North News August 17,2026

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
Instagram: @smnorthhs

Hello North Community!

Wow...that's all I can say! Our first two days of school this year were the best first days of school I have had in 12 years at SMN. Our kids were fantastic, and did a wonderful job bringing energy and excitement to our building.

This week is our first full week, and this is usually the time fatigue sets in with our kiddos. Please help us out by promoting some sleep and healthy habits at home to help get our kids back into a rhythm. Additionally, we have some helpful hints in the paragraphs below to ensure we have a great first full week of school this week!

Let's have a great week! Go Bison! WE ARE NORTH!!!

Drop-off and Pick-up

I wanted to provide a few pointers to assist with guardians dropping off and picking up their students at North. The east side is the area where our buses drop-off and pick up students. Buses typically drop-off students between 6:50-7:15 each morning. If you would like to drop your student off at SMN during this time, we are asking that you utilize our front circle drive on the north side of the building.

Dismissal is somewhat different. Our buses will start lining up on the east side of the building at 2:15 p.m. each day. We like to dismiss our buses at 2:47 p.m., but we typically need some more time at the beginning of the school year for students to get acclimated to a new system. Therefore, if you are arriving to pick up your student prior to 3:00 p.m., we are asking that you use the front circle. After 3:00 p.m., our east side of the building should be clear to utilize for pickup.

Personal Electronic Device Policy

Our students did a fantastic job of adhering to our new Personal Electronic Device (PED) policy. We used Thursday to provide updates and information each class period before formally enforcing the policy on Friday. Over 98% of our students properly complied with the policy on our first day, which is outstanding.

A majority of our violations were the result of students not storing their device in a secure location, and then reaching for it out of habit. Parents, you can really assist us in adhering to this policy (mandated by state law), by asking your student to store their devices in a school locker during the school day. Doing so will drastically reduce our referrals, and also increase our engagement in classes during the school day.

Previously shared information but still important!

Important dates for the start of the school year

• September 14-19: Homecoming Week

• Sept 15: Scholarship Shawnee Mission

• Sept 16: Shawnee Mission College Clinic

• Sept 18: No School (Professional Learning)

• Oct 9-No School (Teacher Workday)

The PTSA and the Shawnee Mission North Booster Club are two organizations that directly support SMN students! Click on the links above for more information on these organizations, and how you can join!

The SMN All-Activities Booster Club raises funds to support SMN clubs, groups, and teams through grants for equipment, supplies, entry fees, and other expenses not funded by the district. Any officially recognized group at SMN can request funding.

One of our fundraisers is selling SMN Spirit Wear! We periodically need volunteers to help at our spirit wear events.

If you have the time and would like to give back while helping your student have the best possible experience at SMN, please consider signing up to volunteer. Every bit of help makes a difference!

Upcoming Spirit Wear Pop-Up Shop

We will have a spirit wear pop-up shop in the cafeteria during lunch on August 27 & 28, and we could use some extra help! If you have some time to volunteer, please use the SignUpGenius link below to let us know when you’re available.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4EAFA62FABF58-65164137-spirit

Thank you for supporting SMN students, clubs, groups, and teams!

• Visit smsd.org.

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

• Under “Home” you will see “2026-2027 Student Annual Online Verification."

• Please use the online fee payment portal. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled Pay Fees.
• 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.
• 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 fees will be removed from accounts after 1Q. Yearbooks will be removed after Jan 10. Optional include a parking permit, yearbook, class dues, etc.
• If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, email a copy of your food service benefits letter to shellelewis@smsd.org.
• 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.

• 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 dustinjamison@smsd.org

• Student last names H-N: Contact Jon Durham jondurham@smsd.org

• Student last names O-Z: Contact Laura Brogdon laurabrogdon@smsd.org

• Some of your students need to complete 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

• 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.

• Any questions related to forms needed for athletics can be directed to Denton Hays, Athletic Director at dentonhays@smsd.org or Tammy Rettig, Athletic Department Secretary at tammyrettig@smsd.org

Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in achieving academic success. When students are present in class, they benefit from direct instruction, participate in discussions, collaborate with peers, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. These daily interactions build a strong foundation for understanding and retaining new concepts.

Research shows a clear connection between attendance and academic performance. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to earn higher grades, perform better on assessments, and develop positive habits that contribute to lifelong learning. On the other hand, frequent absences—whether excused or unexcused—can lead to gaps in learning, lower achievement, and increased difficulty in keeping up with coursework.

We understand that occasional absences are sometimes unavoidable due to illness or family emergencies. However, we encourage you to make every effort to schedule appointments and vacations outside of school hours whenever possible. Your support in promoting regular attendance sends a powerful message to your child about the value of education.

If your family is facing challenges that make it difficult for your child to attend school consistently, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and can connect you with resources and support services.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Seminar Periods: The Seminar period is in place to give students an opportunity to connect

with teachers and receive academic support. Attendance during seminar is expected as

students have opportunities to meet with instructors, make-up missed work, receive tutoring,

participate in school programming, and access media, industrial, and technology labs. This is

also a time when Seminar teachers may help students develop their Personalized Learning

Plans and help students with college and career readiness skills.

Late-Starts: Thursdays beginning August 20th, classes will start at 8:40am. Teachers

WILL NOT be available to meet with students prior to the start of school on late-start days.

Students who arrive early by bus will wait in supervised areas for class to begin. Prior to August 20th, Thursdays will be a typical even block day beginning at 7:40am.