IHMS Weekly News
September 24 - October 1, 2021
Upcoming IHMS Events
Monday, 09/27:
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
5:00 Volleyball @ Trailridge
Tuesday, 09/28:
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
6:00 Girls Basketball Info. Meeting
Wednesday, 09/29:
8:00 Battle of the Brains
3:45 Multicultural Club
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Board Game Club
5:00 VB @ Home vs. HG
Thursday, 09/30:
7:45 Junior Board in IHMS Library
3:50 Academic Learning Lab
3:50 Nancy Drew Club
3:50 Jazz Band
5:30 XC @ SM Park
7:00 Choir Concert in Aux Gym
Friday, 10/01:
- 8:05 Elective Team Admin Support on WebEx
- Afternoon: Knights' Walk! (Click Here for Knights' Walk Schedule)
Upcoming Events:
10/04: 5:00 p.m. IH VB @ Home vs. Trailridge
10/05: 5:00 p.m. XC Meet @ SMNW
10/06-10/07: 5:30 p.m. District VB Tournament @ SME
10/09: 8:00 a.m. XC @ JCCC
10/12: 5:00 p.m. XC @ IW (B/C Championship)
10/14: 5:00 p.m. Wrestling @ SMNW
10/14: 5:15 p.m. XC @ Black Hoof Park (A Championship)
10/15: End of Q1: No School - Teacher Work Day
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Section 1: New and Important at IHMS
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It’s Almost Here!! Last Week to Register for The Knights’ Walk - all REGISTERED students will be entered into daily raffle drawings!
The Knights’ Walk is this Friday, October 1. Register online today.
https://form.jotform.com/IHMS/KnightsWalk2021
Your student won’t want to miss this fun afternoon of friends, music, games, and prizes. The Knights’ Walk is our only fundraiser for the year, and it takes place during the school day, so all students can participate. Your student can unlock the chance to win additional grand prizes and other sponsor benefits, like an exclusive IHMS spirit yard sign, with your donation.
Register now to enter your student into daily drawings for prizes – like gift cards to local hangouts, SME spirit wear, and more – plus grand prize raffle drawings during the event, including $200 gift cards, a Chicken N Pickle party, and more!
Money raised will be spent this year to benefit your student and IHMS teachers and staff.
Thank you in advance for your support!
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Get Involved with the Knights’ Walk
Events like the Knights’ Walk cannot happen without the support of our school community. Check out the links below to find out how you can become more involved with our one and only fundraiser:
1. Gift cards: Please sign up to donate small gift cards for Knights’ Walk prizes to be given away throughout the event: Indian Hills Middle School: Knight Walk Raffle Gift Cards (signupgenius.com)
2. Parent volunteers: Please sign up to help at a Knights’ Walk station during the event: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AADA62FA46-ihms1
3. Yard Games: Please lend us your outdoor games (corn hole, etc.) for use during the event: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AADA62FA46-ihms2
Thank you for your help and support!
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Join our IHMS Math Squad!
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Knight Volleyball News
Our Knights' volleyball schedule this week was action packed with two games on Monday and Tuesday Night.
Monday night’s matchup Hocker Grove was exciting with 3 wins. The A team scores were 25-9 and 25-9. The A team continues to work hard and put together fast paced matches. B team scores were 25-16 and 25-13 they have shown growth in their offensive game. C Team provided some excitement by taking their match in 3 games. The deciding game went to 19-17 where the Knights showed their tenacity and got the "W."
Tuesday night’s matchup was against Indian Woods. The home crowd was out to support the Knights. A took their match 25-13 and 25-10. So far, the team record is 4-0 - great teamwork and awesome kills! The B team was next up with some competitive games; they also came out with wins of 25-14 and a come from behind win: 25-23. The C team was next in action taking their match to 3 games again and coming out with the W! 22-25, 27-25, and 15-5.
Next week's game is Monday September 20th at Westridge. A team will play at 5pm. B team will play at 6pm. C team will play at 7pm.
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Section 2: Still Relevant From Previous Weeks
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20-21 Yearbooks Still Available
For those who didn’t get a 2020-2021 yearbook at the end of last May, there are some yearbooks left that can now be bought for $22. Don’t miss out if your 7th or 8th grader wasn’t able to get one. It is a unique and beautiful yearbook capturing this past school year. Buy now, before they run out. Simply come during school hours to the office with cash or a check to get a yearbook.
If paying by check, please make the check payable to IHMS Journalism Yearbook 2021. If you choose to mail your payment, we won’t be able to mail a yearbook back to you, so please leave a note in the envelope with the name of the person who will pick it up and when, so it’s waiting for them. Also, be sure to add the following to the address, so it gets to the journalism teacher right away: C/O Journalism: Mrs. Basden.
If you haven’t paid yet for this year’s 2022 yearbook, it is also $22 and can be done online through your IHMS account.
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Girls Basketball Parent Information Meeting: 9/28 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Girls basketball parent information meeting will be hosted in the IHMS cafeteria on September 28th from 6:00-7:00.
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IH Wrestling Season Information
Indian Hills Wrestling is open to all 7th and 8th grade boys and girls. Practice will begin this Monday, September 20. Practices will take place after school in the auxiliary gym.
Our meets will be held at the Shawnee Mission high schools on week nights. Here is our Meet Schedule.
Check out our website for more information: IHMS Wrestling Website
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Section 3: SME Area News and Events
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Section 4: District Area News and Events
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School Based Health Clinic Now Open at SMW
A school-based health clinic for all Shawnee Mission School District students and their siblings (3 to 20 years old) will open Thursday, September 2 at SM West High School, 8800 W. 85th St. The clinic will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays, except when school is not in session.
Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) and the Shawnee Mission School District are partnering to provide access to primary and preventative health care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and dental care to district students and their siblings.
For more information about the Health Partnership Clinic, or to schedule a medical appointment, Shawnee Mission School District parents should call 913-648-2266. More information also is available here.
Services will include:
- Physical exams
- Sports physicals
- Immunizations, including vaccines for COVID-19
- COVID testing
- Age-appropriate health screenings
- Preventative education
- Referrals to specialty services
- Sick visits
- Management of acute and chronic problems and mental health services
- Dental Care including screenings, fluorides, and restorative care
Most insurance plans are accepted, including KanCare/Medicaid. As a community health center, HPC offers a sliding-fee discount program which is based on income and household size. Fees are waived for students experiencing homelessness. Free medicaid and Marketplace insurance enrollment will also be available.
“The idea is to break down barriers to health care,” Shelby Rebeck, health services director for the Shawnee Mission School District shared. “Barriers for many of our students include low income, lack of knowledge, lack of transportation and parents’/guardians’ inability to take time away from hourly jobs. Health Partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for our students to receive critical health care so they can be successful in school.”
The clinic offers pediatric-focused care to treat most health conditions that affect children and adolescents, Amy Falk, HPC’s chief executive officer shared.
“We basically function as a doctor’s office, but in a school building,” Falk noted. “Services are available in person or virtual, and walk-ins will be accommodated if the schedule permits. The primary goal is to provide easy, immediate access to quality and affordable health care.”
The goal is to serve as a medical home for students and offer an additional access point to primary care, Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP, and HPC’s chief health officer, shared.
“Beyond a focus on primary health care, it is important we meet the social and emotional needs of children and adolescents to help them reach their individual potential,” Mourad added.
The clinic will open across from the nurse’s office at SM West.
"The Shawnee Mission School District and Health Partnership Clinic are an example of how two organizations can come together to help improve the lives of children,” says Steve Loe, principal of Shawnee Mission West High School. “The school-based health clinic will greatly expand the resources of our school nurse and social worker and help support our goal to have every student succeed.”
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Section 5: Mainstay News
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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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Mental Health Support Option
Parents and Guardians, if your student is in need of mental health support, and you are unable to pay, there may be relief available to you. Please visit the following link to see if you could qualify for assistance from COVID Cares Act relief funds through Johnson County Mental Health. https://jocogov.org/dept/mental-health/accessing-services/covid-19-relief-funds
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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: