The Paw Print

We've wrapped up two full weeks of school and there has been so much going on! We've started small reading groups, we've dived into our academics, and made so many new friends. Have you ever sat around the dinner table asking your children what they did that day and the answer was, "Nothing!" We always want you to have the most up-to-date information of what's happening at school so you can have those great family conversations.

Grade level teachers send out their newsletters at least once a month which will tell families new things that students are learning, things to remember, and field trips! Be sure to check SeeSaw for messages from your child's teacher and even to comment on some of their work. It's a great way to stay connected with school.

We are so excited for what the year has in store for your child. Be looking for more ways to get involved and support your student at Indian Creek!

Dr. Sluyter

What's Happening This Week:

Monday, 8/31 - D Day

Tuesday, 9/1 -A Day: Character Assembly

Wednesday, 9/2 - B Day: Birthday Lunches with the Principal

Thursday, 9/3 - C Day: Hearing Screenings

Friday, 9/4 - D Day

Coming Up Next Week:

Monday, 9/7 - No School: Labor Day

Tuesday, 9/8 -A Day

Wednesday, 9/9 - B Day: Fall Picture Day

Thursday, 9/10 - C Day

Friday, 9/11 - D Day

We're excited to welcome Toby as a new member of our school community. Toby is Dr. Sluyter's Therapy Dog. He was introduced to all classes at the end of our Positive Behavior Supports (PBIS) Talks this past week. Toby's only job is to love kids!

It's inevitable. Kids get sick. We do our best to ensure a healthy enviornment for all students. However, if your child has the following symptoms, they will need to go home:

• Oral temperature of 100 degrees F or higher.
• Elevated (or possibly a normal) temperature combined with any of the following: a severe cold with yellow-green nasal discharge, excessive coughing, swollen glands, or skin rash.
• Eyes inflamed with purulent discharge; if bacterial, may remain in school once any prescribed therapy is started.
• Influenza: Students who are diagnosed with influenza ("the flu") should stay at home until fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications AND overall symptoms are getting better before returning to school.
• Drainage from ear(s)
• Skin lesions (i.e. impetigo, ringworm and scabies) until under treatment with approved medication (consult school nurse for length of time)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (i.e. two or more loose stools)
• Fainting, seizure, or general signs of listlessness
• Questions about other communicable diseases such as fifth's disease, chickenpox, head lice, hand / foot / mouth syndrome, etc. should be directed to your child's school nurse.

Students will be re-admitted after being fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) or symptom-free for 24 hours. Students with some conditions may return to school after being treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic.

*If your child must be picked up from school, please arrive within 30 minutes of being informed. If you cannot pick up your sick child within that time, please have an emergency contact that will be able to help.

If you have a specific questions, please contact our school nurse - Deanna Newman or call 913-780-7510.

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.

To help you stay connected with your student’s learning, we want to remind you about Canvas, our learning management system. Canvas allows you to view upcoming assignments, check grades, and follow your student's progress in real-time.

Please take a moment to review the Canvas Parent Letter below:

Inside these letters, you will also find links to short Canvas Training Tutorials designed to walk you step-by-step through setting up your observer account, navigating the dashboard, checking grades, and setting up notifications.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your student's success!

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.

Parents and Families,

We ask that if your student will have medication at school this year, daily or as needed, that you please bring the students medication in its original container, a medication order from their doctor dated after May 1st, 2026, and a signed parent consent form to sneak a peek night or the first day of school. These are required for all medications including albuterol inhalers and epi-pens that will be kept at school. I have attached the parent consent form below and will have copies at school as well. We cannot wait to see you and your student soon!

Thank you,

Nurse Deanna

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.

Want to know about our attendance policy, birthday treat process, or general information about Indian Creek? Check out our parent handbook for everything you ever wanted to know!

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)