Welcome to the 2019-20 school year! Here are a few reminders for new and returning students/parents.

· Parents if your student is ill, needs to leave early for an appointment, etc., you may leave a message on our hotline 24/7 at 913-993-6945. Please leave the students name, grade, reason, your name, your phone number and time to be released if applicable. We pick up calls frequently and ask you call at least 30 minutes prior to you picking up your student.

· Parents are not required to sign their students out in the Attendance Office. The student will sign themselves out and exit the front doors.

· If a student will be gone 3 or more days- they will need obtain “Parents Formal Written Request for Extended Absence for More than Two Days.” This form will need to completed/signed and returned to your students Associate Principal for approval.

· Shawnee Mission North follows the district attendance policy. We will mail to your home a letter making you aware that your student has missed 7 times in one or more class periods. Once your student has obtained 10 absences in one or more classes- documentation will be required to excuse the absence.

Should you have any question you may call our office.

Mindy O’Connell

Attendance Clerk

913-993-6942

If your student is enrolled in an AP class, he/she has the opportunity to take an AP Exam for that class at the beginning of May. This year, College Board has made some changes to how you can register for those exams so please make note of the following steps and deadlines.

Steps to Register:

1. ALL students enrolled in an AP class at North have to enroll in their AP course through College Board using the Join Code that each teacher will give them for their course (even those that are NOT interested in taking the AP test).

1. Your student needs to use the College Board account that they already have or create an account if they’ve never taken an exam through College Board in the past. (Do NOT create multiple accounts)

1. Student will need to go into their online classroom (for each AP class they are enrolled in) and change their exam decision from “undecided” to either “yes” or “no”. This is the only way exams will be ordered through College Board this year.

1. Go to www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/172000 to pay for your exams. The cost is $100 per exam. Registration is now open.

1. If you need Financial Assistance, please have your student come see Leah Murray, in Student Services.

Deadlines:

• November 1st – Last day for students to pay for AND mark “yes” or “no” in their College Board courses

• November 2nd - $40 late fee (PER TEST) begins to order exam or cancel an exam.

• February 28th – Last day to order a late exam or cancel for a partial refund. No exams will be ordered or changed after this date and there are no refunds at all for cancelled exams after this date.

Students taking IB and AP exams:

• Both IB and AP will be taking their exams the first 2 weeks of May. Testing schedules are out for both IB and AP. It is the student’s responsibility to check for any testing conflicts and contact Leah Murray, in Student Services, to change their AP test to an alternate date. This HAS to happen before the February 28th deadline or they will have to cancel one of the exams without a refund.

The National Day of Testing is coming up on October 16th. Juniors will be taking a practice ACT on that day. If your student scores well on standardized tests (around the 99th percentile) and is enrolled in rigorous coursework (AP, IB, Honors, etc.) we would like to encourage you to have him/her take the PSAT/NMSQT on that day instead of the practice ACT.

Although your student would have taken the PSAT/NMSQT last year as a Sophomore, as a Junior, the PSAT/NMSQT becomes the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The cost is $20 and we are using Total Registration to handle your payment. You can register your students at www.TotalRegistration.net/PSAT/172000. Once your student registers, he/she can pick up a Student Guide in Student Services that includes more information as well as a practice test.

Total Registration is now open to accept registrations for the PSAT/NMSQT. Please make note of the following deadlines for registering…

Tuesday, October 1st – Last day to register without a $5 late fee.

Friday, October 11th – Registration Ends

Monday, October 14th – All registrations that have not been paid will be canceled and exams will not be ordered.

Wednesday, October 16th – Exam Day

Students who will be 18 by March 17th have the opportunity to register to vote in the Learning Commons on September 17th in honor of Constitution Day. All American citizens may pre-register up to six months in advance so that they meet deadlines for elections—November 5th being the soonest upcoming election.

Students will not need to bring anything with them and announcements and government teachers will communicate information about the opportunity that day. We will have another opportunity for voter registration early in the Spring to catch all students who turn 18 after March 17th and before the deadline for presidential primaries.

Those wishing to have a retake can sign up in the office for retake day Oct. 18.

Retakes cost $3 for anyone not purchasing a photo package.

Picture Retake sign up sheets are in the front office, the sign up deadline is Oct. 11 and retakes will be on Oct. 18.

If you did not order a picture package, there is a $3 retake fee that you can pay the photographer from Rolland Studios at the time of retake.

If you have yet to take a photo and are taking a photo for the first time, there is no retake charge as this is a first-time photo. You should also sign up in the office so we can send you a pass.

Passes will be emailed out to students prior to October 18.

Proofs and pre-ordered photo packages were passed out in Seminar on Sept. 11. If you wish to order photos online you can do so at www.rollandkc.com using the code on the photo package.

If you did not receive your proofs or photo package, please check with your Seminar teacher or with the office.

If you have any other questions or problems, please email or call yearbook adviser Becky Tate.

notate@smsd.org

913-993-7012

2020 Yearbooks can be purchased through the bookkeeper in the main office or at www.yearbookforever.com through Jan. 10, 2020. Cost is $48 if purchased at school.

If you didn't purchase your book during fee payment, the money ($48) or a check made out to SM North, can be taken to the bookkeeper by January 10. If you would like to pay with a credit card, payment can be made at www.yearbookforever.com. Choose SM North. There is a $2 service fee if you choose to pay online.

After Jan. 10, only 65 extra overstock supply of yearbooks will be available for $65. These will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they are gone, none will be available.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Indian adviser, Becky Tate at 913-993-7012.

Don't miss out on celebrating your senior's graduation with a Senior Ad in the 2020 Indian.

The first deadline is Sept. 20.

Seniors love to see a Senior Ad purchased by their loved ones in the yearbook, so purchase one by the first deadline and lock in the best size and price.

There are three due dates for ads, with prices increasing after each deadline.

After the first deadline on Sept. 20, the prices increase.

Senior Ad forms can be dropped off at the SMN front office or mailed to SM North, attn. Becky Tate.

If you would like to pay with a credit card and/or submit all your photos and Senior Ad contract online, they can be uploaded and paid for at www.yearbookforever.com. Choose SM North.

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 your support of the Indian yearbook and 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 .

Did you know that breakfast is available each day at your student’s school? Eating a nutritious breakfast helps students achieve the classroom goals set for them. National studies consistently confirm that breakfast helps kids concentrate, think, behave and learn. Eating breakfast:

· improves children's classroom performance, including better test scores and grades

· increases children's ability to focus and concentrate on school work

· decreases behavior problems, tardiness and visits to the school nurse

· increases attendance rates

· decreases risk of food insecurity and hunger that impair development and learning

· may protect against childhood obesity

If it is difficult to fit breakfast into your morning routine, breakfast is available in all schools. A student must choose a full portion of at least three different items to receive a reimbursable school breakfast. One of the three items must be ½ cup of fruit or juice. Breakfast items include: protein, grain, fruit/juice, and milk.

Food Service Payment Options

Payments for school meals may be made:

• Online through efunds ($3 fee per transaction)
• At the school with check or cash
• At most schools with a credit card (no fee)
• Calling food service office with credit card (no fee)

Students will not be permitted to purchase ala carte items if their account is negative. More information on student account guidelines is available at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service/prices.

Don’t forget – if your child receives free or reduced meals, they are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day as part of this benefit. All breakfast and lunch meal choices are available for all students regardless of eligibility status.

The school breakfast menus, lunch menus, and other nutrition information are available on the district’s website at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service.