Shawnee Mission Public Schools
Lancer Newsletter
East Lancers 52 Years
Shawnee Mission East High School
September 2010—Published On-line Monthly
www.smsd.org/schools/smeast
Key Dates:
Message from the Principal
9/2 Lancer Day Parade 2pm
Parent-Student Presentations: Understanding Standardized Testing And “What You Really Need to Know to Be Successful In College” During the 2009-2010 school year, I had the opportunity to make two presentations at PTA meetings: standardized testing (including an article in the Parent Newsletter – February, 2009), and what it takes to be successful at college. The short presentation time certainly did not allow us room to go into much detail, provide examples, or to answer many questions. As a result of the feedback from the parents who were in attendance, we have decided to have two evening parent-student presentations on both topics.
9/6 NO SCHOOL, Labor Day 9/7 9th Grade Parent Night 7pm 9/9 Picture Make-Up Day 9/13 PSAT/PLAN Registration 9/14 EARLY DISMISSAL 1:10pm 9/15 College Planning Presentation Parents/Students 9/15 SHARE Renovation Sensation 9/23 Parent-Teacher Evening Conferences 9/24 NO SCHOOL, Conferences 9/27 College Connection 7pm 9/29 Parent/Principal Coffee 9am, Library 9/29 Culver’s Night Fundraiser 5-8pm 10/4 NO SCHOOL Improvement Day 10/5 LATE START, 9:40am
Office Hours The main office at SME is open until 4:00 p.m. each day. The counseling office is open until 3:30 p.m.. Due to changes in staff hours and rotating schedules, not all support staff are here until those times, however. Please call the office to verify if you have a question about hours and availability.
The date for the presentation on standardized testing will be on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in the band room. In this meeting you will learn the differences between the various types of testing (aptitude, achievement, norm-referenced, criterion-referenced, formative, and summative), as well as understanding what the ACT, SAT, and IQ test scores actually measure. Information will also be presented on how colleges and universities use these numbers to determine admission and eligibility for scholarships. We will conclude this presentation on how to prepare for such examinations and how to reduce test anxiety. If time permits, we will split away from the topic and talk about what parents and students need to know when looking at a college or university to attend – a new paradigm of sorts may be in what the college or university can do for you after you graduate rather than what they can offer you while you are there.
The second presentation on ―What You Really Need to Know and Do in Order to Be Successful in College‖ will occur on Tuesday, February 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the band room. One of the great myths regarding college success lies in the thinking that students who have acquired high grades and test scores in high school have a much greater chance of being successful in college – nothing can be further from the truth. The bottom line is ―success in college‖ is due more to one’s internal motivation and drive than anything else. More importantly, students who have a desire to achieve and who are not afraid of failure are more apt to deal with adversity and failure than those students who found high school easy and thus perceive themselves as being invincible. The other topics we will present: time management, scheduling, social interaction, campus involvement, money management, and self-discipline will only go to enhance a student’s opportunity for success. If you are interested in attending one or both presentations, please call Ms. Loretta Preno, my administrative assistant at 913-993 -6600 and let us know you will be attending. This will help us out in the preparation of materials and handouts. We would encourage you to bring along your student(s), so they are informed on what they can do to effectively deal with both issues as they prepare for their collegiate career. Karl R. Krawitz Ed.D, Principal
Superintendent to Present Boundary & Facility Proposals on September 13 In the fall of 2009, as part of the Shawnee Mission School District’s five-year strategic planning process, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education directed Superintendent Gene Johnson to identify areas of educational and operational inefficiency within the school district. Dr. Johnson formed an internal committee to identify the areas of inefficiency. Last April, the committee provided Dr. Johnson with a draft report. Throughout the summer, Dr. Johnson and his staff have been reviewing information from the report along with other available district data and are in the process of developing proposals to address educational and operational inefficiencies within the district. On September 13, Dr. Johnson will present these proposals to the board of education. The information, which will include proposals for boundary changes and school closures, will be presented during the regular board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in the cafeteria at Shawnee Mission West High school and is open to the public. The board will hear the proposals, but will take no action on September 13. The district will hold a series of community meetings between September 13 and the end of October to allow patrons to react to the proposals and gain clarification regarding proposed changes. Board of education members will attend the meetings to hear reactions and feedback from those in attendance. The schedule of the community meetings will be announced to the public at the September 13 meeting. The superintendent’s presentation and community meeting schedule will be available to the public via the district’s website on September 14. Following the community meetings, the superintendent will provide the board of education with formal administrative recommendations. The board will consider the recommendations for action at the November 8 board of education meeting, which is scheduled at 7 p.m., in the Shawnee Mission North auditorium.