Main StoriesThe following briefs appeared on online.olathe Jan. 24-28:
Be Prepared, Achieve The Gold Shield Award
All buildings in the district are being challenged by the District Crisis Management Team to compete for the Gold Shield Award — the hallmark of crisis preparedness.
At the request of your building's crisis management team, the district will send a team of auditors to check for crisis readiness at your building. Points are given for preparedness documentation, including the building crisis plan, a calling tree, procedures to make the building secure, crisis codes and drills, and other crisis preparation materials.
Another area of the audit will be response performance, including communication, tracking students, use of crisis kits, awareness of procedures for special needs, and evacuation destination.
The final portion of the audit will be a table top scenario in which the team has 15 minutes to initiate a response to the situation. This will be an excellent way to test your crisis readiness!
Those of you who have experienced a crisis in your building know that it's never part of your plan for the day — it just happens. So be prepared. Brush up on your organization and procedures and take the challenge. Call Dr. Bob Hull, head of the district crisis management team, to schedule an audit (780-8037). For more details, you can take a look at the audit form, which is filed in the General Administration drawer of the Virtual File Cabinet.
Staff Invited to Join Citizen Education Academy
The district will offer its fourth Citizen Education Academy for interested staff members and patrons.
The academy is a way for staff to learn more about the day-to-day operations of the school district. Professional development points are available for classified and certified staff.
The dates for the spring academy are Feb. 15, March 1, March 8 (District Site Council, Olathe North High School), March 22, April 5, April 12. The meetings are from 6-8 p.m. in the Ed Center.
Topics at the individual sessions include an overview of the district, the role of the Board of Education and the superintendent of schools and administrative team, how to get involved in the schools and how the state school finance issue works.
The application is available at www.olatheschools.com/parents/academy.php. Those interested are encouraged to apply by Feb 4. For more information call the Community Relations office at 780-8245.
February Safety Newsletter Now Online
The February 2005 Safety Newsletter is now online.
Click "Employee Information" on the Intranet home page, then look for the "Safety Newsletter" link for articles on preparing your family for a local disaster. You'll also find good news about the number of claims relating to slips and falls this winter.
A direct link to the February newsletter is http://online.olathe.k12.ks.us/employees/safety/safeFeb05.php
Principals Named to Green Springs, Scarborough
 Two principals have been named to Green Springs and Scarborough for next school year.
Jami Craig has been named as Scarborough principal, replacing Rick Carter, who will retire at the end of the year. Brenda Traughber has been named as Green Springs principal, replacing Tanya Channell who has been named as Ravenwood's principal when it opens in August.
Craig is currently an Instructional Resource Teacher in Olathe. Prior to that, she was a first- and second-grade teacher at Countryside. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Emporia State University. She also student-taught first grade at Scarborough.
Traughber currently works in the Blue Valley School District as coordinating teacher for school improvement and assessment. Before that job, she was the district coordinating teacher for Student Services in Blue Valley.
Traughber has a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master's and doctorate degree from the University of Kansas.
(Photo of Jami Craig)
Ron Wimmer Receives First Legacy Award
 Dr. Ron Wimmer, superintendent, was honored for his lifelong contributions to diversity and inclusiveness at the Olathe NAACP banquet Monday, Jan. 17.
Dr. Wimmer is the first recipient of the Olathe NAACP Branch’s Legacy Award, celebrating his legacy as an educator and for his notable community contributions.
During his 40 years with the Olathe School District, Dr. Wimmer has promoted education for all, without respect to race, color, gender or social status. As superintendent, he has built relationships with other community agencies interested in promoting diversity, created the district’s Human Relations Committee, and been a strong supporter of SASH —Students Achieving Social Harmony —Clubs at each of the high schools, Harmony training, and celebrations and activities related to Martin Luther King Jr. He recently created the position of administrator for bilingual and minority students.
In recognition of his contributions, he has received a number of prestigious awards, including the 2004 Outstanding Service Award from the United School Administrators of Kansas, the 2001 Star Leadership Award from the Alliance of Community Educators, the 2000 Distinguished Community Service Award from MidAmerica Nazarene University, the 1998 Meritorious Achievement Award from Pittsburg State University, 1997 Olathe Citizen of the Year from the Olathe Area Chamber of Commerce, 1997 Kansas Superintendent of the Year, and as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1997 by the Olathe Rotary Club.
Science is Focus of Union Station Events for Teachers
Science teachers for all grade levels are invited to two science events coming Feb. 12 to Kansas City. The events will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Union Station, 30 W. Pershing, Kansas City, Mo.
Master teachers will present science and math lessons to participants as part of the ScienceWise Share-A-Thon. Each participating teacher will receive a free CD copy of all 25 lessons.
During the Teachers Investigating Science Resources Expo, science education organizations in the area will share science opportunities and programs for teachers and their schools. The expo offers a number of ideas for field trips and classroom resources.
All pre-registered teachers will receive one complementary admission for themselves and one guest to visit Science City and the new paleontology addition in the Discovery Area at Science City on Feb. 12.
To register, please send your name, school name, address, city, state, ZIP code, e-mail address and school district name to Science Pioneers, 30 W. Pershing, suite 150, Kansas City, MO 64108, FAX (816) 460-2264 or e-mail admin@spioneers.org.
Science Pioneers is a non-profit organization that provides science education programs, including the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair each spring.
Grief Training Helps Those In Need
Personal tragedies can be devastating. Students and/or staff may show anger, sadness or despair as they work through grief.
Learn how to live through such events in your life and assist others in times of distress. Grief Awareness Training is available for any interested staff member at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1 in the Education Center.
Facilitators are school psychologists David Crawford, Ron Robson and Stephanie Allegre.
Contact Dr. Bob Hull (780-8037 or by e-mail) by Jan. 28 to RSVP. Class size is limited. Staff development points are available.
What AboutRecognizing Staff
How can I recognize colleagues for their leadership?
In 2003, the district initiated the Leadership Recognition Program to provide an opportunity for staff to recognize those who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities.
Honorees are featured on the staff Intranet and receive a small gift of appreciation from the district. Several individuals have already been recognized this school year. They include: Janie Widman, Gini Salmonson, Ken Roberts, Carol Affholder, Sheila Irvin, Stacey Yurkovich and Kari Nitschke.
Leadership in the Olathe district is a core value which is demonstrated by serving others. A leader has a positive, passionate commitment to organizational goals, exhibits competence and integrity, communicates effectively, and shows true initiative.
If you would like to recognize someone in the district that exhibits these qualities, please send the individual’s name and a brief note indicating why you think that person deserves recognition to Peggy Rohleder at the Education Center. Two individuals will be recognized each month.
Whats UpOptimists Donate Dictionaries for Fourth-Graders
 Fourth-graders across the district received a valuable gift this winter when they gathered classroom by classroom to accept dictionaries presented by the Olathe Noon Optimist Club.
The Olathe club began donating dictionaries to students in 1991, said club secretary / treasurer Peggy Ingle. More than 2,100 dictionaries were distributed this winter to public, private and home-schooled students in the Olathe area.
“We certainly appreciate the partnership that the Optimist Club has with the school district in providing this valuable resource for our students,” said Earl Martin, director of elementary level education. “I've known students who have carried this dictionary with them throughout their education in Olathe!”
Students also appreciated the gift of these reference books.
“The kids send wonderful thank you notes that really warm our hearts,” Ingle said.
Optimist International originally provided the dictionaries through a low-cost dictionary promotion, but in recent years the rising cost of buying so many dictionaries led to corporate sponsorship of the program. Capitol Federal Savings offered financial assistance for this year’s dictionary distribution. Dave Viebrock, vice president of the financial institution, is a past president and member of the Olathe Noon Optimists.
“The Optimist goal is to bring out the best in children,” Ingle said. The group’s members hope the dictionaries will help students with their studies and encourage them to take part in the Optimists oratorical and essay contests as high school students.
“Our students need to use a variety of print and electronic resources to support learning,” said LuAnn Hermreck, coordinator of language arts. “Dictionary use is a lifetime skill. Additionally, we know the importance of vocabulary growth and accurate spelling and pronunciation. The donation of this learning tool is greatly appreciated.”
Focus On... | Steve Skoczek, Santa Fe Trail, Assistant Principal | Number of years I've worked in Olathe schools: 6
Proudest career achievement: I hold the highest academic degree in my family. I was the third person in my family to attend college.
Hometown: Chicago
Spouse: Marsha, science teacher at Pioneer Trail
Children: Sophie, 3; Jacob, 11 months
A magazine I read: Bassmaster, and Trailer Boats
In high school people thought I was: Not going to amount to much.
If I could travel back in time I'd visit: The Wild West.
A talent I would love to have is: Playing music. I have no idea what the symbols mean.
On weekends I like to: Hang out with my family at the lake.
I can't resist: An opportunity to make people laugh.
My personal motto is: Life is too short; experience all you can. You never know what the future holds.
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