IHMS Weekly News
November 9-13, 2020
Upcoming IHMS Events:
11/9-10: Group A Hybrid Learning Days
11/11-12: Group B Hybrid Learning Days
11/12: Parent Teacher Conferences (via WebEx): 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
11/13: No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
11/13: Remote Parent Teacher Conferences (via WebEx): 8:00 a.m.-11:40 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Section 1: New This Week
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Looking Ahead - Q2
We know Q1 was tough. Tough for our students. Tough for our families. Tough for our teachers. At the middle level, Quarter 2 is a fresh start for all students. For some, it presents a great time to hit the "reset" button, and for others, it provides an opportunity to reflect on how to sustain the success they attained. Regardless of where your student falls on that continuum, remember to stay in communication with your teachers.
We will be working to design and deliver intentional school-to-home communication this quarter focused on growing our community understanding of Canvas, instructional and grading practices, and other important topics. Stay tuned!
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Congratulations Our PTA Reflections Award Winners!
Dance Choreography:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: #COVIDHAPPY by Claire Langford, 7th Grade
Film Production:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: GenZ by Aubrey Van Lerberg, 7th Grade
Literature:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: The Whispering Wind by Ava Ellenberg, 8th Grade
AWARD OF MERIT: Why You Matter by Kinzley Frey, 7th Grade
Music Composition:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Created by Ishya Bhavsar, 8th Grade
Photography:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Under the Surface by Ava Carroll, 7th Grade
AWARD OF MERIT: In Heaven by Lucy Stephens, 7th Grade
Visual Arts:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: I Matter Because I Have A Voice by Paige Bean, 7th Grade
AWARD OF MERIT: The Butterfly Effect by Mariam Sufi, 8th Grade
HONORARY MENTION: You Matter by Catherine Beltrame, 7th Grade
District Open House
All entries receiving the Award of Excellence will move on to the district level of competition. At the District level, the Virtual Open House event will be on Tuesday December 8 at 6pm, all school winners and the results of the SMAC district judging will be revealed on the SMAC website.
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Signing Up For Parent Teacher Conferences
Please view the attached Google Slides presentation that will walk you through every detail needed to select dates/times for conferences in Skyward. Since all parent teacher conferences are remote via WebEx this year, a separate document will be sent out next week detailing how to join a WebEx room (your student can help you with this as well 😃 )
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Student Quarantine Protocol and Attendance - In Person Learners Only
- Students on quarantine are expected to attend class via WebEx on their "in person" days and on Friday remote learning days.
- Attendance for each class hour will be taken and recorded as if the student was in person (even though they are on WebEx). This option is available only to students on mandatory quarantine.
- Students on "at home" days during quarantine still login via WebEx to Knight Time for their daily attendance.
- Students not present will be marked absent (unexcused).
- Parents still need to call in absences for students on quarantine who do not feel well or begin to present symptoms of COVID-19. If attendance is not called, absences will be marked unexcused.
In a mandatory quarantine situation, specifics for the quarantine protocol and any questions you have regarding the process will be answered in specific communication from the school.
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Panorama Survey Completion
Indian Hills students partook in the Panorama Social Emotional Survey during Knight Time on Thursday. We had a great response rate at over 80% but we still need your help in getting the rest of the surveys completed! If you can this weekend, please have your student check their panorama survey completion at the following link: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/ShawneeMission/login. Their login is their student ID.
Please be aware it is broken down into 2 surveys and both need to be complete. The window closes on Monday and we’d love to be as close to 100% completion as possible. Thanks for your assistance in this goal!
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Yearbook Ads - NEW!
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Section 2: Still Relevant
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Student Protocol When A Substitute Teacher Is Present
Although our teachers will be covering this with our students in detail, here are the brief highlights:
- Your student should login to BOTH WebEx AND Canvas EVERY class period.
- Daily subs do not have access to the teacher's WebEx classrooms. This is why it is important for students to check Canvas each hour as well - especially if they find themselves waiting in a WebEx lobby for an extended period of time.
- Canvas will house any updated directions for the day if a substitute teacher is teaching class that particular day. In cases such as this, an IHMS administrative staff member will post an important message for your student that will help them navigate to the appropriate WebEx space, assignment, asynchronous activity, or work-around.
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SMSD COVID-19 Dashboard and COVID-19 Information
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Picture Day Follow Up
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Sign Up for Jr. Board - An IHMS Club
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Section 3: Mainstay News
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Knight Time Attendance
- 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.
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Daily Dismissal from IHMS
- Bus riders will be released 5 minutes prior to the end bell each day (at 3:40 p.m.) by floor.
- Car riders will be dismissed to their respective exits by floor at 3:45 p.m.
- Please see the maps for arrival to review where students will be picked up. 8th graders will be picked up in the 63rd car loop. 7th graders will be picked up in the Delmar car loop.
- Bikers and walkers will be dismissed after bus and car riders. They are able to exit the building through any exit.
Social distancing, hallway rules, etc. will still be in effect during dismissal.
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Updated SMSD Food Service Information
Food Service welcomes every student to enjoy FREE & SAFE school meals.
FREE meals are offered to all SMSD students regardless if they are learning remote, hybrid, or in person. This includes breakfast and lunch meals. Meals are funded entirely by USDA as part of their Summer Meals Program extension. These free meals will continue through the end of the 2020-21 school year. We encourage families to continue to apply for free and reduced meals. Qualifying may allow for other support through the district.
Students will receive their in-person meals at no cost during the days they are in school. Any extra ala carte purchases the students make will require money to be on their food service account.
Remote meals pick up are on Fridays from 6:30-7:45 a.m. These new pick up times are effective on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. This time change is necessary in order to keep the students safe as we transition to in-person students on Fridays. We apologize if this is inconvenient and realize this isn’t ideal for some families. We remain committed to serving all students.
Meals are prepared with the utmost of care to ensure each child's safety. The Food Service department and employees take food safety and the health of all students and staff seriously. We continue to follow all health department food and COVID-19 guidelines including:
- All employees wear masks
- Gloves are worn and changed frequently
- Proper hand-washing followed
- Acrylic shields are used to ensure social distancing for the cashier and in food preparation areas
- High touch areas are disinfected regularly
- All side dishes are individually packaged
- Entrees are served to students upon request
- Disposable compostable trays, individually wrapped silverware and individual condiments are utilized
- Cashiers utilize software to charge elementary students and secondary students will use ID cards with scanners instead of pin pads
Please contact the Food Service office with questions at (913)993-9710 or foodservices@smsd.org.
The school breakfast & lunch menus, remote meal information and other nutrition information are available on the district’s website athttps://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service.
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Did You Buy Your Yearbook?
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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Please Pay Your School Fees!
Mandatory Fee Explanation:
Textbook Fee:
Although a physical copy of a textbook is not necessarily standard issue anymore, we do have contracted companies like Pearson, Big Ideas, and more that provide our online textbooks to our students. In addition, each student took home an English Language Arts consumable this year. This fee is mandatory.
Student ID Fee:
All students have a printed ID badge that will be given to them. This fee is mandatory.
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Where Do I Go To See My Actual Grade?
Check Canvas to view your student's grades, assignments, work, etc. It can be the one-stop-shop.
On the back end, because it is our official record keeping system, Skyward will eventually be synced correctly. However, that sync may only happen once per week or so. Therefore, please navigate to Canvas as your first step.
NOTE: There are currently a few scenarios where a teacher may not be able to work solely in Canvas until the beginning of quarter 2. If this is the case, your teacher will reach out to you in the near future.
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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
October 23-30 (Major Hybrid Learning Updates)
September 18 - 25 (Canvas pairing instructions)