Madison Place Message.....
Parent Newsletter for Madison Place - April 10
Message From Dr. Stevenson
Dear Parents,
It’s hard to believe, but we’re heading into the final stretch of the school year—cue the countdowns, extra snack requests, and sudden bursts of “end-of-year energy”!
This is a great time to pause and appreciate just how much our students have grown over the past several months. It’s been a year full of hard work, teamwork, and determination, and I couldn’t be more proud of what our school community has accomplished.
Our students have taken on new challenges with enthusiasm—whether through creative classroom projects, special events, or extracurricular activities. Their curiosity keeps us all on our toes (in the best way!). None of this would be possible without our amazing teachers, staff, and of course, you—our supportive families—so thank you for being such an important part of the journey.
We’ve got some fun events coming up, including our Creativity Showcase on April 22nd, School Carnival on April 24th, plus Field Day and end-of-year celebrations happening soon thereafter. Be sure to mark your calendars—we’d love to see you there cheering on our students (and maybe enjoying a little sunshine, too!).
As always, communication is key. If you have questions, ideas, or just want to share a story, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Let’s finish the year strong—supporting one another and making sure every student feels encouraged, valued, and ready for what’s next.
Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our school community!
Sincerely,
Gary Stevenson
SCHOOL CALENDAR INFORMATION
April 13 - Spirit Day - Maverick Monday! Wear your school spirit wear or school colors.
April 16 - PTO Meeting, 6 PM
April 19-25 - Administrative Professionals Week
April 19-25 - National Library Week
April 19-25 - School Volunteer Week
April 20 - Spirit Day - Hats off for reading! Wear your favorite hat.
April 21 - Spirit Day - Wild about reading! Wear an animal printed shirt, pants, or socks.
April 22 - Spirit Day - Book worm Wednesday! Wear comfy clothes and curl up with a good book for an extra 15 minutes.
April 22 - Creativity Showcase, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
April 23 - Spirit Day - Let's read! It's flashlight fun day! Bring a flashlight to read with.
April 24 - NO SCHOOL - Staff professional day
April 24 - School Carnival, 6:00 - 8:00 PM (See details and link included below)
April 27 - Spirit Day - Maverick Monday! Wear your school spirit wear or school colors.
April 27 - Kindergarten end of year program, 6 PM
May 4-8 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 - Spirit Day - Maverick Monday! Wear your school spirit wear or school colors.
May 5 - National Teachers Day - Spirit Day! Dress like a Madison Place Teacher.
May 6 - National School Nurse Day
May 8 - Field Day!
May 11 - Spirit day - Maverick Monday! Wear your school spirit wear or school colors.
May 14 - Talent Show, 1:15 PM
May 14 - PTO Meeting, 6 PM
May 15 - Field Day Rainout date in case of inclement weather
GENERAL NEWS AND UPDATES
Before and After School CARE Registration Coming Soon!
Are you interested in having your child participate in Before and After School Care during the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. This program is provided by Johnson County Parks and Recreation District (JCPRD) and is delivered on site here at Madison Place Elementary. Registration for the 2026-2027 school year will be open April 20-22. Please access the document below in order to get more details and learn how you can get registered soon.
Madison Place Elementary Creativity SHOWCASE Happening on April 22
Be sure to plan now to attend this year’s Madison Place Creativity Showcase which will be happening on Wednesday, April 22nd! Traditionally, this event takes place later in the month, but due to scheduling conflicts on the school calendar, we’ve moved it up a bit this year. We hope this new date will work for everyone!
This event is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the creative accomplishments of our students. Throughout the evening, you’ll have the chance to see your child’s work on display—artwork from across the school year will be showcased in various locations around the building. Whether it’s paintings, drawings, or other art forms, the talent and creativity of our students will be on full display.
In addition to the art exhibits, there will be student music performances happening throughout the event, allowing you to experience the musical talents of our young performers.
We’ve also planned a variety of hands-on activities for families to participate in, making this an event that everyone can enjoy, from the youngest to the oldest members of our community. It’s a great way to bond with your child and other families, while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of our school.
And, as a special treat, we are excited to welcome back Culver’s, who will be serving their famous custard and a selection of delicious toppings to all of our guests. It’s the perfect way to wrap up an evening full of creativity and fun!
We can’t wait to see you on April 22nd and celebrate the amazing work of our students together!
Share Your Feedback Regarding Parent/Teacher Conferences
We value your feedback! As the district reflects on this year’s parent/teacher conferences, we would appreciate hearing about your experience. Your input helps us better understand what worked well and where we can improve to better serve our students and families.
Click here to take a few minutes to complete a brief survey. Your responses are confidential and will be used to help the district plan future conferences in ways that are conveniently, meaningful, and supportive fore everyone.
Olathe Fire Department Helmet Head Bike Rodeo
The Olathe Fire Department invites families to bring their kids and bikes to the annual Helmet Head Bike Rodeo on Sunday, May 3, from 11 AM to 2 PM. The event will take place in the parking lot of The University of Kansas Cancer Center (15123 S. OMC Pkwy., Olathe).
Children ages 15 and under can receive a free bike helmet while supplies last. Please note that children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
While you’re there, be sure to visit The University of Kansas Health System’s Family Fun Fest, featuring free health screenings, helpful wellness information, and a variety of fun activities for the whole family.
School and Community Event & Summer Camp Opportunities
NEWS FROM OUR SPECIALISTS
Notes from the Art Room
We are so excited, Madison Place’s annual Creativity Showcase is almost here! There will be art to view, an art activity for all ages, a raffle to win art supplies, music, and everyone’s favorite – custard from Culvers!
This year’s Creativity Showcase will also feature a special exhibit in the library. This exhibit will feature a framed piece of art by every Madison Place student. Framed art will be available for purchase that evening. Original student art will be returned to students following the exhibit.
Also, do not forget to stop by the art room to view all the incredible student clay creations. This event is fun for the whole family. Hope you will join us in celebrating all things creative on April 22nd.
Notes from the Music Staff:
Talent Show 2026
Important Talent Show Information:
Click here to download the Talent Show Information packet.
Talent Show Entry Forms are due Thur, April 30th. The entry form will be submitted through the following link. Because I am requesting that you upload music to this form, it is requiring you to sign in with your Google sign-in. Sign into your Google account and then click this link.
If you don’t have a Google Account, it’s super easy to create one here.
All music will be submitted through the Talent Show Entry Form. CD's will NOT be accepted. Click here for instructions on how to cut your music.
How to Cut a Song in Garage Band
Grade level Talent Shows will be Tues., May 5th.
- 9:15-10:15 4th Grade
- 10:15-11:15 3rd Grade
- 11:15-12:15 5th Grade
- 1:45-2:45 2nd Grade
Maurica Bruning
Madison Place Elementary
General Music/Choral Director
News From the Library
We’re keeping busy in the library!
Our Reading Under the Stars Night was amazing! Thank you to each family who attended. The Reading Committee is already planning for next year.
Next week we will celebrate National School Library Week with a Spirit Week, a Storywalk, and more. It is my goal that all we do in the library and through library programming will grow lifelong readers. As I now see with my aging mother, reading is one thing that can stick with us for our entire lives that can continue to bring joy.
SPIRIT WEEK
Monday – 4/20 – Hat Day – Hat’s Off for READING
Tuesday – 4/21 – Wear an Animal Print – Wild About Reading
Wednesday – 4/22 – Bookworm Day – Comfy Clothes
Thursday – 4/23 – Flashlight Fun – Bring a Flashlight
The end of the year is fast approaching, which means it is time to account for all the books. The last day for student checkout is May 5th. All students who return their books on or before Friday, May 15 will have their name placed in a drawing. Names will be pulled and winners announced on Tuesday, May 19th. There will be posters, books, and a Target gift card up for grabs. Thank you ahead of time for marking your calendars. We must organize and inventory our collection staff end the year on May 22nd.
News From Our Counselor
Dear Madison Place Families,
I am writing to share that I will not be returning to Madison Place next year, as I have made the decision to step away from education. This was a very difficult decision; a decision that I did not take lightly. It came after a great deal of prayer, reflections, conversations with friends, colleagues, and family members.
I want all of you to know that I am incredibly grateful for the support, trust, and partnership you have shown me over the past five years. It has truly been an honor to work with your children and to be part of such a caring and dedicated school community. The relationships and memories I have built during my time at Madison Place will always hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you for your understanding and for allowing me to be part of your child’s educational journey. I wish each of your families all the very best in the years ahead.
Thank you,
Meghan Bartek
PTO NEWS
Madison Place Carnival Happening Soon
Save the date Madison Place PTO is having a family indoor carnival Friday, April 24th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
We will have Irvzilla’s Hawaiian grill food truck available to for guests to purchase food. They serve both Hawaiian and American food. You can come as early as 5:00 PM to eat before the carnival begins in the cafeteria at 6:00 PM. We will have a raffle, inflatables in the gym, games in every pod, and more.
Wristbands for kids to do inflatables and games are available for pre order on our PTO website. Wristbands are for kids only and 4 and under are free. Pre-sale wristbands are $20 per wristband, and sales at the door will be $23 per wristband. Pre-ordering saves you from long lines and money per child.
We Need Your Help:
To be able to make the carnival the best event we need your help to make it happen in a few different ways. This event is a team effort and we can't do it without your help. We need help with donations for raffle basket items, and full size candy bars for our cake walk. We will also need parent volunteers to help man game stations in our pods for 30 minute time slots. There are two sign up geniuses for this if you'd sign up below we appreciate your help more than we can express.
Carnival donations
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0545A8A62FABFD0-63257769-spring
Carnival volunteer sign up
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0545A8A62FABFD0-63252386-spring
Your Madison Place PTO Team
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