The Weekly Roar

Look at us rocking the second full week of school! I am so proud of how the school year is starting and how amazing the kids are being. Thank you for all the planning, organizing, routine setting, etc that you are doing at home to make school starting so amazing! 💜

My staff is ROCKING the after school pickup line. I changed how we come out and we are FAST!! The line is typically finished by 4:05. So if you have been used to coming to grab your student a wee bit later, please know....we are fast and you can jump in the line earlier this year! I am also asking that you leave your car tag in the window/windshield until you have your student in the car. The staff uses those numbers to make sure we are matching the right student with the right car. Thanks!

As always - I am just a call or email away! Let me know if you have questions of wonders!

((hugs))

Marsha

• Monday, Sept 7 - No School Labor Day

• Wednesday, Sept 9 - Fall School Pictures

• Saturday, Sept 12 - Old Settler's Day Parade

• Friday, Sept 18 - Back to School Bash (movie on the South side of the school with food trucks and raffle drawings) We hope to see you there! Start time is 5:30 and the movie will begin around dusk.

• Tuesday, October 4th - Fall Picture Retakes

• Thursday, October 8th - End of 1st Quarter

The Help Clinic's goal is to support Olathe parents and students with the education and training opportunities that will have a positive impact on the quality of a student's educational experiences and life, and Help Each Live Productively. Any situation that causes an interruption in the learning process is a serious educational concern. Students who are finding school difficult because of poor study skills, adjustment concerns, or relationships with others can find help through the clinic. Parents/Guardians who want to learn more effective ways of encouraging and motivating children in school can also turn to the clinic. The Help Clinic is a service provided by the Olathe Public Schools. All services are free of charge to any student enrolled in the Olathe Public Schools, either in a remote environment or onsite.

• Individual and family counseling consists of short-term counseling (six sessions) for students and their families.
• Small group counseling with other grade-level or near grade-level peers serve those who would thrive learning and growing from a group structure. Groups would meet for six sessions.
• Play therapy is a technique where the child's natural means of expression, namely play, is used as a therapeutic method to assist him/her in coping with stress or life difficulties. Play therapy is used effectively at the Help Clinic with children ages 5 to 8 years old. Play therapy may not be used with every child and is available on a limited basis.

The Help Clinic is staffed by professional school counselors, school psychologists, social workers and other school-based mental health providers. All clinicians are Olathe Public Schools employees or retired employees who have an active license in school mental health. These accredited and experienced professionals have a sincere interest in assisting students and families to better deal with challenges that impact students' abilities to achieve educational success.

Services will be filled in order of submission, and spots will be limited. Please reach out to the Help Clinic with questions at 913-780-7755 or email helpclinic@olatheschools.org.

Located at the Westview Campus, 500 S Troost, Olathe, KS 66061

Fall clinic hours are 3:30 – 7:00pm Tuesdays only.

To register or for more information: https://www.olatheschools.org/departments/bsel

Facility Alignment Task Force Update

Review

This spring the Facility Alignment Task Force, made up of one staff member and one parent from each school, met three times to review district finances, enrollment projections and building capacity to inform Olathe Public Schools' school consolidation planning.

At the June Board of Education Meeting, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jim McMullen presented an overview of the Task Force’s work and recommendations. View the full presentation on the district’s YouTube Channel.

Survey results showed unanimous support for reducing the district's elementary footprint. Most participants recommended closing at least three or four elementary schools and at least one middle school. High schools are not expected to be affected.

Current Work

So far this summer, the Facility Alignment Steering Committee (a smaller subgroup of the Task Force) has met three of four times to evaluate the task force's recommendations and review data for each school. The committee will recommend specific schools for consolidation after its final meeting before the start of the school year.

Next Steps

A recommendation on specific school consolidations will be presented to the Board of Education at its September meeting, with boundary recommendations to follow. Please note that your school may be affected even if it is not recommended for consolidation, as attendance boundaries may be adjusted to accommodate students from consolidated schools.

Information will be shared in school and district communications throughout the next several months. Community members interested in following the process can learn more, including answers to frequently asked questions and view all districtwide and school-based communication so far on the district website. Our commitment to transparency throughout this process is intentional, so our community feels informed every step of the way.

With warmer weather bringing more students outdoors, we wanted to share the newly-updated rules for bikes, e-bikes and scooters from the City of Olathe. Here are the key points for our students:

• All riders under 18 years old must wear a helmet when riding on an electric scooter or e-bike.
• Electric scooters cannot be ridden on the road unless the speed limit is 30 MPH or under and there’s no sidewalk.
• E-bikes may be ridden on roads with speed limits up to 40 MPH.
• Riders of bicycles or any motorized device must yield to pedestrians and warn them before passing (ring the bell, say “excuse me” or “on your left”, etc.)
• There is a 15 MPH limit for electric scooters and e-bikes on the sidewalk.
• It is illegal to ride a bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner or weaving in and out of traffic. Stay as close to the right side of the road as possible except when turning left.

• An electric scooter or e-bike must have proper lighting and be visible in order to ride at dusk or at night.

• Electric powered “bikes” that cannot be pedaled are actually motorcycles or motor-driven cycles and require a license to ride.

• If you get into an accident while riding on a bicycle, electric scooter, or e-bike where someone is injured or property is damaged, you must provide contact information to other parties involved and report the accident to the police.

• Parents may not authorize or knowingly permit their children to violate any Olathe bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter regulations.

For those in need of a helmet, the Olathe Fire Department is partnering with the University of Kansas Health System for its annual Helmet Head Bike Rodeo on Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Olathe. Kids aged 15 and under will receive a free bike helmet while supplies last.

We encourage families to have a conversation at home that will help keep everyone safe. Please read the complete list of updated rules by visiting OlatheKS.gov/RollSafe.

We are having our Fall Pictures taken next week here at school on Wednesday, September 9th. Flyers will be sent home to you if they haven't been already. You can also order online at MyLifetouch. Our Picture Day ID is listed on the form.

If your student has had a recent physical/well child visit or any new immunizations completed over the summer, please send a copy to Nurse Emily.

As a reminder, any medication your student needs to take at school much be administered by the school nurse. Students are not allowed to have any medication in their backpacks or lockers. The health room does have over the counter medications should that be necessary throughout the day.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything health related, please reach out to Nurse Emily at 913-780-7356 or email at ekheiden@olatheschools.org

Everyone enjoyed their first day in their assigned classes

Have you outgrown your spirit wear? If so, please consider donating it back to the school so another student can benefit from it.

Items can be donated in the office.

Photo ID Required

Providing a safe and secure learning environment for students is of paramount importance in the Olathe Public Schools. The district has numerous practices, procedures and protocols in place each day to ensure a safe learning environment. Please remember that District policy requires us to ask for ID from EVERYONE each time they enter the building. Please remember to have your driver's license ready for the camera at the door when you arrive at Brougham. You are always welcome here, but I appreciate you helping us follow the rules.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

Families received an Arrival/Dismissal packet during Sneak-a-Peek. It included detailed directions and several copies of your family dismissal number to display in your car window at pick-up.

ARRIVAL

· School begins at 8:55 am

· Students may arrive between 8:35-8:50 am

· Pleased do not drop students off before 8:35 am, as supervision is not available.

DISMISSAL – 3:55 pm

CAR RIDERS
Students will wait in their classroom and be dismissed when their car number is displayed. We have staff out front to help children find their vehicles.

WALKERS

NORTH WALKERS: Students walking north (towards 151st St.) will exit the R door (by the bike racks) and will be escorted by a staff member to parking lot entrance. All students who need to cross Brougham Dr. must do so at the crosswalk.

SOUTH WALKERS: Students walking south (towards 159th St.) will meet in the Kindergarten Hallway and then be escorted out by a staff member to the corner of Brougham Dr. & 156th St.

BIKE RIDERS:

Students will exit with the North Walkers (door R) and WALK their bikes until they are off school property.

CHANGING DISMISSAL PLANS

· Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home before they get school in the morning

· If you need to change you plans during school hours (due to weather, appointments, etc.) please notify the office before 3:30 pm.

Thank you for being patient and flexible during our arrival and dismissal times. The first few weeks of school are a learning period for us all.

IF you have a child who needs to cross Brougham, I am asking that you have them cross with the crossing guard. If they currently go with South walkers, you can let their teacher know we need to make a change in their dismissal plan to North walkers. Students who need to cross Brougham will be much safer crossing with the North crossing guard then playing Frogger (who is old enough to know that game) with the cars. I take student safety seriously and I have too many kids crossing alone. Let me know if you have questions or wonders about this. Thanks!

Learning the car rider line takes so much patience and sometimes you think it will never end!! I get it, but I have a few tips and tricks to make it go faster.

• Pull forward to the furthest spot when directed by the staff member. Our spots are labeled A-G.
• Stay in your car and let the staff help when needed.
• Have everything ready to go for your student to hop right out when you stop the car.
• Place the baby car seat behind the driver so the student can quickly exit the car on the passenger side. If you need to car seat to remain on the passenger side, plan for the student to crawl under OR climb out from the front passenger side.
• When students climb in the car at dismissal, have them buckle themselves. If they can't pull forward and turn right at the mailbox. You can park and help buckle over there. This keeps the car line moving.
• Our goal is to have your student in the A-G spot when you pull up. IF they are not there, please follow the staff directions and pull forward (around the mailbox) to wait while we get them to you.
• The staff love to see your smiling faces. Keep your phone put away and enjoy waving to us!
• Thanks for being amazing! Marsha

With warmer weather bringing more students outdoors, we wanted to share the newly-updated rules for bikes, e-bikes and scooters from the City of Olathe. Here are the key points for our students:

• All riders under 18 years old must wear a helmet when riding on an electric scooter or e-bike.
• Electric scooters cannot be ridden on the road unless the speed limit is 30 MPH or under and there’s no sidewalk.
• E-bikes may be ridden on roads with speed limits up to 40 MPH.
• Riders of bicycles or any motorized device must yield to pedestrians and warn them before passing (ring the bell, say “excuse me” or “on your left”, etc.)
• There is a 15 MPH limit for electric scooters and e-bikes on the sidewalk.
• It is illegal to ride a bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner or weaving in and out of traffic. Stay as close to the right side of the road as possible except when turning left.

• An electric scooter or e-bike must have proper lighting and be visible in order to ride at dusk or at night.

• Electric powered “bikes” that cannot be pedaled are actually motorcycles or motor-driven cycles and require a license to ride.

• If you get into an accident while riding on a bicycle, electric scooter, or e-bike where someone is injured or property is damaged, you must provide contact information to other parties involved and report the accident to the police.

• Parents may not authorize or knowingly permit their children to violate any Olathe bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter regulations.

For those in need of a helmet, the Olathe Fire Department is partnering with the University of Kansas Health System for its annual Helmet Head Bike Rodeo on Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Olathe. Kids aged 15 and under will receive a free bike helmet while supplies last.

We encourage families to have a conversation at home that will help keep everyone safe. Please read the complete list of updated rules by visiting OlatheKS.gov/RollSafe.

If you would like your child to purchase a breakfast, we will start serving at 8:35. Please have your child tell the staff member by the gym and they will be sent immediately to the MPR. Students need to arrive for breakfast no later than 8:45 to have time to eat.

It is wonderful to have the students back in the library and see all the books they are checking out. Overdue email notices are starting to come home. These are to help remind students that they still have a book out. We do not charge fines for overdue books. If you have questions please email Mrs. Chism or Mrs. Mason.

Brougham as the weather is changing I asked Mr. Martin to review expectations for shoes in PE. I know sandal weather is coming (from a girl who LOVES her shoes) and I want everyone to be safe!! Thanks!

Brougham PE guidelines require students to wear proper, securely fastened athletic shoes (sneakers) with non-marking soles for safety and gym floor protection. Open-toed shoes, crocs, sandals, boots, platforms, or shoes with wheels are not permitted. Proper footwear ensures student safety and allows full participation in activities. Students lacking appropriate shoes may be restricted from physical activity.

We are so excited to have everyone back in the lunchroom with us. Just a couple quick bites of information for you to think about.

• Glass containers are so wonderful, but they can be a bit tricky. Our floors are hard and if a glass container breaks it most likely shatters and ruins the food. If you have another type of container, you could consider sending, we would be so appreciative.

• Lunch time goes fast. If your child has things they can open by themselves, they will be able to start eating sooner and no be waiting for a grown up to come help them.

• We have discussed our school expectations in the lunchroom this week. One of our big focuses is being safe and one or our big safety concerns is being safe by not sharing food. We have reminded them that this means even if their best friend brings in lunch and they can eat it at home, they cannot have even one of those delicious French fries. Thank you for helping them remember this when you come to visit at lunch.

We have such fun seeing Kindergarten twice a week! We will be having checkout days on C days only so parents and students do not need to worry about returning books the next day since our library days are back to back.

Thank you!

Mrs. Chism and Mrs. Mason

Calling all 3rd-5th graders that like to walk or run! We will be starting our running club on September 9th. A permission slip coming home August 21nd if you are interested in participating. We will meet on Tuesdays from 4:00 PM - 4:40 PM

• Please make sure your child(ren) knows how he/she is getting home PRIOR to the beginning of the day.
  

• Please call in any changes in your child's dismissal BEFORE 3:30 P.M. Do not just send an email to the teacher as teachers do not always have an opportunity to check email prior to dismissal or they may have a substitute in the room.

• Please pull all the way forward before stopping to drop off your child(ren). There are staff members outside to help with this. Just follow where they ask you to go.

• For safety reasons, children should get in and out of the vehicle on the passenger side.

• If you need to get out of your vehicle for any reason (helping buckle your child in, etc.), please pull into a parking spot so our line can continue to move.

• Please make sure your child(ren) are ready to exit your vehicle when you come to a stop at arrival.

• Thank you for being alert and driving slowly through the parking lot for the safety of our children!!!

As we continue to prioritize student safety and maintain an orderly school environment, we want to remind families of the following expectations regarding student transportation to and from school:

• Students must be in at least the 3rd grade to ride a bike to school.
• Students riding bikes, scooters, motorized scooters, or e-bikes must walk their equipment once they are on school property to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

• All bikes, e-bikes, and scooters must be secured in designated outdoor storage areas (e.g., bike racks) and taken home at the end of each school day.

• *If the weather changes during the school day, we will not be able to move any motorized scooters or e-bikes inside. That will be your responsibility to come grab from the outside area

• The school is not responsible for the storage, security, or maintenance of any student transportation equipment.
• For their safety, students are expected to wear appropriate protective gear, such as helmets, when riding bikes, scooters, or e-bikes.

We appreciate your partnership and support in helping us maintain a safe and organized campus. If you have any questions, please contact the school’s main office

Screentime for Parents

October 1st at 6-7:30pm

Hosted by MidAmerica Nazarene University School of Counseling

Join us for a free, community-focused event, Screentime for Parents, designed for parents, caregivers, educators, school personnel, and helping professionals who want practical, realistic strategies for navigating children's screen use in today's digital world. This engaging session will provide immediately usable tools to support healthier boundaries, stronger relationships, and greater emotional well-being for children and families. Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to participate in a live Q&A with internationally renowned speaker, Dr. Diane Gehart, making this an interactive and meaningful experience for anyone supporting children in a screen-saturated world. Learn more about Dr. Gehart's work at www.dianegehart.com. Register now with QR Code.

You will be able to access school grab and go breakfast and lunch information HERE. If your child is bringing a lunch to school, we would love for you to help them practice opening the items they will bring. Lunch time is 25 minutes and there are limited adults to help with getting everything open. When my kids were little we did some practicing with me setting a timer, them opening as much as they could and talking together. It is crazy how fast 25 minutes goes by and we don't want kids going back to class hungry! Thanks for helping us out with this. 😀

Please take time to read the Code of Conduct with your child.

Parents can pay student and school fees through InTouch. Immediately following registration, parents need to access InTouch/TouchBase at https://ks-olathe.intouchreceipting.com to pay student fees. Families eligible for free/reduced district registration fees, transportation, and other fees must fill out an application. For questions on the InTouch online fee payment system, please visit www.olatheschools.org/feepayment.

Parents can pay student and school fees through InTouch. Immediately following registration, parents need to access InTouch/TouchBase at https://ks-olathe.intouchreceipting.com to pay student fees. Families eligible for free/reduced district registration fees, transportation, and other fees must fill out an application. For questions on the InTouch online fee payment system, please visit www.olatheschools.org/feepayment.

Families must apply each year for free or reduced-price school meals, transportation, and student registration fees. The application will be available starting on Tuesday, July 8. Beginning this year, the meal benefit application can be found on SchoolCafé. You will need to create a SchoolCafé account if you do not have one to complete an online application. Parents are welcome to create a SchoolCafé account at their earliest convenience; however, please note that balances will begin appearing/transferring and payments can be made in the new system starting June 1. A paper application is available. Click here for more information.