HUSKY TRACKS
Week of August 14, 2017
Prairie Trail Middle School
Website: http://schools.olatheschools.com/buildings/prairietrail/
Location: 21600 W 107th St. Olathe KS 66061
Phone: 913-780-7280
Twitter: @PRT_Huskies
Message From The Principal: Week of 8/14/2017
Dear PRT Family,
What an exciting time to be at PRT! On Thursday morning, PRT staff were welcomed back...by PRT students! The morning kicked off with a number of PRT students surprising staff by coming onto the stage, waving, smiling, and sharing stories about their teachers. It was a great reminder of what we are all about...our students! Thanks to all the students who made the decision to be a part of such a special morning. It was a fun way to kick off the year.
"Educating outside the lines" is our 17-18 theme. We were fortunate to take part in an all-middle school event and listen to Dave Burgess, of Teach Like a Pirate fame. His motivational, innovative approach in the classroom brought forth many ideas and strategies which have already sparked ideas in the staff at PRT. Along with "educating outside the lines" you may notice a "#PRTPalette" on our staff shirts. We hope to take our palette and create (in Dave Burgess' words) "an experience" this year as we engage students in the curriculum.
Finally, Thursday was capped off with our school social known as WOOF. It was great to see so many students and packed bleachers for the pep assembly. Our cheer and dance teams looked in mid-season form and the minute-to-win-it games were a blast.
I'm so looking forward to welcoming your child/children to PRT in a few days. I've been here 7 years and tell people all the time that I'm biased, but PRT is a great place to be...I truly believe that. My hope is 17-18 will be the greatest school year so far for your child.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Rick Sola, principal
PRT staff member's painting from Thursday's pre-service
Do you follow PRT on Twitter?
In addition, several PRT groups have Twitter accounts...
@PRT_Theatre
@PRTtrack_field
@PRTcheer
@PRTHuskyHowler (newspaper)
Follow us!
What is Husky Time?
Fall Sports (volleyball and football) begin Monday!
- Football--Practice begins August 14th; Football parent meeting on August 15th @ 6pm (Aud.); First Day of pad (for those completing 3 non-pad practices) is August 17th
- Volleyball--Tryouts begin August 14th
For more information, including season schedules, go to our homepage and click the athletics tab.
Cross Country Begins August 21st
When will my student get their iPad?
What time is lunch??? (Slightly altered from 8/7 weekly)
Hour 1 7:50 – 8:40
Hour 2 8:45 – 9:35
Hour 3 9:40 – 10:30
Hour 4 10:35 – 11:25
Alt. Hour 4 10:35 – 11:50 (Andromeda and Orion Only)
1st Lunch 10-55-11:20
- 10:55-11:20 (Orion)
Alt. Hour 5 11:55-12:45 (Orion Only)
Hour 5 11:30-12:45
2nd Lunch 11:30-11:55
Science 7/8; Math 7
3rd Lunch 11:55-12:20
- ELA 7/8; Math 8, SS 8
4th Lunch 12:20-12:45
- SS 7; Pegasus Team, Andromeda
Hour 6 12:50 – 1:40
Hour 7 1:45 – 2:35
ICE 2:40 – 3:10
Join us for Back to School Night!
Which admin/counselor work with which grade level?
Administrators
6th grade--Rick Sola, principal
7th grade--Elizabeth Holland, assistant principal, athletic director
8th Grade--Jennifer Stoskopf, assistant principal, activities director, sped coordinator
Counselors
Katie Vena--6th grade teams, 7th grade Tundra team
Cindy Hey--8th grade teams, 7th grade Yukon and Glacier team
Solar Eclipse
- be provided a safety lesson on proper viewing of an eclipse
- issued proper viewing glasses the day of the eclipse
- be outside before and after "totality" (1:08pm)
- be participating in discussion and activities leading up to, and after, the eclipse
This event is on the third full day of school (August 21st). Watch for district communication as well as additional info here in the coming weeks.
Locker Access Schedule
- August 14 - 7:30 – 11:30 AM
NEW 7th and 8th Grade Students
7th and 8th grade students NEW to PRT are invited to attend an orientation at 10am on Wednesday, August 16th. They will meet in the library with counselors and will also eat a school lunch. There will be an orientation for new 7th and 8th graders and they will be dismissed at 12:15pm on this day. This is not mandatory, but helpful to new 7th and 8th graders. Parents need not attend.
First Day of School—All 7th and 8th Grade Students (2nd day for 6th graders)
The first day of school for all 7th and 8th graders (2nd day for 6th graders) is on Thursday, August 17th. This is a regular school day from 7:50am-3:10pm.
First Day of School—6th Grade Students
The first day of school for all 6th grade students is Wednesday, August 16th and is a partial school day. It’s recommended for students to arrive by 7:40am and they will be dismissed at 12:15pm. Students will begin the day with an assembly put on by 8th grade WEB Leaders. Students will also be moving through their class schedule and eating a school lunch. Students only need class schedules and should wear comfortable clothes. Parents driving students to school are asked to drop off on the west side of the building and arrive via Valley Road.
New PRT Staff Members for 17-18
Amanda Tesson - 8th grade math--Team Liberty; head cheer coach
Tessa Aldag - 6th grade science--Team Pegasus; asst. cheer coach
Hannah Mead - 7th grade SS--Team Yukon
Jen Bruse - 7th grade ELA--Team Yukon
Jill Lewis - 6th grade math--Team Andromeda
Nick Rowland - AM band
Katie Tanner - school social worker
Tina Mayo - Receptionist
Kurt Dunn - School Resource Officer
PRT Traffic Pattern
- Arrive and depart using Valley Road (between Meadowlane and K-State Bio-Science Center).
- When dropping off, please pull forward as far as possible behind the auxiliary (new) gym (see yellow box below). This will allow as many cars as possible into the drive. Students will have quick, supervised, and easy access to the building.
- The front drive is reserved for bus traffic and those needing to park and come into the building from 7:15-7:40 and 3:00-3:20pm.
- No entering or exiting using the back drive before or after school.
- For student and traffic safety, no drop offs or pick ups on 107th Street.
Students waiting for their rides beyond 3:30 will be asked to move to the front of the building. This is for student safety as the office will be accessible.
- Please follow directions given by PRT staff on duty.
This pattern was implemented prior to the project on College and Lone Elm. We've had success with this pattern in promoting an efficient system and your continued help is much appreciated!
Dates to Know...
- July 31st--The PRT front office is open from 7am-3:30pm
- August 4th--New Educators Report
- August 5th--Dance Team Practice (8am)
- August 7th--Cheer Practice--3:30-5pm
- August 8th--Cheer Practice--4-5pm; WEB Leader Training (8am-1pm)
- August 9th--WEB Leader training (8am-1pm)
- August 10th--Teacher Report; Football Equipment Checkout (7th from 4-4:30pm; 8th from 4:30-5pm); Husky WOOF (Welcome Our Outstanding Families)-5-6:30
- August 12th--Dance Team Practice (8am)
- August 14th--Football practice begins (3:30pm); Volleyball Tryouts begin (7th @ 3:30; 8th @ 5:30pm)
- August 15th--Football Parent Mtg (6pm, Auditorium)
- August 16th--First day for 6th grade (7:50am-12:15)
- August 17th--First full day of school--all students
- August 21st--Cross Country practice begins; Solar Eclipse!
- August 22nd--VB parent meeting (5:45pm)
- August 24th--Back to School Night (6pm)
- August 25th--All School Picture Day
- August 26th--Dance Team Practice (9am); Cheer Longhorns Pancake Feed (8am)
- August 28th--ONW Area Band Night (6pm)
- August 30th--1st VB game--8th vs SFT; 7th @ SFT--3:30pm
- August 31st--1st FB game--8th @ OT; 7th vs OT--3:30pm
- September 1st--1st Pep Assembly (2:40pm)
New PRT Families
- I will send a weekly newsletter in this format (via 'smore')
- I will send you an email letting you know it's been updated and with the new topics
- I aim to be as timely as I can in the information
- I try to minimize communications to this weekly
- This is a great place to reference to stay "in the know" on what is occurring at PRT
- Of course you can also always check out our home page: http://schools.olatheschools.com/buildings/prairietrail/
- Also, follow us on Twitter @PRT_Huskies to see some of the lighter things going on at PRT
- If at any time you feel like you may not be receiving information from the school please contact us at 913-780-7280. Data Operator, Lisa Polson, will be able to verify contact info on file.
RAFFLE: Get your name on the PRT drives!
Be on the lookout for new Husky "street signs" as you enter the west parking lot and the front circle drive. They are "Husky dr" and "Prairie trl" but you have a chance to get YOUR name on the drive for the year! We are selling tickets through Labor Day to enter the drawing. Two winners will be announced through the Husky Tracks sent out on 9/9. One winner will name the west drive, the other the front circle drive. We'll put the winners' name on the drives by the first of October and for the rest of this year! At the end of the year you will get to keep the sign.
Tickets are being sold NOW in the front office and students will be able to enter during lunch beginning 8/22. Proceeds go toward outdoor expenses (specifically landscaping) to beautify PRT! Watch for a makeover of the landscaping near the PRT brick sign and front mulch very soon!
Tickets prices are as follows:
$1 = 1 ticket
$5 = 6 tickets
$10 = 12 tickets
$20 = 25 tickets
17-18 District Calendar
Will your student be participating in Fall sports?
- Football
- Volleyball
- Girls' and Boys' Basketball
- Wrestling (intramural)
- Cross Country (intramural)
- Track
- Cheer and Dance
Reminders:
Bold text are new to this week's Husky Tracks
- Lunch WILL BE served on 8/16 (half day for 6th and NEW 7th and 8th graders). Money can be added to MyPaymentsPlus or a check brought into the lunch room before school.
- Traffic Reminders: Please use the west drive for dropping off or picking up students. The front drive is reserved for buses from 7:15-7:40am and 3:10-3:20pm. Drivers may park up front during these times if coming into the building.
- The back drive is a one-way drive and for staff only. For the safety of students and staff please do not use the back drive to drop off students or otherwise pass through.
- Student attire--daily attire should reflect the academic nature of PRT. Shorts should be at an appropriate length and tank tops without a cover avoided.
Office Staff and Information
During the school year, the office at PRT is open Monday thru Thursday from 7:00am to 4:00pm., and Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm.
Please let us know how we can be of assistance.
Receptionist: Roxanne Humphry / Tina Mayo
Assistant Principal's Secretary: Shannon Gouger
Attendance Secretary: Barb Walters
Bookkeeper/Principal's Secretary: Amanda Koerner
Data Operator: Lisa Polson
School Nurse: Julie Beth Anselmi
Administrators and Counselors:
Elizabeth Holland, Assistant Principal (7th Grade students)
Jennifer Stoskopf, Assistant Principal (8th Grade students)
Rick Sola, Principal (6th Grade students)
Katie Vena, Counselor (6th and Tundra students)
Cindy Hey, Counselor (Glacier/Yukon and 8th Grade students)