North Notes

Blue Valley North Families,

Thanks to everyone for another great week at BVN! As we head into September, we want you to save the following dates regarding our Homecoming Week:

• Wednesday, September 18: Homecoming Parade and Fireworks
• Friday, September 20: Homecoming Football Game
• Saturday, September 21: Homecoming Dance

As I mentioned last week, 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.

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!

Please click the link above and see all the ways we need help during Homecoming. Thank you for considering!

Parent Donations Needed for September 18

Looking for an easy way to support our school? Please donate to the Homecoming Parade Pizza Party! The Mustang Club provides free pizza to all BVN students and staff before the parade, but we need you to help make it a complete meal! Sign up to donate water, chips, desserts and the use of your cooler by clicking the link below. Thank you!

September 2 - NO SCHOOL / Labor Day

September 3 - NO SCHOOL / Professional Learning for Teachers

September 4 - Odd Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

September 5 - Even Day: 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

September 6 - Traditional Day: 7:35 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

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.

The Blue Valley North High School Science National Honor Society will be accepting applications for membership between now and Thursday, September 12. Below is the information and requirements needed to apply. Please contact Mrs. Schulte (aschulte@bluevalleyk12.org) or stop by Room 113 if you have questions.

1. Applications are available from Mrs. Schulte in Room 113.
2. Eligibility requirements to join Science NHS.

• Must be a junior or senior.
• Must have cumulative science GPA of 3.5 and overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (unweighted).
• Must have completed one honors course AND be enrolled in or completed an AP Science course. (Students who did not take any honors courses can use two AP Science courses to fulfill the science enrollment requirement).
• Must continue to be enrolled in an upper level science course during every semester of membership.

Applications Due by Thurs. Sept 12 at 3:00 p.m.

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:

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

• 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.
• Senior Parents: Please make sure you have signed the Diploma/Transcript Authorization form.
• AP Test Registration opens on September 1st. Please see the 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.

If you have moved or plan to move, please contact the BVN Registrar, Ann LaGrange, by email at ALLaGrange@bluevalleyk12.org. Thank you!

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!

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. Thank you to those parents whose students have dropped off donations!! They are trickling in and it is such a huge help!!

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.

Photo packages that were pre-purchased from Rolland Studios before Picture Day on August 16 have arrived! Students can pick them up from the Student Services office during lunch, before or after school—Students will sign to acknowledge receipt of their photo packet.

Rolland Studios is BVN's official yearbook photographer. Photo packets can still be ordered from www.rollandkc.com using your student's ID number as the access code. Any photos that are purchased after August 16 will be shipped to your home. Questions? Email cs@rollandkc.com .

If you are unhappy with your photo, Rolland will be back at North for Retakes on Monday, Sept. 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the BVN library. Bring your photo packet with you to exchange for a retake. Rolland photographers will also bring their senior backgrounds for Senior's Last Chance to get their portrait taken for the yearbook and student IDs.

If seniors did not get their senior pictures completed over the summer with Rolland Studios, here is link for Seniors to sign up: https://bit.ly/49xdHgA

If you have questions about school photos, please contact Rolland's Customer Service at www.rollandkc.com or email them at cs@rollandkc.com .

The Early Bird deadline for Senior Tribute ads in the 2025 yearbook is this Saturday! 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! Here is link for Seniors to sign up: https://bit.ly/49xdHgA

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

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 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.

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.

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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 the Attendance Office directly.

Email attendanceBVN@bluevalleyk12.org or call (913) 239-3001

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