The Cougar Connection
Weekly Update for Families - July 21, 2022
SMNW
Office Hours 7 AM - 3:30 PM
Email: colleenlauer@smsd.org
Website: https://smnorthwest.smsd.org/
Location: 12701 W 67th St Shawnee, KS
Phone: 9139937200
Twitter: @smnw_office
From Dr. Gruman
Dear Northwest Families,
We hope you have found some wonderful time as a family to enjoy a bit of summer. We are energized to start our new school year in August and are busy planning the opening activities for staff and students!
This issue includes the information about fee payment again, with the addition of some descriptors for certain fees. Please encourage your student to check their schedules in Skyward and review the section from our Student Services team below. There is also important information about the roll out of our new MacBook devices.
Our construction project to renovate our mall or commons area is in the final steps with finishing details. We are excited for our students and staff to have these new flexible spaces for learning. We look forward to hosting our families for various events and banquets in this beautiful space. We are so grateful for the support of our community to provide updated spaces for our students to collaborate and advanced their learning.
Our offices will re-open on Tuesday, July 26th. Please reach out as questions arise.
All the best,
Dr. Lisa Gruman
Adjusted Schedules
Monday, August 29 - Odd Block Day
No School Friday, September 2nd
Important Dates:
Fee Payment Dates:
July 27 2pm - 6 pm
July 28 8am - Noon
August 11 - Classes begin for 9th Grade
August 11 - Sports Physical Night
August 12 - All Students
August 12 - Freshman Mixer @ 6:30 pm
Breaking News
Log in to your "Skyward" account.
Under “Home” you will see “2022-2023 Student Annual Online Verification.”
Please try to complete these forms as soon as possible. It is a mandatory step necessary for student materials checkout. Students cannot be assigned a computer/device until the forms are complete. Follow the button below for more details.
Food Service
Families are encouraged to complete an application for free or reduced priced meals as part of the Online Verification. The link to the Child Nutrition Meal Program Application is available on Skyward or can be found on School Cafe.
For more information, follow the Back-To-School Forms button (above).
SMSD families can apply for Child Nutrition Meal Benefits on School Café - https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION
Additional food service information is available on the district’s website at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service.
Technology / MacBook Rollout
All student and parent Skyward verification forms must be completed in order to check out a MacBook. Students may complete their forms in the library during the check-out process.
MacBooks can be checked out from the SM Northwest Library on these dates:
Current SMSD Students - enrolled at Northwest this fall
Wednesday, July 27th from 1pm – 7pm
Thursday, July 28th from 7am – 12pm
Friday, August 5th from 1pm – 3:30pm
Students currently have their old MacBook for summer programs, please have them ready to check in when you come to exchange for the new device.
New to SMSD Students
Please sign up for an appointment as student accounts will need to be set up.
Tuesday, August 2nd from 2pm – 6pm.
FEE PAYMENT 2022 - 2023
Families currently have 4 options for paying fees:
1) Online - Online fee payment will be available starting July 25th.
2) Phone Payment - Call Kathleen Nicholson, bookkeeper, at 913-993-7210 for credit card payment over the phone.
3) Mail - Send payment along with registration form (attached to June newsletter)
4) In person - Fee Payment Sessions July 27th 2pm – 6pm or July 28th 8am – 12pmQuick overview of fees:
- Instructional Resource Fee - required fee that covers subscriptions for online textbooks and resources, as well as classroom sets of textbooks.
- Participation Fee - supports funding a variety of programs for our students: athletics and activities, the arts and performing arts, and so forth. This fee also covers admission to all home sporting events, so students attend home competitions for free.
- Additional descriptions of fees are available on the back of our fee payment form.
Paying Online with eFunds
2022 - 2023 Online Fee Payment will be available starting July 25
- Follow link www.smsd.org/families/pay-fees
New this year, fee waiver requests will be based on qualification for free or reduced lunch support. You may complete the application for lunch support after July 1 at the following link: https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION.
Free Lunch eligibility will waive 100% of the required Instructional Resource Fee and ID Fee. Reduced lunch eligibility will waive 50% of those required fees. When families are approved for free or reduced lunch, they will receive a letter. Please bring that letter with you to request your fee waiver and we will adjust your fees accordingly. You may also consent to share this information as part of the online verification process in Skyward. Our bookkeeper will be available extended times to assist families as needed: Tuesday July 26 from 1 - 4 pm and Friday July 29 from 8 - Noon. If you have specific questions or circumstances, please contact one of our administrators for assistance.
Yearbook Photo Dates
- Senior Photos: July 27 & 28 Information has been mailed. www.rollandkc.com
- Yearbook Photos: August 12 & 15
From Student Services
The counseling staff hopes that you’ve had an awesome summer break. Our staff is busy now spending their time working on schedules that are incomplete, as well as enrolling new students for the 2022-23 school year.
Schedules will be available to view in Skyward on July 25th. Please check your schedule for the following potential concerns and email or call your counselor if one of these issues are present in your schedule.
- an incomplete schedule or a hole in the schedule
- a pre-requisite course is missing
- a failed course that needs to be repeated
- seniors needing to fulfill a graduation requirement.
The schedule concerns above are our highest priority and are considered necessary changes. We are not able to take requests for optional schedule changes at this time as we need to ensure all initial requests are scheduled.
Academic Counselors
A - E Zach Cash zacharycash@smsd.org
F - K Barb Legate barbaralegate@smsd.org
L - Rn Katie Cole katherinecole@smsd.org
Ro - S Jessica Andrade jessicaandrade@smsd.org
T - Z Jordan Landis jordanlandis@smsd.org
College Adviser - Connor Davis connordavis@smsd.org
RWL - Erica Jablonski ericajablonski@smsd.org
Lisa Jones, counseling secretary 913.993.7230 lisajones@smsd.org
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call, text, or chat with 988 to immediately receive support for a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance crisis.
NW Social Counselors
A - L Tina Clark tinaclark@smsd.org
M - Z Melissa Osborn melissaosborn@smsd.org
School Psychologist - Jodee Moore jodeemoore@smsd.org
From the Nurse
DS Bus Lines
TRANSPORTATION
Now is the time to secure 2022-23 bus service for your NW students.
ALL general education students who plan to ride the bus are required to register with DS Bus Lines.
Students who live less than 2.5 miles from the school in their attendance area may pay to ride the bus in areas with established routes. The 2022-23 bus rate is $185.00 per student, per semester or $370.00 per student for the school year. Routes will be established annually based on interest and enrollment numbers. Routes will be built around those who have registered by July 22 for the 2022-23 school year.
Students who qualify for the Child Nutrition Meal Benefits – free and reduced priced meals may also qualify for free transportation and enroll to ride existing routes. To enroll, please contact DS Bus Lines and provide a copy of the Child Nutrition Meal Benefits Eligibility letter to complete the enrollment process.
To register or pay for busing visit DS Bus Lines website.
Sign up for Textcaster Alerts here to receive text messages when a bus is delayed more than 10 minutes. This is very convenient during times of bad weather.
Contact DS Bus Lines at 913-384-1190 with any questions.
Victoria Alvey - Athletic Secretary,
Dan Fletcher - Athletic Trainer
Sports Physicals
Fall Sports Physicals - Thursday, August 11 6 - 8pm
- Cost / $25 (cash or check to SMNW Athletics only)
- Enter through door #13 on SW corner / Follow Signs
- Pick up physical form in advance from NW Office or SMNWCougars.com / more/forms
- Bring parent signed form to physical night to turn in on site
- Questions? Contact Ms. Alvey 913.993.7400
Fall Sports Meeting - August 22nd @ 6:30pm
Attendance
Attendance Office 913.993.7242 (Partial Day)