I recently met with a couple parents who'll be spearheading "appreciation" efforts for our teachers in the building. Born out of the idea from another parent on Site Council, we will be moving forward with provide an avenue for parents to show appreciation and support for teachers. More to come, but for now, we discussed how best we can show thanks for our teachers in the season of Thanksgiving. We've come up with a simple method and are excited to bring this forward to the community heading into the final week before Thanksgiving!

Let's shower our teachers with notes of "thanks"! On the Monday (11/23) or Tuesday (11/24) before Thanksgiving break, we welcome and encourage your child to bring in a note for any or all of their teachers to share how thankful they are for them. Parents are certainly encouraged to join as well. While written notes are fantastic (our teachers love to put them up for daily encouragement!) we also have an online option through the Padlet link below. Thank you for your consideration and encouragement for your child to share some love for their teachers at this time of year!

A virtual link for parents and students is below--leave a virtual note here! (to protect the page, all notes will be manually approved before appearing on the Padlet)

https://padlet.com/rfsola/pz79szb3km46khs7

Olathe Public Schools families and staff,

After reviewing the data and receiving input from our community health partners, we wanted to provide information regarding learning modes. In-person learning will continue for elementary students. Middle and high school students will continue the current hybrid learning mode.

As Johnson County is in the red category as denoted by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE), it is important to note that JCDHE has not recommended changes to learning modes as the spike in COVID cases is due to community spread and not being driven by schools.

When the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education voted to follow the JCDHE Gating Criteria, they added the student absenteeism metric from the Kansas Department of Health, with all metrics weighed equally. For gating criteria metrics, please visit our COVID dashboard at https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10754. Additional information regarding the district’s gating criteria can be found here: https://www.olatheschools.org/cms/lib/KS01907024/Centricity/Domain/3108/Gating%20Criteria%20110920.pdf

As a district, we are concerned with the recent spike in cases. We remain confident that our district’s mitigation processes have been effective. We ask that in order to continue having in-person learning, we take care of one another. Please wear a mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing. We need a community effort to keep our schools, our students and our staff safe and learning together. We will continue to monitor data on a daily basis and provide updates to our families regarding learning modes in the coming weeks.

Olathe Public Schools Administration

For Students wanting to join Science Olympiad ( link below)

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ImlQ4Mr0S3kZLmnzwaqMWj4Bm1tLlfeRsFqK9UlDw5M/edit?usp=sharing

As the Olathe Public Schools works to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuously working with state and local health officials on the best practice and expertise for keeping students and staff safe. As new evidence is identified, local health departments and their collaborating school districts respond by updating guidance and practices. We want to make sure to share with parents the latest updates.

Winter Athletics

At this time, the Olathe Public Schools will move forward with winter sports while following the KSHSAA mitigation protocols. The district will continue to work closely with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. We will continue to review information and data provided by our community health partners.

Fever for Secondary Level
Fever (100o or greater) is now listed as a primary symptom for secondary students rather than a secondary symptom. This means that any student with a fever will need to be evaluated for COVID by a medical health care provider OR provide a negative molecular (PCR) COVID test OR remain out of school until they have met the symptomatic recovery criteria for COVID-19. Symptomatic recovery criteria for COVID-19 is: it has been 10 days since the onset of their symptoms AND they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours AND they have significant improvement in their symptoms.

We realize this is a change. Please understand using the guidance provided by medical experts will help to keep students and staff safe.

COVID Test Requirements
Not all COVID-19 tests may be utilized to determine that an individual does not have COVID-19. There are two types of diagnostic tests: Molecular and Antigen (commonly known as a rapid test). https://www.fda.gov/media/140161/download

• Molecular/ viral testing (PCR). These tests take longer (some are same day and some take several days) because they must be sent to a lab for processing, but are more accurate. These are collected by nasal swab and some saliva tests are now available. JCDHE currently offers free PCR tests by nasal swab. This is not the deep nasopharyngeal collection method so is not as uncomfortable as the original tests. Results are typically available in 48 hours or less.
• Antigen or Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). These tests are not designed to detect viral DNA but look for a protein on the virus. The results are rapid because the specimen is read on-site. However, they have a high enough percentage of false negatives that negative results are not accepted from symptomatic individuals for return to school without a confirmatory PCR test, a physician’s alternate diagnosis, or remaining out of school for the full recovery period for COVID-19 (10-day minimum and fever-free without medicine for 24 hours and symptoms improvement).

Communication Change
Keeping parents informed about COVID exposures is vital. Previously, schools had communicated for any case in the building. Moving forward, schools will communicate with parents and staff who have had an exposure or low-risk exposure to an individual and will provide details about next steps. After reviewing recommendations from local health officials and gaining feedback from parents and the community, the district will not communicate to an entire school building if there is a case, only to those who have had any contact with the individual (exposure or low-risk exposure.) This change is aligned with best practice.

COVID-19 Dashboard

Each week, the district updates the COVID-19 dashboard to provide a snapshot of the number of new cases and exclusions due to exposure for both students and staff. This is updated each Friday, typically in the afternoon, and can be found at https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10754.

Reminder:

Parents interested in changing their child’s learning environment for second semester beginning January 2021 may do so between Oct. 26 and Nov. 6 at this link:

https://onbase.olatheschools.com/forms/remote_learning_selection.html

Please give careful consideration to the needs and learning mode that will best suit you and your child(ren) for the rest of the year knowing that the decision is a commitment through May of 2021. This learning environment change will go into effect when second semester begins on Jan. 6. Parents who want to continue with the same learning environment DO NOT need to fill out this form.

You are receiving this email because

With the shortened number of class meeting dates in the first quarter, quarter one and quarter two will be weighted differently when determining semester grades. At the end of the semester, the semester grade on the grade card will reflect a quarter one weighting of 40% and quarter two weighting of 60%. This will allow students an opportunity to recover their semester grade after a shortened quarter one and be a fair representation of learning for the full semester. The current expectation is that second semester will be back to a 50/50 weighting, as in the past. This is approach is consistent across all 10 Olathe middle schools.

In honor former CST PE teacher, Brad Yantis, a memorial scholarship fund has been set up in support of MNU football and track. Facilitated by another former CST teacher, Mrs. Rhonda McGraw, those interested can click the link below for more information or can reach out to Rhonda with questions.

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220924425874098&id=1044069579&set=a.1954638539343&source=48

Please use a "zipper merge" when turning in off of 159th and entering into our drop off and pick up lanes so that we can maximize the full extent of all pick-up lanes. This will help reduce back-up onto 159th street.

Thank you for following our traffic pattern in effort to promote student safety and efficiency.

More details to come and times and details may shift. For most up to date info go to the academy website (http://departments.olatheschools.com/21stcenturyprograms/resources/ ) or contact 8th counselor, Mrs Rodden (amrodden@olatheschools.org).

Hello Wildcats! Here are some tips to help us stay healthy at school!

You need to wear your mask over your nose and mouth while you are inside. Please don’t play with it or touch it. No masks with vents or valves are allowed. "Gaiter" masks must be double layered.

Make sure to cover your cough or sneeze, and afterward make sure to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands. Make sure to briskly rub your hands together until they are dry. Wash or sanitize your hands throughout the day.

Please bring your water bottle every day. It is important to stay hydrated. There are places in the building where you can refill your water bottle. You can briefly pull down your mask to drink from your water bottle. Pull it back up over your nose and mouth after you drink.

We would like for you to take care of your needs in the classroom as much as possible. To enable you to do this, we recommend that each student carries a small hygiene kit in their backpack. Items to include in this bag could be lip balm, Kleenex, feminine products, lotion, contact solution, band-aids, extra masks, cough drops, a small bottle of Tylenol or Ibuprofen in the original containers. These items are not to be shared with others. Please tell your parents if you use your supplies and restock your kit at home.

Make sure to tell your parents if you feel sick and stay home from school. It is important to let the school know if you have been around someone who has tested positive for COVID. If you feel sick at school, tell your teacher who will notify the nurse if needed.

By using these tips, we can all stay healthy.

Let’s have a great year!

Below is the bell schedule. Please note 6th grade will have an alternate 4th and 5th hour to accommodate 2 extra lunches. Remote students will also follow this bell schedule. Teachers will communicate with their students when lunch will occur.

Reminder: Remote students do not have a Cat time.

OSSSC Parent Information Session

The first Olathe Special Services Site Council Parent Information Session will be on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Details are here: English and Spanish. Please post/share best way with your parents. Click into the links here to access the flyer below and its accompanying Zoom link to the presentation.

We are hiring a Full Time Para. Hours would be 11am-3pm daily. Reach out to Krista Dueringer if interested. kdueringercst@olatheschools.org

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

(Just another way to update!)

Those who registered for in-person learning will follow the schedule below. The day starts with Academic Extension (CAT time) and finishes with 7 minutes of CAT time which is as/if needed. This schedule was communicated through a district email and can be found in the PDF below the schedule.

Below is the schedule followed by remote learners. There is no CAT time in this schedule but all else remains the same. This schedule was communicated through a district email and can be found in the PDF below the schedule.

Instructional videos for StudentVUE:

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

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

Some tips and best practices for your child as we begin remote learning. Consider sitting down and talking through these points with your child. This will help establish the best possible learning environment at home and may help answer some questions as well. The PDF of this file is below along with a screen grab of the file.

A brief intro video shared with staff--reminding us of our students; our purpose...proud to be a wildcat!

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)

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.