Nieman News
Back to School Edition
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Hello Nieman Fox Families!
I am so excited to send the first Nieman News for the 2022-2023 school year. For our new families, welcome! For our returning families, welcome back!
The Nieman News is a bi-weekly newsletter that will contain school updates, happenings and announcements, as well as any important district information. Once the school year begins the newsletter will come out on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, until then we will have our back to school edition that will be updated regularly with important time sensitive information.
The entire staff is ready to jump back in and start our adventure together this year! With students, staff, and families working together as one we will live our school mission of providing a safe, inclusive, positive school environment to ensure all students learn at high levels.
Now whose ready to get WILD about learning?!?
See you soon!
Principal Tenbrink
Important Dates for Families
AUGUST
Wednesday 10th: Back to School Night 4-6pm
Thursday 11th:
- Classes begin- Early Release Grades 1-6 at 12:30pm
- PreK & Kindergarten Conferences
Friday 12th:
- Full Day Grades 1-6
- PreK & Kindergarten Conferences
Monday 15th: First Day for PreK & Kindergarten
Tuesday 16th: PTA Meeting 6:30pm Nieman Library
Welcome New Foxes!
Jenn Jones- Kindergarten
Nikki Bennett- Admin Intern
Alex Berkowitz- 6th Grade
Hailey Bluml- 1st Grade
Emile Carter- Art
Natalie Kilgore- 3rd Grade
Chrissie Kohl- Innovation Specialist
Jennifer Hull- Resource Teacher
Randy Lemus- Music
Brittany Hammons- Recovery Room Aide
Tom Kline- Resource Room
Hello Nieman families!
I am Tom Kline. Your kiddos know me as Mr. Tom. When I am not working in the resource room, I enjoy staying active with Mrs. Kline. We enjoy cycling, walking and spending time with our two grand babies. I am very humbled and excited to be learning and growing with your children. I am looking forward to the coming year!
Carreen Blankenship- School Psychologist
Back to School Info
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!
We are BACK to an in-person Back to School Night (yay!). This will be Wednesday, August 10th from 4-6pm. This is an informal come and go event for families and students to come in, see the school, meet their teacher, drop off school supplies, and have some FUN! We can't wait to see you there!
Online Verification Forms and Food Service- Action Item
Dear Shawnee Mission School District Families,
We hope you are enjoying a great summer.
It may be hard to believe, but it is time to prepare for the next school year. Back-to-school forms (Online Verification Forms) are now online, and they need to be reviewed and signed with an electronic signature.
Steps to fill out forms:
- Visit smsd.org.
- In the top navigation bar, click on “Skyward” and log in to your account.
If you do not have a Family Access account, you may contact your child’s school office after July 26 to inquire about setting up account access. - Under “Home” you will see “2022-2023 Student Annual Online Verification.”
There will be directions that walk you through the entire process. They include permission forms, a health history review, and a medication permission form. For middle and high school students, there is also an athletic packet. The process should take only about 5 minutes to complete.
Please try to complete these forms as soon as possible. It is a mandatory step necessary for student materials checkout. Students cannot be assigned a computer/device until the forms are complete.
Updated Information for 2022-23 - Child Nutrition Meal Program Application
Families are encouraged to complete an application for free or reduced priced meals as part of the Online Verification. The link to the Child Nutrition Meal Program Application is available on Skyward or can be found on School Cafe. Families do need to create a School Cafe account if they do not already have one - more information may be located on the SMSD Food Service Free and Reduced web page. Children may receive free or reduced price meals based on certain Medicaid benefits or if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Applying and qualifying for free and reduced meal benefits not only assists families but also our district in the upcoming year.
- Students who qualify by a Meal Program application will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at a free or reduced cost this year. The application also generates additional state funds for our schools. If families do not complete the application, the district will not be able to receive state funding for which it is eligible.
- Additionally, qualifying for child nutrition meal benefits provides other benefits to eligible families, which may include free/reduced instructional resource fees, transportation fees, and Pre-k enrollment.
- Families are encouraged to complete a Consent for Disclosure form in Skyward which gives SMSD Food Service permission to share a child’s eligibility status information with the programs families designate on the consent form.
- Do not complete the application if you are Directly Certified to receive free meals. If you receive state assistance and have not received a notification of eligibility, call the SMSD Food Service office before completing a meal program application.
- Families who are directly certified are encouraged to complete a Consent for Disclosure form in Skyward which gives SMSD Food Service permission to share a child’s eligibility status information with the programs families designate on the consent form.
STUDENT FEES
Student fees have been assessed in Skyward. New for the 2022-23 school year there is an Instructional Resource fee for K-12 students, which replaces the previous Textbook fee. Elementary students will be charged $60; Secondary students will be charged $100. Fees can be paid online through eFunds (a $3 processing fee will be charged) or in the office by cash/check/optional credit card.
Free/Reduced Waiver
The board revised policy JS: Student Fees, Fines, and Charges on May 23rd. Fee waivers are now based on Free/Reduced meal status and not KanCare. Parents are advised to complete their Free/Reduced application in SchoolCafe and their Consent for Disclosure form in Skyward’s Online Verification. It could take 2 weeks or more to process the application, consent form and reduce fees, so please have them completed as soon as possible.
School Supply Lists
If you need assistance with school supplies please email karentravis@smsd.org and yeseniavasquez@smsd.org with your children's names and upcoming grade level. We have resources available to help with gathering supplies for students.
Skyward
Panorama
Panorama:
Parent information regarding the 1st Semester Panorama Survey below.
1st Semester Survey Dates:
- Panorama Survey Window: 9/19 (am) – 10/7 (pm)
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Our Shawnee Mission Student Handbook provides information on our philosophy of education, code of conduct and a of variety policies and procedures. Students and parents can read this handbook to better understand the behavior expectations of Nieman Elementary and also the Shawnee Mission School District.
Nieman Student Expectation Updates
During the 21-22 School Year staff came together to discuss and establish expectations for our school around hoodies, toys, fidgets, and phones. Please see below for Nieman Student Expectations:
Toys- All student toys should be left at home and not brought to school. The only time this would be an exception is if a class earned a reward, then communication would come from the teacher.
Fidgets- Fidgets are great tools used to calm and deescalate students. So long as the fidget is being used in the following ways it will be allowed:
- As a tool and not a toy- for it's expected purpose of calming
- Silently (many fidgets can be disruptive to the learning environment so please ensure your child is capable of using their fidget silently before sending it in).
- It will stay in the classroom and not travel to other locations in the school.
- Must be smaller than a student's hand.
Phones- Phones may be brought on to school property. Once the student enters their classroom the phone should be turned off and kept in their backpack during school hours.
- With permission from the teacher a student may get their phone out to call parents. This is only common towards the end of the day if checking on dismissal or an after school activity.
- Personal phone use may start once students are off school property.
- If a students phone becomes a concern the first contact will come from the classroom teacher. After that contact, if the phone is still a concern, then administration will contact the family and a guardian will need to come up to the school to get the phone.
Hoods- Students are allowed to wear hoods, so long as they don't disrupt their learning or the learning of others.
PTA Information and Updates
PTA has so many ways for you to get involved, connect with one another, and support Nieman.
Sign up to be a Nieman PTA Member through MemberHub. Being a member gives you access to MemberHub email updates from PTA, keeps Nieman’s PTA in good standing and active, and connects you with other families and community members who support Nieman.
2022-2023 PTA Fundraising Survey
Nieman Families- please take a moment to complete the surveys below to help PTA plan for the 22-23 school year,
English:
https://forms.gle/tsjZMAwBPfaqdRJD8
Spanish:
Principal Tenbrink
Email: kileytenbrink@smsd.org
Website: https://nieman.smsd.org/
Location: Nieman Elementary School, West 67th Street, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-4000
Twitter: @Tenbrink512