North News August 18, 2025

Office Hours 7AM - 3:30PM

913-993-6900

Attendance Hotline (24 hours)

913-993-6945

Website: https://smnorth.smsd.org/
Location: 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-6900
Twitter: @SM_NORTH_HS

August

20 - Booster Club Meeting 6:30-8:30 PM

28 - Pop-up Spirit Wear Sale In Lunch Room -11:00-1:00

September

1 - No School

9 - PTSA Meeting 6:PM

12 - No School

24 - Photo Retake Day

North Community,

Wow! What a great first week of school!!! On Monday, we welcomed the Class of 2029 with an outstanding Freshman First Day. On Tuesday, we welcomed our entire student body to the Brickhouse with an awesome, all-staff-led Pep Rally! Our kids were incredible, and we are looking to keep the momentum going this week.

This week, we will conduct some beginning-of-the-year safety drills on Monday. Our schedule will be a 7-period day on Monday, even block classes on Tuesday and Thursday, and Odd block classes on Wednesday and Friday. Thursday, 8/21, is our first late start of the year, and the first class of the day will begin at 8:30 a.m. This week is also the first day of Fall Sports. If your student is participating in a fall sport, please ensure they are in contact with their coaches for potential changes in practices schedules due to heat.

Let’s have another great week! Bo Bison! WE ARE NORTH!!!

Morning student drop off

The doors in the front circle drive that are open are the main entrance (Door 1) and the cafeteria (Door 48).

Please drop students as far forward as possible. Students should not be dropped off in the middle lane. This creates a safety situation as well as requiring cars in the drop off lane to keep waiting for students to pass. If you are arriving from the East, we recommend dropping students off in the East lot (Field House doors 41&42)

Picture Retakes

Picture retakes will be on the morning of September 24. More details will be released at a later date.

Why No Juice at Lunch?

A change in USDA’s Buy America regulations are the reason we are no longer able to offer juice during lunch. These regulations limit non-domestic product expenditures to 10%, and unfortunately, there is no domestic juice available in the quantities we need.

Per USDA regulations, students with documented medical needs can receive a nutritionally equivalent milk substitute at no additional cost. This requires a completed Medical Statement to Request Meal Modification form, which the school nurse can assist families with. USDA does not consider juice to be nutritionally equivalent to milk, so we would offer a soy milk substitute once the meal modification is completed.

In addition, water is available to all students during lunch periods as required by USDA regulations. Our Wellness Policy encourages students to bring a reusable water bottle so they can stay hydrated and ready to learn all day long, because kids deserve to feel their best.

While this change can be disappointing, our goal remains the same — to make every choice we offer in the cafeteria the best it can be because kids are at the heart of what we do.

“Attendance Calls – What You Need to Know

Getting automated calls about your student’s absence, even after reporting it? Here’s why.

Once a student reaches 10 absences, any absence moving forward will be marked unexcused and will result in an automated call unless documentation is provided.

We send two calls daily: one in the late morning and one in the afternoon. If a call is missed, it may be repeated.

You may receive a call if your student:
• Misses one or more periods
• Misses over half a class period
• Misses a full day that is considered unexcused

To excuse your student, please call the Attendance Hotline: 913-993-6945

• Please use the online fee payment portal. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online".
• Add lunch money online using “Optional Fees”. Create an account or use the Guest option with the student’s ID number and last name.
• If you are interested in applying for free or reduced lunch, please use this link.
• Fees are needed for teachers to buy supplies for classes and to cover other expenses for the school year.
• The following fees are required: instructional resource fee (classroom materials), participation fee (admission home games/theatre/activity buses, etc.), ID card and course fees.
• Optional: Yearbooks are $50 until January 10, 2025 and then they go up to $65. Parking permits are available for 10th graders and up throughout the year and prorated by quarter. Literary Magazine is done by our creative writing club. Class dues and pep club are also optional but help with school parades and other activities.
• If you need to pay by check, please mail or bring your check with your student’s ID number in the memo to SM North, Attn: Bookkeeper, 7401 Johnson Dr., Overland Park, KS 66202.
• If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, email a copy of your food service benefits letter to shellelewis@smsd.org. Free lunch students receive a $105 fee waiver & reduced receive $52.50.
• For payment plans and questions, please call 913-993-6910 or email shellelewis@smsd.org. Unpaid fees may be sent to collections, so please make payment arrangements.

Shelle Lewis

SMN Bookkeeper

shellelewis@smsd.org

913-993-6910

• 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!

https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

Hello Friends of Shawnee Mission North!

Join us on Wednesday, Aug 20 at 6:30pm in the SMN Learning Commons for the first meeting of the All-Activities Booster Club for the 2025-26 school year. Come meet other members of the North community and learn about upcoming events.

You can earn $$$ for your favorite group at North by attending Booster Club meetings. We offer Attendance Grants to any SMN club, group or team that sends a parent, student, or sponsor/coach to our meetings. If your team or group has someone attend at least 4 Booster Club meetings a year, we will give your group a $100 grant - attend 6 meetings and receive a $200 grant!

Did you know… Each year the SMN All-Activities Booster Club supports student clubs, groups, and teams by funding grant requests from coaches and club sponsors for expenses that are not funded by the school district? Since our organization began, we have given OVER $250,000 in grants to student organizations & teams at North! We raise funds for our grants through our spirit wear sales, memberships, Annual Trivia Night & Annual Golf Tournament.

RENEW or PURCHASE your $15 SMN All-Activities Booster Club Membership

for 2025-26 (receive a FREE t-shirt while supplies last)

and SHOP for North Gear 24/7 at our online store… https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

Want to meet other members of the SMN Community? BE A VOLUNTEER!

We need 6 volunteers to assist with selling spirit wear at the first home varsity football game on Friday, September 5. Shifts are 5-6:15 pm and 6:15-7:45pm.

Click on the sign-up link below for more info... https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4EAFA62FABF58-58008176-help

For SMN Booster Club news & updates find us on... Facebook https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402 Twitter https://twitter.com/SMNorthBooster

North Pride!

Maureen Kronawitter

Corresponding Secretary/Membership