What a year! At times, this year has been bumpy and semester 1 of 2021 heaved its fair share of roadblocks, challenges and setbacks my way, as I know it did for so many. At other times, this year has been one of phenomenal growth and opportunity. As I reflect on the year and all of its ups and downs, I have learned (and continue to learn) so many lessons about life, work and togetherness.

  • Life – I learned that as tough as change is, digging in, resisting it, fighting it, and even out-right pouting won’t stop the change from happening. I have adapted to more personal and professional changes this year than in any previous year I can think of. While it wasn’t always the most graceful process, I head into the holidays with more appreciation, knowledge, experience and perspective than I ever could have imagined.

  • Work – I learned that our team is capable of phenomenal things. I knew that I was surrounded by a smart, passionate and talented group of professionals. To see how, as a team, we leaned into this year to help each other, the communities we have the privilege of serving and the students and staff we have had the honor of supporting over this first semester, I am filled and overflowing with gratitude and appreciation.

  • Togetherness – I learned that you can actually be “together” while being apart. It is possible to maintain the community and connection we have worked so hard to develop, but it does take effort. Nothing will ever replace in-person, face-to-face interactions (or hand-shakes and hugs!), and I continue to miss those dearly. But Zoom, Teams, Skype, FaceTime and the good old-fashioned telephone give us the ability to make sure our lines of communication are stronger than ever.

Semester 1 of 2021 has taught us that the adversity we face and the resilience we respond with has the power to shape our lives. With each challenge, we are given the opportunity to persevere, learn and grow into stronger, more compassionate and more grateful human beings. These are the lessons that we should carry forward with us into the New Year, and for many years to come.

As the first semester of the 2021 school year and year 2021 come to a close, remember that “WE ARE FAMILY, and I got all my sisters and brothers with me, over 6,000 of them (though some maybe great uncles and great aunts, hahahaha). Please have an amazing, restful, safe break and to all of you,

Everyone Reads

December 15, 2021


Learning Services exists to Prepare Students for Their Future by empowering students, teachers, and school communities.

Learning Services is broken into six departments to serve the Olathe Public Schools.

Below you will find updates from each department and their team.

BSEL Department Updates

Director - Angie Salava


Here's what you need to know:


Kansas Department for Children and Families Family Mobile Crisis Helpline

Support for children 20 years and younger is available through the Kansas Department of Children and Families mobile crisis helpline. Available resources include:

• Over the phone support and problem solving to help resolve a child’s behavioral health crisis.

• Over the phone support with referral to community resources or a recommendation to engage in stabilization services.

• In-person support via mobile crisis response if the crisis cannot be resolved over the phone.

• In emergency situations, EMS, law enforcement and/or the mobile crisis response unit will be contacted to assist.


Holiday Bill of Rights

Mental Health America has published the following Holiday Bill of Rights to help everyone minimize stress at the holidays. Holiday Bill of Rights

You have the right to...


Take care of yourself.

Feel mixed up emotions around the holidays.

Spend time alone thinking, reflecting and relaxing.

Say "no" to party invitations.

Ask for help and support from family, friends and community service agencies.

Say "no" to alcohol, drugs...and seconds on dessert.

NOT to ride with a drunk driver, to take their keys away and to call a taxi for them.

Give gifts that are within your holiday budget.

Smile at angry sales people and/or rude drivers and give them a peace of your mind.

Enjoy your holiday the way you want.

Source: Mental Health America; Oneida Health Promotions: Holiday Survival Kit


Winter Panorama

The Winter Panorama window will open on January 11 and close on January 27. Please ensure all eligible students take the survey. Directions for the survey can be found here. Results will be available and sent to all Principals on or near February 4.

Curriculum & Assessment Depart. Updates

Director - Richard Wilson



Here's what you need to know:


Appreciation!

The Curriculum and Assessment department would like to THANK the entire Olathe educational and support staff for all of their efforts in helping students return to a more normal year of learning. The work Olathe has done in support of closing the gaps created by interrupted learning – including contributing to a more robust MTSS effort - have been tremendous and greatly appreciated! Enjoy your Winter Break!!

Assessment Window Updates

Amira Testing

  • Kindergarten runs Jan. 10th – 19th (this is an extension of an earlier date)

  • 1st – 5th grades run through Dec. 17th

MAP Testing

  • All assessed grades runs through Jan. 21st

Panorama

  • Survey window open Jan. 11th – 27th

KELPA

  • Jan. 31st – March 11th

Kansas Assessment

  • March 21st – April 29th

Blended Learning Department Updates

Director - Thomas (TJ) Ulmer


Here's what you need to know:


EPIC- Let's Collaborate!

Teaching with Technology!

This EPIC event will be on January 11th from 4:15-6:15. Join us to create, explore and learn with each other during this fun filled technology session. During this event, you will have the opportunity to participate in 2 rounds of choice breakout sessions! Each breakout session will be led by expert educators who will explore how to use technology to increase engagement in any classroom! The breakout choice sessions include:

  • Powered By Google

  • All Things Apple

  • Accessing the Google Classroom/Synergy Gradebook Sync

  • Using Seesaw for Student Engagement

  • Accessibility Tools that will Engage Everyone

Here is the Zoom link for EPIC on January 11th from 4:15-6:15.


Text to Speech for Teaching and Learning

All students have a device to use for various academic activities. Many students may benefit from having text on the screen read to them (text-to-speech).

  • CLICK HERE to find directions to assist with the steps for setting up the text-to-speech on your elementary school students’ devices who may benefit from this option.

  • CLICK HERE to find directions to assist with the steps for setting up the text-to-speech on your middle and high school students’ devices who may benefit from this option.


If you have additional questions/concerns, please reach out to Jacob Wolf, our Assistive Technology Facilitator, at jawolf@olatheschools.org.

Professional Development Updates


Assistant Director of Professional Development - Jenna Kuder


Here's what you need to know:


January 4th Professional Learning

The Professional Development and Educator Preparation Days Calendar outlines the schedule for January 4, 2022.


AM- Educator Preparation

PM- Job-Embedded Professional Learning focused on Data Analysis and Planned Actions (Standard 6) within the Appraisal Process


You can find the following documents in the Frontline File Library to assist you with your Standard 6 work:

  • Appraisal-Student Performance Measures- lists the potential performance measures that may be used by educators in the various departments.

  • Student Performance Results Log- a word document you may download that is in the same format as the "Student Performance Results Summary" form which only appears for educators who have a Summative Evaluation.

  • Appraisal Process Brochure- outlines the various components of our Olathe Appraisal Process


For questions about the appraisal process, please contact your appraiser.


January 5th Professional Learning

January 5, 2022 is designated as District Focused Professional Learning. Please note the following information about the focuses for the day:

AM- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional Learning

PM- Department focused Professional Learning

Please see the email from Jenna Kuder to All Certified Staff on Wednesday, December 15th for details!

You can access schedules and other information by clicking on this link. The site is still being updated but will be finalized by January 4, 2022


SCM Certified?

Are you SCM (Safe Crisis Management) certified and need to renew your certification? SCM recertification trainings occur on Tuesdays through January 18th. If you need to attend a recertification training, you will need to sign up at this link. Please be sure to work with your building administrator to ensure the date you select will work for your building. Question? Contact Kristin Lyon or Sara Dilday.


Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Next Steps

We are actively planning our January 5th District Professional Learning session focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Educator feedback is the foundation for our planning and the biggest piece of feedback received is, "How to Navigate Difficult Conversations." This will be the focus for our morning sessions on January 5th.


We also want to insert student voice into our professional learning on this topic. Do you have a question you would like to pose to a student panel? Submit your question on this form. We will feature student responses in future editions of the AIM for Excellence newsletter.


Individualized Professional Learning

Are you interested in participating in an educational webinar offered on a Saturday morning? Have you thought of engaging in some professional reading on an educational topic you are interested in? Have you seen a free professional learning opportunity advertised in your Content Coordinator's section of the AIM and want to participate? But, you are thinking, "I wonder if I can get Professional Development Points for participating." Check out the information about the Individual Action Plan process at this link to find out. Learn how you can engage in your own Action Research and earn Professional Development points.

New Educator/University Partnership Updates


Director - Dr. Ann Addison



Here's what you need to know:


EPIC Learning Series Spring 22

Join us for the EPIC Learning Series this spring! We have some great choices to meet your teaching needs! See the document below for dates and topic descriptions.


EPIC Learning Series Spring 22.pdf

Special Services Department Updates


Executive Director - Anjanette Tolman



Here's what you need to know:


Progress Monitoring

Progress Monitoring is right around the corner, we have until December 17th to finish collecting data to use for the 2nd quarter progress reports. Monitoring a child’s progress on their IEP is a legal requirement and a very important step in ensuring that appropriate programming is in place for the student. An article from Teaching Exceptional Children shared the following: “progress monitoring is essential to evaluating the appropriateness of a child’s program, yet there is less compliance with this required component of the IEP than any other.”

3 Tips for Successful Progress Monitoring:

  1. Data collected matches the criteria described in the benchmark.

  2. When completing the progress report in Synergy SE: The date of the report should be the end of the quarter date, select a progress code from the drop down, use only numbers in the “score” box, all comments should be objective in nature.

  3. To save and ensure that parents have can view their child’s progress monitoring data, click on the button “print progress report and save to historical folder.”

Progress monitoring is due to be completed by all providers by the day that grades are due: January 4th by 11am for 6-12 and 11:30 am for elementary.

Reference: Etscheidt, S. (2006). Progress Monitoring: Legal Issues and Recommendations for IEP Teams [Review of Progress Monitoring: Legal Issues and Recommendations for IEP Teams]. Teaching Exceptional Children, 38(3), 55–60. https://www.advocacyinstitute.org/academy/Oct07IEPessentials/TECProgressMonitoringLegalIssues.pdf


Quarter End Dates for IEPs

December 17, 2021 - Last day for progress monitoring data collection

January 5, 2022 - Progress report due and shared with family

Friendly Reminders

  • As you complete IEPs, please remember to "finalize" the document in Synergy.

  • Timely email responses are important. Please remember that the window to respond to emails is 24 hours. The special service team appreciates your timeliness in response to questions and requests for IEP paperwork. Thank YOU!