Husky Tracks

Hello PRT Families!

The students have been working hard and have settled into the routine of school! They have certainly earned their three day weekend! I hope you all can enjoy some fun family time this weekend.

Thank you to all of our fall sports parents this week as we've navigated these hot temps. We know the change in schedule can be a challenge.

Have a wonderful weekend and we will see everyone on Tuesday!

Dr. Jenna Jones

Proud PRT Principal

Volleyball

The 7th grade girl's volleyball team started off their season in dominating fashion, winning both the A and B game in 2 sets. A Team won set one 25-10 and set two 25-8. Payton Macrorie recorded 2 aces, while Ella Potter served 7 straight points. Madison Randall had 3 kills and 5 aces. B Team won set 1 25-5 and set 2 25-15. Ramsey Coleman, Evie Wardle, Sofia Lehman, Ava Scribner, Lila Cook, Emma Hedenskog and Hadlee Davis all recorded at least one ace on the night.

The 8th grade team was also incredibly successful last night. The A Team came out strong, with an aggressive 25-10 win. Set 2 was a little different, in having to chase the lead this go round. We did end up pulling it off, with a come from behind win of 25-22. Andie Striegel and Aubree Dunigan lead the team in kills with 6 each. Our setter, Emory Lustig, recorded 12 assists on the match. The B Team had quite the battle, with a lot of back and forth play by a scrappy CST team. Kendall Schurz led the team in aces with 3 while Alaina Brown and Brynn Reves led the team in kills with 2 each. Both sets we came out on top by a score of 25-22.

7th grade swept Pioneer Trail last night, taking all 4 sets. A team won 13-25 and 5-25. B Team won 9-25 and 12-25. Ivory Forsythe served 4 aces while Penny Walker had 3 kills and 8 assists. Evie Wardle recorded 5 aces, Hadlee Davis had 6 aces, and Ramsey Coleman had 4 aces. Great work Huskies!

The 8th grade volleyball team put on quite the show Wednesday against Pioneer Trail. Players really stepped up with the large crowd presence, and both teams are really starting to work so well together. The A team recorded 15 aces serves, with 3 each by Penelope Bradwell and Brook Strack. Blaire Swenson held it down in the back row, recording 7 digs. Scores for the A game were 25-15 and 25-12. For the B game, players worked well off the ball and made some great plays. Kellan Wetzel led the team in kills with 3, while four players recorded 4 aces each. Two of those players were Callie Connell and Macie Boerner, who make up part of our back row. Both teams enjoyed playing at home for the first time this season. The atmosphere with our fans was incredible. Thank you all for the support!

Our next game is Wednesday at home against Santa Fe Trail. Looking forward to another great turn out!

There is no school on Monday, 9/7 as this is Labor Day. We'll see students on Tuesday, 9/8!

This week we recognize the importance of suicide prevention.

Suicide is a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

At PRT, we will focus on the acronym of ACT.

This stands for:

Acknowledge (how someone is feeling)
Care (let them know that you care by listening and showing concern and letting them know you will get help)

Tell (find a trusted adult to tell, so that we can help provide support)

We will also be sharing resources, like 988 for 24/7 mental health supports.

Finally, we will focus on FINDING JOY! Joy is everywhere, even when we cannot see it.
Sometimes, life can be difficult, and we want to be intentional about finding what brings us happiness.

Maybe it is a family member, friend, pet, music, art, or activity? What brings you JOY?

As a family this week, could you find things that all bring you joy? Both together and individually!

JOY will be hidden throughout PRT this week to remind us that JOY is everywhere; we just need to LOOK FOR it!

Also, participate in the spirit week to help spread awareness for suicide prevention week.

Students need to bring their CHARGED device to school daily. The library has a very LIMITED number of extra devices reserved for students who may need it for technology issues or repairs. Please help remind your child(ren) to charge it each night AND bring it to school daily.

Huskies if you are interested in joining the “Howlin’ Huskies” Pep Club and walking in the Old Settlers Day parade, please sign-up in the office. The sign-up and information sheet will be available in the office through the end of the day on Thursday Sept 10 so be sure to stop by the office asap.

The Old Settlers Day Parade is Saturday September 12th. PRT Dance, Cheer, Band, and Howlin Huskies will all be marching in the parade. More details will be sent home to students' families who sign up to participate.

Calling all actors, singers, dancers, and students who want to be part of this year’s fall musical, Shrek Jr.!

Students interested in auditioning should attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 9, from 7:45–8:10 a.m. in the PRT Auditorium. At the meeting, students will learn more about the audition process and receive an audition packet that includes:

• Audition and rehearsal schedule
• Audition application
• Cast contract
• Important audition information

Auditions will be held September 29 & 30 from 3:30–6:00 p.m. in the PRT Auditorium.

Interested in being part of the show behind the scenes? We will also be looking for students to help with lights, sound, costumes, props, makeup, and more! Information about these opportunities will be shared at the end of September.

Whether you want to be onstage or backstage, there’s a place for you in Shrek Jr.! We can’t wait to bring this fun-filled musical to the PRT stage!

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.

We are excited to announce the full adoption of Canvas, a new learning management system designed to support teaching and learning across the district. As we implement this new system, our goal is to make it easier for you to stay connected to your student's learning while reducing the number of platforms to navigate.

Canvas Observer Account Information:

The district has created Parent and Guardian Canvas Observer accounts using the email address you provided to your child’s school. With a Canvas Observer account, you can view upcoming and past assignments, monitor grades and assignment feedback, receive alerts about student activity, and access all of your students with one login. You will be able to switch between students using a drop-down menu.

• Important note for families who also work in Olathe Public Schools: If you are an OPS employee and use a district email address, Canvas cannot use that same email for a parent observer account. If this applies to you, please provide your child’s school with a personal email address.

How do I access Canvas?

Parents and guardians can access Canvas in two ways: on a web browser (recommended) or through the Canvas Parent mobile app. To keep things simple, we have created a short, step-by-step tutorial to guide you in this initial process.

• Explore the OPS Parent's Guide to Canvas

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where do I find my student's official grades? While Canvas may display assignment scores, Synergy (ParentVUE) remains the official gradebook and record of communication. We encourage families to continue using ParentVUE for final grades and to initiate communication with teachers.

How do I manage notifications for Canvas? Canvas notifications are set by default and can be customized by each parent or guardian. Notification settings must be managed on a web browser, as they cannot be changed in the mobile app. To update your preferences, log in to Canvas, select Account, then Notifications, and choose how often you would like to receive updates for each course. Managing Notification Settings & Preferences

How can I support my student who is learning to navigate Canvas? Students can click on the OPS Student Tech Training desktop shortcut on their district-issued device, select their grade level, then scroll down to Canvas. OPS Student Tech Training - Canvas

Who do I contact if I need help? If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the OPS Canvas Support Team at canvas.support@olatheschools.org.

Thank you for your partnership as we implement Canvas and work to improve how we share learning with families.

Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Vena will be visiting 6th, 7th , and 8th grade classrooms the week of 9/1 and 9/8 to introduce themselves, talk about counselor roles in the middle school, how to see a counselor, and resources for mental help available to all students 24/7.

INVITES HAVE BEEN SENT TO ALL PARENTS NOT LINKED TO THEIR CHILD'S ACCOUNT on Wednesday, August 12th. Please check your spam/junk folder for the link.

Xello will be used in a variety of ways for Prairie Trail students, including career exploration and Individual Plans of Study. It will be primarily used in our new electives; including Smart Start (grade 6), Future Ready (grade 7) and Foundations for Success (grade 8.)

Xello is an online program your child is using in school to help them prepare for the future. It offers a variety of activities from kindergarten to the end of high school. These activities help students build self-knowledge, explore their options, and create achievable plans. They develop the 21st-century skills needed to thrive in the world of work.

It’s important for students to take ownership in planning for their future. But the caring adults in their life play an essential supporting role. Use your Xello Family account to see your child’s work in future-readiness. Use this opportunity to discuss and support their future goals and plans.

For more information on Xello for families you can visit here:

https://help.xello.world/en-us/content/Get-Started/Xello-Families/GS_Families.htm

Reach out to your child's counselor if you have any additional questions or concerns about Xello.

For more information on PRT Counselors and/or mental health resources,

please visit our PRT counseling website:

https://prairietrail.olatheschools.org/counseling-and-support/counseling-staff

or https://www.olatheschools.org/departments/bsel

Please follow us on Facebook at Prairie Trail Middle School and on Instagram at @PRTHuskies. We are excited to share all the great things happening at PRT this year!

Thank you to our community partners for all of your continued support!