IHMS Weekly News
January 15 - 22, 2021
Upcoming IHMS Events:
01/14-01/22: Remote School Continues
01/18: MLK Day (No School)
01/22: Semester 1 Concludes
01/25: Teacher Work Day (No School)
01/26: Semester 2 learning begins
01/26: Group A Hybrid Learners - in person
01/27: Group B Hybrid Learners - in person
01/28: Group B Hybrid Learners - in person
01/29: Group A Hybrid Learners - in person
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Section 1: New This Week
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2021 Mail-In Bond Referendum in the SMSD
This bond proposal is designed to provide lasting facilities improvements across the district, and to strengthen student learning. View a video overview about the proposed bond here.
The goal is that the Shawnee Mission School District can continue to be ranked among the finest school districts in the nation, employing exceptional educators who work in state-of-the-art facilities, where learners achieve their full potential.
Thank you!
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Returning to Hybrid Learning - Important Information
Please pay special attention to the group A and B schedules the weeks of 1/25 and 2/15 as they deviate from the typical hybrid weekly schedule.
In addition, we want to reiterate the importance of daily Knight Time attendance during hybrid learning each day of the week (regardless of in person or remote). Please ensure that your student checks in daily with their Knight Time teacher on remote/virtual learning days (typically W/TR for A group and M/T for B group). On remote/virtual days, your student's check in with their Knight Time class at 8:45 a.m. This check in will serve as their attendance record for the entire day.
- If your student checks into Knight Time, they will be marked present for the day.
- If your student does not check into Knight Time, they will be marked absent for the entire day.
Regardless of the day (in person or remote), when you plan to be absent for a Board of Education approved absence, please continue to call our attendance line at (913) 993-0412 or email our attendance secretary, Debra Hohly at debrahohly@smsd.org.
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SMSD/IHMS Kindness Week: 01/26 - 01/29
January 26-29 is Kindness week in the Shawnee Mission School District. Each year, Indian Hills participates in this important week, and this year, we are having a Spirit Week!
Although things look different right now, kindness to one another and to ourselves is more important than ever. Please encourage your students to participate in our Kindness Week Spirit Wear Days, and please visit thegreatkindnesschallenge.com for more information on how to spread kindness in the community!
Spirit Week Schedule:
Tuesday 1/26: Group A *dreaming of kindness - pajama day*
Wednesday 1/27: Group B *dreaming of kindness - pajama day*
Thursday 1/28: Group B *team kindness - IH spirit or sports team day*
Friday 1/29: Group A *team kindness - IH spirit or sports team day*
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8th Grade Enrollment Information and Timeline
SME is looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2025!
Enrollment Timeline:
- Tuesday, Jan. 19: Enrollment resources will be available on the SME Enrollment Resources website. Click the “Class of 2025” button. Students and parents may begin reviewing these materials and discussing course options.
- Friday, Jan. 22: During their Knight Time class, students will review enrollment materials and learn how to complete and submit their Freshman Course Request Card online.
- Wednesday, January 27th: Completed Course Request Card must be submitted to Canvas by the end of the day. Note: Courses entered on the Course Request Card are not “locked in,” and may be changed when students meet with their SME counselor, but the form still needs to be completed fully and submitted on time to ensure the process works smoothly.
- Friday, January 29th: Students will meet individually with their SME Counselor via WebEx during their Social Studies class. Students will be able to ask questions, discuss options, and change their course choices during this meeting. For an optimal experience, students should ensure they have fully completed and submitted their Course Request Card no later than Jan. 27th.
SME is hoping to host incoming freshmen and their parents for an evening welcome event sometime later this semester. Information will be provided as soon as it’s available.
We understand this process can be complicated and that you may have questions! Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions on the SME Enrollment Resources website. It includes the process for contacting SME counseling staff if you have questions that aren’t addressed in the materials on the Enrollment Resources website. Thank you!
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Middle School Athletic Clinics: Overview
Middle schools in the Shawnee Mission School District will resume all athletics, except wrestling, during second semester, once the district has transitioned back to the hybrid learning model. Middle school athletics will not take place while in the remote learning model.
To help keep our students safe during this time, middle school sports will not be competitive, but instead, will run clinics focused on skill-building, rules and game strategy. There will be safety protocols in place in accordance with the Shawnee Mission Athletic Department, the Johnson County Health Department, and the Kansas State High School Activities Association to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. To see these protocols and guidelines, click here. An important part of these protocols involves maintaining cohorts, which means students will only participate in clinics on the days they attend school in-person.
If a child is a part of the remote-learning model, the days they will attend the clinics will be based on their last name.
Mondays & Tuesdays: Group A - Student last name begins with letters A-Lamb
Wednesdays & Thursdays: Group B - Student last name begins with letters Lamc - Z
Clinics will be held directly following the school day, running from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm. Transportation to and from clinics will not be provided. Any student who would like to participate in the clinics will need to have a current physical on file, along with the Concussion & Head Injury Release signed. These can be found HERE (Spanish). These forms can also be found on each middle school’s website under Activities & Athletics or picked up at your child’s school.
Tentative Athletic Timeline: (subject to change due to learning module change or revision to the 20-21 SMSD school calendar. Camps will be cancelled when IHMS is in a remote learning model.)
Boys Basketball :
February 1 - February 26
7th & 8th Grade
Girls Basketball:
March 1 - March 26
7th & 8th Grade
Volleyball:
March 29 - April 30
7th & 8th Grade Girls
Cross Country:
May 3 - May 28
7th & 8th Grade Boys & Girls
Wrestling:
Cancelled until the 21-22 School year
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Middle School Athletic Clinics: Logistics
Is your student interested in participating in a skill-focused athletic camp at Indian Hills Middle School? If so, click here to register.
FAQs:
Does my student need a physical to participate in the school athletic clinic?
- Yes. All participants need a physical completed by a physician on file that has also been verified by our nurse for proper completion.
- Verification will take up to 48 hours from the day the form is submitted.
- Click here for the electronic physical packet
- You have two Options:
- Email completed electronic copy/scan of the physical packet to Erinn Vogts @ ErinnVogts@smsd.org
- Submit the completed physical packet to IHMS.
- Submit between now and January 22nd to the sport clinic turn-in containers at the building front entrance vestibule
- Submit on or after January 26th to the sport clinic turn-in containers in the front office
- Yes. Since this is a sport-specific clinic that is focused on building the skills and game knowledge of the participants it does not conflict with any league rules or KSHSAA competition rules.
- Click here for more information.
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IHMS Meal Pickup Information
Meal pick up will continue every Friday from 6:30-7:45 a.m. at all schools. Food service provides free meals to students regardless if they are in remote, hybrid, or in-person learning. This includes breakfast and lunch meals. Meals provided cover the days the student is not in-person learning (including weekend meals).
We will be transitioning to a different pizza soon due to manufacturer challenges. The stuffed crust pizza that is a favorite of our students has been discontinued for the remainder of this school year. We will continue to have pizza on our menus. The new items will be added to SchoolCafé for nutrient and ingredient information. We appreciate your support and apologize for any inconvenience this will cause.
Free meals are offered to all SMSD students regardless if they are learning remote, hybrid or in person. This includes all breakfast and lunch meals. Meals are funded entirely by USDA. These free meals will continue through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. When students are in person, any extra a la carte purchases the students will need to have money on their food service account.
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Spring SMAC PTA Clothing Exchange Dates
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Section 2: Relevant From Previous Weeks
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Yearbook Purchase Due Date: January 22
This yearbook will truly be a one-of-a-kind keepsake of this school year - through a pandemic - that your child will want to show others throughout their lifetime. We will capture and ask for photos related to school and the lives of our students both within our building and wherever our Knights are learning and living. Payments for yearbook are completed through e-funds linked here. If you have any questions, contact Veronica Rodriguez through our school office phone number (913) 993-0400 or veronicarodriguez@smsd.org.
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Yearbook Ad Purchase Due Date: January 22
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Section 3: Mainstay News
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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 anxieties are high right now in our community. 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/ or in your student’s Knight Time course in Canvas, under the Student Services button.
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Mental Health Support Option
Parents and Guardians, if your student is in need of mental health support, and you are unable to pay, there may be relief available to you. Please visit the following link to see if you could qualify for assistance from COVID Cares Act relief funds through Johnson County Mental Health. https://jocogov.org/dept/mental-health/accessing-services/covid-19-relief-funds
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No More Snow Days?
In some extreme weather cases (causing power outages, etc.), school could still potentially be cancelled.
If your student is unable to attend remotely on a "snow day," normal daily attendance procedures apply.
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1-800-CHILDREN
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20-21 PTA Membership: Please Join Us!
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Library Book Checkouts Available to Students
Students can put physical books on hold through our library site. On the “Books & Stuff” → Destiny Discover page is a video on how to reserve a library book as well as check out our eBooks.
Once students have put a physical book on hold, it will be ready for them to pick up from a cart in the front office.
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Previous Editions of IHMS Weekly News
Return to Hybrid Learning Information
October 23-30 (Major Hybrid Learning Updates)
September 18 - 25 (Canvas pairing instructions)