WILDCAT WORD

• February 2: BBB @ IW
• February 4: BBB @ IH
• February 10: Q2 PTA Meeting at 7:00pm @ TR
• February 11: BBB @ WR
• February 12: Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 at Trailridge
• February 13: Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00-4:00 at Trailridge

Click Here to access the SMSD Calendar

Haz clic aquí para acceder al calendario de SMSD.

Greetings Wildcats,

This week was a busy one filled with enrollment activities. Our 8th grade students were able to visit SMNW and enjoy performances from the SMNW choir and jazz band. We also hosted our future Wildcats for a visit and enrollment presentation. It was an exciting week for everyone!

We have seen an increase in the number of students arriving at school late. Please help ensure students set an alarm, eat a good breakfast, and arrive at school on time and ready to work. Thank you for your support!

Also, I wanted to send out a reminder that all students attending home or away games as spectators must attend the game with their own parent/guardian. We have had a few instances when students were not accompanied by their own parent/guardian and another adult stated that they would be responsible for the student, only to have the student left at school without a ride at the conclusion of the game. Please come support our Wildcats with your student!

Lastly, please take a moment to review the attendance data listed below. We challenged our students this week to focus on increasing our attendance rates throughout the month. A team attendance challenge is now in place, and we are encouraging students to do their part.

Thank you for sharing your amazing students with us. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with them each day!

Matt Engler

Trailridge Middle School Principal

#OneSchool,ManyStories

Over the past three years, we have closely monitored our building’s attendance rates. Like many schools across the country, following COVID we saw a significant increase in the number of students considered “chronically absent.” A student is considered “chronically absent” when they miss 10% or more of the school days. Three years ago, 27% of our students fell into this category by the end of the school year.

We have worked hard to reduce that number. Last year, we ended the year with 15% of our students classified as chronically absent. Currently, we are 5% below where we were at this point last year and are on track to meet our end-of-year goal of 12%.

That said, when analyzing attendance patterns throughout the year, February is consistently our most challenging month for student attendance. As shown in the graph below, the red boxes indicate days and months with very low attendance rates.

To help reverse this pattern, we are implementing a building-wide February Attendance Challenge. Each team’s attendance rate will be monitored weekly, and the team with the highest attendance rate at the end of the month will earn an ice cream social.

Please encourage your student to come to school on time and ready to work each day. Thank you for your continued support!

At Trailridge we are fortunate to have an amazing Student Service team. Our grade level counselors loop with their students each year and we have an amazing social worker who works with both grades. They are committed to working hard with your students to help them find success this year. If you have questions regarding your student's schedules, please direct them to the grade level counselor. If you are in need of any assistance as a family, please reach out to our social worker and she will be happy to assist in any way we can. Below is the contact information for these wonderful resources!

• Elisabeth Johnsrud (7th Grade Counselor) elisabethjohnsrud@smsd.org
• Kristin Warner (8th Grade Counselor) kristinwarner@smsd.org
• Anna O'Connor (School Social Worker) annaoconnor@smsd.org

A school-based health clinic is open to all Shawnee Mission students and their siblings (3-20 years old). Health Partnership Clinic at Shawnee Mission West High School is open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the school, 8500 W. 85th St.

Families seeking an appointment can find out more information here. In person and virtual appointments are available.

This clinic can provide services for medical needs such as: illness/injury, immunizations (appointment required), yearly physicals (school/sports), well-child/teen checkups, mental and behavioral health services, prescription medicines lab tests, COVID testing/vaccines, strep/flu tests, asthma care, and referrals.

The clinic can also provide services for behavioral health needs such as: anxiety, depression, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), grief/loss, adjustment and life transitions, stress, smoking cessation including vaping, nutrition/physical activity/weight management, parenting, behavior concerns, self-harm, Bipolar disorder, psychosis, alcohol/substance abuse, crisis intervention, poor sleep, relationship issues, trauma exposure.

This clinic is closed when school is not in session. Here is a link to Shawnee Mission School District calendars. To access the clinic, visitors must enter through the main door and check in with security. Click here for more information about fees and coverage, making an appointment, and preparing for a visit.

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Trailridge Athletics Information

25-26 School Year Physicals

Student athlete physicals for the 2025-2026 school year must be completed after May 1st, 2025. Here is the updated KSHSSA Physical Packet that must be completed. Please note that the date on the bottom right-hand corner of the form is 3/2024. Every physical packet turned in must be using the updated packet. If you have any questions, please contact Ericka Corrado at erickacorrado@smsd.org.

Student Athlete Handbook

Attached is the Trailridge Student Athlete Handbook. This handbook reviews policies and procedures for being an athlete at Trailridge. Please review this handbook at your convenience.

Click Here to access the Trailridge Student Athlete Handbook.

ALL SPORTS

ALL students attending home or away games as spectators must attend the game with their own parent/guardian. We have had a few instances when students were not accompanied by their own parent/guardian and another adult stated that they would be responsible for the student, only to have the student left at school without a ride at the conclusion of the game. Please come support our Wildcats with your student!

BOYS BASKETBALL

Weds. 1/28/26 HOME vs. Hocker Grove 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Mon. 2/2/26 AWAY @ Indian Woods 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Weds. 2/4/26 HOME vs. Indian Hills 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Thrs. 2/5/26 HOME vs. Westridge 5:00, 6:15, 7:30 Rescheduled

Weds. 2/11/26 AWAY @ Westridge 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Weds. 2/18/26 AWAY @ Hocker Grove 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Thurs. 2/19/26 HOME vs. Indian Woods 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Mon. 2/23/26 TBD 5:30

Weds. 2/25/26 Championship @ SM North 5:30/7:00

CHEER

Mon. 1/26/26 HOME vs. Westridge 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Weds. 1/28/26 HOME vs. Hocker Grove 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Weds. 2/4/26 HOME vs. Indian Hills 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Thurs. 2/19/26 HOME vs. Indian Woods 5:00, 6:15, 7:30

Mon. 2/23/26 TBD 5:30

Weds. 2/25/26 Championship @ SM North 5:30/7:00

Contact Information

Athletic Director: Ericka Corrado, erickacorrado@smsd.org

Athletic Coordinator: Kelsey McCall kelseymccall@smsd.org

Football: Nick Hubner, nickhubner@smsd.org

Volleyball: Reece Lovitt, reecelovitt@smsd.org

Cross Country: Michael Scott, michaelscott341@smsd.org

Cheer: Britt Qualls, brittqualls@smsd.org

Wrestling: Justin Andrews, justinandrews387@gmail.com

Girls Basketball: Rachael Baumgartner, rachaelbaumgartner@smsd.org

Boys Basketball: Brandon Hoch, brandonhoch212@smsd.org

Boys and Girls Soccer: Mackenzie Price, mackenzieprice@smsd.org

Athletic Trainer: Josh Hardy, jhardy2@kumc.edu

Please make sure your student is taking care of their device. Below is the fee structure should the MacBook be unintentionally damaged:

• 1st Incident: $100 charge
• 2nd Incident: $150 charge
• 3+ Incident: ~$750 charge (full device replacement)

If a device is intentionally damaged the student may be responsible for a full device replacement cost of approximately $750.

https://sunflowerhouse.org/keeping-kids-safe-online/

If you have not logged into your parent portal of Canvas yet, I would highly recommend doing so. Canvas is the learning management system that SMSD uses. It allows you to view assignments, assessments, grades, schedules and many more important items regarding your student's day at Trailridge.

Here is the link on how to access your Canvas parent portal. If you need additional assistance, feel free to contact the office. Here is another resource as well.

Also, here is a video that our very own Jody Fangman made to help with the process as well.

Our PTA is very active in supporting students and staff at Trailridge through grants, assemblies, student activities and celebrations, and more and while our events and activities will undoubtedly look different this school year, our commitment to supporting our students, staff, and families is as strong as ever! Please consider joining and getting involved in your Trailridge PTA as we find new and creative ways to support our students, staff, and families this school year!

The Trailridge Spirit Wear Store is live!! Visit the PTA website for a link to the store and to check out all of our new designs! Items are shipped directly to you and you can order anytime.

Please use the link or the QR Code to access the PTA website:

https://www.trailridgepta.org

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUANCY

The administration of Trailridge may begin to request documentation for all absences after the 10th absence in a school year. Absences without a doctor's note or administrative approval may be recorded as unexcused. A student with three consecutive unexcused absences, five unexcused absences in a semester, or seven unexcused absences in a year is considered TRUANT according to Kansas State statues. A truancy report may be filed with the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

If your child will be out of school for any reason, please make sure to leave a message on the hotline or report it online. This is important so that we can excuse the absence.

For early pickups, we simply ask that you call the main line (913-993-1000) when you are on the way (about 5 minutes prior to arriving). We will have your student ready for pickup in the office.

Attendance Line: 913 993-1012

If your child is going to miss a class for an appointment or any reason, please make sure you are calling the office to let the attendance clerk know. This is important so that we can excuse the absence.

• FRONT OFFICE 913 993-1000
• SECRETARY: Jennifer Fandel 913-993-1002
• ATTENDANCE CLERK: Francy Johnson 913 993-1012 (Absences should be reported by 9:30 AM)
• SPANISH INTERPRETER: 913 993-1062 Veronica Simonetti
• BOOKKEEPER: Ms. Gina Bristow 913 993-1003
• NURSE: Ms. Darla Denny 913 993-1007
• DS BUSING: 913 384-1190

Email: trailridge@smsd.org
Website: trailridge.smsd.org
Location: 7500 Quivira Road, Shawnee Mission, KS 66216
Phone: (913) 993-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/trailridgemiddle
Twitter: @Wildcats512