Cougar Chronicles
Weekly Update for SMNW Families - October 4, 2026
From the Principal’s Desk:
What a week to be a Cougar!!!
As we come to the end of the 1st Quarter, I want to say thank you to all the families for the support of Northwest. I am very blessed to be apart of the Northwest Community and I look forward to more Fun, Family, and Focus for the next 3 Quarters! Speaking of the end of the 1st Quarter, please check in with your students and their grades via Skyward. We want all students to be successful and having a school to home connection is certainly our goal. If your student needs that academic boost we are starting tutoring on Monday, Oct. 5th the flyer is below. Also we have Parent/Teacher Conferences coming up on 10/14 and 10/16. Teacher schedules will be up and ready for families on Friday, Oct. 9th. We would love to see everyone there.
Reminder that there is no school on Friday, October 9th. It is a Teacher Workday! Have a great week NW!
FAFSA IS LIVE!!!!!
Busing Registration Info:
- Pay to Ride cost:
- $185.00 per student, per semester
- $370.00 per student for the school year
District Transportation Contact:
The Shawnee Mission School District is excited to announce the rollout of a new communication platform that will be used across the district. ParentSquare will be replacing School Messenger/Skylert as the district’s emergency and mass notification platform.
Training began this July for specified staff members. Prior to school starting, families and staff members will start to see more information via email about launching their use of ParentSquare. This will be an important way for families and staff to receive emergency messaging (like snow day information) as well as important announcements from the district and schools.
Through a phased implementation, ParentSquare will provide a more streamlined communication experience for staff and families. Please continue to watch for more information and resources in the coming weeks!
Mark Your Calendar
10/8 End of Q1
10/9 Teacher Work Day - No School
10/15 Testing Day Grades 9-11
10/14 Fall Conference Night @ SMNW 5-8pm
10/16 NO SCHOOL - Conferences
Bell Schedule this week 10/5 - 10/9:
Monday - ODD Block
Tuesday - EVEN Block
Wednesday - ODD Block
Thursday - EVEN Block
Friday - NO SCHOOL
SUPER TEST DAY
Online Absence Reporting
Online Absence Reporting
This option is for reporting all day absences and late arrivals only.
When requesting an early dismissal please call 913-993-7242 or email jamieprosser@smsd.org
College Advisor, 913.993.7207
From our Northwest Counselors
Zach Cash A-E zacharycash@smsd.org
Barb Legate F-K barbaralegate@smsd.org
Katie Cole L-Re katiecole@smsd.org
Jessica Andrade Rf-So (ELL) jessicaandrade@smsd.org
Jordan Landis Sp-Z jordanlandis@smsd.org
Danielle O'Donnell CTC, CAA and RWL
Social Workers
Tina Clark A-K tinaclark@smsd.org
Melissa Osborn L-Z melissaosborn@smsd.org
eSchool: Any class credits that you want to make up or would you like to take a class to get ahead on your credits. eSchool fall is open for enrollment and offers several courses. Enrollment runs through September 10th and cost is $180 a course. Be sure to speak to your counselor if you are interested.
Apply Kansas Week — October 5–9
Apply Kansas Week is next week! Students will have the opportunity to apply to many colleges, universities, and technical/trade schools across Kansas for free. Ms. McGee, our College Advisor, will be available in the mall area throughout the week to answer questions and help with applications. Students can also attend a College Application Workshop on Tuesday, October 6th during Seminar for an overview of the application process and additional support. Students can sign up through the Flex Pass system or complete the Google Form here.
CNA Opportunities!
Seniors...Interested in CNA at CAA? Now is the time to apply for the spring semester.
Informational Meeting for seniors and parents on October 7 at the CAA.
More information about the parent meeting will be sent out to all students who complete the form in the link.
JCCC enrollment for the Spring Semester is October 23 @ 8am. Prospective students will need to be admitted to JCCC to enroll on October 23. Therefore, if this is the option a student chooses, it is encouraged to apply early! It can take 7-10 days to complete the JCCC application process.
PTSA UPDATES!
PTSA NORTHWEST NEWS
Northwest News is a monthly publication that will come via email at the beginning of each month! Please CLICK HERE for the OCTOBER Edition!
OCTOBER STAFF APPRECIATION
In October, PTSA provides dinner for teachers working late on parent-teacher conference night. We are asking for drinks, desserts, and salad as well as monetary donations to cover pizza. PLEASE SIGN UP HERE to help us feed our hard-working teachers!
AFTER PROM CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
The 3rd Annual Adults-Only Cornhole Tournament and Backyard Party will be on Saturday, October 10! $50 gets you food, drinks, snacks, and fun! You can find a cornhole partner that night and enter the tournament for $30. Join in on our biggest After Prom fundraiser of the year! CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS - only 60 available and they're selling fast!
PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING: DISCOUNT TICKET OFFER
After Prom 2027 will be WESTERN themed, so we're kicking off with a discount ticket offer for PBR at T-Mobile Center on October 25! Take advantage of huge savings with our group ticket offer (just $45 for tickets that are normally $62.75). See the flyer on the PTSA website for full details and CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS. Order deadline is October 14.
THANKSGIVING PIES
Fall weather will be arriving this week, so it's time to get in the mood for PIE! Our November staff appreciation doubles as an After Prom fundraiser. Every SMNW staff member will get to choose a delicious, locally-made Golden Boy pie to take home for Thanksgiving AND you can order pies for your family's Thanksgiving dinner! CLICK HERE to donate a pie to staff appreciation or to order for yourself! Thanks for supporting Staff Appreciation throughout the year - pie day is one of the highlights!!
Changes to Athletic Department
All athletic paperwork/forms will be completed on and submitted through the BOUND Registration.
Physical forms can be downloaded below and will be uploaded to BOUND.
Physicals WILL NOT be turned in with paper copies. Page 4 is required to be submitted through BOUND.
Questions can be answered by contacting the Athletic Department @ 913-993-7400
Important Links:
Registering Your Student for an Activity
KSHSAA Physical Form (English)
A Word from Nurse, Wendy Woods
Health Office Reminders:
- Immunizations
- Meningococcal-Serogroup A, C, W, Y (MenACWY):
- Doses should be given at entry to 7th grade (11-12 years) and 11th grade (16-18 years).
- For children 16-18 years, with no previous MenACWY, only one dose is required.
- Students in grades 11 and 12 with a previous dose should have an additional dose (2nd dose is given at 16 years of age)
- Hepatitis A (Hep A):
- Two doses required for all students in grades 7-12.
- Doses must be at least 6 months apart.
- 1st dose should not have been given before the age of 1 year old.
- Please send immunizations record to: Megan O’Brien, nurse aide at MeganObrien@smsd.org
- Medical Conditions & Concerns:
- Please provide any medical provider paperwork regarding any chronic medical conditions your student may have. If attendance may be affected by this condition, then please have something from the provider stating that attendance may be affected related to this issue.
- This paperwork should also include any Medical Orders that would need to occur during the school day and/or an Emergency Action Plans (EAPs).
- Along with provider orders please fill out this form regarding any medications or treatments that may occur at school: file://adfr01/NWstaff/800013048/Downloads/AUTHORIZATION%20FOR%20MEDICATION_PROCEDURE%20(w_%23)%20(1).pdf
- Health Office Paperwork:
- Medication Self-Administration Form:
- This is to be filled out by student’s provider & guardians
- Only lifesaving medications may be self-administered & carry on students’ person; these include Epi-pens, Avi-Q, Seizure Rescue Medications, and/or inhalers.
- Self-Administer Form:
- Medication permission form:
- Students are only allowed to carry Life-Saving medications on their person.
- For any other prescription (daily or as needed) or over-the-counter medications (other than those the health office carries) then please fill out this form and have student bring medication with the Original Prescription Label (this is used as the provider orders)
- Medication/Treatment form: file:///C:/Users/800013048/Desktop/Beginning%20of%20Year/AUTHORIZATION%20FOR%20MEDICATION_PROCEDURE%20english.pdf
Recordatorios de la Oficina de Salud:
- Vacunas
- Meningocócica (serogrupos A, C, W, Y / MenACWY):
- Las dosis deben administrarse al ingresar al 7.º grado (11-12 años) y al 11.º grado (16-18 años).
- Para los jóvenes de 16 a 18 años que no hayan recibido la vacuna MenACWY anteriormente, solo se requiere una dosis.
- Los estudiantes de los grados 11 y 12 que ya tengan una dosis previa deben recibir una dosis adicional (la segunda dosis se administra a los 16 años de edad).
- Hepatitis A (Hep A):
- Se requieren dos dosis para todos los estudiantes de los grados 7 a 12.
- Debe haber un intervalo de al menos 6 meses entre las dosis.
- La primera dosis no debe haberse administrado antes de cumplir 1 año de edad.
- Por favor, envíe el registro de vacunación a: Megan O’Brien, auxiliar de enfermería, a la dirección MeganObrien@smsd.org.
- Condiciones médicas y preocupaciones:
- Por favor, proporcione cualquier documentación del proveedor médico relacionada con las condiciones médicas crónicas que pueda tener su estudiante. Si la asistencia a clases podría verse afectada por esta condición, solicite al proveedor un documento que indique que la asistencia podría verse alterada debido a este problema.
- Esta documentación también debe incluir cualquier orden médica que deba llevarse a cabo durante la jornada escolar y/o los Planes de Acción de Emergencia (EAP, por sus siglas en inglés).
- Junto con las órdenes del proveedor, por favor complete este formulario sobre cualquier medicamento o tratamiento que deba administrarse en la escuela:
- Documentación de la Oficina de Salud:
- Formulario de autoadministración de medicamentos:
- Debe ser completado por el proveedor médico del estudiante y sus tutores.
- Solo se permite la autoadministración y el transporte personal de medicamentos vitales; estos incluyen EpiPens, Auvi-Q, medicamentos de rescate para convulsiones y/o inhaladores.
- Formulario de autoadministración: https://www.smsd.org/fs/resource-manager/view/7be9f55d-66a1-4cc1-b4f4-04c749db45cd
- Formulario de autorización de medicamentos:
- Los estudiantes solo tienen permitido llevar consigo medicamentos vitales (para situaciones de emergencia).
- Para cualquier otro medicamento recetado (de uso diario o según sea necesario) o de venta libre (distintos a los que ya tiene la oficina de salud), por favor complete este formulario y haga que el estudiante traiga el medicamento con la etiqueta original de la receta (esta sirve como la orden del proveedor médico).
- Formulario de medicación/tratamiento: file:///C:/Users/800013048/Desktop/Beginning%20of%20Year/AUTHORIZATION%20FOR%20MEDICATION_PROCEDURE%20english.pdf