Madison Place Message.....
Parent Newsletter for Madison Place Elementary-May 7
Message from Dr. Stevenson
Dear Madison Place Families,
I hope this message finds you well as we navigate what is always one of the busiest—and most exciting—times of the school year.
Each May offers a natural moment to reflect, and once again I find myself amazed at how quickly the year has passed. It feels like just yesterday our current fifth graders were walking through our doors for the very first time as kindergarteners. Now, they stand on the edge of a new chapter as they prepare for middle school. It is a reminder of just how meaningful—and fast—these elementary years truly are.
At the same time, it has been incredible to watch our kindergarten students grow. In a matter of months, they have developed into confident, capable learners who are ready to take the next step into first grade. Their growth is a testament to their hard work and the support they receive both at school and at home.
While students are understandably focused on the countdown to summer break, we know many families are also beginning to look ahead. With that in mind, I’d like to share several staffing updates for the 2026–2027 school year.
Staffing Updates
- Laura Warren will be stepping away from her role in our CBR classroom. Her leadership and commitment to students have made a lasting impact on our program this year. We are grateful for her work at Madison Place and wish her the very best as she transitions to a new role supporting students through extended absence services at Mill Creek Campus in the Olathe School District.
- Kristin Lyon will join Madison Place as our CBR teacher. She brings extensive experience supporting students with special needs and most recently served in a similar role within the district. We are excited to welcome her to our team.
- Meghan Bartek, our school counselor, will be leaving Madison Place after six years in this role and additional years teaching within the district. Meghan has been a tremendous support to our students, staff, and families, and her presence will be greatly missed as she pursues new opportunities outside of education.
- Lauren Meyer will be joining us as our new school counselor. With more than a decade of experience as both a classroom teacher and elementary counselor, she brings a strong foundation and a passion for supporting students. We are excited to have her join our school community.
- Kim Palcic will be retiring after 19 years at Madison Place, along with many additional years in education. Her dedication has made a lasting difference in the lives of countless students. We are deeply appreciative of her service and wish her all the best in retirement.
- Danica McCallister will join our third-grade team, filling Kim’s position. She has three years of teaching experience in the district and is already familiar with Madison Place, having completed her student teaching here. We are thrilled to welcome her back.
- Noah Scott, who has served as a learning resource teacher this year, will be continuing his career in another district. We appreciate his contributions to our students and wish him continued success.
As we close out the school year, I want to sincerely thank you for your partnership and support. It is truly a privilege to serve as principal of Madison Place. The relationships we share with our students, families, and staff are what make this community so special, and I am grateful every day for the trust you place in us.
Wishing you and your family a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Stevenson
Principal, Madison Place Elementary
School Supplies for 2026-2027 School Year
The supply lists for the 2026–2027 school year are now available! You can view them by clicking HERE.
Our PTO is once again offering convenient School Supply Kits for purchase. The kits include headphones that are compatible with our student devices. If you would like to purchase a supply kit through the PTO, please place your order at School Kidz using account number 71552 by June 12.
Important Technology Update:
As part of our ongoing technology upgrades, student iPads were updated recently and now require headphones with a USB Type-C connector. Headphones included in the PTO supply kits through School Kidz will meet this requirement.
If you choose to purchase headphones on your own, please be sure they are USB Type-C compatible. An example of a compatible option can be found here: USB-C Headphones on Amazon.
Library Books Due
We are so glad your child has enjoyed checking books out from the Madison Place Library but with the calendar turning to May, we need to be collecting books to be sure we have all of our inventory accounted for. Please take note of the important date included below.
ALL BOOKS Due – May 15, 2026
Readers who turn in their books by May 15 with no outstanding library fines will have their names entered in a drawing.
Check Out These Summer Time Activities Available in our Community
Summer break is right around the corner and students and parents have grand plans on how to spend the time. It won’t be long, however, before parents can expect to hear the chorus: “I’m bored!”
Here are some ideas to help fill the time and to help learn something along the way:
- Join the summer reading program. The Johnson County and the Olathe Libraries have a great summer reading program with fun incentives for the kids. Make visiting the library a weekly event during the summer!
- Plant a garden. It doesn’t take a lot of space to put in a few vegetables or a patch of flowers. If you don’t have access to a yard, try a container garden. Kids can plan the garden, budget for seeds, plant the seeds and gain some patience watching it grow.
- Visit the museum. Kansas City has some fun, free museums like the Atkins Art Museum, The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve and the Hallmark Visitor’s Center. Visit the website before you go and print out a few photographs of different exhibits. This will give the kids something to look for and help make the experience more interactive.
- Go to one of the local area Spray Parks. This is a great way to cool down and they are free! Pack a picnic, make each child responsible for some part of the excursion, and watch the teamwork happen. Visit Kansas City’s Parks and Recreation website to find a list of locations.
- Scrapbook together. Allow your child to help place photographs, journal and put together pages to be viewed and enjoyed by friends and family.
- Become a backyard astronomer. Summer brings warm and clear nights so it is ideal to look at the stars. Many handheld devices have applications that help you to identify the constellations. If you don’t have access to a device, you can always go to www.astroviewer.com and click on “Current Night Sky” to see what the skies over Kansas City will look like tonight.
- Be a tourist in Olathe. Visit the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and get a guidebook about the town. Visit some of our city’s great points of interest.
- Go bird watching. Print out photos of a few different birds that inhabit our area and search for them at a local park or in your backyard.
- Take a virtual field trip. On days that it’s too hot to go outside, stay inside and go on a virtual field trip. The San Diego Zoo, American Museum of Natural History in New York and the U.S. Mint all have wonderful, interactive websites for kids.
Summer is a great opportunity to spend some extra time with your kids, to make memories and to help them learn. It’s also the time for some downtime so remember to keep it simple and relaxing! The Madison Place Staff wish your family a safe and fun summer and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Living Hope Summer Camp
Olathe South Performance Camp
Michelle Tajchman, MSEd, BSN, RN
Madison Place Elementary
P: (913) 780-7524
F: (913) 780-7529
CLICK HERE for Olathe Public Schools Health Forms, Policies & Other Info!
Dr. Gary Stevenson, Principal
Email: gstevensonmd@olatheschools.org
Website: https://www.olatheschools.org/madisonplace
Location: 16651 Warwick Street, Olathe, KS, USA
Phone: 913-780-7520
Twitter: @Madisonplacek5