The Trailblazer

We strive to provide easily accessible information to our families in several ways. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with these resources:

• Weekly email/text alerts on Sundays at 2pm detailing the information for the coming week. If you do not receive these weekly emails, please check your junk mail then contact the office so we can make sure you're on the list. The text message has limited characters so please read the entire email to get all of the details. (we will also send out additional alerts about important events/info throughout the week as necessary)
  
• Monthly newsletters - these come out electronically in email/text around the 1st of each month and have a lot of information about the coming events for the month. They are LONG but they are a great resource to find out what's happening at school. They are also available on the Tomahawk website.
  
• Tomahawk website - https://www.olatheschools.org/tomahawk/ - has lots of info under the Parents tab including Events calendar, current and past newsletters, birthday party and other guidelines, school supplies lists, PTO info and so much more. Check the website if you need information.
  
• Our school Facebook page - There is no password needed, but please answer the membership questions in order to be accepted onto the page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2394736794
• Weekly Teacher Newsletters- teachers send newsletters each week through SeeSaw.
• Flyers sent home in backpacks - please check your child's backpack every night for important information.

You will get a copy of this info sheet at Sneak a Peek. Keep it on your refrigerator for quick reference to Tomahawk info.

Hello Tomahawk Families!

I hope you are all ready and excited for the upcoming school year. We have an amazing group of returning educators in addition to a few new faces who will add to our Tomahawk family!

I know we will have a great year filled with learning, experiences, growth, and fun! Our community support and partnership with parents and guardians is essential for student success. We are kicking off the year with a few events that we are hopeful you will attend. This will help set your students up for success in this upcoming school year. We are eager to partner with you, and hope to see you there.

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns! It's going to be a wonderful year to spread kindness and "Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today!"

Julia Baucum

Principal

Check out these events:

Monday, August 11- 4:30-6:00pm – Sneak A Peek (Bring school supplies- except KDG students)

Wednesday, August 13 – Gr K-5: First ½ Day of School (Doors open at 8:35am; school starts 8:55am; dismiss 11:30am)

Thursday, August 14– Students K-5: First Full Day of School (8:55am-3:55pm); First Day for Early Childhood/Jump Start students; Watermelon Feed for Early Childhood/Jump Start students

Friday, August 15 - 3:00pm – Watermelon Feed

Tuesday, August 19- Back to School Night 5:30-6:30pm

Friday, August 29 - 1/2 Day for K-5 students - dismiss at 12:10pm

Reminder: Photo ID REQUIRED EACH TIME You Want to Enter Tomahawk

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 or other form of picture ID ready for the camera at the door when you arrive at Tomahawk. If you come to the door without your ID, we will kindly ask you to return to your car to get it.

• Grades K-5: Wednesday August 13 is a HALF DAY - dismiss at 11:30am
• Early Childhood/Jump Start: Thursday, August 14

• Students may arrive between 8:35- 8:50 am when staff will help them exit their cars out front. Students will enter through South parking lot gym doors during this time. After 8:50am, students will enter through the front door.
• Please no arrivals before 8:35am.
• Students wanting to eat breakfast should arrive between 8:35-8:45am to eat in the lunchroom.
• Students will be tardy if not in the classroom by 8:55am. No breakfast will be allowed in classrooms.
• NEW Early Childhood Hours: AM Class 8:55am-12:00pm; PM Class 12:50-3:55pm- No classes for EC on Fridays or on Half Days. (change from last year - see note below)

If your child is going to be absent or late, please contact the office by 9:15am in one of these ways (even if you have already let the teacher know):

1) Call 913-780-7690 anytime 24/7 to leave a message even if school is closed (The office is open from 8:15am-4:15pm but you can always leave a message.)

2) Email the TH Attendance thattendance@olatheschools.org anytime 24/7

If we are unable to contact a parent to confirm an absence on the day of the absence, it will be entered as UNEXCUSED.

Reminders about the Attendance Policy

• Elementary students are tardy if not in their classrooms by 8:55am. Students will be considered tardy from 8:55-9:30am. We appreciate a phone call or email with your child's lunch choice for the day if your child is not going to be at school by 9:15 am.
• Students arriving after 9:30am will be marked as absent and must have a parent sign them in to avoid being counted as UNEXCUSED.
  
• If a student leaves between 3:15-3:45pm, they are counted as absent for 1/4 of the day. If you have questions about the attendance policies, please contact the office.

Take a couple of minutes to add THattendance@olatheschools.org to your email contacts. Use this email to contact the office/nurse about attendance, late arrivals & early pick-ups, way home changes and general school questions.

To set students up for the most successful pairings and Kindergarten experience, we will use the first week of school as Camp Kindergarten. In this setting, we will have students work with all kindergarten teachers as well as Specialists such as PE, Music, Art, and Library. This will familiarize students with staff they will be working with throughout the year and give us a few days to meet your students as learners and people! Each morning your students will start in the gym and be given a team color for the day. The evening of Friday, August 15th class assignments for Monday can be accessed on ParentVue.

School Cafe Replaces MyPaymentsPlus- Sign Up Now

Set up your SchoolCafe account - SchoolCafé is the New Parent Portal for School Meals. Visit the SchoolCafé website to create an account with a new username and password. Make sure you have your student ID number (available in ParentVue) ready when creating a new account.

Meal Prices for 2025-2026

• Student Lunch: $3.20
• Student Breakfast: $1.60 ( Breakfast will be served in the MPR/lunchroom from 8:35-8:55 am. Students should arrive between 8:35-8:45 am to have enough time to eat and get to class by 8:55 am.)
  
• Milk/Juice $0.60 (Students will still be charged for milk/juice if they purchase that for their cold lunch. This purchase is not covered in the National free/reduced program.)

Reduced Meal Prices (for those who qualify under the National Free/Reduced Program)

• Student Breakfast: $ .30; Student Lunch: $ .40

If you'd like to help support the 2025-2026 PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) store, here is our amazon wish list:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5JAE740KSH8Q/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_5

We are excited to kick off another year of having Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) Volunteers at Tomahawk!

Sign-Up To Volunteer this school year at Tomahawk!

Watch D.O.G.S. Volunteer Sign-Up

For more details about the program, click on the link below.

From the Art Room:

Hello families! Just a note to remind you to make a note of what letter day your child has Art class and to consider having them wear clothes that are ok to get messy. We always have Art t-shirts in the Art room, but your child is more than welcome to wear their own (they can even store it in their locker). They are not always necessary and I encourage them think about protecting clothing as much as possible.

Looking forward to a great year!

Email lmingraham@olatheschools.org

Tomahawk Birthday Books

Would you like to commemorate your student’s birthday by donating a book to the Tomahawk Library? This is an opportunity to help us by increasing our library collection AND celebrate the day your student was born.

You can purchase a Birthday Book by completing the attached form and sending in a $10 contribution (exact cash or a check made out to Tomahawk) or online (https://ks-olathe.intouchreceipting.com/). Please make purchases by August 29th. If you purchase a book, your student will choose from pre-selected new books and receive a bag and bookmark.

Thank you for supporting the Tomahawk Library

Sponsors: Lindsay Cotton, lecotton@olatheschools.org & Rhianna Penner, rnpenner@olatheschools.org

STUCO 2025-2026

Co-Presidents – Zola Dale and Remi Fussel

Vice President – Adele Felix

Secretary – Izabelle Robertson

Treasurer – Angelina Moore

Representatives – Violet Gange, Sam Palmer, Grady Penner, Trexlyn Phillips, Rory Reeves and Song Senin

Spirit Days

STUCO Spirit Days will be decided upon members during monthly meetings. Check back here for updates!

Events

Check back here for information on STUCO events! Noah’s Bandage Project is happening very soon, more information to come.

STUCO Meetings

Meetings will be held in Mrs. Cotton’s classroom from 3:55 – 4:35 on the following dates for STUCO members: September 3rd, October 1st, November 5th, December 3rd, January 7th, February 4th, March 4th, April 1st, & May 13th

School Store

Information on the STUCO school store can be found here. The store will be open Wednesday mornings before school starting on September 17th – May 13th. Please send your child with small bills ($1 bills or $5 bills) and change.

Welcome back families for the 2025-2026 school year. My name is Mike Lawver; I’m the Physical Education teacher here at Tomahawk. You can find sign-up links for both clubs I sponsor. Our running club, which is offered to students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, has two sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring. The fall session will meet on Thursdays, and the spring will meet on Wednesdays. Yes, this is a change from past years. Both sessions will end at 4:45. This year you have the option to sign up for both sessions at the same time. Information about the two races we will participate in will come later. Those races are the Jared Coones Pumpkin Run in the fall and Tower 2 Tower in the spring. Parents are welcome to join us for our weekly runs/walks as well as the races.

• Running Club - 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students- Sign up here
• Intramural Flag Football - 4th and 5th grade students - Sign up here

Our intramural flag football sign up is also available. These games will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays and are for students in 4th and 5th grades. Football games will end at 4:30. Parents are welcome to bring a lawn chair and come watch if interested.

More info coming soon on these clubs:

Art Club - 4th and 5th grade students

Math Wings - 4th and 5th grade students

Special Chorus - 4th and 5th grade students (this occurs during the school day)

STUCO (Student Council) - 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students

PTO Board for 2025-26 school year. Email us at tomahawkolathepto@gmail.com.

President: Ashley Queen

Vice President: Jackie Price

Treasurer: Katie Barnette

Secretary:

Legacy Advisor:

Ex-Officio: Breanna Francis

Tuesdays @ 7:00pm in the Tomahawk library:

August 26, Sept 16, Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16, Jan 20, Feb 17, March 24, April 21, May 12

Spiritwear

We show school spirit on Tomahawk Tuesdays. Get your Tomahawk spiritwear https://tomahawkelementary25.itemorder.com/

Orders due by Wednesday September 3rd at midnight.

Grade Level Colors for Colorwalk!

PreK- Yellow

Kdg- Purple

1st- Blue

2nd- Red

3rd- Green

4th- Orange

5th- Pink

Mums Sales (update this)

Mums are back!! We are partnering again with local Louisburg Nursery to provide you with the most beautiful mums for you fall décor. The online store will be open until noon on Friday, September 5. Delivery date is mid-September. Order here https://my.cheddarup.com/c/magnificent-mums-for-2024-copy-67340/items

www.treering.com/validate enter school code 1015269347902029. Cost is $22.

More Community and District Opportunities Available on ePOST

Check out ePOST on the District website for information about other opportunities in the district and the community.

• July 2025 Resource Guide

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Email: kzuelth@olatheschools.org
Website: www.olatheschools.com/tomahawk
Location: 13820 S. Brougham Dr. Olathe, KS
Phone: (913) 780-7690