North Notes
Blue Valley North's Parent Newsletter - April 19, 2024
Jazz Ensemble Concert -- Tuesday, April 23, 7:00 p.m. (new)
Everyone is invited to our 3rd Annual BVN Night of Jazz and Percussion!
Come enjoy an AMAZING hour of music from our BVN Jazz Ensemble, our BVN Jazz All-Stars Big Band, and our amazingly talented BVN Percussionists! It will be enjoyable music for all and a fantastic display of student musicians.
Tuesday evening, April 23rd, 7:00 p.m., in the Blue Valley North PAC.
BVN College Signing Day - Wednesday, May 8 (new)
Save the date for signing day. If you are interested in signing please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/zSeCiZ2pDpgac5Ea7 .
Please let us know if you would like to participate in signing day. It will be at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8th in the BVN Commons. We'll have tables set up, but it is up to the families to provide decorations. We'll provide the cake.
There will be a table for your student to sit at. It's common to have table decorations. Parents in the past have brought in balloons, table cloths, t-shirts. Just anything in the school colors will be fine.
See you then and congratulations!
BV Food Pantry Birthday in a Bag Drive: deadline April 30 (new)
National Honor Society (NHS) is wrapping up the year with one more drive to benefit the Blue Valley Food Pantry. NHS is doing Birthday in a Bag drive! Fill bag with items you would want for your childhood Birthday Party. Examples of items to Include in your Birthday Bag: Cake Mix, Frosting, Candles, Party Hats, Streamers/Decorations, Gifts (Legos, Coloring Book/Crayons, Uno), Plates Napkins/Cutlery, Balloons etc. Anything you would want to make your birthday special!
Please deliver your bag to Ms. Cornelius in the BVN Library or Mrs. Stein in room 247 by April 30th.
Thank you for your donation!
Finals Week Care Package -- Deadline Wednesday, May 3 (new)
Are you or your teen stressed about Finals Week? The Class of 2026 is offering a surprise to help your student through their exams! Finals begin the week of May 13th (or 9th for seniors), which is very soon! Purchase a Care Package for your teen, your friends, or yourself at the school store or online (click here: FINALSKIT ) for $15. It has all sorts of good treats to help get your student through Finals Week. Good Luck!
Order deadline: Wednesday, May 3rd
Delivered by: STUCO Officers
Seniors: May 9th
Underclassmen: May 13th
Exact items are subject to change, but students will receive a drink, (peanut-free) snacks, a few treats, a couple school supplies, a fidget, and an encouraging note. Sales end on Wednesday, May 3rd, and will be delivered on May 9th, to seniors, and on May 13th, to underclassmen.
PLEASE Remember to put STUDENT NAME AND GRADE WHEN CHECKING OUT!
STUCO Officers will deliver these to Advisory classes on Wednesday, May 13th to all underclassmen, and May 9th for Seniors
This fundraiser is brought to you by and benefits the Class of 2026. Please reach out to Khasar Chinbat (KChinbat@bluevalleyk12.net) with any questions!
Kudos and Celebrations (new)
Science Olympiad Team
The BVN Science Olympiad Team are your three-peat Kansas State Champions! These students took 1st at the state competition on April 6 at Wichita State University. They have qualified to go to Nationals at Michigan State University in late May.
Astronomy: Anna Pearson and Matthew Chen, 1st place
Codebusters: Sriram Kalki, Ellie Lim, Gabe Ledgerwood, 1st place
Detector Building: Sriram Kalki and Shivram Venkatachalam, 2nd place
Dynamic Planet: Aiden Juhl and Lillian Xia, 2nd place
Ecology: Aiden Juhl and Dilsha Chebolu, 1st place
Fermi Questions: Anna Pearson and Matthew Chen, 3rd place
Flight: Caleb Deng and Eddie Mu, 1st place
Forestry: Aiden Juhl and Quinten Schafer, 1st place
Microbe Mission: Aiden Juhl and Quinten Schafer, 1st place
Robot Tour: Sriram Kalki and Shivram Venkatachalam, 3rd place
Scrambler: Caleb Deng and Shivram Venkatachalam, 2nd place
Tower: Caleb Deng and Eddie Mu, 1st place
Wind Power: Maddy Hall and Eddie Mu, 1st place
Write It Do It: Gabe Ledgerwood and Ajay Nandula, 3rd place
A huge congratulations to these amazing students!
Future Health Professionals (HOSA)
The HOSA Team attended the “Kansas HOSA Spring Leadership Conference.” recently. Dilsha Chebolu and Paritosh Patel were selected to attend the International Leadership Conference in Houston, TX, June 26-29.
BVN Model United Nations Team
BVN students participated in the Metro KC Model United Nations event at JCCC on April 3, and were awarded Best Delegation. Other awards received included: Dilsha Chebolu, Distinguished Delegate; Brendan Kelly, Outstanding Delegate; Brendan Kelly, Outstanding position paper; Nikos Lipscomb, Distinguished Delegate; Nikos Lipscomb, Outstanding Position Paper; Adele Van Lieshout, Distinguished Delegate. Bravo to these students!
Girls Swimming and Diving Team
The Mustang Girls Swim & Dive season is off to an exciting start. Currently undefeated, this year’s team has exceptional depth and talent and is a team to watch in both EKL and State, not to mention the BVN Record Board. Congrats on the multiple achievements listed below!
BVN Records Broken!
- Margo Hauser broke the 16 yr old BVN record in the 100 Breaststroke
- Sarah Blake broke her own record in the 100 Free
State Qualifiers
- Allie Braun - Diving
- Olivia Clifton - Diving
- Charlotte Barton - 500 Free, 200 Free, 50 Free, 100 Free
- Hannah Chan - 200 IM, 100 Breast
- Kate Hettinger - 100 Fly
- Katie Rees - 100 Fly
- Lillie Mock - 50 Free
- Maddy Timson - 200 Free, 100 Breast, 500 Free, 200 IM, 100 Back
- Margo Hauser - 200 Free, 100 Free, 100 Back, 200 IM, 100 Breast
- Natalie Patterson - 100 Back
- Sarah Blake - 100 Fly, 50 Free, 100 Free
- Siena Masilionis - 50 Free, 100 Free
State Consideration
- Hannah Chan - 500 Free, 100 Breast
- Kate Hettinger - 50 Free
- Katie Rees - 50 Free
- Lillie Mock - 100 Fly
- Maddy Timson - 50 Free
- Natalie Patterson - 200 Free, 100 Free
- Paige Sears - 500 Free
- Sarah Blake - 100 Breast
- Siena Masilionis - 200 IM
BVN Math Team
Congratulations to the Math Team for its excellent performance at the Pittsburg State Math Relays on April 9.Individual awards included:
Matthew Chen: 1st in Algebra Equations & Inequalities, 1st in Computational Math, 2nd in Potpourri
Sriram Kalki: 1st in Number Theory, 1st in Algebra Equations & Inequalities, 1st in Algebraic Simplifications
Sean Akkulugari: 2nd in Algebra Word Problems, 2nd in Geometry, 8th in Potpourri
Dilsha Chebolu: 3rd in Geometry
Shreya Ramachandran: 1st in Functions
Prakar Suryansh: 8th in Algebraic Simplifications
In addition, the team of Matthew Chen, Sriram Kalki, Sean Akkulugari, and Prakar Suryansh placed 1st in the Algebra Medley Relay.
Counseling Department
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES | There are a ton of summer opportunities available to students! Information about summer programs such as Girls Who Code, Boys State, Girls State, US Sentate Internships, Pre-College Summer Programs, Science Days, and more! These opportunities can be found on the BVN Counseling Canvas page under Job Opportunities and Community Service.
AP TESTING | AP Testing will be May 6-17 and all tests will be at Hilltop. Communication will be coming to families via email during the last week of April. Please go to BVN Counseling for information about AP Exam Dates.
Bell Schedules and Schedule Changes
Mark Your Calendars
April 19 - NO SCHOOL / Professional Development for Teachers
May 17 - Class Day at 8:00 a.m. (See Seniors for information)
May 19 - Graduation at 1:00 p.m. (See Seniors for information)
May 22 - Finals H1: 7:35 - 8:55; H2: 9:05 - 10:25; School dismissed at 10:25 a.m.
May 23 - Finals H3: 7:35-8:55; H4: 9:05-10:25; H5: 10:35-11:55; School dismissed at 11:55 a.m.
May 24 - Finals H6: 7:35 - 8:55; H7: 9:05 - 10:25; School dismissed at 10:25 a.m.
May 24 - Last Day of School
May 27 - Memorial Day / BVN is closed
Upcoming All School Events
All BVN events, activities, sporting events and additional calendar adjustments are found on the EKL calendar: www.easternkansasleague.org
Click here for the 2023/2024 Blue Valley School District Calendar.
Seniors--Info for Class of '24 (new - see Senior College Map)
The Graduation date for the Class of 2024 has been announced! Mark your calendar for May 19th at 1:00 p.m. Commencement will be held at the Switzer District Activity Complex, 135th & Switzer in Overland Park.
*In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors to the BV West gymnasium, same date & time.
Order your cap & gown now from jostens.com. Seniors can check the list at Mrs. Miller's desk to see if they still need to order their cap & gown. Please place your order ASAP--April 8 was the deadline!
IF YOU ORDER:
- Senior items: (like shirts, hats, keychains, etc.): they will be shipped to your home
- Announcements: they will be shipped to the school and seniors will be notified when to pick them up --Jostens expects to have a distribution table set up at lunch on March 25.
- Cap, Gown & Tassel: they will be shipped to the school and handed out at grad practice in May
ACTION NEEDED: Please click on the link below and complete the Senior Transcript Form. Please complete as soon as possible. This form authorizes the release of senior transcripts for college applications. Click here: Diploma/Transcript Authorization
Senior College Map: ACTION NEEDED (new)
Please have your student fill out the senior college map form so we can include their
post-graduation plans in the final 2023-2024 edition of BVN's North Star newspaper. Students need to use their school district email to access the form.
Questions? Email Mrs. Miller at lkmiller@bluevalleyk12.org and see important info on our Senior Info page.
Calling all Class of 2024 seniors who attended Leawood Elementary School!
The Class of 2024 will be celebrated at LES on Tuesday, May 14. Graduates and families are invited to arrive at LES at 3:00 and gather in the library. Students will walk the halls at 3:15 and then enjoy a reception with families and former teachers until 4:30. We look forward to celebrating the LES graduating class of 2024!
Project Grad 2024
Project Grad is a long-standing tradition at BVN and provides a safe, alcohol-free, drug-free environment following Commencement for the entire senior class. This year’s PG event will be hosted at Chicken N Pickle-OP May 19 from 7PM- 11PM.
ORDER YOUR PROJECT GRAD TICKET TODAY! Please visit this link to order your ticket for Project Grad at Chicken N Pickle May 19th at 7p.m. Ticket includes games, food, prizes and a FREE senior class t-shirt!
https://bvnpbc.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/277632
For more information about Project Grad, including ways to help with donations or volunteer opportunities, please visit this link: https://tinyurl.com/BVN-Project-Grad
Or reach out to us at: bvnprojectgrad24@gmail.com
Student Announcements
Cheer Team Tryout Information (new)
Interested in trying out for the 24-25 BVN Cheer Team? Please fill out the following Google Form to gain information about the 24-25 Cheer Season and upcoming tryouts on Friday, April 26th! BVN Cheer Tryout Interest Form
Questions – Reach out to Coach Shoemaker at pashoemaker@bluevalleyk12.org.”
Streaming on District Devices (new)
In an effort to reduce distractions in the learning environment for all of our students, beginning on March 19, 2024, all high school students will have streaming services blocked on district devices (examples include: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video etc.). YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music will still be allowed.
Students leaving early or absent all-day?
Tardy OR Leaving early for an appointment?
- Write a note (student's name, ID#, reason, date & time of pick up, sign it, list your cell #, and note if your student be returning). Your student should give it to the attendance office (in main office) on their way into BVN.
- With 2 hours notice, email attendancebvn@bluevalleyk12.org with these details.
- Last resort, with 2 hours notice, call the attendance office at 913.239.3001.
- DO NOT enter appointments in ParentVUE or it will be counted as an all-day absence.
All DAY Absences reporting
- Enter your student's all-day absence in ParentVUE.
- Email attendanceBVN@bluevalleyk12.org with the details noted above.
- Last resort, call BVN attendance office at 913.239.3001. Please know there can be up to 70 VM messages and it takes several hours to listen to them and process your request.
Parent Announcements
Final Exams Information
Schedule of Final Exams -- May 22-24
The Spring 2024 Final Exam Schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Hours 1 & 2 Finals
7:35-8:55 am Hour 1
9:05-10:25 am Hour 2
Thursday, May 23, 2024 Hours 3, 4 & 5 Finals
7:35-8:55 am Hour 3
9:05-10:25 am Hour 4
10:35-11:55 pm Hour 5
Friday, May 24, 2024 Hours 6 & 7 Finals
7:35-8:55 am Hour 6
9:05-10:25 am Hour 7
Testing is an integral part of the curriculum. Summative final exams are required at the end of the semester in every course that is taken for credit. The staff of BVN has developed a finals schedule that is most conducive to students doing their best on the tests so we can truly assess what students have learned. Finals are given on assigned days.
Any deviations from the schedule must be approved by Dr. Cory Cox. If your student is unable to attend any of their finals, have your student pick up an Alternate Finals form from the Student Services office. Please email Dr. Cox (ccox@bluevalleyk12.org) with an explanation of the reason your student will need to be absent on any of the above dates.
AP test prep book collection drive – deadline Tuesday, April 30
KAY Club is holding an AP test prep book drive throughout April. We are collecting prep books in any condition from past years! We are also happy to take standardized test prep books (ACT, SAT). These books would be going back towards students who need them for this May’s AP exams (especially those who may not be able to afford these study resources). Please drop off the books in Mrs. Morris’ room 339 or in the labeled box in the library. Organized by Sai Gudla, Kay Club president. Thank you!
Important Travel Outside of the USA Information
This important message is for any family or staff that will travel out of the United States during the school year. Please click here to read the restrictions and recommendations for Out of the Country travel. Blue Valley resources such as Canvas, Classlink, and school email are not accessible out of the country unless you have a personal device with a VPN on it.
Online ATHLETIC PASSES and Individual Event Tickets
Fans can purchase single-game tickets online through the GoFan app, as well as Student or Family Athletic passes. (This Athletic Pass takes the place of the former Activity Pass that was sold through ParentVue.) Here is the BVN GoFan link: Blue Valley North High School Events and Tickets by GoFan
Are you moving? Have you moved?
Please contact the BVN Registrar, Ann LaGrange, by email at ALLaGrange@bluevalleyk12.org.
Nurse Notes
Immunization News
Attention Raising 11th grade parents
All 16-year-old students in 11th grade for the 2024-2025 school year are required to have their updated booster of MCV4 meningococcal immunization before the start of the school year on August 16, 2023. Please E-mail any updates to your student’s immunization record to Nurse Collichio at ajcollichio@bluevalleyk12.org. Students who are not compliant will be excluded from school starting August 16, 2024.
Graduating 12th grade parents: All graduating 12th graders will receive a complete copy of their immunization profile that was on file with the school. This document is very vital to hang on to. It is recommended that this immunization profile is kept with important documents such as social security cards and birth certificates.
Exclusion letters will be mailed at the end of April to all parent/guardians of students who are not compliant with the Kansas State required immunizations.
Click on this link to review these recommendations:
Disease and Symptom Exclusion Recommendations/Regulations 2024
Thank you so much for keeping your student and our school healthy!
Need to speak with the nurse?
If you need to speak with the nurse, please e-mail ajcollichio@bluevalleyk12.org to set up an appointment.
Community Celebrations and Observances (new)
Some April Celebrations & Observances:
- National Arab American Heritage Month - recognizes the achievements and contributions of Arab Americans to society, culture, and American history.
- Eid al Fitr - April 10th - marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Some families will celebrate the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” by joining in communal prayer and meals, visiting family, gift-giving, and charity.
- Day of Silence - April 14 - a national, student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies take a vow of silence to protest the silencing and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.
- Passover - evening of April 22-30 - a Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Some families will observe the holiday with a special meal, called a Seder, eating foods of symbolic significance and reciting traditional prayers.
Mustang Club Spring Activity Guide
Please take a look through the BVN Mustang Club's new Spring Activity Guide! Here is a link to the on-line edition:https://anyflip.com/qzkqi/ecij/
This is a great way to see photos of the athletic teams & performing arts students, find out more about their coaches and directors, and read a greeting from the BVN Principal & the Mustang Club Presidents. Please take time to see the advertisements from our corporate partners and give them your business whenever possible. We thank them for their support of the Mustang Club and our Blue Valley North students. Enjoy!
Our parent community has been integral in contributing to our status as one of the best high schools in the state of Kansas and a leading high school across the nation.
Please support The Mustang Club (previously known as BVN Parent Booster Club). The Mustang Club financially supports BVN's extracurricular activities (as our version of a traditional PTO/PTA), and over the last 7 years, The Mustang Club has granted over a half million dollars to support our school’s extracurricular activities, organizations, and athletic teams. We could not provide the depth and breadth of opportunities that are available without your participation through membership and donations of your time.
The Mustang Club needs your support! Membership is down and volunteers are in short supply. Here are some options for you to consider:
- Become a Mustang Club member at one of the five membership levels;
- Purchase spirit wear from The Mustang Club website (www.bvnmustangs.com);
- Volunteer on a Mustang Club committee to support a specific event or cause; and
- Take advantage of one of the many sponsorship opportunities available for those of you affiliated with companies that want to support BVN financially.
- We would love for your company to be featured in our Activity Guide. It is printed 3 times each year and would be a wonderful way to promote your business to the North community. Email mustangactivityguides@gmail.com now! To see last year's spring guide, click here.
- Show your love and mustang pride for your student by purchasing a Spirit Ad in the Activity Guide! go to www.bvnmustangs.com on the Order form page.
You can find everything you need to know about The Mustang Club & membership at www.bvnmustangs.com. As you know, this organization is completely run by parent volunteers so every dollar donated goes to benefit BVN students. Additionally, the organization is a 501(c)3 so your contributions are tax deductible.
Thank you for your support and consideration and GO MUSTANGS!
Durham Bus Riders
Durham will continue to transport our bus riders in the 2023/2024 school year. If you have questions, please call Durham at 913-681-2492 or contact them via email at admin6700@durhamschoolservices.com.
We are Mustang Proud!
North Notes is a newsletter for the parents and students of Blue Valley North High School. If you have questions, please contact Janet Roush, Assistant to the Principal, at JRoush@bluevalleyk12.org .
The BVN Main Office is opened Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
BVN will be closed on Monday, May 27, in honor of Memorial Day.
Summer hours begin on May 28: Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Blue Valley North High School
BVN Twitter:
@MustangsBvn
@BVNOstroski
@TheKurle
@BVNCounseling
@MustangsOfBVN
@bvnnews
@BVNMustangsPBC
BVN Instagram:
@bvnmustangs
Email: Jroush@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/BVN/
Location: 12200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, 66209
Phone: (913) 239-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/BVNMustangs/
Twitter: @bvnnews