North Notes
Blue Valley North's Parent Newsletter - March 24, 2023
In this Newsletter …
- A Letter from Your Principal
- BVSD Drug & Alcohol Prevention Event - 4/4
- Mark Your Calendar
- Bell Schedules
- Football Team Mulch Fundraiser - deadline 3/24
- Kudos and Celebrations
Counseling Updates
Kansas Education Enrichment Program
Summer Programs
Prom Info & Tickets - 4/15
Senior Info ~ Class of 2023
- North Stars Dance Team Tryout Info
Student Announcements
Athletic Announcements
Medical Messages
Parent Announcements
Durham Bus Information
A Letter from Your Principal
Mustang Community,
I want to thank our staff, students, and families for supporting one another during this first week of 4th Quarter. As communicated earlier this week, thank you to those who reached out to report threats on social media. I want to say how much I appreciate local law enforcement and our community for their support throughout this week. This situation is a necessary reminder on how important it is that we continue to work with our kids about the impact of social media and the ramifications of how we treat one another virtually. It is vital that our school community takes a stand against cyberbullying and the way our young people treat each other with respect whether it is here at North or via social media. This is work that I take seriously and will take measures to increase our education as it relates to social media and cyberbullying.
In the weeks ahead, our students will engage in activities and assemblies celebrating our school diversity and will be engaged with the SevenDays Kindness campaign. SevenDays is a local organization that was formed as a result of the tragic shooting at the Jewish Community Center nine years ago. Our students will be promoting Kindness, Respect, and Wellness in order to strengthen how we can develop a more positive school culture. As it pertains to bullying, we will engage in ongoing work to define expectations on how we treat one another and consequences for failing to meet those expectations. We will continue to promote the directive of “See Something, Say Something” and providing information to administration on any bullying issues that occur. Please also be aware of our Safe Schools Reporting link that can be filled out anonymously. We take every report seriously and address it with the information we receive.
Thank you again to our entire Mustang community and we are looking forward to a great last quarter of the school year!
BVSD Drug and Alcohol Prevention Event - April 4, 6:00 p.m.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming All School Events
All BVN events, activities, sporting events and additional calendar adjustments are found on the EKL calendar: www.easternkansasleague.org .
Click here for the 2022-23 Blue Valley School District Calendar.
March 24 - Schedule Change/Friday Odd Day
April 24 - No School/Professional Learning for Teachers
April 28 - Schedule Change/Friday Odd Day
May 24-26: High school finals; specific schedules TBAMay 26: Last Day of School for students and staff (half-day students / PM grade prep)
Blue Valley North Bell Schedules
Football Team Fundraiser - Last day to order is Friday, 3/24
Kudos and Celebrations
Blue Valley North Girls' Basketball Head Coach, Ann Fritz, wins her 4th state title when the Mustangs defeated Washburn Rural 35-34 at Koch Arena, Wichita State University on March 11, 2023. Congrats to our girls, coaches and Mustang fans! Read about this incredible win here: KSHSAA .
Boys' Basketball Team 4th at State Championships (new)
Congratulations to our Boys' Basketball Team who finished 4th in the state tournament. They had a tough 66-67 loss in overtime to Derby. We are proud of our boys for such an amazing season. A huge thanks to our 8 seniors for their leadership and commitment. You set the standard for future Mustangs.
2023 Princeton Prize in Race Relations (new)
Congratulations to Karen Kim, BVN Junior, who was honored with a Certificate of Accomplishment. The Princeton Prize in Race Relations recognizes and rewards high school students who have had a significant positive effect on race relations in their schools or communities through their volunteer efforts. This recognition was founded in the fall of 2003. Founder Henry Von Kohorn '66 recognized the need to support and encourage young high school students committed to fostering positive race relations within their communities. Henry's vision was founded on the notion that early encouragement, reward and support for these students would motivate them to continue this critical work in college and beyond. Further, that these students would create a virtuous cycle that would continue to foster positive race relations well beyond the scope of their initial projects.
Officer Tony Latas and Sean Birdsong, BVN staff members, took these great students on a field trip this week to the Interurban Arthouse in downtown Overland Park. They toured the facility and listened to a presentation by a staff member. InterUrban ArtHouse's programs have been developed to serve needs identified through their research and community outreach. They continually develop innovative programs through community, art, and civic partnerships which include ArtMatters, ArtWorks, ArtsConnect, ArtSmart and ArtHeals. For more information, visit: InterUrbanArtHouse .
Counseling, Academics & Testing
- Virtual summer school registration is open. Families may register through Parentvue and instructions can be found here - https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/summerprograms. For non-credit recovery classes (classes taken for the first time) the deadline to register is April 3rd at 4:00 p.m.
- Test scores from the October testing day were distributed during lunch before winter break. Those who didn’t pick up received their scores in advisory within the last few weeks. In addition, any student who also wants their test booklet may pick it up in Student Services before the end of the school year in May.
- Seniors needing mid-year transcripts for their colleges: pick up request form in Student Services
- Seniors should be sure to check regularly for new scholarships on Naviance -> College tab -> Scholarship Search.
- Senior college and career planning information - Counseling Canvas page/Senior College Planning
- Junior college and career planning information - Counseling Canvas Page/Junior College and Career Planning.
- Sophomore recommended Naviance tasks - https://bvusd.instructure.com/courses/76177/pages/naviance-10th-grade
- Freshmen 4 year academic plan information - Freshmen Four Year Academic Planning
- Check out School year and Summer Opportunities - Opportunities
- Visit the Counseling Virtual Calming Room
- Visit the Counseling Home Page to find additional resources or contact information for Counselors and other Student Services staff.
BVN Updated Schedule Repair Process -- 2023-2024
As you know, student course selection/enrollment for next school year has occurred at BVN, and we wanted to share a significant change with you for next year as a result of new district guidelines. We are sharing this with you now so that students prioritize the enrollment process they are going through, and carefully select their courses and alternates for the next school year.
Beginning in August for the 23-24 academic school year, per new district guidelines, Blue Valley North students will be able to make schedule “repairs” during the first three days of the Fall Semester if they meet the following conditions:
- The student completed a full schedule of course requests along with four alternates AND
- The student was placed into a class not listed on their original enrollment sheet
If the student's circumstance meets the above criteria, the student should reach out to their counselor during the scheduled repair window at the beginning of the semester.
Why change?
- We understand this is a shift from previous “schedule change” practices. However, the stability of the first week of school is essential to student success throughout the semester.
- The first phase of this transition began in December when the schedule change window was limited to 3 days before the semester started. This shift was overwhelmingly successful and allowed teachers and students to concentrate on learning on the first school day of the semester on January 4th. Counselors could also work with students on new enrollments and other student needs.
- Additionally, each school’s Master Schedule is built upon the numbers generated during our spring enrollment period. When significant changes are made in August, classes can become imbalanced, which may result in larger class sizes for your student.
Our continued commitment…
Each high school faculty has heavily invested in the enrollment process, ensuring that our students make informed decisions about their 23-24 schedule. Counselors have met with all students to check that the classes they selected satisfy the student’s graduation credits and fall in line with their post-secondary college and career goals.
Seniors--Info for Class of 2023
Put Saturday, May 20 on your calendars! Graduation for the Class of 2023 will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the District Activity Center (DAC) at 135th & Switzer.
**If you or a guest plan to attend class day or graduation and need an ASL interpreter, please email lkmiller@bluevalleyk12.org by April 3. Please note that graduation will be livestreamed with live captioning.
Parents should also plan to attend Class Day at BVN on Friday, May 19, time TBA. Watch your email for this announcement coming soon.
NOTE--Gowns for the Class of 2023 are NOT the same as previous years, so an older sibling's gown cannot be used this year. If you need to order cap & gown, go to www.Jostens.com. or click here: ORDER HERE.
If your student knows they are not planning to participate in the ceremonies, there is no need to purchase the cap & gown--please have your student notify lkmiller@bluevalleyk12.org .
Project Graduation (PG) will return this year for the Class of 2023! PG is a long-standing tradition that provides a safe, alcohol and drug free environment following commencement for the entire Senior class. PG is NOT a school sponsored event but typically over 90% of seniors attend. May 20th, after the commencement ceremony, from 8PM- midnight at Chicken N Pickle (135th & Lamar)--ticket sales link is coming soon!
There will be pickleball, casino games, food, DJ, photobooth, awesome prizes and much more! Parents, get more info on our “BVN Class of 2023 Project Graduation” Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/5rZPKDjpK Want to help? Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094AAEAB22A3FFCF8-project
- Our diplomas have been ordered so that we have them in time for May graduation. If you did not complete the diploma form prior to our order, we used the name as written in ParentVue/StudentVue, confirmed by birth certificate on file.
- If you have not done so already, please click on the link and complete the Senior Transcript Form as soon as possible. This form authorizes the release of senior transcripts for college applications. Click here: Diploma/Transcript Authorization.
****
For the most up-to-date info,
please bookmark our SENIOR INFO page!
Questions? email Mrs. Miller at lkmiller@bluevalleyk12.org
Student Announcements
FCA Meetings
FCA meets on Wednesday mornings from 7:00 - 7:30 a.m. in the Little Theatre. Come for fellowship and fun! If you have questions, please email BVN teacher, Jason Jones at JJones05@bluevalleyk12.org .
Athletic Announcements
BVN Athletics' Questions?
Please contact Stevie Gibson, BVN Athletics Administrative Assistant, at (913) 239-3011 or SGibson@abluevalleykk12.org .
Medical Messages
Did your student forget to take a daily morning medication before leaving for school?
If your student ever forgets to take a daily morning medication before coming to school, the parent may bring the medication to the school’s front office and the parent may dispense and give the student the medication. If the nurse is to give the medication it must be in the original prescription pill bottle accompanied by the signed physician’s medical order.
https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/cms/lib/ks02212623/Centricity/Domain/4486/Medication-Authorization.pdf .
Immunization News
Graduating 12th grade Parents: All graduating 12th graders will receive a complete copy of their immunization profile that was on file with the school. This document is very vital to hang onto. It is recommended that this immunization profile is kept with important documents such as social security cards and birth certificates.
Attention Rising 11th grade parents: all 16-year-old students in 11th grade for the 2023-24 school year are required to have their updated booster of MCV4 meningococcal immunization before the start of the school year on August 16, 2023. Please E-mail any updates to your student’s immunization record to Nurse Collichio at ajcollichio@bluevalleyk12.org. Students who are not compliant will be excluded from school starting August 16, 2023.
Disease and Symptom Exclusion Recommendations/Regulations 2023
If your student has a fever with or without symptoms, they must be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medication (Blue Valley nursing standard is fever =100 °F or above.) before returning to school. If your student has diarrhea/vomiting/rash they must be symptom-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication before returning to school. Thank you for keeping your student and our school healthy.
Need to speak with the nurse?
If you need to speak with the nurse, please e-mail ajcollichio@bluevalleyk12.org to set up an appointment.
Parent Announcements
Student Support After School Program
Officer Tony Latas, BVN Student Resource Officer, and Sean Birdsong, BVN Student Support Liaison, are running a Student Support After School program. This program is Monday and Wednesday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in room 602. This time is for students who are routinely waiting a few hours for rides after school, having any failing grades, and/or missing assignments that need to be completed.
This is also a good opportunity for students needing community service hours. If your student is interested in volunteering or you have questions, have your student see Officer Latas, Mr. Birdsong or any BVN Administrator. Thank you!
Safe Schools Reporting
Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all of our schools. Through the convergence of physical and intellectual security measures, we are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of emergencies. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.
ParentVUE URL updated -- Action Needed
Over the summer the URL for ParentVUE changed. Click here for the new URL: ParentVUE
Parents will need to have the new URL or they won’t be able to login to ParentVUE or request a password reset. The Blue Valley School District website and the BVN website have both been updated with the new URL so the parents can access the link from Parent>ParentVUE.
In addition, this also impacts the ParentVUE app. Parents will need to update their device to the correct link.
Student Digital ID Cards
Students have a digital student ID card on their phones. If you paid for a Student Activity Pass, it should say that on the ID and students will show this to get into games. They can save their ID on their home page on an iPhone, or it can be saved as a favorite page on an android phone. If students were absent on Picture Day or if they have any trouble loading the ID, they can come to Student Services for help.
Family Activity Passes
All Family Activity Passes and Adult Individual Passes have been distributed. If you purchase a pass after September 13, you need to contact Lori Freeman, BVN Bookkeeper, to obtain your cards.
Are you moving? Have you moved?
Please contact the BVN Registrar, Suzy Doherty, by email at sdoherty@bluevalleyk12.org .
Durham Bus Riders
Durham will continue to transport our bus riders in the 2022-23 school year. If you have questions, please call Durham at 913-681-2492 or contact them via email at admin6700@durhamschoolservices.com.
We are Mustang Proud!
North Notes is a newsletter for the parents and students of Blue Valley North High School. If you have questions, please contact Janet Roush, Assistant to the Principal, at JRoush@bluevalleyk12.org .
Office Hours are Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Blue Valley North High School
BVN Twitter:
@MustangsBvn
@BVNOstroski
@TheKurle
@BVNCounseling
@MustangsOfBVN
@bvnnews
@BVNMustangsPBC
BVN Instagram:
@bvnmustangs
Email: Jroush@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/BVN/
Location: 12200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, 66209
Phone: (913) 239-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/BVNMustangs/
Twitter: @bvnnews