Next Wednesday, October 10th is National Day of Testing and will be an early release day. Each grade level will be participating in different activities. All students will be released for lunch at 12:30 and school dismissal is at 1:10.

Freshmen will be participating in various activities and will be located in the Performing Arts Wing. These activities will include:

· the math portion of a locally scored ACT practice test

· Top 20 Activities

· Presentation by Tom Cody, Top 20

· Xello – https://xello.world/en/student.html an online program designed to assist

with discovering his/her strengths and taking that knowledge to see Post

Secondary options available.

Sophomores

ALL sophomores will be taking the PSAT (paid by the district) on the 1st floor.

Students will be testing with their Seminar teacher. They will be given their testing

Room location and these locations will also be posted around the building.

Juniors

Juniors who signed up for the PSAT/NMSQT will test in the Learning Commons.

Juniors who did NOT sign up for the PSAT will take the locally scored practice ACT on the

2nd floor with their Seminar teacher. Students will be notified, by their seminar

teacher, of their testing room location. Room locations will be posted on the 2nd

floor.

Seniors

Seniors who have turned in their Senior Exploration form to their senior ELA teachers

participate in their chosen activity OFF campus.

Any seniors who did NOT turn in their form and attend North, will participate in the

Freshmen activities.

The Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) strongly encourages volunteer support for students and schools. It is equally committed to the safety of students and volunteers. To support the goal of safety, the district has instituted a policy requiring background records checks for all volunteers.

In order to make the process more efficient and effective, on September 24, 2018, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education (BOE) approved the use of Validity Screening Solutions to provide background screenings for MVP volunteers. This new background screening process will take the place of the current fingerprinting requirement for MVP volunteers. Instead of coming to the Center for Academic Achievement, MVP volunteers will go on-line to and enter the required information.

There are now two steps required to complete the MVP process:

1. Attend an in-person training
   1. Visit https://www.smsd.org/families/volunteer-mvp for available sessions.
   2. Note: Tuesday morning sessions at CAA require a reservation—seating is limited. Email volunteer@smsd.org for more information.
2. Visit Validity Screening to complete the online, background screening process.
   1. If you have already completed the required training, visit this link to complete the process.

In most cases, applicants will be approved and ready to serve as a MVP volunteer within 48 hours.

SMSD apologizes for the inconvenience the fingerprinting process and long wait times have created. We believe Validity will provide greater convenience in less time, while still maintaining the safety our stakeholders, students and staff members expect and deserve. Your commitment to your student’s education and to the district as a whole is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

In an effort to raise awareness of pressing issues that we are facing in our community, give parents/guardians access to knowledge and resources, as well as bring community agencies to the parents/guardians, East Antioch has organized North Area Parent Information Nights. Each quarter there will be a different topic and speaker arranged.

SPEAK UP (http://speakup.us) a local non-profit united in breaking the silence and reducing stigma surrounding all mental illness and suicide. They will be presenting on Thursday, November 29th at 6:30pm at Hocker Grove Middle School.

The SMN Mission’s newsmagazine website posts stories and photo of events happening around school on a weekly basis. In addition, the Mission’s editor will be posting SMSD Board of Education meeting recaps every two weeks.

Head to www.smnmission.com to check out North news. If you’d like to receive an email reminder when the site is updated (typically once or twice a week), you can sign up on the website. The sign-up is in the lower right corner of the home page right above the SMN Mission Twitter feed.

2019 Yearbooks can be purchased through the bookkeeper in the main office or at www.yearbookforever.com through Jan. 19, 2019. Cost is $48 if purchased at school.

If you didn't purchase your book during fee payment, the money ($48) or a check made out to SM North, can be taken to the bookkeeper by January 19. If you would like to pay with a 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.

After Jan. 19, only 65 extra overstock supply of yearbooks will be available for $65. These will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they are gone, 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.

Volunteers needed to help pull off clothes, bag, and move Summer clothing and prepare Winter clothing for the Clothing Exchange. Light physical labor (standing, walking, lifting, carrying, etc.) is required. See below flyer for additional information.

If you haven’t purchased a 2019 Yearbook, they can still be purchased through the bookkeeper in the main office or at www.yearbookforever.com through Jan. 19, 2019. Cost is $48 if purchased at school.

The money ($48) or a check made out to SM North, can be taken to the bookkeeper by January 19. If you would like to pay with a credit card, payment can be made at www.yearbookforever.com. Choose Shawnee Mission North. There is a $2 service fee if you choose to pay online.

Picture Retake sign up sheets are in the front office, the sign up deadline is Oct. 12 and retakes will be on Oct. 19.

If you did not order a picture package, there is a $3 retake fee that you can pay the photographer from Rolland Studios at the time of retake.

If you have yet to take a photo and are taking a photo for the first time, there is no retake charge as this is a first-time photo. You should also sign up in the office so we can send you a pass.

Passes will be emailed out to students prior to October 19.

Proofs and pre-ordered photo packages were passed out in English classes on Sept. 6 and 7. If you wish to order photos online you can do so at www.rollandkc.com using the code on the photo package.

If you did not receive your proofs or photo package, please call Rolland Studios at 816-356-3844.

If you have any other questions or problems, please email or call yearbook adviser Becky Tate.

At notate@smsd.org or 913-993-7012.

Do you have budding artists at your house? Let their voices be heard! SMN PTA is hosting a Reflections Contest, and the theme this year is "Heroes Around Me"

Ask your students: What do those words mean to you? Entries can be submitted in the following categories:

Dance Choreography

Film Production

Literature

Music Composition

Photography

Visual Arts

The SM North school deadline is October 15, 2018.

Applications and rules can be found here:

There is still time to celebrate your senior with a Senior Tribute in the 2019 Indian, SM North’s award-winning yearbook.

Seniors love to turn to the back of the yearbook and find a note from family members celebrating their upcoming graduation. They also love to see the photos you pick to go with the words of encouragement and celebration.

The first deadline has passed, but the second deadline is Oct. 16.

Senior Tribute forms can be dropped off at the SMN front office or mailed to SM North attn. Becky Tate.

If you would like to pay with a credit card and/or submit all your photos and Senior Tribute contract online, they can be uploaded and paid for at www.yearbookforever.com. Choose Shawnee Mission North.

For those who have turned their Tributes in, thanks so much for your support of the Indian yearbook. For those who haven’t, we’d encourage you to and look forward to designing your senior’s Tribute.

Questions, please contact yearbook advisor Becky Tate at 913-993-7012 or at notate@smsd.org .

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

FOOD SERVICE….Did you know…………

Did you know that breakfast is available each day at your student’s school? Eating a nutritious breakfast helps students achieve the classroom goals set for them. National studies consistently confirm that breakfast helps kids concentrate, think, behave and learn.

Eating breakfast:

 improves children's classroom performance, including better test scores and grades

 increases children's ability to focus and concentrate on school work

 decreases behavior problems, tardiness and visits to the school nurse

 increases attendance rates

 decreases risk of food insecurity and hunger that impair development and learning

 may protect against childhood obesity

If it is difficult to fit breakfast into your morning routine, breakfast is available in all schools. A student must choose a full portion of at least three different items to receive a reimbursable school breakfast. One of the three items must be ½ cup of fruit or juice. Breakfast items include: protein, grain, fruit/juice, and milk.

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 http://foodservices.smsd.org