What I Do When I Arrive

--First—refer to our traffic pattern for car rider drop off
--Students enter the front entrance or event entrance—car or walker
--Bus riders will be dropped off at the event entrance (and load at the event entrance)
--We encourage all walkers and car riders to arrive after 7:30, but doors open when buses arrive (approx. 7:20)
--If students are in the building BEFORE 7:30 they will go to 1 of 2 locations depending on grade level

• 6th Grade will sit spaced out by Cat teacher in the auditorium (signs posted)
• 7th and 8th will take a different side of the bleachers in the main gym
• If students want breakfast (see breakfast/lunch info below), they will go to the MPR to pick up the grab-and-go breakfast where they’ll eat in their designated location (gym/aud)

--If students arrive AFTER 7:30 they go straight to the their Cat time classroom.

• If students want breakfast they can go to the MPR to pick up their breakfast to take to their Cat classroom to eat

--From there, class begins with Cat at 7:50 and we’ll run through the rest of the day

What do "home hybrid" students do?

• Students from home will STILL need to log into their Cat time via Zoom at 7:50am to have attendance taken
• At 7:50, students log into Zoom with their Cat teacher, they’ll hear AM announcements, receive any pertinent info for the day, then be dismissed. They will not need to log in for the rest of the day.
• Students will need to access their LMS (StudentVUE/Google classroom/etc.) for the day’s assignments where they complete at their own pace.
• Students at home will only check in with teachers 1 time during the day—7:50am during Cat timed

What changes will occur with REMOTE students?

• Remote students will still log in beginning at 8:17 (1st hour) as they've been doing
• The day will not change except an adjustment at lunch time--their teachers will provide more details
• Please feel free to reach out to one of your child's core teacher/s if you have specific remote questions
  

What do students do with all their “stuff”?

• Students will not be issued lockers (except in PE and music) and will be permitted to carry their backpack with them during the day
• Students are encouraged to travel efficiently—lunch, device, essential supplies—jackets/coats carried as well
• PE lockers will be issued and is a place to keep their PE shoes and PE uniform
• INSTRUMENTS: May be dropped off in their music room where one of our teachers will be there to receive instruments

Miscellaneous

--Sanitizing Wipes! We would gladly accept a container of sanitizing wipes for use in the lunch room

• Drop off location in both entries upon arrival
  

--Drinking fountains are only used for filling water bottles
--Students can keep their cell phones in their backpack but we ask that volume is turned off

• Normally, phones are asked to be kept in lockers from 7:50-3:10
• If cell phones cause distraction they may be kept in the front office for return at the end of the day
  

--We have 3 microwaves available for student use at lunch
--Please remind students to fully charge their device

• Students are encouraged to have an non-permanent identifier on their charging cord (i.e. masking tape with name, label—NOT marker, duct tape, etc.)

As a district we follow county guidelines. Wearing masks and washing hands will be the expectation.

A direct exposure is defined as: no mask, within 6 feet, for more than 10 minutes.

Anyone with what is considered a “direct exposure” would need to quarantine based on this criteria. While other variables may play into a situation, the emphasis on wearing a mask is not just safety and health, but for continuity of education by avoiding a need for quarantine for our students and staff.

ALL Students will have a Daily Check-in

• All students will have attendance taken daily
• Remote students will have attendance taken as normal in their classes throughout the day beginning with 1st hour
  
• Hybrid students in the building will also have attendance taken in each of their hours
• Hybrid students working from home will log into their Cat class at 7:50am to have attendance taken, hear morning announcements, and receive directions for the day. These students will then log off Zoom to continue their learning from home.

General Items

• Masks are required in the building (gaiters are okay but need to be 2 layers)
• Students should bring their own masks, but disposable masks are available if needed
• Temperature checks will not occur at the building per updated guidelines (see "nurse update" section below for more health-related information)
• Hall lockers will not be issued; students will carry their backpack and all items with them during the day
• Music and PE lockers will be issued
  

Arrival

• Car riders and walkers are strongly encouraged to arrive after 7:30am where they’ll go to their Cat class (students may drop off instruments in their music classroom)

• The building will not open before 7:20am (approximate time of bus drop off)
• The main gym bleachers will be used for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students prior to 7:30 (Students will be spaced apart and seated based on Cat teacher)

• Breakfast will be grab-n-go in the MPR--after 7:30am students go to their Cat room
  
• Refer to the traffic pattern (below) for car line arrival and pick-up procedures

Lunch

• There will be 5 lunch periods at CST (refer to hybrid bell schedule)
• 6th grade will eat during 4th hour, 7th and 8th will eat 5th hour. The 8th grade lunch will be split due to its higher numbers.
• Students will be expected to wear a mask upon entering/exiting and while seated after finished eating.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be set up in the lunch lines with distancing markers as a guide.

• In order to create a stable group, students will have assigned seats by class in alpha order--consistent day-to-day
  

• Students will sit in a checker board fashion, 4 to a table
  

• Students will enter the MPR through the doors closest to the auditorium and exit through the doors by the bathrooms.

Passing Periods

• Passing periods will be 4 minutes in length
  

• Restrooms are available while limiting bathroom crowds (appox. 4 per restroom at a time)
  

• Markings on the floor will guide students to stay to the right during passing and to keep moving from class to class

• Hand washing or sanitizing is encouraged and available hourly

Classrooms

• Distancing will be followed to the best of our ability in classrooms

• Students will wear masks

• Desks will be sanitized a minimum of 2 times per day

• Hand sanitizer is available in every classroom

PE

• Students will be issued lockers strategically spaced out in the locker room

• Students will dress out for class--students may wear school issued clothes or clothes brought from home (see document below if you'd like to buy CST PE clothes)--PE teachers will share expectations in class.
  

• Masks will be worn in PE, but teachers will work with students for appropriate times to get a break from masks (i.e. outside and distanced, swimming, etc.)

For other classes and/or full details regarding our return to learning, you can access the "Return to Learning" plan at the link below...

https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10415

Dear CST Parents,

Please read the message below which includes updates since the last Weekly Wildcat. As a reminder, the next weekly will be sent for the week of January 4, 2021…

Hybrid Learning:

Earlier this week you received a district communication announcing Olathe Schools’ return to the hybrid learning model on January 6th (email below). This model is the same as we followed from October 19 to November 24 and only impacts those who chose in-person learning. Attached is an A/B calendar for the month of January. These days will be posted in the Weekly Wildcat newsletter as well. Students switching from remote to in-person learning for semester 2 have already been notified of which hybrid day they will join (A or B).

Review of hybrid and the start of semester 2:

On January 6th, our in-person “A” students will return to the building and “B” students will log into their Cat class via Zoom. After attendance is taken and announcements are shared, B students will log off from their Cat and access their assignments for the day and work independently. On January 7th, B students will be in-building and A students will log into the AM Cat class for attendance. The attached bell schedule is the same one used before and will be used for all students—remote and in-person. A full review of hybrid details (arrival time, after school programming, logistics, etc.) will be posted in the next Weekly Wildcat (week of 1/4/21).

COVID-19 Contact Tracing During Break

Families needing assistance with questions about COVID-19 disease or exposure during semester break when schools are closed may call their family healthcare provider or the Johnson County Community COVID-19 Hotline at 913-715-CV19 (2819). Families who are concerned that their child has been exposed and should not return to school on Jan. 6 may call their child’s school on Jan. 4 or 5 for information, or may call the Johnson County Community COVID-19 Hotline at 913-715-CV19 (2819).

• For an appointment for PCR testing for COVID-19 at the Olathe JCDHE location visit: https://www.jocogov.org/health/health-resources Holiday Hours: Dec. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (no evening testing); Closed Dec. 23-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1.
• Tour Health is offering testing at the College Boulevard Activity Center. You can make an appointment from 12/17 through 12/30 by going to www.tourhealth.com. Appointments are available from 8:30 to 4:30pm.
• For other COVID-19 testing locations in the area go to: https://www.gogettested.com/kansas, https://www.hearttoheart.org/jococovid/ or https://www.comebackkc.com/testing-events/.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, holiday season. See you again in 2021!

Rick Sola, Principal

Dear Olathe Public Schools staff,

As you know, we have committed to regularly review data as we work through the challenges that come from this pandemic. Using the current data from the county and our district metrics, the district is in the Yellow Zone of the district gating criteria. Secondary students will return to in-person school in a hybrid format when school resumes from semester break on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Elementary students will remain in full-time, in-person learning. This learning environment change applies to those who chose in-person learning for second semester at the secondary level.
You can review the district’s gating criteria on the district COVID Dashboard at https://www.olatheschools.org/Page/10754.

• The hybrid format for secondary students is the same as they followed from Oct. 19 through Nov. 24.
• Middle school students will follow an ABAB schedule: Week One, Group A students will attend on-site Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Week Two, they will attend on-site Tuesday and Thursday. Group B will attend on-site Tuesday and Thursday in Week One and Monday, Wednesday, Friday in Week Two. They will continue alternating as long as the hybrid mode is in effect.
• High school students will attend school on-site for half days, five days a week. Group A will attend on-site in the mornings and Group B will attend on-site in the afternoon.
• Middle and high school students with temporary learning plans will resume those schedules.
• Building Principals will follow up with their communities with any school-specific details.
• Elementary and middle school remote students will follow their current schedules.
• High school remote students will follow the same schedule they followed from Oct. 19 through Nov. 24.

Providing the best quality educational experiences for our students, while balancing the safety and health of our students, staff, and families, is a priority. We are committed to doing everything in our power to bring secondary students back in a hybrid format on Jan. 6, but in order to do so safely, we will continue to monitor community numbers over semester break. Please do your part to help us by continuing to wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home when you are sick, keep your children home when they are sick and practice social distancing. We need a community effort to keep our schools in session, our students and staff safe and learning together.

John Allison, Superintendent

Beginning January 6, middle and high school students will return to the hybrid learning mode. Due to the number of employees required in buildings for meal service, the carryout meal format will return to DAILY service at the 10 middle schools instead of the Tuesday & Friday service schedule.

One important change to the return to daily carryout meal service will be the addition of Saturday & Sunday meals to the Friday carryout meals.

Carryout meals will again be available at each middle school from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Please remember to complete a Free/Reduced meal benefit application any time your family income changes. If approved for meal benefits, a number of other fee discounts are available from the school district, school bus company, and other community organizations. A plan is currently being developed by the Kansas Department for Children and Families for a second round of Pandemic-EBT cards. This additional food assistance will be available to those approved for Free/Reduced meal benefits later in the spring semester after DCF’s plan is approved by USDA. To apply online for Free/Reduced meal benefits: https://www.olatheschools.org/domain/2909

Free/Reduced meal benefits approved for the current 2020-21 school year extend through the first 30 school days of the 2021-22 school year.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school or catering@olatheschools.org.

Dear Parents,

In follow up to the inclement weather email from the district (below) is the bell schedule middle schools will operate on in an “inclement weather remote learning day”. A few key notes from the email:

• Both remote and in-person students will follow the half day schedule
• Both remote and in-person students will check in each hour via Zoom
• Remote learning students do not check into Cat Time.
• Inclement weather may result in a “traditional snow day” where students
are not expected to log in or attend class
• Communication of many forms will announce any day impacted by
inclement weather

Time Period
Cat: 7:50-7:59 AcExt (in-person students only)
1st: 8:03-8:27
2nd: 8:31-8:55
3rd: 8:59-9:23
4th: 9:27-9:51
5th: 9:55-10:19
6th: 10:23-10:47
7th: 10:51-11:15

Olathe Public Schools families,

As district staff and families prepare for the holidays, it is also important to plan for the chance of inclement winter weather. This year, there will be two potential options should inclement weather require us to cancel in-person learning.

Inclement Weather Remote Learning Day for Early Childhood and Elementary: Elementary students will spend their morning in a virtual learning format from 8 a.m. to 11:15. This means that they will log into a Zoom with their teacher and will be assigned work and activities to complete. The length of the Zoom will vary by teacher. Early childhood morning students will engage in learning activities from 8-9:30 a.m. and afternoon early childhood students will engage in learning activities from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15. Students will engage in asynchronous learning for the remainder of the school day. Specific details about the Remote Learning Day will be provided by your child’s teacher and principal.

Inclement Weather Remote Learning Day for Middle School: Students will spend their morning in a virtual learning format. Middle school will follow a condensed schedule from 7:50 a.m. to 11:15, checking into each class. Students will engage in asynchronous learning for the remainder of the school day. Specific details about the Remote Learning Day and schedule at the middle school level will be provided by your child’s teacher and principal.

Inclement Weather Remote Learning Day for High School: Students will spend their morning in a virtual learning format. At the high school level, depending on whether the snow day had been designated as an odd block day or an even block day, students will attend their Odd block classes or Even block of classes from 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. Students will engage in asynchronous learning for the remainder of the school day. Specific details about the Remote Learning Day and schedule at the high school level will be provided by your child’s teacher and principal.

Traditional Snow Day for All Levels: In the event of extreme weather conditions, the district may call an inclement weather (snow day) with no school for students. Students would not be required to log into remote learning on this day.

HOW TO STAY INFORMED

When the chance for severe or inclement weather looms, we will only post the cancellation of school, athletic events and other activities. We will not post when school, athletic events and activities are proceeding as scheduled.

If school is canceled or a remote learning day is called due to snow or bad weather, the information will be available in the following formats:

• Blackboard notification to parents and staff via text and email information on file
• Local television and radio stations
• District website — http://www.olatheschools.org
• Push notification via district mobile app – go to your phone’s app store and search “Olathe Public Schools”
• Facebook — go to "Olathe Public Schools"
• Twitter — @olatheschools
• Instagram - @olatheschoolsks

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES

• Students should bring home their device each day in case of an inclement weather remote learning day.
• Student attendance will be taken on remote learning days.
• Both remote and in-person students will follow the half day schedule.

SPECIAL EDUCATION INFORMATION

Instruction may include work and/or activities, which can be completed independently. Limited new content would be presented. This may include opportunities for students to make up missing assignments, work on existing projects, or do a special snow day asynchronous activity.

Connecting with Students

• Special education and gifted teacherswill connect live via Zoom with individuals and/or groups at least once during the day. The length of these live Zoom sessions may vary by teacher and are intended to be a check-in with students to provide direction for assignments and answer any questions from students.
• Center-based teacherswill be asked to engage with students via Zoom in the morning, and be available to answer questions and provide support for general education classes during a scheduled afternoon office hour.

Independent Remote Learning Activities (suggestions/options):

• Snow Day Packet- Printed copies sent home ahead of time may be used if needed.
• Choice Boards– Pre-planned activities that address student IEP goals.
• Online Subscriptions already in use – will be used only if students utilize one of the online programs as part of their specialized instruction plan. Students and parents should have easy access to usernames and passwords.

All Olathe students, grades 3-12, take the Panorama survey. CST students will take the survey between 1/11 and 1/27--specific date depending on their team. This survey is similar to the past few years and the data from the surveys help develop district and building-wide goals targeting social-emotional needs. This is a 10-15 minute survey completed during the school day.

Note: New to this year's district survey are questions on race and cultural experience at school as well as questions on online learning. These have been included district-wide to address social emotional concerns and mental health needs that arise in these areas. As some of the questions may be sensitive in nature, parents may find it valuable to preview and discuss with their child prior to 1/11 (see question examples below).

Feel free to contact your child's counselor or administrator with questions.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Survey is in two parts--"self" and "school". Below are examples from both sections.

Survey: "Self" example questions

Survey: "School" portion example questions

Please be reminded of the remote classroom best practices (PDF below). As was suggested prior to the school year, reviewing with your child can help promote a successful end to semester 1.

Please note: Zoom cameras should be turned on unless instructed by the teacher to turn off. This allows for teacher-to-student and student-to-student interaction and also helps promote higher levels of engagement while also maintaining the climate and culture of the classroom.

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.

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.

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!)

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.

: Attention 6th grade parents! Your student needs two vaccines before starting 7th grade: the Tdap vaccine and the Meningitis vaccine. Please send record of these vaccines to the school nurse. Student vaccine records are available on ParentVue.