North Notes
Blue Valley North's Parent Newsletter - April 21, 2023
In this Newsletter …
- Mark Your Calendar
- Bell Schedules
- Environmental Club She Drive thru 4/28
- BVN NHS Food Drive thru 5/5
- BVN Rep Theatre Show
- Kudos and Celebrations
Counseling Updates
Kansas Education Enrichment Program
Summer Programs
Senior Class Reunions with Feeder Schools
Senior Info ~ Class of 2023
Senior Class Fundraiser
- Student Announcements
Athletic Announcements
Medical Messages
BVEF Night of Lights - 4/28
BVSD's ELA Program
2023 BVN Spring Activity Guide
Parent Announcements
Updated Repair Process
Durham Bus Information
Mark Your Calendar
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 2022-23 Blue Valley School District Calendar.
April 24 - No School/Professional Learning for Teachers
April 25 - Even Day
April 26 - Odd Day
April 27 - Even Day
April 28 - Schedule Change/Friday Odd Day
April 28 - BVEF Night of Lights Fundraiser
May 22 - Odd Day
May 23 - Even Day
May 24 - Finals: Hour 1, 7:40-9:00/Hour 2, 9:10-10:30/Dismissal at 10:30May 25 - Finals: Hour 3, 7:40-9:00/Hour 4: 9:10-10:30/Hour 5: 10:40-12:00/Dismissal at 12:00
May 26 - Finals; Hour 6: 7:40-9:00/Hour 7: 9:10-10:30/Dismissal at 10:30/Last Day of School
Blue Valley North Bell Schedules
BVN Environmental Club Shoe Drive - deadline April 28
In addition to Earth Week, the Environmental Club will also be conducting our second annual shoe drive starting Monday, April 17th, where we will be accepting any size of used tennis shoes. All donations go to an organization called GotSneakers, where they turn old tennis shoes into reusable materials! Drop your shoes off at one of the two large boxes located outside of the BVN Main Office (in front of the BVN campus police Office or in front of the library. Donations will be collected until 3:00 on Friday, April 28th. We hope to beat the 50 pairs donated last year! Thank you for your support!
BVN NHS Food Drive for our community - deadline May 5
Blue Valley now has their own food pantry located at Hilltop. This supports students, families and staff in the Blue Valley District. The BVN NHS is doing a food drive to support our community. Let's see what kind of impact we can make to support our neighbors who are food insecure! A bucket will be placed in the Library to collect these items.
Needs:
Canned mixed vegetables
Canned carrots
Canned peaches
Canned meat (tuna, chicken, spam)
Pet food
Hygiene supplies (lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, pads , tampons)
Boxed meals like Chicken and Tuna Helper
This drive will go through May 5th! Thank you for your support!
Rep Theatre Show - April 21 - 22
Kudos and Celebrations
BVN Science Teacher Honored
Huge Congratulations to Chris Ollig for winning Blue Valley Education Foundation’s Innovative Educator Award on April 20! Chris is very deserving of this award and is always looking for new ways to get kids excited about science and the world around them. Thank you to BVEF for awarding Chris with $1250 to spend on his students’ outdoor classroom project in our prairie! Mr. Ollig, you make us MUSTANG PROUD!On April 4th, BVN students participated in the Math Relays competition organized by Pittsburg State University. The following students participated in individual competitions and placed in every event they entered:
Sriram Kalki (10th grade)
Number Theory (1st place), Algebraic Equations (1st place), Algebraic Simplifications (1st place)
Lillian Xia (11th grade)
Algebraic Equations (1st place), Potpourri (1st place), Computational Math (1st place)
Quinten Schafer (11th grade)
Programming (1st place), Trigonometry (2nd place), Geometry (2nd place)
Luke Chen (12th grade)
Marathon (1st place), Logic and Set Theory (1st place), Analysis (1st place)
The 9th graders were allowed to participate in team competitions. Our freshmen had a great showing, with the following results:
Geometry team - 2nd place
Sean Akkulugari (9th), Sriram Kalki (10th), Lillian Xia (11th), Quinten Schafer (11th)
Algebra medley team - 3rd place
Dilsha Chebolu (9th), Abhi Kambhampati (9th), Matthew Chen (9th), Luke Chen (12th)
Please congratulate these students for their hard work and amazing results!
Our Lady Mustangs have been competing at a high level in the pool these last two weeks. First off, shout out to two Freshman divers making State at the BVW meet! The Mustangs also outdueled BVSW with a nearly 100 point win last week and followed that performance up with a weekend showing in Wichita against 16 teams where the Mustangs won handily thanks in large part by dominant relay performances.
State Qualifiers:
Lillie Mock - 50 Free
Sienna Masilionis - 100 Fly
Kate Hettinger - 200 Free
Margo Hauser - 50 Free
Abi Patterson - 200 IM
Sarah Blake - 100 Fly, 100 Breast
Lillie Mock - 100 Free
Heidi Nelson - Diving
Allie Braun - Diving
State Consideration:
Madi Stewart - 100 Breast
Paige Sears - 200 Free
Kate Hettinger - 200 Free, 100 Free, 500 Free
Way to go girls! We are Mustang Proud!!
Counseling, Academics & Testing
- Counselors have visited senior English classrooms to ask seniors to submit their Senior Exit Survey. This includes the name of the college they would like BVN to send their final transcript to. This serves as the final transcript request and no further request is necessary. For students who do not yet know where they are attending, the survey will remain open and they are asked to submit by graduation. An email with more information was also sent to all seniors and parent/guardians on April 6th.
- Virtual summer school registration for non-credit recovery classes is closed, however families may email Robert Asquith at rasquith@bluevalleyk12.org to inquire about class availability. Credit recovery (classes taken and failed previously) will remain open until the 1st week of June and families may sign up by emailing Mr. Asquith. More information about class offerings and dates can be found here - https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/summerprograms.
- In-person credit recovery summer school will be offered at Blue Valley North during the month of June. Please reach out to your counselor for more information and to sign up.
- AP testing will begin in May. If you decide to cancel your test, you must do so by April 21st in Total Registration.
- Seniors should be sure to check regularly for new scholarships on Naviance -> College tab -> Scholarship Search.
- Senior college and career planning information - Counseling Canvas page/Senior College Planning
- Junior college and career planning information - Counseling Canvas Page/Junior College and Career Planning.
- Sophomore recommended Naviance tasks - https://bvusd.instructure.com/courses/76177/pages/naviance-10th-grade
- Freshmen 4 year academic plan information - Freshmen Four Year Academic Planning
- Check out School year and Summer Opportunities - Opportunities
- Visit the Counseling Virtual Calming Room
- Visit the Counseling Home Page to find additional resources or contact information for Counselors and other Student Services staff.
Is your child enrolled in one of Blue Valley's Summer Programs courses? Fees will be posted in ParentVUE for all virtual Summer Programs and available for payment starting April 10. All Summer Programs fees are due by May 1. Visit bluevalleyk12.org/summerprograms for more information.
Mission Trail Elementary Senior Reunion - May 2
Mission Trail Elementary: Calling all Seniors who attended MTE! Please join us on Tuesday, May 2nd from 3:45-4:30 for the K-Sr Reunion in the MTE Library! Come visit your old school and catch up with your former teachers! Hope to see you there. Thank you!
Overland Trail Elementary Senior Reunion - May 17
SAVE THE DATE: Overland Trail Elementary Alumni - 2023 BVN Graduates. You're invited to a Senior Reception at OTE. The PTO puts this on each year for graduating seniors to come back to OTE to walk the halls, thumb through old yearbooks and see their old teachers. Stop by on Wednesday, May 17th @ 4:00 in the OTE Library!
Leawood Elementary Senior Parade
Seniors--Info for Class of 2023
Put Saturday, May 20 on your calendars! Graduation for the Class of 2023 will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the District Activity Center (DAC) at 135th & Switzer.
Parents should also plan to attend Class Day in the BVN gym on Friday, May 19, at 8 a.m.
You should have received an email on Wednesday, March 29 with tons of grad info. If you didn't receive it, it is linked on our SENIOR INFO page.
NOTE--Gowns for the Class of 2023 are NOT the same as previous years, so an older sibling's gown cannot be used this year. If you need to order cap & gown, go to www.Jostens.com. or click here: ORDER HERE.
If your student knows they are not planning to participate in the ceremonies, there is no need to purchase the cap & gown--please have your student notify lkmiller@bluevalleyk12.org .
- The Project Graduation Committee is close to our goal of serving every student in the 2023 graduating class with a safe place to celebrate on graduation night. ANY gift of ANY size ensures every senior can attend and be recognized- a monetary donation, gift card(s), tickets to sporting events are a few examples:
* To donate a financial contribution, Venmo @Todd-welhoelter (4 digit code 8010, and write Project Graduation in the memo line)
* To donate gift cards/tickets, email jillwelhoelter@gmail.com or drop off your items in the front office.
* If you are interested in a corporate sponsorship, contact Susantschmidt.cnp@gmail.com. - Project Grad Tickets are now on sale @ https://bvnpbc.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/227898. If you have any questions, please email Jill Welhoelter at jillwelhoelter@gmail.com.
- Our diplomas have been ordered so that we have them in time for May graduation. If you did not complete the diploma form prior to our order, we used the name as written in ParentVue/StudentVue, confirmed by birth certificate on file.
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Questions? email Mrs. Miller at lkmiller@bluevalleyk12.org
Student Announcements
FCA Meetings
FCA meets on Wednesday mornings from 7:00 - 7:30 a.m. in the Little Theatre. Come for fellowship and fun! If you have questions, please email BVN teacher, Jason Jones at JJones05@bluevalleyk12.org .
Athletic Announcements
BVN Athletics' Questions?
Please contact Stevie Gibson, BVN Athletics Administrative Assistant, at (913) 239-3011 or SGibson@abluevalleykk12.org .
Medical Messages
Did your student forget to take a daily morning medication before leaving for school?
If your student ever forgets to take a daily morning medication before coming to school, the parent may bring the medication to the school’s front office and the parent may dispense and give the student the medication. If the nurse is to give the medication it must be in the original prescription pill bottle accompanied by the signed physician’s medical order.
https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/cms/lib/ks02212623/Centricity/Domain/4486/Medication-Authorization.pdf .
Immunization News
Graduating 12th grade Parents: All graduating 12th graders will receive a complete copy of their immunization profile that was on file with the school. This document is very vital to hang onto. It is recommended that this immunization profile is kept with important documents such as social security cards and birth certificates.
Attention Rising 11th grade parents: All 16-year-old students in 11th grade for the 2023-24 school year are required to have their updated booster of MCV4 meningococcal immunization before the start of the school year on August 16, 2023. Please E-mail any updates to your student’s immunization record to Nurse Collichio at ajcollichio@bluevalleyk12.org. Students who are not compliant will be excluded from school starting August 16, 2023.
Disease and Symptom Exclusion Recommendations/Regulations 2023
If your student has a fever with or without symptoms, they must be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medication (Blue Valley nursing standard is fever =100 °F or above.) before returning to school. If your student has diarrhea/vomiting/rash they must be symptom-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication before returning to school. Thank you for keeping your student and our school healthy.
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.
Save the date - Night of Lights - April 28!
BVEF is looking forward to another annual signature event to raise money for our schools AND celebrate all the wonderful things about the Blue Valley district!
Night of Lights 2023 will feature food trucks, robotics, musical performances, cheer demonstrations, yard games, face painters, caricature artists, a fire truck, inflatables, a juried art show, a balloon artist, a raffle for a Weber grill package, glow items to purchase and fireworks for a great evening of fun on Friday, April 28, 2023, from 6-9 p.m. on the District Office Campus at 15020 Metcalf.
The link to buy the glow wristband fidget spinners and a chance to win a Weber Smoker plus accessories package is:
https://bluevalleyeducationalfoundation.formstack.com/forms/nol2023_428
BVSD's ELA Program in High Schools and Middle Schools
Walking into an English Language Arts (ELA) classroom in Blue Valley today might look different than when students’ parents were in school. Today, ELA classes take a different approach allowing students to choose what they are reading, participate in small group discussions and develop a love for reading. These subtle changes have made a world of difference in how Blue Valley middle and high school students think about reading and writing.
The district’s 6-12 ELA program through the years has morphed to meet state curriculum standards. But Blue Valley has also set parameters and two-fold goals for the program — students will leave as passionate writers and authentic readers.
“When we talk about passionate readers, that means we want them to not only love to read for pleasure and joy and to have books that they know they like to read, but they can handle the complexity and have the stamina to read any text they encounter,” said Abigail Crane, a Blue Valley instructional design coach.
Learn more about Blue Valley's ELA program in this Learning Connection story.
Check out the Spring Activity Guide!
Click HERE. This is a great way to see photos of the athletic teams & performing arts students, find out more about their coaches and directors, and read a greeting from the BVN Principal & the Mustang Club Presidents.
Additionally, please take note of the advertisements from our corporate partners and give them your business whenever possible. We thank them for their support of the Mustang Club and our Blue Valley North students.
Parent Announcements
Donations Needed!
Project Graduation is an annual tradition at BVN to provide a fun, safe, alcohol and drug- free environment for the entire senior class on the night of graduation. The event is 100% funded by parents and local businesses. We are looking for donations to be used for prizes in the form of sporting tickets, sports memorabilia, gift cards, etc...If you have something you would be willing to donate, please email Jill Welhoelter at jillwelhoelter@gmail.com.
Student Support After School Program
Officer Tony Latas, BVN Student Resource Officer, and Sean Birdsong, BVN Student Support Liaison, are running a Student Support After School program. This program is Monday and Wednesday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in room 602. This time is for students who are routinely waiting a few hours for rides after school, having any failing grades, and/or missing assignments that need to be completed.
This is also a good opportunity for students needing community service hours. If your student is interested in volunteering or you have questions, have your student see Officer Latas, Mr. Birdsong or any BVN Administrator. Thank you!
Safe Schools Reporting
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.
ParentVUE URL updated -- Action Needed
Over the summer the URL for ParentVUE changed. Click here for the new URL: ParentVUE
Parents will need to have the new URL or they won’t be able to login to ParentVUE or request a password reset. The Blue Valley School District website and the BVN website have both been updated with the new URL so the parents can access the link from Parent>ParentVUE.
In addition, this also impacts the ParentVUE app. Parents will need to update their device to the correct link.
Student Digital ID Cards
Students have a digital student ID card on their phones. If you paid for a Student Activity Pass, it should say that on the ID and students will show this to get into games. They can save their ID on their home page on an iPhone, or it can be saved as a favorite page on an android phone. If students were absent on Picture Day or if they have any trouble loading the ID, they can come to Student Services for help.
Family Activity Passes
All Family Activity Passes and Adult Individual Passes have been distributed. If you purchase a pass after September 13, you need to contact Lori Freeman, BVN Bookkeeper, to obtain your cards.
Are you moving? Have you moved?
Please contact the BVN Registrar, Suzy Doherty, by email at sdoherty@bluevalleyk12.org .
BVN Updated Schedule Repair Process -- 2023-2024
As you know, student course selection/enrollment for next school year has occurred at BVN, and we wanted to share a significant change with you for next year as a result of new district guidelines. We are sharing this with you now so that students prioritize the enrollment process they are going through, and carefully select their courses and alternates for the next school year.
Beginning in August for the 23-24 academic school year, per new district guidelines, Blue Valley North students will be able to make schedule “repairs” during the first three days of the Fall Semester if they meet the following conditions:
- The student completed a full schedule of course requests along with four alternates AND
- The student was placed into a class not listed on their original enrollment sheet
If the student's circumstance meets the above criteria, the student should reach out to their counselor during the scheduled repair window at the beginning of the semester.
Why change?
- We understand this is a shift from previous “schedule change” practices. However, the stability of the first week of school is essential to student success throughout the semester.
- The first phase of this transition began in December when the schedule change window was limited to 3 days before the semester started. This shift was overwhelmingly successful and allowed teachers and students to concentrate on learning on the first school day of the semester on January 4th. Counselors could also work with students on new enrollments and other student needs.
- Additionally, each school’s Master Schedule is built upon the numbers generated during our spring enrollment period. When significant changes are made in August, classes can become imbalanced, which may result in larger class sizes for your student.
Our continued commitment…
Each high school faculty has heavily invested in the enrollment process, ensuring that our students make informed decisions about their 23-24 schedule. Counselors have met with all students to check that the classes they selected satisfy the student’s graduation credits and fall in line with their post-secondary college and career goals.
Durham Bus Riders
Durham will continue to transport our bus riders in the 2022-23 school year. If you have questions, please call Durham at 913-681-2492 or contact them via email at admin6700@durhamschoolservices.com.
We are Mustang Proud!
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 .
Office Hours are Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Blue Valley North High School
BVN Twitter:
@MustangsBvn
@BVNOstroski
@TheKurle
@BVNCounseling
@MustangsOfBVN
@bvnnews
@BVNMustangsPBC
BVN Instagram:
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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