Summit Trail News and Notes

Summit Trail is proud to nominate Mrs. Dowd for the Kansas Horizon Award. The Horizon Award recognizes outstanding teachers who have completed their first year of teaching. Mrs. Dowd is our Theater/Drama teacher and is a rising star in the profession!

The Summit Trail tradition of Saber Bash continues on Thursday, September 24th! Saber Bash is a community celebration of the start of the school year scheduled in coordination with the first 8th grade home football game. Kickoff is at 3:45.

Join us for some fun!

Food trucks in the parking lot

Performances by the ST Band, Cheerleaders, Dazzlers, and Choir

Football game vs. PRT

Our students in band, cheer, and dance have been hard at work preparing for the Old Settlers Parade. On Friday, they participated in a March To Millbrooke to practice for the big performance on Saturday! They did great! We have extremely talented students and teachers.

Catch us in the Old Settlers Parade on Saturday morning!

Go Sabercats!

The Summit Trail Teacher Spotlight is a monthly award intended to shine the light on a staff member who makes a positive impact on Summit Trail. Teachers are nominated by their peers for the award.

Mr. Riley Taylor is an 8th Grade Math and Algebra teacher. He is also a WEB sponsor, Math Department Lead, and a member of Building Leadership Team.

Q: If you could teach a one-week class on any obscure topic, hobby, or pop-culture debate, outside of Math, what would it be called and what's on the final exam?

Mr. Taylor: I would love to teach a class about the nerdy music I make using modular synthesis. The final exam would just be pass fail and all you'd need to do is listen to two hours of bleeps and bloops while I try to convince you that the programming behind the "music" is as interesting as I think it is.

Q: If you could magically install a 'skip button' for one repetitive moment or daily hassle in your teaching routine, what are you skipping, and what are you doing with that extra time instead?

Mr. Taylor: I need a skip button that can take me straight to having a good cup of coffee in the morning. I've compromised on quality for time with the Keurig machine, but I have also created a mountain of plastic waste in the name of convenience. A skip button that eliminates my coffee-making time and ecological moral dilemmas would be incredible!

Picture Retakes will be Monday, September 28th

My Lifetouch Website with Picture Day ID: EVT7WMXBV

If you participated in Watch Dogs in Elementary School, been an active father as a dad, coach or mentor to kids, or simply want to be more present in the lives of your kids, then Father's Club is a place for you. Father’s Club creates simple, intentional ways to be actively involved in the lives of their children, other dads, and the community. Through intentional presence, Father's Club fosters deeper connections between fathers and families, while promoting positive male role models.

Whether it’s greeting students at school, organizing events, or mentoring youth, members of Father’s Club show up with purpose. Their mission goes beyond just showing up—it’s about being fully present, engaged, and committed to making a lasting impact.

Sign up at Join - Father's Club. You will receive a subsequent email that allows you to choose Summit Trail Middle School and up to 4 other schools should you have kids at other secondary schools as well.

Informational Meeting is September 29th at 6:00 PM in the ST Commons

Sabercat Spirit Squad is ready to bring the SPIRIT!

What is Sabercat Spirit Squad? It is a club open to ALL 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who want to support and celebrate STMS activities during the year.

The Sabercat Spirit Squad (STMS Pep Club) is fired up and ready to cheer on our Sabercats throughout the fall, winter, and spring sports and activities seasons!

Whether you're cheering from the stands, joining in on spirit activities, or simply showing your Sabercat pride—you can be part of the pack!

Sponsors: Coach Audrey Millard (cheer) and Coach Dena Steen (dance)

October 6th - 7th Grade Hearing and Vision Day

• (opt-out screening)

• Students need to bring any prescribed glasses/contacts for vision screening even if they don't wear them every day

October 13th - Healthy Futures Dental Clinic

• (opt-in services)

• Flyer attached

• Registrations due by October 6th

Yearbooks for the 26-27 School Year are available to purchase! Use the link below to customize your student's yearbook and buy online. The deadline to purchase is December 31, 2026.

Order a Yearbook Here

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe!

No drop-off or pick-up is allowed on Roundtree or 118th Street in front of the building.

Morning student drop-off:

• This takes place in the northwest loop only (shown in purple on the image below). Vehicles enter the campus from 116th Terrace.
• When dropping students off in the morning, please pull forward as far as possible before allowing your student to exit the vehicle. Vehicles are allowed to exit into the double lane if vehicles are delayed ahead. All students enter up the stairs and through the west commons doors.
• Students entering the building before 7:50 a.m. will sit in the auditorium. At 7:50 a.m., students may eat breakfast in the commons or hang out in the library. At 8:10 a.m., students are dismissed to the halls and on to first period.

Afternoon student pick-up:

• All car riders will exit the west commons and down the stairs.
• Please pull forward as far as possible before allowing your student to enter your vehicle. Vehicles are allowed to exit into the double lane if vehicles ahead are delayed.
• The front parking lot is reserved for buses, special needs and office visits. The southeast entrance is reserved for staff and event parking only. There is no crosswalk for walkers and bike riders.

Thank you for your cooperation to keep our students safe during arrival and dismissal.

Saturday, September 12th- Old Settlers Parade

Thursday, September 24th- Saber Bash

Monday, September 28th- Picture Retakes

Email: truder@olatheschools.org
Website: olatheschools.org/summittrail
Phone: 913.780.7200