NORTH NEWS March 27

Website: https://smnorth.smsd.org/
Location: 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-6900
Twitter: @SM_NORTH_HS

North Community,

We had an outstanding first week back from the break! Students were engaged in class and appear to be ready to have an awesome finish to the school year! Thank you so much for your support and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions. Have a great week and Go Bison!

Good news and Upcoming events:

State Testing:

SMN students continue state testing this week! 10th-grade students will test in Math and 11th-grade students will test in Science during the week. Please talk with your student about the state assessments and encourage them to give their best effort!

Seminar Success Incentive

We are starting our seminar success initiative this week. We have almost 800 students who have qualified by passing all their classes! Great job students!

Hot start to Spring Athletics:

Our baseball, softball, and girls’ soccer teams were all victorious this past week, starting off the season undefeated! Great job!

Baile Noche:

Last Friday we had Baile Noche in our cafeteria. This was a mixer that exclusively featured Spanish music and dance. Our students had an absolute blast!

MUST BRING YOU STUDENT ID TO PURCHASE AND TO GET INTO THE DANCE

Due to limited capacity at Arrowhead, we wanted to share how ticket sales for Prom will be handled.

During the first week of sales, April 11-14: Only North students in grades 11th and 12th can buy tickets. They will sell both online and in the cafeteria. Online ticket sales have a service charge, and students must show emailed confirmation in the cafeteria to pick up their physical tickets.

Starting April 17-21, the second week of ticket sales, Juniors and Seniors may purchase tickets for their guests from the other grades or an outside guest. Should someone want to bring an outside guest, they must be pre-approved by the front office. You can do this by picking up an Out of School Guest Form in the front office, starting on April 3rd. The guest must be on the approved list at the time of ticket purchase.

TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR

Questions can be answered by Monica Morris, the Junior Class sponsor at monicamorris@smsd.org

Students and Families:

Beginning March 28th, students who are passing all classes will be given the opportunity to celebrate their success by having access to the cafeteria and rose garden during seminar on Tuesdays.

Students who are passing all classes on the preceding Friday will receive a pass via email to show their seminar teacher. Students can then pass to the designated locations at 9:35, our regular passing time.

We hope this extra free time will encourage students to maintain or improve their grades in their classes.

MARCH 29: Announcement pickup during lunch. (Cap and Gown are handed out at graduation practice on the Seniors last day)

All Seniors should have ordered a cap and gown from Jostens. If you have not done that, please click on the link below and get that taken care of ASAP.

Cap and gown only: https://tinyurl.com/62wjnrvu

All graduation products: https://tinyurl.com/bdzdrezs

https://smnorth.smsd.org/students/graduation

Wednesday, March 29th

Indian Hills Middle School

6400 Mission Road, Prairie Village KS, 66208

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Raising teens is hard. Especially, if they are struggling and you feel like you’re “walking on eggshells.”

Become a BOLD Parent

Information and Registration for this event is at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bold-parenting-adolescent-adhd-anxiety-depression-tickets-537957995847

• Student fee email notifications were sent out on Friday, February 10th.

• The Online fee payment portal can be found at https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/55790 You can set up an account or pay as a guest using the student’s last name and ID number.
• Fees not paid by June 1st or graduation for seniors may be sent to the Collections agency.

• Any questions regarding fees, payments, or to arrange a payment plan should be directed to SMN bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis at Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.
• Families qualifying for free or reduced lunch can receive a waiver for part of the fees if they provide the bookkeeper with a copy of their Food Service benefits letter.

Keeping our Students Healthy

You may have recently heard news reports about increases of illness including allergies this spring, as is typical with this time of year. In SMSD, we have begun to see increases in absence due to illness; with a few physician diagnosed illnesses and many generalized symptoms.

One of the most important things to help decrease the spread of illness is for those who are not feeling well to stay home. If your child has a temperature of over 100.0 or has vomited or has had diarrhea, they must stay home. Students may return to school when they have been free from fever (without medication), vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours.

Your child may also be ill, but without these symptoms. They may have a sore throat, headache, cough, or generally not feel well. If you suspect illness, please keep your child home. If in doubt about sending your child to school, contact the school nurse or your child’s doctor.

Please always check the school calendar for the most up to date schedule SMN Calendar

• March 29: Senior annoucements available for pick up during lunch
• March 29: BOLD parent presentation
• April 22: Prom

https://smnorth.smsd.org/students/counseling

SMSD Spring Career Fair & Internship Expo

Seniors - are you unsure of your future career or pathway? Are you planning on entering the workforce after graduation in May? If this sounds like you, join us on Thursday, April 13th from 9:30-10:30 am to meet business professionals and kick start your career. Transportation will be provided. Resumes are required to attend, professional dress is highly suggested. Please use the QR code to sign up, this link or reach out to Mrs. Sherer in student services or email with questions. BrittSherer@smsd.org

Juniors - Are you interested in learning more about different careers and pathways? Are you interested in finding an internship for your senior year? If so, please consider attending the SMSD Career and Internship Expo on Thursday, April 13th from 11:00am - 12:00 pm. Transportation will be provided, lunch will not be provided. Please use the QR code to sign up, this link or reach out to Mrs. Sherer in student services or email with questions.

Brittsherer@smsd.org

The theme of the month for BRICK time is citizenship, and we are focusing on digital citizenship during our presentations. Here is a resource from our SRO.

Tuesday March 28, 2023, 6:30 - 8:00pm

American Legion Post #153

410 E. Dennis Avenue

Olathe, KS 66061

Learn more about the U.S. Service Academy application and nomination

process from Senator Jerry Moran's Service Academy Coordinator Lisa

Dethloff, representatives from each service academy, current academy

students and parents of academy graduates. U.S. Service Academies

include the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S.

Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Has your student failed a required class? Do they need to make it up this summer to stay on track to graduate? SMSD offers two summer programs: Summer Academy and Summer eSchool. Please refer to the websites for details. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

Registration for summer programs will be at North in Student Services.

If you have questions about what class your student needs to take, please reach out to your child’s Alpha Counselor.

A-D & ELL Jeinny Morris jeinnymorris@smsd.org

E-K Leah Murray leahmurray@smsd.org

L-Q Jennifer Fontaine jenniferfontaine@smsd.org

R-W Deanna Griffey deannagriffey@smsd.org

X-Z Britt Sherer brittsherer@smsd.org

LOOKING FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT:

JCPRD Lifeguards Aquatic Jobs | Johnson County Park & Rec, KS (jcprd.com)

Advance Auto Parts - Click here to apply

Charlie's Car Wash - Two Overland Park locations - stop by or go to charlies.com

Creative Carnivals & Events part time help. Email kevin@carnivallady.com

Crown Center Ice Terrace - click here to apply

Freddy's - freddys.com/careers

Jefferson's - Hiring Kitchen staff - call 1-785-727-3000

Overland Park, City of - apply at recruit.opkansas.org

Papa Murphy's on Shawnee Mission Parkway - 913-638-4552

Stretch Lab - Leawood and Overland Park locations hiring - Click here

Stanley Steamer - Career opportunies - Email: dfry@steemer.com

UPS - Lenexa, KS email - sford@ups.com

Tidal Wave Auto Spa - Click Here

Go to student services for more information.

The Shawnee Mission North Girls Swim and Dive teams had their first meet of the 2022-2023 season Thursday afternoon against Shawnee Mission West, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Mill Valley, and De Soto high schools. We had some amazing swims by both returning and new members of our team. This included a State qualification in diving for Meaghan Driever, three individual State consideration times for Serena Clark, and an additional State consideration in the 200 freestyle relay which consisted of Serena Clark, Isobel Asbury, Evelyn Turner, and Naomi Culley.

The Shawnee Mission North Softball team had no trouble on offense, winning big over Shawnee Mission West, 11-3. The scoring opened up in the first inning when Kelsey Hoekstra tripled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run. The Bison pulled away for good with Hoestra’s homerun in the 3rd inning. SMN scored five runs in the sixth inning thanks to singles by Jessica Brown, Brooklyn Bonewits, and Eve Frame. Hoekstra, Bonewits, T. Wright, Brown, Frame, A. Worthy, R. Waters, A. Hammer, and M. Bruson all managed hits for the Bison. Madison Bruson led the way with scoring, knocking in 3 RBIs. Eve Frame toed the rubber for the Bison, only giving up 2 hits and striking out 2.

In game one of a Softball DH vs SM West, Kelsey Hoekstra shut down Shawnee Mission West, throwing a complete game shutout. She went for 5 innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, striking out ten and walking one. The Bison opened up scoring in the first inning when Hoekstra singled to bring in one run. North totaled seven hits. Hoestra went 2-2 with 3 RBIs and Brooklyn Bonewits went 2-3, knocking in 2 runs. We didn’t commit a single error in the field. Jessica Brown was lights out at shortstop with 6 assists/putouts. The team will play SME on Tuesday at Maurer and travel to LFS on Thursday.

SM North Baseball team opened the 2023 season with a win vs Park Hill South. Jett Messenger gets the win with an impressive 5 2/3 innings pitched; giving up only 2 hits with Cale Fossett closing it out for the victory! Back to work tomorrow vs Gardner.

Drake Frame didn’t allow a single run as SM North Baseball defeated Gardner Edgerton, 1-0 last Thursday. Frame allowed only four hits, three strike-outs in seven innings. Norman Davis and Jack Taylor had one hit to lead the Bison. The team will play Olathe Northwest at CBAC on Tuesday and a home game vs Lawrence Free State at 3 & 2 on Thursday.

SMN girls soccer team secured 2-0 victory vs Lawrence HS on Thursday evening. They will play three games in the KC Turner soccer tournament on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Spring sports competition begins this week! Check out the Sunflower League calendar/schedule to keep up with our events and activities. Our league also has a website you can check-out.

SM North Sports Foundation Legacy Scholarship Celebration - We will celebrate the students and families on Thursday, April 13 at 7:45 in the Little theater. Each of the scholarships is awarded to a graduating senior student athlete based on their excellence in the classroom, athletic participation and involvement in the community. The scholarships are named after former SM North coaches and a memorial in the name of a SMN graduate.

Save the Date:

• Thursday, April 13 SM North Sports Foundation Legacy Scholarship Celebration

• Wednesday, April 26 National Letter of Intent (NLI) signing in the FH

If you need to visit with varsity spring coaches please see the information:

JOIN OUR 3&2 BASEBALL UMPIRE ACADEMY

3 & 2 Baseball Program / JOCO Recreation is recruiting baseball umpires: REGISTER HERE https://bit.ly/3FSVn2U or call 913-401-6000 &/or email 3and2UIC@gmail.com

Live Eligibility

• Reports will be provided to coaches daily from skyward. We use the canvas platform which must be synchronized with Skyward; due to syn issues;

• Eligibility reports are Bi-weekly process

• 1st and 3rd Monday of the month

• If a student shows the AD between reports, he/she improved their grade then he/she is immediately reinstated.

• If a student does not improve and is on the next report they become ineligible for contests until they can show they are passing 5. They regain eligibility as soon as they can show proof and the process starts all over again.

SM North subscribes to Core Course GPA. If your student is interested in participating in collegiate athletics please visit the website and begin the registration process. SMSD will host a college eligibility informational session in late fall. It’s never too early to begin this process.

CoreCourseGPA.com now makes it easier than ever to educate your student-athletes and families on various aspects of NCAA/NAIA initial-eligibility and recruiting. Just click on the 1-Minute Recruiting Webinars below:

NCAA Core Course GPA vs Cumulative GPA

What are the NCAA D1 Initial-Eligibility Requirements?

• KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form, Transportation Release Form- HS - English [Required Athletic Forms for High School Students]

• KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form, Transportation Release Form- HS - Spanish [Required Athletic Forms for High School Students

• 2022-2023 SMSD Concussion & Head Injury Information Release Form

• 2022-2023 SMSD Concussion & Head Injury Information Release Form - Spanish

• 2022-2023 SMSD Student Transportation Consent and Release Form

• 2022-2023 SMSD Student Transportation Consent and Release Form - Spanish

• Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (English)

• Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (Spanish)

• Voluntary Student Accident Insurance (Managed by K&K Insurance)
  Our school district has selected the Student Insurance Plan from K&K Insurance Group to make reliable coverage available to parents. If you don’t have other insurance, this plan may be a resource to consider. Additionally, even if you have other coverage, this plan can help fill expensive “gaps' ' caused by deductibles and copays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

High School Sports Information

• High School Sports - Athletic Schedules

• SMSD Athletic Stadium and Athletic Complex Locations

• Kansas State High School Activities Association

• SMSD one page calendar

• SMSD HS Activity Handbook

• SMSD Athletic and Activities Webpage

The following seniors have qualified for the Presidential Gold Award Certificate have earned a minimum of 3.5 GPA and scored in the 85th percentile or above on the ACT Composite, Math or Reading.

Wilson Boyd

Wyatt Boyd

Naomi Culley

Jason Culp

Jackson Dinh Phan

Elise Dummermuth

William Eaton

Madison Elmer

Ian Ensley

Micah Godwin

Cole Hageman

Jovanni Hernandez

Caleb Kiatoukaysi

Sareen Kronawitter

Owen Laipple

Erick Merino Diaz

Declan Nielsen

Tochukwu Obi

Elliannah Ousley

Evelyn Parnell

Lily Smith

Samuel Souder

Gabriel Stigers

Please see the News and Update section above for upcoming events.

Students & Staff - Stock up on SMN Gear at our Spirit Wear Pop-Up Shop

SMN Spirit Wear POP-UP Shop

Thursday 3/30 & Friday 3/31

11am-1pm outside the cafeteria

SMN 100th Anniversary Spirit Wear items are now 25% off - use the coupon code 100YEAR when purchasing online!

You can also order your gear through our online store using the link or QR code below…

https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

• Join PTSA (optional, but highly encouraged): Parents, grandparents, teachers, and community members: You can now become a PTSA member. Your membership helps support our students and their school!

Check PTSA out on Twitter @SMNorthPTSA or https://twitter.com/SMNorthPTSA

Check PTSA out on Facebook @SMNorthPTSA or https://www.facebook.com/SMNorthPTSA/

Check the PTSA Website http://smnorth.smsd.org/Pages/parent-involvement/PTSA.aspx

Join the PTSA Here - https://smnorthptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Memberships

Click here for the SMSD Website

As the winter months approach, it is especially important for our community members to be aware of inclement weather procedures and how they can be alerted if plans for building closures are announced.

Procedures

If conditions make it necessary for the SMSD to close schools, the district will implement one of three plans: A, B, or C.

Click here to view the plans.

Inclement Weather Announcements

If plan A, B, or C is announced, this information will be shared broadly.

Staff and families can receive direct emails, texts, and voice messages.

Families can sign up to receive alerts in the manner that works best for them.

Click here for details on how to sign up for alerts.

Additional Resources:

The main page of the district website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Local radio and television stations

24-hour information line at (913) 993-7380

No announcement will be made when schools are to remain open.

• ** Please Note- If you have an account from previous years (even Hocker Grove), there is no need to create another account.
  
• New users: Download the Canvas Parent App from the App Store or Google Play store.
• Follow the prompts to create your account. Create a username and password.
• Search SMSD (Shawnee Mission School District) > Shawnee Mission North > Eventually it will ask you for a “Pairing Code”
• To find your student’s “Pairing Code”
1. In your student’s Canvas account have your student click on “Account” (Top Left)
2. Click on “Settings” > then click on “Pair with Observer” (Right side)
3. Enter this “Pairing code” when prompted in your Canvas Parent App.
• Note that each parent needs a different code, therefore repeating this process to generate a different code. If more than one student, you will be prompted to “add student” on the app. Repeat the process to generate their observer code.
• If your student will not provide the code to you, please reach out to the school to get the Pairing Code. 😊
• Additional Canvas gradebook information can be found here.
• Canvas has the most up-to-date grade information for your student, if you have questions about missing assignments, please contact your student’s teacher.

Skyward

To get information about your login information for your Skyward parent account please contact Student Services at 913-993-6930. Skyward helps parents keep track of attendance, pay school fees, view national and state test scores, complete the online verification process and much, much more.