Hound Dog Headlines
February
We are Committed, Mindful, and Safe!
Month at a Glance:
Feb 1- Advanced Chess Club @ 7:30am
Feb 5- 3rd Grade CSI Club 3:45-4:30pm
Feb 5- Indian Trail 6th Grade Band Tour
Feb 6- Dine out night @ Minsky's, 11:00am- 9:30pm
Feb 6- Math Wings- Distric @ ONW, 4:00- 5:30pm
Feb 7- NAEP Testing- 4th Grade only
Feb 9- Prof Day- No School
Feb 10 - Chinese New Year
Feb 12- PTO meeting @ 6pm
Feb 12-15 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Feb 13- Math Wings @ 3:45-4:30pm
Feb 14 - Valentine's Day Parties
Feb 14 - 1/2 Day, 12:00pm Dismissal
Feb 14 - Ash Wednesday
Feb 14- Substitute Job Fair @ Ed Center, 1:30-3:30pm
Feb 15 - No School; Conferences
Feb 15 - OPS district Spelling Bee, 8:30am @ ST
Feb 16 - No School
Feb 19 - President's Day; No School
Feb 20- Basset Hounds vs. Foxhounds Kickball @ 7:30am
Feb 20- Math Wings @3:45-4:30pm
Feb 21- Greyhounds vs. Irish Wolfhounds Kickball @ 7:30am
Feb 22- Bloodhounds vs. Beagles Kickball @ 7:30am
Feb 26- 3rd Grade CSI @ 3:45-4:30pm
Feb 27- Irish Wolfhounds vs. Basset Hounds Kickball @ 7:30am
Feb 27- Math Wings @ 3:45-4:30pm
Feb 28- Beagles vs Greyhounds Kickball @ 7:30am
Feb 29- Foxhounds vs Bloodhounds Kickball @ 7:30am
Feb 29- 3rd Grade Performance @ 6:00pm
Feb 29 - In-District Transfers Close Today
Febuary Menus
Kansas Day Spirit Week- Jan 29- Feb 2
Super Bowl LVIII Spirit Week- Feb. 5th- 8th
Minsky's Dine Out Night- Feb 6th
Substitute Job Fair- Feb 14th
Kids Day Out- March 2nd
Kindergarten Enrollment
Volunteer Opportunities in the Lunchroom
Birthday Book Club
PTO MEETING- 2/12
Our next PTO Meeting is this Monday, February 12th at 6pm in the Heritage library. We would love to see you there! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the PTO at heritagehounddogpto@gmail.com.
Check out some fun ideas for staying healthy and active this winter!
Arrival and Dismissal
Heritage Community,
As we are entering the second semester, I want to remind you of our arrival and dismissal procedures to keep all students, staff, and families safe.
As a reminder, the school day begins at 8:20 a.m. Please make sure that no students arrive before 8:00 a.m. The safety of our students is our top priority and before 8:00 a.m. there is no adult supervision for students, which has caused major safety concerns and behavior issues. Because of this, we will call home for any student waiting outside the school before 8:00 a.m. If you need to drop your child off prior to 8:00 a.m., please contact the JCPRD (https://jcprd.com/1207/Olathe-OST) for before and after-school care options.
General Safety Reminders for Arrival:
When driving through the parking lot, please drive safely.
Students may not be dropped off in the middle lane of traffic, but they should be dropped off next to the curb or when you are safely parked.
If you are dropping off at the curb, you must wait in line and pull as far forward as the line will allow.
If you need to get out of your car for any reason, then please park in our parking lot and utilize the crosswalk with the school attendant.
General Safety Reminders for Dismissal:
As a reminder, school is dismissed at 3:40 p.m. We have a dismissal procedure to keep our students, staff, and families safe. Students may not be picked up in the parking lot. Also, for safety reasons, it is not possible for parents to wait inside the building or entryway for their children at the end of the day. We ask that you keep the areas in front of the flagpole clear.
If your typical dismissal routine changes due to weather or other circumstances, please discuss it with your child before school. If you need to notify us of a change in dismissal, please call the office by 2 p.m. so we have ample time to notify your child and their teacher.
Car riders will be dismissed from the cafeteria once their name is called.
Bus riders will be dismissed from the second-grade hallway when their bus arrives.
Bike riders will exit the building with North or East walkers and walk their bikes off the property.
Walkers will be escorted from the building using the North or East entrance and monitored as they depart from the school grounds. If you meet your walker at the school, please pick up your child either on the playground or at the East entrance.
Your help and cooperation are greatly appreciated. I look forward to having a safe, fun, and educational second quarter. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Angela Harris
Principal
2024-25 School Year Changes
As a reminder, we will see a few changes in the new year and next school year.
Open Enrollment Beginning in 2024 for 24-25 School Year
Kansas House Bill 2567 states all public-school districts must allow non-resident students who reside in Kansas to enroll in and attend any school if the district has the capacity and this takes effect in the 2024-25 school year. Our policy includes an in-district transfer period starting Jan. 4, followed by a district employee transfer period starting March 1. District enrollment capacity must be determined by May 1 and posted on the district website by June 1. Non-resident applications would be accepted June 1-30, followed by a non-resident lottery selection process July 1-15. For more information, click here.
Start and End Times Beginning in 2024-25 School Year
The following start and end time schedule will begin in August 2024.
- High schools and Prairie Learning Center, 7:40 a.m.-2:40 p.m.
- Middle schools and Heartland Early Childhood Center, 8:20 a.m.-3:20 p.m.
- Elementary schools and Harmony Early Childhood Center, 8:55 a.m.-3:55 p.m.
The district understands this change will impact every family differently. Please be on the lookout for more information on solutions impacting each level and the transportation restrictions in place for this year that will be removed. The Board of Education approval of this new schedule during their December meeting gave the district, families and staff a full semester and summer to make necessary plans and adjustments before school starts in August 2024. For more information, click here.
Meal Programs
Breakfast
Breakfast is provided through district food services. If you are interested in your child eating breakfast at school, please refer to the school district website to learn more about pricing and menu options.
Lunch
Lunches are served every full day of school. Students have three entrée options and items from the “self-serve” vegetable and fruit bar. Each lunch comes with milk and a juice.
The Olathe District utilizes a computer lunch account system. Your child will have an individualized account. Deposits into the account may be done through MyPayments Plus or simply send a check payable to Olathe Food Service. Cash is also accepted. Notices will be sent home with the students regularly to provide an update to lunch account status. Students may have no more than 3 charges in a year. Please deposit enough money to eliminate negative balances. Families may apply for financial relief under the guidelines for the National School Lunch Program. Families can apply online. Negative balances at the end of the school year will be turned over to a collection agency. Please contact the school office (780-7400) with questions regarding lunch account status.
If you would like to pay for lunches online throughout the year please go to the My Payments Plus website, www.mypaymentsplus.com.
Elementary prices for the school year are:
Student..................... $2.90
Adult.......................... $4.35
Student Breakfast... $1.45
Adult Breakfast……. $2.55
Milk............................ $ .55
Juice......................... $ .55
Kindergarten students who are allergic to milk and will need juice substitute will be required to present a note signed by their doctor for this request. All other school age children need to have a parent note on file with the school nurse.
Arrival & Dismissal
We want to thank everyone in advance for their patience and flexibility at arrival/dismissal time. The first couple of weeks will be “learning” time for our Heritage families.
The school day begins at 8:20am. Please try to plan your child’s schedule so they arrive to school between 8:00 and 8:15.
Please Note: Students may not arrive before 8:00am. If you need to drop your child off prior to 8:00am please contact the JCPRD for before and after school care options.
School is dismissed at 3:40. Heritage Elementary uses a controlled dismissal procedure. Students who are car riders will wait in the cafeteria for their car rider number to be called. Students may not be picked up in the parking lot. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed from the 2nd grade hallway when their bus arrives. Students who ride their bike to school will exit the building with North or East walkers and walk their bikes off property. Students who are walkers will be escorted from the building using the North or East entrance and monitored as they depart from the school grounds. If you walk to school to meet your child and walk them home, you will pick your child up on the playground or at the East entrance.
For safety reasons, it is not possible for parents to wait inside the building or entryway for their children at the end of the day. We respectfully request that you meet your child outside if you are walking them home. Please keep the areas in front of the flagpole clear.
If the regular pickup routine might change due to weather or other circumstances, discuss with your child before school if they will be a car rider/walker/bus rider on the way home. If you need to notify us of a change in dismissal, please call the office by 2pm. This will give us ample time to notify your child & teacher.
Your help and cooperation are appreciated.
Safety Reminders
As the school year begins it is important for all of us who drive near our schools to be especially careful of students walking. Those transporting students to/from school are asked to follow the recommended drop off/pick up procedures to ensure pedestrian safety and traffic flow. Parents should be sure to buckle their children and use child safety seats when necessary, even if the trip is short. It’s also a good idea to remind your child about ways they can have a safe walk to school.
- Look for cars when crossing the street
- Use crosswalks when available
- Cross with a crossing guard whenever possible
- Don’t text while walking (or while driving)
- Walk in groups and be aware of your surroundings.
- Be sure to follow the rules of the road if biking to school
Math Wings Dates
Regional:
November 7
January 30
April 16
District:
November 14
February 6
April 23
23-24 Testing Windows
Fall: August 14 – September 15
Winter: November 27 – December 19
Spring: April 22 – May 10
SAEBRS/mySAEBRS: October 1 – October 31