The Trailblazer

Hello Tomahawk Families!

I hope you are all ready and excited for the upcoming school year. We have an amazing group of returning educators in addition to a few new faces who will add to our Tomahawk family!

I know we will have a great year filled with learning, experiences, growth, and fun! Our community support and partnership with parents and guardians is essential for student success. We are kicking off the year with a few events that we are hopeful you will attend. This will help set your students up for success in this upcoming school year. We are eager to partner with you, and hope to see you there.

Julia Baucum

Principal

We strive to provide easily accessible information to our families in several ways. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with these resources:

• Weekly email/text alerts on Sundays at 2pm detailing the information for the coming week. If you do not receive these weekly emails, please check your junk mail then contact the office so we can make sure you're on the list. The text message has limited characters so please read the entire email to get all of the details. (we will also send out additional alerts about important events/info throughout the week as necessary)
  
• Monthly newsletters - these come out electronically in email/text around the 1st of each month and have a lot of information about the coming events for the month. They are LONG but they are a great resource to find out what's happening at school. They are also available on the Tomahawk website.
  
• Tomahawk website - https://www.olatheschools.org/tomahawk/ - has lots of info under the Parents tab including Events calendar, current and past newsletters, birthday party and other guidelines, school supplies lists, PTO info and so much more. Check the website if you need information.
  
• Our school Facebook page - There is no password needed, but please answer the membership questions in order to be accepted onto the page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2394736794
• Weekly Teacher Newsletters- teachers send newsletters each week through SeeSaw.
• Flyers sent home in backpacks - please check your child's backpack every night for important information.

• Now through Aug 30- Tomahawk Spiritwear on sale https://tomahawkelementary26.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
• Now through Sept 3 – PTO Mums sales https://my.cheddarup.com/c/magnificent-mums-for-2025-copy/items (see below for more details)
• Order your Yearbook
• Sign up to be a Watch DOG at Tomahawk Watch D.O.G.S. Volunteer Sign-Up
• Add THattendance@olatheschools.org to your email contacts. Use this email to contact the office/nurse about attendance, late arrivals & early pick-ups, way home changes and general school questions.

· Tuesday, August 11 - 4:30-6:00pm – Sneak A Peek (bring school supplies & meet the teacher) Kindergarten students should wait to bring supplies until August 20- their first day in their new classroom - see special additional times for Miss Marie's Pre-K/Jump Start class on flyer

· Thursday, August 13 – Gr K-5: First ½ Day of School (dismiss 11:30am)

· Friday August 14– Students K-5: First Full Day of School (8:55am-3:55pm)

· Monday, August 17 -First Day for Early Childhood/Jump Start students- 8:55 am-12:00 pm for AM Class; 12:50-3:55 pm for PM Class (no school on Fridays for Preschool students)

· Thursday, August 20 - Kindergarten students start in their assigned classroom- please send school supplies with Kindergarten students today; Watermelon Feed for Early Childhood/Jump Start students

· Friday, August 21 - 3:00 pm – Watermelon Feed for K-5

· Tuesday, August 25 - 5:30-6:30pm Back to School Night (for parents/guardians- please no children if possible); two sessions to choose from: Session 1: 5:30-5:55pm or Session 2: 6:00-6:25pm in classrooms

Please remember that District policy requires us to ask for ID from EVERYONE each time they enter the building. Please remember to have your driver's license or other form of picture ID ready for the camera at the door when you arrive at Tomahawk. If you come to the door without your ID, we will kindly ask you to return to your car to get it.

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 am

School day begins: 8:55 am - 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.

Students are dismissed: 3:55 pm

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

If your child is going to be absent or late, please contact the office by 9:15am in one of these ways (even if you have already let the teacher know):

1) Call 913-780-7690 anytime 24/7 to leave a message even if school is closed (The office is open from 8:15am-4:15pm but you can always leave a message.)

2) Email the TH Attendance thattendance@olatheschools.org anytime 24/7

If we are unable to contact a parent to confirm an absence on the day of the absence, it will be entered as UNEXCUSED.

Reminders about the Attendance Policy

• Elementary students are tardy if not in their classrooms by 8:55am. Students will be considered tardy from 8:55-9:30am. We appreciate a phone call or email with your child's lunch choice for the day if your child is not going to be at school by 9:15 am.
• Students arriving after 9:30am will be marked as absent and must have a parent sign them in to avoid being counted as UNEXCUSED.
  
• If a student leaves between 3:15-3:45pm, they are counted as absent for 1/4 of the day. If you have questions about the attendance policies, please contact the office.

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 19th class assignments for Thursday can be accessed on ParentVue.

Please complete the Camp Kindergarten form for your kindergarten student so we can collect this information for our teachers. Since kindergarten students will be with various teachers during Camp Kindergarten, we put this important information on the back of their name tag so all staff have access.

English Version

Spanish Version

If you need help completing the form, please contact the office. Please complete the form by Aug 10 so we can print for you to verify the information at Sneak a Peek.

Medications: If your child needs medication during the school day, please bring it to the health office in its original labeled container along with the required medication authorization forms. This includes rescue inhalers for asthma.

Health Updates: Please notify the school if your child has any new medical conditions, allergies, or medications.

Illness: To help keep everyone healthy, please keep your child home if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, or are otherwise too ill to participate in school. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the year. I look forward to working with you and helping make this a healthy and successful school year!

Set up your SchoolCafe account for School Meals. Visit the SchoolCafé website to create an account with a new username and password. Make sure you have your student ID number (available in ParentVue) ready when creating a new account.

Meal Prices for 2026-2027

• Student Lunch: $3.45
• Student Breakfast: $1.75( Breakfast will be served in the MPR/lunchroom from 8:35-8:55 am. Students should arrive between 8:35-8:45 am to have enough time to eat and get to class by 8:55 am.)
  
• Milk/Juice $0.65 (Students will still be charged for milk/juice if they purchase that for their cold lunch. This purchase is not covered in the National free/reduced program.)

Reduced Meal Prices (for those who qualify under the National Free/Reduced Program)

• Student Breakfast: $ .30; Student Lunch: $ .40

If you'd like to help support the 2026-2027 PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) store, here is our amazon wish list:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5JAE740KSH8Q/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_5

We are excited to kick off another year of having Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) Volunteers at Tomahawk!

‼️NEW THIS YEAR‼️

½ day sign-ups available

**Be sure to note in your sign up if you want full day, ½ day AM or ½ day PM slot. **

Sign-Up To Volunteer this school year at Tomahawk!

Watch D.O.G.S. Volunteer Sign-Up

For more details about the program, click on the link below.

Watch D.O.G.S. Program

From the Art Room:

Hello families! Just a note to remind you to make a note of what letter day your child has Art class and to consider having them wear clothes that are ok to get messy. We always have Art t-shirts in the Art room, but your child is more than welcome to wear their own (they can even store it in their locker). They are not always necessary and I encourage them think about protecting clothing as much as possible. If you’re able to help make art class even more fun please consider shopping this link to our Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/32U13W1WGCSPT?ref_=wl_share

Looking forward to a great year!

Email lmingraham@olatheschools.org

Tomahawk Birthday Books

Would you like to commemorate your student’s birthday by donating a book to the Tomahawk Library? This is an opportunity to help us by increasing our library collection AND celebrate the day your student was born.

You can purchase a Birthday Book by completing the attached form and sending in a $10 contribution (exact cash or a check made out to Tomahawk) or online (https://ks-olathe.intouchreceipting.com/). Please make purchases by August 29th. If you purchase a book, your student will choose from pre-selected new books and receive a bag and bookmark.

Thank you for supporting the Tomahawk Library!

We are happy to highlight our business partners this year. In Olathe schools our business partners create meaningful connections between our school and local businesses to support student success. These partnerships are built on mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to investing in the future of our students. Through volunteerism, mentorship, resources, and collaborative projects, our business partners help enrich learning experiences while strengthening ties between our school and the community. We have had the opportunity to collaborate a few times and we are excited about the year ahead! Please thank our business partners, they are important pieces of our puzzle!

We're excited to introduce ourselves! At Sunshine Pediatrics – A Children's Mercy Affiliate, we're proud to partner with the Tomahawk Elementary community to help keep your children healthy, happy, and thriving. Throughout the school year, we'll be sharing a monthly health briefing with helpful tips, seasonal health reminders, and practical information to support your family's wellness. Back-to-school season is here, and it's the perfect time to make sure your child is up to date on their annual well visit so they can start the school year healthy and ready to learn.

We recommend yearly checkups to monitor growth, development, and overall health. While many checkups are routine, seeing the same pediatrician year after year allows us to recognize subtle changes over time and identify concerns early—often before they become bigger problems. It's also a great opportunity to ensure vaccinations are current.

We offer same-day sick visits and are conveniently located nearby. If your child is due for a well visit or you're looking to establish care, we'd love to see you!

Here's to a healthy, successful school year—we look forward to being a trusted resource for your family each month!

Stay healthy,

Dr. Patch, Dr. Hettinger, Dr. Voelker & Dr. Hosty

Sunshine Pediatrics- A Children’s Mercy Affiliate

Sunshinepeds.com

Sponsors: Lindsay Cotton, lecotton@olatheschools.org & Rhianna Penner, rnpenner@olatheschools.org

STUCO 2026-2027

President – Addilyn Powers

Vice President – Shaun Daniel

Secretary – Finlee Bartek

Treasurer – Ximena Alvear
Representatives: Addisen Darrah; Trey Erny; Amari Lindsey; Charlotte Mueller; Luana Oliveira; Liv Palmer; Leo Queen; Logan Whitt

Each 3rd and 4th grade classroom will be selecting two representatives to serve on STUCO. More info from coming from the classroom teacher.

Spirit Days

STUCO Spirit Days will be decided upon members during monthly meetings. Check back here for updates!

Events

Check back here for information on STUCO events! Noah’s Bandage Project is happening very soon, more information to come.

STUCO Meetings

Meetings will be held in Mrs. Cotton’s classroom from 8:00-8:35am on the following dates for STUCO members: September 9th, October 21st, November 11th, December 9th, January 13th, February 17th, March 10th, April 14th, & May 12th.

School Store

Information on the STUCO school store can be found here. The store will be open Wednesday mornings before school starting on September 16th – May 12th. Please send your child with small bills ($1 bills or $5 bills) and change.

Welcome back families for the 2026-2027 school year. My name is Mike Lawver; I’m the Physical Education teacher here at Tomahawk. You can find sign-up links for both clubs I sponsor.

Our running club, which is offered to students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, has two sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring. The fall and spring sessions will meet on Wednesdays. Both fall and spring sessions will end at 4:45pm. You have the option to sign up for both running club sessions at the same time. Information about the two races we will participate in will come later. Those races are the Jared Coones Pumpkin Run in the fall and Tower 2 Tower in the spring.

The past three years Tomahawk had the entrance fees paid for by an anonymous party for the Jared Coones Pumpkin Run. Unfortunately, that has ended and students must pay for their own race fees if they wish to participate in the Jared Coones Pumpkin Run. Parents are welcome to join us for our weekly runs/walks as well as the races.

• Running Club - 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students- Sign up here

Our intramural flag football sign up is also available. These games will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays and are for students in 4th and 5th grades. Football games will end at 4:30. Parents are welcome to bring a lawn chair and come watch if interested.

• Flag Football - 4th and 5th grade students- Sign up here

More info coming soon on these clubs:

Art Club - 4th and 5th grade students; Meets on Mondays after school- Session 1 starts in October. Information will be available from Mrs. Ingraham soon

Math Wings - 4th and 5th grade students- Meets on Tuesdays after school; Mrs. Hermanson will be providing information after school starts for those students interested in participating

Special Chorus - 4th and 5th grade students (this occurs during the school day). Be on the lookout for signup forms at the end of August or early September.

Check out the information below. Remember all parents/guardians of Tomahawk students and all Tomahawk staff are automatically members of the Tomahawk PTO. We invite you to share your ideas to help us make Tomahawk a great place to be!

PTO Board for 2026-27 school year. Email us at tomahawkolathepto@gmail.com.

President: Jackie Price – 402-210-4621

Vice President: Ali Alonzo – 913-387-9306

Treasurer: Katie Barnette – 913-620-7313

Secretary: Mikayla Fussel – 913-669-2292

Legacy Advisor: Ashley Queen – 913-707-8189

Ex-Officio: Breanna Francis – 913-219-8218

We’re filling our committee head positions for our PTO for 2026-27 school year. We’re looking for parents just like you. You don’t need a fancy résumé. You just need a love for Tomahawk and a willingness to show up. You can have a little time or a lot of time to give. We have a place for you!

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES CHAIRS (2 chairs per committee — grab a friend and sign up together!)

*Note: We’re still looking for activity chairs for some activities below, and we’d love even more volunteers! If there’s something you’re excited to help with, we encourage you to jump in and join the fun.*

› Color Walk

› Dance(s)

› Teacher Appreciation

› 5th Grade Legacy

› Room Parent Coordinator

› Fundraising (Mums, Spring Baskets, Charlies & more)

› Social Media

› Hospitality & Community Events

› Watermelon Feed

› Gingerbread Day

› Yearbook

› Tomahawk Sign

› Spirit Wear

› Grounds Committee (planters, front doors, watering playground)

› Donations (restaurants, stores, online & more)

In return, you'll have a direct hand in the events, programs, and moments that make up our kids memories.

Tuesdays @ 7:00pm in the Tomahawk Staff Lounge

August 18, Sept 8, Oct 6, Nov 10, Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 2, March 9, April 13, May 11

Get your Class Color Shirts for the Annual Color Walk and to wear all year! Lots of items to choose from and a portion of all sales goes to the Tomahawk PTO which means it will go straight back to helping fund our teachers and classrooms!! Shirts will be delivered in late September before Color Walk.

Class Colors: Pre-K- Yellow; Kdg- Purple; 1st- Blue; 2nd- Red; 3rd- Green; 4th- Orange; 5th- Pink

SALE ENDS AT NOON ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd!

We're partnering with Louisburg Nursery and Greenhouse again to bring you beautiful mum planters!

• The pots are a 9" in diameter with a big, beautiful dome of color
• The nursery is offering 5 colors: red, yellow, purple, orange and white

Ordering Information:

• The link for ordering will be active from August 1st to until NOON on September 3rd. https://my.cheddarup.com/c/magnificent-mums-for-2025-copy/items
• The link can be shared with family and friends.
• Flowers will be delivered to Tomahawk for pickup on SEPTEMBER 8th from 4pm-7pm. PTO meeting immediately following pickup at 7pm.

More Community and District Opportunities Available on ePOST

Check out ePOST on the District website for information about other opportunities in the district and the community.

• July 2026 Resource Edition

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Email: kzuelth@olatheschools.org
Website: www.olatheschools.com/tomahawk
Location: 13820 S. Brougham Dr. Olathe, KS
Phone: (913) 780-7690