We need EVERYONE'S cooperation to be here on time.

Students who understand the value of punctuality and attend school on time, get better grades and enjoy a greater sense of well-being and confidence

The school day ends at 2:40pm. Students should be off campus after 3:00pm unless they are under the direct supervision of a coach or sponsor.

Regular attendance is vital for student success.

• Your children can suffer academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year or about 18 days. That can be just one day every two weeks, and that can happen before you know it.

• Some absences are unavoidable. We understand that children will get sick and need to stay home occasionally. The important thing is to get your children to school as often as possible. • Sporadic absences, not just those on consecutive days of school, matter. Before you know it – just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year.

• If too many absences occur, it is still a problem whether they are excused or unexcused because they represent too much lost learning time in the classroom.

We appreciate our students, parents, staff and community helping to prioritize the importance of coming to school and then making sure to arrive on time to each class throughout the day.

Thank you.

CALENDAR LINK

Our Late Start Thursdays will not begin until Sept. 14th. This is the updated schedule that reflects this late start Thursdays.

Occasionally, throughout the year, there might be changes in our bell schedule. Days in which we host pep assemblies will have a different schedule as well as during Finals.

Starting Wednesday, September 27th, SAIL Tutoring Program.

Who: Open to all students.

What: SAIL Tutoring is an after school tutoring program for all students.

When: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:50-4:20pm (see Calendar below)

Where: The Cafeteria

Why: Providing space, time and adult support to catch up on work and support learning.

Additional Information: A meal is provided and there is a late bus after tutoring that will run along 87th Street only. Students must have a pass to get on the bus.

To Junior and Senior Students,

We have an upcoming chance for you to gain Real World Learning experiences and explore job shadows and internships offered by businesses in our community.

The Shawnee Mission School District is hosting a Career and College Expo for you! The event will be Friday, September 29, 2023 at the Center for Academic Achievement at 8200 W. 71stStreet, Overland Park, KS 66204. There will be two sessions:

Session 1: 9:00 - 10:30 (bus leaves @ 9:00 am)

Session 2: 10:10 - 11:30 am (bus leaves 10:10am)

You can also visit with college representatives from schools that were at Scholarship Shawnee Mission just days before the expo.

Bus transportation will be provided and required because of limited parking at the CAA. Sign up using the link below You must use your district laptop and student email to access the sign-up link.

Student Sign-up LINK (no parental access)

We recommend students wear business casual attire (slacks, collared shirts, skirts, dresses) and bring a resume if you have one, although this is not required for participation.

Through internships, you have the opportunity to earn a Market-Value Asset (MVA). This is a part of Shawnee Mission’s Real World Learning efforts and the goal that by 2030 every Shawnee Mission student will earn an MVA by the time they graduate.

If you have any questions, please contact your Real World Learning counselor at your student’s school:

Tommie Davis, SM West

Sincerely,

Dr. Ryan Flurry, Principal of Career Education Campuses and Coordinator of Career & Technical Education

Laura Harsch, Business to Education Program Officer
Shawnee Mission Education Foundation

mportant!! Class ring week in our school will be this week. Here is what you need to know…

• While usually a sophomore event, Covid has set us back a couple of years and we want to make sure juniors and seniors also have a chance to order their rings.

• Please watch the short video below, introducing the process and giving you important due dates.

https://welcomeshawneemw.teamjostens.com/

This is a great tradition and a fun week at our school. If you have any questions or need anything, please contact our Jostens partner (jeff.heline@jostens.com / 785-843-2967).

We are excited to announce this year's Senior Viking candidates. Senior Viking will be held Saturday, October 21. Candidates will fundraise leading up to Senior Viking and participate in a fun, pageant-style competition. All funds go towards Senior Sizzle, a celebration for graduating seniors.

This year's candidates are:

Bryce Bean

Alvin Gonzalez

Harrison Holt

Ryder Kirby

Jace Morales

Watson Porter

Nick van Deventer

Nathan Phillips

Kortez Washington

Noah Winans

Please take some time to view the images below to see how you can help support Senior Viking and Senior Sizzle.

Shawnee Mission West Yard Signs and Riders!

Orders are due by October 6th.

Click the link to order yours now!

https://smwest.memberhub.com/store

PTSA Spirit Wear -

Did you know we use funds raised from our Spirit Wear to fund great programs like SMW Teacher Grants and Scholarships?

You can help by looking great in our Viking Colors while supporting a great cause!

Orders are due by September 24th.

Click the link to order yours now!

https://smwestptsa.itemorder.com

Join PTSA for our next meeting on November 6th at 6:30 PM.

Libby Davis will share about her son, Cooper, and provide eye-opening education for parents and students about the dangers of Fentanyl and fake pills.

This will be one PTSA meeting you won't want to miss!

Below is the link to the SMSD Performing Arts newsletter to kick off the school year. We are so glad to celebrate our teachers and students.

September 2023 Performing Arts Newsletter

Our school busses line up along the circle drive in the front of the building and leave approximately 7 minutes after the 2:40 bell rings.

For the safety of all our students, we would ask that parents that are driving to pick up their students plan to arrive after the busses leave the premises. Cars lining up on 87th street waiting to enter the front driveway does not created a safe situation.

Thank you for your support in telling your students that you will pick them up after the busses leave the circle.

REMINDER: ALL students who park in the WEST student parking lot need to have purchased a parking sticker and that sticker should be placed on their car. Students should make sure that they are parking only in the designated student parking areas and not staff parking.

Please refer to the information below.

Hey Vikings!

Who will be crowned Senior Viking 2024 on October 21? It is time to find out! Our Senior Viking candidates compete in a fun event where they tell their favorite Dad jokes, answer interview questions, and showcase their talents. Best of all, they get to raise funds, along with their chosen escort, to support Senior Sizzle, a safe celebration for all graduating seniors. Would you like to be a Senior Viking candidate? Applications are out now and due September 8.

https://forms.gle/cHob7n6bin2FFbbX9

Inter-State studios has already taken photos of our seniors for the senior class yearbook pages (Make Up on Oct. 30th).

This opportunity is for your family to purchase ad space for a tribute to your senior. The yearbook staff works with clients to create an individualized layouts for interested senior families. Families could purchase 1/4, 1/2, or full page ads.

Hello,

I wanted to share a “refresher” on Covid Guidelines for everyone as we head into this fall. These are also guidelines that apply to Influenza A & B.

• Day 0: the 1st day of symptoms or test positive day
• Counting from Day 0--a person is then out of school for 5 days.
• Day 6—may return to school if no ongoing symptoms and no fever in the previous 24 hours.
• Day 6-10—highly recommended and encouraged to mask.
• Students do not need to stay home for exposure to Covid—only if they have symptoms or test positive.

For more information you can refer to the following link:

https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/coronavirus-or-covid-19-information

• Please reach out with any questions or concerns—sometimes email is the best: kimberlytennissen@smsd.org or aciamorely@smsd.org

Questions: call 913-993-7960

Kim Tennissen, RN, FNP-BC

Shawnee Mission West Nurse

8800 West 85th Street

Overland Park, KS 66212

Phone: 913-993-7816

Fax: 913-993-1483

kimberlytennissen@smsd.org

Thank you so very much for your help.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AADA92BA13-smwnurses

Many of our students were able to pick up their MacBooks during our Early MacBook Rollout.' If you received your device on July 25th, then please make sure to set Chrome as your default browser. Here is a link for instructions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UCo7L5B9PwmqDECiLayyb7r965hd9M1WxJfgynQgWqU/edit?usp=sharing

Please make a diligent choice to take care of your MacBook each and everyday.

• Cracked Screens
• The screens to the new devices are very delicate. Please remind students not to pick up the device by the screen and do not close the device with something in it.
• Tech Resource Page
• We have a Tech Resource Page that assist students with tech issues that arise. Please bookmark this page. Link => https://sites.google.com/smsd.org/smwtechrescue/tech-issue

ICT Updates

We want to remind you of a few things now that we are back in the swing of the school year:

1. Your MacBook must have the district issued case on it at all times. (Failure to have the cover in place will result in confiscation of the MacBook.)

2. Please only carry your MacBook with the screen shut and with both hands to keep the machine secure.

3. Do not ever pick up the MacBook by the screen. The LCD is very sensitive and the pressure of your grip will break the screen.

4. Keyboard covers should not be used since non-Apple keyboard covers might be too large and can put pressure on the screens and cause damage.

5. Please don’t leave your MacBook in a car overnight.

6. Needed programs can be found on Manager. You will not be able to download programs from the App Store for use on these devices.

7. Downloading VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) or other programs that mask your device on the network are a violation of the Responsible Use Policy you have agreed to. Use of these will result in the confiscation of the MacBook and you may MacBook access for the semester/school year for consistent violations.

8. Due to the MacBook refresh this summer and the cost of the new hardware, the replacement device cost has gone up. Although, the charger cost has dropped. The incident fees have stayed the same (fees reset in high school).

1. 1st Incident/Damaged Device fee: $100.00

2. 2nd Incident/Damaged Device fee: $150.00

3. 3rd and Subsequent Incident/Damage Device fee: Actual cost of repair/replacement or $300.00 whichever is greater.

4. Apple MacBook Air M1 USB-C Cable Replacement - $19

5. Apple MacBook Air M1 Charger Replacement - $39

6. Apple MacBook Air M1 Adapter Set Replacement - $58

7. Apple MacBook Air M1 Replacement/Lost Device fee - $1,117.95

9. If you ever need help or support with your device, please review our Tech Rescue Page (https://sites.google.com/smsd.org/smwtechrescue/tech-issues). If you are still experiencing issues, then you can submit a Web Help Desk Ticket (https://support.smsd.org).

Please reach out if there are any questions or issues. We do work with students and families through this process.

Below you will find some helpful images to assist with Skyward and Canvas.

ALL Students must be registered with DS Bus Lines in order to ride the bus.

Please note the following important information for 2023-24 busing:

• Bus registration may be found at the following link: DS Bus Lines registration
• 2023-24 bus fees will remain the same as the prior year.
  • $185/semester/student or $370/year/student
    
• Any student attending their home school and living 2.5 miles or more from the school qualifies for free busing. Registration is required.
• Students who qualify for the Child Nutrition Meal Benefits – free and reduced priced meals may also qualify for free transportation, and enroll to ride existing routes. When registering, please provide a copy of the Child Nutrition Meal Benefits Eligibility letter to DS Bus Lines to complete the enrollment process. SMSD families can apply for Child Nutrition Meal Benefits after July 1st on School Café - https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION.
• Transportation changes put in effect during the 2022-23 school year will remain in effect for the 2023-24 school year. This includes limiting high school routes to students residing over 2.0 miles from their school.
• Bus routes and stop locations will be determined based on those who register for busing. A minimum number of registrations (50 paid) is required in order to offer a route.
• Annual transportation registration is required for students to receive bus service.

For more information on Shawnee Mission School District transportation, please visit https://www.smsd.org/families/transportation or call DS Bus Lines at 913-384-1190.

In the event there are times throughout the year when routes are running late and

notification is needed at the school and family level, we want to encourage you to sign up for Textcaster notifications. We have previously pushed a number of communications about this to families via school newsletters (with your assistance) as well as through district communications reminding of the availability to sign up for text notifications when routes are running late or compressed with other buses. We encourage you to also sign up to receive text notifications as it is the fastest way to provide notice of any changes.

Sign up for notifications at the following link: https://my.textcaster.com/asa/2795 where you can select the route numbers pertaining to your school (you may select multiple bus routes). Additionally, we will do our best to provide you with updates as we receive them.