IHMS Weekly News
October 1 - 8, 2021
Upcoming IHMS Events
Monday, 10/04:
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
5:00 Volleyball vs. TR
Tuesday, 10/05:
Battle of the Books during Knight Time
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Jazz Band
5:00 Cross Country Meet @ SMNW
Wednesday, 10/06:
8:00 Battle of the Brains
3:45 Multicultural Club
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Board Game Club
5:00 Volleyball Tournament @ SME
Thursday, 10/07:
7:50 Junior Board in IHMS Library
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Art Club
3:50 Nancy Drew Club
3:50 Jazz Band
5:30 Volleyball Tournament @ SME
Friday, 10/08:
IH Math Team Mtg during Knight Time
Upcoming Events:
10/09: Cross County @ JCCC
10/11: 4:00 Volleyball Instructional League Tournament @ IH
10/12: Girls Basketball Begins
10/12: Cross Country Team B & C Championships @ IW
10/14: Wrestling @ SMNW
10/14: Cross Country Team A Championships @ Black Hoof Park
10/15: No School - Teacher Workday - End of Qtr 1
10/18: 7:00 Band Concert
10/19: Grades up-to-date by 4:05pm
10/19: Wrestling @ SME
10/19: 7:00 pm Orchestra Concert
10/20: 5:00 pm Evening Conferences
10/21: Grades posted in Skyward
10/22: No school - Conferences
10/27: Girls Basketball vs HG
10/28: Wrestling @ SMS
11/02: IHMS Picture Retakes
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Section 1: New and Important at IHMS
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A Knights' Walk Thank You!
Thank you SO MUCH for your unbelievable generosity this year during our Knights' Walk fundraiser. Although we will share the net donation amount once all encumbrances are finalized, our IHMS PTA confirmed that this year's fundraising total was record-setting.
It is because of your generous support that we are able to continue to provide top-notch resources for our teachers, enhance our classrooms, run our school store, provide tangible incentives for students, and more. This year's funds are spent on this year's students, so thank you for having a direct positive impact on your student's school!
A big thank you goes out to Nancy Batdorf, Jill Rogers, and their entire team of volunteers that organized and put on the Knights' Walk. Thank you to the PTA and to our PTA leadership for making the event a success.
It was a truly great event last Friday afternoon!
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Anti-Bullying Week: October 4-8
Spirit Week days:
Monday: Being a Friend is No Sweat
*Sweats Day!
Tuesday: Choose Peace
*Peace Signs and Tie Dye Day!
Wednesday: Be The Hero Not The Villain
*Superhero Day!
Thursday: Embrace Our Differences
*Mismatch Day!
Friday: Team Up Against Bullying
*Sports/IH Wear!
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Parent Teacher Conference Information
There will be in person, remote, and team conferencing available this year so stay tuned for more information coming to your inbox mid-week.
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Overdue Library Book Emails
Have you noticed the overdue emails that are coming from the IHMS library? Your students with overdue books are getting the same emails. Parents are included for accountability, but also so you can see what your student is reading! Ask them about the book they have checked out from the library. All ELA classes (7th and 8th) have been to the library to check out books this year, and all ELA classes require a SQUIRE book for independent reading. (Sustained Quiet Uninterrupted Independent Reading Experience).
Within the email are directions on how to renew a book...by simply responding to the email. It’s that simple, so please encourage your students to do this themselves.
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Join our IHMS Math Squad!
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9/21 Resources
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Section 2: Still Relevant From Previous Weeks
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20-21 Yearbooks Still Available
For those who didn’t get a 2020-2021 yearbook at the end of last May, there are some yearbooks left that can now be bought for $22. Don’t miss out if your 7th or 8th grader wasn’t able to get one. It is a unique and beautiful yearbook capturing this past school year. Buy now, before they run out. Simply come during school hours to the office with cash or a check to get a yearbook.
If paying by check, please make the check payable to IHMS Journalism Yearbook 2021. If you choose to mail your payment, we won’t be able to mail a yearbook back to you, so please leave a note in the envelope with the name of the person who will pick it up and when, so it’s waiting for them. Also, be sure to add the following to the address, so it gets to the journalism teacher right away: C/O Journalism: Mrs. Basden.
If you haven’t paid yet for this year’s 2022 yearbook, it is also $22 and can be done online through your IHMS account.
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Section 3: SME Area News and Events
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Section 4: District Area News and Events
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School Based Health Clinic Now Open at SMW
A school-based health clinic for all Shawnee Mission School District students and their siblings (3 to 20 years old) will open Thursday, September 2 at SM West High School, 8800 W. 85th St. The clinic will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays, except when school is not in session.
Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) and the Shawnee Mission School District are partnering to provide access to primary and preventative health care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and dental care to district students and their siblings.
For more information about the Health Partnership Clinic, or to schedule a medical appointment, Shawnee Mission School District parents should call 913-648-2266. More information also is available here.
Services will include:
- Physical exams
- Sports physicals
- Immunizations, including vaccines for COVID-19
- COVID testing
- Age-appropriate health screenings
- Preventative education
- Referrals to specialty services
- Sick visits
- Management of acute and chronic problems and mental health services
- Dental Care including screenings, fluorides, and restorative care
Most insurance plans are accepted, including KanCare/Medicaid. As a community health center, HPC offers a sliding-fee discount program which is based on income and household size. Fees are waived for students experiencing homelessness. Free medicaid and Marketplace insurance enrollment will also be available.
“The idea is to break down barriers to health care,” Shelby Rebeck, health services director for the Shawnee Mission School District shared. “Barriers for many of our students include low income, lack of knowledge, lack of transportation and parents’/guardians’ inability to take time away from hourly jobs. Health Partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for our students to receive critical health care so they can be successful in school.”
The clinic offers pediatric-focused care to treat most health conditions that affect children and adolescents, Amy Falk, HPC’s chief executive officer shared.
“We basically function as a doctor’s office, but in a school building,” Falk noted. “Services are available in person or virtual, and walk-ins will be accommodated if the schedule permits. The primary goal is to provide easy, immediate access to quality and affordable health care.”
The goal is to serve as a medical home for students and offer an additional access point to primary care, Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP, and HPC’s chief health officer, shared.
“Beyond a focus on primary health care, it is important we meet the social and emotional needs of children and adolescents to help them reach their individual potential,” Mourad added.
The clinic will open across from the nurse’s office at SM West.
"The Shawnee Mission School District and Health Partnership Clinic are an example of how two organizations can come together to help improve the lives of children,” says Steve Loe, principal of Shawnee Mission West High School. “The school-based health clinic will greatly expand the resources of our school nurse and social worker and help support our goal to have every student succeed.”
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Section 5: Mainstay News
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Athletic Physical Reminders:
All athletic paperwork complete with a completion checklist can be found on our IHMS Athletic page. Please allow 48 school hours for the processing of athletic paperwork. You will receive a confirmation email when your athlete’s paperwork has been approved or an email outlining any missing information.
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COVID and the Health and Safety of Your Athlete:
Athletes who test positive for COVID or are presumed positive will need to follow the outlined Kansas State High School Athletics Association protocol in order to return to play.
For more information, visit:
https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/pdf/ReturntoparticipationguidelinesFall2021.pdf
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21-22 PTA Membership: Please Join Us!
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Academic Learning Lab (A.L.L.) Now Monday-Thursday!
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After-school Activity Busing Now Monday-Thursday
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Macbook Troubleshooting Tips
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IHMS Website Reminder
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Give us a Follow
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IHMS Peace Corner
The IHMS Student Services team has created a virtual calming room (click link) for students, staff and families to access in times of need.
We know that stress and anxiety can be high at times. This IHMS Peace Corner has videos and activities to help manage stress, calm down strong feelings and build resiliency. We hope that this will be another resource for our families to navigate this unusual school year. You can also find this page on our Student Services tab at https://indianhills.smsd.org/.
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e-Read Access Through IHMS
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Mental Health Support Option
Parents and Guardians, if your student is in need of mental health support, and you are unable to pay, there may be relief available to you. Please visit the following link to see if you could qualify for assistance from COVID Cares Act relief funds through Johnson County Mental Health. https://jocogov.org/dept/mental-health/accessing-services/covid-19-relief-funds
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1-800-CHILDREN
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COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Available for Ages 12 and Older!
COVID-19 vaccine opportunities are now open through the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment or Children’s Mercy Clinics for adolescents ages 12 and older.
For more information about scheduling an appointment click here.
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IHMS Communication Chain
1. Mass communication from IHMS:
- Mass communication will come each Friday or Saturday in the form of the IHMS Weekly News. This is an important review for your family each week as it outlines specific events, newsworthy, and/or action-oriented items relevant to IHMS.
- There are times throughout the week a stand-alone email may be sent via a Skyward blast - especially if an important event is taking place or if important information must be shared. You have already seen this in practice (i.e.Tuesday when I sent a reminder about the ice cream social).
2. Absences:
- Please communicate absences through attendance personnel. Avoid emailing administration or student services directly.
- Email debrahohly@smsd.org and constanceeddy@smsd.org to indicate the date(s) and nature of your student's absence.
- Call in your student's absence - including date(s) and nature of the absence - to the school attendance line: (913) 993-0412.
3. Grades/Classroom Questions/Issues:
- Please email your student's teacher directly for all questions/issues related to grades and/or the classroom.
- Staff email addresses can be found on our school website (click link). Unless specific circumstances
- Avoid emailing administration and/or student services with issues that have not been problem solved at the classroom level first unless extenuating circumstances merit direct contact.
4. General Contact Guidelines:
- The chart below provides parents with a general contact chart they can utilize to ensure communication remains streamlined: