Comet Express

Happy Friday, Cedar Creek Families!

It has been an awesome first full week of school! Our students have been so excited to be here and get back into our routines. It has been wonderful to see the classroom communities being built, friendships forming, and students already diving into their learning and curriculum. We are off to a great start!

Don’t forget that students will be coming home with a little bit of homework. We appreciate your support in helping them get it completed. Practice makes progress!

It is also important that students are reading for 20–30 minutes each night at home. For our younger students who may not be reading independently yet, this is a wonderful opportunity for parents, older siblings, or other family members to read those bedtime stories together.

Cedar Creek Spirit Wear
Don’t forget to order your Cedar Creek spirit wear! The link to our spirit wear store is below.

Back to School Night
Next week is Back to School Night! We hope to see everyone there as we continue to partner together to make this a great year for our students.

Summer is winding down, so enjoy the warm weather while we still have it! ☀️ Have a wonderful weekend, Cedar Creek families!

Monday ~ C Day

Tuesday ~ D Day

K-2 Back To School Night 5-6 PM

Wednesday ~ A Day

3-5 Back To School Night 5-6 PM

Thursday ~ B Day

Friday ~ C Day

Last Day for Spirit Store Orders

September 4th ~ Shorts and Shades

September 7th ~ No School

September 8th ~ Picture Day

September 14th-18th ~ Noah's Bandage Drive

September 18th ~ Carnival; 5th Grade Ernie Miller Field Trip

September 25th ~ Walk a Thon

October 5th-8th ~ Book Fair

October 7th ~ Grandparents Lunch K-2

October 8th ~ Grandparents Lunch 3-5

October 9th ~ No School; Choir to Sing National Anthem at OW 7 PM

October 12th-14th ~ Conferences

October 14th ~ 12:10 Dismissal; Picture Retakes; Blood Drive

October 15th ~ No School

October 16th ~ No School

October 28th ~ 3rd Grade Musical 6:30

October 30th ~ Halloween Parade 9:15, Parties 2:30-3:30

November 2nd ~ No School

*Additional events will be added as they become available

** Information is subject to changer

Vision screenings will be conducted starting Monday, August 24th and continue throughout the months of September and October for students in Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades as well as students in 4th grade who are new to the district. Hearing screenings for the same group of students will take place on Tuesday, September 15th. You will be contacted by the school nurse if your student does not pass either of their screenings. Please contact Nurse Carla at cmclark@olatheschools.org with any questions or concerns regarding these screenings. We need a few parent volunteers to help hearing screenings run smoothly. If you are interested in helping on the morning of September 15th, please contact Nurse Carla.

Vision screening does not replace a complete vision exam conducted by an eye care professional

(optometrist or ophthalmologist). If you have concerns about your student’s eye health or academic progress, a complete examination by an eye care professional is highly recommended. If your child has been seen by an optometrist or ophthalmologist this

school year, please obtain a copy of the results to share with the school.

Why is it important for schools to provide vision screening?

Children with vision problems may not know they are having trouble seeing. Without early detection

and treatment, children’s vision problems can lead to permanent vision loss and learning difficulties.

Vision screening will consist of one or more of the following:

1. Distance visual acuity - ability to see objects/print far away

2. Color vision - ability to see colors

3. Instrument-based screening – provides estimates of seeing objects far away and close,

blurred vision, unequal vision between the two eyes, and eye misalignment

4. Near visual acuity (ability to see objects/print close up) and Binocular vision (how well the eyes work together) may also be tested on an individual basis by request of a parent or teacher for specific concerns about a student's visual acuity.

How will the results be shared?

Students may be rescreened if they fail their initial screening to ensure accuracy of results. If your child does not either of their screenings, the school nurse will contact you to share the results and may make a recommendation for further evaluation by the appropriate medical professional.

If you have any questions about the school vision or hearing screening programs, please contact the school nurse at cmclark@olatheschools.org.

Medication Policy

If your child has any medication that might need to be given at school (lunch time medication, epi pens, inhalers, etc.), please submit a completed, physician signed Medication Authorization Form and/or emergency care plan. Medications must be sent in their original container with attached pharmacy label.

Check out all of our district health and medication policies for further information.

Thanks!

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 Aug. 6 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved updates to Policy JTC- Personal Electronic Devices, that bring Olathe Public Schools into compliance with the newly passed state law for the 2026-27 school year.

Key highlights from the 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.

Students who bring personal electronic communication devices – including cell phones, smart watches, wireless headphones or earbuds, smart glasses, tablets not issued by the school, and similar devices – must adhere to the policy as outlined above.

District administration have created consistent expectations for those found in violation of the policy.

We know this maybe an adjustment for many students and families. Our approach is rooted in teaching expectations, partnering with families and applying those expectations consistently across all Olathe schools. Before school begins, please discuss with your child the new requirement that all personal devices be turned off and securely stored during the school day. We appreciate your support and partnership in helping students understand this new expectation.

This year, to help ensure the safety of all students, parents who come to eat with their child will not be able to sit in the lunchroom. Instead, you are welcome to enjoy lunch together at the tables in the foyer or at the picnic tables outside. On Fridays, we will also have a table set up in the commons for families. Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our students safe!

Dear OW Feeder Schools and Community,

OW Jr. Owls Game Day Promotions! We want to see all of our Jr. Owls Volleyballers at the below special match day, sit behind the players bench, Jr Owls can enjoy one free admission and cheer on the Olathe West Owls Volleyball program! If you havent signed up already and would like to sign up to join- see the attached flyer with further information! Bring your family and friends! Let's go OWLS!

· Saturday, August 29th at 6:30pm at St James Academy. We'd love for our Jr Owls to come out, wear blue and support your Varsity OW Volleyball team! Student admission is $5 and you can purchase tickets here: https://tickets.gobound.com/tickets/events/h202605210203261455478bb0e22344a/checkout

· September 1st at 6:30pm at Olathe West vs ONW (this game counts towards your one free admission for Jr. Owls)

· September 24th at 6:30pm at Olathe West vs. Gardner (this game counts towards your one free admission for Jr. Owls)

· October 13th 6:30pm at Olathe West vs. SME Senior Night (this game counts towards your one free admission for Jr. Owls)

· October 24th at 1pm and 3pm at Olathe West - Substate!!

Thank you!!! We hope to see you at our matches!

The Olathe West Volleyball Booster Club

With warmer weather bringing more students outdoors, we wanted to share the newly-updated rules for bikes, e-bikes and scooters from the City of Olathe. Here are the key points for our students:

• All riders under 18 years old must wear a helmet when riding on an electric scooter or e-bike.
• Electric scooters cannot be ridden on the road unless the speed limit is 30 MPH or under and there’s no sidewalk.
• E-bikes may be ridden on roads with speed limits up to 40 MPH.
• Riders of bicycles or any motorized device must yield to pedestrians and warn them before passing (ring the bell, say “excuse me” or “on your left”, etc.)
• There is a 15 MPH limit for electric scooters and e-bikes on the sidewalk.
• It is illegal to ride a bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner or weaving in and out of traffic. Stay as close to the right side of the road as possible except when turning left.

• An electric scooter or e-bike must have proper lighting and be visible in order to ride at dusk or at night.

• Electric powered “bikes” that cannot be pedaled are actually motorcycles or motor-driven cycles and require a license to ride.

• If you get into an accident while riding on a bicycle, electric scooter, or e-bike where someone is injured or property is damaged, you must provide contact information to other parties involved and report the accident to the police.

• Parents may not authorize or knowingly permit their children to violate any Olathe bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter regulations.

For those in need of a helmet, the Olathe Fire Department is partnering with the University of Kansas Health System for its annual Helmet Head Bike Rodeo on Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Olathe. Kids aged 15 and under will receive a free bike helmet while supplies last.

We encourage families to have a conversation at home that will help keep everyone safe. Please read the complete list of updated rules by visiting OlatheKS.gov/RollSafe.

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.

Order your yearbook before the price goes up! You can find a flyer in today’s Friday folders with more details and a QR code to purchase through Treering. You can also follow this link to order your Yearbook now:

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014399949891181