Message from Dr. Crain...  

Principal

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SEEK AND DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE

School News  

Board Policy Change

Graduation Information

All students must wear a cap and gown to participate in the graduation ceremony. Packets for ordering caps and gowns are available in the main office or in the counseling office. Announcements are optional.

News From The Counseling Dept

Senior Academic Awards Assembly     

The Spring Senior Academic Awards Assembly will be held on Wednesday, April 30th, at 7:40 a.m.. This program is for seniors and their parents. Information will be sent out in April to recipients of awards. 

Stepping Stone Summer Study Scholarship       

Stepping Stone Scholarships from the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation help Shawnee Mission high school juniors take a step toward their future by attending summer study programs between their junior and senior year. Students explore academic interests and future career choices in an intensive environment on a college campus.  Students can download the application from their website and turn in to their counselor.  Deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 26, 2104. 

For more information, click here:  http://smef.org/s/1485/2_interior.aspx?sid=1485&gid=1&pgid=306

AP testing will take place the weeks of May 5th and May 12th.  The cost for each test is $89 and the payment deadline is March 7th.  This is a firm deadline as tests must be ordered ahead of time. Please note that some AP tests are scheduled after the seniors' last day. Cancellations PRIOR to the test day may qualify for a partial refund. Any cancellations on the day of the test will not qualify for any refund.

FAFSA and Scholarship Information

Remember that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) must be filed as soon as possible.  Most schools in Kansas have a March 1st priority deadline, but you can still file after that date.  Students receiving merit-based scholarships should contact the financial aid at their college to determine if they need to file the FAFSA if they don't believe they will qualify for any additional need-based aid.  You can file the FAFSA by going to: www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you have questions about the Student Aid Report that comes from your student's college, you should contact the financial aid officer at the college where your student plans to attend.   

Playing Sports in College

Any athlete who wishes to receive an athletic scholarship or even participate in intercollegiate athletics at the Division I, Division II or an NAIA School must receive initial academic clearance from the respective eligibility center. It is recommended to begin the application process at the start of the student's junior year in high school.

Full requirement details along with the online application can be found at web1.ncaa.org... for NCAA Division I and II schools and at www.playnaia.org/ for NAIA institutions.

Juniors should be taking the ACT (if they have not already taken at least one ACT this year) to begin preparation for college admission. There are two test dates still available this spring. Register at www.actstudent.org.   If a student is on free or reduced lunch, a fee waiver is available from the Counseling Office. Our school code is 172-773.

Test prep websites and classes are listed on the Counseling Web Backpack under "Testing".

The next ACT test date will be September 13, 2014. The registration deadline will be during the summer months (August 2014). Class of 2015 students should plan on taking this ACT to improve scores for college admission and scholarship purposes or take it for the first time if they do not take it this spring.

Presidential Service Award

Promoting a Safe Prom

High school proms are very expensive affairs. The prom dresses and tuxedos, prom tickets and pictures, limos, extravagant dining, flowers, and those special hairstyles and manicures can add up quickly for one special event that they want to remember the rest of their life. 

For parents, however, the primary prom-related concerns aren't financial. Parents' biggest prom worries are the risky behaviors associated with proms, most specifically driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and unsafe sex. Prom night always seems to be linked with drunken-driving injuries and deaths, date rapes, pregnancies and STDs.  Don't let this happen to your child. The following tips may ease your prom anxieties, while helping to keep your kids as safe as possible:

Prom Safety Tips

Talk, talk, talk -- Tell your children that you want them to have a wonderful, memorable prom. Keep that wish as a central focus. They need to give you their complete itinerary for the evening, including whom they will be with, where they'll be going after the prom and the phone numbers where you can contact them. "We'll just be driving around" is not an acceptable response. Come to a fair decision on a curfew, based upon your children's past level of responsibility in this area. Express your concerns about their health and safety and explain to them why prom night makes it more difficult to make safe and smart decisions. Don't be vague -- discuss drinking, drugging, driving under the influence, and sex. Ask them how they plan to keep safe and avoid actions they will regret. Reinforce your belief in their character and in their ability to act responsibly.

The Ride -- If they're not driving themselves, you must know who'll be driving them. Regardless of how many times you have talked about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, emphasize that these dangers are particularly high on prom night. Your children cannot drink or take drugs and drive. They also must be driven by someone who has not drunk alcohol or taken drugs. You need their promise on these rules. These rules are non-negotiable.

The Connection -- If your children are not returning home right after the prom, you need to be able to contact them at all times until they return home. You also need to be reachable at all times as well. There can be no doubt where your kids will be and with whom throughout the evening and morning. If they're going to other kids' houses after the prom, check ahead of time with these children's parents. You also have a right and a responsibility to ask if these parents are going to allow drinking in their homes. Many parents believe that as long as they "take keys" in a situation like this that underage drinking is permissible in their houses. You must answer the question, "Do I want my kids at after-prom parties where parents aren't present?" Post-prom, parent-child check-in calls make sense. Establish a couple of mandatory call-in times with your kids.

The Offer -- Give your children the unconditional option of calling you at any time for help or advice. That includes picking them up at any time of day or night, with a promise not to shame or humiliate them in front of others. Assure them that you always welcome being part of their making smart and safe decisions. This unconditional offer of help and advice should be an outstanding offer throughout their lives.

Department News 

Viking Athletics

Spring sports kick off Monday, March 3. 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, February, 28 or before. Waiting to turn in required forms the day 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.

Spring Coaches 

It is never too early to start planning for fall sports. Fall athletes can get a physical for next school year beginning May 1, 2014. No need to hang onto the physical until school begins in August. Turn it in as soon as it is complete. They are reviewed by the athletic secretary then given to the school nurse and placed in your student's file.  

Fall Coaches

• Featuring the young adult novel Hate List by Jennifer Scott Brown.
• Sponsored by The West Area AP/Honors English Vertical Team.
• All Westridge and Shawnee Mission West students, parents/guardians,
  and staff are invited to participate.
• Check in downstairs by the West Patrons' Galleryto enjoy refreshments and the West Area Art Vertical Team's exhibit.
• Then we will break into small discussion groups.
• For more details click on www4.smsd.org/mimirainen/.
• For online registration click here: Online Registration   
• Late registrations being accepted.

PTSA News 

Graduating seniors who are members of PTSA are invited to apply for a $300 scholarship. Students must be in good standing in PTSA and have at least a 2.5 GPA. Deadline to apply is April 1. Scholarship winners will be recognized at the April 21 PTSA meeting. Applications are available on the PTSA website or click here.  Applications are also available in the school counseling office. Questions may be directed to Kelly Tines, ktines@kc.rr.com.  

Without you these functions would not be the success they have been. Please know when comparing our attendance to other schools we blow the numbers out and it is because we have the best parents in the district!!!

Special gratitude goes to Rebecca Geracie for the delicious food and Val Barth and Teri Kelly for the great decorations!!

Student Council News 

Winter events are finally in the rear view mirror. WPA went smoothly and the decorations looked wonderfully nautical; Anchors, white lights, and a lighthouse decorated the bridge. Unfortunately, the Sweetheart Royalty could not be crowned before the dance due to snow days, but they were crowned at halftime of the game on February 18th. We would like to thank PTSA for their help in running the dance. Their chocolate fountain was a hit with the students.

Students were offered a fun matchmaking service during seminar. We sold the results on the bridge, raising $944.40. We will vote over how to divide the money that we raised. Originally, we planned to donate all of the proceeds to SafeHome. In the light of recent events, we are planning to discuss options to divide that money between SafeHome and a memorial for Mr. Bishop.

With Spring in sight, StuCo elections are just around the corner. The 2014-2015 Student Body Officer elections will take place before class officer elections. The signups for Student Body Officers will take place February 24th through the 27th. The tickets will campaign the following week, and the election will take place on Friday, March 7th. Those interested in joining the Exec Board will need to turn in their application on the same day. With the new Student Body Officers elected, Exec Board interviews will take place March 10th through the 14th. After spring break, students wishing to be a 2014-2015 class officer will need to sign up from March 25th to the 28th. Candidates will be able campaign the next week, with elections on Friday, April 4th.

The lighthouse contained a strobe light to add pizazz to the dance floor. Lifesavers stood at the entrance, with a wall of hanging twine balls behind them.  

Activities

This year's Prom is at Union Station on Saturday April 26, 2014 from 8-11 PM.

Tickets will be $25 a person and go on sale the week before Prom.

Now is a good time to start planning for Prom!!  Donations are being received for dresses and Men's attire that students can choose from.   

Plans are well underway and a photo booth and pictures will be available for purchase the night of the dance.   

Clubs 

We continue to accept Memberships to Spotlighters, the parent-run organization that supports these two award-winning departments at West.  We assist Mrs. Vanleeuwen and Mr. Reiff with concerts, shows, and activities throughout the year.  Membership dollars go towards helping the teachers achieve their goals, as well as towards several scholarships for seniors. Get involved and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at our awesome concerts and productions. 

Check out the Spotlighters website for the membership form and up-to-date information about choir and theatre.  

What an excellent show of support for this year's musical!!

We had extraordinary crowds Thursday & Friday and an official SELL OUT for Saturday! What an Excellent Performance!!

In December the Madrigals participated in the 99.7 The Point Choir Competition and WON!! Thanks to your voting & support and the great singing of course! A grand prize of $5000 was awarded to the Choir Department plus they received a visit with American Authors! Talk about the "Best Day of My Life"!!