IHMS Weekly News
January 27 - February 3, 2023
Upcoming IHMS Events
Monday, 1/30:
StuCo Meeting - 8:00
6th Graders Visit IH
Cheer Club - 3:45
Tuesday, 1/31:
Performance and AA Field Trip to East - 9:00
Wednesday, 2/1:
Jr. Board - 7:45 - Library
6th Graders Visit IH
Art Club / Board Game Club - 3:45
Boys Basketball vs IW @ IH - 5:00
Thursday, 2/2:
Late Start Thursday PLC (9:19 start time)
Chess Club - 3:45
Boys Basketball vs TR @ IH - 5:00
Friday, 2/3:
8th to 9th Enrollment w/East during Social Studies
Upcoming Events:
2/6: KELPA Reading/Listening
2/6: Cheer Club - 3:45
2/6: Boys Basketball @ WR - 5:00
2/7: KELPA Speaking/Writing
2/8: Jr. Board - 7:45 - Library
2/8: No Late Buses
2/8: Evening Spring Conferences 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
2/9: MOCSA Presentations through PE
2/9: Late Start Thursday (9:19 start)
2/9: Chess Club - 3:45
2/9: Boys Basketball vs HG @ IH - 5:00
2/13: StuCo Meeting - 8:00
2/13: Cheer Club - 3:45
2/15: Jr. Board Site Visits
2/15: Art Club / Board Game Club - 3:45
2/15: Boys Basketball @ TR - 5:00
2/16: Late Start Thursday (9:19 start)
2/16: Chess Club - 3:45
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Section 1: Important IHMS Information
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Spring Parent/Teacher Conference Preliminary Information - Signups Live Wednesday, February 1
- Spring conferences are only held one evening, February 8, 2023, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Our last hour of the evening will be team conference driven, so slots from 5:00 - 7:00 will be available.
- We realize that there may be more people wanting to engage in parent/teacher conferences than time allows on this evening, so please remember that you can reach out to our staff directly to set up a mutually agreed upon time outside of parent teacher conferences to discuss your student's progress.
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IHMS Spring Assessment Schedule
The 2022-23 assessment season is on the horizon. Click here to learn more about our second semester assessment schedule. Hopefully this information will help families plan for any future student appointments and/or student absences.
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7th to 8th Grade Enrollment Information
- Current- Students and parents view our IHMS Enrollment Website to peruse course selections. You can also utilize the SMSD middle school program planning guide to help you make informed decisions. Students' yellow enrollment form is in their possession. Please fill out the yellow enrollment form and turn it in to your Knight Time teacher.
- February 3- Students will enroll in Knight Time. This date has been pushed back due to multiple technical difficulties on January 27th.
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Updated 8th to 9th Grade Enrollment Information
8th graders have started the enrollment process for 2023-24!
SME counselors presented information and handed out enrollment materials in science classes on January 23rd. Mrs. Oliver has been reaching out to students who were absent to get them their materials. Please ask your student to sign up to see her if they do not yet have their enrollment card.
Next step: Learn more about course options at SME!
Please click on these links to view the:
Program Planning Guide and other curriculum information, including a comparison of honors/regular freshman courses,
SME Course videos and details, including the math sequence chart and elective descriptions, including PE courses.
Class of 2027 Frequently Asked Questions and much more.
Final step:
Counselors will be meeting individually with 8th graders to discuss their course choices and collect their completed Course Request cards during their social studies classes on Friday, February 3rd.
Please be sure your Course Request card is completely filled in, in all seven lines, both semesters, including three alternates, in pencil!
Thanks, and see you soon,
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Nursing and Wellness Information
Cold season!
Just a reminder - the nurse’s office does not keep cold medicine and nasal sprays in the office. If your student is needing them, please administer before school. If you would like your student to take them at school, you are welcome to supply them along with a Medication Permission Form.
General Wellness
We see a lot of headaches that need water,
Tummy aches that need a snack,
And tired kids that were up too late the night before.
Help your student be successful! Please encourage your students to get plenty of sleep, drink enough water and eat a filling breakfast. We have water bottle filling stations - have your student bring a bottle from home they can drink throughout the day.
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For Students: Pitch Great Ideas, Win Prize Money!
Shawnee Mission students have an exciting opportunity to turn their ideas into reality this spring!
The Next Great Idea competition gives students a chance to share their ideas for solving a problem, with an opportunity to win prize money to advance their idea. The Next Great Idea is a part of the district’s Research and Development Forum (R&D Forum), a districtwide celebration of student innovation and achievement.
Here are three steps students can take to prepare to enter the Next Great Idea Competition:
- Find out more at a Virtual Information Session Feb. 2
- Time, Date, Place: Webex, at 6 p.m. on February 2
- Who can enter: Any interested student, grades K-12
- What: Learn more about the process.
How to join: A link to the informational session can be found here.
- Sign up for the Contest
How to apply: Application information can be found on the R&D webpage.The deadline to apply for the pitch competition is Friday, March 3, 2023. Optional practice sessions with industry mentors will be available for students who apply to compete.
About the contest: Applicants chosen as finalists will pitch their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges during the morning of April 29, 2023, at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st Street. The pitch competition will be live-streamed so friends and family can participate as well. Top awards are $2,500, of which $1,000 is a cash award to be used by the winner to pursue their passion and education and up to $1,500 will be awarded as "build it" grants to support making the winner's pitch a reality. A People's Choice category, determined by public voters, will be awarded a $500 prize. There will also be an Idea of Promise award with a prize of $500.
More about the R&D Forum:
Student Showcase:
The R&D Forum student showcase, with display-only and competitive exhibits, will be held in April 2023. Students, families, and staff members are encouraged to enter student-created projects, experiments, or art projects to share in this district-wide event. All submissions must be registered and information on how to register can be found online. The deadline to register for the showcase is Friday, March 24, 2023.
The SMSD community is invited to take part in this year’s 61st R&D Forum by attending the following events at the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA), 8200 W. 71st Street.
SHOWCASE OPEN HOUSE RECEPTIONS
- April 25, 2023: 4 - 7 pm
- April 26, 2023: 4 - 7 pm
- April 27, 2023: 4 - 7 pm
Entries will be on display at CAA, with a reception for all entrants and families.
NEXT GREAT IDEA LIVE PITCH
April 29, 2023:
- Morning - Finalists will present their Next Great Idea to a panel of judges. Public voting will follow the presentations.
- Afternoon - Awards ceremony for Showcase Entries, Regnier Award winners, and the Next Great Idea Pitch Competition award winners
About the R&D Forum
The Shawnee Mission Research and Development Forum celebrates its 61st year in 2023. It is one of the SMSD’s biggest student project showcases of the year!
Sincere appreciation is extended to the Regnier Family for 61 years of generous support for the SMSD R&D Forum.
Click here for more information and contacts if you have additional questions.