North News September 1, 2025

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

September

1 - No School

9 - PTSA Meeting 6:PM

12 - No School

24 - Photo Retake Day

North Community,

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday today and gearing up for a great week of school starting tomorrow! We have had a phenomenal start to the school year, and we really get into the rhythm of the school year this week.

We will run a block schedule for the next two weeks. We are off today due to the holiday, and students are off on Friday, 9/12 due to professional development.

Last week girls’ golf, girls’ tennis, volleyball, and boys’ soccer were all in action, highlighted by a 5-1 Friday Night soccer victory over Basehor-Linwood! We have a busy week at the Brickhouse this week, with all of our fall activities in action, and our home opener in football featuring the season debut of dance, cheer, and the marching band!

Social Media

Shawnee Mission North is active on Instagram and Facebook. Please follow us on Instagram (@smnorthhs) and Facebook (@Smnorthhs) for updates on activities, students and staff members of the week, and other great stories of the great things happening at the Brickhouse!

School Pictures

Yearbook Picture Day was a success and student photos are ready to be viewed and purchased at

http://rollandonline.hhimagehost.com/ShawneeMissionNorth25

This is the photo that will be used in the yearbook and if you preordered a photo package, the photos will be delivered to your student at school in about two weeks. Students who wish to have a retake can sign up HERE . If a student purchased a package and returns that package on retake day there is NO charge for the retake. For all others wishing to have a retake, there is a $3 charge– bring cash or a check to the retakes.

Senior Lunch Information

Senior students who have obtained parent permission through a google form are now allowed to leave campus for their designated lunch time. Students should not leave early or return late to your classes. Students are NOT allowed to bring commercial food back into the building. If a student attempts to bring food back to the building, it will be confiscated and held in the office until 2:40 p.m. Stickers will be placed on ID’s as soon as the ID cards arrive. Until then, Officer Talcott will manually check students in through Door #1, which is the only entrance allowed when students return from outside lunch. Please support these building expectations in your classroom and encourage students to follow these guidelines if they want to keep the privilege of going out for lunch.

Let’s have another great week! Go Bison! WE ARE NORTH!!!

Students of the Week

• Elite of North- Our award winner this week is Kathryn Russell. Kathryn is a high ranking student in the senior class, and also participates in Marching Band!

• Heart of North-Our award winner this week is Maci Swob. Maci was nominated for her kindness toward all students. She is also a leader in SMP, SALT, and our Dance Team!

• I am North-Our award winner this week is Michael Wheat. Michael was nominated for being so involved in a multitude of activities in our building and representing our school with class!

After School Tutoring

After school tutoring will begin on September 8th. Students are welcome to stay to get academic support from staff members certified in many content areas. In addition to tutoring, free after school meals will be provided to eat in the cafeteria at 2:50, and a free late bus to take students home anywhere in the North area that leaves at 4:30. Please encourage your student to stay for makeup work, additional help from teachers, or as a quiet space to do homework.

Social Media

Shawnee Mission North is active on Instagram and Facebook. Please follow us on Instagram (@smnorthhs) and Facebook (@Smnorthhs) for updates on activities, students and staff members of the week, and other great stories of the great things happening at the Brickhouse!

I hope you're having a great start to the year! Would you mind popping this in next week's newsletter? I attached a jpg file which is what I think you prefer.

Hey hey, who’s ready?!

Our first tailgate party of the season is almost here, and we’re kicking things off BIG for the Varsity season opener!

Where: Legacy Patio

When: 6 PM

We’ll have:

*Walking taco kits (with a treat + drink included)

*Crumbl Cookies

*Football swag ready to rep your Bison pride!

And the best part? Our KCFC Cheer Crew is bringing it all together once again so come hungry, come loud, and let’s cheer on our Bison Football Team!

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, September 13th, swing by Robeks and grab a smoothie to support our SMN Football Team!

Each summer, Robeks hooks up our players, coaches, and managers with smoothies at a great price and now it’s our turn to show them love back. By stopping in and purchasing a smoothie, you’re not only fueling up with something delicious, you’re also supporting a business that supports our team.

Thank you for always having our back, Bison Family. Let’s show up strong!

Go Bison!

Morning student drop off

The doors in the front circle drive that are open are the main entrance (Door 1) and the cafeteria (Door 48).

Please drop students as far forward as possible. Students should not be dropped off in the middle lane. This creates a safety situation as well as requiring cars in the drop off lane to keep waiting for students to pass. If you are arriving from the East, we recommend dropping students off in the East lot (Field House doors 41&42)

Why No Juice at Lunch?

A change in USDA’s Buy America regulations are the reason we are no longer able to offer juice during lunch. These regulations limit non-domestic product expenditures to 10%, and unfortunately, there is no domestic juice available in the quantities we need.

Per USDA regulations, students with documented medical needs can receive a nutritionally equivalent milk substitute at no additional cost. This requires a completed Medical Statement to Request Meal Modification form, which the school nurse can assist families with. USDA does not consider juice to be nutritionally equivalent to milk, so we would offer a soy milk substitute once the meal modification is completed.

In addition, water is available to all students during lunch periods as required by USDA regulations. Our Wellness Policy encourages students to bring a reusable water bottle so they can stay hydrated and ready to learn all day long, because kids deserve to feel their best.

While this change can be disappointing, our goal remains the same — to make every choice we offer in the cafeteria the best it can be because kids are at the heart of what we do.

“Attendance Calls – What You Need to Know

Getting automated calls about your student’s absence, even after reporting it? Here’s why.

Once a student reaches 10 absences, any absence moving forward will be marked unexcused and will result in an automated call unless documentation is provided.

We send two calls daily: one in the late morning and one in the afternoon. If a call is missed, it may be repeated.

You may receive a call if your student:
• Misses one or more periods
• Misses over half a class period
• Misses a full day that is considered unexcused

To excuse your student, please call the Attendance Hotline: 913-993-6945

• 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

shellelewis@smsd.org

913-993-6910

College Admissions - Rep Visits – 1st Semester Visits

College admissions representatives have started to schedule 1st semester visits with juniors and seniors interested in attending their schools. Students need to be in good standing and have permission from their teachers to attend these meetings. Open the link to sign up. https://forms.gle/Ds6FETjnHFJRjocL7 . Check frequently for any rep visits added throughout the semester. Contact Pam Morris in Student Services with any questions.

• 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!

https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

Hello Friends of Shawnee Mission North!

Join us on Wednesday, Aug 20 at 6:30pm in the SMN Learning Commons for the first meeting of the All-Activities Booster Club for the 2025-26 school year. Come meet other members of the North community and learn about upcoming events.

You can earn $$$ for your favorite group at North by attending Booster Club meetings. We offer Attendance Grants to any SMN club, group or team that sends a parent, student, or sponsor/coach to our meetings. If your team or group has someone attend at least 4 Booster Club meetings a year, we will give your group a $100 grant - attend 6 meetings and receive a $200 grant!

Did you know… Each year the SMN All-Activities Booster Club supports student clubs, groups, and teams by funding grant requests from coaches and club sponsors for expenses that are not funded by the school district? Since our organization began, we have given OVER $250,000 in grants to student organizations & teams at North! We raise funds for our grants through our spirit wear sales, memberships, Annual Trivia Night & Annual Golf Tournament.

RENEW or PURCHASE your $15 SMN All-Activities Booster Club Membership

for 2025-26 (receive a FREE t-shirt while supplies last)

and SHOP for North Gear 24/7 at our online store… https://shawnee-mission-north-booster-club.square.site/

Want to meet other members of the SMN Community? BE A VOLUNTEER!

We need 6 volunteers to assist with selling spirit wear at the first home varsity football game on Friday, September 5. Shifts are 5-6:15 pm and 6:15-7:45pm.

Click on the sign-up link below for more info... https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4EAFA62FABF58-58008176-help

For SMN Booster Club news & updates find us on... Facebook https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=403968853023402 Twitter https://twitter.com/SMNorthBooster

North Pride!

Maureen Kronawitter

Corresponding Secretary/Membership

Booster Club Officers:

Co-presidents:

Jammie Dunker & Valorie Kohoutek

Recording Secretary:

Becky Trost

Corresponding Secretary/Membership:

Maureen Kronawitter

Treasurer:

Janette Weding

Spirit Wear Chair:

Paula Blood

Grants Committee Chair:

Nancy Hesse

Last week girls’ golf, girls’ tennis, volleyball, and boys’ soccer were all in action, highlighted by a 5-1 Friday Night soccer victory over Basehor-Linwood! We have a busy week at the Brickhouse this week, with all of our fall activities in action, and our home opener in football featuring the season debut of dance, cheer, and the marching band!

I hope you're having a great start to the year! Would you mind popping this in next week's newsletter? I attached a jpg file which is what I think you prefer.

Hey hey, who’s ready?!

Our first tailgate party of the season is almost here, and we’re kicking things off BIG for the Varsity season opener!

Where: Legacy Patio

When: 6 PM

We’ll have:

*Walking taco kits (with a treat + drink included)

*Crumbl Cookies

*Football swag ready to rep your Bison pride!

And the best part? Our KCFC Cheer Crew is bringing it all together once again so come hungry, come loud, and let’s cheer on our Bison Football Team!