the college credit.

BVNW College Now (JCCC) In-Person Classes (2nd semester)

AP English Literature (12th grade)

Honors Spanish 5

AP Calculus BC

JCCC College Now Website

JCCC College Now Enrollment Guide

BVNW College Now Spring ’25 Course Schedule (CRN’s)

JCCC COLLEGE NOW ENROLLMENT DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 14.

BVNW Baker Concurrent Credit Program In-Person Class (2nd semester)

AP US History (with Mr. Lange)

AP US History (with Mr. Bates)

Enroll online through Baker CCP Website by FEBRUARY 7.

Students who are taking a 2nd-semester-only AP course and plan to take the AP exam(s) must register and pay for exams by February 28, 2025. There are 2 parts to registering for an AP exam:

1. Confirming exam registration in AP Classroom (through student’s College Board account)

2. Paying for the exam through Total Registration.

AP exam cost is $110. Detailed instructions on how to register and pay can be found on BVNW Counseling Canvas Course.

**Students who missed the 1st semester registration deadline (for 1st semester and/or yearlong AP classes) and would like to take an AP exam, may register during this window. College Board charges a $40 late registration fee. Student needs to pay for the AP exam through Total Registration, and then Mrs. Hadley, counselor, will update student’s registration/exam order on College Board side.

• Monday, January 20th - No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Monday, February 3rd - Future Husky Night (for the class of 2029 and their parents)

• Monday, February 10th - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:30-7:00 via Zoom.

• Wednesday, February 12th - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:15-6:45 either in person at BVNW or via Zoom.

• Friday, February 14th - No School

• Saturday, February 15th - Sweetheart Dance

• Monday, February 17th - No School, Presidents’ Day

• April 2/3 - State Science Assessment (juniors)

• April 3/4 and 9/10 - State ELA Assessment (sophomores)

• April 8 - Spring Test Day: PreACT (freshmen), State Math Assessment (sophomores), ACT (juniors)

Scholarship for Athletics/Activities Seniors

In partnership with Capitol Federal Foundation, the KSHSAA will award True Blue Scholarships intended to support Kansas High School graduates in postsecondary efforts. This one-time scholarship is for students graduating during the 2024-25 school year. To learn more about this scholarship, please visit this website.

Now that we have had a full week of school, it feels like we are back in a routine- especially with activities and athletics!

• Girls and boys basketball will be at BVSW tonight.

• Wrestling is traveling to Marion, Iowa for a tournament this weekend.

• JV wrestlers will be at Bishop Miege in a tournament Saturday.

• Swim is participating in the Greg House Invitational @ BVN on Saturday.

• Bowling will be in Leavenworth at Crown Lanes on Monday.

Look at all the opportunities for us to support our student athletes! Keep showing up! Link to our schedule (click).

The website “www.bvnwathletics.com” is INACCURATE and outdated. That website is going away at the end of the school year. We are working on keeping information on there up to date, but please do not rely on that site. Instead, go to the Blue Valley Northwest homepage and then select athletics/activities: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/domain/5413

As we begin to host EKL events:

REMINDER: Per our EKL Rule, anytime varsity is competing a gate will be charged for the entire evening. For example, if C team plays at 4:00 and varsity plays at 7:00, there will be a gate. You will have to pay to get into the C team game. Again, this is an EKL Rule.

After an extra few days off, we are already busy in the Activities Department at BVNW! So many student successes to celebrate! Also, on February 14th, from 4-6:30 PM, our Student Government is hosting a Sweetheart Carnival for our community! Tickets to play various games sponsored by many of our activities will be available in person only. Come enjoy before that evening’s basketball games!

Celebrations (We realize this is not a comprehensive list of everything going on around Husky Nation, but we’ll try to share some highlights each week!)

• Congratulations to our first two Activities Students of the Month, Addie Wight (12) and Colin Orr (11)! These students are in good academic standing and show a strong commitment to participation in their activities. They are highlighted in particular due to their strong leadership within Dance Team (Addie) and Debate & Forensics (Colin).

• Congratulations to our Novice Debaters who took 3rd place at Sunflower Novice Debate last weekend!

• Two of our Orchestra students recently won recognition at the KMEA Jeff Jordan Composition Competition. Congratulations to Mingcheng Guo who received an honorable mention, and Rishi Venkatesh who won the competition!

• Congratulations to Sarah Cullen and Eva Minor on their 1st and 3rd place finishes at the Future of High School Art Exhibition, hosted by Friends of Overland Park Arts!

Upcoming Events: Click here to view all athletic/activity schedules

Once you click the link, you can select specific schedules under the “view schedules” tab on the right side of the screen.

As we get ready to launch another semester on January 6th, we appreciate your partnership. As you know, our staff has been hard at work this year implementing structured expectations for our school community along with how we teach and reinforce them in all settings.

Our structured expectations include language about our district’s personal electronic device policy. Students are expected to stow away their phone from bell to bell during each class and they may not take them out of the classroom if they leave to use the restroom in the middle of class. They may have them out during passing periods and at lunch.

Click here to read a few points about why structured expectations are important to our school.

Enrollment for next school year begins on Tuesday, 1/14! Students will receive their enrollment cards in Advisory on Tuesday. These cards are due to their English teacher on Friday, January 24th.

This event is for incoming 9th grade students (the class of 2029) and their parents and is on Monday, February 3rd from 6:15-8:15 at BVNW. Additional information will be emailed home soon

Students in grades 9-11 will be taking a standardized test on Tuesday, April 8th from 7:30-noon as follows:

• 9th grade: PreACT

• 10th grade: State Math Assessment

• 11th grade: ACT (score reportable to colleges)

There is no school for seniors. More information will be coming later this semester!

Families can expect automated attendance messages by email, phone, and text if a child is absent and their absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to report an absence or reply to the automated email or phone message.

What is the purpose of attendance notifications?

We realize that students may occasionally need to miss school for planned absences, illnesses, and appointments. However, when a student does not arrive at school or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to make sure you are aware that your child is absent.

How can I get push notifications?

Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. If a child has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance, then a push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device.

Interested in push notifications? Simply download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings and select attendance notifications through in-app settings. Once the app is downloaded, these instructions will help you complete the set-up.

Do you know a Blue Valley educator who goes above and beyond to inspire, engage and innovate in the classroom? Help the Blue Valley Educational Foundation (BVEF) recognize their extraordinary impact by nominating them today for the BVEF annual Innovative Educator Award! This BVEF award recognizes two exemplary teachers (one elementary, one secondary) who creatively apply innovative teaching methods, foster critical thinking skills and ignite a passion for learning in their students. Honorees will receive a $1,250 grant for their classroom. To nominate a teacher, fill out the 2025 BVEF Innovative Educator Award form by Monday, February 3.

While not affiliated with or endorsed by BVNW, we wanted to let you know about a 2-session ACT prep class being held at Hilltop Conference Center the evenings of Jan. 29 and 30. Classes will meet from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. You can register here: http://actprep.info/bluevalleynw

State Assessments for sophomores and juniors will begin in April! More information to come. Please do your best to avoid scheduling appointments on these days so that testing is not disrupted. See “Important Dates” below for specific dates.

Group photo day is scheduled for Monday, January 13th. During the school day, various clubs will be called over the intercom to the NEW MAIN GYM to have their picture taken. The schedule for photos can be found here. BVNW and CAPS staff have been made aware that students may miss class time for photos. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer makeups for group photos.

The Husky Hero Award is designed to honor the exceptional contributions and dedication of our educators at Blue Valley Northwest High School. This recognition seeks to spotlight educators who consistently go above and beyond in fostering a positive and impactful learning environment.

The nomination form is open to nominate your “Husky Hero!” Here’s the link: https://forms.gle/zj1Gi9gft1GTELrb7.

At the end of each semester, courses in Canvas will conclude and will no longer be visible on the Canvas app. However, a concluded course remains visible through the Canvas website by selecting ALL COURSES and then PAST ENROLLMENTS.

Please note: The dates are subject to change based upon calendar updates or technology needs.

How do I view my child’s report card?

• Log in on ParentVue.

• Select the student’s name

• In the left navigation bar, choose Report Card

Each new semester, classroom teachers will publish their next semester’s Canvas course. As courses are published, students and families will again be able to see current courses on the Canvas app and Canvas website. For Canvas parent resources, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/canvas.

JCCC Career Ready Information

Is your 10th or 11th grade student interested in exploring possible career pathways or a dual degree with BVNW and JCCC? If so, you are encouraged to attend a community wide event to answer your questions prior to February enrollment for 25-26 school year. Want to know more?

See Blue Valley Career Ready programs website.

• Fire Science January 27th at 6:00 pm at the Fire Training Center at 12401 Hemlock
• Dual Degree on January 22th at 6:00 pm at the JCCC in the Nerman Museum
• Industrial Arts (Welding, HVAC, Auto, Construction Management, Plumbing, Welding, Electronic Technology) on January 29th at 6:00 pm at the JCCC CTEC building
• Cybersecurity and Culinary & Hospitality on January 30th at 6:00 pm at the JCCC in the Wylie Culinary building

"Communication from the School Nurse and Athletic Trainer:

We have a new fax number for any and all medical records and documents. Please send these to our new fax number: (913) 239-3434

The Femineer Program was created to empower K-12 female students to develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue majors and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. It has since expanded to include other under-represented individuals in these fields.

If you are interested in returning to the program, please fill out the application linked below, scan it and return it to the Femineer Program advisor Karen Stohlmann at khenderson@bluevalleyk12.org.

Femineer Program Application 25.docx

Website: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/bvnw
Location: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: (913) 239-3400