The United States Presidential Scholars Program has nominated five Shawnee Mission elders as candidates. The nominees are: Natalie E. Anderson, SM East; John Lavergne, SM South; Owen Mcglynn, SM East; Greta Stechschulte, SM East; and Coleman Stephens, SM East. This year, approximately 5,000 nominees were selected for this award from nearly 3.7 million high school students across the country.
PTA Reflections and Citizenship Award Winners
In January, members of the Board of Education recognized winners of the Shawnee Mission Area Council’s (SMAC) PTA Reflections program. This year, students presented their creative works in a variety of artistic mediums, responding to the theme “Show Your Voice”. Click here to view a list of Award of Excellence winners.
In February, the Board of Education recognized honorees in this year’s SMAC PTA Citizenship Writing Competition. This program encourages 5th through 12th grade students to submit an original poem or essay focused on the theme “Future Me Hopes to Be…” Click here to see a list of Award of Excellence and Award winners at merit.
polar plunge
On Saturday, February 18, a team from One Shawnee Mission took a polar dip in the freezing waters of Lake Olathe in support of the Kansas Special Olympics. Through their efforts, the team has raised more than $3,000 to support Special Olympics athletes. At Shawnee Mission, students, families and staff benefit from the opportunities created through Special Olympics. One example is Unified Sports, an athletic opportunity that unites students of all abilities on the same team for fun and friendly competition. Click here to see the One Shawnee Mission Team in action.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Susan Massy, a journalism teacher at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Journalism Education Association (JEA). Massy is among 14 distinguished educators nationwide recognized for significant contributions to educational journalism throughout their careers. She will be presented with the award this spring at the JEA/National Scholastic Press Association National High School Journalism Convention.
County Spelling Bee Champions
Briarwood Elementary fourth grader Jiya Bhavsar took first place in the 2023 Johnson County Spelling Bee. Indian Hills eighth grader Mira McInnes placed second. Bhavsar will now move on to the Sunflower State Spelling Bee taking place in Wichita this spring.
KMEA State executors
The Shawnee Mission West High School Aurora Choir and Shawnee Mission West High School Chorale have been selected to perform at the 2023 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop. More than 60 students have also been selected to perform in honor bands at the 2023 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop. statewide event.
Finalists of the Shooting Star Awards
The Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC) has named 23 Shawnee Mission School District students as finalists for its 2023 Shooting Star Awards program.
These students have been nominated by their arts teachers for this recognition and are being considered for scholarships for their work. All finalists will be honored and Shooting Stars Scholarship award recipients will be announced at the Shooting Stars virtual gala in early April. Click here to see the full list of finalists.
Seal of Biliteracy
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has awarded 111 Shawnee Mission elders, representing 10 different languages, with the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to recognize students who have achieved proficiency in English and one or more world languages.
Shawnee Mission School District is the third largest school district in Kansas. The district serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in 34 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools, and several education centers. It has been consistently ranked among the best school districts nationwide for its high student performance. The district’s goal is for each student to have a personalized learning plan that prepares them for college and career, with the interpersonal skills they need for success in life. The district serves a diverse student population from 14 cities in northeastern Johnson County, Kansas that are within 10 miles of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. For more information, visit http://www.smsd.org.
There are several ways to stay up to date on all the news highlighting students and staff members in the Shawnee Mission School District this school year. Follow us on Facebook, ChirpingInstagram and YouTube, or check out the stories posted under “breaking news” at www.smsd.org.
