Monday, March 3:
Read Across America Week Begins!
Student Council Mtg 8:05A
Girls Soccer Begins 3:50P
Boys Basketball Games @ IH vs WR 5:30P
Tuesday, March 4:
8th Grade Band Clinic 8:50A
5th Grade Band Concert 6:00P
6th & 7th Grade Band Concert 7:00P
Wednesday, March 5:
Junior Board 7:45A
Statewide Tornado Drill 11:00A
Art Club 3:50P
Board Game Club 3:50P
Green Team 3:50P
Boys Basketball Games @ TR 5:30P
Thursday, March 6:
Jazz Band 3:50P
Choir Concert 7:00P
Friday, March 7:
Team 8-5 Fun Friday! 8:45A
It was wonderful to have students and teachers in the building all week as we continued to focus on student exploration, growth, and leadership. These key areas empower students to take ownership of their learning, discover new passions, and develop essential skills for their future.
Through classroom hands-on projects, collaborative activities, and leadership opportunities, students are encouraged to think critically, take initiative, and build confidence in their abilities. Here are a couple of highlights from this week:
Art: Students explored self-expression by altering portraits with geometric shapes to create unique self-portraits. They also applied plaster to their figurative wired sculptures, demonstrating creativity and craftsmanship.
Student-Led Professional Learning: Students took the lead in preparing for their presentations at the upcoming staff professional learning session, showcasing leadership, collaboration, and communication skills.
By fostering a culture of curiosity and resilience, we aim to empower every student to reach their full potential and make meaningful contributions to their community.
Congratulations to the Indian Hills Boys Basketball Team on winning the SMSD Middle School District Championship!
The A1 Knights defeated Indian Woods in the semifinals then claimed the championship by defeating Trailridge in the final Wednesday. Both games came down to the very end and were well played. Great work team! A big shoutout to our coaches JD Heatherly, Nick Lopez, and Adam Kennedy.
Make-Up Games:
The boys basketball season will conclude next week with two make-up games. The Knights will host Westridge on Monday, March 3rd then travel to Trailridge on Wednesday, March 5th.
Up Next:
Girls Soccer Tryouts begin on Monday, March 3rd! Check the soccer website for more details.
Attention, book lovers and tater enthusiasts! It’s time to kick off our Read Across America Potato Character Contest! Your mission? As a Knight Time, pick your favorite book character and start planning your potato’s transformation. Will it be a magical wizard, a daring superhero, or a classic fairy tale favorite? Choose wisely—your spud’s story starts today! Contest starts Monday, March 3rd in Knight Time.
Indian Hills Middle School is partnering with the organization Lead to Read to collect new or gently used books for kids across the Kansas City area. This book drive starts Monday, March 3rd - 7th, during Read Across America Week! For each day you bring in a book to donate, you will receive a jolly rancher. If you bring in five or more books, your name will be entered for a chance to win a gift card! Books will be collected in the library in the morning each day next week.
At Indian Hills, we are dedicated to fostering a strong culture of reading among our students. As part of this initiative, we host SQUIRE Time during ELA classes, providing students the opportunity to read for enjoyment.
To further encourage this love for reading, we invite you to engage with your student about their reading experience. Here are a few ways to support them:
Discuss What You’re Reading: Share insights and thoughts about your current reads, and ask your student about their book.
Encourage Sharing: Motivate your student to share their reading adventures and recommendations with you and their peers.
Reminder for Class: Ensure your student brings their SQUIRE book (a book of their choice) to every class each day.
Together, let’s inspire our students to develop a lifelong passion for reading!
7th Grade: Real Life Respect: The Power of Language
In this session, we delve into the harmful impact of put-downs, acknowledging the pervasive nature of negativity in language compared to intentional kindness. Cultivating a school culture that prioritizes uplifting language is a key strategy in fostering an anti-bullying environment.
This month, we are focusing on attendance from the students' perspective. When asked, "How can school staff and families better help you attend school every day?" students shared the following insights:
Consistent check-ins
Positive reinforcement
Help with staying organized
Tools for organization and accountability
Ultimately, our students need our continued support to stay engaged, empowered, and motivated to attend school regularly. These efforts not only contribute to their academic success but also help prepare them for the future by instilling essential life skills such as responsibility and time management. By committing to these practices, we can make a meaningful difference in student attendance and overall well-being.
Students in Mr. Lopez’s class took charge of their learning through Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) by investigating Exploration on the Plains, Lewis & Clark, Pike & Long, and the Great American Desert. Instead of being given answers, students posed their own research questions, fostering curiosity and critical thinking.
By focusing on "how to think" rather than "what to think," students are developing deeper engagement and ownership of their learning.
This year’s Yearbook theme is This is Our Year! To guarantee yourself a yearbook, purchase one by March 3rd. Here is the link to purchase.
We have noticed an increase in students bringing energy drinks and coffee to school. Please remind your child that outside food and drinks are not allowed.
In addition to school policy, energy drinks and excessive caffeine consumption can negatively impact students’ health, leading to:
☕ Increased heart rate and blood pressure
⚡ Difficulty focusing and disrupted sleep patterns
😓 Anxiety, jitters, and dehydration
To support a healthy learning environment, students will be asked to dispose of any outside drinks found in hallways or classrooms. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and focused.
The Shawnee Mission School District R&D Forum is coming this April with three ways to get involved:
📅 Save the Dates: The Student Showcase will be April 22-24, 2025, and The Next Great Idea Pitch Competition is April 26, with an awards ceremony in the afternoon.
💡 Brainstorm The Next Great Idea: Students can pitch a new product or solution for a chance to win prize money. Initial applications are due March 7, 2025. Learn more during lunch on February 27th.
🖼️ Select Showcase Projects: Students, teachers, and families are encouraged to enter projects in the Student Showcase. The submission deadline is March 28. For more info, visit the R&D Forum website.
Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up is a podcast where our superintendent shares stories and highlights the people, programs, and plans that make us ONE Shawnee Mission. New episodes drop every other Thursday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more.
Latest episode: “Kaden’s Story”
The latest episode of Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up is one of our most inspiring to date. Kaden Griffith has been beating the odds his entire life. At just 11-years-old he is out to change the world and nothing is going to stop him. Learn more about what drives him and be inspired. #ALLINSMSD #OneShawneeMission