The Trailblazer

Hello Tomahawk families,

It has been a productive fall semester, and we continue to see our students thrive! We have completed our first round of state testing for grades 3–5 and remain focused on meeting students’ academic and emotional needs. Color Walk was a huge success, and it was wonderful to see so many families come together to participate. Thank you to everyone who joined us for our outdoor movie night and continues to support our Tomahawk community. We are excited for all that the second quarter has in store, with plenty of learning, growth, and fun ahead!

Julia Baucum

Principal

We send information out every Sunday at 2pm. Be sure to check your email and not rely just on the text since the text contains only a small bit of information.

FinalSite has experienced some outages in the past. In the instances where we cannot send out the text and email alert on Sundays at 2pm, please check the PTO website, Facebook or the website calendar for the events for the week.

Monday, November 2- No school for students

Tuesday, November 10- 4-8pm PTO Food Night at Chipotle, show flyer in person or use code VDTXN8R & Click HERE to order online; 7pm OSD Boundary Meeting in Tomahawk Gym

Wednesday, November 11- 5th grade Field Trip to Arrowhead (after lunch)

Thursday, November 12- 3pm/6pm Gr 5 Musical

Friday, November 12- Gr 2 Field Trip to KC Zoo (bring sack lunch)

Tuesday, November 17- 7pm PTO Meeting (all parents/guardians welcome)

Wednesday, November 18- 7:15-8:40am Pastries with Parents, $1 Donuts on playground, weather permitting (otherwise we will be in the lunchroom); Staff Pies Donations due

Monday, November 23-27 - No School

• 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.

Did you know...

Monday, November 2, 2026- No School

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - D Day; Math Wings District Competition @ Olathe North

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - A Day; 6-8pm Fall Site Council @SFTMS

Thursday, November 5, 2026 - B Day

Friday, November 6, 2026 - C Day

Monday, November 9, 2026 - D Day; Art Club after School

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 - A Day; NO Math Wings; 4-8pm PTO Food Night- Chipotle (14317 W. 135th St.) show flyer in person or used code VDTXN8R - order online; 7pm OSD Boundary Meeting in Tomahawk Gym

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - B Day; 8am STUCO Meeting before school; STUCO Store before school (Items $.50 - $2); Gr 5 Field Trip after lunch

Thursday, November 12, 2026 - C Day; 3pm Grade 5 Musical Dress Rehearsal; 6pm Grade 5 Musical (doors open at 5:40pm, students should arrive by 5:45pm)

Friday, November 13, 2026 - D Day; Grade 2 Field Trip (bring disposable sack lunch); PBIS Bingo with Baucum

Monday, November 16, 2026 - A Day; Art Club after School

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 - B Day; Math Wings after School; 7pm PTO Meeting (all parents and guardians welcome)

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 - C Day; 7:45-8:30am PTO Pastries with Parents - weather permitting outside on playground (if we need to have it inside, we will share that decision by Nov 16); STUCO Store before school (Items $.50 - $2); PTO Pies for Staff

Thursday, November 19, 2026 - D Day

Friday, November 20, 2026 - A Day

Monday, November 23, 2026 - Friday, November 27, 2026 - Fall Break. No School. Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 30, 2026 - B Day; Art Club after School

Posters were sent home for students to honor family members who are veterans. Students can print and attach a picture or draw a picture in the box provided. If you would like more than one poster, email the office at thattendance@olatheschools.org and we will send more home with your student. The posters will be displayed in the gym on a Wall of Honor. Please return the completed sign by November 5!

This month's Spirit Days:

• Tuesday 3rd - Tomahawk Tuesdays- Wear Tomahawk Gear or Blue/Yellow
• Friday 6th- Favorite Fridays- wear favorite thing- color, team gear, outfit or shoes
• Tuesday 10th - Tomahawk Tuesdays- Wear Class Colors (EC/JS – Yellow; K- Purple; 1-Blue; 2-Red; 3-Green; 4-Orange; 5-Pink)
• Wednesday 11th- STUCO Spirit Day-If you can dream it, you can do it (PJs or what you want to be when you grow up)
• Friday 13th- Favorite Fridays- wear favorite thing- color, team gear, outfit or shoes
• Tuesday 17th - Tomahawk Tuesdays- Wear Tomahawk Gear or Blue/Yellow
• Friday 20th- Favorite Fridays- wear favorite thing- color, team gear, outfit or shoes

Dress for Unpredictable Weather

The weather is changing and becoming colder. Help your child anticipate the change in weather by encouraging them to dress in layers and bring a jacket to school. Labeling outerwear with your student’s name helps when coats are misplaced, left on the playground or identical to other students. We have outdoor recess unless there is precipitation or the temperature falls below 20 degrees; limited outdoor recess when 10-19 degrees; and indoor recess when below 10 degrees. All students will need to go out to recess unless they have a doctor's note. This link gives more information on winter weather guidelines.

Reminder: Photo ID REQUIRED EACH TIME You Want to Enter Tomahawk

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.

Birthday Treats in Classroom

Traditionally students have enjoyed celebrating their birthday by bringing in treats for their classmates. Attached are some tips to make these quick celebrations easy for all. Please read through the guidelines and contact your child's teacher for more details.

If you need to contact other Tomahawk families, you can find information in our Tomahawk Student Directory and Class Lists sent in a FinalSite alert on Wednesday, October 7. Please note this information does not include everyone in the school as some of our families have opted out for various reasons and new students are added regularly.

This directory is intended for school use only. All of the contact information -email, home addresses and phone numbers - are not for business use. Please respect the privacy of our families and do not share the list with others or use it for business purposes.

Grade Level Students of the Month

K- Roy Caspermeyer; Pruett Sanders (TIE)

1- Amelia Lewis

2- Kevin Alfaro; Colton Starks (TIE)

3- Zendaya Thompson

4- Roselin Mendoza Rojas

5- Caleb Reitz

Classroom Students of the Month

K- Isaac Ayers

1- Jayden Diaz De Leon; Ethan Miller

2- Charlotte Fussel

3- Harper Parker

4- Dylan Diaz Lopez; Annalise Valencia

5- Noah Rafu; Paxtyn Lair

Each month there will be a classroom recipient (K-5) chosen by the classroom teacher as someone who displays the expected behaviors of Tomahawk Students showing: We Matter, We are Safe, and We are Prepared. This student helps ensure others know that they: Belong, Matter, and are Loved.

The staff members who work with students outside of the classroom (Art, PE. Music, Computer, Library, Counselors, Lunch room staff) will vote on the representative for each classroom. That student will receive a yard sign for the month. We are so Proud of all of our Tomahawk students, and showcase their strengths in many ways through out each grade level and each class. We are excited to celebrate these school wide recipients each month, to continue to show our Tomahawk Expectations!

In counselor lessons this month, students are learning how to resolve conflicts peacefully and stand up for kindness. We’re practicing “I” messages — for example, “I feel mad when you borrow my pencil without asking . Could you please ask first next time?” Grades 1, 2, and 3 have a special “talking item” to practice taking turns and listening respectfully. These skills help students build empathy and communicate effectively — both at school and at home!

Physicals/Well Child Exams

The last date to turn in physicals/well child visits for your Kindergartner, Jump Start student, Early Childhood student and any new students is January 6, 2026. Unfortunately, your student will have to be excluded from school on January 13th if I don’t have the necessary paperwork showing they have had a well child exam. Please call me if you cannot get this taken care of by this date. I’m happy to work out a plan with you. Some of your students may have already had their physical but I do not have a copy of it. Your doctor can fax it to me at 913-780-7699. If you have any questions or are wondering if you have turned on in or not, please call Nurse Devin at 913-780-7696 or email me at dmandozzi@olatheschools.org.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

I am still working through vision screenings and hearing screenings. The school-wide hearing screening day was October 5th. If you have not heard anything from me, it means they passed or are marked as a “re-screen” which means I will test them again. I will follow up with you after re-screens if your student does not pass. Vision screens are done throughout the year, and again, you will be contacted if your student did not pass. If you have any specific questions about vision or hearing screenings, please reach out to me at dmandozzi@olatheschools.org.

Parents may add money to their child's lunch/breakfast account for meals/milk/juice charges at www.schoolcafe.com. See the attached instructions for setting up your School Cafe account.

In addition, please remember that if a student brings a meal from home and wants a milk or juice for lunch, there is a $0.65 charge for the beverage.

We have recognized and given out over 50,000 tickets so far this year! Students have been cashing in on fun items and experiences at Tomahawk!

Remind your students to keep up their hard work and to visit the PBIS store before school on the following days to spend their tickets: Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays. The store opens at 8:35 and will close prior to the bell ringing at 8:55.

If you'd like to help support the 2026-2027 PBIS store, here is our amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5JAE740KSH8Q/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_5

We love having Watch D.O.G.S. at Tomahawk! We now offer ½ day and full day sign-ups.

You can still sign up to be a Watch DOG with the link here: Watch D.O.G.S. 26-27

The art room is bursting with creativity! Reminder that students always have access to art shirts for messy projects but are encouraged to not wear their nicest clothes on Art day.

Thanks to everyone who has connected to their student's Artsonia account! Even bigger thank-you's to the folks who have purchased keepsakes from the site. A portion of those sales go directly to the Tomahawk art room! Please reach out if you need help connecting to your child’s Artsonia site. It’s a great way to get a sneak peek at what your child is making in Art.

Gobble Up a Good Book! 📚

This Thanksgiving break, turn reading into a family adventure! Gather everyone together and see if you can find books that match these fun challenges.

🍁 Find a book with an animal as the main character.
📚 Read a book that someone in your family loved as a child.
😂 Find a book that makes everyone laugh.
🧡 Read a story about kindness or being thankful.
🔦 Read a book together using a flashlight.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Let each family member choose a book to share.
⭐ Read somewhere unusual—under a table, in a blanket fort, or on the floor!

BONUS CHALLENGE: Visit your local public library over Thanksgiving break and discover a new favorite!

Remember, Trailblazers: Reading together creates memories that last a lifetime!

Happy Reading! ❤️

Our 5th grade students have been working on their upcoming performances:

· 5th grade program Thursday, November 12th at 3:00pm and 6pm

For those students in special chorus, please mark these dates on your calendar:

-Thursday, December 10th at 6:00 pm-Winter Concert at Tomahawk

-Friday, December 11th- Winter Choir Tour (bring a sack lunch)

Plank Challenge

Our Plank Challenge has begun. Once a month students will attempt to increase their plank time, beginning with one minute and topping off at five minutes. Hopefully, this will begin with some goal setting and teach some grit while getting stronger. Our weeks for every month are listed below.

Week of: November 16th, December 14th, January 25th, February 22nd, March 29th & April 26th

A quick reminder to all families to check the ABCD schedules regarding P.E. class. It’s important that on their assigned P.E. days, students wear the proper shoes, which are athletic shoes with closed toes and no raised heel. Click here for the PE Class schedules.

Constipation During the School Year

It may not be the most glamorous topic, but constipation is something we see all the time during the school year! Kids often avoid using the bathroom at school because they’re embarrassed, don’t like the bathrooms, or simply don’t want to stop what they’re doing. Add in less water during the day, rushed mornings, and busy after-school schedules, and constipation can sneak up pretty quickly.

Encourage your child to drink plenty of water, eat fruits and vegetables throughout the day, and most importantly, don’t hold it! Having a regular time to sit on the toilet, especially after breakfast or dinner, can also help get their body into a routine.

If your child is frequently complaining of stomachaches, having very large or painful stools, going several days without a bowel movement, or having stool accidents, behavioral and appetite changes, constipation could be the culprit. It’s a common problem, and usually much easier to address when we catch it early! Talk to your pediatrician for further medication management if this is needed.

Stay healthy and enjoy the season,

The Doctors at Sunshine Pediatrics – A Children’s Mercy Affiliate

STUCO

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; Norah Stamer; Logan Whitt; Lois Barnette, Jayten Janeway, Beckett McGinnis, Ella Lane, Jamison Rozof, Mabrey Stamer, Ella Dale, Georgia Francis, Aiden Hammer, Nova Perez Beltran, and Valkyrie Rice

Spirit Days

STUCO Spirit Days will be taking a time machine to throw it back to each class's kindergarten year's theme!

• November (11/11): If you can dream it, you can do it... wear your Pjs or dress like what you want to be when you grow up!

  December (12/9): let your imagination run wild... dress like your favorite animal, in your favorite animal prints, or even as your book character!

  January (1/13): watch us grow... wear green, floral print, or bright colors!

  February (2/17): be the reason someone smiles today... dress in smiley faces, bright colors, or whatever makes you smile!

  March (3/10): throwing it back to Mrs. Baucum's first year at TH theme, TH STRONG: time to be a hero... dress in your best workout gear!

  April (4/14): throwing it back to 1999... building for the future... dress like a construction worker, lego builder, of what you want to be when you grow up!

  May (5/12): EVERY PIECE MATTERS... check back here for how STUCO decides to celebrate this day!

Events

Tomahawk STUCO students are organizing a Snack Drive Nov 16-20 for the classrooms to provide quick, nourishing fuel for students who miss breakfast or need an extra boost to stay focused during the long stretch before lunch or dismissal. A small snack prevents hunger fatigue, helping children concentrate, participate, and stay engaged in class. We would love your help in providing snacks for students who are unable to bring them from home. Please note that snacks need to be nut-free- please no peanut butter or nuts. Please send all individually packaged donations into school during the week of November 16-20. Click here for Sign-Up Genius! Thank you!

STUCO Meetings

Meetings will be held in Mrs. Cotton’s classroom from 8:00 – 8:35 am on the following dates for STUCO members: November 11th, December 9th, January 13th, February 10th, 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 until May 12th. Please send your child with small bills ($1 bills or $5 bills) and change.

Regional Competition Results- The top three teams from each region advance to the district competition, and I am thrilled to announce that THREE of our Tomahawk Math Wings teams will be advancing on Nov. 3rd to the district competition at Olathe North! They had tough competition with 22 teams!

🏆4th Grade-1st Place Team Members: Beckett McGinnis, Raymond Smith, and Acelynn Zuel-Davis

🏆4th Grade-(tied) 3rd Place Team Members: Noor Kaur, Emrys Thomfohrda, and Henry Bennison

🏆5th Grade-(tied) 2nd Place Team Members: Sebastian Menendez, Loucif Lafer, and Everett Sunderland (4th)

5th Grade-(tied) 8th Place Team Members: Ximena Alvear, Finlee Bartek, Sayumi Mukai

5th Grade-(tied) 8th Place Team Members: Caleb Reitz, Liam Young, Lola Sadi Oufella (4th)

Please join me in congratulating all our Mathletes for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding representation of Tomahawk. I am so proud of all of you! Way to go, Mathletes!

We will resume practicing for the January competition beginning on Tuesday, November 17th (no practice on November 10th).

Click the picture above or link below to go to the PTO website. The Trail Guide is updated weekly, so families always have access to the latest and most important information.

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

Tuesdays @ 7:00pm in the Tomahawk Staff Lounge

Nov 17 (date change), Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 2, March 9, April 13, May 11

As is a long standing Tomahawk tradition, the PTO is collecting pie donations to treat our amazing Tomahawk teachers. If you would like to donate a pie, sign up here. Pies can be homemade or store bought, just make sure they’re whole and covered.

We’ll also need a few volunteers to help collect pies at the drop-off line on Wednesday, 11/18

Come grab a donut for $1 and enjoy it while visiting with friends or your child on the playground. Meet your child’s friends, connect with other families, and support our 5th Grade Legacy Team at the same time!

⏰ Wednesday, Nov 18 • 7:45–8:30 a.m.

📍 Playground, weather permitting (otherwise in lunchroom- doors open at 7:45am)

Parents need to stay with their students until school doors open at 8:35am

Stay tuned for more ways to support our wonderful Tomahawk teachers and staff throughout the school year! We are developing a coordinated plan that will make it easy for families to see current needs and find meaningful ways to contribute as part of our school community.

We continue to be blown away by the generosity of our Tomahawk families. By keeping these efforts organized in one place, we hope to spread that support consistently and keep the appreciation going all year long!

In the meantime, visit the Staff Favorites List under the Support Our School section of the PTO website. There, you can find your teacher’s favorite snacks, drinks, supplies and other items if you feel led to show them a little extra appreciation.

November 10th- Chipotle

Make dinner easy and support Tomahawk at Chipotle! Visit the Chipotle at 14317 W. 135th Street in Olathe on Tuesday, November 10 from 4:00–8:00 p.m., and 25% of qualifying event sales will be donated to our school. Show the fundraiser flyer when ordering in the restaurant, or place an online pickup order using code VDTXN8R. Online orders must be placed for pickup from this location during the fundraiser hours; delivery orders and gift cards do not qualify.

Click HERE to order online

Olathe Parents as Teachers is a free early childhood program dedicated to supporting families with children from prenatal stages through age 3. Through home visits each month, developmental screenings, parent and child social activities, and family resources, Parents as Teachers helps parents support their child’s learning, growth, and development during these important early years. Whether you're a first-time parent or have experience raising children, the program offers valuable information, encouragement, and resources tailored to your family's needs. To learn more about Olathe Parents as Teachers or to enroll, visit the district website or contact the Parents as Teachers office at 913-780-8106.

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.

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.

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

• October 2026
• September 2026
• August 2026
• 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