North Community,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break, and that our students are ready to have a strong finish to the semester! We have three weeks of classes before final exams begin. Now is definitely the time for our students to engage and achieve their highest potential. We also have a wonderful week of activities at the Brickhouse this week, with the North Area art show, and the Winter Sports Kick-off night, among many others. Let's have a great week and Go Bison!

Our final exam schedule for the fall semester can be found here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers or your student’s alpha associate principal for any questions.

Dustin Jamison - A-G

Jon Durham - H-N

Laura Brogdon - O-Z

You may have recently heard news reports about increases of illness this fall, as is typical with this time of year. In SMSD, we have begun to see increases in absence due to illness; with a few physician diagnosed illnesses and many generalized symptoms.

One of the most important things to help decrease the spread of illness is for those who are not feeling well to stay home. If your child has a temperature of over 100.0 or has vomited or has had diarrhea, they must stay home. Students may return to school when they have been free from fever (without medication), vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours.

Your child may also be ill, but without these symptoms. They may have a sore throat, headache, cough, or generally not feel well. If you suspect illness, please keep your child home. If in doubt about sending your child to school, contact the school nurse or your child’s doctor.

• Tutoring will continue Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-4:20.
• Remaining dates this semester: 11/28, 11/30, 12/5, 12/7, 12/12, 12/14
• The location for tutoring will be in the Learning Commons and students need to sign in using a QR code.
• Meals will be served in the cafeteria at 2:50 and must be consumed on campus. Any student is welcome to a FREE meal.
• Bus rides are also FREE for students who stay for tutoring or after school activities. Busses will depart from the circle drive (outside cafeteria doors) at 4:30. Students must have passes from a staff member to get on the bus,.

Come join us here at North on Wednesday November 30 to see artwork from elementary, middle, and high school students. The show will be in the art hallway and the main hallway and will be up from 5pm to 7 pm.

Each year, we have been blessed enough to have generous folks who come forward to sponsor a Shawnee Mission North yearbook for a child who otherwise wouldn't be getting one.

In the last few weeks, I've had children approach me about how to get a Shawnee Mission North yearbook when they can't afford to get one.

It's for this very purpose that our Shawnee Mission North Yearbook Angel program exists. You can purchase a 2023 yearbook and we will get it into the hands of a deserving student.

To become a yearbook angel simply:

1. Go Online at www.yearbookforever.com
2. For Yearbook Angel sponsorships, enter “Yearbook” for student first name, “Angel” for last name, and “Staff” for grade. We will make sure it goes to a deserving student.

If you have any questions, please contact yearbook adviser Becky Tate at notate@smsd.org

Please always check the school calendar for the most up to date schedule SMN Calendar

For Second Semester

Students may request a schedule change for second semester by emailing their Alpha Counselor. The schedule change deadline is Friday, December 9.

There will be no schedule changes in January.

Schedule changes will be prioritized based on the following criteria.

• Your schedule is incomplete, or missing a core course
• A class is listed twice
• You have already taken a class that is on your schedule
• You are a senior and are missing a graduation requirement
• You are missing a prerequisite for a course
• Only half of a yearlong class scheduled
• You have a level change request (Honors/AP to regular or regular to Honors/AP)

You are not eligible for a schedule change IF . . . . . .

• You don’t have friends in your class
• You want a different teacher

Students qualifying for a schedule change as explained above can email their Alpha Counselor.

A – D & ELL Jeinny Morris jeinnymorris@smsd.org

E – K Leah Murray leahmurray@smsd.org

L – Q Jennifer Fontaine jenniferfontaine@smsd.org

R – Z Deanna Griffey deannagriffey@smsd.org

LOOKING FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT:

Advance Auto Parts - Click here to apply

Crown Center Ice Terrace - click here to apply

Freddy's - freddys.com/careers

Jefferson's - Hiring Kitchen staff - call 1-785-727-3000

Overland Park, City of - apply at recruit.opkansas.org

Papa Murphy's on Shawnee Mission Parkway - 913-638-4552

UPS - Lenexa, KS email - sford@ups.com

Tidal Wave Auto Spa - Click Here

Go to student services for more information.

Winter sports kick-off is scheduled for Wednesday, November 30. The event will begin at 3:00pm. North community is invited to attend.

If you need to reach out to one of our varsity winter coaches please contact:

Winter Coaching Staff

Varsity Boys Basketball Coach: Patrick Denney Email: patrickdenney@smsd.org

Twitter: @SMNBoysBB

Varsity Girls Basketball Coach: Matt Jacobsen Email: MatthewJacobsen@smsd.org

Twitter: @SMNLadyHoops

Varsity Bowling Coach: Anna Monteer Email: annamonteer@smsd.org

Varsity Swimming Coach: Cody Fothergill Email: codyfothergill@smsd.org

Twitter: @smnboysswimdive

Varsity Wrestling Coach: Conan McCormack Email: ConanMccormack@smsd.org

Twitter: @SMNwrestling

Varsity Dance Coach Victoria Hilger Email: victoriahilger24@gmail.com

Varsity Cheerleading Coach Ashley Steele Email: asteele1219@gmail.com

JOIN OUR 3&2 BASEBALL UMPIRE ACADEMY

3 & 2 Baseball Program / JOCO Recreation is recruiting baseball umpires: REGISTER HERE https://bit.ly/3FSVn2U or call 913-401-6000 &/or email 3and2UIC@gmail.com

Live Eligibility

• Reports will be provided to coaches daily from skyward. We use the canvas platform which must be synchronized with Skyward; due to syn issues;

• Eligibility reports are Bi-weekly process

• 1st and 3rd Monday of the month

• If a student shows the AD between reports, he/she improved their grade then he/she is immediately reinstated.

• If a student does not improve and is on the next report they become ineligible for contests until they can show they are passing 5. They regain eligibility as soon as they can show proof and the process starts all over again.

SM North subscribes to Core Course GPA. If your student is interested in participating in collegiate athletics please visit the website and begin the registration process. SMSD will host a college eligibility informational session in late fall. It’s never too early to begin this process.

CoreCourseGPA.com now makes it easier than ever to educate your student-athletes and families on various aspects of NCAA/NAIA initial-eligibility and recruiting. Just click on the 1-Minute Recruiting Webinars below:

NCAA Core Course GPA vs Cumulative GPA

What are the NCAA D1 Initial-Eligibility Requirements?

• KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form, Transportation Release Form- HS - English [Required Athletic Forms for High School Students]

• KSHSAA Physical Packet- PPE (Rev. 3-20), Concussion Info Release Form, Transportation Release Form- HS - Spanish [Required Athletic Forms for High School Students

• 2022-2023 SMSD Concussion & Head Injury Information Release Form

• 2022-2023 SMSD Concussion & Head Injury Information Release Form - Spanish

• 2022-2023 SMSD Student Transportation Consent and Release Form

• 2022-2023 SMSD Student Transportation Consent and Release Form - Spanish

• Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (English)

• Parent Information and Consent Form- Cross Country Guidelines-Distance Training Off Campus for MS and HS Athletes (Spanish)

• Voluntary Student Accident Insurance (Managed by K&K Insurance)
  Our school district has selected the Student Insurance Plan from K&K Insurance Group to make reliable coverage available to parents. If you don’t have other insurance, this plan may be a resource to consider. Additionally, even if you have other coverage, this plan can help fill expensive “gaps' ' caused by deductibles and copays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

High School Sports Information

• High School Sports - Athletic Schedules

• SMSD Athletic Stadium and Athletic Complex Locations

• Kansas State High School Activities Association

• SMSD one page calendar

• SMSD HS Activity Handbook

• SMSD Athletic and Activities Webpage

Congratulations to the following students who competed in the Ray-Pec art competition.

Bailey Laurie

Rose Bennett

Ian Zimmer

Hannah Link

Nevaeh Dull

Peyton Lafferty

Naomi Culley

Carmen Castillo

Josephine Rathsam

Special recognition to Bailey Laurie and Rose Bennett for their 2nd and 3rd place ribbons in printmaking!

Congratulations to Rose Bennett, Nevaeh Dull, Bailey Laurie, Ben Berg, and Jashon Gray. These students had work accepted to the Merriam Community Center High School Art competition. This show will be up during the month of December so be sure to check it out!

Be a part of the 9th Annual SMN Trivia Night on Saturday, January 28, 2023 -

CONGRATS to the following groups that were awarded a total of $2,199.65 in grants by the All-Activities Booster Club at our November meeting...

SMN NJROTC - $800 for a refrigerator

SMN Athletics - $900.65 for a new scorer's table display

SMN Dance Team - $499 for a tumble track

THANK YOU to the North Community for supporting SMN All-Activities Booster Club fundraising efforts to make these grants possible!!

Mark your calendar for the next SMN Booster Club meeting - Monday, January 9, 2023 at 6:30pm on ZOOM

Purchase SMN Spirit Wear, Booster Club Memberships, and Sports Fast Passes at our online store (link below) -

https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AshLdvDQc8CUiQhWjdqZCqTqDNl6

• Join PTSA (optional, but highly encouraged): Parents, grandparents, teachers, and community members: You can now become a PTSA member. Your membership helps support our students and their school!

Check PTSA out on Twitter @SMNorthPTSA or https://twitter.com/SMNorthPTSA

Check PTSA out on Facebook @SMNorthPTSA or https://www.facebook.com/SMNorthPTSA/

Check the PTSA Website http://smnorth.smsd.org/Pages/parent-involvement/PTSA.aspx

Join the PTSA Here - https://smnorthptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Memberships

As the winter months approach, it is especially important for our community members to be aware of inclement weather procedures and how they can be alerted if plans for building closures are announced.

Procedures

If conditions make it necessary for the SMSD to close schools, the district will implement one of three plans: A, B, or C.

Click here to view the plans.

Inclement Weather Announcements

If plan A, B, or C is announced, this information will be shared broadly.

Staff and families can receive direct emails, texts, and voice messages.

Families can sign up to receive alerts in the manner that works best for them.

Click here for details on how to sign up for alerts.

Additional Resources:

The main page of the district website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Local radio and television stations

24-hour information line at (913) 993-7380

No announcement will be made when schools are to remain open.

The SMAC PTA Clothing Exchange is excited to be back in service to the SMSD community! Please see attached files in English and Spanish with more information about the Schedule for the Clothing Exchange.

Students and Families:

We hope you are enjoying the new MacBooks! Now that 99.9% of our students have been issued a MacBook, it is very important to make sure students are taking the best care possible of the devices. Below are some important reminders to help protect the MacBook and your student.

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 screen on these devices are very sensitive and the pressure of your grip will break the screen. (Other schools are already reporting damage from students holding and carrying the MacBook by 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. Do NOT slam the MacBook shut, this causes lines in the LCD screen and also the screen to go “white.”

6. Always open the screen from the center clip on the case. Opening from the sides will cause damage.

7. Carrying the computer from the screen will also damage/loosed/break the hinge.

8. Please don’t leave your MacBook in a car. Extreme temperature (hot and cold) conditions will cause issues for the MacBook. (And provide a target for theft)

9. Needed applications can be found on Manager. You will not be able to download programs from the App Store for use on these devices. If you need access to a program that isn’t in Manager, please submit a Help Desk Ticket ( https://support.smsd.org )

10. 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 VPN’s will result in the confiscation of the MacBook and you may lose MacBook access for the semester/school year.

11. If you ever need help or support with your device you can submit a Web Help Desk Ticket and our Tech Analyst assigned to SMN will find you to help with the issue. If there ever is a problem, you should start by submitting a Help Desk Ticket at https://support.smsd.org

12. Keep your charger safe, preferably at home. Charging your device each night to 100% will last all day at school.

13. Do NOT eat or drink near the device, this keeps it clean and away from possible accidents.

Please reach out if there are any questions or issues we can help with as you use your new MacBook. -Mr. Jamison

• ** Please Note- If you have an account from previous years (even Hocker Grove), there is no need to create another account.
  
• New users: Download the Canvas Parent App from the App Store or Google Play store.
• Follow the prompts to create your account. Create a username and password.
• Search SMSD (Shawnee Mission School District) > Shawnee Mission North > Eventually it will ask you for a “Pairing Code”
• To find your student’s “Pairing Code”
1. In your student’s Canvas account have your student click on “Account” (Top Left)
2. Click on “Settings” > then click on “Pair with Observer” (Right side)
3. Enter this “Pairing code” when prompted in your Canvas Parent App.
• Note that each parent needs a different code, therefore repeating this process to generate a different code. If more than one student, you will be prompted to “add student” on the app. Repeat the process to generate their observer code.
• If your student will not provide the code to you, please reach out to the school to get the Pairing Code. 😊
• Additional Canvas gradebook information can be found here.
• Canvas has the most up-to-date grade information for your student, if you have questions about missing assignments, please contact your student’s teacher.

Skyward

To get information about your login information for your Skyward parent account please contact Student Services at 913-993-6930. Skyward helps parents keep track of attendance, pay school fees, view national and state test scores, complete the online verification process and much, much more.