Dear CST Family,

Thank you all for your role in this first week of school. I’ve always viewed the parent/school relationship as an important partnership in a child’s education, but this year has taken this thought to a whole new level. We appreciate all you are doing to help your child be successful. There’s been stress, tech issues, and adjustment to a new way of learning, but I’ve also been so proud at the resilience and understanding from our kids and the calm and grit from our teachers. I shared with staff how great it was, in the heat of Tuesday morning, to hear and see their calming, reassuring voice and presence on Zoom with our students. They showed, and continue to show, a positive example of how to handle stress and pressure with poise and grace. Ultimately, there’s lessons for our kids in everything we do and the example we all provide through the challenges we encounter will help make our kids stronger and more resilient.

Again, I want to thank you, parents. I received so many understanding emails through the challenges of this past week. As cliché as it is, we are all in this together and our students are the ones who’ll benefit from our joint efforts—whether choppy waters or smooth sailing. Sincerely, I, and we, appreciate you and all your doing from home to support our efforts here in the building.

I wish you all a restful weekend and we look forward to seeing our students again on Monday.

Rick

Week at a glance...

MAP Testing and Panorama Surveys begin (see full schedule below this section)

Monday, 9/14

• Math MAP Testing (7/8 math classes--6th grade next week)
  

Tuesday, 9/15

• Math MAP Testing (7/8 math classes)
  

Wednesday, 9/16

• Orchestra Drive-up Tuning--5-7pm--front drive (see more below)
• Reading MAP (6th grade)
  

Thursday, 9/17

• Reading MAP Testing (6/7 ELA classes)
• Constitution Day--This day celebrates the adoption of the U.S. Constitution which occurred in 1787

Friday, 9/18

• Reading MAP Testing (6/7 ELA Classes)
  

Upcoming Important Dates...

• 9/25--Remote Learning Day
  

• 9/30--Picture Day
• 9/30--Papa Johns Night!
  

District Info: Re-Open 2020

• Re-open2020: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10371
  
• FAQs: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10370
• Comprehensive Return to School Plan: https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10415

Instructional videos for StudentVUE:

StudentVUE video tutorial ENGLISH: https://youtu.be/36ODz_CxG9o

StudentVUE video tutorial SPANISH: https://youtu.be/MZqHT8Kwqwk

MAP testing will be given this week with Math MAP on Mon/Tues and Reading MAP on Thur/Fri. This assessment will help us better understand where are students are academically, especially having been away from new material for the past 6 months. Students have taken the MAP in Olathe 2-3 times over each of the past 4 years.

MAP is scheduled to be taken 2 additional times this year, winter and spring. These assessments will be taken during math and ELA classes and will span over 2 days. Teachers will be reinforcing with the students the importance of trying their best so we have an authentic measure of their academic progress from last school year.

• MAP provides us the opportunity to show growth in students this year.
• MAP is our best way to gauge overall readiness to learn, especially in light of the loss of the spring 4th quarter. In the areas of math and reading, MAP provides very specific, standards-based data that impacts almost every class a student takes.
• The test itself is low stakes (does not impact grades, for example) while at the same time providing valuable insight and information for teachers.

Attendance Corner

Welcome Parents to the 2020-21 School Year. A few suggestions to help us tackle attendance for your student(s) during this hybrid learning experience. Attendance is more crucial during these unprecedented times. We ask that you notify Chisholm Trail Attendance Office, preferably before 8:00am with your students all day absence. You can use any of the following methods of contacting us:

1. Call dedicated Attendance Line (voicemail only) – 913-780-7241

2. Call CST Main Line – 913-780-7240 (voicemail after 4:00pm)

3. Email Connie Bray, Attendance Secretary @ cbraycst@olatheschools.org

*all emails will be responded to with a follow-up email for verification of receiving

Information needed to report absence:

· Student Name

· Student Grade

· Your Relationship to Student

· Reason for absence (i.e. illness description, appointment, etc.)

· Phone number to return call (if needed for further info)

Due to remote learning, if your student checks out for an appointment, we ask for a second notification to Attendance (again via any of the 3 methods listed above) if student returns to learning with a time of return. If you contact your student(s) teacher via email please cc Connie Bray with info as to help us.

Please refer to this request as we proceed to continue to help make this school year as positive as we possibly can. We are always here to assist you in any way we can. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. Thank you, and together we can do this.

Attendance Secretary,

Connie Bray

Need technical support? Go here for solutions and direction...consider bookmarking this page.

https://www.olatheschools.org/domain/3042

Surface Go Tip

If students are unable to connect to WiFi (example: worked one day but not the other):

o Press and hold the Power button until the screen goes black (ignore the “swipe to shut down PC” option)

o Press Power button again

o Give it a minute to restart – this should “kick out” new updates to Surface Go

Olathe Public Schools parents,

As we approach the first day of school on Tuesday, September 8, we wanted to share some vital information for families to get ready for the school year ahead.

ParentVUE and StudentVUE Training for Parents
With the expanded use of ParentVUE and StudentVUE as the district’s learning management system, helping parents navigate the system is vitally important. The district will be offering parents ParentVUE training to teach families how to log into ParentVUE and StudentVUE, how to access student course and class content and the class website for each teacher.

The parent trainings will take place via Zoom. See attached flier for more information on dates, times and how to sign up. Additionally, if you would like to watch a video to learn how to log in and use ParentVUE and/or StudentVUE prior to the trainings, you can access videos in English and Spanish. Here is a direct link to the ParentVUE video tutorials in English and Spanish: https://bit.ly/2EZDa9K. Here is a direct link to the StudentVUE video tutorials in English and Spanish: https://bit.ly/3bgE4uN.

Technology and Learning Help Desk
Parents and students in need of technology or learning system help can contact the Technology and Learning Help Desk via phone at (913) 780-8058 or via email to helpdesk@olatheschools.org. The Help Desk will be open from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Mental Health Support for Families
The mental health and social emotional growth of our students is a great focus in the Olathe Public Schools. Attached is a document that outlines various ways our families can seek support. Please reach out to your child’s school if you feel your child needs help and support.

Student Learning Logs
Learning logs have been shared with you and our community as a requirement of KSDE for students when they are learning at home. However, KSDE has recently shared the specific situations that will require learning logs. In Olathe, we will have very few, if any, situations where this will be needed. If students have access to daily live instruction and we take attendance when we see students participating, we should meet the requirements.

District Parent Guide
The Parent Guide to the Olathe Public Schools: This helpful guide will serve as an informational tool for you in addition to resources readily available on our district website www.olatheschools.org. The guide contains information on the Board of Education, a listing of feeder schools, transportation, health services, safe schools, student information, directory information, FERPA and school hours.

Please visit with your building principal, if you have any questions.

Best wishes for an outstanding year!

Olathe Public Schools Administration

Parent_Training_for_Synergy.pdf (8.3 MB)
Mental_Health_brochure_ENGLISH.pdf (179.9 KB)
08102020_English_Parent_Guide_ENGLISH.pdf (741.7 KB)

Lunch and Breakfast Pick-up at CST--the short version...

We will plan on curbside pick-up in front of the school. Food will be hot and bagged ready to hand off. First day instructions...

1. Please have your kids with you the first time you pick up meals
2. You'll receive a red card you can use after that for meal pick up (instead of bringing all kids every day)
3. If you haven't yet registered, you can go to their website and do that---click https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10605
   
4. Registering for meals each week helps our kitchen staff with meal counts
5. More details in earlier emails (below) and linked
   

Carryout Meal Service

Students who are receiving remote instruction while the District is operating under any of the learning models will have carryout breakfasts and lunches available for pick-up at their home school.

These meals must be pre-ordered via the MyPaymentsPlus.com website or mobile app 1-week in advance of the week the meals are wanted. You may pick up your meals at whichever site is most convenient.

The meals will be boxed/bagged during lunch time from the serving line in the lunch room. You will pick up and pay for the carryout meals inside the front entrance of the school.

Facemasks are required to be worn when picking up meals.

Breakfast and lunch meals are free of charge for all children ages 1-18 years old

To ensure the Federal limit of only serving 1-breakfast and 1-lunch to each child each day is met, the following procedure will be in place for picking up carryout meals:

On the first day you choose to pick up carryout meals, have all children present with you at the school pick-up location. If this isn’t possible, you may arrive the first day and explain your extenuating circumstance.

You will be issued the cards needed and the number of children for whom you’ll be picking up meals will later be verified. You will be issued one carryout meal card for each of the children for whom you’ll be picking up meals. From that point on, you only need to bring the cards for the children for whom you’re picking up meals – the children will no longer need to be present.

Carryout Meal Pick-up Times

Middle School Breakfast and Lunch Pick up time: 11:30am-12:30pm on School Days

High School Breakfast and Lunch Pick up time: 10:30am - 12:00pm on School Days

(Exception: No meal service will be available on September 25th or October 9th)

All this info and more can be found HERE!

Olathe families,

The Food Services division of Olathe Public Schools wanted to share a few updates regarding student meals. Earlier this week, the USDA announced they would be extending flexibilities for the summer food service program to run through December 2020 or until Federal money is no longer available. This means school breakfast and lunch will be served free of charge to all children aged 1-18.

If you have already pre-ordered for a week of meals, we ask that you honor the location you have selected. Moving forward, when you place a meal pre-order, you will be able to choose a location most convenient to you for daily pickup.

To ensure the district and families are following USDA regulations, on the first day you choose to pick up carryout meals, please have all children present at the school pick up location. If having your children with you isn’t possible, you may arrive and explain the circumstance and receive the meal cards. The number of children for whom you’ll be picking up meals will later be verified.

The carryout hours are:

Elementary Carryout Meal Pickup Time

11:00 -12:45

Middle School Carryout Meal Pickup Time

11:30 - 12:30

High School Carryout Meal Pickup Time

10:30 - 12:00

Food Services' website has been updated to make it easier to find the Pre-ordering information along with an instructional video: https://www.olatheschools.org/domain/2915

Due to the limited time we anticipate the free meal funding may be available, it is important that families continue to submit updated free/reduced meal applications if there are any changes in household size or income. Household applications are accepted throughout the school year and, if approved, are effective through the last day of the 2020-2021 school year. In addition, households must still apply for meal benefits to be eligible for building fee and/or bus transportation discounts.

If you have questions, please contact Food Services at catering@olatheschools.org or (913) 780-7005.

Sincerely,

Olathe Public Schools Food Services

Please take a moment to view with your child before September 8th. Videos below were sent from teachers on Friday.

Instructional videos for StudentVUE:

StudentVUE video tutorial ENGLISH: https://youtu.be/36ODz_CxG9o

StudentVUE video tutorial SPANISH: https://youtu.be/MZqHT8Kwqwk

Instructional videos for ParentVUE:
ParentVUE video tutorial ENGLISH: https://youtu.be/CCcylluF9B0

ParentVUE video tutorial SPANISH: https://youtu.be/3K4Gi14w4Sc

(Flyer and registration linked below--dates picture to the right)

Need technical support? Go here for solutions and direction...consider bookmarking this page.

https://www.olatheschools.org/domain/3042

For Technical Support for students and families, please call the Olathe Public Schools Help Desk at 913.780.8058.

Surface Go Tip

If students are unable to connect to WiFi (example: worked one day but not the other):

o Press and hold the Power button until the screen goes black (ignore the “swipe to shut down PC” option)

o Press Power button again

o Give it a minute to restart – this should “kick out” new updates to Surface Go

Kajeet SmartSpot

What is a Kajeet SmartSpot?

• A Kajeet SmartSpot provides internet access via a mobile hotspot. These hotspots allow Olathe Public School students access to educational resources anywhere.

Who can apply for a Kajeet SmartSpot?

• Olathe Public School students who do not have internet access at home may apply for a Kajeet SmartSpot. You can apply here Kajeet SmartSpot Application

• Applicants must agree that they do not currently have internet access at home. Kajeet SmartSpots are available on a first come first serve basis.

• Once the application has been approved a member of the Olathe Public Schools Technology staff will contact you to schedule a time to pick up the device.

Kajeet SmartSpot Terms and Conditions

• Kajeet SmartSpots are filtered for educational use only. Social media, streaming, and entertainment sites cannot be accessed.

• Kajeet SmartSpots are monitored for usage to ensure that they are being used appropriately. If there is low usage, if you gain internet access at home, or if inappropriate content is accessed students will be required to return the device.

• Loss or damage to a Kajeet SmartSpot will result in a replacement fee of $99.97.

You should receive an email and a text alerting you of the updated weekly. If you do not have an email we do not have an accurate address. Please contact Melynda Marquardt to be added or verified.

CST Data Operator: Melynda Marquardt (mrmarquardt@olatheschools.org)

• Our office will operate Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm with calls from 7am-5pm.
  
• We will be implementing a "drop off station" in the front foyer to allow for contact-less drop off/pick up.

• Please call the CST front office with questions--913-780-7240.
  

Receptionist: Chrissy Walters

Assistant Principal's Secretary: Angie Peterson

Attendance Secretary: Connie Bray

Bookkeeper/Principal's Secretary: Andrea Wescott

Data Operator: Melynda Marquardt

School Nurse: Jennifer Ross

Please keep info updated (email, phone number, medical, etc.). Contact the office at 913-780-7240 if you are concerned you may be missing communication or need to update your family's information.

A stable group is a group of students who are together regularly for the same purpose. At elementary the stable group/cohort would be their class. A secondary stable group would be the hourly classes or routine activities in which they participate. Middle school will have as many as 8 stable groups--each of their 7 class periods and CAT. Students will also eat lunch with their class in the lunchroom at assigned tables. This is also considered a stable group.