Dr. Yeager sharing remarks at the 9/11 ceremony

Olathe Community,

Throughout the month, our community has engaged in conversations about school alignment and the recommendations being considered by the Board of Education. We know these conversations have brought a range of emotions and perspectives, and we are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to attend the meeting, ask questions, share feedback and engage in this process. We have been adding more information and answers to your frequently asked questions all month long. Learn more on our School Alignment webpage on our district website.

Oct. 1 will mark an important moment in this process as the Board of Education considers the recommendations for school closures. If the closures are approved, we would immediately schedule boundary meetings so that our families can give us their feedback on different scenarios. Community input has been a longstanding foundation of our boundary process and we will continue that tradition pending any school closures. Community feedback has played an integral role in shaping previous boundaries, at times helping to generate new and different boundary options from those originally proposed. Regardless, we recognize the gravity of these decisions, and we are committed to being there for our students, staff and families every step of the way.

Although that conversation has been heavy on our minds this month, our district has also had plenty to celebrate. We had 19 seniors named National Merit Semifinalists, which is such an accomplishment for them, their loved ones and their teachers. Congratulations to you all! We also honored the 25th anniversary of September 11 and our third grade mock trial went international on Constitution Day! There are so many wonderful things happening in every corner of our district, as always. This newsletter contains all of that – and more.

Thank you for your partnership with your child's education.

Your very proud superintendent,

Dr. Brent Yeager

Congratulations to our 19 National Merit Semifinalists! These talented high school seniors have the opportunity to continue in the competition for thousands of National Merit Scholarships, worth nearly $26 million.

Olathe North High School: Benjamin Amuseli, George Hanna, Sanjay Kailad, Mahi Kohli, Anjali Krishnakumar, Ethan Long, Sanjit Panditrao and Manu Sripathi
Olathe Northwest High School: Noah Chan, Katelyn Gast, Hunter McEachen, Yash Parsai, Saanvi Sontineni, Santosh Subramanian and Keaden Yim
Olathe East High School: Luis Pallares, Neil Patrao, Peyton Rood and Marcus Stasko

On Sept. 11, Olathe Public Schools joined communities across the nation in remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Last Friday, Olathe West High School and the Public Safety Academy held a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the attacks and honoring the lives, service and sacrifice connected to that day. Olathe West also is home to a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center, providing a meaningful reminder of the lives lost and the resilience that followed.

During the ceremony, Mark McGavran, an Olathe West parent and 9/11 survivor, shared a powerful perspective with students and attendees, “Control what you can control. Take care of the people around you. Don't let the little things become the big things. And never take an ordinary day for granted.”

View photos from the ceremony.

Our third graders and their teachers participated in the 10th annual Mock Trial, which was bigger than ever this year, bringing a Constitution Day tradition that began in an Olathe classroom to students across the country and around the world.

What began in Mrs. Sheffield’s third grade classroom at Forest View Elementary School has grown into an annual Constitution Day tradition. This year, more than 45,000 third grade students from 47 states and six countries tuned in to participate.

During the mock trial, students heard special messages from Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who helped bring lessons about the U.S. Constitution to life in an engaging and memorable way

A special thank you to Social Studies Coordinator Julie Fishburn and our schools for making this a lesson to remember!

The Elementary Honor Choir is open to all fifth graders who love to sing. Selected students will rehearse and perform with fifth grade singers from across the district, learn fun and challenging music, and work with a team of Olathe Public Schools conductors.

Auditions will be held Nov. 10 and Nov. 16 at Olathe North High School. Students who are selected will rehearse on Monday afternoons from January through March, with a final performance at 7 p.m. March 10 at Olathe North.

Is your student interested in auditioning? Contact your child's school office for the audition form, more information about audition times and how to participate.

Do you know where our district's operating dollars go?

It’s a question we hear often in public education, and we believe our community deserves a clear look at how those operating dollars are invested.

Our people are by far our biggest investment, and that is important. Our teachers, instructional staff and support staff play a vital role in helping students learn, grow and succeed. That is why the majority of our operating expenditures are invested most closely to the classroom and in the people who serve and support students every day.

Other investments support student services, transportation, food service, facilities and more - all essential pieces of providing a high-quality educational experience for more than 28,000 students.

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Email, Text Message, E-Newsletter: Important Information

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Website and Mobile App: Resources and Updates

Our district website and mobile app provide information about school and district programs, initiatives and resources for students, families, staff and the community.

To continue receiving updates, please ensure your contact information is current and follow our district and schools on social media. Questions? Email communications@olatheschools.org.