Pleasant Ridge + Olathe

Every month we send a parent newsletter that has information about what is going on at Pleasant Ridge.

You can also visit our website at https://www.olatheschools.org/pleasantridge

Our website includes links to the lunch menus, ParentVue login, and much more. You can also find our Parent Handbook (below) on the website.

Follow us on Twitter for daily pics around the building to see some of the amazing learning happening! @PR_Patriots

Thank you so much for attending conferences. Your partnership means everything to us and we truly appreciate getting to sit down with you and show you your child's progress! As always, please reach out or schedule a time to come in for any questions, clarifications, or concerns!

Thank you,

Dr. Dondzila

lmdondzila@olatheschools.org

913-780-7590

March 5th: Spring Class Picture Day

March 10th: Chipotle Restaurant Night-119th & Blackbob

March 16th-23rd: Spring Break

March 27th: 2nd Grade Field Trip

Congratulations to our Kansas Teacher of the Year: Ms. Wolfe and our Emporia State Master Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Ruff!

We are preparing for kindergarten enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year! Save the date for April 9, 2026 for the district-wide kindergarten enrollment event. According to state law, your child can start kindergarten if they are 5 years old on or before August 31, 2026.

To enroll, parents will need to provide:

• A birth certificate of the child enrolling

• A proof of residency (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.)

• Information about the child's immunizations and inoculations.

Bring these and your incoming kindergartener to the event to prepare for next year! More information to come. Keep up-to-date by filling out this form: Pleasant Ridge Kindergarten Enrollment Information Survey – Fill out form

Dear Families,

As we begin planning for the 2026–2027 school year, all PTA Board positions will be on the ballot at our April 16 PTA meeting, in accordance with our annual election process. We are excited to welcome both returning and new leaders who are interested in serving our school community.

Our PTA continues to focus on:
✨ Creating meaningful opportunities for families to connect
✨ Supporting our teachers and students
✨ Hosting engaging school events
✨ Strengthening our school community

If you are interested in being considered for a board position, please complete the PTA Interest Form by March 20:
👉 https://forms.gle/WunwedayyekEjuJN9

This form collects expressions of interest only. In alignment with PTA bylaws, all interested candidates will be placed on the ballot and elected by PTA members at the April 16 meeting.

Board Positions on the Ballot:

⭐ President
Leads the PTA and oversees overall operations
Runs General and Executive Board meetings
Manages the master calendar
Supports the Treasurer
Provides leadership across all committees

Oversees:
Hospitality
Yearbook
Assemblies
Audit Committee

📝 Secretary
Records meeting minutes
Manages website updates and social media
Oversees Directory/Membership & Website committees
Coordinates flyers and communications

💰 Treasurer
Manages PTA finances
Handles payments, deposits, and tax filings
Oversees financial reporting and annual audit
Leads the Audit Committee

🎯 VP of Ways & Means (Fundraising)
Oversees fundraising efforts such as:
Restaurant Nights
Parents Night Out
Membership Drive
International Night
Helps set fundraising goals, build the annual calendar, and recruit committee chairs

🎉 VP of Events & Programs
Oversees school events such as:
Hospitality
Foam-A-Palooza
Me & My Guy Dance
Mother/Son Event
Skating Parties
Bike Rodeo
Junior Master Gardeners
Bingo
Recognition Events

🤝 VP Staff Liaison
Acts as the connection between PTA and school staff
Shares updates between administration and PTA
Serves as second signer on PTA checking account

Serving on the PTA Board is a meaningful way to support our school, build relationships, and make a positive impact on students and staff. We look forward to another strong year of partnership and community.

Please reach out with any questions.

Thank you,
Megan Dischinger
PTA President

April 2nd: 2nd Grade Musical 6PM

April 6th: PTA's Skate Night

April 7th: Kindergarten Field Trip

April 9th: No School for Kindergarten/26-27 Kindergarten Enrollment

April 11th: PTA's Me & My Guy Dance

April 13th: One School, One Book Kickoff

April 16th: 1st Grade Field Trip

April 16th: PTA Meeting 6:30

April 23rd: 4th Grade Field Trip

April 23rd: 5th Grade Field Trip

April 30th: Fine Arts Fair 6PM

May 1st: PTA's 5th Grade Celebration at CT

May 4th: Apex Fundraiser Begins

May 5th: 3rd Grade Field Trip

May 8th: Battle of the Books Field Trip

May 15th: Fun Run

May 19th: Field Day

Parents Invited to Serve on District Facility Study Task Force

As you may know, this spring, our school district will launch a three-phase study to review enrollment and facility alignment. The process will be led by Deputy Superintendent of Operations Dr. Jim McMullen. Click here to watch his presentation on this process:

https://www.youtube.com/live/Le7JqkLvC4Y?si=rA-wWOgiM0d3SKqd

Phase one includes a task force with one parent and one staff member from each school, meeting three times. These sessions will take place in the evening on April 14, April 28 and May 12. Building representatives are asked to attend all sessions. Please contact your building principal if interested.

This is a friendly reminder that school is out at 3:55 and we do need all students picked up at 3:55. Late pick-ups after 3:55 could result in a call for a child in need of care through our safety and security department with the Overland Park police. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter if you are chronically late to pick up your student.

School STARTS at 8:55 and your child should be in the building and ready for class by 8:55. Please note that 4 tardies does turn into 1 unexcused absence. Unexcused absences have to be reported to the state. Please help us get your child off to a smooth start to their school day!

If your student is going to be absent and not here by 8:55, you must call or email with the reason for the absence. There are 8 Board approved reasons for an absence that we must know from you in order to mark your child as excused. If we do not receive communication from you about your child's absence, we have to mark your child as unexcused. Please note unexcused absences must be reported to the state of Kansas.

If your child has reached the threshold for absences, you will receive a letter from the school explaining we must have a doctor's note for every absence. We have to mark the absence as unexcused if you have reached this threshold and do not send a doctor's note.

In March 2026, registered voters who live within the Olathe Public Schools boundaries will have the opportunity to vote in a no tax rate increase $389 million mail-in bond election that would positively impact all Olathe students.

Investing in What's Working: Protecting Taxpayer Investments

Strong schools are built on care, consistency and smart investment. The first pillar of Bond 2026, Investing in What’s Working, focuses on maintaining and improving the schools, tools and facilities the Olathe community has already invested in.

· Critical building updates: roofs, HVAC systems, windows and more.

· Classroom improvements: furniture, technology, student devices, networks and audio systems.

· Fine arts support: instrument replacements for band and orchestra, kilns and choral risers.

· School consolidation: two new elementary schools to consolidate and modernize four older schools: Central, Fairview, Ridgeview and Northview.

By protecting existing investments, the district reduces emergency repair costs, minimizes learning disruptions, operates schools more efficiently and preserves operating dollars that support recruitment and retention of our world-class staff. Bond 2026 is about caring for what we have so our schools continue serving students well today and for generations to come.

Learn more about projects funded by Bond 2026 at www.olatheschools.org/Bond2026.

Here are a few friendly reminders:

• Please REMAIN in your vehicle at ALL times
• If you need more time or need to exit, please pull all the way forward to our loading/unloading zone
• Please REMAIN in the car lane, and do not pull out into our bus lane at any point
• Please do not park on ROSEHILL road
• Please do not turn left into PR from Rosehill

Thank you for keeping our car line safe and efficient!

Our students in our autism program bring joy to our staff each week by bringing around snacks and drinks on our joy cart. If you would like to donate to the joy cart, please reach out to Dr. Dondzila at any point. Thank you!

8:55-3:55

Please note arrival does not begin and there will be no supervision until 8:35, please do not send students to school property before that time.

School Opens: 8:35

School day begins: 8:55 - Students are expected to be in their seat ready to learn at this time, not walking in the door. Arrivals after this time will be considered tardy.

3:55- Students are dismissed

To report your child's absence please email PRAttendance@olatheschools.org and your child's teacher. Excused absences must include one of the board approved reasons including illness, doctor's appointments, and family emergencies.

If your student is eating breakfast at school it will be served in the cafeteria from 8:35-8:55.

This is a friendly reminder that we have a NO left turn from Rosehill into the school. This also means there is NO parking allowed on Rosehill during dismissal. The OPPD has designated Rosehill as an emergency thoroughfare, and we are not allowed to block Rosehill in any way.

CAR TAGS

It is also essential that you hang your car tag from your rearview mirror so we can get your child to you in a safe and efficient matter. If you need a car tag, let the PR office know.

CAR LANE

And finally, please remain in your vehicle in our car line. We have a moving car line in groups of 10. If you need to exit your vehicle or you need more time, please pull all the way forward to allow others to exit. We have a bus lane that car riders should NOT exit around and go through.

Thank you for helping us prioritize safety at all times.

The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is a top priority in Olathe Public Schools. This school year, Olathe Public Schools is transitioning to a new safety response system known as “Standard Response Protocol,” or SRP – an “all hazard” approach used nationwide to respond to a variety of emergency situations.

Previously, the district followed the A.L.I.C.E. protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), which focused primarily on active assailant response. SRP encompasses a wider variety of emergency situations, using clear, common language and is based on five standardized actions:

• Hold – keep hallways clear
• Secure – bring all students and staff inside the building
• Lockdown – secure rooms and remain quiet
• Evacuate – move to a different location
• Shelter – protect from a specific threat or hazard

SRP emphasizes quickly locking down in response to critical incidents and complements our existing safety tools, including the Centegix CrisisAlert system and Nightlock door locks.

As we begin the year, we will work with our students and staff to ensure all are familiar with the new safety protocol and practice responses regularly throughout the year during safety drills.

By using SRP, our district ensures everyone knows how to respond—no matter where they are—during an emergency. For more information about SRP, visit the Standard Response Protocol website.

Beginning June 1, Olathe Public Schools student and staff online meal accounts will be managed through SchoolCafé. MyPayments Plus is no longer active; however, all remaining balances will transfer to the correct user on SchoolCafé.

Families are encouraged to set up a SchoolCafé account with a new username and password. Make sure to have your student(s) or staff ID number(s) to get started.

Read instructions on how to set up a student SchoolCafé account, or read the Spanish instructions PDF.

Watch a video on how to make a payment in SchoolCafé

There are multiple benefits to this new software, including the ability to:

• Check the status of the application and view and print meal benefit notifications from SchoolCafé.
• View all menus with nutrient and allergen information.
• View your child's account balance anytime.
• Manage multiple students’ balances from one account.
• Money can be transferred between multiple students if needed.
• See what meals and à la carte items are being purchased.
• Set limits on à la carte purchases.
• Apply for free or reduced lunch beginning on Tuesday, July 8.

As a reminder, payments can be made in multiple ways.

• Send a check or cash to the school. There is no processing fee for this method of payment.
• Elementary: Please bring cash or check to the front office.
• Secondary: Students can bring cash or check to the cafeteria.
• If writing a check, please make it payable to: Student(s)’ School Name- Food Services. Please include your driver's license number, phone number and your student's name and ID number at the bottom of the check.
• Pay online via SchoolCafé.
• There is a minimum deposit of $20 per account and a 4.0% payment convenience/processing fee when using a credit card for either a one-time payment or an auto-payment.

For more information on SchoolCafé, including frequently asked questions, meal prices for 2025-26 and more, visit the Food Services meal payment webpage.

A great place to check out some of the amazing things happening everyday at Pleasant Ridge is on X.

Follow us at @PR_Patriots

PR website: https://www.olatheschools.org/pleasantridge

Email: lmdondzila@olatheschools.org
Website: www.olatheschools.org/pleasantridge
Location: 12235 Rosehill Street Overland Park KS 66213
Phone: (913)780-7590
X: @PR_Patriots