Olathe South High School students visit Soldier’s Memorial Plaza at Lincoln University of Missouri.

April 18, 2024 ~ Last Friday, 27 students and 10 adults from Olathe South High School took a historic visit to Lincoln University of Missouri, a historically black, land-grant university (HBCU) in Jefferson City. They received a campus tour, learned about the school’s tuition and academics, and attended a job fair. The trip left a profound impact on students, inspiring them to dream big and set ambitious goals for their futures!

“The day allowed students to see that HBCUs can be an option, tuition is affordable, and a degree can be achieved there. They got to observe a university that celebrates diversity and inclusivity daily,” said Damon Bell, school safety specialist and president of the HBCU committee at Olathe South. “Education is so important when our children see themselves in the process.”

Upon arrival at Lincoln University, students were welcomed with a presentation highlighting the university’s rich history, its wide range of programs, and a lively Q&A session with a student panel. Students asked all kinds of questions ranging from degree programs to school safety to student life.

Attendees were then divided into groups for their campus tour, where they explored academic buildings, dormitories, the on-campus health center and Soldier’s Memorial Plaza, where they learned about the significance of the statues on campus. Students visited the campus cafeteria for lunch, where several Greek organizations performed strolls and stepping routines and captivated the room.

“There is nothing like being there. You could feel the energy and positivity of the students on campus,” Olathe South biology teacher Kristin Ramshaw said. “Watching our kids feel truly connected and included was priceless.”

After lunch, students attended the Safety and Security Career Expo, where they got to sit inside Army and other first responder vehicles, test their strength on a pull-up bar, try out life-saving CPR techniques, and engage in conversations about the exciting career paths available in safety and security. The day concluded with a group dinner, during which students had the chance to reflect on their experiences.

“It was an eye-opening experience,” Olathe South junior Matt Gray said. “I left with further knowledge about the possibilities of attending an HBCU in my future.”

The trip was made possible by the newly created HBCU committee at Olathe South, comprised of Bell, Ramshaw, Assistant Principals Phil Simons and Alexis Wilkerson, social studies teacher Kim Wahaus, community members and parents. It started with an idea and turned into an amazing experience for students, marking the first time students from an Olathe school have toured an HBCU as a school-sponsored activity. Thank you to the generous donations, fundraisers and support from the community members that made this happen!

#OPSForwardTogether

The Olathe South HBCU Committee includes school administrators, faculty, community members and parents.

Let us know if your building is hosting a retirement celebration

April 17, 2024 ~ Farewell events and retirement receptions are being planned across the district to honor this year’s retirees. Here is a list of retirement celebrations (in alphabetical order of the retiree) we have received so far.

To have an event added to this list, please send information to Marlene Colgan. 

• Amy England, Olathe South, 3-5 p.m., Friday, April 26, Olathe South library
• Leigh Anne Rogers, IRC, 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, May 20, IRC
• Angie Salava, IRC, 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, May 20, IRC 

Marco Romero hopes to launch a career in professional boxing after graduation.

April 16, 2024 ~ In this edition of #OPSMyFuture, we caught up with Marco Romero, a senior at Olathe West High School. Romero has been the No. 1 ranked amateur boxer in his weight class for the past five years, having won 17 national championships. He has one more amateur fight next month, and although his priority right now is to graduate high school, he will soon look to launch a career in professional boxing.

“I try to represent Olathe and Olathe West at the highest levels of boxing,” Romero said. “Being from Olathe, it’s given me a lot of motivation to be successful in my sport and hopefully give back to my community.”

Born and raised in Olathe, Romero attended Countryside Elementary and Pioneer Trail Middle School. He attended Olathe East High School for two years before following his younger brother to Olathe West for his junior year. Romero is an Owl Link Leader at Olathe West. Owl Link Leaders is a student-centered leadership and mentor program that provides structure for freshmen to receive support and guidance from upperclassmen.

“I have great relationships here at West. They welcomed me right away,” Romero said. “Even though boxing takes up a lot of my time, education is always a priority for me. I try my best to get involved and do whatever I can to be a leader for other kids out there.”

Romero has a busy schedule, training three hours a day for six days a week at Turner Boxing Academy in Kansas City, Kansas. Through his gym, he travels to tournaments around the country with a team of five or six boxers. Balancing school and boxing isn’t new to Romero, but the workload only grows as he gets older. He wants to focus on making it as a pro boxer but is still leaving the door open for more education. Romero’s uncles work in construction, and he wants to go into the HVAC field and maybe even start his own business someday.

“I’ve balanced school and boxing my whole life,” Romero said. “I know in the pros there is a lot more training, but I think anything is possible with dedication.”

In amateur boxing, competition picks up as kids get older, with the tougher and bigger events getting more common around 12 to 14 years old. Romero, who started boxing at age 7, has been in 133 amateur fights in his career, with just five total losses — he hasn’t lost since 2019. He’s won 17 national championships in various tournaments, including four USA Boxing titles, the biggest amateur event in the country. This past December, Romero, fighting in the 165-pound division, won the USA Boxing Olympic Trials in Louisiana. However, he won’t be able to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics due to age and class qualifications.

“Unfortunately, I’m a little too young and my weight class won’t be a contest weight class at the Olympics,” Romero said. “If the opportunity comes to compete for the 2028 Olympics, it would definitely be something I’d look forward to, but right now I’m just focused on starting my pro career.”

Romero is set to compete in his final amateur tournament at the Detroit Golden Gloves event next month. From there, he plans to begin his pro career through talks with promoters, with his goal to bring a world championship to Kansas.

“A lot of athletes chase for the money, but for me, my biggest motivation is to bring back something for my community and the kids that are behind me,” Romero said. “No matter where you’re from, you can make it to wherever you want to be.”

Director of Culture and Belonging Kathleen Smith greets students at the Student Leadership Conference.

April 15, 2024 ~ Last week, nearly 100 junior leaders from all five high schools and Mill Creek Campus gathered at the Instructional Resource Center for the Student Leadership Conference. Students spent the day engaging in dialogue, interacting in workshop sessions and networking with other student leaders and local professionals in the community.

The annual event teaches students how to be a leader within themselves and how to overcome the common challenges in leadership. This year’s theme, taking inspiration from the hit show “Ted Lasso,” focused on teamwork and students’ ability to grow and “believe” in themselves as they learn how to be leaders in their schools.

“You can’t believe in anything until you believe in yourself,” Director of Culture and Belonging Kathleen Smith said. “When you leave today, you’re going to leave with positivity and confidence in yourself.”

After Smith’s introduction, guest speaker Elijah Dormeus, Founder of the I AM Foundation in Kansas City, conducted a powerful activity where students wrote down negative words that they tell themselves on a piece of paper, and they learned that those words are only as strong as what they make of them. Then, they spoke these positive words aloud in unison: “I am enough. I am able. I can do it.”

“Those negative words may be inside you, but you hold more power in you than you know. You are enough,” Dormeus said. “Bring yourself back to this moment and remember that you have a purpose, you are strong, and you are a leader.”

Also invited to speak at the conference was Jessica Mauderer, author of “Love Life. Be Life. Share Life,” and former Kansas City Chiefs player Shawn Barber. Mauderer talked to students about ways that they can create their own sunshine through their leadership journey, whether it be getting a good amount of sleep, eating healthy, or literally getting some sun. Barber taught students the “7 Cs” of leadership — culture, camaraderie, cohesion, chemistry, cooperation, competition and communication — and discussed his difficult journey to the NFL.

We also had several district representatives that helped make this event possible. Recruitment Liaison Amy Hillman engaged with students about leading with passion, power and purpose. In breakout sessions Director of Teacher Induction and University Partnerships Dr. Ann Addison and Math Coordinator Spencer Brown worked with students on their leadership style and philosophy. Olathe Northwest High School coaches Lorne Clark and Joel Branstrom held a session on “The Coaches Playbook to Successful Leadership.”

“This day was really amazing,” Olathe South High School junior Addie Posch said. “It taught me how to be a leader and the different skills that I can take with me, like using my gifts to motivate others and encouraging people to use their gifts as well.”

#OPSForwardTogether

The Olathe Northwest Raven Dance Team was crowned Grand National Champion in Florida.

April 15, 2024 ~ In March, the Olathe Northwest High School Raven Dance Team was crowned as the Grand National Champion at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) National Championship in Orlando, Florida. Olathe Northwest now has 29 national titles (including both team and individual awards) since becoming a competitive team in 2010.

The four-day national competition consists of dozens of competitions spread across several categories. Olathe Northwest won first place in Large Varsity Team Performance, Large Varsity Pom and Large Varsity Game Day. Grand National Champion is awarded to the best of the best.

Olathe Northwest continues their success after winning their second Kansas state title back in November, beating out five other Johnson County schools in the final competition. In Kansas, dance has awarded state titles for only four years.

NDA, founded in 1976, is an organization that provides training and teaching to middle school, high school and college dance teams around the country. Working alongside coaches and dance teams at camps and competitions nationwide, NDA strives to empower student-athletes and build not only strong athletes, but great individuals.

Joe Ouellette earned the state 6A bowling title.

April 12, 2024 ~ Joe Ouellette, a senior at Olathe North High School, had an improbable path to the Class 6A State Bowling Championships in Wichita. Just three weeks before the state tournament, Ouellette wasn’t even on the Olathe North varsity squad. On Feb. 29, Ouellette won his first bowling state title after bowling a 737 in the three-game series.

Ouellette bowled a 632 earlier in the season, but that was his career-best series. He blew past his record by over 100 pins at state, beating out state-runner up Mill Valley high School by 12 pins. Ouellette started his day with three straight strikes on his way to an opening game of 234, a great start to the series. In the second game, he bowled a 268, his career-best in a single game. From there, he shot up in the standings, going from 14th to second place.

The runner-up from Mill Valley also bowled a 268 in the final game of the series, closing out on Ouellette. However, Ouellette stepped up when it mattered most, bowling three straight strikes in the 10th frame to clinch the state title.

Olathe South High School also had three students medal at state. Freshman Anthony Dokolas finished in ninth place with a score of 684. Senior Ian Caudillo finished in 14th place with a score of 661. Sophomore Tanner Hagg placed 19th with a score of 650.

Nicole Redmond is a four-time state wrestling champion.

April 11, 2024 ~ Olathe students were well-represented at the Class 6A State Wrestling Championships in Park City, Kansas in March. On the girls’ side, Olathe South High School senior Nicole Redmond won her fourth straight state title in the 120-pound division while Olathe North High School junior Kaylan Hitchcock won her second straight state title in the 135-pound division. On the boys’ side, Olathe East High School senior Brett Carroll capped off an undefeated season with his second state title in the 285-pound division. Olathe North senior Jacob Vasquez won his first state title in the 175-pound division.

Redmond, the 6-5A Girls Regional Wrestler of the Year, is one of three Kansas girls to make history this season, winning four straight state titles for the first time in the history of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). Redmond achieved her “four-peat” just moments before competitors at Rossville High School and Bonner Springs High School did the same. She claimed her first state title in the 120-pound division, then claimed titles in the 126-pound and 130-pound divisions in her sophomore and junior years before returning to 120 this season. Redmond has won over 100 total matches in her high school career.

Repeating as the state champion was special for Hitchcock, whose father, Dylan, is the head wrestling coach at Olathe North. Dylan Hitchcock was named the 6-5A Girls Regional Coach of the Year for his efforts leading the Olathe North team. Last year, Kaylan Hitchcock became the first female in Olathe North history to win a state wrestling title.

Vasquez was the runner-up at state last year. This year, he claimed his title after defeating a Shawnee Mission Northwest High School opponent that he had faced twice before this season. Vasquez lost the first two matches, but the third time was the charm, as Vasquez was able to come away victorious after a late takedown in overtime for a sudden death victory.

Jacob Vasquez holds the official results of the state wrestling competition.

April 10, 2024 ~ The Olathe Public Schools is offering Mental Health First Aid training this summer. The training teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance uses challenges among students ages 6-18. This training normally costs $50 to take in the community, but is offered for free to OPS staff.

Staff also have the opportunity to earn a $124 stipend on their Aug. 15 paycheck or eight professional development points or college credit if taken during Summer Conference and all other college credit conditions are met. Two hours of pre-work must be completed prior to attending the class and instructions for that are sent out approximately two weeks prior to the class.

Trainings are limited to 30 participants per date and are on a first come, first served basis. All staff EXCEPT those who have taken Mental Health First Aid before and professionally mental-health trained staff are eligible to take the course. Register online for one of these sessions. Anyone with questions is encouraged to email Kathleen Howard.

Training at Olathe East:

• 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 29
• 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, May 30
• 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 31

Training at Instructional Resource Center:

• 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 4
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 11
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 18
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 25
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 23
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 30

April 5, 2024 ~ The Olathe Public Schools Board of Education met April 4 for its regular monthly meeting. Merik Dismang of Olathe East High School led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the meeting agenda being approved.

Recognitions

• Canyon Creek Elementary teacher Sara Hoffman was named a 2024 Kansas Master Teacher. She and the district’s other nominees for that award — Drew Keiter of Olathe West High School and Jamie Trumpp of Indian Creek Elementary — were recognized by the board.
• Merik Dismang, Olathe East, won the National Spirit of the Sport Award from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
• Culinary Arts students from Olathe Advanced Technical Center won first place in the Overall Culinary competition at the Kansas ProStart Invitational. They also took home third in Best Knife Skills, and fourth in Management.
• The districtwide “Frozen, The Broadway Musical” cast of over 130 students was invited to perform at the Kansas Thespian Festival this spring.
• Chris Zuck, principal of Olathe Northwest High School, was named the Kansas Principals Association Area 1 High School Principal of the Year.

School Spotlight 

Amanda Honaker, coordinator of the Olathe Transition Supports Program for 18–21-year-olds, shared information on the program’s mission to empower young adults to ultimately achieve their dreams for the future. The vision is to prepare students to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives through collaboration with families, professional agencies and community employers. Students learn employability skills through work-based learning experiences and classroom instruction.

There are five transition support programs: ACCESS, which is Adult Career and Community Education Services and Supports; FOCUS, Focus On Careers and Unique Skills; CONNECT, Collaborative Opportunities for Natural Networking Experiences and Community Transition; and RISE, Reaching Independence through Supported Education. More than 100 community partners offer opportunities to our students. OTSP students operate four businesses: Puzzle Pup Pastries, Cup of Joy, Poppin Pals, and CONNECT Snack Cart. The Alternative Work Experience program allows students to focus on vocational skills in a setting right for their individual needs.

English Language Learners Update  

Director of Language Acquisition Michael Flenthrope said more than 6,000 district students (or about 20% of the enrollment) are bilingual or multilingual, and 87 different languages are spoken in students’ homes. Those languages represent 101 different countries. More than 3,400 students qualify for English Language Learner services and may receive language support. About one-third of those students receive support in the classroom from an aide or ELL teacher.

Students join the ELL programs throughout the year as they enroll in Olathe Public Schools. Fifteen of the district’s 36 elementary schools, five of 10 middle schools and three of five high schools are ELL site schools because they provide specialized ELL services through one or more ELL teachers and aides.

Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) may come from countries where poverty, disaster or civil unrest affect literacy and educational opportunities. Olathe’s Cornerstone program offers a path for students to graduate or earn a GED even though they didn’t have an opportunity for consistent schooling before coming to Olathe. Thirty new students enrolled in SLIFE this year. Seventy-two students in SLIFE have fewer credits than peers of the same age. Seventeen SLIFE students graduated last year, and another 23 are on track to graduate in May. Cornerstone is offered at Mill Creek Campus and Olathe’s high schools. The retention rate for SLIFE students is 89%.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a consent agenda including meeting minutes, financial and accounts payable reports, human resources report, three student trips, assurances section of the IDEA VI-B application, and budget development goals and calendar for fiscal year 2024-25.
• Approved a one-year extension of the anatomy and physiology online e-license resource access. (capital outlay)
• Approved Positive Physics, an instructional online resource for physics courses. (capital outlay)
• Approved U.S. History class resources. (textbook/ instructional materials fund and capital outlay)
• Approved annual contracts for landscaping services for an initial three-year term. (capital outlay)
• Approved the annual contract for landscape bio-retention maintenance services for an initial three-year term. (capital outlay)
• Approved a contract for bleacher repair services across the district. (capital outlay)
• Approved the purchase of replacement marching band uniforms for Olathe East. (capital outlay)
• Approved the upgrade of safety and security systems at Olathe East and Olathe South high schools. (Bond 2022 and Safe and Secure Schools Grant)
• Approved the purchase and installation of window security film at strategic district locations. (Bond 2022 and Safe and Secure Schools Grant)
• Approved the purchase of upgraded audio visual and technology equipment in the Board of Education room of the Education Center. (Bond 2022)
• Approved the purchase of E911 software for the district’s phone system. (capital outlay)
• Approved the purchase of shot clocks for each of the five high schools. (capital outlay)
• Approved Bid Package 5 for the new Operations Service Center and Career and Technical Education Center project. (Bond 2022)
• Approved on-call carpet installation and on-call resinous flooring services for summer aging facilities projects. (Bond 2022)
• Approved student fees and miscellaneous charges for the 2024-25 school year. Due to the increased cost of textbook resources, the instructional materials and resources fee will increase to $120 for full-time students and $60 for students attending three hours or less per day.
• Received information on nearly two dozen future action items including health texts/ instructional materials, elementary English resource, elementary visual arts resource, greenhouse shade replacements, milk and juice bids, copy paper bids, Head Start continuation grant, Raptor visitor management system renewal, Food Services business management software, Kansas Association of School Boards fees, appointment to the Kansas Association of School Boards nominating committee, appointment to the Kansas Association of School Boards legislative committee, KidsTLC agreement, five student trips, tennis court and track repairs, and Technology Help Desk work order system.
• Received a report on spring parent-teacher conference participation.
• Received the Head Start director’s monthly report.
• Received the monthly Bond 2022 written update.
• Held an executive session to discuss employer-employee negotiations. 

The complete agenda is available by visiting the BoardDocs website.

Congratulations and best wishes to all of our retirees!

April 8, 2024 ~ About 80 district employees will soon begin or have already started their retirement. Three cheers for all these dedicated individuals who served our students and community as educators, administrators or support personnel across the district.  
 
If your building is planning a retirement celebration and you want it included in an article in INFOlathe, please email the details to Marlene Colgan. We would like to have the honoree’s name as well as the time, date and location of the event. 

• Angela Abnos, bilingual parent educator for Parents as Teachers, Mill Creek Campus
• Annette Ackerly, secretarial assistant, Northview
• Stacey Allen, social science, Pioneer Trail
• Julie Anderson, business and computers, Frontier Trail
• Jeannie Apel, speech paraeducator, Meadow Lane
• Richard Belske, speech and drama, Olathe North
• Paula Bolz, physical education, Mahaffie
• Scott Carpenter, assistant director of Business & Finance procurement, Education Center
• KaCee Chambers, physical education, Pleasant Ridge
• Donna Chapman, English, Summit Trail
• Shauna Cheshier, secretarial assistant, Green Springs
• Nic Cook, social science, Olathe South
• Vickie Cromer, social studies, Chisholm Trail
• Stephanie Dancso, principal, Millbrooke
• Denise DeBonis, English, Olathe North
• Julie DeLashmutt, special education resource, Clearwater Creek
• Dorothy DeNeve, second grade, Arbor Creek
• John Dunaway, business and computers, Chisholm Trail
• Michelle Eickhoff, general music, Pleasant Ridge
• Pam Enserro, occupational therapist, Harmony Early Childhood Center
• Curt Fehr, graphic designer, West Dennis Support Center
• Dr. Joyce Flowers, principal, Arbor Creek
• Karey Ficken, assistant principal, California Trail
• Karen Fraley, special education resource, Oregon Trail
• Julie Gadwood, social science, California Trail
• Valerie Gasser, speech language pathologist, Olathe East
• Christie Gottschalk, kindergarten, Tomahawk
• Christine Harrison-Bowman, paraeducator, Olathe Advanced Technical Center
• Edward Hensley, automotive technology, Olathe Advanced Technical Center
• Michele Hill, social science, Summit Trail
• Marcella Jacobson, paraeducator, Scarborough
• Cindy Jones, assistant director of general administration for Food Services, Food Production Center
• Calin Kendall, science, Olathe East
• Emmie Kennicott-Fuhlhage, counselor, Bentwood
• Greg Krenke, science, Olathe North
• Tammi Landis, English, Prairie Trail
• Kenneth Large, paraeducator, Olathe Transition Supports Program
• Carie Latinis-Yeo, special education, Olathe South
• Cathy Lentz, early childhood disabilities, Rolling Ridge
• Virginia Magnuson, computer learning associate, Indian Creek
• Pam Marra, English language arts, Indian Trail
• Connie Mason, fourth grade, Tomahawk
• Brenda Morris, library clerk, Brougham
• Robin Motta, nurse, Olathe East
• Delia Mullins, paraeducator, Summit Trail
• Dr. David Nash, paraeducator, Indian Trail
• Kari Nitschke, paraeducator, Rolling Ridge
• Julie O’Brien, math, Olathe North
• Mary Peacock, autism, Olathe West
• Ron Posey, recreation therapist, Prairie Learning Center
• Dana Ravert, science, Olathe West
• Alison Reece, first grade, Mahaffie
• Tammy Richards, administrative secretary, Heatherstone
• Leigh Anne Rogers, Olathe NEA president, Instructional Resource Center
• Gayle Ross, fifth grade, Scarborough
• Angie Salava, director of mental health, Instructional Resource Center
• Sonnie Schmitt, general secretary, Mill Creek Campus
• Kemberly Selman, first grade, Sunnyside
• Tim Shipley, business and computers, Olathe South
• Robin Simmons, science, Pioneer Trail
• John Sleezer, paraeducator, Olathe Advanced Technical Center
• Nancy Stewart, science, Santa Fe Trail
• Michelle Toutges, nurse, Pioneer Trail
• Lynn Traylor, administrative secretary, Havencroft
• Kristy Urman, physical education, Green Springs
• Pamela Valentine, Spanish, Olathe East
• Kathy Waage, nurse, Oregon Trail
• Michael Wagner, industrial technology, Olathe North
• Greg White, industrial technology, California Trail
• Wally Yeo, paraeducator, Santa Fe Trail
• Stacy Young (Vandemark), library media specialist, Forest View
• Eric Zink, library media specialist, Olathe North
• Pam Zoller, library media specialist, Indian Creek