Student Services / Counseling

Class of 2020:   

Official transcripts were sent to all students’ colleges the first week of June. Please check directly with your college to confirm they haven’t already received it before asking to have another one sent.

Class of 2021:   

All seniors received information on Sept 8 about requesting transcripts and locating college application resources. They were also supposed to complete a google form to give their counselor information and questions about their college application status. If not yet completed, please access this information on this website (from Sept 8), and scroll down to “Post-SME Planning”.  If you still have questions after doing those steps, please contact the SME Registrar.

For all other transcripts or questions about GPA:  

Please contact SME Registrar, Melanie Lowe, directly with questions: 
melanielowe@smsd.org

SME is now using RepVisits.com to schedule virtual visits with college representatives!

Visit dates and times are included in the daily announcements, along with a link to join the virtual visit on the scheduled date/time.

• Only juniors and seniors may participate.
• Students should inform their teachers they will be missing class.
• Students are responsible for making up any classwork they miss during a visit with a college representative.

PSAT Testing Information

• Wed., Oct 14^th, appx 7:30am-11:30am, at SME
• In-person only
• Limited space available:  Although the exam is open to all juniors, the top priority for registration will be juniors who may be eligible for National Merit competition. To earn National Merit Semifinalist recognition, students must score in the top ½ of 1% of all students taking the test. Registration will be open to sophomores only after juniors have had the chance to register and there is still space available. 
• Fee is $20
  • COVID safety protocol includes completing a screening questionnaire, wearing masks during entire exam, physical distancing, and more. Registered students will receive additional details along with their room assignment after registration closes
  • Registration opens Friday, Sept 25 on Total Registration
    • For students who already have a Total Registration account, sign in.
    • For students who don’t yet have an account, create an account first.

• Deadline to register is Fri., Oct 9 at 11:59 pm
• Study Guide:  After registering, students may pick up a study guide (which includes a full length practice test) in the main office at SME
• To access the recording from the Sept 24 WebEx PSAT presentation, click here.

Practice ACT:   Due to COVID restrictions, no standardized college admissions tests or practice tests will be offered at SME in person during fall 2020, aside from the PSAT. Stay tuned for possible opportunities in spring. For sophomores and juniors who would prefer to focus on ACT test prep or practice (instead of the PSAT) there are many test prep options available:

ACT Academy offers students a chance to take a full ACT practice test. You can also enter a previous ACT score and it will tailor prep for you.

Doorway to College / ZAPS.  In-person instruction for ACT and SAT at SME, SMNW and other local sites

Kaplan Test Prep and ACT/Kaplan Online Prep Live  Highly rated and longstanding test prep company whose motto is "the right tools, personalized learning, and guaranteed results."

Peterson's   Comprehensive site that includes college search and financial aid tools, along with test prep for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT.

PowerScore  Highly reviewed and one of the fastest-growing test prep companies in the U.S.

Revolution Prep  Highly rated professional tutoring.

Scheduling decisions for spring semester 2021 will be made later, based on the status COVID status and attendance protocol.

Families will be informed of potential opportunities to request changes to 2nd semester courses later this fall.

For lists of courses for each grade level, and complete course descriptions, grade levels, prerequisites, and fees, please consult the SME Enrollment Resources website.

The counselor assignments have shifted slightly, to help balance caseloads.

Below are the new alphabetical assignments for each counselor, by student’s last name:

• A-EL:      Traci Ybarra, traciybarra@smsd.org
• Em-K:    Michele Burns-Grimes, micheleburns@smsd.org
• L-Re:       Susan Barr, susanbarr@smsd.org
• Rh-Z:     Brenda Tretbar, brendatretbar@smsd.org

Also, we are celebrating the recent marriage of counselor Michele Burns! You will see her name as Michele Burns-Grimes, but she can currently still be reached at micheleburns@smsd.org.

If you have any questions about a change in your counselor, please reach out and we’ll be glad to help.

Future exams (Saturday testing sessions):

Check the ACT and College Board (for SAT) websites for registration and updated information on future test dates. 

Click here for ACT Frequently Asked Questions (registration, MyACT account help, COVID updates, etc.) 

Test Prep:  New online testing resources from ZAPS / Doorway to College.

• Many colleges and universities are altering their admissions processes, requirements, and deadlines due to the coronavirus. You can use this searchable database to find details on individual colleges. It is being updated frequently.
   
• This COVID-19 resource was compiled by the Kansas Board of Regents and includes information on state universities in Kansas
   
• Some colleges and universities will not be requiring test scores for admission. Check the admissions website of the college you're applying to for the most up-to-date information.
   
• Read this recent article from the New York Times for juniors applying to selective schools.
   
• Please consult the SME College FAQ web page for more information.

The deadline to enroll in fall eSchool has passed.

Check later this fall for information about spring eSchool enrollment.

​​​​​​See the Student Services Contacts website for email addresses. 

Your teachers should be your first point of contact with questions about grades. If you're having difficulty communicating with teachers or getting the information you need, send your counselor an email.
 

Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to all children ages 1 to 18 at four school sites in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Click here for details.

• Johnson County Mental Health Center Crisis Line: 913-268-0156
   
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255; Text: 741741
   
• Johnson County Resource Connection
   
• Youth Line Teen crisis helpline: Text TEEN2TEEN to 839863
   
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
   
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
   

• SMSD Resources for Parents
  Includes a variety of activities to do at home, community resources, COVID-19 specific resources, and the SMSD PickUp and Go Meals information

• EverFi Family Portal: receive direct access to a library of digital courses. Simply enter your state and your child's school name to receive the full catalogue of age-appropriate courses for your child.