North News February 3, 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

Building Mission, Commitments, and Goals

Our building mission, commitments, and goals are at the forefront of all that we do in our building. As we get further into the school year, we will provide updates on our data on our goals.

February 5, 2025-Evening Parent Conferences, Grades 9-12

February 7, 2025-No School PreK - 12, Parent Conferences

February 17, 2025-Presidents' Day, Schools/Offices Closed

February 18, 2025-Professional Learning, No School PreK - 12

March 14, 2025-Teacher Workday, No School PreK - 12

March 17-21, 2025-Spring Break / No School

April 21, 2025-Professional Learning, No School PreK - 12

April 22,23,24, 2025-R&D Forum Open House receptions from 4-7:00pm at CAA

North Community,

We are excited for a busy week at the Brickhouse this week! We have a modified schedule this week, with block classes Monday-Thursday, and no school on Friday due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. We will have a full week of classes next week.

We have a busy week at the Brickhouse! All athletic teams are in competition this week, we have the Northman Pep Assembly on Tuesday, and of course our conferences take place on Wednesday evening and Friday during the day. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Please let us know if you have any questions about the upcoming week. Let’s have a great one and Go Bison!

Personal Device Policy documents

The SMSD personal device policy went into effect today. We had a great start! I wanted to make sure I included these resources one more time!

Personal Device Policy Communications

Personal Device Policy Communications en Espanol

Executive orders and education

There have been several executive orders over the past few weeks that have raised questions and/or concerns on how individual students will be affected. If you have any questions or concerns about how our district and building will handle these orders, please do not hesitate to reach out to the main office.

Emergency contact information

All families are encouraged to review and update their emergency contact information in the Skyward Student Information System. Parents/guardians should contact the school office if there are any changes or updates. It is a best practice to have more than one contact listed in the event of an emergency.

Late Start Thursday Assistance

Parents and Guardians,

If you have a student that comes to North early on late start Thursdays, we are advising you to have a conversation with them about going (or not going) to the nearby QuickTrip. First, QuickTrip has reached out to our resource officers and administrators notifying us that they are seeing an abundance of shoplifting by SMN students on Thursday mornings. QuickTrip informed us that they will begin to charge students for shoplifting from now on. Be advised and please inform your student that if they walk over to QuickTrip (or Target) on late start Thursday’s that they need to purchase any items that they desire.

Shawnee Mission North will be hosting an opportunity to touch base with teacher’s about your student’s progress thus far in second semester. The available conference times are scheduled for this upcoming Wednesday, February 5th from 5pm to 8pm and again on Friday, February 7th from 7:30am to 2:30pm. Please be aware that Wednesday’s conferences are open format, which means you can visit any teacher at any time between 5pm and 8pm in their classrooms. However, conference times on Friday the 7th are more formal and will be scheduled with 10 minute time slots that are again in the teachers classrooms.

To schedule conference times for the Friday conferences through Skyward, please follow the directions below.

Directions to Sign Up:

1. Log into your parent account in Skyward. https://skyward.smsd.org/

2. Click on “Conferences” on the left hand navigation

3. Click on “All Conferences”

4. Click on “Select a Time” for the class you would like to schedule a conference for

5. Find the time slot that works for you to have the conference and click “Select” and then “Save”

6. You will repeat this process for each teacher/class that you would like to schedule.

7. You will then receive an email for each time slot you select for your student.

8. WebEx conferences can be scheduled by corresponding with your student’s teacher(s).

The intent of parent-teacher-student conference is to provide positive dialogue between parents, students, and teachers to help our students succeed here at North. Please make sure to bring your student with you to conferences. If they absolutely can’t attend, please have a conversation with them beforehand so you have some background information about the class you are having a conference. In addition, please know your student’s schedule so you will know the classroom numbers and the names of the teachers.

NJROTC members will be around SMN to guide and direct parents and patrons to the correct location; Spanish-speaking interpreters will be available to assist families. Spanish-speaking parents that need assistance signing up for conference via Skyward, please contact Vivianna Sanmiguel at 913-993-6920 or email her at VivianaSanmiguel14@smsd.org

Thank you,

SMN Administration

School Fees for 2024-25 are now PAST DUE!

***Statements for unpaid fees will be emailed from the district on Friday, February 7. Senior fees are due by graduation. All other fees are due before June 1st to avoid Collections.***

• 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.
• 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 fees have been removed from accounts. If you need pay for a parking permit, yearbook, class dues, etc., contact the bookkeeper.
• 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.

On Wednesday, February 5th, SMN PTSA will host a dinner for our awesome SMN staff who work a long, busy day on conference days! Help us show our support and appreciation by contributing a dish or condiment for the meal. See the selections below.

*All items should be delivered to the SMN Office by 3:00pm on Wednesday, February 5th. If you are unable to deliver - email Emily Hillman at emilyjh73@gmail.com.

If you would prefer to donate money, please donate at the link below and PTSA will use the donations to purchase items.

https://smnorthptsa.givebacks.com/store/items/945113

**Crock pots and any other dishes or utensils can be picked up in the cafeteria anytime after 5:00pm. Please label your returnable items!

THANK YOU for helping us showing our SM North Staff how appreciated they are!!!

Click on photo

A HUGE thank you to everyone that participated in the 11th Annual SMN Trivia Night - the event was tons of fun and we raised nearly $20,000!!

The funds raised will benefit SMN PTSA, the SMN All-Activities Booster Club, and over 20 groups at North that were designated to receive donations from team registrations.

Congratulations to the Top 3 Trivia Teams -

1st Place - Cobra Kai

3rd Place - Green legs and Hot Damn!

Trivia Night would not have been possible without our volunteers and the many individuals and businesses that donated raffle items.

We also want to extend our thanks to the Garcia Family for serving as our Trivia Hosts and to the Chiefs Ambassadors for donating a Travis Kelce autographed Chiefs jersey.

Thank you to Hy-Vee for donating proceeds from their steak night on January 30th to North! They raised over $400! Thank you to students Evan Koenig, Elijah Francis and Tristan Francis for helping to serve that night!

STUCO February 2025

Bison Families,

North will be hosting a Dignity Drive 2/10-2/14 during HUG Week (more information about that later). We need your help to encourage students to bring in items to your first hour class. This will help make this drive successful and help those in the community in need. The Dignity Drive is something that we did in conjunction with the Job Skills Training class, and it entails bringing in hygiene products for families who cannot afford them. Ideas of things to bring in would be deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, period products, shaving cream, first aid items, etc. All of these items will go to families who cannot afford them.

What does this mean for you? Students will bring in the items to their first hour class, and we will ask that you fill out a quick google form that counts the number of items per grade level. This will be similar to the Homecoming spirit day participation and Hunger Games with the canned food drive. This time, we are asking you to count soap instead of soup (per person, per grade level will be calculated by the form). Job Skills students will come by to collect that week.
The first hour with the most items, per person, by the end of the week will win a free breakfast provided by the fifth block leadership class! Be sure to encourage your students to bring in items and encourage them to participate--perhaps even set a class goal for collection, as that will tie in with the HUG Week theme of Having Unlimited Goals. What do you get for breakfast? We will reach out to the winning class with a menu of options and will work with you to determine the best day for “delivery.”

We will also be having a grade level competition and posting results on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in Times Square. Point values will be the same as we did in previous competitions and add up throughout the week, being run on a per student basis. The winning grade level will be released to a cookie party celebration on Friday, February 14th at 2:15, prior to the four day weekend.

Thank you for your participation and I can't wait to see the North community come together to positively impact the community! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Ashley Cid Betancourt

CLUBS

College Rep Visits – 2nd Semester Visits

College admissions representatives have started to schedule 2nd 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 below to sign up. Also, check periodically for any rep visits added throughout the semester https://forms.gle/zqhkab4i42B2Hu9n7 .

Any question contact Pam Morris 993-6930

Enrollment for 2025-2026

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year will begin in January 2025. Academic Counselors will meet with students by grade level in seminar starting January 7th. Each student will receive an Enrollment Card and a Course Listing Sheet and will be encouraged to take them home and talk with their parent/guardian about classes for next year. Counselors will then collect Students’ enrollment cards the following week during their English class. Please make sure your student’s enrollment card is in their backpack.

North Basics- English

North Basics- Spanish

Post Secondary Planning- English

Post Secondary Planning- Spanish

Conan McCormack is our Staff Member of the Week! He is working hard in the classroom and as our head wrestling coach! We also host a HUGE wrestling tournament this week and he is a big part of the planning for that!

Raymond Redding is our Student of the Week. Raymond is a great young man who always has a big smile on his face! He works hard in the classroom, and is a multi-sport athlete at SM

Attendance Reminder
“As a reminder: Please remember to contact the attendance hotline, (913) 993-6945, whenever your student is absent. Without a call, absences will be marked as unexcused, and multiple unexcused absences may lead to additional steps being taken to support your student’s attendance.

Additionally, after 10 absences, any further absences will need to be accompanied by documentation that aligns with the following reasons:

• Personal illness. (Doctor/Dental/Medical appointments) The school may, with notice to the parent, require verification from a physician of absences due to reasons of health.
• Serious illness or death of a member of the family.
• Obligatory religious observances of the student’s own faith.
• Emergency situation requiring immediate action.
• Participation in a Kansas State High School Activities Association activity, a district-approved function, or a school-sponsored activity.

If documentation is not provided, the absence will be considered unexcused.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation!”

Please follow the RWL Upcoming Events Link for a list of opportunities. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Real World Learning Counselor, Britt Sherer at BrittSherer@smsd.org

SM North Student-Athlete Leadership Team and SM North Varsity Coaching staff have initiated the Bison Male and Female Athlete of the Month for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Student/Athlete of the Month Award encompasses many aspects of an individual’s character. This award is not intended to be a trivial recognition of who is the “best athlete.” After all, the “best athlete” isn’t necessarily the best teammate, hardest worker, etc. This award represents the student athlete who represents him/herself academically, behaviorally, and as a member of a team. It could be a player that goes out of their way to help their teammates improve, maintains their composure when things aren’t going their way, stays positive in the face of adversity, and continues to encourage others regardless of the obstacles. Maybe it is a player that has shown the most growth and improvement through determination, commitment, and being coachable. The point is, we have some amazing student-athletes that value and emulate the “right way” to do things during and after school.

The recipients for the month of December are Tamiah Washington and Alex Casares. Congratulations!

https://secure.smore.com/n/nxfz4-north-news-january-21-2025

https://secure.smore.com/n/bmu12-north-news-january-13-2025