The Pioneer Times
Prairie Center Elementary
Major Saver Collection Days start Next Week
Today your child learned about the annual Major Saver fundraiser that our elementary schools participate in to support the Olathe Public Schools Foundation and their work to support our teachers and students. Your student will bring home a packet today and is asked to sell discount cards throughout the next week and a half. More information regarding collection dates and prizes is listed on the packet.
As in years past, we would like to emphasize the importance of safe selling practices. Students are encouraged to sell Major Saver discount cards only to people they know and to utilize the online selling option when possible. Please do not take your child door-to-door to sell cards.
100% of the money raised through this fundraiser directly benefits Olathe students and teachers. Half of the money our students raise stays right here at Prairie Center Elementary. Over the past 3 years, Major Saver Card sales have raised $6,415 for our school. The Olathe Public Schools Foundation uses the other half of the money raised by this fundraiser to help educators purchase resources that the school district cannot afford, recognize staff members for their hard work and meet student needs. I wanted to list a few examples of ways that Prairie Center Elementary has been helped by the OPSF in recent years.
· Art teacher Lindsay Frack received the Educator Excellence Award in 2018 for outstanding work in the classroom and received a $500 cash award.
· The OPSF funds thousands of dollars in classroom grants each school year. Here at Prairie Center Elementary, the Olathe Public Schools Foundation has funded grants for iPad-enabled piano keyboards for the music department and to purchase items that helped increase the curriculum for the common core standards.
· Over the past four years the OPSF has worked with the district to financially support programs that address student mental health and wellness needs including: embedding mental health therapists at all high schools; implementing a mental health parent-support speaker series; providing free summer mental health support sessions; and adding social emotional learning and suicide prevention curriculum to schools. The OPSF also created the Braden Robertson Student Mental Health Fund, which allows timely access to mental health care for underinsured students.
· As our students mature into middle and high school students, they receive the benefit of the Foundation’s $100,000 annual scholarship program; their $120,000 annual commitment to health and wellness of our students; and their efforts to bring industry and university level equipment to our vocational programs and our 21st Century Academies.
As you can see, the Olathe Public Schools Foundation has been very generous to Prairie Center Elementary students. One way to give back is to participate in this Major Saver fundraiser if possible. I know that our staff and students will continue to benefit from the generosity from the Foundation!
Lunch Change for Monday
A: Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza
B: Cheese Bosco w/ marinara
Y: MIni Waffles w/ yogurt or smoothie
Papa Johns Night for Prairie Center - January 26th
Sweetheart Dance - February 4th
Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences
Two Parent Seminar Opportunities
Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. for In Person and Live Streamed
- In Person: Education Center Board of Education Room 14160 S Black Bob Rd, Olathe 66062
- Virtual Presentation Olathe Public Schools YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/9KceDyuAgj0
The Lenexa Police Department is offering an online safety workshop for parents. The details are below:
Class date & Time: Tuesday, Jan 25th 6:30-8:00pm
Location: Lenexa PD 12500 W 87th St Pkwy
Class Description & registration link: Click Here
Lost and Found
Are you missing a coat or pullover at your house? Please have your children check out the tables!
PC 2021-2022 Yearbook - Deadline is February 1st!
This year we will be utilizing online payment for the yearbook through our distributor. Payment can not be submitted to PTO. The cost is $12.00 (plus applicable fees) until January 31, 2022. Beginning February 1, 2022 the cost will be $17.00 (plus applicable fees).
The last day to purchase a yearbook is March 31, 2022. This will be the absolute last day. Additional orders can not be placed after this date.
Follow this link to Jostens to purchase your yearbook, https://www.shop.memorybook.com/school/189043prairiecenterelementary/
School code: 189043
Need help with the process? Please see below with some instructions!
Step 1: visit https://www.shop.memorybook.com/school/189043prairiecenterelementary/
Step 2: Click on register
Step 3: Register as a “new user”
Step 4: Buy a yearbook for $12.00 by January 31, 2022.
Step 5: Our school code is 189043 if it asks for it. However, the link should take you directly to the PC parent pay page.
2022 Bond Referendum!
Register to Vote in the 2022 Bond Election
Registered voters who live within the Olathe School District boundaries will soon have the opportunity to vote in a no tax-rate increase $298.3 million mail-in bond election that would positively impact all Olathe students and their future for years to come.
Already a registered voter? You will automatically receive a ballot in the mail on or after Feb. 9, 2022. Not registered yet? Residents who are not registered to vote and would like to vote in the 2022 Bond Election must register by Feb. 8, 2022.
Ballots must be returned to the Johnson County Election office (either by mail using the enclosed postage-paid envelop or by dropping the ballot off at the election office, 2101 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS) by noon on March 1, 2022. For additional information about voter registration, visit the Johnson County Election website.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Families interested in learning more about the Bond are invited to attend a Bond Information Night. Olathe Public Schools has rescheduled the Bond Information Night at Chisholm Trail Middle. The information night will now be held on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at Chisholm Trail Middle (16700 West 159th Street Olathe, KS).
Calendar for the Upcoming Week
Monday, January 24th- E Day
Tuesday, January 25th- A Day
Wednesday, January 26th- B Day
*Major Saver Collection Day
Thursday, January 27th- C Day
*Major Saver Collection Day
Friday, January 28th- D Day
*Major Saver Collection Day
A Look Ahead
February 4 - Professional Development Day - No School
February 7-10 - Conferences
February 9 - Half Day (12:00 Dismissal)
February 10-11 - No School
February 21 - President's Day - No School
February 24 - Kindergarten Round Up - No Kindergarten Classes
March 11 - End of Quarter 3
March 14-18 - Spring Break
March 21 - Professional Development Day - No School