The Paw Print
A Bi-Weekly Newsletter for Indian Creek Elementary Families
Our Bobcats are Blooming with Character!
It's that time of year again! Our classrooms are getting ready, events are being planned, and we're ready to welcome students back to Indian Creek!
I'm so grateful to be a part of the Indian Creek community for the past 9 years. The partnership we have with our families is key to helping students reach their highest potential and be successful at school. I encourage you to continue looking for ways that you can participate alongside our staff through volunteering, communication, and celebrating your child's day.
We are "Blooming With Character" this year and will be looking for ways to encourage our students to grow beyond what's expected both academically and socially. Each month our character traits help our students navigate their day and create a stronger community of Kind, Respectful, and Motivated learners.
Our parent newsletter - The Paw Print is published every two weeks and contains lots of vital information, upcoming events, and sign ups to help grow our community support. Stay involved and informed through our newsletter.
My goal is for every student who walks into our building to grow into amazing humans. We can help them reach that goal together. Please reach out if you have any questions throughout this year. Let's help our kids BLOOM!
Dr. Sluyter
Tuesday, 8/11: Sneak-a-Peek and Back to School Night 6:00-7:00pm
Thursday, 8/13 - First Half Day of School; Dismissal at 11:30am (No Lunch Is Served)
Friday, 8/14 - First FULL Day of School; Dismissal at 3:55pm
Early enrollment will help ensure that your child has transportation for the first day of school. For further information, please email DS Bus Lines or call 913-361-7400.
Families must apply each year for free or reduced-price school meals, transportation, and student registration fees. Beginning this year, the meal benefit application can be found on SchoolCafé. You will need to create a SchoolCafé account if you do not have one to complete an online application.
Parents are welcome to create a SchoolCafé account at their earliest convenience; however, please note that balances will begin appearing/transferring and payments can be made in the new system right now. A paper application is also available.
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 Wednesday, August 19 class assignments for Thursday, August 20 can be accessed on ParentVue.
As we near the start of school, please familiarize yourself with our traffic patterns.
The front of our school is reserved for pick up by car. The north parking lot is for bus riders, daycare, and special programs (they will have a special colored car tag allowing them access to that parking lot). Walkers and bike riders can go out either the north door or south door. If you are walking to pick up your child, we have designated spaces to meet your child at the north parking lot entrance and the south entrance to the parking lot. Our staff are always there to help guide you. Please remember that there is no left turn into our parking lot per posted traffic signs. JCPRD Before and After School Care can use the north parking lot – Signs will guide to their entrance. Thank you for keeping our children safe and helping us maintain a quick dismissal.
As you may be aware, during the 2026 Legislative session, the Kansas Legislature passed a new state cell phone law that prohibits the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day on school premises. Per state law, devices must be turned off and securely stored during the school day.
At the July 9 Board of Education meeting, district administration presented proposed changes to the district’s current Policy JTC- Personal Electronic Devices, that would bring Olathe Public Schools into compliance with the newly passed state law that goes into effect beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Key highlights from the proposed policy updates include:
- Elementary and PreK: Personal electronic communication devices, if on school premises during the school day, must be stored in the student’s backpack, in a personal storage bag or container, in a school-designated storage solution or other area designated by school administration.
- Middle and High School: Personal electronic communication devices, if on school premises during the school day, must be stored in a student’s locker, in a school-designated storage solution, in the student’s vehicle (high school only) or other area designated by school administration.
Notification Statement of Non-Discrimination
The Olathe Public Schools prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and employment, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups to its facilities as required by: Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Equal Access Act of 1984, and other relevant state and federal laws as amended. Inquiries regarding compliance, reports of specific complaints, or alleged discrimination may be directed to Olathe Public School’s Compliance Coordinator, John Hutchison, Deputy Superintendent, or to Chris Pittman, Staff Counsel, 14160 S. Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS 66063-2000, phone 913-780-7000. Interested persons, including those with impaired vision or hearing, can also obtain information as to the existence and location of services, activities and facilities that are accessible to and usable by disabled persons by contacting Dr. Jim McMullen, Assistant Superintendent of General Administration/Middle Schools, 14160 S. Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS 66063-2000, phone 913-780-7000. (01/22)