English Language Arts
Coordinator - Kim Dahl
Writing Contests
NCTE is offering two writing contests:
Achievement Awards in Writing is for high school sophomores & juniors. Click here for details and the prompt to see if it is something you would want to share with your students. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and read the nomination requirements/directions within the Eligibility section prior to sharing with students.
Promising Young Writers Program is for 8th grade students. Click here for details and the prompt to see if it is something you would want to share with your students. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and read the nomination requirements/directions within the Eligibility section prior to sharing with students.
The New York Times has a 100 word memoir contest for students 13-19. Students must have parent permission to enter. Click here to read more on the description and rules prior to sharing with students.
DCMs: Middle School
As mentioned earlier, DCMS are not in trackers yet. This will probably take some time to resolve. Thank you for your patience. I will update as I have news!
Bite-Sized PD: Mentor Texts
Mentor texts: Many attended the session on mentor texts during our PD. Using mentor texts is a powerful teaching strategy, especially when coupled with teacher think-alouds and modeling writing. Listen to the authors of Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts here. Looking for mentor text ideas? Click here for resources from NCTE.
Bite-Sized PD: Fluency
Listening to students read gives us so much information on them as readers and can let us know why they may be struggling with comprehension. Is it a decoding problem or a fluency problem? What is the benefit of giving an oral reading fluency? The research might surprise you. Interested in some fluency activities for your students? Click here!
Math
Coordinator - Spencer Brown
Sharing High Yield Routines
Thank you for the excellent Professional Learning a couple of weeks ago! We are actively working on organizing the high yield routines in a meaningful manner within the repository site. You can expect these to be updated and communicated through your Department Chairs/Team Leads in the next couple of weeks. If you have any examples of your work or resources that would be beneficial to accompany the information that you submitted, please send any such information or edits to Spencer Brown. If you would like to see the current repository and provide feedback on any changes or enhancements you would like to see, you can find it here!
KSDE Updates
Please consider taking a moment to read through the most recent newsletter from KSDE. There is a vast array of fantastic information and professional learning opportunities outlined. To access it, click here!
Science
Coordinator - Julie Miller
Kansas Association of Teachers of Science in the Cosmos!
The Kansas Association of Teacher of Science has teamed up with the Cosmosphere to bring the joy of all things STEM to you and your families! This lab-coat-casual professional development opportunity will blend “out of this world” simulators, interactive labs, and engineering challenges that only the Cosmosphere can provide alongside cutting edge classroom teaching techniques and strategies offered by Kansas educators. Click here for more information.
Social Studies
Coordinator - Julie Fishburn
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
September is National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month (9/15-10/15) Click here for resources.
Social Studies Artifact Checkout
Social Studies Artifact Checkout is BACK! Check out the collections which are stored at the IRC and sign up for a time to reserve them to enrich your instruction. We have added a globe to our spreadsheet, too! Click on the link to reserve a collection for your class today!
Physical Education
KAHPERD grant applications are due Sept 30! Be creative and get your application in soon using this link.
Counseling
Director - Alicia Jackson
eAcademy - Randy Warner
Please click this link to see updates from eAcademy.
21st Century Academies
Coordinator - Angela Epps
21st Century Academies Spotlight – The Animal Health Academy
Who We Are:
Discover the opportunities available in one of the region’s fastest growing industries through a unique partnership with industry business and higher education partners like The Kansas City Zoo, Mahaffie Farmstead, Shor-Line, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, and K-State Olathe. Students in this four-year program:
Prepare for college through rigorous animal health coursework.
Learn about animal anatomy, physiology, and taxonomy.
Learn about conservation and management of wild animal species.
Learn about the use of animals in agriculture and industry.
Gain hands-on experience with animals through field trips and summer camps.
Network with animal health professionals throughout the state and region.
What We Do:
Participate in hands-on research in the lab and through optional summer field experiences
Partner with educational and industry leaders in the fields of research and animal science
Engage in rigorous coursework only offered to Animal Health Academy students, including Animal Health Investigations, Environmental Conservation, Microbiology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, and Zoology
Take a look inside the Animal Health Academy by watching the video.
21st Century Academy Resources
Academy Staff resources can be found on the 21st Century Academies Webpage and the 21st Century Academy Teacher Teams.
CTE
Coordinator - Barbra Gonzales
BEAM Career Night
B.E.A.M. Career Night this semester will be on October 6, from 5:30-8:30pm, at Olathe Medical Center. Students will receive information from healthcare professionals in the areas of Critical Care/Respiratory Therapy, Imaging Services, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Services, Sleep Center, Surgical Services, & The Birth Place.
Targeted students are 10-12th graders in
· OATC Healthcare Science
· OATC Emergency Medical Services
· Sports Medicine Academy
· Medical Professions Academy
· BioMedical Engineering Academy
· Public Safety Academy (those interested in EMT)
· Anatomy & Physiology classes
· Family, Community & Consumer Services classes (Family Studies, Lifespan Development)
Participation is limited to 8 students per high school (40 for the district). If we have more than 40 sign up, we will determine eligibility based on date/time of sign-up (early bird discount 😊).
If you have students interested in attending, they need to sign up via this link. Registration for the event will close September 30, so please emphasize to students the importance of signing up as soon as possible.
Allegion Manufacturing Day event for students
Allegion’s 2022 Manufacturing Day celebration for the Olathe Operations will be held on Wednesday, October 19. They are inviting you to bring students to this event. Here are all of the official details:
o WHO: Students, teachers and government officials
o WHAT: Allegion’s 2022 Manufacturing Day event
o WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, 1:00 p.m. CT
o WHERE: Allegion’s LCN Operations, 2119 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS 66061
Space will be limited, so reservations for you and your students will be made on a first-come-first-serve reply basis. Please review the invitation for the official details, and feel free to contact Juaquin R. Orosco at 913.393.8626, with any questions.
Presidential Scholar in CTE nominations
Reminder to work with students to complete the Presidential Scholar in CTE nomination forms. The nomination deadline to KSDE is October 5, 2022.
Please reference to the September 7 AIM Newsletter for more information.
CTE Information & Resources
Please refer to the CTE website and CTE Teacher Teams for information, resources, meeting dates, etc.
Instructional Technology
Director - Thomas (TJ) Ulmer
NEARPOD To Support Student Engagement
Nearpod is an unique presentation tool that you can use with students to help engage them in their learning. As an Olathe teacher, you have an upgraded Nearpod account. Please visit our Instructional Technology website - Nearpod / What is Nearpod? – to learn more about this incredible tool!