Dear CST Family,

Last Thursday we hosted an enrollment meeting for our 6th and 7th grade parents. This Monday, our 7th grade students will hear a presentation from CST counselors about their course options for next school year followed by a similar presentation for 6th grade students on Tuesday. We are moving quickly into 22-23 planning at all 3 CST grade levels (8th grade high school presentations coming soon!) and we host our 5th grade parents this Thursday for a 5th grade transition meeting. This is an exciting time for our kids as they peer into their future at the opportunities presented to them. Their excitement and optimism makes this time of year so fun.

I'm also reminded of just how quickly the time we have with our kids moves. We know this feeling as parents. It seems like your child was just starting pre-school and now conversation about 21st century academies has you talking with them about their career path! (pro-tip--if they aren't sure at age 13 what career path they want to take, it is okay). Take comfort in knowing there is no one way through this and your child will adjust, pivot, adapt, or complete a 180--maybe multiple times--before they land. This may try our patience as parents but it's all part of their process...there's no one way. I hope you will ask your child about what they learn this week about course options for next year. Resources to assist you in the process were emailed out Wednesday (6th and 7th grade parents) and are located below in this newsletter. I hope this helps you as you talk with your child and to simply learn more about what your child has available to them. And please feel free to reach out to your child's counselor or any of our admin with questions. We are happy and privileged to be a part of your child's journey and we are here to help all along the way.

Rick

Already a registered voter? You will automatically receive a ballot in the mail on or after Feb. 9, 2022. Not registered yet? Residents who are not registered to vote and would like to vote in the 2022 Bond Election must register by Feb. 8, 2022.

Ballots must be returned to the Johnson County Election office (either by mail using the enclosed postage-paid envelop or by dropping the ballot off at the election office, 2101 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS) by noon on March 1, 2022. For additional information about voter registration, visit the Johnson County Election website.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Families interested in learning more about the Bond are invited to attend a Bond Information Night. Olathe Public Schools has rescheduled the Bond Information Night at Chisholm Trail Middle. The information night will now be held on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at Chisholm Trail Middle (16700 West 159th Street Olathe, KS).

Regístrese para votar en las elecciones de Bonos 2022

Los votantes registrados que viven dentro de los límites del Distrito Escolar de Olathe pronto tendrán la oportunidad de votar en una elección de bonos por correo de 298.3 millones de dólares sin aumento de impuestos que tendría un impacto positivo en todos los estudiantes de Olathe y su futuro en los próximos años.

¿Ya está registrado como votante? Recibirá automáticamente una boleta por correo a partir del 9 de febrero de 2022.

¿Aún no se ha registrado? Los residentes que no estén inscritos para votar y quieran hacerlo en las elecciones de bonos de 2022 deben inscribirse antes del 8 de febrero de 2022.

Las boletas deben ser devueltas a la oficina electoral del condado Johnson (ya sea por correo usando el sobre con franqueo pagado adjunto o dejando la boleta en la oficina electoral, 2101 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS) antes del mediodía del 1ro de marzo de 2022. Para recibir información adicional acerca del registro para votar, por favor visite el sitio de web de la oficina electoral del condado de Johnson (Johnson County Election Office).

ACTUALIZACIÓN IMPORTANTE: Las familias interesadas en aprender más sobre las elecciones de Bonos están invitadas a asistir a una Noche Informativa. Las Escuelas Públicas de Olathe han reprogramado la Noche Informativa en Chisholm Trail Middle. La noche de información ahora se llevará a cabo el lunes 24 de enero a las 7 p.m. en Chisholm Trail Middle (16700 West 159th Street Olathe, KS).

Dear 6th and 7th grade parents,

On Monday and Tuesday next week, our 6th and 7th graders will receive the information presented at yesterday’s parent enrollment night meeting. The resources presented last night are also available in this email for those unable to attend or any who want to review the information. We will also make these resources available on our website. Your child will learn more about this process next week and will be a great source of information, but please feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor with additional questions along the way.

Rick Sola

Principal

Attachments:

1. Agenda from 1/20 meeting (QR code to program planning guide)
2. Online Course request instructions
3. PDF of yesterday’s PPT
4. Video tutorial of online enrollment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1dRaJ09q8

• Thursday Jan 20th Current 6th and 7th grade parent night. 6:30 pm- CST Auditorium- no students. Parents will hear information about 22-23 enrollment as well as opportunities available to students in their 7th and 8th grade year.
  

• Monday, January 24th CST counselors in current 7th grade Social Studies classrooms to go over course options for 8th grade

• Tuesday, January 25th CST counselors in current 6th grade Science classrooms to go over course options for 7th grade

• Thursday Jan 27th CST Counselors in 8th grade Science to discuss high school credits

Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night -7:00 PM – CST Auditorium

• Monday, January 31st Current 6th and 7th grade student online enrollment deadline

• Tuesday, February 1st Current 6th and 7th student enrollment forms due to their Science (6th) or SS teacher (7th).

• All 8th grade students report to auditorium at 11:15 to meet with OS counselors. **All 8th graders to the auditorium for high school credit talks with OS counselors. **All students will attend this presentation regardless of what high school they will be attending.

• Enrollment talks: Sunnyside students – 1:00 pm
• Madison Place students– 2:00 pm

• Wednesday, February 2nd--Enrollment talk: Arbor Creek – 8th grade parent night at: ONW--see high school website for most current info
  

• Monday, February 7th & 8th grade Parent nights at: OE, ON, OS, OW * times vary- see high school website for more information

• Wednesday, February 9th--8th grade students bring their individual plan on of study during Science.
  

• Monday, February 14th Incoming 6th grade Online Enrollment Due

• Tuesday, February 15th--Incoming 6th grade students paper forms due to 5th grade teacher
• OS enrollment video will be shown in Science and OS will be available to for google questions all day. **

Contact Mrs. Iuli or Mrs. Rodden with questions.

The Counseling Department would like to take a moment to share a resource from Children’s Mercy Hospital with you. Please use this link https://www.childrensmercy.org/departments-and-clinics/developmental-and-behavioral-health/prepped-and-ready/ to access information about Prepped and Ready: Parenting into the Teen Years. This is set up as a short video series that you can watch as your schedule permits. There is no cost, and if you complete a short survey at the end, Children’s Mercy will send you a great safety kit.

Topics include eating disorder prevention, home safety (including storage of firearms, medications, etc.), screen time, self-care, substance use (including vaping), and suicide prevention.

This resource will only be available for a short time, so please don’t wait!

Contact your child's counselor with questions.

Artcile below found HERE

Jan. 14, 2022 ~ As we enter a new semester, we know that COVID-19 continues to be a reality in our community. While our primary goal is to keep our schools open and students learning, the stark reality is that Olathe Public Schools continues to face staffing shortages due to high levels of community spread. We want to make sure our community is aware that a temporary district closure due to the impact of COVID on school staffing is a possibility. Parents are asked to have a childcare plan in place now in the event that data indicators and staffing levels would require the district to temporarily close.

If school were to be canceled due to staffing shortages, information will be available in these ways:

• Notification to parents and staff via text and email information on file
• Visit the district website
• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter

Any parent who is in the district's system, and who has included a cell phone number, will receive a text message in case of the cancellation of school. If there has been a change in a parent's phone number or email address since enrollment, or if a parent would like to add a phone number or email address to our system, please notify the child's school. Please continue to take care of yourselves, and watch the Olathe Public Schools website for updates.

Students interested in doing conditioning in preparation for spring sports are invited to attend an after-school-conditioning program led by CST's Coach Kinzer (head boys' track coach) beginning on January 6th from 3:15-4:15. This program occurs 4 days a week when school is in session.

All students are invited regardless of their plans for CST track/spring sports. This is a good way to learn fitness basics and get in shape!

Questions can be directed to Coach Kinzer at akinzercst@olatheschools.org.

Beginning January 6th the lunch schedule will flip 6th and 8th grade in effort to create a more efficient transition to and from lunch. This schedule better reflects the natural movement of our students within our master schedule.

The following lunch times will go into effect on January 6th…

8th grade--12:00-12:25

7th grade--12:27-12:52

6th grade--12:57-1:22

6th Grade Devices

• Surface Go devices will be checked out to 6th grade and new students on Monday, August 16th. Returning 7th and 8th grade students should still have their device checked out to them last school year.
  

Extra Curricular Activities

• Students are encouraged to join CST activities! There is a strong link between school involvement and academic success. Cross Country practice begins on Tuesday, August 17 and is available to all students, 6th, 7th, and 8th. Physicals required to participate.
  

Water Bottles

• All students will be provided a water bottle from CST. Students are encouraged to drink plenty of water during the day. Drinking fountains will also be available for those without a water bottle.

Backpacks

• Students will be allowed to carry their backpacks this year to limit necessary locker trips. Students are encouraged to travel light and utilize their locker to help lighten the load.

Lockers

• All students have been assigned a hall locker and are expected to keep jackets/coats/extra clothing in their locker.
  

Two topics often asked about are cell phones and attire. The screenshots below are from the student handbook found on our website. We aim to promote a distraction-free learning environment as much as possible and we remind students that "Chisholm Trail is a school, not the pool". We want to promote a positive academic learning environment in the way we dress, speak, and behave. Teachers and admin will review a variety of topics with students as part of our beginning of year talks.

https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/8153

Access to school calendars, hour listings for buildings

District Calendar Page

Year-at-a-glance, single pager/downloadable

District Calendar PDF