NORTH NEWS October 12, 2020

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

After feedback from our students, parents, and staff and upon examination of current grades in our building, SMN teachers will be making a slight shift in the way grades are recorded. Moving forward all grades will be reported directly to Canvas. Grades from Canvas will then be synced/transferred to Skyward once a week. This sync/transfer will take place by midnight on Wednesdays. What this means is that students and parents should rely on Canvas for the most up-to-date grade information. We have stressed since August that Canvas is our go-to for everything a student needs – instructional material, resources, contact information, etc. It is only fitting that Canvas be the go-to for grading information as well.

• Download the Canvas Parent App from the App or Google Play store.
• Follow the Canvas instructional guide here to setup your observer account.
• To find your student’s “Pairing Code”

1. In the 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.

• Additional Canvas gradebook information can be found here.

As previously mentioned, in-person students will return to the Brickhouse on Monday, Oct. 26. To help ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and families, many of our normal procedures have been altered. SMN will be utilizing the SMSD reopening plans and operating procedures to guide what school will look like when students return.

Below is a link to the SMN Reopening Plan for Students and Parents. Within this plan is important information related to health/hygiene, arrival/dismissal, lunch, passing periods, classroom procedures and more. This document will be updated as we adjust our procedures to best serve our students and staff.

SMN Reopening Plan - Students & Parents

SMN will be taking school yearbook photos for all students on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and Thursday, Oct. 22 from 1:30-7:00PM. Information has been sent to both students and parents email and is on Canvas. It is important that all students sign up for a time slot so that their picture will be included in the yearbook and also so we can print student IDs. The sign up link will be in the students email. Additional information is in the document below.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20 and Thursday, Oct. 22 from 3:00-6:00PM, 9th grade students who have selected in-person learning and one parent/guardian will have the opportunity to do a self-paced tour of SMN in preparation for students' first day. Students will have to sign up for a specific time slot and will have 30 minutes to complete their tour. Staff members and upperclassmen will be located throughout the building to answer questions and help guide students to where they need to go. Information and the sign-up link has been sent via email. See the box below for more information.

If you missed picking up your 2020 yearbook, and you purchased one, they are waiting for you in the SM North office. You can stop by and pick them up weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Wear a mask, please). Or if you would like to purchase a 2020 yearbook, the yearbook company sent an extra 45 yearbooks and you purchase them now. Purchase the 2020 SM North yearbook at www.yearbookforever.com – just make sure and choose 2020 as the year (NOT 2021). Once you’ve paid and receive the receipt, just forward it to beckytate@smsd.org and I’ll have the yearbook ready in the office where you can pick it up any weekday between 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Shawnee Mission North is proud to offer the opportunity for girls, grades 9-12, to participate in a unique program designed to engage in hands-on projects that put math in real-world contexts; to budget, save, and manage their own money; to learn about stocks and investing; and to be guided and mentored by strong women in the field of finance.

Rock the Street Wall Street is a program that helps connect high school girls with women working in investments and finance over the course of the school year. Our program is truly unique, as it is the only one of its kind in the Kansas City Metro and in the state of Kansas. We work with women at Waddell and Reed, a local finance and investment organization, to offer a three-part program to girls at Shawnee Mission North. Meetings begin Thursday, October 15 during seminar. You won’t want to miss out on this great opportunity!

Parents, please encourage your daughters to participate in this one-of-a-kind program to help our young women explore their opportunities in the financial world! For more information, check out this video and see the flyer below. You can contact Ms. Miner at katherineminer198@smsd.org for additional information and questions about the program.

One thing is for certain with 2021, you will want to celebrate your senior's graduation with a Senior Ad in the 2021 Indian.

The second deadline is Oct. 13, with prices increasing after each deadline.

The best way to purchase a Senior Ad this year is online.

To pay with a credit card and/or submit all your photos go to www.yearbookforever.com. Choose SM North. You can upload all of your photos and pay here.

If you don’t want to upload, no problem, you can also drop off the form, photos and payment at the SMN front office or mail them to SM North, attn. Becky Tate.

After you send your Senior Ad in, you will receive a proof via email by Feb. 9. Not all will be done by then, but a majority will be. If you haven't seen yours by then, please call 913-993-7012 or email notate@smsd.org and check on the ad. Photos will be returned in late April.

Thanks so much for supporting the Indian yearbook. We look forward to designing your senior’s ad. If you have any questions, please contact yearbook advisor Becky Tate at 913-993-7012 or at notate@smsd.org .

We are asking all parents to pay fees ONLINE this year.

• The Online fee payment portal is now open and we appreciate your patience as student schedules should now be finalized. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online" The site can also be found at this link. https://www.smsd.org/families/pay-fees

• Any questions regarding fees or fee payment should be directed to SMN bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help with this. Shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.

Hi everyone! We have many important events coming up that I wanted to share.

October is College Application/FAFSA month! It is a great time to start applying to the Universities of your choice.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): This will help you pay for College, so it is really important to apply! Opens October 1st. We are still trying to figure out how to help everyone complete FAFSA, since we cannot have our annual in person event. I will be sending out some videos to assist with the process in the meantime. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Virtual Rep visits will be at an all-time high this month. College representatives will be joining us via Zoom to connect with Students. They will give information regarding admissions requirements, scholarships, the application process etc. In order to join these informational meetings, you will need to email me at moniquewesley@smsd.org and I will forward you the link. Please tune in to any/all Colleges that interest you.

This week College visits:

Tuesday, October 13th

• 3pm: MidAmerica Nazarene University

Wednesday, October 14th

• 3pm: University of Nebraska

Thursday, October 15th

• 3pm: University of Kansas

Friday, October 16th

• 3pm: Depaul University

Scholarships (students will need to sign up to access page): Click on the link for more information.

https://studentscholarships.org/newsletter.php

Due to the late start of many K-12 schools, JCCC is extending the enrollment deadline for College Now and Quick Step Plus courses to October 16. Enrollment guides for College Now and Quick Step Plus can be downloaded below. Please be sure to complete all steps in the enrollment process. If a student obtains a placement waiver, student will still need to log in to MyJCCC, register for the course, and pay tuition. More information can be found by clicking here.

Advent Health - Nutrition Service Worker click here

Advent Health - Dietary Aide - Food Services click here

Lowe's Careers - Seasonal Worker - click here

Johnson County Park & Rec - Before & Afterschool worker click here

Food Service will continue to provide meals for pick up on Fridays even as students return to in-person learning. Friday 10/16/20 the meal pick up will be 7AM – 9AM. Starting on Friday 10/23/20 the meal pick up time will be 6:30 – 7:45AM at all schools. The reason for the change are elementary students will be in class on Fridays. As students return to in-person learning, USDA has indicated the meals are at no cost to students. If a student wants only a carton of milk, they would need to purchase this as ala carte. This would be similar to a student purchasing a bag of chips or a package of cookies. These are considered ala carte items and the student would need to purchase these.

See the Teen Food & Fitness newsletters below from Food Services or check them out at the

Food Services website

Please contact the Food Service office with questions at (913)993-9710 or foodservice@smsd.org.

Families interested in bus transportation for their students should visit https://www.smsd.org/families/transportation.

The SMN Athletics and Activities update is located in the document below, as is important information related to the beginning of winter conditioning.

You may pre order PEC pricing and free shipping by using this link. Contact Brock Stubbs (brock@pecsports.info) if you have additional questions.

http://pec-sports.hhimagehost.com/SHAWNEEMISSIONNORTH2020fallsports

• Spotify- Start Up Helper Issues: If you have the Spotify app installed on your computer you may be getting an error pop-up preventing students from using their device? Here is are the directions to fix it. Fixing Start up Helper

• Student Support Tech Link: Lastly, if you have not already, please have your student check out the Black SMSD Icon in the dock next to the life preserve (Hep Desk) icon. This Student Technology Support link will direct you to helpful information and be a reference when troubleshooting your MacBook during remote instruction. Student Tech Support Reference

• Please contact the front office for support 913-993-6900

For SMN PTSA/Booster Club news and updates like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter....

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402

https://twitter.com/SMNorthBooster

https://twitter.com/SMNorthPTSA