Welcome to Kindergarten
Overland Trail Elementary (2024-2025)
Welcome to Overland Trail Elementary (OTE). We hope this newsletter helps keep you informed as you prepare for your child's learning journey at OTE, which is in the district's Blue Valley North feeder. This newsletter includes important information regarding registration for the new school year, school supplies, and PickUp Patrol, our dismissal system used at OTE.
I recommend that you keep the link to this newsletter accessible, as I will update it as I receive new information to share. Our team is ready to support you; please don't hesitate to call the office at (913) 239-7000 or email OTEOS@bluevalleyk12.org for questions.
Thank you,
Erica McDonald
Principal
Alicia Anderson
Assistant Principal
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Incoming Kindergarten Information
- Classroom Input for Incoming Kindergarten Students
- Boundary and Neighborhood Changes for OTE
- A Family's Guide to Kindergarten
- Kindergarten Roundup
- Pick Up Patrol
- BV Unmuted Podcast | The Kindergarten Experience
- Kindergarten in Kansas
- Important Incoming Kindergarten Dates
- Registration Information
- Health Corner
- Arrival and Dismissal
- Transportation Services
- Y-Care (YMCA)
- Helpful Links
Incoming Kindergarten Information
Dear families,
We are excited to start welcoming our kindergarten families for Fall 2024. Children who reside in Blue Valley Schools and turn five by August 31 can attend kindergarten that school year. If you live within the Overland Trail Elementary boundaries and will have an incoming kindergarten student next fall, please complete the registration form linked below to begin the registration process.
www.bluevalleyk12.org/registration
Please pass this message and link on to neighbors who might not have a student in our system and still need to receive our weekly emails.
Our team is ready to support you; please don't hesitate to call the office at (913) 239-7000 or email OTEOS@bluevalleyk12.org for questions.
Thank you,
Erica McDonald
Principal
Alicia Anderson
Assistant Principal
Boundary and Neighborhood Changes
Our OTE community will be impacted by some neighborhood boundary changes. We will be welcoming some amazing, new families to our school this year. At the June 2023 Board of Education meeting, the board adopted boundary adjustments that address elementary school enrollment and building capacity issues. These will begin for the 2024-25 school year. The following neighborhoods are impacted:
Autumn Park (Arcadia), Villages of Overland View and Executive Hills boundaries will be adjusted to attend Indian Valley Elementary. This adjustment will also include a change in feeder pattern to Oxford Middle and Blue Valley Northwest.
Deer Creek boundaries will be adjusted to attend Overland Trail Elementary.
Sandstone Creek, Savoy and Plaza Gardens boundaries would be adjusted to attend Harmony Elementary. This adjustment will also include a change in feeder pattern to Harmony Middle and Blue Valley Northwest.
Villas of Carrington Square Area boundaries will be adjusted to attend Heartland Elementary.
Glen Abbey & Villas of Chapel Green, and Highland Villas and Highlands Creek boundaries will be adjusted to attend Prairie Star Elementary. This adjustment will also include a change in feeder pattern to Prairie Star Middle and Blue Valley High.
Kindergarten Roundup | Friday, April 12, 2024
Greetings,
Thank you for attending Kindergarten Roundup today. It was such a joy being able to meet parents and welcome our newest Overland Trail Elementary Cougars. Here is the link to the Kindergarten Roundup Presentation. We look forward to welcoming your child in the 2024-25 school year.
Best,
Erica McDonald
Principal
Alicia Anderson
Assistant Principal
Chinese Immersion
Chinese Immersion info meeting set for incoming kindergarten families:
Are you interested in providing your child with an immersive educational experience that broadens horizons, enhances cognitive skills and teaches second language skills? Would you like to learn more about Blue Valley’s Chinese Immersion Program?
Prospective Chinese Immersion Family Information Session
🗓 Monday, Feb. 26, 2023, @ 5 p.m.
🖊 Register for the information session online
📍 Zoom link provided upon registration
📹 Watch a video that provides a glimpse into Chinese Immersion classrooms
Online applications for the program will open Feb. 26 with a lottery system determining participation in the program. For more information about the immersion program, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/immersion.
PickUp Patrol
Kindergarten in Kansas
Kindergarten in Kansas booklets
These are the most current electronic versions of the Kindergarten in Kansas booklets.
Kindergarten in Kansas English (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Spanish (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Arabic (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Burmese (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Swahili (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Vietnamese (PDF)
Registration Information
🌎 To read this email in a language other than English, click here.
Hello, Incoming Kindergarten Families-
We are excited to welcome your new kindergarten student for the 2024-25 school year. Please review/complete the steps below. Your timely registration will ensure our team is prepared. We will send more information about Kindergarten Round-Up in a future message.
Step 1: Please watch this school welcome video.
(Each school will create a short welcome video and add video link)
Step 2: Do you have questions about kindergarten programs in Blue Valley? (Click on the blue links below)
What do kindergarten students experience during a typical day?
What opportunities are provided within our partnership with Greenbush for Virtual Education?
How can I learn about the Chinese immersion option?
Step 3: Is there another language spoken in your home?
If so, please complete this form. Otherwise, move to step 4.
Step 4: How do I register my child?
🌎 To view registration instructions in a language other than English, click here.
To begin the registration process for the 2024-25 school year, simply go to www.bluevalleyk12.org/registration and click New Student Registration in the Useful Links. Families new to Blue Valley will be asked to create an online parent account. Online registration will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and it is an important step in getting your student started with kindergarten! You will be asked to pay fees later this spring.
Please note: If your child is currently enrolled in the Blue Valley early childhood program, you will not complete online registration at this time. Families transitioning from early childhood to kindergarten will have an opportunity to verify the information and complete the registration process later this spring.
To make Blue Valley’s Online Registration process smooth and convenient, please have the following information available:
Student proof of identity (birth certificate)
Emergency contact name(s) and phone number(s)
Doctor, dentist and preferred hospital contact info
Immunization record and health assessment (physical)
Proof of residency (purchase contract, lease or current utility bill)
Custodial documentation (if applicable)
Previous school records and contact info
IEP or 504 Plan (if applicable)
Tip: As soon as your child’s registration is complete, you will begin receiving all-school communication items that will help welcome you and your family into the school community.
If you have any questions, please call the Overland Trail Elementary office at 913-239-7000.
Important Dates for Kindergarten Families
Kindergarten Online Registration Begins | Tuesday, February 20
Kindergarten Round-Up Sessions | Friday, April 12
Kindergarten Orientation Sessions | Wednesday, August 13
First full day of school for Kindergarten | Thursday, August 14
Health Corner
All forms that you may need are listed here on the Blue Valley Health Services website.
Arrival and Dismissal
End Time: 3:45 PM
Students may arrive no earlier than 8:25 AM. At 8:25, students will be allowed to enter the building in preparation to begin their school day.
Y-Care (YMCA)
Y-Care is before and after-school care offered by the YMCA at Overland Trail Elementary. It is a separate entity from the school district. It is available starting at 7:00 AM, and the latest pick-up is 6:00 PM. You must sign up and register before school starts. You can sign up here.
Erica McDonald, Principal
Email: ECMcDonald@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/OTE
Location: 6225 West 133rd Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: (913) 239-7000
Twitter: @OTEMcDonald
Email: ARAnderson@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/OTE
Location: 6335 West 135th Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: (913) 239-7000
Twitter: @OTEAnderson
Office Staff
- Robin Warren, Administration Assistant/Bookkeeper
- Yolonda Merritt, Registrar
- Debby Alexander, Attendance
Email: OTEOS@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.og/OTE
Location: 6225 West 133rd Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-239-7000
Twitter: @OTECougars