SME Principal Newsletter

Dear Lancer Families,

It's been another great week at East! Thank you to all of our families who took time to connect with teachers during conferences this week. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with you in supporting your students' academic progress and look forward to a successful finish to the semester.

As a reminder, we would appreciate your help reinforcing our personal electronic device expectations with your student(s). All personal electronic devices, including cell phones and wireless earbuds, must remain turned off and stowed away during the school day (7:40 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.). Devices should not be kept in students' pockets. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a learning environment where students can stay focused and engaged.

We appreciate our East families and all you do to support our students and staff. Have a wonderful fall weekend!

It’s Always Great to Be a Lancer!

Sincerely,

Leah Vomhof

Principal

Shawnee Mission East High School

In conversations with a few of our parent groups, it was suggested that we share more information about why students are missing school. The chart below provides a breakdown of our first quarter attendance codes, including the reasons recorded for the 16,323 class periods missed. These numbers reflect individual class periods, not full school days or individual students.

Attendance continues to be an area of focus for us at East. Last year, 25% of our students were considered chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of the school year. Our goal this year is to reduce that number to 20%. East continues to have higher rates of student absenteeism than the other high schools in our district, and we want to work together with families to improve that.

We know students miss school for a variety of reasons, including illness, appointments, family circumstances, and school-sponsored activities. We also recognize that some absences are unavoidable. Our hope in sharing this information is simply to provide a clearer picture of attendance at East and why it's an important part of our school improvement efforts.

Research consistently shows that regular attendance is connected to academic success, high school graduation, and college enrollment. This is important throughout high school, including senior year. As our seniors prepare for life after East, regular attendance also provides opportunities to develop habits and responsibilities that will serve them well in college, the workforce, and beyond.

More importantly, when students are at school, we have more opportunities to support them. They're able to connect with teachers, participate in learning, build relationships with peers, and access the resources available to them. When students miss school regularly, it's harder for us to provide that same level of support.

If your student is having difficulty attending school consistently, please reach out to their school counselor as a first point of contact. We want to understand what might be getting in the way and work together to find ways to help. Ultimately, we want our students at East because we care about them, value their presence, and want them to have every opportunity to be successful.

-SME Administration

Congratulations to Joe Johnston on his induction into the Kansas Wrestling Hall of Fame this past weekend! This is a tremendous honor for Joe and a proud moment for Shawnee Mission East and the Shawnee Mission School District.

We're also excited to share that the SME Wrestling Team earned the 6A Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association (KWCA) Academic State Championship for having the highest cumulative team GPA in Class 6A!

Congratulations to Joe and our Lancer wrestlers on these well-deserved recognitions!

Students and Families,

Advanced Placement (AP) and College Now courses offer students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. Participating in these programs can help students get a head start on their college education and reduce future tuition expenses.

To stay up to date on available courses, AP and College Now fees and payment information, and important deadlines, please click the link below.

Link to AP/College Now/RWL Newsletter

Don't forget to scroll to the Real World Learning section of the newsletter to learn more about Real World Learning opportunities, including experiences and programs that may be of interest to you. We look forward to helping students make the most of these valuable opportunities.

As we head into the final weeks of our fall sports season, we have some exciting updates and accomplishments to celebrate! Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches on their hard work and success this season. We'll continue to share updates as our teams move into postseason competition.

If you have questions, please reach out to our Athletic Director, Ryan Johnson. Go Lancers!

• Girls Golf - Sunflower League Champions
  
• Girls Tennis - Regional Champions
  
• Girls Cross Country - Sunflower League Champions
  
• Boys Cross Country - Sunflower League Champions
  
• Girls Golf - Sub State Champions
  

Oct. 20: 9th grade Pre-ACT

Oct. 22: Fall Picture Retakes

Oct. 26: StuCo Can Drive Begins

Nov. 2: No School - Teacher Professional Learning

Nov. 12-14: SME Fall Musical Godspell

Nov. 16: First Day of Winter Sports

Nov. 18: NHS Induction

Nov. 23-27: No School - Thanksgiving Break

*Please click here for our building calendar and click the funnel in the top left corner to filter by event or activity.

Football Game Expectations*

We love the energy and school spirit our students bring to every game! As we cheer on our Lancers tonight, please remember:

• Cheer for East rather than against the opposing team.

• Keep hands to yourself and use school-appropriate language.

• Treat students, staff, teams, officials, and guests with respect.

• Throwing anything in the stands, including trash, water bottles, or water, is unsafe and will not be tolerated.

• Remain appropriately dressed throughout the game. Shirts and other clothing must stay on.

• Remain quiet and respectful during the National Anthem.

• Follow directions from school staff and event personnel.

  
  

Stadium Reminders: Balls, large bags, backpacks, and open containers are not permitted inside the stadium. Unopened water bottles are allowed.

Students who are unable to follow these expectations will be escorted out of the game.

For additional information about student behavior and disciplinary expectations, please review the SMSD Student Handbook, including the Discipline section.

*These expectations are not an exhaustive list of prohibited student behaviors. School administrators reserve the right to use their professional judgment in addressing behavior that is unsafe, inappropriate, or disruptive to the event, even if it is not specifically listed above. Students may be removed from the event and receive additional school consequences when warranted.

For the past 14 years, the SME PTSA and the parents at Shawnee Mission East have put on a safe, drug and alcohol-free graduation party at SME following the graduation ceremony. It is intended to be a well-deserved celebration of our seniors’ achievements and acknowledgement of the years of hard work they put into completing their high school education. The After Grad party has a 99% attendance level by the Senior Class and the event includes dinner, games, various entertainment and raffle items.

To ensure the After Grad Party is a success, and with a long-standing tradition, we are relying heavily on the generosity of our local community as well as families at Shawnee Mission East. Please consider paying it forward so that when your student is a senior, they, too, can have a safe and wonderful celebration. Below are the levels suggested per class, but any donation is welcome and would be greatly appreciated.

$25.00 Freshman Families
$35.00 Sophomore Families
$40.00 Junior Families
$50.00 Senior Families

Payments are accepted in the following ways:

1.Credit card at Givebacks - Support the causes you care about
2. Mail a check payable to SME PTSA (noting After Grad 2027 on the memo line) to Carrie Murray, 8888 Rosewood Dr, Prairie Village, KS 66207.

THANK YOU for your generosity. The Class of 2027 greatly appreciates your support.

SME 2027 After Grad Co-Chairs

Carrie Murray and Lindsay Perrey

With students coming and going throughout the school day for open lunch, CAA/CTC classes, and other approved activities, we wanted to share an important reminder about safety and security at East.

East is a secure campus, and all exterior doors remain locked during the school day. Students who arrive after the final bell at the start of the school day must enter through the main entrance.

Students should never prop open an exterior door or let another student or individual into the building through a locked exterior door. We take this expectation very seriously because it directly impacts the safety and security of our campus. Students who prop doors open or allow others into the building through exterior doors will receive school consequences.

Anyone needing access to the building must enter through our main entrance and check in. Thank you for helping us keep East safe and secure.

See below for details!

Senior students and families: The 2027–28 FAFSA is officially open! Completing the FAFSA is an important step in the college and career planning process and gives students access to federal grants, work study funds and student loans. It may also be used to determine eligibility for state, college and university grants and scholarships.

Federal Student Aid reports that most students can complete their portion of the FAFSA in 12 minutes or less and can see their initial results immediately after submitting. Families are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible since some state and college financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Visit FAFSA.gov to get started or click here for more 27-28 FAFSA information.

SME Girls and Boys Swim and Dive teams are partnering with Funds2Orgs and collecting shoes for developing countries and families in need. This helps support our programs as well as a good cause.

SME Swim and Dive has already collected around 1,250 pairs of shoes by ourselves, and we would love the help of our school and community to reach around 5,000 pairs. If you check out either of our instagram accounts you can find more information on the drive! We have a bin set up near the main office where people can drop off shoes (stated in the flyer)!

For decades, the corner of 75th and Mission Road has welcomed generations of students, families, and community members to Shawnee Mission East High School. Our current monument sign has served us well, but it is time for a major repair and renovation to better reflect the pride and tradition of our Lancer community.

In conjunction with the Class of 2027, our school is raising funds through the East Fund to repair and completely update this vital campus landmark. Whether you are a proud alumnus, a current Lancer family, or a community neighbor, your contribution will directly help us create a refreshed, modern entrance that honors our history and brightens our future.

Ways to Give & Recognition:

• Online Donations: Make your secure gift right here through our Donorbox page. https://donorbox.org/sme-monument-sign

• Check Donations: Prefer to mail a check? Make checks payable to "The East Fund" with "Monument Sign" on the memo line, and mail them to: SME High School, 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208
• Donor Recognition: We would love to thank you for your support! As a token of our appreciation, we will recognize all donors—individuals, families, or organizations—on the official SME website. When making your donation, please use the comment or instruction box to let us know how you would like your name to appear, or simply indicate if you prefer to remain anonymous.

Questions? Please reach out to Kristoffer Barikmo, Associate Principal, at kristofferbarikmo@smsd.org or Leah Vomhof, Principal, at leahvomhof@smsd.org

Thank you for investing in Shawnee Mission East and helping us keep our Lancer pride shining bright!

Buy your subscription to the SM East Harbinger Newspaper by filling out the form below. Print papers will be mailed to your house biweekly after a $70 check is received to SME Journalism.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqQynwFAlt2D4CHo212Ocz5XcTpKOfkkD8DkfjjNU8fHygUQ/viewform?usp=header

The nationally recognized Broadmoor Bistro located at the Center for Academic Achievement is opening soon! Reservations can be made at www.broadmoorbistro.org. This is a student-run restaurant that provides service on Wednesday nights throughout the school year. Reserve a seat now for one of the best restaurants in the city!

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Paige Field, Aspiria Campus – Overland Park, KS 66209

Please consider joining East PTSA! We’re grateful for all they do to support our students, staff, and school community. Your membership is a simple way to support East and the great work of our PTSA. Click here for more information: https://smeast.smsd.org/families/pta.

Saturday, February 27, 2027 (2/27/27)

• Location: Walz Tetrick Advertising, "The Drive-Thru" bar and patio.
  5201 Johnson Dr., Mission, KS 66205
• This is the signature fundraising event for the East Fund. All SME parents and supporters of East are welcome to attend!
• Watch for more information on ticket sales and sponsorships.

COLLEGE NOW

College Now Enrollment and Registration opens Monday August 24th, 2026 for those students enrolled in JCCC College Now or Quick step classes. Please follow the instructions on the Student Services Canvas page to enroll in your college now class.

Please note that this year each College Now teacher has a specific CRN for each class period they teach. This is different than in previous years.

New College Now Enrollment Assistance -, The JCCC Admissions department is hosting two virtual meetings for students and families (and counselors) and will answer any questions about the enrollment process. The sessions will be held from 6pm-8pm on 8/26 and 9/4. Here’s the link to the registration form for both sessions: https://jccc.event451.sites.451.io/event/jccc.events.1884583

AP NEWS

Welcome back AP students! I hope that you have a great and successful school year! AP Classroom are now open! Your AP teachers should have the join codes for each classroom. This year you be enrolled in your AP exam by default. If you choose not to take your exam, you must go back to your AP classroom and select that you will not be talking the exam.

We will be using Total Registration for our Payment and Billing portal. Look for the link to Total Registration to activate soon. For your exams to be ordered you must:

1. Have joined your AP Classroom with the Join Code that your teacher provided, and have indicated that you are taking the test

2. You must then log into Total Registration and pay for your exam

Important Dates and deadlines

November 6, 2026: Registration will close for all year long courses/ and fall courses (Contact Mr. Dusek, the AP coordinator for questions or concerns, jamesdusek@smsd.org; or 913 993 6661

November 12, 2026: Payment for exams must be made by end of the school day. (There is a payment plan offered through Total Registration for a minimal charge This plan must be in place by the payment due date of November 6th, 2026). If exams are not paid for or if a payment plan is not in place; exams will be cancelled.

As a reminder, our counselors' caseloads have been adjusted slightly to reflect changes in student enrollment. Please use the following counselor assignments based on the student's last name:

Last Name A–Di

Last Name Do–Jo

Last Name Ju–L

Last Name M–Sa

Last Name Sc–Z

• Access the Theater Department Website HERE or see the QR Code below.

  
  

• For more information, please contact Tom DeFeo: eadefeo@smsd.org

• https://band.us/n/a5a8bf6dIeWaw

Join us on the BAND App to get notifications on everything SME THEATRE!

Parents/Guardians

If your student has texted you to go home, please call attendance at

913-993-6646 for dismissal from their classroom. Do not send your

student to the nurse’s oce to be called out. We will contact you if

your student is sick and needs to go home.

Illness Guidelines: https:/ /www.jocogov.org/sites/default/les/les/2024-

03/JCDHE%20Exclusion%20Recommendations%202024.pdf

Medications at School: https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/medication

Immunizations and Physicals: https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/immunizations-physicals

S te p h a n i e P t a c e k, B S N, R N

Nurse, Shawnee Mission East

7500 Mission Road

Prairie Village, KS 66208Oce: 913-993-6616

Fax: 913-993-6897

Attendance: (913) 993-6645

Website: www.smeast.smsd.org

Location: 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS, USA

Phone: 913-993-6600

Instagram: @SMEastLancers