We had a great first full week of school last week, despite the hot weather. Picture day and MacBook deployment were both a success and we are getting into the rhythm of the school year. We are looking forward to a great week this week, with our safety drill day taking place on Monday, and fall activities kicking off this week!

Thank you so much for your time. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the office if you have any questions or concerns. Let's have a great week and Go Bison!!!

Shawnee Mission North has been selected to take part in a pilot study for a new curriculum to assist with teaching our students the Cornerstone Standards. The curriculum we will pilot until October 31st is called Character Strong. Our students in grades 10th-12th will have opportunities for these lessons through BRICK times on Tuesday mornings already scheduled Advisory sessions. We invite you to read more details in this Introduction Letter, and reach out if you have additional questions. Surveys will be given to students, staff, and families in early November when the pilot is complete.

Student Council hasn’t stopped working over the summer! StuCo members collaborated ideas and learned amazing new leadership skills by attending the Stuco Vision Conference in St. Louis or the KSHSAA Student Council Workshop in Emporia. We are very excited to show our growth as leaders at North!

This Thursday (8/31) the annual StuCo retreat will be hosted at the CAA where student leaders will get a taste of what the year has to bring and prepare for upcoming events.

The Voter Registration Drive will be held on September 18th in the Learning Commons. More information will be announced at a later date!

We would like to provide the opportunity for families and students to nominate a staff member for Staff Member of the Week. Please use this form to nominate someone and we will try to honor as many nominations as we can!

Foster Street is NO PARKING zone for dismissal. Overland Park Police will be monitoring the area and parking tickets may be issued. Also, the coffee shop parking lot is reserved for their customers, please refrain from parking there for dismissal. There are several parking spaces to the East of the tennis courts to wait for your student with an easy exit out onto Johnson Drive. Please share these procedures with anyone picking up your student.

Officer Antoinette M. Covington, Badge #879

School Resource Officer at Shawnee Mission North High School

Desk Phone 913-993-6922

OPPD cell- 913-535-3260

• Dropoff/Pickup-

• Busses in East lot by stadium, FH, weight room side.

• Car riders in the front circle drive. Please help us keep an open lane for passing through to exit. Unlike elementary and middle schools that pack cars in tight and dismiss through the use of traffic directors, we ask that you stay alert and move along to assist with getting everyone safely out of the building and off campus right after school.

• Parking for students is in either the East or West lot, but not in the circle drive.

• Entry Procedures/Security-

• In the morning, the building will have select doors unlocked for students to enter the building.

• At 7:40am we move into “restricted access” where all exterior doors will be locked for entry and all students will need to enter through the main doors in the circle drive.

• Throughout the day, up until 2:40pm, we remain in restricted access and entry will need to be through the main doors.

• This includes visitors whether coming to pick up a student or attend a meeting- please use circle drive main doors.

• Opening exterior doors/propping doors-

• To help us best follow these safety guidelines we need all students to understand- No propped doors or opening doors for others. This is for safety. Please reiterate this at home for your students, even if we know the student, we will not open the doors for them and they need to go around to the main doors to keep our building secure.

Attendance Procedures and Expectations at Shawnee Mission North-

• School Day hours- Between the hours of 7:40am and 2:40pm students are expected to follow their class schedules in Skyward. Any time a student is in the hallways during designated class time they MUST have an appropriate pass and approval from an SMN staff member.

• Arrival-

• Mornings are busy. Please plan to have your student here with enough time to be in the classroom and be prepared when the beginning bell rings at 7:40am.

• The cafeteria serves breakfast until 7:30am. Please make timing arrangements so students can get breakfast and be in the classroom at 7:40am.

• If a student arrives at school 10 minutes or more after the bell, they need to stop by the attendance office so we can record their presence and email a pass for admittance to class. Show this pass to the classroom teacher.

• Throughout the day

• Lunch is in the middle of the day- 3 different times and will be dismissed from class with teacher direction.

• Outside lunch is a privilege that we reserve for upperclassmen. Those who do not have the proper forms approved by administration should NOT leave campus during lunch. Violation of this policy can result in disciplinary action.

• We ask that students returning from appointments or CAA/CTC enjoy their food purchased off site before returning to the school.

• If a parent/guardian needs to drop off an item for a student, items may be brought to the main office (reception desk).

• Food delivery services create a disruption to the learning environment and pose a potential security concern. A variety of doors have been utilized and most delivery service providers have been unfamiliar faces which are difficult to verify.
  
  

• We will not accept meals delivered by paid delivery services during the school day for students. These deliveries will be refused.

• Leaving Early

• We are committed to learning bell to bell. This is not just for individual class times throughout the day, but also at the end of the day. Please try to schedule appointments outside the school day and keep your students here up until 2:40.

• Dismissal

• For safety purposes: Unless connected to an activity, athletic, or event, students will be asked to leave campus by 3:15 p.m.

• Reporting Absences/Requesting Early Release-

• A parent or guardian can call the Attendance Hotline (913 993-6945) anytime day or night to report an absence, early release, tardy etc.

• Our attendance office requests at least 30 minutes notice for an early release due to class locations and communication availability.

• The Attendance Office has gone paperless. We no longer use paper passes to be admitted late to class or to leave early. We email passes to the student and the student then shows it to their teacher. We want to keep calls into the classroom to a minimum. If your student is expecting to leave early, please have them monitor their email.

Celebrate your senior's graduation with a Senior Ad in the 2024 yearbook.

The first deadline is Sept. 15

There are three due dates for ads, with prices increasing after each deadline.

After the first deadline on Sept. 16, the prices increase.

You will purchase your Senior Ad online.

To pay with a credit card and/or submit all your photos go to www.yearbookforever.com. Choose SM North. You can upload all of your photos and pay here.

After you send your Senior Ad in, you will receive a proof via email by Feb. 9. Not all will be done by then, but a majority will be. If you haven't seen yours by then, please call 913-993-7012 or email notate@smsd.org and check on the ad..

Thanks so much for supporting the Brickhouse yearbook. We look forward to designing your senior’s ad.

If you have any questions, please contact yearbook advisor Becky Tate at 913-993-7012 or at notate@smsd.org .

Please check out the Class of 2024 webpage: https://smnorth.smsd.org/students/graduation

We will be utilizing the same drop-off and pick-up procedures from last year to ensure student safety. Please read the guidelines below to assist us with safety:

Bus procedures

- Students that ride the bus will be dropped off on the east side of the building and will enter through the entrance closest to the weight room facility.

- At the end of the day, students that ride the bus will find their bus on the east side.

- Bus departure begins at 2:47, so it is very important for students to find their bus as quickly as possible at the end of the school day.

- Cars will not be able to get into or leave the school parking lot from 2:40-2:47 so we can ensure a safe departure of our busses.

Drop-off/Pick-up procedures

- Students who get rides to school in the morning can be dropped off at either the main entrance or on the east side of the building.

- At the end of the day, students need to be picked up near the main entrance of the school. Please avoid picking up students on the east side so we can ensure a safe bus departure at the end of the day.

Students who drive their own car

- Students can park in any available spot in the east or west parking lot. Students are prohibited from parking in the front circle.

- Students need to make sure they have a parking pass in order to park on school grounds.

This school year (2023-2024) the Shawnee Mission School District is once again utilizing the Panorama Social-Emotional Learning survey to assess student’s perseverance, grit, determination, school culture and student-teacher relationships. The Panorama Social-Emotional survey takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete and will be administered during the first semester. 9th and 10th graders will take the survey on October 17 and 11th and 12th graders will survey on October 24th. Parents/Guardians must consent for their student(s) to participate in the Panorama survey; this would have been done during the 23-24 registration process. Survey data will be reviewed at the district and classroom level to determine areas of strength, as well as areas where more instruction and/or support is needed. Once survey results are returned, parents/guardians are welcome to see and discuss the results with their students’ teachers, social workers, and counselors. Sample survey questions can be found here and here.

We encourage you to visit the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) website to learn more about how Social Emotional Learning benefits your child and their environment. All data is maintained by SMSD and will remain confidential. Please visit this site for more information about the Panorama SEL survey.

• The Parent/Teacher/Student Association (PTSA) and the All-School Booster Club are great ways for parents and guardians to get involved with our school!

• Join PTSA by clicking on this link!

• Join Booster Club by clicking on this link!

• All proceeds raised by both organizations directly benefit SMN students!

All "NEW" Bison gear (t-shirts, hoodies, hats & more!) will be available for purchase at the

Booster Club Spirit Wear Pop-Up Shop THIS WEEK on Tuesday 8/29 & Wednesday 8/30 from 11am-1pm in the cafeteria!

The SMN Booster Club online store is ALWAYS OPEN!

Click on the link or use the QR code below…

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

Volunteers are needed to assist with Spirit Wear Sales at the HOME Football Game on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st.

There are 2 shifts - 5:30-7pm and 7-8:30pm. This is a great way to meet other SMN Parents and students!

Click on the link to sign up!

Sell Spirit Wear at SMN Football Game

• The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is the governing body for a variety of student activities in the state of Kansas. Their website is www.kshsaa.org

• All forms that need to be completed for participation in a KSHSAA-sanctioned event at SMN can be found here.

• Please encourage your student to get involved in school activities and/or athletics! We have something for everyone at SMN!

• Please review our Student Handbook with your student

• Notify your student’s alpha administrator if you have any questions or concerns.

• Student last names A-G: Contact Dustin Jamison

• Student last names H-N: Contact Jon Durham

• Student last names O-Z: Contact Laura Brogdon

• Some of your students are in need of State of Kansas Required Immunizations.

• All who need them have been sent emails with a reminder of which immunization your student needs.

• Feel free to contact Nurse Kelly at 913-993-6916 or email at maryalicekelly@smsd.org

• Review DS Bus Company information and/or sign up for transportation service by clicking this link.

• Please note that eligibility for free bus transportation can be dictated by your home address.

Are you interested in working at the Brickhouse? SMN has a number of para-educator position still available. If you are interested, please apply online at www.smsd.org or contact Mr. Jamison for more information. 913-993-6900.

If you are interested in food services positions in the SMSD, please see the image below.

- The SMSD will host a Bilingual Back-to-School Community Event on Wednesday, September 6 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm at the CAA. All students and families are welcome! Flyer here.

College Now enrollment through Johnson County Community College is now open. College Now is the concurrent enrollment (or dual credit) program at Johnson County Community College. High school students who participate in the College Now program take high school courses that also bear college credit. According to the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), concurrent enrollment students gain exposure to the academic challenges of college while in their supportive high school environment.

If your student is interested in earning college credit through JCCC, please have your student apply to JCCC where they can earn college credit while attending SM North for the following classes.

AP Chemistry

AP Calc AB

AP Calc BC

AP Literature

AP Government

AP Stats

Spanish 4

AP Bio

AP Environmental Science

For more information, please visit https://www.jccc.edu/admissions/early-college/high-school-concurrent-enrollment/or contact Britt Sherer – BrittSherer@smsd.org

Enrollment deadline is September 15th, so enroll today!

YMCA: Part Time Youth Development Leader Positions Click here for more information

Freddys: Click here for more information

Montessori Asst. teacher

Fall sports schedule can be accessed through SMSD Calendar known as rSchool or sunflowerleague.org. It is continuously updated. There is also a Sunflower League Website that provides league standings and general information. We wish all of our fall sport athletes the best this week as they kick off their competition season.

The Shawnee Mission North All-Activities Booster Club invites you to visit our spirit wear booth at the north end of the stadium this Friday at our home football game versus SM South. We have a huge selection of NEW Bison gear available for purchase - t-shirts, hoodies, hats and more! The funds raised by the Booster Club go toward grants for student clubs, groups, and teams at Shawnee Mission North. We appreciate your support! GO BISON!!

We’re thankful for the Booster Club for providing Brickhouse Bound t-shirts for elementary students attending the games with their families. This week we welcome Merriam Park Elementary and Crestview Elementary.

All Sports Passes are now available for purchase! All ticket sales including the All Sports Pass are available digitally through GoFan!

All Sports Passes are ONLY available in the digital format. You will have access to your All Sports Pass through the GoFan platform throughout the entire school year. An All sports Pass admits one individual.

The Shawnee Mission North Bison All Sports Pass allows you to pre-purchase your admission to Shawnee Mission North regular season home athletic events. This convenient option can save you money and allow for quicker access by eliminating the need for cash at the entrance gates. The All Sports Passes are not valid for KSHSAA post-season events and regular season tournaments hosted by Shawnee Mission North High School &/or specific to Sunflower League events.

There are two different passes available:

(1) Individual Sports Pass: Admits one person with the cost being $70

(2) Family Sports Pass: Admits up to four people, no more than two adults - $170

To purchase an All Sports Pass please visit: Go Fan

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.

2023-24 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete is Now Available!

Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. The 2023-24 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete is now available for download! The guide is designed to assist your students with understanding the NCAA, NCAA Eligibility Center registration and academic requirements, and how you can help your student-athletes work toward their collegiate dreams. This booklet is a great resource to share with your student-athletes and their families! The PDF version is available via the High School Portal's Resources page or click here to download.

Back-to-School Reminders

1. Advise Students to Register. Encourage student-athletes wanting to study and compete at an NCAA school to register with the Eligibility Center at eligibility center.org. Students should plan to register before their freshman year of high school (or year nine of secondary school) with a free Profile Page account. Profile Page account registrants get an NCAA ID and important reminders from the Eligibility Center as they progress through high school. These accounts can be transitioned to a paid certification account at any time.

Any student planning to compete in NCAA Division I or II sports must create a certification account before going on official visits, signing a National Letter of Intent or receiving an athletics scholarship.

Non-English Resources: The Initial-Eligibility flier and Division III Amateurism flier have been translated into French, German, Portuguese and Spanish to assist international student-athletes, their families and others involved in the student-athlete’s future goals.

New! Eligibility Center YouTube Channel

The Eligibility Center is now on YouTube! Our channel includes helpful videos that walk your student-athletes through their questions. Subscribe to our channel so you'll be notified as we add new content for high school counselors in the coming months.

Heat and Hydration

Adequate hydration before, during and after physical activity is critical to the safe and healthy participation of your students. Intense exercise, hot and humid weather and dehydration can compromise a student-athlete’s performance and increase the risk of exertional heat injury. Click here for resources on how your student-athletes can assess their hydration status and maximize performance.

Sport Science Institute

The NCAA Sport Science Institute is a leader in providing health and safety resources to college athletes, coaches, athletics administrators and campus partners.