Jaguar Journal
September 16, 2022
Here is your weekly update from the JUNGLE!
ALL SCHOOL NEWS
BVW PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Hello BVWest Parents!
Nurse Tammy Yeokum needs help during the Hearing and Vision Testing Day on Friday, October 28. Students in 9th and 11th grade (Freshmen and Juniors) are going to be tested all day. Our job will be to support Nurse Tammy with signing students in and out of testing, collecting their forms, crowd control in both the Vision Lab and the Hearing Test areas. Assignments are flexible to either testing area, you can just commit to a time slot. Especially appreciated are volunteers who can stay for both shifts. Thank you for signing up and supporting our students' wellbeing.
Hearing and Vision Test October 28 Sign-Up Link:
Homecoming Event: October 8, 2022
Calling BVWest Parents!
The 2022 Homecoming Dance is just around the corner! Come join us on Saturday, October 8, 2022 in the BVWest Aux Gym and get a sneak peek of the kids coming to the dance while you check the students' suit coat jackets, shoes, and handbags. Students show their entrance ticket to the BVW administration and then join the dance. Thank you for signing up and supporting a wonderful Homecoming Dance for our students.
HOCO Coat Check Sign-Up Link:
Update Student Macbooks
10-12th grade students need to update their Macbooks to Monterey operating system by October 7th. Students can access directions with the link below. We recommend students update at home so it will not disrupt learning during the school day. If your student has trouble updating, the student may sign up for an appointment with the building tech, Mr. Brown.
Click here to view all resources including how to update.
https://bluevalleyk12.libguides.com/bvw/monterey
Crimson Cats Fundraiser
Youth Court Info
Do you like to debate? Are you interested in a law career? Do you need community service hours? Johnson County Youth Court might be a good fit for you! What is youth court? Youth Court is a voluntary alternative to the formal juvenile justice system in which juvenile offenders are sentenced by their peers. The goal of Youth Court is to reduce the number of youth entering the court system by providing early intervention to youth who are truant or commit first time minor offenses. Youth volunteers participate in the roles of: prosecuting and defense attorneys, judges, jury members, and bailiffs. If that sounds like a fun thing to do, stop by the Police Office and talk to Officer Stock or Officer Young to get signed up!
Backsnack Program
High School Safety Message
Safety and security reminders for the 2022-23 school year
As we look forward to another school year, we know that safety and security is top of mind for students, staff and families. Making sure our school is as safe as possible during the school day is a responsibility we take seriously.
At BVW, and high schools across the district, we have a variety of measures and practices in place to foster a safe and secure learning environment. Three safety measures, while not new, are essential for students and families to understand this year:
1. Paid food delivery services: We do not accept food from paid delivery services during the school day. Food delivery services require a signature. Students leaving class to sign for food disrupts the learning environment and poses potential security concerns. Orders arriving from food delivery services will be refused. Students returning from appointments or CAPS/Career Ready Programs are encouraged to enjoy their food purchased off-site before returning to the school.
2. Learning experience: We know that most students learn best when they are engaging with their peers and teachers in the classroom. When students leave class for excessive amounts of time, this poses not only a safety concern but also the possibility of destructive behavior. We understand that students may need to occasionally miss short amounts of class time to take care of a health need, use the restroom, etc. However, we encourage students to utilize passing periods to take care of these needs when possible. If a teacher notices that a student is missing excessive class time, skips class or is found wandering the school, we will reach out to you.
3. Secured school building: After school starts, all students, families and visitors are asked to show an ID to be buzzed in through the secured front entrance. In order to keep our campus secure, we cannot have doors propped open for anyone during the school day. Students who violate this policy will receive a safety violation. Violations may lead to a series of disciplinary consequences which may include conversations with parents, suspensions and/or $25 tickets issued by Blue Valley SROs.
Thank you for supporting these measures so every student and staff member can feel safe and focus on learning each day when they come to West.
Welcome Back-Quarterly News
Welcome to the Blue Valley West 2022-2023 school year.
Please refer to the following link for Dr. Bonnema’s Quarterly News to prepare for a successful start!
Activities and Athletics Message
Blue Valley Families,
We are excited to have your families come to support our high school activities and athletics this school year. It is great to see the entire community at these events. It is imperative that our parent community partner with us as we work to encourage a positive atmosphere for our high school games or events.
Sportsmanship/officials: We want to give our student athletes the opportunity to play as many games as possible and we need officials to make those games happen. With a local and national shortage of officials, we want to make sure officials continue to choose to work Blue Valley events. The number one way we can create a welcoming environment is for spectators, coaches and student athletes to be courteous and respect the official’s decisions.
Tailgating: Tailgating before games has become a tradition for many students and families. We love to see our community gathering together to enjoy food and tailgate games in our parking lots. As a reminder, alcohol and tobacco are not allowed on district property including parking lots.
Thank you for your help in making our district events a great experience for all who attend. We hope to see your family cheering for our Blue Valley teams this school year.
Attendance Information
Every day BVW opens its doors to students for a day filled with learning. When a student does not arrive at school, or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to make sure you are aware that your child is absent.
Beginning August 18th, BVW will be notifying families of unexpected absences through email, phone, text and optional push notifications. BVW families can expect automated attendance messages by email, phone and text at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. if a student is absent and his/her absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to call the school to report an absence, report the absence online or reply to the automated email or phone message.
Reporting absences can be done by calling 913-239-3701 or by emailing attendancebvw@bluevalleyk12.org
Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. If a student has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance, then a push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device. Push notifications will continue throughout the day until the student’s absence is reported/excused, meaning a family could receive multiple push notifications as attendance is typically taken with each class period.
Interested in push notifications? Simply download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings and select attendance notifications through in-app settings.
Communications Matrix
Do you have a question or concern? We want to help.
If you have a question or concerns, we want to help! Many times by starting at the building level, you will work with the person who is closest to the situation and will usually have the most information. If you feel further discussion is warranted, the following chart can be used as a guide for whom to call when questions arise on the most common topics.
Fostering a Safe Environment
SENIOR NEWS
Senior Class T-Shirts
Don’t miss out on ordering your class t-shirt!
All seniors received this in their ELA classes this week. Forms and cash/check are due to Mrs. LeGrotte in room 366 by September 28th. Forms are located at Mrs. Kono’s desk in the Main Office.
Senior Yearbook Tribute Pages Now
Seniors and Senior Parents,
Now is your chance to reserve space for a tribute in the yearbook.
Last day to order and submit photos is Monday, Oct. 31.
Navigate to this web address to purchase your ad:
https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=40337
Time to Order Cap and Gown
Cap and Gowns are now available for purchase from Herff Jones here. Time flies when you’re having fun, so make your purchase early and keep a copy of your receipt for when the end-of-the-year busy season comes.
Senior Yearbook Photos-Last Chance Date!
October 6, 2022 is the last chance date for seniors to have their photos taken for the yearbook. Photo location will be in the Commons Faculty room. Please do not miss this opportunity. The yearbook will not be the same without you!
Class of 2023 Senior Year Events & Checklist
Click here to view deadlines, important information, upcoming events, and your to do list!
Counseling
Social Media Updates
The BVW Counseling Department is now on social media! Please follow us to stay up to date on important information.
Facebook - Blue Valley West Counseling (Links to an external site.) –
Instagram - @BVW_Counseling (Links to an external site.) -
Twitter - @BVWCounseling
FAFSA Event
Upcoming FAFSA Event!
FAFSA opens October 1st and Johnson County Library is offering two programs this fall on completing the FAFSA.
Step-by-Step through the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the federal application necessary to get free and low-cost money for college.
Join Jason Anderson, CFA, CFP, of Gradmetrics, as he walks line-by-line through the FAFSA form, using it to explain the ins-and-outs of the college admissions and financial aid process.
Tuesday, September 27th, 6:30-8 pm (Online via Zoom)
Tuesday, Oct 18th 6:30-8pm (at the Central Resource Library and online via Zoom)
Registration is required. Go to jocolibrary.org/events
Important Dates
Important Dates for 1st Semester to keep on your Radar!
September
· 9-7-22 BAKER Last Day to Enroll
· 9-16-22 College Now Last Day to Enroll
· 9-30-22 Class Level Change Deadline
October
· 10-12-22 Practice ACT/PSAT Test Day
· 10-21-22 Deadline to Withdraw from Class
· 10-26-22 AP Exams Sign Up Deadline
o (For Full Year or 1st Semester)
NEW THIS YEAR
December 7-9 Time for 2nd Semester Changes
NO CHANGES to the Schedule in Jan. 2023
Boys Basketball Informational Meeting
BVW Girls Golf Middle School Night
Any Pleasant ridge or Lakewood girl who is interested in the BVW Girls golf team please join us at Top Golf on Wednesday September 21st. Please fill out the attached Google Form. You can also contact Coach Anderson at aanderson@bluevalleyk12.org
PTO NEWS
Please consider joining our PTO - we have open positions and will be needing to fill many key leadership roles next year. Get involved now so you are poised to help us in future years!
Fall Program Ads
The fall activities and sports program is in the works. Parents of students participating in a Fall Sport or Activity can purchase an ad for printing in the FALL program to recognize your student and cheer them on.
Here is the direct link:
Volunteer: Homecoming Event: October 8, 2022
Hello BVWest Parents!
The 2022 Homecoming Dance is just around the corner! Come join us on Saturday, October 8, 2022 in the BVWest Aux Gym and get a sneak peek of the kids coming to the dance while you check the students' suit coat jackets, shoes, and handbags. Students show their entrance ticket to the BVW administration and then join the dance. Thank you for signing up and supporting a wonderful Homecoming Dance for our students.
HOCO Coat Check Sign-Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A49ADA92BAA8-hoco
Volunteer: Hearing and Vision Testing: October 28, 2022
Hello BVWest Parents!
Nurse Tammy Yeokum needs our help during the Hearing and Vision Test on Friday, October 28. Students in 9th and 11th grade (Freshmen and Juniors) are going to be tested all day. Our job will be to support Nurse Tammy with crowd control in both the Vision Lab and the Hearing Test area. Assignments are flexible to either testing area, you can just commit to a time slot. Especially appreciated are volunteers who can stay for both shifts. Thank you for signing up and supporting our students' wellbeing.
Hearing and Vision Test October 28 Sign-Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A49ADA92BAA8-hearing
Purchase a BVW Yard Sign for your student
Celebrate your student's sport, club or activity with a BVW Yard Sign! Check out the BVW PTO Website for all of the details to order!
Amazon Smiles
Donate to Blue Valley West High School PTO, at no cost to you! Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/48-1246215 (add Blue Valley West High School PTO as your charity) and AmazonSmile will donate to Blue Valley West High School PTO, at no cost to you. Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to Blue Valley West High School PTO —no fees, no extra cost.
Blue Valley West High School
Email: bluevalleywest@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: http://www.bluevalleyk12.org/BVW
Location: 16200 Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-239-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westjags