Olathe Public Schools

Olathe Public Schools community,

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year because relationships have been built, the norms have been established and everything is off and running. Our students are learning bell to bell and enjoying several different extracurriculars. If you get a chance, please participate in an event at your child's school this semester – you will see that our staff are dedicated to your child's success at school.

In the issue of the Insider, you will read more about this year's National Merit Semifinalists (woohoo!), Hispanic Heritage Month, and how our district's third graders celebrated Constitution Day. You will also learn about what's been going on with our bond projects, the importance of children being at school every day, guidance about staff and student communication, as well as a reminder to attend the District Site Council on Sept. 30.

Thanks for your support as we continue to educate all students. Their future is our future. We are so grateful for your commitment to the success of our district.

Your very proud superintendent,
Dr. Brent Yeager

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The Olathe School District has 12 seniors named National Merit Semifinalists!

• Olathe East High School: Wesley Janssen

• Olathe Northwest High School: Micah Augustine, Connor Chaffin, Ava Evans, Eston Garcia, Eugenie Kim, Alexander Pannier, Braden Pickard, Elijah Tamano

• Olathe South High School: Cody Schwindt

• Olathe West High School: Aidric Smith, Ethan Wolf
  
  

Of the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level and in February they will be notified of this designation. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. projects!

Third graders districtwide participated in a thrilling celebration of Constitution Day with a mock trial experience streamed statewide! During the Zoom session, students received a civics lesson from some of Kansas' top leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly, Chief Justice Marla Luckert, and Sen. Jerry Moran, who explained how each branch of government plays a vital role in our democracy.

In the mock trial, our students served as jurors tasked with deciding if the "defendant" was guilty of the "crime" of running in the hallways during school hours. They heard testimony from "key witnesses," including the school nurse, a parent, and "Principal" Randy Watson, who, in real life, is the Kansas Commissioner of Education.

Throughout the trial, students had several "recesses" to review the evidence before delivering their verdict. After hearing the closing arguments from both the "plaintiff" and the "prosecutor," the jury of third graders across Kansas decided to find the defendant not guilty!

At the end of the trial, students had the chance to ask questions. Our Green Springs Elementary School third graders from Lori Werth's class asked Judge Wonnell, “How do you become a judge?” Judge Wonnell’s response was to make sure you “Eat your fruits and vegetables, and most importantly, love justice!”

This beloved tradition of holding a mock trial for our third graders began at Forest View Elementary School and has since become an exciting part of each school year. A huge thank you to Social Studies Coordinator Julie Fishburn who worked with the Johnson County District Court and Judge Wonnell to bring this learning experience to life!

Dr. Marta Silva received the Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation from Mayor John Bacon at the City of Olathe City Council meeting! Dr. Silva teaches Spanish as a Heritage Language at Olathe North High School and is the World Language Assessment Team leader and the diversity chair of Olathe National Education Association. She is also a sponsor for the Latina Leadership Club and is the Kansas World Language Association president!

This proclamation is awarded to a member of the Hispanic community who, in one way or another, is making Olathe a better place. This was a special moment for her as it "recognized the critical work we are doing at Olathe North with our Heritage Language program and creating a unique space for our Latina Leadership Club students,” she said. Congratulations, Dr. Marta Silva! We are proud of you.

The fall District Site Council will be held from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 at Olathe South High School, 1640 E. 151st St., Olathe. All patrons are invited to join us at this bi-annual meeting that provides an opportunity for attendees to learn how the district’s various departments and programs ensure every student is prepared for their future.

The main topic for this event is chronic absenteeism and how this impacts our students. Attendees will learn alongside district administrators and educators as we look at solutions as a collective community that supports all students. Thank you to all our staff who have worked so hard to plan this event for our community. We appreciate your dedication to our district!

Absences add up. Did you know that missing just two days a month means a child misses 10% of the school year? When it comes to school attendance, every day counts. Missing just two days a month might seem insignificant, but this loss of instructional time can have lasting effects on a child’s academic performance and social development. Consistent attendance helps children build routines, engage with their peers, and absorb critical lessons that form the foundation for future learning.

Electronic communication between employees and students in Olathe Public Schools can be necessary when it comes to our extracurricular academic, athletic, and activity programs, clubs and other student groups where adult staff are assigned as sponsors. We want to make sure all families are aware of the district's guidelines regarding employee to student communication.

When communication between employees and students is necessary for academic, athletic and activity programs, clubs and other student groups, employees are expected to use mobile applications (apps) that are designed for the purpose of communicating necessary information in a transparent and safe environment like Remind, GroupMe, Band, Teams, etc. When not using apps, employees are expected to use their district email address and communicate with a student using their school-assigned email address. In emergency situations where the use of personal cell phone communication is necessary, staff are expected to include another adult in the communication such as the parent, colleague, or administrator. These communication expectations are to protect both students and employees, while also allowing for information about extracurriculars to be communicated. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school administrator.

The new Operations Service Center and Career and Technical Education Center project is progressing well, with McCownGordon Construction providing monthly updates. Current construction activities include utility rough-ins and the ongoing building of interior and exterior walls, as well as roofing. The addition's cast-in-place concrete exterior walls are now being formed, following the completion of concrete footings and foundations. Meanwhile, at Santa Fe Trail Middle School, efforts are underway to resolve the finishing touches in the new facility, while utility services to the old building are being cut off and demolition has begun.

In terms of student experience improvements, the elementary school playground upgrades are complete. The high school media center renovation is in the proposal phase for construction management, with a recommended firm expected at the October Board of Education meeting. Bidding is planned for fall or early winter 2024, with construction slated to begin in the second semester at Olathe North High School and Olathe South High School. Similarly, the middle school auditorium renovation project is also progressing through the proposal stage, with construction anticipated to start at four middle schools — Frontier Trail, Indian Trail, Oregon Trail, and Pioneer Trail — later in the academic year.

We are so thankful that our community voted YES on the 2022 bond, which is leading to some amazing improvements and innovation happening in our school district! Thank you!

Questions, comments or suggestions? Email them to communications@olatheschools.org.

Website: www.olatheschools.org
Location: 14160 South Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS, USA
Phone: 913-780-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/olatheschools

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