IHMS Weekly News
December 10 - 17, 2021
Upcoming IHMS Events
Monday, 12/13:
Merry Mistletoes (wear favorite holiday socks)
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Cheer Club
4:00 8th Grade Musical Auditions
7:00 Band Concert
Tuesday, 12/14:
Mad About Plaid (wear fun patterns)
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Cheer Club
3:50 Jazz Band
4:00 7th Grade Musical Auditions
4:30 Choir to Crown Center
7:00 Orchestra Concert
Wednesday, 12/15:
Happy Holiday Hair (hats, bows, crazy hair)
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Board Game Club
3:50 Cheer Club
3:50 Multicultural Club
3:50 Boys Basketball Try-Outs Begin
4:00 Musical Dance Auditions
5:30 Girls Basketball Tournament @ SMW
Thursday, 12/16:
Long Winter’s Nap (wear pajamas)
7:45 Junior Board in IHMS Library
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Art Club
3:50 Chess Club
3:50 Nancy Drew Club
3:50 Jazz Band
4:00 Musical Callbacks
5:30 Girls Basketball Tournament @ SMW
Friday, 12/17:
Tacky Holiday Attire (find your most obnoxious holiday outfit)
8:45 IH Math Team Practice/Meet during Knight Time
Upcoming Events:
12/20: Run Run Rudolph (wear athletic wear)
12/21: Plaza Lights (pick any holiday attire)
12/21: 1:45 p.m. Early Dismissal/Teacher Workday - End of Qtr 2
12/21: No Late Bus
12/22: Winter Break Begins
01/03: No School / Teacher Work Day
01/04: No School / Staff Professional Learning and Development
01/05: School Resumes / Start of Qtr 3
01/06: Grades Posted in Skyward
01/11: Battle of the Books during KT
01/12: Final Battle of the Books @ HG
01/12: Boys Basketball @ IH vs WR
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Section 1: New and Important at IHMS
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Winter Send-off Spirit Week is This Week!
Student and Staff Spirit Days:
Monday, Dec. 13 - merry mistletoes (wear favorite holiday socks)
Tuesday, Dec.14 - mad about plaid (wear fun patterns)
Wednesday, Dec.15 - happy holiday hair (hats, bows, crazy hair)
Thursday, Dec. 16 - long winter’s nap (wear pajamas)
Friday, Dec. 17 - tacky holiday attire (find your most obnoxious holiday outfit)
Monday, Dec. 20 - run run Rudolph (wear athletic wear)
Tuesday, Dec. 21 - plaza lights (pick any holiday attire)
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IMPORTANT: Second Semester Mask and Mitigation Changes + Vaccination/Quarantine Reminders
As we move into this next phase of mitigation, our district and school goal remains: keep students in school. In order to do this successfully, please remember a few things:
- Unvaccinated students should still plan to mask even if masks are optional. You will not be asked about vaccination status (except by our nursing staff when exposure has occurred) so it is important that your family takes individual responsibility as we have a number of students who either are a) immune-compromised or b) the vaccination is ineffective because of an underlying condition.
- Unvaccinated students are subject to quarantine measures that are more restrictive than that of vaccinated students. Although quarantine guidance changes often (and will likely continue to change), the current guidance indicates that students who are vaccinated but exposed to COVID-19 will still be able to attend school unless symptomatic. This is different from the mandatory quarantine for unvaccinated students.
- Students in quarantine will be out and coded as ill for the duration of their quarantine. No remote instruction will take place for students on quarantine, but students and parents can access their work on Canvas and/or communicate with their teacher.
- The same mitigating measures in place for students will also apply to staff members.
- If your student is quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure, we understand that this can be a major inconvenience, but please keep in mind we will always follow the current quarantine/mitigation guidance.
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Mindfulness can empower us. Which wolf are you feeding?
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Our Inaugural IHMS Career Day - March 9. Professionals Wanted!
Parents, our inaugural IHMS Career Day is coming up on March 9! We are looking for individuals whose professional experiences may help to inspire our students as they consider their future possibilities. We hope to have many volunteer presenters who represent a variety of career pathways. Would you consider joining us as a presenter for one or two sessions? Could you also share this opportunity with colleagues and friends? If you would like to learn more, please share your contact information with our College and Career Readiness Action Team here:
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Section 2: Still Relevant From Previous Weeks
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Reminder Regarding Outside Food During Lunch
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IHMS Holiday Assistance and Giving Opportunities
Holiday greetings IHMS Families!
We join you in looking forward to a season that represents joy and peace for our community. We also want to recognize that this season can be stressful as there are additional demands on our time and finances. Here at Indian Hills, we maintain a strong tradition of helping those that are in need.
First, we at Indian Hills, would like to extend an offer of help if your family needs assistance with purchasing gifts or groceries. Please reply to this email and we will work to take some of the financial stress out of your holiday. The only people that will know the names of families or any specifics will be our student services and administrative teams. We will hold this information in the strictest confidence.
Second, Johnson County Christmas Bureau is offering assistance through their annual Holiday Shop. The JCCB Holiday Shop is available by appointment only to shop for food and gifts. Please apply online at www.jccb.org/apply2021. If you need help applying, please call them at 913-229-5885.
If you are not in need, but would like to donate directly to IHMS families in need, our PTA has set up an easy online giving option: https://form.jotform.com/211087682863160
You can also donate by cash or check by contacting our school book keeper, Veronica Rodriguez, at veronicarodriguez@smsd.org.
Sincerely,
Mr. Laird
Mrs. Mahoney
Mrs. Nelson
Mrs. Oliver
Mr. Revelle
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Holiday Teacher Appreciation From PTA
Season’s Greetings IHMS Parents!
We need your help in spreading some holiday joy and appreciation to our teachers and staff.
Please check out the Sign Up Genius link below—we’re asking for $10 Gift cards for teachers and staff.
Sign Up Genius link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050e45abae28a31-ihms
There is a collection box in the Indian Hills front office. Please drop off your donation by Thursday, December 16th! We wish you and your family a joyous holiday season! We truly appreciate your support!
Go Knights!
IHMS PTA Board
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Musical Audition Information
Calling all actors and actresses! We are so excited to announce that this year’s musical will be The Addams Family! Hard copies of our audition packet can be picked up outside room 26. PLEASE NOTE: We have updated the link to our canvas page to make it easier for students to sign up. Use the link below and see the audition packet for more information. Please reach out to Miss Opheim with any questions: francesopheim@smsd.org
MUSICAL AUDITIONS CANVAS LINK: https://smsd.instructure.com/enroll/NT7CC9
Audition Packet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pidvaiOBEDMJeodFZ9_1Fv8D3nuEAob5/view?usp=sharing
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What are "Shillings?"
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Section 3: SME Area News and Events
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SME Little Lancers Basketball Cheer Camp
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Section 4: District Area News and Events
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Student Vaccination Information and Locations
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) - Mission Clinic Location:
An appointment is required to get a COVID-19 vaccine at JCDHE’s clinic, which is in Mission. Schedule an appointment or call 913-715-2819. Phones are answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please arrive NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES prior to your appointment time.
Northeast Office Building, 6000 Lamar Ave., Suite 140, Mission, KS 66202
Additional Local Clinics, Health Systems, and Pharmacies offering the vaccine may be located at the following link provided by JCDHE:
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Section 5: Mainstay News
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9/21 Parent Engagement Evening Resources
For those parents/guardians that were unable to make our family engagement night on September 21, 2021, we have populated the information from the evening in presentation format.
Please check out the very important information covered that evening by following this link.
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Parent/Spectator Mask Guidance
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Athletic Physical Reminders:
All athletic paperwork complete with a completion checklist can be found on our IHMS Athletic page. Please allow 48 school hours for the processing of athletic paperwork. You will receive a confirmation email when your athlete’s paperwork has been approved or an email outlining any missing information.
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COVID and the Health and Safety of Your Athlete:
Athletes who test positive for COVID or are presumed positive will need to follow the outlined Kansas State High School Athletics Association protocol in order to return to play.
For more information, visit:
https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/pdf/ReturntoparticipationguidelinesFall2021.pdf
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21-22 PTA Membership: Please Join Us!
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Academic Learning Lab (A.L.L.) Now Monday-Thursday!
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After-school Activity Busing Now Monday-Thursday
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Macbook Troubleshooting Tips
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IHMS Website Reminder
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Give us a Follow
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IHMS Peace Corner
The IHMS Student Services team has created a virtual calming room (click link) for students, staff and families to access in times of need.
We know that stress and anxiety can be high at times. This IHMS Peace Corner has videos and activities to help manage stress, calm down strong feelings and build resiliency. We hope that this will be another resource for our families to navigate this unusual school year. You can also find this page on our Student Services tab at https://indianhills.smsd.org/.
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e-Read Access Through IHMS
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1-800-CHILDREN
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COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Available for Ages 12 and Older!
COVID-19 vaccine opportunities are now open through the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment or Children’s Mercy Clinics for adolescents ages 12 and older.
For more information about scheduling an appointment click here.
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IHMS Communication Chain
1. Mass communication from IHMS:
- Mass communication will come each Friday or Saturday in the form of the IHMS Weekly News. This is an important review for your family each week as it outlines specific events, newsworthy, and/or action-oriented items relevant to IHMS.
- There are times throughout the week a stand-alone email may be sent via a Skyward blast - especially if an important event is taking place or if important information must be shared. You have already seen this in practice (i.e.Tuesday when I sent a reminder about the ice cream social).
2. Absences:
- Please communicate absences through attendance personnel. Avoid emailing administration or student services directly.
- Email debrahohly@smsd.org and constanceeddy@smsd.org to indicate the date(s) and nature of your student's absence.
- Call in your student's absence - including date(s) and nature of the absence - to the school attendance line: (913) 993-0412.
3. Grades/Classroom Questions/Issues:
- Please email your student's teacher directly for all questions/issues related to grades and/or the classroom.
- Staff email addresses can be found on our school website (click link). Unless specific circumstances
- Avoid emailing administration and/or student services with issues that have not been problem solved at the classroom level first unless extenuating circumstances merit direct contact.
4. General Contact Guidelines:
- The chart below provides parents with a general contact chart they can utilize to ensure communication remains streamlined: