School News  

October 23rd and 25th

We strongly urge ALL parents to participate in parent teacher conferences regardless of your child's course grade status.  We have two convenient formats available.

The OPEN conference format is held in the gymnasiums, bridge and cafeteria.  There is no need for appointments for these conferences.  Plan to spend 7 - 10 minutes per teacher.  If a parent and/or teacher would like to continue the conference past the allotted time, they should establish an appointment for a conference time on Friday afternoon allowing for a more private conversation.

If a parent cannot attend the October 23^rd or 25^th scheduled conference time, they should contact the teacher directly by phone or email to establish an appointment for an alternate time.

Wednesday evening, October 23rd (5:00 - 8:00 pm) 

All teachers will be available for conferences.  Appointments are not required.  Teachers will be located in the main gym, auxiliary gym or bridge.  A map will be provided.

Friday, October 25th (7:30 am - 3:20 pm) 

 

Communication between school and home is a vital piece of academic success for students. 

SM West will be using email as a primary mode of communication to distribute important information related to all aspects of SM West High School, i.e. counseling updates, school wide information, schedule updates and changes, etc.

Please verify that SM West has correct parent/guardian email information on record. If you have not received emails announcing Back to School Night or other information from SM West by email this year, please contact the Counseling Office, 913-993-7809, to verify and/or update your email address or other basic student information.

Other good sources of information are the SM West webpage, Parent@School, and Viking Alerts. Contact the main office or the counseling office for more information regarding these programs. 

Designated unlocked entrance doors in the morning

• main entrance under front canopy by the office (Entrance #1), 
• auditorium doors (Entrance #32), 
• ROTC doors (Entrance #30), and 
• Antioch lot doors by room 24 (Entrance #10).  

During the school day, the only entrance into the building that is unlocked to visitors is the main entrance under the front canopy by the office (Entrance #1) in the circle drive.

Picking up students after school in the circle drive

The parking lots and streets surrounding SM West can become congested at school dismissal time, especially with the school buses picking up students. Parents are strongly encouraged to wait until the buses depart school before driving on campus. The buses leave at 2:47pm or seven minutes after school has been dismissed.

According to the loitering policy, students must be off school grounds by 3:10pm or 30 minutes after school is out. This policy does not apply to students working with a teacher or participating in a school sponsored activity, however, those students should depart campus as soon as the activity is finished. Thank you for your cooperation.

In as little as thirty minutes per week, you can create a winning future for students.  

MVP is a school-based program offering volunteers the opportunity to assist with a range of in-school activities, including mentoring, serving as a lunch buddy, sharing special talents or career interests, tutoring in math or reading, or simply being a friend who listens. 

Find out how to become part of our MVP team.  

Visit www.smsd.org/community, e-mail rachellarsen@smsd.org, or call (913) 993-6411 for more information.

News From The Nurses Office

Parents...here are some great internet links with helpful ideas, but please view the internet link before directing your child to the resource.  These sites may not be suitable for all ages.  

At the beginning of the new school year many parents have questions about the Health Information required for student enrollment and the necessary immunizations.

SMSD Health Service Web Back Pack has the details that will answer your questions.  Please look at the Immunizations and Illness and Absences sections.

It is especially important to consider the recommendations for Teen Immunizations. Now is the time for important "boosters" such as Pertussis as well as some recently recommended vaccinations for meningitis and HPV.  Exclusion for summer announcement is in October so please be sure to get caught up on all those immunizations.

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm

This year the over the counter medication forms may be found in your student's planner or on the SMSD website under Health Services. 

Unfortunately the leading cause of eye injuries in school aged children are sports related.  Most eye injuries can be prevented through wearing the proper eye protection. Please view this web site for helpful information and advice.

http://www.preventblindness.org/leading-cause-eye-injuries-school-aged-children-are-sports-related

 

As school starts in August, many students become involved in school sports.  This Web Site has some great ideas to ease muscle discomforts and to decide when to get a doctor's advice.  

 

Visit http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/first_aid/sports_injuries.html

  

"But Mom/Dad- I can still study with music through my headphone, while 'texting' on my cell phone, with instant messaging on my computer and my favorite TV show in the background. It is called MULTI-TASKING!" 

  

Recent studies have shown that we can only do one thing at a time and that rapidly shifting our attention between items reduces our ability to remember and to be accurate. 

 

It is time to take a good look at this issue and the following Web Site examines how this 'connectivity' affects students.

 

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/back-to-school-in-a-wired-world

News From The Counseling Dept

Check Out Our Website!!!

The Shawnee Mission West Counseling Department is always adding new information to our web backpack.  Keep checking it regularly.  If you need information regarding tests, career options, college applications, scholarships and financial aid, log on to:  www4.smsd.org/SMWCounselors  or the Shawnee Mission West website and click on "Counseling Home"

Counselor assignments for the 2013-2014 school year

West students earn AP Scholars Awards

The College Board recently announced the AP Scholar awards.  Shawnee Mission West had a high number of AP Scholars - 50 students were recognized for their performance on AP Exams.  AP Scholar honors are given in recognition of achievement on Advanced Placement exams, which are administered after the students have completed AP courses.  Students can earn college credit from most colleges and universities by taking the AP courses and performing well on the exams.  In 2013, 214 students took 357 exams at Shawnee Mission West.  Congratulations to the all of these students!

Ryan Fajardo - 2013 grad.

John Gaumnitz - 2013 grad.

J Geracie - 2013 grad.

Sierra Lekie - 2013 grad.

AP Scholar with Distinction (awarded to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams):

Madeline Bjorklun - 2013 grad.

Kacey Brown - 2013 grad.

Madalynn Bryant - 2013 grad.

Moses Burkhart - 12th

Ryan Fajardo- 2013 grad.

Megan Gardner- 2013 grad.

John Gaumnitz- 2013 grad.

J Geracie- 2013 grad.

Claire Hug - 12th

Erin Lanigan- 2013 grad.

Sierra Lekie- 2013 grad.

Julia Marquez-Uppman- 2013 grad.

Brittany Porter - 2013 grad.

Hannah Wilhelm - 12th

AP Scholar with Honor (awarded to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams):

Robert Dallas - 12th

Alexander Hart- 2013 grad.

Megan Matthews- 2013 grad.

Maggie Meyer- 2013 grad.

Landon Ochsner- 2013 grad.

Grace Rogers- 2013 grad.

Keiko Suzuki- 2013 grad.

Hannah Teicher- 2013 grad.

Elizabeth Thomas- 12th

Garrett Viets- 2013 grad.

Tabina Yeasin- 12th 

AP Scholar (awarded to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams):

Katherine Armstrong- 12th

Kyle Barkema- 12th

Natalie Bjorklun- 12th

Layne Bozick- 2013 grad.

Jenny Brown- 12th

Katherine Calhoun- 12th

Marleah Campbell- 12th

Emma Cook- 2013 grad.

Lindsey Eck- 12th

Eric Ferguson- 2013 grad.

Jaime Hay- 2013 grad.

Sarah Hinman- 2013 grad.

Blake Hunter- 2013 grad.

Karthik Kailash- 12th

Rachel Krueger- 12th

Cole Lawrence- 12th

Mark Maiden- 2013 grad.

Blake Martin- 2013 grad.

Becca Pruett- 2013 grad.

Ami Purohit- 2013 grad.

Warren Rambo- 12th

Allison Smith- 12th

Abigail Ulrich- 2013 grad.

Michael Wirth - 11th

Jeffrey Yankovich- 12th

Congratulations!

SENIORS and College Planning

Has your senior taken the ACT yet?  Has your senior decided on a college or career path yet?  Now is the time - our office recommends that seniors take the ACT for the last time in October or December of the senior year. (October for scholarship purposes at KU and K-State since they have November 1^st scholarship application deadlines.)

So what else needs to be done?

• Pull the applications together.  Seniors need to narrow their lists of colleges to five or so and review those with their academic/college counselor.  They need to check application due dates and financial aid requirements from the colleges themselves.

• Do the student "brag" sheet (found on the Counseling web backpack).  We'll use this in the Counseling Office to write recommendations for college and scholarships.  The Parent Brag Sheet is also very helpful in preparing letters of recommendations.

• Put together a master calendar of all the application due dates are and tests being taken.

• Complete the online applications whenever possible, especially for our state universities (KU, K-State, Wichita, Emporia, Pittsburg, Ft. Hays).

• Sign up to take the ACT and, if necessary, the SAT.  

• Check out the FAFSA4Caster and establish your pin number for the FAFSAA:  go online to www.fafsa.gov .

• Scholarships:  Check the web backpack regularly for updates.

• Check out Kansas Career Pipeline on the Counseling Web Backpack to do career research and interest assessments.

PTSA News 

Thank you to all parents, teachers, staff and students who have already joined Shawnee Mission West PTSA!!  PTSA does not conduct fundraisers, so membership dues are how we fund the programs that benefit students and teachers.  So far this year, we have a total of 695 members (354 parents/guardians, 243 students, 92 staff and 6 community).

Remember, at the high school level, students also join PTSA. Through PTSA, students can receive volunteer hours for helping with events like registration, landscaping, party prep and more. Student PTSA members are also eligible for scholarships their senior year.

The membership form is available on the Shawnee Mission West PTSA website at www.smwestptsa.org. You can mail the form to the school office (address is on the form), bring it to the school office, or we will also accept memberships at the PTSA meetings.

Thank you for your support of the Shawnee Mission West PTSA!

For more information, contact Kim Witters, 1st Vice President-Membership 

SMW students may apply for the Presidential Service Award by tracking their service hours on the sheet available from the counseling office or on the SM West website.  

The hours must be completed over a twelve month period beginning 4/1/13 and ending 3/31/14.  

The students self report the service hours and at the completion of the tracking period return the completed service hour form to the counseling office to be submitted for the award.  Click here for tracking form.

Forms need to be turned in by 4/3/14 in the Counseling Office.  The committee chair then compiles the information necessary for submission of the students for the award.  The awards are applied for on line on the Presidential Service Award website, www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

The awards will be delivered to SMW and the counseling office and administration will determine how and when recognition will be scheduled.

Student Council 

Although school just started, StuCo participated in activities over the summer around the area. Members of the Exec Board attended a weeklong camp at Emporia State University where they learned valuable leadership skills. We also helped host a district blood drive and the effort produced 55 pints of blood.

A few changes occurred to this years' student council. A StuCo class was created and deemed mandatory for student body officers and Exec Board members. The class was made optional for class officers elected last spring. Members and sponsors are already benefitting from the extra time. One of our goals in class is to send the members to a national StuCo conference in Denver, Colorado in November. We are fundraising in a variety of ways to make it possible. We will also attend a regional conference at Blue Valley Southwest in September.

Election signups for all grade levels occurred August 19 to August 22. Campaign week will begin August 26 for all students that signed up to run. This year we are offering online voting; It will run Thursday August 29 at 7 am until 2 pm Friday. The link will be posted around school and on the StuCo website. The normal voting stand will still be offered on Friday. We hope to make voting more accessible to students and receive a higher turnout. Results will be announced at the end of the school day Friday.

  

Activities

The year's first AFTER PARTY will be on Friday, Sept. 13. 

If you can volunteer please contact Lori Stamm at lori.stamm@rsa.com.

Can't help at this party please sign up for the events on the horizon.

Sept. 13 - After Party

Oct. 12 - Homecoming Dance

Nov. 1 - After Party

Dec. 6 - After Party

Jan. 17 - After Party 

Feb. 8 - Sweetheart Dance 

As a reminder students will need to bring $3 and their school ID to attend this party!

Department News 

Class of 2014 - yearbook senior pictures

DeCloud Studios is our official yearbook photographer.
In order to be included in the senior section, you need to have your picture taken by DeCloud. You have two options: 

1. Have your picture taken by DeCloud here at West, August 29 from 7:30-3:00. (in the library).  You will have to pay a $5 sitting fee. You are not required to purchase any photos.
2. Make an appointment and go to the studio before Sept. 14. You will have to pay a $5 sitting fee. You are not required to purchase any photos. DeCloud Studios, 913.956.7200, 6717 Shawnee Mission Parkway * Overland Park, KS 66202

If you miss the Sept. 14 deadline, we cannot guarantee your picture will be in the yearbook.

Questions? Contact Amy Morgan at 913.993.7911 or amymorgan@smsd.org

Viking Athletics

At this point fall sports are now under way.

Now is the time to start planning on getting your physical in for spring sports season which begins Monday, November 18. In order to be able to participate in tryouts, a complete physical form and a concussion and head injury information release form must be on file in the athletic department by Friday, November 15. Waiting to turn in required forms the day winter practices and tryouts begin will delay eligibility to participate. No student can participate without these documents being on file with the athletic department. All physical and concussion forms can be handed in directly to the athletic secretary.

Helpful hint; it is a good idea to keep a copy of your child's physical for your records.

SHAWNEE MISSION WEST FCCLA STUDENTS EARN SECOND PLACE AT NATIONALS AND MANY SCHOLARSHIPS

The Shawnee Mission West FCCLA student culinary team took seconded in the nation at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America's 2013 National Leadership Conference and STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Event Competition. 

Erica Medina, Jesus Ladron and Zanobia Knighton received Gold medals and many scholarships in the Culinary Arts STAR Event, one of 31 national STAR Events available to FCCLA students.  These students earned scholarships to Johnson & Wales University, Kendall College, Escoffier, Sullivan University, Le Cordon Bleu College, Culinary Institute of America and the Art Institute.  Their medals were presented at a recognition session honoring all participants at theGaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center on Thursday, July 11.  Thousands of members, advisers, alumni, and guests from across the nation attended this meeting. Approximately 3,600 students advanced from the local, regional, and state level of STAR Events to the national meeting. 

These students were seniors at SMW and attended the culinary program at Broadmoor Technical Center.  Erica Medina said "The FCCLA National competition opened a lot of college doors and helped provide financial stability for all of us.  But most importantly, we learned a lot about working as a team and had a lot of fun!"

Throughout the year, FCCLA members tackle issues such as teen violence prevention, traffic safety, family issues, career exploration, and much more.  FCCLA programs and competitions enrich student learning, improve self-esteem, and serve students with a range of ability levels, economic situations, and cultural influences.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 200,000 members and over 6,500 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than ten million youth since its founding in 1945.

FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members.  It is the only career and technical in-school student organization with the family as its central focus.  

Shawnee Mission West's

The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) have awarded Shawnee Mission West's Sevilla Chapter with the Spanish National Honor Society "Chapter of the Year" award.

"I am extremely proud of each one of these students and the work they did this year," said Sara Hundertmark, sponsor of the Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS) at SMW. "They are not only high academic achievers, but also give selflessly of themselves."

Former President Courtney Klema explained, "In order to be inducted into SNHS, you have to be a junior or senior, and be in Spanish 5 or 6. You have to receive 5 semesters of 'A' in previous Spanish classes, maintain a 3.6 GPA, and complete 10 hours of community service each in the Hispanic community." Members of SNHS logged a cumulative 585 hours of community service during the school year. "Each student in SNHS is a superstar!" beamed a proud Hundertmark.

"We had students who volunteered time tutoring elementary students, working at a medical clinic, reading in doctors' offices through Reach Out and Read but the majority of our volunteer hours are spent at El Centro, a community center that serves the Hispanic community in KCK. A favorite activity is to play with the children at El Centro's preschool," reported Hundertmark.

SNHS' largest community service activity is a winter clothing drive. "This year SHNS collected over 1000 pieces of clothing at SMW and donated them to El Centro for their winter clothing giveaway," reported former SNHS Vice President Amy Hess. "Several helped organize and distribute clothing at the weekend distribution. It was neat to help people pick out clothes for their family members."

For the first time this year, SNHS sold hand woven bracelets (pulseras) for The Pulsera Project, a non-profit organization that supports a cooperative of free-trade artists in Nicaragua. "I'm really proud of our pulsera sale. They're beautiful and each one is individually handmade," said former Treasurer Megan Gardner who spent over 12 hours supervising the sales at the school and school events. "We sold $2000 worth of bracelets - one of the largest schools sales the organization has reported!"

Lexi Bisbing, Megan Gardner, Katie Miller and Kaylee Miller 

selling bracelets at Parent Teacher Conferences. 

In March 2013, members Kacey Brown and Katie Miller traveled to Costa Rica during Spring Break. With the help of SNHS, the girls collected and shipped 135 pairs of donated shoes to Costa Rica. "The La Carpio neighborhood is built on a landfill and is so impoverished that many people scavenge for food and items to sell at the dump," said SNHS Secretary, 2013 grad Kacey Brown. "My youth group director was very surprised to receive such a large amount of shoes. People usually bring a few pairs, but SNHS helped us do better than that." 

Photos of Kacey Brown with shoes ready for transport and with two girls from La Carpio, Costa Rica.

The members of SNHS participated in a fundraiser to support the Society's 17-year-old adopted child (Roxana) from Peru. "When she was first adopted she had trouble walking. She has been provided with therapy and special shoes. She is now finishing her schooling and is considering continuing her education," reported Gardner. "We also decided to donate some of our fundraising money to support The Smile Train, a company that provides cleft-palate surgery in third world countries."

Spanish National Honor Society Members

First Row: Lauren Scobee, Jacqueline Flores, Kaylee Miller, Kara Humphreys, Rachel Kreuger, Jenny Brown, Abby Banning, Secretary Kacey Brown, Treasurer Megan Gardner, Co-Historian Lexi Bisbing, Katherine Calhoun

Second Row: Claire Hug, Jamie Hay, Katie Miller, Megan Vanderpool, Betty Thomas,  President Courtney Klema, Vice President Amy Hess,

Third Row: Mark Maiden, Keiko Suzuki, Katie Miller Ebony Wiley, Martin Higgins

Fourth Row: Sponsor, Sara Hundertmark, Julia Marquez-Uppman, Megan Matthews, John Gaumnitz, Hannah Teicher, Hayden Keuhler 

(not shown: Co-Historian, Maggie Meyer, Brandi Sites, Sofia Paz, Hanna Songer)

Two Year Members of SNHS

First Row: Sponsor, Sara Hundertmark, Secretary, Kacey Brown, Treasurer, Megan Gardner, President, Courtney Klema, Vice President, Amy Hess, Co-Historian, Lexi Bisbing

Second Row: John Gaumnitz, Julia Marquez-Uppman, Kaylee Miller, Megan Matthews, Katie Miller, Hannah Teicher, Ebony Wiley (not shown: Co-Historian, Maggie Meyer, Brandi Sites, Sofia Paz)

Shawnee Mission West's German Teacher

Kris Scheuerman, German teacher at Shawnee Mission West High School, was recently named the 2013 Kansas World Language Teacher of the year by the Kansas World Language Association (KSWLA). 

Each year, KSWLA recognizes an outstanding language educator for his contributions to foreign language education and the language teaching field.  Herr Sc

  heuerman, who teaches German 1-4, is known for his enthusiasm, his ability to connect with students, and his love of German language and culture.  Every other year, he travels with students to Germany using an itinerary that he personally organizes and plans.  

In Spring 2013, his students attended the Foreign Language Film Festival at University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg where they won numerous awards including Best Overall German film.  German 3 student Cady Pendleton says, "Mr. Scheuerman teaches in a way that is really fun.  You don't feel like you have to memorize all the time but you still learn everything you need to know."  

Mr. Scheuerman will be recognized and honored at the annual KSWLA conference in Wichita in November. 

Clubs 

Support SMW Choir and Theatre Departments!

Join SMW Spotlighters! 

Go to the Spotlighters website - www.smwspotlighters.com - for the Spotlighters 

membership form and up-to-date information about choir and theatre.

Click here for order form High School

Complete and mail it with your check payable to SMW Cheer Booster Club to the address on the order form.  Look for the Cheerleading table at the first Home Football Game or visit the SM West Cheer web site at www4.smsd.org/westcheer/html30619.htm for decal information and an order form.