Hello North Community!

My name is David Ewers, and I serve as the building principal at Shawnee Mission North High School. This is my 9th year at North, and my third as the building principal. I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve my community in this role, and I can't wait for this school year to start!

Below you will find some key action items that will allow you and your student to start the school year off successfully. In addition to these items, we have a list of several key dates during the months of July and August that you will want to put in your family calendar. Online verification must be completed by students and guardians before August 11th.

We are so excited to get this school year started, and we look forward to a great year with your student at the Brickhouse! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the office here at Shawnee Mission North. Go Bison!

• July 17: Online verification opens

• July 25: Schedules are available to view on Skyward.

• July 26: Office opens; fee payment is available

• July 31: SMN Offices closed until noon for staff meetings

• Aug 8: SMN Basics (see below)

• Aug 10: Physical Night (5-8 p.m.)

• Aug 10: Freshman parent/guardian orientation (6:00-6:30)

• Aug 10: Back to School Night (6:30-8:15)

• Aug 14: First day of fall sports

• Aug 15: Freshman and Senior First Day of school (more information on these dates will be available in future newsletters).

• Aug 16: All students report to school

• Visit smsd.org.

• In the top navigation bar, click on “Skyward” and log in to your account.

• Under “Home” you will see “2023-2024 Student Annual Online Verification.

• If you have trouble accessing your Family Skyward account, please contact the computer clerk, Karen Facklam, at 913- 993-6909 or karenfacklam@smsd.org.

• The Online fee payment portal will be available from mid-July, 2023. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online"

• If you are interested in applying for Free and Reduced lunch, please use this link

• If you need to pay by check, You will need to go to the pay fees online portal to find out your students fees. Please mail your check with your students ID number listed to SM North, attn: Bookkeeper, 7401 Johnson Dr., Overland Park, KS 66204

• All payment plans and KanCare can be completed over the phone or email. Please contact our bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help with this. shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.

Students should check their schedule prior to the first day of school.

Counselors will accept change requests by email ONLY.

The last day to request a schedule change is Tuesday, August 15 at 3:00 pm.

Schedule change requests will be prioritized as follows:

1. You are missing a graduation requirement

2. Your schedule is incomplete, or a class is duplicated

3. You are enrolled in a course that you have already completed and received credit.

4. You are enrolled in a course for which you have NOT met the prerequisite.

5. You have a physical injury that does not allow participation in the course.

6. You wish to increase or decrease rigor of your schedule (assuming space is available).

7. You have decided you do not want to take a class that you originally chose (in January).

Alpha Counselor by student last name:

A – D/ELL jeinnymorris@smsd.org

E – K leahmurray@smsd.org

L – Q jenniferfontaine@smsd.org

R – W deannagriffey@smsd.org

Real World Learning and X, Y, Z brittsherer@smsd.org

August 8th 6:00 pm at North

• The Parent/Teacher/Student Association (PTSA) and the All-School Booster Club are great ways for parents and guardians to get involved with our school!

• Join PTSA by clicking on this link!

• Join Booster Club by clicking on this link!

• All proceeds raised by both organizations directly benefit SMN students!

• The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is the governing body for a variety of student activities in the state of Kansas. Their website is www.kshsaa.org

• All forms that need to be completed for participation in a KSHSAA-sanctioned event at SMN can be found here.

• Please encourage your student to get involved in school activities and/or athletics! We have something for everyone at SMN!

• Please review our Student Handbook with your student

• Notify your student’s alpha administrator if you have any questions or concerns.

• Student last names A-G: Contact Dustin Jamison

• Student last names H-N: Contact Jon Durham

• Student last names O-Z: Contact Laura Brogdon

• Some of your students are in need of State of Kansas Required Immunizations.

• All who need them have been sent emails with a reminder of which immunization your student needs.

• Feel free to contact Nurse Kelly at 913-993-6916 or email at maryalicekelly@smsd.org

• Review DS Bus Company information and/or sign up for transportation service by clicking this link.

• Please note that eligibility for free bus transportation can be dictated by your home address.