PC Principal's Post
Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes.
Prairie Center Elementary
Home of the Pioneers
10/22/2021
If this week was a picture...
Just think, next week is like a 4 day week with our Fall parties on Friday, right? :)
I hope that all of you have an amazing weekend with your family and find something to do that you enjoy!
See you all on Monday!
Bathroom Business
Open Enrollment begins on Monday!
Your Olathe Public Schools benefits team has developed a digital postcard, Open Enrollment webinar, and benefits website to help with Open Enrollment. Please take a few moments before Open Enrollment begins on Monday to review the information, watch the webinar, videos, and read the detailed 2022 Benefits Guide that will explain all of your options for the 2022 year. All plans and premiums are remaining the same for the 2022 benefits year.
Open the 2021-22 Olathe Open Enrollment Communication
Username for Employee Navigator:
On Monday, October 25, watch for an email from Employee Navigator. Included in that email will be a link to the Open Enrollment platform and your username.
Enrollment Sessions:
If you need a little help enrolling in your benefits, we are offering afterschool and evening enrollment sessions. These are come and go sessions where you can get your questions answered and receive assistance in completing the online enrollment. A Blue Cross Blue Shield representative will be at the first three sessions.
- Wednesday, 10/27 – Pioneer Trail Middle School Library 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, 10/28 – Ed Center BOE Room 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, 11/2 – Indian Trail Middle School Library 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, 11/3 – OSC Custodial/Maintenance Enrollment Day 7:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, 11/10 – Ed Center EDC 138; 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Q & A Benefit Zoom Meetings:
If you have a question about one of our benefit plans, feel free to hop on the Q & A Benefit Zoom Meetings. Also come and go meetings, these zoom calls offer a chance to quickly get your questions answered.
- Tuesday, 10/26 – 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. https://olatheschools.zoom.us/j/94518852022
- Thursday, 11/4 – 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. https://olatheschools.zoom.us/j/99331449587
- Monday, 11/8 – 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. https://olatheschools.zoom.us/j/93624327650
United Way
You will receive an email from United Way talking about the campaign that is going on soon. The Olathe Public Schools supports the United Way with an annual campaign. Your donation extends the district’s reach and influence not only in Olathe and Johnson County, but across the Greater Kansas City region. If you have any questions about some fun events at PC, please check Sandra's previous emails.
Certified and Classified Meetings This Week
Our Classified meeting will be on Thursday at 2:15 in the staff lounge.
10 Ways to Be a Great Teammate
In the book, The Hard Hat for Kids, which I wrote with Dr. Lauren Gallagher, we share 10 ways to be a great teammate. While these are great for kids to learn at a young age they are also great for adults to relearn at any age. : )
WORK HARD – do the best you can. Don’t focus on the outcome or results. Each day be your best for yourself and your team.
EFFORT – it takes time and energy to be a great teammate. Your team doesn’t care if you are a super star. They care if you are a super teammate. When you put forth the effort to help others the team will improve.
BELIEVE – believe in yourself. Believe in your team. Believe in what you can do together. When you believe in your team members their confidence and performance will rise.
ENCOURAGE - we don’t give up because it’s hard. We often give up because we get discouraged. Your team members need encouragement. Encourage them. Speak life into them. We all need encouragement and when you encourage your team members you share the positivity they need to keep moving forward.
FRIEND – is defined as a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another person: a person who helps or supports someone else. Being a friend to your team members means you support and help them. You let them know that you are there for them.
OPTIMISM – no matter what challenges you are facing believe the best is yet to come. Don’t focus on your set backs and challenges. Learn from them and know that your vision and optimism are greater than your circumstances. See a positive future and work with your team to create it.
RESPECT - not everyone on your team is like you. It’s important to respect your team members for who they are and the contribution they make.
ENERGY – you can give it or take it. Be a giver and fuel yourself and your team with positive energy.
MOTIVATE – one of the most rewarding parts about being on a team is the opportunity to raise other people up and to experience being raised up yourself. When you motivate your team members and they motivate you anything seems possible. Teams full of energy who motivate each other become a powerful force.
ENTHUSIASM – it's contagious just like optimism and belief. When you are enthusiastic you lift up yourself and your team. Share your enthusiasm today.
You'll notice that if you take the first letter of each word it spells "We Before Me." Me is important but when me contributes to we, everyone gets better. When WE comes before ME you become the great teammate and team you are meant to be. -By Jon Gordon
PLC Agendas and Notes
Staff Meetings
We will be meeting on the following dates which will be on Wednesdays at 3:55 (format will be shared later):
October 27th
December 8th
January 26th
February 23rd
March 30th
April 20th
May 18th
BLT Meetings
Our BLT will meet on the following dates which will be on Wednesdays at 3:55 (format will be shared later):
November 17th
January 19th
February 16th
March 23rd
April 13th
May 11th
COVID Reporting & District FAQ:
If a fully vaccinated employee is exposed to COVID-19 and they are symptom free, the employee does NOT have to quarantine or complete a staff report.
If a fully vaccinated employee develops symptoms within the 14-day incubation period after an exposure to COVID-19, or is experiencing ONE of the PRIMARY symptoms or TWO or the SECONDARY symptoms (regardless of exposure), the employee should:
- Notify their supervisor
- Stay home
- Complete the Staff Report Form
- A Supervisor Referral Form should be sent to the HR department.
Click the link below to access the link below to access the staff reporting form:
https://www.olatheschools.org/domain/3145
All COVID updates regarding mitigation measures will be shared on the district website on the Return to School 2021 page.
See link below:
DRIVE-THRU TESTING NOW AVAILABLE
It is with pleasure that I want to announce an expansion of our partnership with MAWD Pathology to provide a drive-through COVID-19 testing service at our new Lindenwood Business & Technical Center in Olathe, located at 450 N. Rogers Road (West parking lot nearest the highway). This drive-through site will offer both nasal and saliva PCR COVID tests to symptomatic students and staff and those seeking testing on Day 6 for the early return on Day 8 option. Testing of families of affected students or staff is also available through this drive-through location. (Families may not receive tests through the school nurse.)
Appointments are available Monday – Friday, from 8 am to 3:30 pm, except when school is closed (e.g., holidays, Winter Break, inclement weather days). Testing is by appointment only. Call 913-780-7838 to make an appointment prior to arrival at the site. There is no cost for staff, students or family members to test, and you do not need to have insurance. Pull up to a designated parking space and stay in the car. Staff will come out to the car to test.
Please direct parents and staff to our new drive-through testing site. Testing of families of affected staff and students is only available through this site though nurses may still distribute a very limited number of tests for students (with signed consent) IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THIS RESOURCE. Staff should not seek the test from school nurses or through our buildings. They should utilize this free drive-through testing.
Sunshine Club Dues
Calendar for the Upcoming Week
Monday, October 25th- E Day
Tuesday, October 26th- A Day
Wednesday, October 27th- B Day
*Certified Staff Meeting 4:00
Thursday, October 28th- C Day
*Classified Staff Meeting 2:15
Friday, November 29th- D Day
*Fall Parade and Parties 2:15 and 2:30