​Olathe North families and students,
Tomorrow our in-person students return to System On-Line Learning.  Below are few reminders as all students start in 1st hour tomorrow on-line at 7:45. Remote students will have the same expectations as we move forward.
1. Attached you will find the ODD/EVEN Calendar for the remainder of the semester.
2. We will be returning to 90 minute block classes full day, see attached bell schedule.  We no longer will have half days.  All students report to 1st hour tomorrow morning Nov. 30th at 7:45am.  
3. Moving forward, we are expecting student cameras to be on during instruction. Attached I have provided backgrounds should a student want a level of privacy in their backgrounds. Long story short, CAMERAS ON!  (This can be a disciplinary issue if students choose not to comply)
4. If you are having technology concerns please contact Mr. Elsbernd at brelsbernd@olatheschools.org  or 913-780-7140 
Parents and students please review the expectations starting tomorrow and please go to https://jasonhermanon.weebly.com/newsletter for more information.  Please make sure to remind students that cameras need to be on, 90 minute classes, and no more half days until last week of December.  

​Jason Herman 
Principal 
Olathe North High School 

​December 2020
Olathe North Virtual* College Visits
TIME FOR ALL VIRTUAL VISITS is 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm
*NO IN PERSON COLLEGE VISITS
 
Use this Google Form to pre-register for the Virtual Visit:
 
http://bit.ly/onrepvisits
 
 
DATE
COLLEGE
URL FOR ZOOM

12/1/2020
Allegheny College
https://allegheny.zoom.us/j/99263677286?pwd=ckhKcmdpZS9YMnJZaWRuRHBUUmdFUT09

12/2/2020
Pittsburg State University
https://pittstate.zoom.us/j/95706752956?pwd=NWdTSS9yQjc4UnVUUkxyaVlRTHZmdz09

12/3/2020
Truman State University
https://zoom.us/j/94982462567

12/7/2020
Donnelly College
https://zoom.us/j/94512135272

12/8/2020
The University of Alabama
https://uasystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIuduiuqTkoG9d4_ZpyM5bPstP1XG-k_Q2U

12/9/2020
Park University
https://park.zoom.us/my/parkadmissions

12/10/2020
Friends University
https://friendsu.zoom.us/j/97992234441

12/15/2020
Northwest Missouri State University
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89913983735?pwd=Q2diSHA0RzhBZTN1RkZNck1SM0ZJdz09

12/16/2020
Baker University
https://bakeru.zoom.us/j/95917910005

12/17/2020
Salve Regina University
https://salve-edu.zoom.us/j/93439676768?pwd=VGN6Uk9PUVNWVVZLQmNPdGZ6TXFLZz09

 
 

​31 years.
57th State Playoff game.
19th Time to the State Semifinal in the last 24 years.
Missing 4 of the top players in the Metro that transferred because of COVID when our season was in doubt.
The song remains the same.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Being here in room 216 the last 30 years has forced me to be somewhat reflective of what it means to be part of something much larger than me and my immense ego.
 
This is a very special place and we are all very lucky…IMHO.
 
Most HS football players never play in a single State Playoff game during their HS career. (I didn’t.)
 
In 1996, a relatively unknown Coach by the Name of Chris McCartney came to ONHS as an assistant. He was immediately put in charge of the weight room (for obvious reasons.)
 
Since that time, we here at ONHS have been fortunate enough to have been involved in 54 State Playoff games. Incredible.
 
Tonite represents our 18th trip to the State Semifinal. We have advanced to the State Championship 10 times…winning 8.
 
If you have the time, please come  out to ODAC and support the Eagles.
The Band and Eaglettes are some of the finest kids in the school.
The Student Body is one of the best in all of the Metro.
The music is outstanding.
This evening is a special time for our school.
It is worth it.
 
Again, it is history in the making.
In the last 23 years of HS football:
ONHS has been to 18 State Semifinals (including Tonite.) This is unheard of.

​Attention Seniors!
 
The absolute last date for you to order your graduation supplies, with the best pricing & earliest delivery date, will be NOVEMBER 25TH.  
 
The best/easiest way for you to place your order, is to go to the following website:
 
https://schooltraditions.thegraduationcenter.com/home?school_id=129
 
 
If it is a matter of paying for the cap/gown/tassel/stole right now, you can call the Jostens office
(816-628-6157) & place your order over the phone for just the cap/gown/tassel/stole without a deposit. Jostens will send you an invoice & you will have until delivery in the spring to pay for it.  Any additional items would require a deposit.
 
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Stanley in the office at school and she will be happy to help! kjstanley@olatheschools.org
 

Olathe North Families-

I wanted to send you a follow up to the district email regarding our move back to online learning.  We will begin full online remote learning on November 30th, the first day back after Thanksgiving and continue this mode until the end of the first semester.  Attached you will find a December Odd/Even calendar and a school wide online bell schedule.  We will revert back to the exact same schedule we used in September with 90 minute block, odd/even structure.  School will continue to start at 7:45am.

Classes will continue to be taught, breakout sessions utilized, projects created and as I have communicated before – nobody expects students to sit through 90 minutes of just lecturing via zoom.  Our teachers will continue to be creative.  So while students will attend classes on zoom and receive 90 minutes of instruction, that 90 minute instructional time could be part-lecture, part-independent/group work, part-practice and support, etc.  I have no doubt, our awesome staff will continue to work with your student and provide them with support while remaining flexible. 

1.        We will continue to offer on-site support for our special education students on Temporary      Learning Plans (TLPs)who require assistance, particularly our CBR and Connect program students.
2.        We will be developing a plan to support our ELL students and more information will be passed along soon.

As we get to the regularly scheduled “finals” days – you need to reimagine what they will look like. This will be more of a culminating activity.  It may include a unit test, a presentation, a group project discussion or other things needed to reach closure for  semester classes.  It may not be a typical semester final, teachers will communicate their expectations.

The culminating activity schedule is:

December 16th – Hours – 1,3,5 and 7    Full Day – 7:45am – 3pm
December 17th – Hours – 2 and Seminar (This seminar will be utilized for struggling students. Teachers may require students to come to seminar.)  Half Day 7:45am – 11am  /  PM –  Teacher Grade Prep
December 18th – Hours – 4 and 6  Half Day 7:45am – 11am  /  PM – Teacher Grade Prep

As always – I appreciate all you do and I am thankful to have such a talented group of people in our ON community who will continue to support our students and teachers.

Jason Herman
Principal
Olathe North High School  

On Tuesday, January 26th. ONHS will be offering a makeup PSAT for any student in grades 9-11 that did NOT take the test on October 14.  Students that took that test will NOT be allowed to take the test again as required by PSAT.  If your 9th, 10th, or 11th grader missed the test on October 14 or simply did not get to sign up then, now is your chance.  Use the instructions attached to sign up for the January makeup testing (note that the dates on instructions are incorrect). 
 
Jim Tarwater
 
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. 
CONTACT TAMMIE MILKE (tmilkeon@olatheschools.org ) IN THE ONHS COUNSELING OFFICE  or JIM TAWATER (jtarwateron@olatheschools.org) IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PSAT. 
 
 
On January 26th, Olathe North 9th – 11th graders have the opportunity to take the PSAT at ONHS.  The PSAT requires that a student signs up and pays in advance to participate (similar to an ACT test).  YOUR STUDENT MAY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE PSAT, but if not, sign-up for the January makeup PSAT ASAP online using the instructions attached at a cost of $18.    It will be offered in January  to any ONHS 9th-11th graders (that did NOT take the test in October), but only 11th graders taking the PSAT have the opportunity to be recognized as a National Merit Scholar. Other grade levels are considered practice.  Tests are limited - Students should sign up quickly!
 
If you need more information about the PSAT, read below or contact the office at ONHS at 913-780-7140 and ask to speak with the counselor, Tammie Milke (tmilkeon@olatheschools.org).  If a student is encountering difficulties, they can contact Jim Tarwater at jtarwateron@olatheschools.org
 
More Information about the day and the PSAT:
 
 
The PSAT measures abilities that are important at various academic levels. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors should consider taking the test for the following reasons:

1. The PSAT/SAT has been redesigned recently and will ask students to apply multi-layered understanding of content areas that focus on college and career readiness.

 
The SAT redesign is grounded on eight key changes and seven of which will impact the PSAT:

•  Relevant words in context
• Command of evidence
• Essay analyzing a source (no essay on PSAT)
• Focus on math that matters most
• Problems grounded in real-world contexts
• Analysis in science and in history/social studies
• Founding documents and great global conversation
• No penalty for wrong answers

 
 
2.  The PSAT can be a helpful tool in guiding conversations between parents, students and educators.
 
3. It will be a “trial run” for the SAT.  Your PSAT can be used to estimate your probable performance on the SAT. 
 
4. If you are a junior, you have an opportunity to enter one of the scholarship competitions administered by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
 
5.  While sophomore and freshmen are not eligible to compete in the National Merit Scholarship Programs until they are juniors, the information can be used to guide and select academic coursework that will better prepare you for college and the PSAT (NMSQT)/SAT.
 
6. Khan Academy, partnering with College Board, has released interactive practice programs to support students to familiarize themselves with the redesigned exam. The customized test preparation offers skill-based videos to support the redesigned key changes for students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. 
For additional information regarding the eight key changes to the SAT, to view sample questions, Khan Academy test preparation availability, and sign up for updates, parents and students are encouraged to visit the College Board site at www.deliveringopportunity.org. A sample PSAT exam is available at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice

​“Remote Students:
Starting on Monday, November 30th the in-person high school students will be returning to full day block schedule for online learning.  The remote high school students will be following the same schedule.   Our schedule will adjust due to the number of staff members that teach both in-person and remote students.  Please pay close attention to the schedule changes from your buildings.”   

​Has your JUNIOR signed up for the FREE ACT or Free WorkKeys test in February?  The window closes to sign up next week. 
 
Sign Up Now below.
https://forms.gle/g1F78CW3S6aw9RSp9
 
 
On February 23rd and February 24th, ONHS is offering an opportunity for each junior to take an OPTIONAL, but FREE ACT test and FREE ACT WorkKeys test.  Juniors can only sign up now through November 20th – NOT LATER.  Juniors can take one or both or none at all; it is up to them.  The state of Kansas will pay the bill.  Have an interest?  Read if your student should take one of the optional tests and how to sign up below.
 
On Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24 while other students are in their classes, Juniors across the state are offered the opportunity to take an OPTIONAL, but Free ACT or WorkKeys test during the school day. 
 
The ACT on February 23: The ACT is a standardized test used for 4-year college admissions. The ACT test covers four academic skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning.  This test is optional and may not be necessary for everyone pursuing college.  For example, a student planning on a two-year college can take that college’s placement test (like the JCCC Accuplacer) at no cost.  In fact, the ACT is not a necessity at most community colleges.
 
The WorkKeys on February 24:  ACT WorkKeys® assessments measure foundational skills required for success in the workplace, and help measure the workplace skills that can affect job performance. Individuals who successfully complete the three WorkKeys assessments—Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents—earn the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® (WorkKeysNCRC®).  A student planning on going into a post-secondary training such as a technical school, going into the workplace, or going into the military likely will not need to take the ACT.  They might see a bigger benefit to take the ACT WorkKeys.
 
Do you want your son or daughter to sign up for one or both?  Have your junior go to the link below.
 
https://forms.gle/g1F78CW3S6aw9RSp9
 
 
*Enrollment for both the ACT and the WorkKeys will run from now through Nov. 20
 
 
 
If you have questions regarding ACT or WorkKeys testing, contact Jim Tarwater - jtarwateron@olatheschools.org or in room 217 at ONHS.
 
 
 
More Information below from the district:
ACT and ACT WorkKeys Assessments
February 23rd and 24th, 2021
FREE to Juniors
 
The Kansas Department of Education will offer ALL Juniors the opportunity to take the ACT and/or the ACT WorkKeys assessments without cost on February 23rd (ACT) and February 24th (WorkKeys). The assessments will be offered during the mornings of those days in the student’s home school, and each of those days will be a full day of school for all students.  This is a tremendous opportunity for Olathe students to take either (or both) of these assessments at no cost to the families.  Both assessments do count as official tests.
 
ACT® (Feb. 23rd, 2021)
The ACT® is a paper-and-pencil entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The purpose of the ACT test is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants (in addition to GPA, courses taken, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, etc.).  The tests are multiple choice and the four-part assessment measures:

• English
• Math
• Reading
• Science
• (There is no writing test associated with this testing date)

 
WorkKeys® (Feb. 24th, 2021)
ACT® WorkKeys® assessments are the cornerstone of the ACT workforce solutions. The paper-and-pencil assessments measure a range of hard and soft skills relevant to any occupation, at any level, and across industries. Additionally, successful completion of WorkKeys assessments can lead to earning a National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®)—a credential that verifies foundational workplace skills. Tens of thousands of employers recognize the value of the NCRC, and many recommend the credential to candidates.  The tests are multiple choice and the three-part assessment measures:

• Applied Math
• Graphic Literacy
• Workplace Documents

 
 
*Enrollment for both the ACT and the WorkKeys will run from Nov. 2nd through Nov. 20th 
 
 
 
 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 
Who is eligible?  ALL Juniors!  
 
Which test may I take?  Students may take either test, or both tests.  Both are paid for by the Kansas Dept. of   Education.
 
How do I enroll?   Enrollment to both the ACT and the ACT WorkKeys will be done online using a link provided by your school.  The link will be supplied to families by the building either in the principal’s weekly newsletter or in an email and will be open from Nov.2nd through Nov. 20th.
 
Where do I take either test? Both tests will be given at the student’s home school.   
 
Are these official tests?   YES!  You may send ACT scores to 4 schools and receive a work-ready certificate from the WorkKeys assessment.
 
What if I have a need for accommodations?  The ACT and the WorkKeys provide for accommodations, and those will be applied for by the Olathe school district.  If you believe you are eligible for ACT-approved accommodations, you must meet with your counselor in order to give the school time to submit the request to ACT and for ACT to have time to respond.
 
Which test is right for me?  The ACT measures college readiness and the WorkKeys measures workplace skills and career-readiness.  Go to https://www.act.org/content/act/en/students-and-parents.html for more information about ACT and  https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/workkeys-for-job-seekers.html to find out more about the ACT WorkKeys. 
 
Are Feb. 23rd and 24th full days of school?  Yes.  Each school will have their own, unique schedule while students are testing in the morning and have regular classes in the afternoon on both days.  
 
Are there local businesses who recognize the WorkKeys certification (NCRC)?  Yes, and the list is growing!  Here are a few locally: Olathe Toyota, Honda of Olathe, Legends Toyota and Honda, GFI Digital, ITS Technologies and Logistics, Midwest Concrete Materials, GTM Sportswear, Ventria Bioscience, Keller Williams Realty, Steward Title Company, Cosentino’s Food Stores, Pyramid Roofing Company, Continental Siding supply, ASQ Irrigation Supply.

​Hello High School Families, 

As we prepare schedules for second semester, we would like student input on what electives they might take. Please ask your student to complete the following survey no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 16th. We understand this is a fast turnaround and thank you, in advance, for your assistance as we work on our quickly approaching spring 2021 semester. Remote Learners Spring Electives Survey - https://bit.ly/3lwdYYS


Take care,
High School Counseling Department

The National Honor Society will be sending out NHS invitations for membership during 3rd quarter to qualifying junior and senior students with at least at 3.75 unweighted grade point average. The application will focus on the pillars of character and leadership. We know the ability to serve in our community has been impacted by restrictions during Covid-19. We will have an induction ceremony during the spring semester to honor our new members. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Amy Henry, ahenryon@olatheschools.org
​