IHMS Weekly News
February 11 - 18, 2022
Upcoming IHMS Events
Monday, 02/14:
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Cheer Club
Tuesday, 02/15:
9:00 Junior Board Site Visits
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Cheer Club
3:50 Jazz Band
5:00 Boys Basketball @ IH vs IW
Wednesday, 02/16:
9:00 KELPA Testing
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Board Game Club
3:50 Multicultural Club
3:50 Cheer Club
5:00 Boys Basketball @ HG
Thursday, 02/17:
7:45 Junior Board
MathCounts Chapter Competition
1:00 KELPA Testing
5:00 Evening Conferences
5:00 MVP training in IHMS Library
Friday, 02/18:
IHMS Math Team Meeting during KT
Upcoming Events:
02/21: No School - President’s Day
02/22: No School - Professional Learning
02/23: 8:20 School Store Open
02/23: Boys Basketball Tournament @ SMN
02/24: Boys Basketball Tournament @ SMN
03/07: 7:00 Band/Orchestra Concert
03/09: 8:20 School Store Open
03/09: 9:00 Career Day
03/10: 7:00 Middle School Orchestra Festival
03/11: End of 3rd Quarter
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Section 1: New and Important at IHMS
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Congratulations to Esther Walker! Desmos Art Challenge Finalist!
Congratulations to Esther Walker on her top ten finish for the Global Desmos Art Challenge. Esther finished in the top 10 out of over 10,000 student submissions for her age group! The Challenge is a Global art contest for students ages 13 – 19+.
Students enter the contest for their age range by submitting artwork created by math! To win, student’s creations need to be colorful, full of math, movement, and detail!
Here is a link to Esther’s creation:
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Upcoming 8th Grade Field Trip- Parent Volunteers Needed!
Parents & Guardians,
We are planning a field trip to Union Station to visit the Auschwitz Exhibit. We will be attending this field trip on Thursday, March 3 from approximately 9am-2pm. This opportunity comes at the end of our unit studying The Diary of Anne Frank and writing The White Rose Essay. If you would prefer your student not attend, please contact your student’s ELA teacher and an alternate activity will be provided.
We have 449 8th grade students at Indian Hills and need many adult volunteers to help supervise groups of 5-10 students as they go through the exhibit. We need your help for a two hour segment during the window of 9:15am - 1:45pm. Your responsibilities would be to meet us at Union Station, supervise your small group and monitor behavior, and get your group returned to the bus at the correct time. You will not need to pay for your exhibit ticket. You will need to pay for parking. Here are parking details and costs. https://unionstation.org/union-station-kansas-city-amenities/
You will also need to be MVP trained to help.
Here are the details on the MVP training process - https://www.smsd.org/families/volunteer-mvp
Here are the opportunities to do your MVP training. The training takes a maximum of one hour. Tuesday, February 8th at 3pm at Indian Hills
Wednesday, February 9th at 5pm at CAA (district office)
Thursday, February 10th at 3pm at Indian Hills
Thursday, February 17th at 5pm at Indian Hills (during conferences)
Friday, February 25th at 8am at Indian Hills
We will try to honor your request to be in a group with or without your child according to your preference, but we cannot guarantee that we’ll be able to accomplish these requests due to the grouping and numbers attending.
Please fill out this Volunteer Google Form with your information if you are able to volunteer. We will reach out soon with more details of your exact group and supervision time.
Thanks,
8th Grade ELA Team
Jen Lehr, Laura Ballard, Kate Peper, & Shannon Ferreyra
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Parent Teacher Conference Information: 2/17/22 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Parent/teacher conferences have been rescheduled for Thursday, February 17, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Please view the linked Google Slides presentation that will walk you through every detail needed to navigate Skyward and select dates/times for conferences. Please note: if you signed up for conference times on the original 2/3/22 date, they WILL NOT carry over to February 17. You must sign up once again through Skyward for 2/17/22.
In order to attend conferences on February 17, you must schedule your conferences in Skyward ahead of time. If you show up to conferences without a scheduled time, we will be unable to accommodate you. We realize that with only certain time slots available, there may not be one that works for you (or perhaps the teacher's schedule has already been filled). In cases such as this, please work directly with the classroom teacher to schedule a time to conference with them outside of the February date. You can find staff email addresses here.
A few additional details:
- Please sign up for only one 10 minute conference per teacher. If you need additional time scheduled, please work with the individual teacher to schedule a time outside of the evening of February 17.
- Since you once again have a choice between conferencing in person (at IH) or conferencing via WebEx, please make sure that you carefully read the information found on slides 7 and 8 regarding how to notify teachers if you plan to attend on WebEx.
- On conference evening, staff WebEx addresses can be found in the document linked within the Google Slides presentation (linked above).
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Tardy-to-School Procedure Update
Procedure for tardies to school:
- Students should be in their Knight Time class by the 8:45 a.m. each school day.
- Students who arrive later than the 8:45 a.m. bell must check in through the front office and receive a late pass to class.
- Tardy 1 - Tardy 4: Managed in classroom between teacher and student.
- Tardy 4 - Tardy 6: Student is referred to student services for intervention.
- Tardy 7 and beyond: Student is referred to grade level administrator for strategic intervention.
Note: Although the information above reflects changes to some of the building-level procedures regarding tardies at IHMS, the Board of Education attendance policy remains unchanged. That policy can be found in the SMSD middle school handbook on pages 5 and 6.
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Section 2: Still Relevant From Previous Weeks
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I've Tested Positive for COVID - Now What?
If you have tested positive for COVID and are reporting your case/ seeking guidance, please complete this form: SMSD COVID-19 case report form
What do I do next? SMSD COVID Information:
- SMSD 2nd Semester Guidance- Students and Staff
- Johnson County Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline: 913-715-2819
After the above items and information have been completed/reviewed, any clarifying questions can be directed to IHMS Nurse Judy McMullen:
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Students Checking Their Email Incentive
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Winter Athletics/Activities Mitigation and Return-to-Play Guidelines - Updated
2022 Winter Athletics/Activities Mitigation Guidelines and Spectator Guidelines
Return to Play Health Clearance for Athletes:
Updated 1/25/22 Return to Play Process for student-athletes.
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Career Day - Only a Few More Volunteers Needed!
Parents, our inaugural IHMS Career Day is coming up on March 9!
We already have 50 presenters signed up for this event which is exciting! However, we are in need of 5-10 more individuals willing to present (see below for more information on how to sign up). We are especially looking for people who have a background in, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Manufacturing, Transportation, Information Technology, Arts, AV Technology, Communications, Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources, Human Services, Hospitality, and Tourism to round out our career clusters.
We are looking for individuals whose professional experiences may help to inspire our students as they consider their future possibilities. We hope to have many volunteer presenters who represent a variety of career pathways. Would you consider joining us as a presenter for one or two sessions? Could you also share this opportunity with colleagues and friends? If you would like to learn more, please share your contact information with our College and Career Readiness Action Team here:
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I'm Absent From School. What Do I Do? How Do I Keep Up With School Work?
Students will be asked to stay home for the duration of their isolation/quarantine. To ensure you have a correct return date with current guidance, please reach out to our front office staff to report illness, and if COVID-related, please ensure you let Nurse Judy know.
Front Office Attendance Contact:
Erinn Vogts: erinnvogts@smsd.org
Constance Eddy: constanceeddy@smsd.org
Attendance Line: (913) 993-0412
Nurse Contacts:
Nurse Judy McMullen: judithmcmullen@smsd.org
Nurse's Aide Rhonda Levine: rhondalevine@smsd.org
Once you have notified school personnel of the absence, make sure your student reaches out to each individual teacher to check on what Canvas assignments should be completed and/or if any questions arise.
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Section 3: SME Area News and Events
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SME PTSA Volunteers Needed!
Shawnee Mission East PTSA is looking for volunteers for the 2022-2023 school year. If you have interest in a fun and easy way to get involved with East, please reach out to April Crosser (aprilcrosser@gmail.com) or Amy Moore (amooredunn@gmail.com) for more information.
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Section 4: District Area News and Events
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SMSD R&D Forum + Next Great Pitch Competition Information
Spring 2022 is the 60th year of the Shawnee Mission School District’s Research and Development (R&D) Forum. This year's forum will feature a Student Showcase and a live streamed Pitch Finals competition at the Center for Academic Achievement.
Pitch Finals Competition- Info Session on Jan. 27
For a second year, a pitch competition for student innovators will be offered as part of the district’s annual R&D Forum. Not only can students win cash prizes for their Next Great Idea, but they can also receive additional funding to advance their idea.
An informational session will be held virtually:
Time, Date, Place: Webex, at 6 p.m. on January 27
Who can enter: Any interested student, grades K-12
What: Hear from past winners and to learn more about the process.
How to join: A link to the informational session can be found here.
How to apply: Application information can be found on the R&D webpage. The deadline to apply for the pitch competition is Friday, February 25, 2022. Practice sessions with industry mentors will be scheduled for students who apply to compete.
Final Competition and Prizes:
Applicants chosen as finalists will pitch their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges during the morning of April 30, 2022 at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st St. The pitch competition will be live-streamed so friends and family can participate as well. Top awards are $2,500, of which $1,000 is a cash award to be used by the winner to pursue their passion and education and up to $1,500 will be awarded as "build it" grants to support making the winner's pitch a reality. A People's Choice category, determined by public voters, will be awarded a $500 prize. There will also be an Idea of Promise award with a prize of $500.
Student Showcase
The R&D Forum student showcase, with display-only and competitive exhibits will be held in Spring 2022. Students, families, and staff members are encouraged to enter student-created projects, experiments, or art projects to share in this districtwide event. All submissions must be registered and information on how to register can be found online. The deadline to register for the showcase is Friday, March 25, 2022.
The SMSD community is invited to take part in this year’s 60th R&D Forum by attending the following events at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st St.
MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL ART & ALL GRADES SCIENCE SHOWCASE
April 18-21, 2022 - 3:00 - 5:00 - Open House at CAA (entries on display)
April 21, 2022 - 4:00 - 7:00 - Reception for all entrants and families
ELEMENTARY ART & CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) SHOWCASE
April 25-28, 2022 - 3:00 - 5:00 - Open House at CAA (entries on display)
April 28, 2022 - 4:00 - 7:00 - Reception for all entrants and families
NEXT GREAT IDEA LIVE PITCH
April 30, 2022 - Morning - Finalists will present their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges
Public Voting to follow presentations
Afternoon - Awards ceremony for Showcase Entries, Regnier Award
winners, and the Next Great Idea Pitch Competition award winners
About the R&D Forum
The Shawnee Mission Research and Development Forum celebrates its 60th year in 2022. It is one of the SMSD’s biggest showcases of the year!
This annual event has always served as a celebration of student achievement and highlights innovative student projects and talent from across the district.
Sincere appreciation is extended to the Regnier Family for 60 years of generous support for the SMSD R&D Forum.
Click here for more information and contacts if you have further questions.
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Student Vaccination Information and Locations
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) - Mission Clinic Location:
An appointment is required to get a COVID-19 vaccine at JCDHE’s clinic, which is in Mission. Schedule an appointment or call 913-715-2819. Phones are answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please arrive NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES prior to your appointment time.
Northeast Office Building, 6000 Lamar Ave., Suite 140, Mission, KS 66202
Additional Local Clinics, Health Systems, and Pharmacies offering the vaccine may be located at the following link provided by JCDHE:
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Section 5: Mainstay News
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9/21 Parent Engagement Evening Resources
For those parents/guardians that were unable to make our family engagement night on September 21, 2021, we have populated the information from the evening in presentation format.
Please check out the very important information covered that evening by following this link.
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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: Free to All Students (in SME boundary)
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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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1-800-CHILDREN
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COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Available for Ages 5 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 5 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 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: