IHMS Weekly News
February 18 - 25, 2022
Upcoming IHMS Events
Monday, 02/21:
No School / President’s Day
Tuesday, 02/22:
No School / Professional Learning & Development
Wednesday, 02/23:
8:20 School Store Open
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Board Game Club
3:50 Multicultural Club
3:50 Cheer Club
7:00 Boys Basketball Tournament @ SMN
Thursday, 02/24:
7:45 Junior Board
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Art Club
3:50 Chess Club
3:50 Nancy Drew Club
3:50 Jazz Band
Boys Basketball Tournament @ SMN (Time TBD)
Friday, 02/25:
IHMS Math Team Meeting during KT
Upcoming Events:
03/02: 5:00 Evening Conferences
03/03: 8th Grade to Union Station
03/03: 7:00 Middle School Band Festival
03/07: 7:00 Band/Orchestra Concert
03/09: 8:00 Market Day
03/09: 8:20 School Store Open
03/09: 9:00 Career Day
03/09: 7:00 Choir Concert
03/10: 7:00 Middle School Orchestra Festival @ SMNW
03/11: End of 3rd Quarter
03/14-03/18: Spring Break
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Section 1: New and Important at IHMS
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Parent Teacher Conference Reschedule Information: 03/02/22 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Conference Signups Begin Friday, 02/25/22
Parent/teacher conferences have been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 2, 2022, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Please note: if you signed up for conference times on the original 02/03/22 date, or the rescheduled 02/17/22 date, they WILL NOT carry over to March 02.
On February 25, at 8:00 a.m., Skyward conference times will become available for parents to sign up for individual time slots with teachers. More information will be shared at that time in a stand-alone email.
ANY EXISTING SCHEDULED SKYWARD CONFERENCES RESERVED PRIOR TO 2/25/22 WILL BE REMOVED AND INVALIDATED.
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Reporting Absences, Appointments, and Illnesses Procedures Returning to Previous Standard
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our established procedures relating to student pick-up and illness reporting have had to conform to current mitigation strategies. As we return to optional-masks at IH, the following procedures will return as well. Please note that the procedures below do not deviate from published and established student/parent handbook material. However, they may necessitate a change in your current reporting/notification practice because a return to these procedures better ensures the safety of your student(s).
Absentee Reporting:
In case of an absence from school, the student’s parents or guardians must call the Attendance Hotline at 993-0412 prior to 8:45 a.m. each day of absence. This automated line is answered 24 hours, and requests the name of the person calling, student’s first and last name (please spell last name), and reason for absence. If there has been no personal communication, the absence is unexcused and the student is considered truant. After 3 consecutive days of truancy, 5 total days of truancy in a semester, and/or 7 total days of truancy in a school year, truancy will be filed with the Johnson County District Attorney's office.
Appointments:
A written note is required if it is necessary for a student to leave school before 3:45 p.m. This note should be presented to front office personnel before school to receive a permit to leave class. Students will report to the office to sign out before leaving school.
Another option is to call attendance personnel ahead of time with this information by using the attendance line 913-993-0412. If you opt to use the attendance line to request a student pick-up, please allow one hour for processing your request. If someone other than the parent is picking the student up for the appointment, parents must name this person in their note/call to the school and the driver must go through the school district’s ID check (currently Raptor).
Upon return to school, students must report immediately to the office to sign in and receive a pass to class.
Illness during the School Day:
Students who need to go home early due to illness must call home from the nurse’s office and check out from the nurse’s office. Students should not text their parents to simply come pick them up. All communication should come from the nurse’s office only.
Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up will have their driver’s license screened
through the district Raptor system or present their ID each time they pick-up their student.
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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 and/or disciplinary consequence(s).
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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Upcoming and Updated 8th Grade Field Trip Details
We are looking forward to our upcoming field trip to the Auschwitz Exhibit at Union Station on Thursday, March 3. Thank you to our PTA and all of the adult volunteers going with us who are making this opportunity possible. We are going to close the parent volunteer form and finalize groups this Tuesday, February 22.
If you were planning on volunteering and haven’t yet, please fill out this Volunteer Google Form with your information. We will reach out early next week with more details of your exact group and supervision time(s). 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 remaining opportunities to do your MVP training. The training takes a maximum of one hour:
- Friday, February 25 at 8:00 a.m. at Indian Hills
- Tuesday, March 1 at the CAA
We also wanted to inform all guardians that students will be viewing the Big Sonia Documentary that same day while at school. Here is a link to the information about this film. If you prefer your student not watch this documentary, please let your student’s ELA teacher know and an alternate activity will be provided.
Please reach out with any questions.
ELA 8 Team
Shannon Ferreyra, Laura Ballard, Kate Peper, & Jen Lehr
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CMH "Happy Kit" Donations for International Day of Happiness - 03/20/22
Our students would like to spread some happiness to our community by creating “Happy Kits” for Children’s Mercy Hospital during Knight Time. “Happy Kits” are bags of activities provided to patients and caregivers free of charge during their stay at Children’s Mercy. You can learn more about it here. We need your donations to make these kits possible! CMH is in need of Teen and Caregiver Happy Kits - the supplies are listed in the sign up.
Sign up for donations through this link:
- Donations can be dropped off in the front office by an adult or student from Wednesday, February 23rd - Thursday March 10th and Monday, March 21st from 8:05 AM -4:05 AM.
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Section 2: Still Relevant From Previous Weeks
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Career Day is Coming!
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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e-Read Access Through IHMS
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1-800-CHILDREN
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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:
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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.