NORTH NEWS July 22 , 2024
Where Tradition began, Excellence continues.
Shawnee Mission North High School
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
Instructions in Spanish
Calendar
July
25 -School Office Opens
August
06 -North Basics Night 6:00PM-7:30 PM
08 – 9th Grade Orientation 5:30 PM Gym
08 – Back to School Night 6:00-7:00 PM
13 - Classes begin for Freshman
14 - Classes begin for Sophomore, Junior, and Seniors
14 - Picture Day
15 -SMN North Area Athletes Physicals - Check in Field House 6:00PM-8:00PM
Message from Principal David Ewers
Hello North Community!
My name is David Ewers, and I serve as the building principal at Shawnee Mission North High School. This is my 10th year at North, and my fourth as the building principal. I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve my community in this role, and I can't wait for this school year to start! We are “All In” on our Mission Statement, Building Commitments, and Areas of Focus for 2024-2025. Together we can accomplish great things during the 2024-2025 school year!
Below you will find some key action items that will allow you and your student to start the school year off successfully. In addition to these items, we have a list of several key dates during the months of July and August that you will want to put in your family calendar.
We are so excited to get this school year started, and we look forward to a great year with your students at the Brickhouse! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the office here at Shawnee Mission North. Go Bison!
Student/Guardian Back to School To-Do list
Important dates for the start of the school year
July 18: Online verification opens
July 25: Office opens; fee payment is available
Aug 8: Back to School Night
Aug 13: Freshman First Day
Aug 14: Grades 9-12 report (MacBook Roll-out and Picture Day)
Aug 19: First day of fall sports
Online Verification
Visit smsd.org.
In the top navigation bar, click on “Skyward” and log in to your account.
Under “Home” you will see “2024-2025” Student Annual Online Verification.
Online Fee Payment
The Online fee payment portal will be available from mid-July, 2024. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online"
If you need to pay by check, You will need to go to the pay fees online portal to find out your students fees. Please mail your check with your students ID number listed to SM North, attn: Bookkeeper, 7401 Johnson Dr., Overland Park, KS 66204
All payment plans and KanCare can be completed over the phone or email. Please contact our bookkeeper, Shelle Lewis for help with this. shellelewis@smsd.org or 913-993-6910.
Student Handbook Review
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
Student last names H-N: Contact Jon Durham
Student last names O-Z: Contact Laura Brogdon
Immunization Update
Some of your students are in need of 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
Review bus information from DS Bus Company
Review DS Bus Company information and/or sign up for transportation service by clicking this link.
Please note that eligibility for free bus transportation can be dictated by your home address.
Participation packet for KSHSAA
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.
Information related to SMN athletics can be found at www.smnbison.com
Any questions related to forms needed for athletics can be directed to Tammy Rettig, Athletic Department Secretary at tammyrettig@smsd.org
Seminar and Late Start
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 22nd, 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 22nd, Thursdays will be a typical even block day beginning at 7:40am.
Social Media
Stay in touch with Shawnee Mission North! Follow us on X and Instagram! @SM_NORTH_HS
NEW INFORMATION
2024-2025 School Fee Info
- 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
913-993-6910
SMN Basics: Save the date!! Parent Information Night
August 6th 6:00 pm North
All parents are welcome to join our North Student Services staff to gain information about the basics of North and/or helping your student make a plan for after high school. Both sessions will be provided in Spanish and English. This will be a great way for parents to get a jump start on the new school year! Students are welcome, too!
SMN Basics: ¡Reserva la fecha! Noche de Información para Padres
6 de agosto a las 6:00 pm en North
Todos los padres son bienvenidos a unirse con nuestro personal de Servicios Estudiantiles de North para obtener información sobre los conceptos básicos de North y / o ayudar a su estudiante a hacer un plan para después de la escuela secundaria. Ambas sesiones se ofrecerán en español e inglés. ¡Esta será una excelente manera para que los padres comiencen el nuevo año escolar! ¡Los estudiantes también son bienvenidos!
August 14, 2024 School Pictures
Picture Day
Students and Parents
If your student is in grade 9-11, use this link to purchase their portrait photos. https://bit.ly/2ndSMN23
If your student is a senior, use this link to purchase their portrait photos. https://bit.ly/Senphoto
If you have any questions, please contact Rolland Studios here: https://www.rollandkc.com/contact
Dear Families, Monday, July 22, 2024 is the deadline to receive the Early Pay discount for bus registration. ALL general education students, free, or pay riders, who plan to ride the bus must register with DS Bus Lines by visiting their website using this link: DS Bus Lines registration Those that qualify for Special Education busing do not need to register. Your student’s busing will be set up through your student’s school. The Shawnee Mission School District provides free bus transportation to students living 2.5 miles or more from the school in the attendance area. If you are unsure if you qualify for free busing based on mileage, please reach out to DS Bus Lines at 913-384-1190. Students who live less than 2.5 miles from their school in their attendance area may pay to ride the bus. (This service is limited to schools that have established routes or have at least 50 registered pay riders.) Students who qualify for Direct Certification or the Child Nutrition Meal Benefits – free and reduced priced meals, may also qualify for free transportation and register to ride existing routes. You must provide a copy of the Direct Certification or Child Nutrition Meal Benefits Eligibility letter to DS Bus Lines to complete the registration process. Email letters to payments@dsbuslines.com. SMSD families can apply for Child Nutrition Meal Benefits after July 1st on School Café - https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION. Routes will be built around those who have registered by July 22, 2024. Registrations received after July 22, 2024 are not guaranteed to be routed to a bus by the first day of school and may be placed on a wait list. Once registered for bus transportation, bus number, route times, and stop locations will be provided via the Skyward Family Access account after August 5, 2024. If you do not have a Family Access account, you may contact your child’s school office to set up account access. For more information on Shawnee Mission School District transportation, please visit https://www.smsd.org/families/transportation.
2024-2025 Physicals
In this message:
- Reminder to fill out Online Verification Forms
- Steps to fill out forms
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Benefit Application
Dear Shawnee Mission School District Families,
We hope you are enjoying your summer!
It is time to prepare for the next school year. Back-to-School forms for the 2024-2025 school year (Online Verification Forms) are now online, and need to be reviewed and signed with an electronic signature. The procedure is streamlined for your convenience.
Steps to fill out forms:
If you do not have a Family Access account, you may contact your child’s school office starting on July 24, 2024 to inquire about setting up account access. The guardian designated as Family 1 for a student within the Skyward system has the editing rights to complete the forms.
- Under “Home” you will see “2024-2025 RETURNING Student Annual Online Verification.”
There will be directions that walk you through the entire process.
The process includes permission forms, a health history review, and a medication permission form. For middle and high school students, there is also an athletic packet. Please complete verification forms as soon as possible. It is a mandatory step necessary for student materials checkout. Students cannot be assigned a computer/device until forms are complete.
2024-2025 - Child Nutrition Program Meal Benefit Application
Families are encouraged to complete an application for meal benefits – free or reduced priced meals – as part of Online Verification. The link to the Child Nutrition Program Meal Benefit Application is available on Skyward or the online application is on School Cafe. Families do need to create a School Cafe account if they do not already have one - additional information is located on the SMSD Food Service Free and Reduced web page. Contact the Food Service office by calling 913-993-9710 or emailing foodservice@smsd.org for questions on the meal benefit application.
Potential Benefits of Filling out the Application
Families whose meal benefit application is approved for meal benefits can receive a breakfast and lunch at the free or reduced price – depending on their qualifying benefit.
Families who complete an application and qualify also generate additional state funds for our schools.
Families who qualify for child nutrition meal benefits may also receive additional benefits such as free/reduced instructional resource fees, transportation fees, and Pre-Kindergarten enrollment.
Consent for Disclosure and Eligibility
Families are encouraged to complete a Consent for Disclosure form which gives SMSD Food Service permission to share a child’s eligibility status information with the programs families designate on the consent form. This form can be found on the SMSD Food Service Free and Reduced web page.
For families who are receiving certain types of state assistance, a meal benefit application may not be necessary. If a family is directly certified for meal benefits due to state assistance, an email notification of eligibility was sent recently to the email in Skyward. Notifications are also saved in School Cafe under eligibility benefits for parents to access as needed. If you receive state assistance and have not received a notification of eligibility, contact the SMSD Food Service office before completing a meal program application.
All families, including those who are directly certified are encouraged to complete a Consent for Disclosure found on the SMSD Food Service Free and Reduced web page. Completing the Consent for Disclosure gives SMSD Food Service permission to share a child’s eligibility status information with the programs families designate on the consent form.
If you have any questions, please contact your school office. School offices open on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Thank you for your quick attention to this important step of the enrollment process. We look forward to welcoming your student(s) to the 2024-2025 school year!
Click below for Bus Registration
School Supplies
SM North does not have a formal school supply list. Students are advised to wait and see the needs of each class first. Teachers with specific requirements will notify the students during the first week of attendance and allow time to purchase supplies.
Previously released information, but still important to know
Staff Member of the Week
SMN Booster Club/PTSA
Join PTSA and the Booster Club
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!
Paraprofessional positions are available
If you are interested in food services positions in the SMSD, please see the image below.
STUCO NEWS
See you next year!
News from Student Services
SCHEDULES will be viewable on Skyward beginning July 29
Students should check their schedule prior to the first day of school.
Counselors will accept change requests by email ONLY.
The last day to request a schedule change is Tuesday, August 13 at 3:00 pm.
Schedule change requests will be prioritized as follows:
1. You are missing a graduation requirement
2. Your schedule is incomplete, or a class is duplicated
3. You are enrolled in a course that you have already completed and received credit.
4. You are enrolled in a course for which you have NOT met the prerequisite.
5. You have a physical injury that does not allow participation in the course.
6. You wish to increase or decrease rigor of your schedule (assuming space is available).
7. You have decided you do not want to take a class that you originally chose (in January).
Alpha Counselor by student last name:
Since Mrs. Morris is out, see alpha split below.
E – K leahmurray@smsd.org - and B
L – Q jenniferfontaine@smsd.org - and D& ELL
R – W deannagriffey@smsd.org - and C
Real World Learning and X, Y, Z brittsherer@smsd.org - and D
Bison Athletics and Activities
