Husky Tracks

Hello PRT Families!

We had so much fun kicking off fall sports, clubs and activities at the pep assembly on Friday afternoon! The gym was packed and full of excitement. Our cheerleaders and dance team had amazing performances and our band sounded incredible! Great job to all of our students on such a strong start to the school year! We are excited for the first competitions this week for volleyball, cross country and football! Best of luck to all of our athletes! Fun fact - more than 45% of our student body is involved in a fall sport and that number will increase as we get into musical season soon! We love how involved our students are at PRT! Let's go, Huskies!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dr. Jenna Jones

Proud PRT Principal

Start planning your outfit and practicing your best smile for our PRT Picture Day! All students will take their school picture during their Science class on Tuesday, September 1st. Photo packets went home with students last week! Students can bring their paper picture order form back to hand to photographers on picture day, or parents can submit the picture order online!

All students will be taking the Fastbridge reading screener during ELA classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please help your student remember to bring their device to school fully charged.

We are excited to kick off fall sports competitions next week! Here is a review of expectations at after school events:

• PRT has a proud “Howlin’ Huskies” student section that is open for all PRT Students.

• At athletic events, students are expected to sit in the student section or with their family.

• Students are expected to watch and be engaged during the game – your phone is primarily put away and not a distraction.

• Students are allowed to use the restroom before the game and also during halftime at football or between matches in volleyball.

• Only Positive Cheers and Comments towards those competing.

• As per KSHSAA & PRT expectations, no booing or yelling at opposing teams or officials.

• Create a positive experience for all spectators.

• Students are allowed a one-time entry at events. Once students leave the event, they may not return. For example, students may not come to volleyball, leave and walk to Buddy’s, then come back to the game again.

• All athletic events begin at 3:45 unless specially noted and usually end by 5:00/ 5:30.

• Students must be picked up within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the event.

Here are our PAWS expectations for Events:

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!

If your student is going to be absent, please be sure to notify the office. You may call the school and leave a voicemail anytime, including after hours. The other option is to email prtattendance@olatheschools.org.

If you need to pick your student up early, please be sure to call the office at least 30 minutes in advance so we can get a pass to your student and they will be ready in the office when you arrive.

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!