Please be aware that winter and spring Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, February 12th from 5:00-8:00PM. Please take note that the conferences will take place in individual teacher classrooms throughout the building. The intent of this format is to provide a more intimate personalized atmosphere for dialogue between parents, students, and teachers. We ask that you keep individual conferences between 5 and 10 minutes with each teacher. If additional time is needed, you can always request another meeting time with the teacher or correspond via phone or email. Bringing your student is highly encouraged, however, if you are attending by yourself you will need to know your student’s teacher/schedule as printed schedules will not be provided. We will also have Spanish-speaking interpreters available that evening as well. NJROTC members will be here to guide and direct parents and patrons to the appropriate rooms.

Lastly, Booster Club will be selling spirit-wear and PTSA will be available to answer your questions about membership. We hope to see you here to help support the learning of your student.

Spring Testing Dates:

· ACT- Feb. 25th (200 Juniors taking it) in both gyms

· ACT WorkKeys - Feb 26th (75 Juniors taking it) in one gym

· KELPA-

o February 12th Speaking Test in the LC

Last Name (A-L)

§ Feb. 19th- Listening/Writing (3rd Hour)

§ Feb. 20th- Reading (6th Hour)

Last Name (M-Z)

§ Feb. 26th- Listening/Writing (3rd Hour)

§ Feb. 27th- Reading (6th Hour)

· Kansas Assessment

o 10th Grade English – March 25th – 27th

o 10th Grade Math – March 31st, April 1st - 2nd

o 11th Grade Science – April 8th, 9th, & 14th

· MAP

o 9th Grade ELA – April 22nd – 23rd

o 9th Grade Math – April 29th – 30th

• AP/IB Exams
• Window is from May 1st – May 22nd

This school year (2019-2020) the Shawnee Mission School District is utilizing the Panorama Social-Emotional Learning survey to assess student’s perseverance, grit, determination, school culture and student-teacher relationships. The Panorama Social-Emotional survey takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete and will be administered once each semester. Parents must opt their student(s) in by signing into Skyward and completing a consent form. Survey data will be reviewed at the district and classroom level to determine areas of strength, as well as areas where more instruction and/or support is needed. Once survey results are returned, parents/guardians are welcome to see and discuss the results with their students’ teachers, social workers, and counselors. Sample survey questions can be found here and here.

We encourage you to visit the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) website to learn more about how Social Emotional Learning benefits your child and their environment: https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-M-Z/School-Counseling/Social-Emotional-Character-Development-Standards-Assessment-and-Instruction. All data is maintained by SMSD and will remain confidential! For more information about the Panorama SEL survey, visit https://www.panoramaed.com/social-emotional-learning

Please log in to Skyward and complete the consent form by or before March 6, 2020. For more information about Panorama in SMSD, please contact your student’s school and/or follow this link. Thank you.

Este año escolar (2019-2020) el Distrito Escolar de Shawnee Mission está utilizando la Encuesta Panorama de Aprendizaje Social y Emocional para evaluar la perseverancia, la determinación, la cultura escolar y las relaciones entre estudiantes y maestros. La encuesta Panorama Social-Emocional tarda aproximadamente 30 a 45 minutos en completarse y se administrará una vez cada semestre. Los padres deben optar por sus estudiantes iniciando sesión en Skyward y completando un formulario de aprobación. Los datos de la encuesta se revisarán a nivel de distrito y salón de clases para determinar las áreas de fortaleza, así como las áreas donde se necesita más instrucción y / o apoyo. Una vez que se devuelven los resultados de la encuesta, los padres / tutores pueden ver y discutir los resultados con los maestros, trabajadores sociales y consejeros de sus estudiantes. Se pueden encontrar ejemplos de preguntas de la encuesta aquí: here y aquí: here.

Le recomendamos que visite el sitio web del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Kansas (KSDE) para obtener más información sobre cómo el Aprendizaje Social Emocional beneficia a su hijo/a y su entorno:

https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-M-Z/School-Counseling/Social-Emotional-Character-Development-Standards-Assessment-and-Instruction.

¡Todos los datos son mantenidos en SMSD y serán confidenciales! Para obtener más información sobre la encuesta Panorama SEL, visite:https://www.panoramaed.com/social-emotional-learning

Inicie sesión en Skyward y complete el formulario de aprobación antes del 6 de marzo de 2020. Para obtener más información sobre Panorama en SMSD, comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo y / o siga este enlace: link. Gracias.

Please continue to encourage students to complete steps in their college preparation process. Ms. Debes is available in student services to meet with students for help with applications, FAFSA, scholarships, and more.

Upcoming dates:

February 25th: District-Wide FAFSA and Financial Aid event at Shawnee Mission Northwest from 6-8pm

February 28th: KC Scholars applications are due. Scholarships are available to both freshmen and juniors.

March 24th: College tour to JCCC and KCKCC (and their technical campuses). Juniors and Seniors only. Must be in good academic standing. Permission forms are available in student services.

April 9th: JCCC will visit after school to assist students with enrollment for Fall 2020 in the learning commons.

The SMSD is partnering with Evergy to provide assistance in filling out LIEAP applications. February 13 from 9am–12pm @ the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W 71st St, Shawnee Mission, KS, 66204. For more information please call: 913-279-7171. LAAP Event Flyer

SMSD se está asociando con Evergy para proporcionar asistencia en llenar las

solicitudes de LIEAP. El 13 de Febrero de 9 am a 12 pm en el Center for Academic

Achievement, 8200 W 71st St, Shawnee Mission, KS, 66204. Para obtener más

información, llame al: 913-993-6200. LAAP Event Flyer - Spanish

SMSD Families and Staff:

Since the Novel Coronavirus has been in the news, I wanted to share some information about this new virus. SMSD currently has no cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus. However, we have received questions about the virus and what we can do to stay healthy.

Coronavirus Information
Symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

AND

• History of travel through Wuhan City, China in the last 14 days
• Or close contact with a person who is diagnosed/under investigation for Coronavirus

Spread of the Coronavirus is thought to occur between those with close contact to an infected person through respiratory droplets that may include:

• Coughing/sneezing
• Using same utensils
• Kissing
• Shaking infected person’s hand then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands​​​​​​​

Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019 Coronavirus infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information about 2019 Novel Coronavirus visit the CDC webpage at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/index.html

Shelby Rebeck
Director of Health Services

We competed once again in the Area 9 Regional Championship in Oklahoma City for a potential spot in the National Championship. For those new to the school there are 613 Navy JROTC programs in the country. These schools are broken down into different areas. We are part of a 54 school Area/Region referred to as Area 9. The area includes Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas and Tennessee. Each year those high schools begin competing in a NJROTC National Academic, Athletic and Drill Championship which consists of 10 events in the areas of Academics, Drill, Athletics and Personnel Inspection. Ultimately, 25 high schools out of the 613 that start the year qualify for the National Championship.

Well, on Saturday our kids were fantastic and for the 14th consecutive year they won the Area 9 Regional Championship!! It was a dominating performance with the Indians capturing 5,969 points out of a possible 6,000 in the competition. They outdistanced the 2ndand 3rd place teams by 413 and 842 points! They finished 1st in 8 events and 4th in the remaining 2 events. That is truly impressive and improved the Indians record to 27-0 on the season!! Here is a breakdown of the competition:

Academics – 1st Place

Personnel Inspection – 1st Place

Color Guard – 1st Place

Armed Regulation Drill – 1st Place

Unarmed Regulation Drill – 1st Place

Armed Exhibition Drill – 1st Place

Unarmed Exhibition Drill – 4th Place

Sit-Ups – 1st Place

Push-Ups – 1st Place

16 x 100 Relay – 4th Place

We also had several kids distinguish themselves in the Academic and Athletic events:

ACADEMICS

1st Place – Eleanor McCarthy

3rd Place – Sam Lander

4th Place – Harden Boldt

5th Place – Angel Arreola

Female Sit-Ups

1st Place – Abigail Serling (330)

2nd Place – Ingrid Valle (311)

3rd Place – Eleanor McCarthy (308)

4th Place – Carlee O’Neill (306)

Male Sit-Ups

1st Place – Logan Mitchell (314)

2nd Place – Sam Smith (289)

4th Place – George Colburn (274)

5th Place – Harden Boldt (249)

Female Push-Ups

1st Place – Eleanor McCarthy

2nd Place – Jade Morales-Gomez

Male Push-Ups

4th Place – Sam Seckar

Next up for the Indians will be a trip to Omaha, NE for an Inter-service Drill Meet and then off to the National Championship which will take place in Pensacola, FL on April 3-4.

Only 65 extra yearbooks were ordered. These books will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The extra 2020 Yearbooks can be purchased through the bookkeeper in the main office or at www.yearbookforever.com . Cost is $65 if purchased at school.

New, this year only, students who purchased their books before Jan. 10 will have a cover that represents their grade level. Books purchased after Jan. 10 will be given a book with a cover of the yearbook staff’s choice.

The bookkeeper will accept cash ($65) a check made out to SM North, or she can accept credit cards.

Another way to purchase the yearbook with 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.

Once these books are sold, 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.

For those senior parents who purchased a Senior Ad in the 2020 yearbook, the Indian, you should have received a proof via email by now. IF YOU HAVE NOT, RECEIVED YOUR SENIOR’S YEARBOOK AD PROOF, please immediately contact yearbook advisor Becky Tate at 913-993-7012 or at notate@smsd.org .

Photos you submitted with ads that included self-addressed, stamped envelopes will be returned in late April. All other photos will be thrown away.

Thanks so much for your support of the Indian yearbook.

Did you know that physical activity and nutrition work together for better health? Regular physical activity can produce long-term health benefits. People of all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities can benefit from being physically active. The more physical activity you do, the greater the health benefits. Children and adolescents ages 6-17 years should do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity each day. This includes aerobic activities that strengthen bones (like running or jumping) and activities that build muscles (like climbing or doing push-ups). For more information, please visit: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/resources/physical-activity or https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/.

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.