Friday News and Events
Back-to-School edition - East Antioch Elementary
July 29, 2022
Mission: To create a community where all students feel safe, enabling them to be confident in gaining knowledge and skills to navigate the world around them
Vision: To make East Antioch a community where everyone feels welcome and students become responsible and productive citizens
Calendar of Events
AUGUST
8: Class lists available in Skyward
10: Back-to-school / Ice Cream Social Night 5:00-6:30 (casual come and go)
11: Grades 1-6 begin - Early dismissal @ 12:30
11: Kindergarten conferences (scheduled with teacher)
15: First day Kindergarten
15: Kinder and Kleenex for parents on kindergarten patio
SEPTEMBER
1:PTA meeting 6:00
2: No School-staff professional learning day
5: No School-Labor Day
22: Picture Day
Click here for the 2022-23 SMSD district calendar.
Back to School Night/ Ice Cream Social August 10, 2022
Classes Begin
Our normal school hours are 8:10-3:10. Students will be able to enter the building at 7:40 if they are eating breakfast or 7:50 if they are not eating.
Meet our mascot Perry the Panther!
Time to Complete Online Verification Forms
It is time to prepare for the next school year, which means we need all families to complete their child's back-to-school forms (Online Verification Forms). These are all done electronically through our online student management system known as "skyward".
Steps to fill out forms:
● Visit smsd.org.
● In the top navigation bar, click on “Skyward” and log in to your account.
- If you do not have a Family Access account, you may contact us a 993-3200 to assist you.
● Under “Home” you will see “2022-2023 Student Annual Online Verification.”
There will be directions that walk you through the entire process.
They include permission forms, a health history review, and a medication permission form. For those parents that also have middle and high school students, there is also an athletic packet. The process should take only about 5 minutes to complete.
Did You Forget Your Username/Password?
The Skyward Family Access parent account is based on the parent email address on file with the school. First, try using the “Forgot your Login/Password” to reset your password. This link is on the login page for Family Access. If that process is not successful, please contact the Elementary Services office to ensure your most current email address is on file.
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.
Student Fees
SMSD has been very fortunate over the last several years; we had the funds that enabled the district to cover the costs associated with student curriculum. Therefore, parents of elementary students in SMSD were not charged a textbook fee. However, with increasing costs of licensure for student curriculum and resources there is an Instructional Resource fee for K-12 students, which replaces the previous Textbook fee. This fee helps us offset the cost of textbooks, iPads, and curriculum, as well as licensure and subscriptions to the educational apps on student iPads. Elementary students will be charged $60; Secondary students will be charged $100. Fees have been assessed in skyward and can be paid online through eFunds (a $3 processing fee will be charged) or in the office by cash/check/optional credit card.
Free/Reduced Waiver
The board revised policy JS: Student Fees, Fines, and Charges on May 23rd. Fee waivers are based on Free/Reduced meal status and not KanCare. Parents are advised to complete their Free/Reduced application in SchoolCafe and their Consent for Disclosure form in Skyward’s Online Verification. Families should be made aware that it could take 2 weeks or more to process the application, consent form and reduce fees. See information below about how to complete this information.
Food Service Info
The meal prices of 2022-23 are:
Breakfast $1.55 Lunch $2.85
Families are encouraged to check their student's current food service account balance on School Café - https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION. Payments to a student’s food service account can be done by check or cash at the school, credit card online through eFunds ($3 fee) or by calling the Food Service office (no fee). Student account balances (positive or negative) do roll over to the next year – even if the student switches schools within the district.
Food Service will continue to follow the procedure of serving students a full breakfast or a full lunch regardless of the money they have in their account. During the 2022-23 school year, when a student’s account is low or in the negative, notifications will be made to parents. When an account is -$75.00, the parent/guardian will receive a notification that if the account is not paid it will be turned over to the collection agency. Students will not be permitted to purchase ala carte items if their account is negative.
Application Needed for Free or Reduced Meals
To receive FREE or REDUCED cost meals in the 2022-2023 school year, families will need to complete a meal benefit application.
The meal benefit application can be found on School Café. If you are unable to complete the application online, a paper application is available. Click here for more information.
Children may receive free or reduced price meals based on certain Medicaid benefits or if household income is within the limits on Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
Benefits of Applying
Applying and qualifying for free and reduced meals can benefit families and the Shawnee Mission School District in multiple ways:
Free or Reduced Meals
Students who qualify through a meal benefit application will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at a free or reduced cost this year.
State Funds for Schools
The application generates additional funds for schools. These funds support staffing and other resources to help student learning. If families do not complete the application, the district will not be able to receive state funding for which it is eligible.
Potential Fee Reductions
Qualifying for child nutrition meal benefits provides other benefits to eligible families, which may include free/reduced instructional resource fees, transportation fees, and Pre-k enrollment.
Families are encouraged to complete a Consent for Disclosure form in Skyward which gives SMSD Food Service permission to share a child’s eligibility status information with the programs families designate on the consent form.
If you do not have a Skyward Family Access account, you may contact your child’s school office after July 26 to inquire about setting up account access.
Important Information If You are Directly Certified
Do not complete the application if you are Directly Certified to receive free meals. If you receive state assistance and have not received a notification of eligibility, call the SMSD Food Service office before completing a meal program application.
- Families who are directly certified are encouraged to complete a Consent for Disclosure form in Skyward which gives SMSD Food Service permission to share a child’s eligibility status information with the programs families designate on the consent form.
PARENT/VISITOR IDENTIFICATION
It is necessary to have your ID to check your student(s) out if you are taking them for a doctor visit, etc. So to make it an easy start to your visit or to pick up your student get in the habit of bringing in your identification each time.
Many of you have already scanned your ID as you have visited; however we are finding that not all of those have been retained so please, even if we have scanned your ID we are asking that you bring it in just in case.
We appreciate your help as we build the information into this system. Thank you for your patience.
New Staff
Hey SM North Community - great opportunity to receive your school physical for all sports for the 2022-2023 school year! Join SMN PHYSICAL NIGHT on Tuesday, August 2 from 6:00-8:00pm
Important Info from Nurse
IMMUNIZATIONS
Please double check that your student’s immunizations are up to date. While the school district has been very lenient this current school year, we will be enforcing exclusions for students that have not submitted documentation of required vaccines. Immunization records can be emailed to the school nurse at any time. hollypoplion@smsd.org
6TH GRADE PARENTS
Tdap and Meningococcal are now REQUIRED vaccines for 7th grade. Students WILL NOT be allowed to start 7th grade without documentation that the student has received at least one dose of each of the required vaccines.
COVID VACCINES
COVID Vaccines are now available for anyone age 12 and up. JCDHE has walk in vaccines available as well as appointments. You can find details of the location and times of walk in clinics/appointment sign ups at this link.
https://jocovaccine.rsvpify.com/
Children’s Mercy is also having vaccine clinics for those 12-22 years of age. These are appointment only. You can get details about scheduling an appointment and clinic dates and times at this link. https://www.childrensmercy.org/health-and-safety-resources/information-about-covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-at-childrens-mercy/
Feel free to contact me with any questions!
Holly Poplion, RN
East Antioch Elementary Nurse
Phone: 913-993-3202
Fax: 913-993-1429
Absence and Tardy Policy
All of us at East Antioch care about the success of your child. It is our goal that your child is healthy and in the classroom learning every day. You can help by following these policies:
Absence and Tardy Policy: Please call the attendance line by 8:30am (913-993-3288) to report an absence/tardy. Please leave:
- Your child’s teacher name and grade
- Your child’s name
- The reason for the absence or tardy
A complete copy of the SMSD attendance policy, is on the East Antioch website in the Student Handbook under the Families tab. https://eastantioch.smsd.org
How to Join East Antioch PTA: https://eastantioch.memberhub.com/store scroll down to store items & choose your level of membership - individual, family, staff or other
First Meeting: September 1 at 6pm
Enrollment for the YMCA's Before and Afterschool program for the 202-2023 school year is now open!
Link for Shawnee Mission Y-Club enrollment.
Domonique Bell
Multi-Site Coordinator
YMCA of Greater Kansas City
Youth Development Services
YDS Business Team: 816-360-3390