Shawnee Mission North High School
Encyclopedia
Shawnee Mission North High School is a public secondary school
in Overland Park
, Kansas
, USA for grades 9
–12
. It is one of five schools operated by Unified School District
512.
The school colors are Red, Black and White and the school mascot is the Indian. The average annual enrollment is approximately 2,000 students.
Shawnee Mission North High School was founded in 1922 in order to help educate the increasing number of students due to the emerging population of Shawnee Mission. Throughout the years, several expansions and add-ons were constructed to the school. In 1950, a large addition was added, finally connecting all of the buildings through hallways. A swimming pool and science wing were constructed in 1969 which connected to the south academic wing. A new library was added in the summer of 1997. In 2007, the school added a new auxiliary gym, new tennis courts, pool and auditorium remodeling, two new Biology classrooms, and expansion of the band and choir department.
Shawnee Mission North is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association
and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 6A division and are known as the "Indians". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs. Also, the North drama department was named top 5 in the country, number one in the Midwest by Stage Directions Magazine (Nov. 2010 Issue). Notable alumni of the school include Dr. Phil.
The school remained Shawnee Mission Rural until 1948, when senior Robert F. Bennett
was sent to Topeka to petition the legislature for a name change to more accurately reflect the school's suburban status. In 1950 a large addition was made, including the south academic wing, the cross hall/offices, library, Field House
and music rooms. After 30 years all the buildings were connected by hallways. Later elected Governor of Kansas
, Bennett was named North's first 'Distinguished Alumnus' by the class of 1975. It was thus named Shawnee Mission High School until 1958, when Shawnee Mission East
opened and Shawnee Mission High School became Shawnee Mission North. The student body of Shawnee Mission High had petitioned the school board to name the new school anything other than "Shawnee Mission East" in an attempt to avoid a renaming of their school. Shawnee Mission West
opened in 1962, Shawnee Mission South
in 1966, and Shawnee Mission Northwest
in 1969.
A swimming pool and science wing were built in 1969, a developmental center in 1978, the Little Theater in 1984, and the "lunch dock" was remodeled in 1993. In the summer of 1997, a new library was added as well as air-conditioning. In 1998, the cafeteria and kitchen were remodeled. A key project at Shawnee Mission North was the demolition of the original stadium and reconstruction which began in 2005, was a rush to have it ready for the Class of 2006 Graduation. Because of the rush, the turf was not properly placed. So they redid it that summer of 2006 so it was ready for the Fall'06. Followed, in 2007, by the addition of a new auxiliary gym, fresh tennis courts, pool and auditorium remodeling, the additions of two Biology rooms, and a significant enlargement of the band and choir department.
. Throughout its history, Shawnee Mission North has won many state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics.
, and the school colors are cardinal and black.
Every game played during the football season against the Shawnee Mission East Lancers
is referred to as the "Nut Cup".
During the alma mater, students stand and hold up their right index fingers while singing. The Indian head time capsule (in front of the main office), which was gifted to the school by the class of 1965, is roped off and not to be stepped on. The week of homecoming, Shawnee Mission North stages a large parade. Different clubs, groups, and alumni create floats to parade down Johnson Drive.
SM North is located in northern Overland Park and serves much of northeastern Johnson County
. The SM North area has a population of approximately 52,000 and includes the communities of Merriam
, Mission
, northern Overland Park
, Roeland Park
, Countryside
and Eastern Shawnee
.
SM North puts out three publications, a magazine known as "The Mission", an art & literary magazine called "Indian Lore", and a student-created yearbook known as "Indian". Indian has won numerous publishing awards, including national competitions.
Every year around February a senior male is selected by his fellow classmates as "Northman". This title is much like "Homecoming King" at other schools. Originally called "Big Man on Campus", the winner was crowned at the annual "Women Pay All (WPA)" dance. In 1979 the title was considered outdated and changed to Northman. North has won 5 state championships in football
(1969, 1970, 1971, 1974) under the coaching of Larry Taylor. Recently, North's NJROTC program has ranked first nationally in the Drill (in 2007, 2009 and 2010) and in the Armed Regulation (2008) divisions. The NJROTC is currently (2010) ranked number 2 in the nation, missing the number one spot by a mere 3 points out of a possible 5,500.
), Variation of Seminoles War Chant/Illinois
Maps
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Overland Park
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, USA for grades 9
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
–12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. It is one of five schools operated by Unified School District
Unified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
512.
The school colors are Red, Black and White and the school mascot is the Indian. The average annual enrollment is approximately 2,000 students.
Shawnee Mission North High School was founded in 1922 in order to help educate the increasing number of students due to the emerging population of Shawnee Mission. Throughout the years, several expansions and add-ons were constructed to the school. In 1950, a large addition was added, finally connecting all of the buildings through hallways. A swimming pool and science wing were constructed in 1969 which connected to the south academic wing. A new library was added in the summer of 1997. In 2007, the school added a new auxiliary gym, new tennis courts, pool and auditorium remodeling, two new Biology classrooms, and expansion of the band and choir department.
Shawnee Mission North is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association
Kansas State High School Activities Association
The Kansas State High School Activities Association is the organization which oversees interscholastic competition in the state of Kansas at the high school level. It oversees both athletic and non-athletic competition, and sponsors championships in several sports and activities.The KSHSAA was...
and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 6A division and are known as the "Indians". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs. Also, the North drama department was named top 5 in the country, number one in the Midwest by Stage Directions Magazine (Nov. 2010 Issue). Notable alumni of the school include Dr. Phil.
History
Shawnee Mission Rural High School opened September 12, 1922, having cost $950,000 to build. It had 12 faculty members and a senior class of 1,200. There had been a vote on September 21, 1921, on a "proposal to organize a rural high school district." In 1922 the east building was completed and in 1936 the west building, housing a gym and auditorium, was connected to the east building. In 1941 the shop wing was constructed to house agriculture and auto mechanics; it was connected to the west building by a concrete walk.The school remained Shawnee Mission Rural until 1948, when senior Robert F. Bennett
Robert Frederick Bennett
Robert Frederick Bennett was an American lawyer and the 39th Governor of Kansas from 1975 to 1979.Bennett was born May 23, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri. He married Joan Gregory, whom he met at Shawnee Mission Rural High School while participating in debate. They had four children: Robert F. ,...
was sent to Topeka to petition the legislature for a name change to more accurately reflect the school's suburban status. In 1950 a large addition was made, including the south academic wing, the cross hall/offices, library, Field House
Field House
Field House or Fieldhouse is a common name for indoor sports arenas and stadiums, mostly used for college basketball, volleyball, or ice hockey.-Colorado:*Balch Fieldhouse, University of Colorado...
and music rooms. After 30 years all the buildings were connected by hallways. Later elected Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
, Bennett was named North's first 'Distinguished Alumnus' by the class of 1975. It was thus named Shawnee Mission High School until 1958, when Shawnee Mission East
Shawnee Mission East High School
Shawnee Mission East High School is a public secondary school in Prairie Village, Kansas, USA for grades 9–12. It is one of five schools operated by Unified School District 512....
opened and Shawnee Mission High School became Shawnee Mission North. The student body of Shawnee Mission High had petitioned the school board to name the new school anything other than "Shawnee Mission East" in an attempt to avoid a renaming of their school. Shawnee Mission West
Shawnee Mission West High School
Shawnee Mission West High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. Shawnee Mission West is one of several public high schools located within Shawnee Mission, KS. The official school colors are black and gold and the...
opened in 1962, Shawnee Mission South
Shawnee Mission South High School
Shawnee Mission South High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of several public high schools located within Shawnee Mission, KS. Additionally, Shawnee Mission South is a two-time Blue Ribbon...
in 1966, and Shawnee Mission Northwest
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. The current principal is Dr. Bill Harrington. Shawnee Mission Northwest is one of many schools located within Shawnee, Kansas and surrounding...
in 1969.
A swimming pool and science wing were built in 1969, a developmental center in 1978, the Little Theater in 1984, and the "lunch dock" was remodeled in 1993. In the summer of 1997, a new library was added as well as air-conditioning. In 1998, the cafeteria and kitchen were remodeled. A key project at Shawnee Mission North was the demolition of the original stadium and reconstruction which began in 2005, was a rush to have it ready for the Class of 2006 Graduation. Because of the rush, the turf was not properly placed. So they redid it that summer of 2006 so it was ready for the Fall'06. Followed, in 2007, by the addition of a new auxiliary gym, fresh tennis courts, pool and auditorium remodeling, the additions of two Biology rooms, and a significant enlargement of the band and choir department.
Theater
In the past year, Shawnee Mission North's theater department has won four awards and was recently given the honor of being named the top high school drama department in the Midwest by Stage Directions magazine.Athletics
The Indians compete in the Sunflower League and are classified as a 6A school, the largest classification in Kansas according to the KSHSAAKansas State High School Activities Association
The Kansas State High School Activities Association is the organization which oversees interscholastic competition in the state of Kansas at the high school level. It oversees both athletic and non-athletic competition, and sponsors championships in several sports and activities.The KSHSAA was...
. Throughout its history, Shawnee Mission North has won many state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics.
State championships
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
6 | 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974 |
| Cross Country, Boys Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
3 | 1961, 1974, 1975 | |
| Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... |
3 | 1972, 1973, 2002 | |
| Gymnastics, Girls Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body... |
2 | 1976, 1978 | |
| Spring | Baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... |
1 | 1982 |
| Golf, Boys Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
4 | 1941, 1953, 1954, 1955 | |
| Softball Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand... |
5 | 1978, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1992 | |
| Tennis, Girls Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
1 | 1971, | |
| Total | 23 | ||
Traditions
There are always two mascots, one is an Indian princess (no longer used), and the other an Indian warrior. The students acting as an Indian princess and warrior are always a male and female senior. The outfits they wear while playing these parts were modeled off of the Shawnee Indians of Oklahoma. The Indian warrior originated in 1975 with a student's Halloween costume, which proved so popular he joined the traditional Indian princess as mascot. The 2006 population of SM North was 1,966. The mascot is an IndianIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, and the school colors are cardinal and black.
Every game played during the football season against the Shawnee Mission East Lancers
Shawnee Mission East High School
Shawnee Mission East High School is a public secondary school in Prairie Village, Kansas, USA for grades 9–12. It is one of five schools operated by Unified School District 512....
is referred to as the "Nut Cup".
During the alma mater, students stand and hold up their right index fingers while singing. The Indian head time capsule (in front of the main office), which was gifted to the school by the class of 1965, is roped off and not to be stepped on. The week of homecoming, Shawnee Mission North stages a large parade. Different clubs, groups, and alumni create floats to parade down Johnson Drive.
SM North is located in northern Overland Park and serves much of northeastern Johnson County
Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county...
. The SM North area has a population of approximately 52,000 and includes the communities of Merriam
Merriam, Kansas
Merriam is a city in the northeastern part of Johnson County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,003. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, it is included in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, Mission
Mission, Kansas
Mission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
, northern Overland Park
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
, Roeland Park
Roeland Park, Kansas
Roeland Park is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 6,817 at the 2000 census.-History:The City of Roeland Park was originally named after John Roe, an immigrant from Ireland who settled on in 1883, part of which Roeland Park now stands...
, Countryside
Countryside, Kansas
Countryside was a city-block-long residential street in Johnson County, Kansas, USA, which was incorporated by its residents as a city in 1951 under Kansas Law, as a status statement. In a special election on December 3, 2002, residents voted to re-consolidate with the surrounding city of Mission,...
and Eastern Shawnee
Shawnee, Kansas
Shawnee is a city located in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, United States and is a western suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 62,209. Shawnee's fur trading and pioneering heritage blends histories of these Kansas Territory townships: Monticello and...
.
SM North puts out three publications, a magazine known as "The Mission", an art & literary magazine called "Indian Lore", and a student-created yearbook known as "Indian". Indian has won numerous publishing awards, including national competitions.
Every year around February a senior male is selected by his fellow classmates as "Northman". This title is much like "Homecoming King" at other schools. Originally called "Big Man on Campus", the winner was crowned at the annual "Women Pay All (WPA)" dance. In 1979 the title was considered outdated and changed to Northman. North has won 5 state championships in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
(1969, 1970, 1971, 1974) under the coaching of Larry Taylor. Recently, North's NJROTC program has ranked first nationally in the Drill (in 2007, 2009 and 2010) and in the Armed Regulation (2008) divisions. The NJROTC is currently (2010) ranked number 2 in the nation, missing the number one spot by a mere 3 points out of a possible 5,500.
Alma mater
- Shawnee Mission, Shawnee Mission,
- Here's our toast to thee
- We will cherish and respect thee
- Pledge our loyalty
- We will honor, we will love thee
- Send our colors forth
- Proud and brave our alma materAlma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
- Shawnee Mission North!
Fight song
(tune: "On Wisconsin" – University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
), Variation of Seminoles War Chant/Illinois
- Onward Shawnee! Onward Shawnee!
- Fight for victory!
- Press 'em harder, ever harder!
- Show them we can fight, fight fight!
- Onward Shawnee! Onward Shawnee!
- Fight for victory!
- Fight, Indians, fight, fight, fight!
- We'll win tonight.
Notable alumni
- Robert F. BennettRobert Frederick BennettRobert Frederick Bennett was an American lawyer and the 39th Governor of Kansas from 1975 to 1979.Bennett was born May 23, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri. He married Joan Gregory, whom he met at Shawnee Mission Rural High School while participating in debate. They had four children: Robert F. ,...
, 39th Governor of KansasGovernor of KansasThe Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
, 1975–1979 - General Richard B. MyersRichard MyersRichard Bowman Myers is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force and served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Chairman, Myers was the United States military's highest ranking uniformed officer....
, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense... - Dr. PhilPhil McGrawPhillip Calvin McGraw best known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author, former psychologist, and the host of the television show Dr. Phil, which debuted in 2002...
(1968), television psychologist and host - Darren Lynn BousmanDarren Lynn BousmanDarren Lynn Bousman is an American film director and screenwriter.-Personal life:Bousman was born in Overland Park, Kansas, the son of Nancy and Lynn Bousman. He is a graduate of the Film School at Full Sail University. He attended high school at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park,...
, AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:... - Michael McShane, actor
- Colonel Edward L. HubbardEdward L. HubbardColonel Edward Lee Hubbard, USAF, is a retired American Air Force officer, author, artist, and internationally known motivational speaker.-Early Life and Education:...
, USAFUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
officer and motivational speaker, 1953-1957 - Jane D. Hull, 20th Governor of Arizona
- Mitch BarnhartMitch BarnhartMitch Barnhart is the athletics director for the Kentucky Wildcats athletics program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Barnhart was hired by the university in 2002 succeeding Larry Ivy. Barnhart served in the same capacity at Oregon State University from 1998-2002. He is the...
, Athletics director at the University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky... - Randy HendricksRandy HendricksRandal "Randy" Hendricks is an American attorney and sports agent considered a pioneer in the field of sports representation. He was raised in Westwood, Kansas and is a 1963 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School...
, attorney and sports agent - Steve Physioc, sports announcer
See also
- Shawnee Mission East High SchoolShawnee Mission East High SchoolShawnee Mission East High School is a public secondary school in Prairie Village, Kansas, USA for grades 9–12. It is one of five schools operated by Unified School District 512....
- Shawnee Mission Northwest High SchoolShawnee Mission Northwest High SchoolShawnee Mission Northwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. The current principal is Dr. Bill Harrington. Shawnee Mission Northwest is one of many schools located within Shawnee, Kansas and surrounding...
- Shawnee Mission South High SchoolShawnee Mission South High SchoolShawnee Mission South High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of several public high schools located within Shawnee Mission, KS. Additionally, Shawnee Mission South is a two-time Blue Ribbon...
- Shawnee Mission West High SchoolShawnee Mission West High SchoolShawnee Mission West High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. Shawnee Mission West is one of several public high schools located within Shawnee Mission, KS. The official school colors are black and gold and the...
External links
- Official school website
- Kansas State Department Of Education, KSDE
- Kansas State High School Activities Association, KSHSAA
Maps