February 2010— 2010—Published OnOn-line Monthly Shawnee Mission Public Schools East Lancers 51 Years
Lancer Newsletter Shawnee Mission East High School www.smsd.org/schools/smeast
Key Dates:
ParentParent-Teacher Conferences— Conferences—Friday, February 12
2/2 2/6 2/8 2/9 2/11
SM East High School will be holding their Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12. The Thursday night conferences will be an open-forum format. These conferences will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 .p.m. with the teachers available in their individual classrooms. You will not schedule appointments, but will just move from teacher to teacher as they become available.
PTA General Meeting, 7:30pm ACT Test Date AP Registration Begins EARLY DISMIISSAL, 1:10pm Parent Teacher Evening Conferences 2/12 NO SCHOOL, Conferences 2/15 NO SCHOOL, President’s Day 2/16 LATE START, 9:40am 2/17 Culver’s Night Fundraiser 6-8pm 2/17 Parent Principal Coffee, 7pm 2/20 Sweetheart Dance, 8-10pm 2/24 Junior College Planning Parent Meeting, 6:30pm 3/2 LATE START, 9:40am 3/2 PTA General Meeting, 11:30am 3/4 College Connection, 7-9pm 3/10 AP Registration Deadline 3/12 EARLY DISMISSAL, 1:10pm 3/15-3/19 NO SCHOOL, Spring Break 3/22 NO SCHOOL, Improvement Day 4/2-4/3 Used Book Sale 4/6 LATE START, 9:40am 4/6 PTA GeneralMeeting, 11:30am 4/10 ACT Test Date 4/17 Earth Fair 4/19 8th Grade Athletic Orientation Night, 7pm 4/20 EARLY DISMISSAL, 1:10pm 4/21 Parent-Principal Coffee, 9am 5/4 LATE START, 9:40am 5/4 PTA General Meeting, 11:30am 5/14 Senior Day 5/17 Graduation 5/24-5/27 Final Exams
If you feel that you need a more in-depth conference with a teacher, you can do this on the morning of Friday, February 12. To schedule a Friday appointment call the school at 913-993-6630 sometime before Friday, February 5or contact the teacher directly after February 5. Please note, teachers will not be available during lunchtime. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday or Friday.
Illness at School If a student becomes ill while at school, he/she must come to the nurse’s office and a parent must be contacted before he/she can leave the building. If a student leaves without checking out through the nurse’s office, the absence will be considered unexcused. Please review the Johnson County Health Department guidelines for keeping your student home found under the heading of HEALTH LINKS on the nurse’s web back pack page. Information about the H1N1 virus can be found at www.flu.gov
Student Citizen Police Academy Attention Parents of Juniors and Seniors: The Prairie Village Police Department is offering a Student Citizen Police Academy for all Shawnee Mission East High School Junior and Senior students. The Academy will cover various topics about Law Enforcement including, traffic enforcement, Kansas laws, crime scene investigations, Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) demonstration, weapons and equipment displays, shoot/don’t shoot scenarios, and day-to-day police operations. The Academy will meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for 6 weeks starting on March 23, 2010. Please contact Det. Brady Sullivan #131 at bsullivan@pvkansas.com or 913-993-6767 for more information or to register your student.
Library News The Friends of the Library Committee is ready to roll and plan the Book Drive among the English classes as one of our Read across America activities in March. We are also preparing for the Used Book Sale which will be held in conjunction with the SHARE Garage Sale on April 10. We are now ready to receive donations of books, CDs, videos/DVDs that you are no longer using. Please consider recycling these items to our Library as you’re
thinking about spring house cleaning. You can bring them to the Library any school day between 7:00 in the morning and 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon All funds from the Used Book Sale will go to purchase materials for the Library! The Library Media Center is delighted to welcome 9 lab aides this semester: Hailey Allen, Augie Borchers, Beth Capps, Kale Justice, Allison Kirby, Charlie McGraw, Sam Stewart, Molly Tidrick, and Shannon Tuttle. Thanks a million to these wonderful students who want to help out and give back to their school!
SHARE News SHARE needs your soup!!! We’re doing a soup drive in conjunction with the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s actually part of the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national drive sponsored by 10 NFL teams. Please drop off soup in the containers outside the front office and the counseling office on Super Bowl week February 1 – February 5. All contributions will be given to the Village Food Pantry. January 27, February 3, and February 17 we’re doing Freshmen Connection Blankets for Babies. We’ll be making fleece blankets for Children’s Mercy after school in the library from 2:40 – 3:40 p.m. If your freshman wants to come, please ask them to sign up on the SHARE door (463 in the stairwell on the North end of the building). They can come for one or all of the sessions. Our Downs Dance is February 10 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Any student at East is welcome to come and help. It’s a wonderful, inspiring evening with some pretty interesting karaoke. As always, please contact me with any ????s or ideas, It's Great to be a SHARE Lancer, Pat Kaufman, SHARE Director, Room 463, patkaufman@smsd.org, 913-993-6820
Upcoming SME Performances Choir Events 3/1 The Advanced Repertory Theatre class will present A Celebration of Dr. Seuss at 6pm in the Little Theatre. 3/5 Masterworks Concert (Choraliers) Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 3/9 District Choral Festival (Choraliers) 4/5 Pre-Festival Choir Concert (no Freshman) 5/12 Spring Concert SME Auditorium, 7pm
Theater Events 2/4-2/6 Footloose at 7pm, Dan Zollars Auditorium 2/6 Footloose at 2pm, Dan Zollars Auditorium 2/19 Frequent Friday production directed by Kylie Morrow at 3pm in the Little Theatre.
Band Events 2/9 Jazz Band Concert, 7pm 2/23 Band Concert, 7pm 3/31 District Band Concert, 7pm 5/4 Band/Orchestra Concert, 7pm
Orchestra Events 3/10 Collage Concert 7 pm 4/6 SM District Large Ensemble Festival (Symphony Orchestra) 7 pm at SM South 4/8 Ensemble Festival at Blue Valley Northwest 4/24 Solo Festival at SM East 4/27 Spring Fling; East Orchestra Festival at 7 pm in Gym 5/4 Band/Orchestra Concert, 7pm If you know of a performance that should be included in this feature, please contact Joan Beahm at jmbeahm@hotmail.com or 913-341-3725.
SME Newsletter - February 2010
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Parent Principal Coffee— Coffee—February 17, 7:00 p.m. Join us in the Shawnee Mission East Library at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17 for a special program about “Getting Your Student BACK ON TRACK” If your high school student is challenged with grades below par, social difficulties, illness or depression resulting in long absences or problems which can crop up in four years of a teenagers life...take heart! You can help them get back on track. Becky Wiseman, our school social worker, representation from local community agencies and services, and a parent who knows the territory will help your family navigate the difficulties and even turn adversity into advantage.
Lancer Dancer Receive Honors at Kansas Spectacular Competition Congratulations to the Lancer Dancers for their wonderful results at the Kansas Spectacular competition. The JV Lancer Dancers received a Division One ranking, a Judge's Award for their jazz routine, and the highest overall GPA Award with an overall GPA of 4.06! Congratulations, JV Lancer Dancers! In the soloist category, Megan Nass, Margaret Peterson, and Elizabeth Rodgers received high honors in the Winner's Circle, and for their duet, Margaret Peterson and Elizabeth Rodgers also ranked in the Winner's Circle. Congratulations girls! The Varsity Lancer Dancers received a Division One ranking for all three dances, as well as a Gussy Nell-Davis Award. They were placed in the Winner's Circle and received a "Best of the Best" ranking. The Varsity girls received Judge's Choice Awards for their jazz and hip hop routine, and they earned high honors in the categories of technique, precision, performance, and choreography. Finally, the Varsity Lancer Dancers received recognition for highest overall GPA in the Varsity category with an overall GPA of 3.85! Congratulations on a job well done! Come SHARE THE LOVE at the
SME February General PTA Meeting When: Tuesday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m. Where: SME’s Little Theater What: Brief Business Meeting with updates from Dr. Karl Krawitz followed by a
Special Valentine Program Our speaker, East mom Mary B. Lucas, will share the heartfelt story of how she became an "Accidental Author" after her Father's passing in 2004. Her book Lunchmeat & Life Lessons is filled with the wit & wisdom that her Father shared with her and that now years after his passing readers around the world are taking to heart. Join us as Mary shares a few of her Father's Life Lessons and we guarantee you will walk away inspired and motivated to SHARE THE LOVE or at least the “Comeback Sauce”! A wonderful program for all parents, teachers & students and a terrific time for Dads to join us at a PTA meeting as a reminder of how much influence they have over their children with their own wisdom! Opportunity to Share YOUR Love Representatives for the SME Love Fund (provider of financial assistance to needy SME families managed by Social Worker Becky Wiseman) will be on hand to sell orders for carnations for $1 each. All carnations will be delivered to a student/students of your choice along with your special Valentine message on Thursday, February 11 in honor of Valentine’s Day.
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The East Fund Gifting Party
Celebrating the gift of a SME education and gifting back to preserve it
Saturday, 2/27 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sign up for sensational themed parties
Buy chances to win coveted Lancer items & events
Savor yummy appetizers Sip complimentary beer &
SME Choirbooster News Congratulation to John Meyer for making State Choir! John will be performing in Wichita with other high school choral students in February. Don’t miss the musical, Footloose! Performances are: February 4 at 7pm,February 5 at 7:00 p.m., and February 6 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.. The cast includes Jake Parelman, Lois Wetzel, Sarah Are, Micah Patterson, Will Carey, Emma Marston, Julie Choufont, Emily Walter, Samantha Bartow and the chorus. March 5 is the Masterworks concert being performed at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. The Choraliers will sing the Schubert Mass in G. This is a free concert and will showcase some of the music that the Choraliers will be singing in Europe this spring.
wine
Delight in brilliant company & conversation
Invitations will be mailed soon.
Theatre News Don’t miss the SME musical production, Footloose, on February 4, 5, and 6 at 7:00 p.m. and February 6 at 2:00 p.m. in the Dan Zollars Auditorium. The cast is directed by Brian Cappello, with technical direction by Tom DeFeo. Admission for the play is $7; $5 for students with ID; and free for SME students in theatre classes (with SME ID). Tickets will be February 1 - 5 on the north ramp during lunch. A Frequent Friday production will be presented February 19 by director Kylie Morrow at 3:00 p.m. in the Little Theatre.
Visit www.TheEastFund.org for more information about this event and The Shawnee Mission East Academic Excellence Fund
Auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace, the spring play to be presented in April, will be held February 17 and 18. Students should check the callboard outside the Little Theatre to confirm audition times. The Advanced Repertory Theatre class will present A Celebration of Dr. Seuss on March 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the Little Theatre and will take their production on tour to several elementary schools March 2. If you’d like to join Theatre Boosters, please contact Pat Latshaw at platshaw@kc.rr.com or 913-341-5725. Information is also available at www.smetheatreboosters.org.
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SME Newsletter - February 2010
SME Newsletter Publication Guidelines The SME Lancer Newsletter is published monthly (electronically) during the school year except for a combined November/December edition. Deadline for submissions is the 1st Friday of each month with newsletter distribution occurring on the last Friday of the month. Submissions in Word are preferable. You may also send articles in other word processing formats or graphically as a pdf or jpeg. Electronic submissions are best, but hard copy material can be placed in the “Newsletter” folder located in the PTA mailbox. Your submissions may be edited due to space considerations. Questions? Contact Heather Royce, SME Associate Principal at 993-6600, earoyce@smsd.org; or Joan Beahm, PTA Newsletter Editor at 341-3725, jmbeahm@hotmail.com.
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Counseling Office News— News—www.smecounselor.org Registration for AP (Advanced Placement Program) Exams Begins Monday February 8 2010 What is it? The Advanced Placement Program includes college-level coursework taught within a high school. Which colleges accept AP exam results for college credit? Over 90% of 4-year colleges in the U.S. provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying scores. Go to www.collegeboard.com to determine which colleges participate in the AP Program and the scores required for college credit or advanced standing. On the website, type a college name in the “College Quickfinder” box, click on “AP” in the menu at the top and then scroll down until you have reached the section on AP. Who may take the AP exams? Students who have been preparing for the exam by taking the corresponding course may register for and take the exam. Course enrollment is not required for testing but students who have prepared for the exam by taking the course score much higher. What is the cost and how does a student register for the exams? Each exam costs $86.00. Registration starts Monday, February 8 and ends Wednesday, March 10, 2010. Come to the Counseling Center for the registration form. College Board and the State of Kansas provide a reduced exam fee for families with acute financial need. When are the exams? The exams are only given over a two-week period of time each year. Administration of each exam is assigned a specific morning or afternoon during those ten days. These assignments are made by The College Board and are followed nationwide. How will students enrolled in AP courses know about the exams and registration procedures? The teachers of the AP courses will be distributing copies of the AP Bulletin and discussing the exams before registration begins on Monday, February 8. Students may listen to the daily announcements as well. Questions? Additional information about the AP Program or exams may be found on www.collegeboard.com and/or by contacting Deanna Griffey, Counselor, at 913-993-6635 or eagriffe@smsd.org. You can find the schedule on her Web Back Pack at http://www4.smsd.org/SMECounselors/html27558.htm.
College Planning for Parents of Juniors The SME Counseling Center proudly presents a program designed for parents of juniors. On Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. University of Kansas, Johnson County Community College, and St Louis University will each present the admissions process for their respective University. There will only be two sessions and parents are invited to attend one or two of the sessions of their choice. The first session will run from 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. and the second session will run from 7:20 – 8:05 p.m.. More information about this evening event will be given to your student to bring home on February 22. Call the Counseling Center at 913-993-6630 for additional information. See you then!
College Goal Sunday Sunday, February 21, 2010— 2010—2:00 - 4:00 p.m. No matter whether your child plans to attend a traditional college, community college, or vocational or trade school, high school seniors and their parents receive free advice on filling out financial aid forms at College Goal Sunday. Financial Aid Counselors will be available to help you apply for a Department Of Education Pin and/or complete your 2010-2011 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Attend for a chance to win a $500 scholarship. College Goal Sunday will be held at the JCCC Success Center, 2nd Floor, Student Center Building, 12345 College Boulevard. For more information and to find out what you need to bring, visit www.collegegoal.org.
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Lancer Athletics
Jim Ricker, Athletic Director
Spring Sports Begin March 1, 2010 Spring sports are just around the corner with practice/tryouts beginning on Monday, March 1, 2010. Sports offered in the spring include boys’ and girls’ track and field, girls’ soccer, boys’ tennis, boys’ golf, baseball, softball, and girls’ swimming. Please contact the head coaches with any questions. Track and Field Girls’ Soccer Boys’ Tennis Boys’ Golf Baseball Softball Girls’ Swimming
Brie Meschke Jamie Kelly Sue Chipman Ermanno Ritschl Jerrod Ryherd Deon Slemp Rob Cole
913-993-6690 913-993-6670 913-993-6778 913-993-6716 913-993-2468 913-302-9198 816-808-5248
eameschk@smsd.org eakellyj@smsd.org eachipma@smsd.org earitsch@smsd.org brryherd@smsd.org deondei8@hotmail.com coachrfc@hotmail.com
Prepare Now for Spring Sports Now is the time to begin planning for the spring athletic season. Please keep the following in mind as you begin preparations: Before an athlete can practice, we must have a physical exam on file. If you have already turned in a physical exam for fall or winter sports, you have already met this requirement. The exam must have taken place on or after May 1, 2009, and must be signed by an MD (medical doctor), DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine), DC (chiropractor), or RPA (registered physician’s assistant). A physical may be performed by an RNP (registered nurse practitioner), but the physical must be co-signed by a physician. An athlete will not be allowed to practice or try out unless it is cosigned. Specific forms may be obtained from the office at SME or downloaded from www.smesports.com. This is a KSHSAA requirement.
Winter Sports Banquet Dates Please note the following dates for our winter athletic banquets: Boys’ Swim /Dive
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Cafeteria
Wrestling
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Cafeteria
Boys’ Basketball
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Cafeteria
Girls’ Basketball
TBA
Homestead CC
Bowling
TBA
TBA
College Visits for Athletes If you are planning to play college sports and are invited on an “official” visit during a season you are involved with a school activity, you need to do the proper paper work. In-Season visits need to be cleared with your current school coach in advance and you must fill out an absence form with parent and teacher signatures prior to the day you are leaving if you intend on participating that same day in your activity. If you are not participating in a school activity the day of your visit, you still need to complete the absence form with parent and teacher signatures, but you do not need to clear it with a coach. If you do a college visit and it is not an “official” visit during a season you are participating in, I will not clear you to participate that day in your activity. If you have any questions, please contact Jim Ricker, AD, at 913-993-6643. Jim Ricker, Athletic Director 913-993-6643 SME Newsletter - February 2010
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SME PTA SME PTA SME PTA SME PTA SME SME Parents Learn There are No Easy Answers to School Funding for Shawnee Mission Ninety-six parents and Shawnee Mission district patrons met with district officials and legislators at a special meeting January 20 at SME to learn more about how the state’s financial shortfalls will likely impact area schools. The group heard from the SME PTA Legislative Liaison Teresa Throckmorton and SMSD Committee for Excellence Chair Fred Logan who discussed options for maintaining adequate school funding in future years. Logan told the group that, even with Governor Mark Parkinson’s proposed sales tax increase, SMSD schools will still be forced to cut their budgets and will likely remain in the bottom 10 percent of all Kansas school districts based on authorized per pupil spending. Throckmorton said that the Kansas PTA was focused on maintaining adequate funding for all students in the state and presented an informative slide show that showed how Kansas ranked very high in the region for test scores, graduation rates, and college degrees. State Senator Terrie Huntington and Representatives Pat Colloton and Barbara Bollier told the audience that one of the ways Shawnee Mission was getting hurt was in special education funding. Colloton said that under the current education funding formula Shawnee Mission was receiving state funding for about 67 percent of the cost to education special education students while some other Kansas districts were receiving over 200 percent of the cost for their special education students. Parents were urged to stay abreast of the issue and communicate with their legislators about their concerns for adequate funding for public education and equitable funding for Shawnee Mission schools. This link will take readers to a January 23 Kansas City Star article describing the current funding situation and its impact on local schools: http://www.kansascity.com/340/ story/1703235.html. Cathy Bennett, PTA President
PTA Funds Project for Community Support The Shawnee Mission East PTA Instructional Grants Committee approved a request in December to purchase materials for the Level 1 Sewing Class to create 60 pillowcases for local women’s shelters. These grants are funded by your membership fees and other activities.
Citizenship Contest Winner Ninth-grader Ian Crawford placed second in the district with his essay about the importance of the historic inauguration day, January 20, 2009. He expressed that because an African American man was elected president, it might mean people would become more aware of old prejudices, and work to eliminate them. He used the example of a member of congress from South Carolina publicly showing disrespect for the President to show that maybe nothing has changed. Congratulations to Ian for his efforts!
Special Thank You to PTA Volunteers Thank you to Teresa Throckmorton and Fred Logan for helping to educate area parents about the Kansas school funding crisis and what the shortage of funds for K-12 education will mean for the Shawnee Mission School District. Both of these SME parents have been tireless advocates for our schools and students. Thank you to Mary Lucas and her thoughtful team for orchestrating a get well card signing shindig to support Dr. Krawitz’s recovery and recuperation.
SME Night At Culver’s
Thank you to Nonie Newman for coordinating another great Student Art Fair showcasing the work of our first semester art students.
Wednesday, February 17 7953 State Line Road 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Thanks to all SME parents who volunteered to help with H1N1 vaccinations Thanks to Lori Sherk and Julie Sykes for directing this year’s carnation sales to support the SME LOVE Fund
SME Newsletter - February 2010
Enjoy a great meal & support SME! Culver’s will donate 10% of all sales
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