Hello All,
Big News for Olathe District Theatre this week.  Two Olathe North Theatre students and One Olathe East Theatre student became 3 of the first 21 students to ever receive a Thespy Award (International Thespian Excellence Award) from the International Thespian Society as a part of the International Thespian Festival.  They are also the only three from Kansas to receive these awards.  These students will formally receive their awards on Friday evening as a part of the Closing and Awards Ceremony.
 
Attached is the press release from the Educational Theatre Association (the parent group for Thespians).  In the press release is the information on how you can watch these three amazing students receive their awards.  The Olathe/Kansas Students have been highlighted in the press release.
 
Also Olathe South Student Anna Hastings has been serving this week, and all year, as the International Thespian Officer Chair.  The highest student leadership position that a thespian can hold.  In this position she has been able to help coordinate a virtual festival and has been able to interview famous members of the theatrical community such as Tina Fey.  Anna will also have a part in the Closing Ceremony.
 
This week is the Annual international Thespian Festival, the culmination week for high school theatre.  For the first time this year it has been moved to a virtual format.  For many years Olathe North and the Olathe School District has had a lot of success in the education program called I.E.’s now called Thespys.  This year is the first year that the Official Thespy award is being given out.  This goes to the top score in each category.  As an example, In the case of Bethany Robertson she received a perfect score in her category.
 
All 5 Olathe High schools were represented in the Thespy’s program.
 

 
FOR  RELEASE JUNE 25 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time


Inaugural International Thespian Excellence Awards Go To
Just 21 Students in Two Countries, Seven States
Winners in California, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Saipan
 
See the Thespys Showcase Live June 26
 
(CINCINNATI, June 25, 2020)— Broadway has the Tonys. Hollywood has the Oscars. Now Thespians have the Thespys™.  The International Thespian Excellence Awards, or Thespys™ for short, recognize the highest level of achievement in school theatre performance and technical theatre.
 
As part of the first-ever Virtual International Thespian Festival, SiriusXM On Broadway’s Seth Rudetsky and his husband and producer James Wesley will host the debut of the International Thespian Excellence Awards live showcase on a special episode of Stars in the House at starsinthehouse.com featuring a  baker’s dozen of the students*. The live showcase stream will also be available on Playbill.com, on Apples and Oranges Studios on YouTube  and EdTA’s YouTube channel at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time on June 26.
 
This educational program (formerly National Individual Events) gives Thespians — students who have been inducted into the International Thespian Society, the honor organization for theatre students — the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs. Students who achieve overall Superiors at their chapter event and earn the top scores in their category at the International Thespian Festival earn International Thespian Excellence Awards.
 
The Thespys, and the entire Virtual International Thespian Festival experience, are important to students. Thespys winner Rachel Rudolph of Charlotte, North Carolina, said, “We’re celebrating the work of students across the world during these troubling times. Despite the unfortunate circumstances this year has brought, this festival shows how we can come together to heal, learn, and grow. This week has been opening my eyes to how theatre can survive during this crisis. We’re all keeping a positive outlook and doing the best we can. It’s really refreshing to see everyone work and learn together. It’s been very important to see.”
 
The 2020 Thespys recipients and their categories are:
 
California
Margaret Hammond, Nuview Bridge Early College High School, Thespian Troupe 8117, Nuevo
Costume Design--She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition
Florida
              *Jeyna Lynn Gonzales, J. R. Arnold High School, Thespian Troupe 6371, Panama City Beach
              Monologue--Tribes and Roosters
 
              Allison Cartmill, Seminole High School, Thespian Troupe 3266, Sanford
              Scenic Design--Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
             
Kansas
              Bethany Robertson, Olathe North High School, Thespian Troupe 3310, Olathe
              Costume Construction--Elf the Musical
 
              Katelyn Gillette, Olathe North High School, Thespian Troupe 3310, Olathe
              Sound Design--Elf the Musical
 
              Grant Martin, Olathe East High School, Thespian Troupe 5078, Olathe
              Scenic Design--Carrie the Musical
 
Kentucky
              Charlotte Bariteau, Ballard High School, Thespian Troupe 6932, Louisville
              Theatre Marketing--45 Plays for 45 Presidents
 
North Carolina
              *Rachel Rudolph, Ardrey Kell High School, Thespian Troupe 7935, Charlotte
              Solo Musical Theatre— “Me and the Sky” from Come from Away
 
Oregon
              Natalie Lawton, Redmond Proficiency Academy, Thespian Troupe 7715, Redmond
              Stage Management--She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition
 
Texas
              *Najea Broadnax, Jazlynn Thomas, Avonlea Yeakley; Fulshear High School, Thespian Troupe 8336, Fulshear
              Group Musical Theatre—"Make Him Mine” from The Witches of Eastwick
 
*Nicholas Harrison, Reese Henrick; Obra D. Tompkins High School, Thespian Troupe 7963, Katy
              Duet Musical—“Therapy” from Tick Tick Boom
 
*Cody Dixon, Trysten Williams; G.W. Carver Magnet High School, Thespian Troupe 6753, Houston
Duet Acting--Fences
 
Lauren Snow, Midlothian Heritage High School, Thespian Troupe 8239, Midlothian
              Makeup Design--Alice in Wonderland
 
Carson Perkins, John Randolph Foster High School, Thespian Troupe 7961, Richmond
              Lighting Design--Metamorphoses
             
Saipan
              James Park, Jin Seok Park, Ryan Kang; Marianas High School, Thespian Troupe 5374,
Northern Marianas Islands
              Short Film--A White World
              (Editor’s note: The 2019 winner for short film was also produced by a Marianas High School student,
Jenikah Elayda.)
 
The virtual nature of this awards ceremony naturally lends itself to the performance categories of the Thespys. As a result, four additional students who received high rankings will be able to participate in the showcase. They are:
*Amelia Gibbons, Thespian Troupe 9011, West De Pere High School, Wisconsin
Solo Musical Theatre—“Safer” from First Date
*Grable Howie and Jazz Mueller, Thespian Troupe 3384, Niwot High School, Colorado
Duet Musical Theatre—"I Am the One (Reprise)” from Next to Normal
*Derek Norris, Hutchinson High School, Thespian Troupe 2277, Kansas
Monologue-- Hello, Goodbye, Peace and Red
​
 


       
 
 
 

Parents,

Now is the time to register for general education bus transportation for the 2020-2021 school year.  Those who register by July 2 are eligible for the Early-Bird Discount of up to 25% off the yearly fee!  Please visit www.olatheschools.org/transportation to register or for more information. For all questions or additional information, please contact the transportation office at transportation@olatheschools.org

Sincerely,
Olathe Public Schools Administration

​Subject: Parent/Guardian Survey for 2020-21 School Year
Parents,
You should have received an email from our district administration regarding a survey requesting your input for the 2020-21 school year. I encourage you to take a few minutes to provide your input. The parent survey is a vital part of returning to in-person class this fall. Your honesty will help to provide district leadership with an accurate picture of parents who intend to send their students when school begins and parents who intend to participate in remote learning.
Before taking the survey, I wanted parents to be aware of what a remote learning plan would entail. If you elect for your student to participate in remote learning offered by Olathe in the fall, your students will:

• Receive direct instruction by a certified teacher in core content areas (reading, math, social studies, science, and social-emotional learning)
  • The amount of direct instruction will be based on guidance provided by the State Department of Education. It will be less direct instruction than a traditional classroom setting
  • Direct instruction will not be live-streaming from a classroom
• Be held accountable for learning with daily attendance
• Receive grades and participate in assessments
• Have some opportunity for learning in specials and electives
• Need to be supported at home with overall management and scheduling support

Thank you for your time. The survey can be accessed by clicking: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=f8IlL4QKYEmIamhcur6jqxpnmm8pfz1AnKQt7f2RY51UOTZJT0Y3WEtDR082NVFDUDFaTFI4MzEzTS4u.
Sincerely,
Jason Herman 
 
Encuesta para padres/tutores legales para el año escolar 2020-21
Padres,
 Usted debió haber recibido un correo electrónico enviado por la administración del distrito sobre una encuesta que solicitaba su opinión para el año escolar 2020-21. Le animo a que se tome unos minutos para dar su opinión. La encuesta para padres es una parte vital para volver a la clase presencial este otoño. Su honestidad ayudará a proporcionar a los líderes del distrito una imagen exacta de aquellos padres que tienen la intención de enviar a sus estudiantes cuando comiencen las clases y de aquellos padres que tienen la intención de que sus hijos participen en el aprendizaje a distancia.
Antes de hacer la encuesta, deseo que los padres estén conscientes de lo que un plan de aprendizaje a distancia implicaría. Si elige que su estudiante participe en el aprendizaje a distancia ofrecido por Olathe en otoño, sus estudiantes:
- Recibirán instrucción directa de un maestro certificado en las áreas de contenido básico (Lectura, Matemáticas, Estudios Sociales, Ciencias y Aprendizaje Socio-Emocional)
o             La cantidad de instrucción directa se basará en lo que el Departamento de Educación del Estado decida. Asimismo, será una instrucción menos directa que la proporcionada en un aula tradicional.
o             La instrucción directa no será transmitida en vivo desde un salón de clases 
- Serán responsable del aprendizaje y la asistencia será diaria
- Recibirán calificaciones y participarán en las evaluaciones
- Tendrán oportunidades de participar en clases especiales y optativas
- Necesitarán ser apoyados en el hogar mediante el asesoramiento general y la administración del tiempo.
Gracias por su tiempo. Puede acceder a la encuesta presionando el siguiente enlace: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=f8IlL4QKYEmIamhcur6jqxpnmm8pfz1AnKQt7f2RY51UOTZJT0Y3WEtDR082NVFDUDFaTFI4MzEzTS4u.
Sinceramente,
Jason Herman 

ON Seniors and Senior Parents,
-June 5th, cap and gown pick-up

• Attached is a map for the route to follow on the ON campus (NO entry into the building)
• Pick-up is from 9:00-2:00
• Drop off any items not already turned in: laptop, charger, books, etc.
• If cap and gown is NOT paid for, you will have the opportunity to do so on that day
• If you purchased announcements, date change cards will be with the cap and gown
• If you cannot pick up cap and gown on that day please email Kathy Stanley kjstanley@olatheschools.org and make arrangements for an alternative pick up. 

-
Jason Herman 
Principal 
Olathe North High School
​

Below is information about our summer hours, with my staff working from home it is hit and miss when we were in the office.  As of June 1 we will have staff in the office to answer phones and answer the front door.  

Beginning June 1, Olathe North will be open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In an effort to provide a safe workspace, guests will be limited inside the building. Those needing to drop an item off or pick an item up will be asked to report to the front entrance and buzz the front office.  An employee will answer the guest and ask them what they need, someone will meet them outside the door at the call box. Several staff members will be asked to manage the doors and our guests during the office hours. There will also be an administrator in the building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Other buildings will be open with similar procedures including the other four high schools, District Office, Technology Service Center, IRC, Food Production Center and Operations Service Center.