Barb Jones submitted an article on our club's activities with Shawnee Mission North to the District newsletter. Thank you for spreading the news about our good work, Barb!

Rotary International has six areas of focus for global service, and the Shawnee Mission Rotary Club accomplishes several through their partnership with Shawnee Mission North High School (SMN), located near Club’s meeting space. A number of club members attended “Shawnee Mission High School” prior to the rapid growth of NE Johnson County evolving into a district with 6 high schools, renaming it to Shawnee Mission North High School.  SME, SMW, SMS, SMNW and the Heritage school followed.  Club members attended other SMSD high schools, but teenage rivalries mean nothing when it comes to serving the needs of students!  Every other week Wayne London take supplies to fill the stock Coach Dre` maintains and Wayne provides a viable witness to serving the at-risk students attending SMN. Coach Andre` Carnegie is the District’s Student Success Liaison, touching base with all feeder schools for SMN, learning the needs behind the scenes of a usual school day.  SM Rotary Club has worked over the past two years to support the One Stop Shop that Coach Dre` created; first from a closet and now in a room dedicated to its purpose.  Groceries were provided as a donation from ticket sales for the “Grocery Store Grab” fundraiser in cooperation with Hy-Vee on Martway. Coach Dre` created the “One Stop Shop” at SMN to be a safe place to provide what a student might need to have a good day.  With no questions asked, a student can stop by to get a snack from the refrigerator,  a bottle of water to drink or an encouraging word.  If clothes or hygiene cause ridicule, or a student not prepared for the day can stop in and find something else to change into and keep on going through with higher self-esteem.

Ed Coulter masterminded the “Grocery Grab” which was a great success.  The weekend before school opened, club members met to paint, lay carpet, and provide furniture arranged to make it a friendly, safe place for anyone to drop by during the day for a bit of motivation. Corky Nason made a generous donation toward the project’s expenses and club members donated 4-6 hours each.

Shawnee Mission North was the elite public school of NE Johnson County 50+ years ago, and is now one of 6 SMSD high schools serving a very different set of demographic realities.  More than forty-five % of the students at SMN receive free or reduced lunch.  The school embraces the creativity and diversity of its student population while maintaining an excellent educational experience.  Another program Shawnee Mission Rotary provides is the ROTC Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding member of the group. As Coach Dre` encourages and advocates for students all day, usually behind the scenes, Shawnee Mission Rotary club encourages him through their dedication and volunteer efforts.