Falcon Flyer
August 6, 2021
Calendar
Tuesday, August 10
12-1 New Family Orientation
1-4 PM Falcon Take Off Day (details below)
Tuesday, August 17
7:40 AM 6th Grade Orientation
Wednesday, August 18
7:41-2:50 First Day of School
The 2021-22 School Year is Right Around the Corner!
It's hard to believe that the school year begins in just a couple of weeks. Please take a moment to read this week's Falcon Flyer for information about upcoming events. You also should have received communications from the district regarding the Public Health Order issued by the Board of Commissioners of Johnson County on August 5. This requires that all staff, students, and visitors wear masks while inside OTMS. Additional information about the district's COVID-19 protocols can be found on the Blue Valley website. Expect an email early next week packed full of important information and updates about the start of the school year!
We are looking forward to welcoming our students back soon!
Dr. Trent Stern, Principal
Nicole Orrick, Assistant Principal
Falcon Takeoff-August 10 from 1-4 pm
Falcon Takeoff (masks required to attend)
What is Falcon Takeoff? This is a time for students and their families to drop by OTMS between the hours of 1-4 to
- Have your child’s yearbook picture taken.
- Get locker assignment, try new combination, and decorate the inside of the locker (if desired). Students will use lockers this year but only access them before and after school or at lunch. Students will need to carry a backpack throughout the day.
- Meet school administrators and counselors.
- Stop by the PTO booth and inquire about membership, volunteering, and ordering spirit wear for the 21-22 school year.
- Purchase Kona Ice.
- Tour the building. This can help ease the anxiety of all students as they transition from the summer and a year of multiple learning modes.
- Pick up pre-ordered school supplies from EPI. If they do not arrive on time, we will distribute on the first day of school.
If you cannot make this date, lockers will be given out the first day and yearbook pictures will be made up at a later date. Reminder: class schedules will not be handed out until the first day of school; however, they will be accessible on ParentVue on August 17 after 1 pm.
New to Blue Valley? (masks required to attend)
Please note: if your student is new to the Blue Valley School District, we will host a special presentation for new families beginning at 12:00 in the commons. This is only for families NEW to Blue Valley. During this time you will have the opportunity to connect with other families, meet school administration, counselors, and other support staff. After the presentation, students will be able to take pics, check out their lockers, etc. If you have questions, please call us at 913-239-5400.
Please Complete Your Student's Registration
1. Complete Registration
2. Pay Fees (Optional yearbook purchased via ParentVue) - Fees must be paid in order for your child's registration to be complete.
3. Register for Bus (if applicable)
Complete Registration for OTMS:
You will do this by logging into ParentVUE to complete registration and to pay fees. All students in all grades need to register every year. It will just take a few minutes to complete. Registration is different from enrollment (where students selected classes via counselors in February).
To complete registration, parents/guardians will need to confirm the information in ParentVue (including phone, email, emergency contacts, health data, etc.) and update any changes. You need to do this even if there are no changes.
Pay Fees:
Another part of registration for the school year is paying fees. We do our best at predicting how many students will be returning in the fall. Accurate school enrollment counts are necessary for thorough preparations for the school year. To validate enrollments, we look at paid registration as a commitment from a family regarding their attendance for the upcoming year. Once we have these commitments, we may find that program or staffing adjustments are necessary. At this time, we would kindly ask that you help us firm up your commitment by completing your registration and partial or full payment for your child/children by logging into your ParentVue account at your earliest convenience.
OTMS 2021-22 Yearbook (optional):
When you are paying fees, there is an optional fees section to purchase a yearbook. This is often overlooked. We do not order extra yearbooks so it is important to add this optional fee if you wish for your child to receive a yearbook at the conclusion of the school year. Yearbooks must be ordered through ParentVue. It is easy to miss if you don't know where to go to make optional purchases. There is no hard copy order form. Yearbooks must be purchased via ParentVue.
- Log in to ParentVue
- Go to the Fees page
- Scroll down to the Optional Fees section
- Select the 21-22 YRBOOK option and add it to your cart
- Check out and pay for your yearbook
Bus Registration Information: (If a student plans to ride a bus, you must complete this process). Bus company registration information is copied below.
Bus Registration through Durham is open for the 2021-22 school year. There are two ways to register for school bus transportation:
1.Online registration is available on the Durham website.
2.Registration forms are available on the Blue Valley School District website on the right-hand side of the page under Useful Links.
**Questions about bus routes or transportation fees should be directed to Durham School Services at (913) 681-2492.
If you have questions or need support, please contact OTMS Monday - Friday from 7:30 to 3:30. There will be office staff who can assist (239-5400).
21-22 ATHLETIC & ACTIVITIES
Clubs: Throughout the year, there are a variety of clubs that will be available to all grade levels. Staff members may sponsor a club for an entire school year, or only a few short weeks, so look for updates in weekly emails about opportunities to participate. We also encourage students interested in starting a club to visit with a teacher or office staff about organizing their idea!
Intramurals: As the school year begins, there will also be opportunities for all students to participate in intramurals. Intramurals are staff sponsored and are more physically involved than a typical club. These sessions run at various lengths throughout the school year, so look for updates in weekly emails about opportunities to participate.
Fall Musical/Spring Play: Students at all grade levels are able to participate in the Fall Musical. Students, grades 7-8 can participate in the Spring play.
Fall Musical Auditions: Wednesday, 9/1 and Thursday, 9/2
Fall Musical Performance: Wednesday, 11/10 and Thursday, 11/11
Play Auditions: Thursday, 1/6
Play Performance: Thursday, 3/3 and Friday, 3/4
Athletics: If your student is planning to participate in any KSHSAA sponsored activity for the 21-22 school year, he/she will need to have the Athletic Participation Packet completed and turned into the office prior to the first practice. The physical must be dated after 5/1/21. Also, in order to compete, student-athletes must participate in the minimum number of school practices required per KSHAA guidelines. For 8th grade student-athletes, eligibility under KSHSAA requires that a student shall have passed at least five subjects/classes in the quarter prior to the season of participation.
Athletics Meeting: This year’s fall athletic parent/coaches meeting will be held virtually. Video messages from coaches as well as documents outlining the season will be sent out to the community on 8/10. Please be on the lookout for this email!
KSHSAA Sponsored Activities
Fall:
7th and 8th grade Cross Country
7th and 8th grade Cheerleading
8th grade Football
8th grade Girls Volleyball
Winter:
6th-8th grade Wrestling
8th grade Boys Basketball
8th grade Girls Basketball
Spring:
7th and 8th grade Track and Field
Fall Athletic and Activities Updates
*A video message from fall coaches will be shared with the community the second week of August. These video messages will take the place of in-person coaches meetings this year.
Cross Country (7th/8th grade)
Head Coach, Ms. Tracy Anderson (tlandersion03@bluevalleyk12.org)
1st Practice: Wednesday, August 18th
1st Meet: September 9th
Volleyball (8th Grade Girls)
Head Coach, Mrs. Kathy Sawyer (ksawyer@bluevalleyk12.org)
1st Practice: Wednesday, August 18th
1st Game: September 1st
Football (8th Grade)
Head Coach, Mr. Luke Newell (lnewell@bluevalleyk12.org)
1st Practice: August 16th (optional) August 18th (official)
1st Game: September 2nd
Cheerleading (7th and 8th grade)
Head Coach, Ms. Crosby Cooper (ccooper@bluevalleyk12.org)
1st Practice: TBA
1st Game: September 2nd
Fall Play (6th, 7th and 8th grade)
Director, Ms. Angel Bolen (abolen@bluevalleyk12.org)
Auditions: September 7-8th
Fall Play: October 7-8th
The form below must be printed and handed in to the office.
School Picture Information
For students getting their picture on Falcon Takeoff Day, see the handout below for information.
Overland Trail Middle Fall Portraits 2021
Picture day: Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Passcode : 315259288
https://schphoto.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=169669
21-22 School Supplies Information
Student Chromebooks
Please make sure that students have fully charged their Chromebooks and bring them to school on the first day. Once school starts, students who are having issues with their devices will receive instruction on how to have them fixed or exchanged.
6th grader will receive their devices on August 17th during 6th grade orientations. They will need to take them home on the first day and fully charge them overnight.
New 7th and 8th grade students will receive theirs on the 18th.