Parents,

In recent week's I've been contacted by Price Chopper, Starbucks, and Carmen's Cocina regarding behavior from middle school patrons on separate occasions. Reported behaviors include:

• cursing in the store with each other
• making gestures toward customers
• blocking entry to the store
• throwing cake, breaking bottles, leaving messes
• standing on tables near the pharmacy
• climbing/swinging on tree branches
• riding on motorized handicap carts
• throwing balls
• eating donuts
• playing hide and seek

Redirection from workers has frequently been ignored or was responded to disrespectfully. Police have been called on at least one occasion this school year.

While these behaviors are often not within CST's jurisdiction, when specific information is provided we will make calls home in effort to promote positive outcomes for all without the need of law enforcement. Ultimately, however, businesses have the right to enforce their policies and expectations as they see appropriate and this could include contacting police and/or pressing charges.

As CST principal, I can share that all the businesses I've mentioned have done so much for our staff and our kids over the years with the services they provide. I value their contributions not just as a principal, but as a parent and as a community member. In our beginning-of-year talks with students, as part of representing oneself (and school) positively, we included discussion on behavior expectations at Price Chopper specifically. We will continue to do our part at CST to reinforce basic common courtesy and appropriate behavior when in public.

I'm also hopeful this awareness and communication will prompt discussion at home about the importance of responsible independence and respectful behavior in public, especially in context of these concerns. Aiming to promote a future filled with positive societal contributions and doing so with courtesy, kindness, and respect is one we can all promote as part of our home/school partnership. I'm grateful for our CST parent community and its support in doing all we can to fulfill our district's mission of "preparing kids for their future."

Rick

***NOTE: There will not be a "BEFORE HOURS" on Monday, 9/13***

These programs are known as "Wildcat After Hours" (WAH) and "Math Lab". Below are available times for students to get help with homework. Please note, we are adding a "before hours" WAH program on Monday and Wednesday as well.

***These academic programs began the week of September 6th***

No Equipment Needed

Lacrosse is the fastest growing team sport in the country.
Come see why lacrosse is becoming such a popular sport.

WHERE: Walnut Grove Elementary, 119th and Pflumm

WHEN: September 25 & 26, October 2 & 3; 4:00 ‐ 5:15pm. Come to just one or all four, whatever works for you.

WHY: There is a reason why lacrosse is a growing sport. It is fast‐paced with lots of action for all players on the field. Kids tend to really enjoy learning to throw and catch a lacrosse ball.

AGES: Girls grades 3‐8 are welcome. We will separate by age and playing experience.

SEASON: Lacrosse is a spring sport, although there are options to play out of season with various clubs. For Spring 2022, Westside Wild intends to put teams in the KC Metro League that play on Sundays at Blue Valley North and also is striving to have a 5v5 beginner’s league.

EQUIPMENT: Lacrosse stick, goggles, mouth guard (Coaches can help source. Overall cost is modest, less than $100 for all)

REGISTER: Please visit https://westsidewildlax.com to learn more and register or email Chris Harrington at c_harr@hotmail.com to do so.

COLLEGE LACROSSE: There are almost 600 women’s teams at 4‐year institutions between D1,2,3 and NAIA, more than men’s, providing wonderful playing opportunities for those that excel.

As we return to school with all students, please be reminded of our traffic pattern and important directions that will promote safety and efficiency for all our students...

• Students should be ready to exit when the car stops--gathering of items should be minimal
  
• No stopping on the cross walk in front of the school--those being dropped off in the parking lot will come across on this path
  
• Students should wait to cross the cross walk (either direction) until prompted to do so by a CST staff member
• Cars may pull up past the crosswalk and students exit right onto the sidewalk
• There are two lanes of front drop-off in the morning, there are 3 lanes of pick-up in the front in the afternoon--refer to the map below
• We love dogs and will often have Milk Bones in the afternoon--bring your pup for a ride too!
  

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

Attention!

The USDA has announced that the National School Breakfast and Lunch program will be free for all students during the 2021-22 school year. This means that students will not be charged for “combo” breakfast or lunch in the coming school year.

However, it’s vital that families who would benefit from free or reduced district registration, transportation and other fees fill out the Kansas State Department of Education Household Economic Survey to continue to receive free or reduced school registration fees, transportation fees and other fees and school costs. Please do so by going to https://onbase.olatheschools.com/forms/household_economic_survey.html.

Families will only need to fill out this survey one time to determine qualification for reduced or waived fees for the 2021-22 school year. Filling out this survey and including all children on the form also helps the district maintain important funding that makes certain educational programming possible.

We encourage all families to consider, review and complete the Household Economic Survey application. If families do not complete the application, they will no longer be eligible for reduced fees and state funding for the district may be reduced.

The 8th period on your child's schedule is our new "Academic Extension with Intervention" time. This period will take place right after 1st hour (see schedule below). At CST, we are calling this time "Wildcats WIN" (WIN = What I Need). This time will occur daily for all students and will be a time to receive a variety of learning. This time will include social emotional learning (2nd Step), reading intervention and strategies, silent reading, school-themed lessons and information, content-related materials, and student-choice learning. This time is truly intended to be a "what I need" time for students.

This intervention time will take place in all Olathe middle schools and the new bell schedule below will be utilized in most of our middle school buildings. Watch the weekly for more information on Wildcats WIN as the school year gets underway. This will be a valuable time for our students as we aim to cater more to their educational needs.

Access to school calendars, hour listings for buildings

District Calendar Page

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

District Calendar PDF