Mr. McFarland's News

Living in the age of the internet, our students have access to as much information as they can handle.  Gone are the days of teachers possessing all the knowledge, and in 2 semesters each year, imparting that knowledge to a group of 25 students.  Anyone has access to the knowledge; the challenge presented to children in this generation is what do they do with that knowledge?  Researchers are finding that speaking about the knowledge students have helps them better understand the knowledge they have.  In other words, the amount of talk that students do on particular concepts is correlated with their ability to understand concepts.

According to research from an Educational Leadership article, one study found that in high-achieving classrooms, teachers talked about 55 percent of the time, but in classrooms in which students were identified as low-achieving, the teacher talked 80 percent of the time.   In the classrooms at Heritage, teachers utilize a lot of strategies to help students build their ability to speak.  Think-pair-share, inside-outside circle, and talking chips are just a few of the cooperative learning strategies teachers expose students to on a daily basis.

Knowing that the amount of talk that students do correlates with their achievement, it is important this opportunity is given to students at home as well.  We have concluded that the dinner table is the best time for our kids to share in my own household (although that does not happen every night)!  Certainly, schedules are busy with soccer, basketball, cheerleading, music performances, etc.  However, finding the time to visit about school is critical for the development of our students.  The following are some prompts parents could use to help get more out of the conversations:

·        Can you tell us more?

·        Would you say that again?

·        Can you give me another example?

·        Take your time, I can see you’ve got further thoughts about this.

·        Why do you think that?

·        Where could we find that information you just brought up?

I want to express my gratitude for our community’s support for our students.  Without continued support from home, our students would not be as successful.  Our Hound Dog parents do so much for our students and our school, and we truly appreciate the many ways our community supports us.  I hope everyone enjoys this winter break with some rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.  Thank you for a great semester and I look forward to a wonderful 2^nd semester.

-Scott McFarland

Updates December 9, 2014-January 6, 2015

	Updates December 9, 2014-January 6, 2015
12/9	Math Wings Mrs. Hannon 3:45-4:45 PM
12/9	Volleyball Club Mr. Kilber 3:45-4:45 PM
12/9	PTO Meeting Library 6:30-7:30 PM
12/10	3rd Grade to Mainstreet USA 8:30 - 2:30
12/12	I.T. Winter Tour Performance at Heritage MPR 12:15-12:45 PM
12/15	Volleyball Club Mr. Kilber 3:45-4:45 PM
12/16	Volleyball Club Mr. Kilber 3:45-4:45 PM
12/17	Heritage Band Performance MPR 11:30-12:00
12/17	Staff vs 5th Grade Volleball Game Gym 2:00-3:30 PM
12/18	End of Quarter
12/18	Heritage Strings Performance MPR 11:30-12:00
12/18	Winter Parties 10:45 AM, 2:45 PM
12/19	12/19-1/05 Winter Break No Students Happy Holidays!
12/19	Professional Day
1/6	1st Day of Classes

Heritage Spelling Bee

Heritage Spelling Bee

What an exciting spelling bee we had this year! Our 2014/2015 Heritage representative for the Olathe Public School district spelling bee (to be held on February 12, 2015, at Frontier Trail Middle School) will be Lucas, a third grader from Mrs. Stanley’s class. Our alternate will be Connor, a fifth grader from Mrs. Cochran’s class. They have received study packets to help them prepare for the district bee. Congratulations to these two Hound dog super spellers!

The other participants in the Heritage bee were: Garrett, Kennan, Zach, Seraphim, Alyssa, Destiny, Caroline, Keilee, Kayla, Jace, Harlee, and Aidan. Cheers to all these great spellers, and for your great sportsmanship, too.  All of these students received certificates of participation.

A big thank you goes to the judges this year, Ms. Kerr and Ms. Steinbacher, and others who generously donated their time and space to this event: Mrs. Mayer, Mrs. Smith-Trautman,           Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Owen, Ms. McGonegle, and all the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade teachers.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       Congratulations, boys!

 

Lucas , or our alternate Connor, will be heading to the District Bee within the next few months.

 

Weekly Chats/Charlas Semanales English/Espanol

Weekly Chats Targeted to Parents' Needs, Questions

Nov. 13, 2014 ~ Spanish-speaking families with children in the Olathe School District are invited to free weekly informational chats on topics such as parenting, money, discipline, and children's health. The Charlas Para Padres take place each Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. in the North Lindenwood Support Center, 315 N. Lindenwood, Olathe.
Charlas Para Padres (a chat with parents) is designed to answer the questions that Hispanic patrons may have about a broad range of topics. In fact, the structure of each chat is based around the needs of those in attendance.
Parents as Teachers parent and provider educator Isabel Gutierrez and Hispanic Student Advisor and Migrant Director Erik Erazo facilitate these chats. Charlas Para Padres grew from the parenting sessions offered in English and Spanish by the Parents as Teachers program, and another group connection in early 2013 for fathers only.
"Our parent educators have always looked for ways to offer more discipline and parenting sessions to our parents," said Gutierrez. "The plan was to have our fathers become active in the lives of their children and family while mothers and children went to the playroom."
A common issue for the Parents as Teachers sessions and other classes presented by Erazo was that parents couldn't always commit to attending every session, or the classes were only offered to families in a certain attendance area.
Thanks to grants from the Olathe Public Schools Foundation last fall and this fall to cover staffing needs and refreshments, the Charlas Para Padres sessions are open to parents across the district, who may attend as many sessions as they want or their time allows.
"Each session has a stand-alone agenda and the parents choose the theme of the session based on their needs," Gutierrez said. "Our job is to look for guest speakers (professionals) depending on the parents' requests or needs, or for us to research and present the information they need. We see the adults are being empowered with development and parenting."
"We are very proud of this event because it has brought together many different groups within the district as well as community volunteers," said Parents as Teachers Coordinator Nancy Keel.
Parents with children prenatal through high school will benefit from these sessions. Teens and adult volunteers provide child care for children age 11 and older. Children have the opportunity to participate in activities that build their fine and gross motor skills (painting, running an obstacle course, etc.), language skills (reading), intellectual skills (homework, puzzles, etc.).
Parents do not need to register in advance for any of the sessions. Anyone with questions is encouraged to call Isabel Gutierrez at (913) 780-8201.
(Top photo: Charlas Para Padres co-facilitator Erik Erazo and a parent. Bottom photo: Children participate in activities while their parents attend the chats.)

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Espanol

Charlas semanales dirigidas a las preguntas y necesidades de los padres

Familias que hablan español y que tengan estudiantes en el Distrito escolar de Olathe están invitados a las charlas informativas semanales donde se tratan temas tales como crianza de los niños, dinero, disciplina, o salud. Las charlas para padres tienen lugar cada jueves de 6-7:30 p.m. en el Centro de Apoyo Lindenwood, 315 N. Lindenwood, Olathe.
El programa Charlas Para Padres, está diseñado para responder a las preguntas que los padres de la comunidad hispana pueden tener acerca de diferentes tópicos. De hecho, la estructura de cada charla está basada en las necesidades de los asistentes.
La Sra. Isabel Gutierrez, proveedora del Programa Padres como maestros y educadora, junto al Asesor Estudiantil, Erik Erazo, son quienes facilitan estas charlas. Charlas Para Padres nació de sesiones ofrecidas en inglés y en español en Padres como Maestros, en conexión con otro grupo que se ofrecía a padres solamente a principio de 2013.
"Nuestros educadores siempre están buscando diferentes maneras para ofrecer más disciplina y sesiones para criar a los niños a nuestros padres," dice la Sra. Gutierrez. "El plan era que los padres de familias se volvieran más activos en la vida de sus niños y de la familia, mientras las mamás junto con los niños iban al salón de juegos."
Un problema común que teníamos en las sesiones de Padres como maestros y otras clases presentadas por Erazo era el hecho de que los padres no siempre podían asistir a todas las clases, o las clases sólo se ofrecían a las familias que vivían en ciertas áreas.
Gracias a donaciones de la Fundación de las Escuelas Públicas de Olathe el otoño pasado y éste para cubrir necesidades y refrescos, las sesiones de Charlas para Padres están abiertas para todos los padres del distrito, quienes podrán asistir a todas las sesiones que deseen o a las que su tiempo les permita.
"Cada sesión tiene una agenda separada y los padres eligen el tema en cada una de ellas basados en sus necesidades," dice Gutierrez. "Nuestro trabajo es el de buscar presentadores invitados (profesionales) dependiendo de las necesidades de lo que requieren los padres, o por nuestras búsquedas y presentar la información que ellos necesiten. Vemos que los adultos están siendo fortalecidos en el desarrollo y crianza de los niños."
"Estamos muy orgullosos con este evento porque ha juntado diferentes grupos dentro del distrito, al mismo tiempo que voluntarios de la comunidad," dijo la Coordinadora de Padres como Maestros Nancy Keel.
Padres con niños prenatales hasta la escuela preparatoria se beneficiarán con estas sesiones. Adolescentes y adultos voluntarios proven cuidado a niños menores de 11 años de edad. Los niños tienen la oportunidad de participar en actividades donde desarrollan sus habilidades motrices finas y gruesas (pintar, jugar en carreras de obstáculos, etc.), habilidades del lenguaje (lectura), habilidades intelectuales (tareas escolares, rompecabezas, etc.).
Padres no necesitan registrarse por avanzado para ninguna de las sesiones. Cualquier persona que tenga preguntas puede llamar a Isabel Gutierrez al (913) 780-8201.
(Foto de la parte superior: Asesor estudiantil Erik Erazo y una madre de familia. Foto de la parte inferior: Niños participando en actividades mientras los padres asisten a las charlas.)

Mr. McFarland's News

I Pads

As I’m sure you have heard at home, our students now have access to iPads in their classrooms.  Our students and staff have been anxiously waiting for these to roll-out.   Now that they are here, our focus turns to what types of learning can be done with them.  As a district, we are looking at a technology model called SAMR, which stands for: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.

The learning that takes place typically falls along a continuum within these four areas.  At a lower learning level, we have substitution.  What this means is that we are using the iPads to substitute what could be done with something else.  Filling out a worksheet that is on the iPad would be substituting pencil and paper.  This example is pretty cool and it saves paper, but it’s not necessarily changing the way students learn.  At the other end of the spectrum, we have redefinition.  Having a student create a documentary about the phases of the moon set to music using the iPad is an example of redefinition.  Students are redefining the way they are learning.  Rather than writing a research paper on the phases of the moon, students are finding information on the moon, and then finding creative ways to share the information.  This is the type of learning we are hoping to achieve! 

As we continue to learn best practices with the iPads, we will be challenging our students to extend their learning through exploration and creativity; certainly something our students love doing!

 

Halloween

Halloween is always a fun time to see lots of strange big and little Hound Dogs.

              

 

Preschool Application Process for 2015-2016

2015 - 2016

APPLICATION PROCESS

                                     FEE BASED PEER PARTICIPATION SLOT

ECD CLASSROOM 

Send request via email to Kim Russell, krussellhlc@olatheschools.org  (Include your child’s date of birth.)

Via telephone/ Voice Mail:  913-780-7341 (Include your name, phone number, child’s name, date of birth and your email or mailing address. PLEASE be very specific when leaving your email or mailing  address.

General Information:           IF you applied for a three year old slot for the 2014-2015 school year, and your child was not selected, you MUST re-apply for the 4 year old slots.  Three year old applications do not automatically move to the 4 year old application file1^st Day that applications may be requested is January 6, 20151^st Day that applications will be sent out or parents may pick up is January 7, 2015.

Child must be three/four on or before 8/31/15

Family must live in the Olathe School District (This also applies to school district employees.)

Child must be toilet trained

Child must speak and understand English

If a child has an IEP for any service (speech, motor etc.) they are not
eligible for a peer slot.

These are Fee Based participation slots:
(3 yr olds) 4 days a week is currently   * $130.00 per month   * subject to change

(4 yr olds) 5 days a week is currently  * $163.00 per month    * subject to change

If a family qualifies for the free milk/lunch program there will not be a monthly fee.   If a family qualifies for reduced lunch program fees will be reduced by half.      

Transportation may be an option, based on a space and route availability                                                               (There is charge for bus transportation.)

We will start filling three year old slots the first week of February.

Updates November 4-November 30

	Updates November 4-November 30
11/4	Math Wings 5-Hannon 3:45-4:45 PM
11/4	Kindergarten ABC123 Night MPR 6:30-7:30 PM
11/6	Hearing/Screening Day 8:30 AM-1:00 PM
11/6	Math Club 3-Mulligan 3:45-4:30 PM
11/6	FLIP Program 6:00-8:00 PM MPR
11/7	Student of the Week Lunches
11/7	Cotton Candy Friday
11/11	Math Wings 5-Hannon 3:45-4:45 PM
11/11	PTO Meeting Library 6:30-8:00 PM
11/13	Math Club 3-Mulligan 3:45-4:30 PM
11/14	Picture Retake Day
11/14	Student of the Week Lunches
11/14	Mid-Quarter Progress Reports Go Home
11/17	Book Fair Week Begins
11/18	Book Fair
11/18	Math Wings 5-Hannon 3:45-4:45 PM
11/19	Book Fair
11/20	Book Fair Until 8:15 PM
11/20	Math Club 3-Mulligan 3:45-4:30 PM
11/20	Read N Romp Library and Downstairs Gym 7:00-8:15 PM
11/21	Book Fair
11/22	Breakfast With Santa and Book Fair MPR/Library 8:30-11:30 AM
11/26-11/30	Thanksgiving Break

Bountiful Harvest

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD WITH YOUR CHILD FOR OUR ANNUAL BOUNTIFUL HARVEST FOOD DRIVE. 

Thursday, November 6-Canned goods. 

Friday, November 7- Soaps, Detergent, laundry items

Monday, November 10-Staple items such as sugar, flour, salt, oil,
shortening

Tuesday, November 11- Rice, pasta, macaroni, breakfast cereals

Wednesday, November 12- Baby items such as diapers, wipes,
baby food, bottles

Thursday, November 13-Paper towels, TP, tissues, napkins

Friday, November 14- Personal items such as combs, brushes,
toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo etc.
Please do not send travel sized items.

Please don’t separate packaged items.

** We are also asking for new or gently used coats in adult and children's sizes.**

 

All Donations Go To The Johnson County Christmas Bureau. 
Thank you.

 

Updates October 9 thru October 31

	Updates October 9-October 31
10/9	End of First Quarter
10/10	Professional Day No School for Students
10/14	Math Wings Mrs. Hannon 3:40-4:45 PM
10/14	PTO Meeting Library 6:30-7:30 PM
10/15	Parent Teacher Conferences PK-K 8:00 AM-8:30 PM No PK or K Classes
10/15	Parent Teacher Conferences 1st-5th Grade 4:30-8:30 PM
10/16	Parent Teacher Conferences PK-5th 11:00 AM-8:00 PM
10/17	NO SCHOOL
10/20	Professional Day No School for Students
10/21	Math Wings Mrs. Hannon 3:40-4:45 PM
10/23	PK AM to Deanna Rose Farmstead 9:45-11:20 AM
10/23	PK PM to Deanna Rose Farmstead 12:45-3:00 PM
10/24	2nd Grade to Mahaffie House 9:00 AM-12:30 PM
10/24	Movie Night at Heritage 3:45-5:45 PM
10/27	Red Ribbon Week Begins
10/28	District Math Wings Competition Olathe North 3:30-4:30 PM
10/31	Fall Parades PK AM and K AM 10:30 AM, Parties 10:45 AM
10/31	Fall Parades PK PM-5th Grade 2:30 PM, Parties 2:45 PM

Original Artworks

Original Art Works

We are pleased to announce that during the month of October we will be running the Original Works Program at Heritage.

In business since 1989, Original Works is the #1 art based fundraising company in the country, and currently works with thousands of schools and hundreds of thousands of students each year.

Through the Original Works program, each child will have the opportunity to have their very own artwork reproduced onto a variety of high quality products. The products range from magnets, mugs and mouse pads, to ceramic tiles, t-shirts, note cards and nearly two dozen other products.

Each child is eligible to participate in this wonderful program. Once the artwork is created, parents and children will have the opportunity to select which product or products they would like to feature their artwork.

The program is designed to encourage creativity and student self-esteem. The resulting products make unique gifts that are practical for any season or occasion.

Complete details on the program will be sent home shortly. Proceeds from the program will be used to buy art supplies.

This week the Original Works blog is full of ideas to make gift giving simple this year.  Share this post with your families, as a great way to market your fundraising program and encourage sales.

For more information on Original Works please visit their website at www.originalworks.com.

 
 

 

5th Grade Music Program

“A Kid’s Life”

The power went out!  Now what in the world will the children do for fun?  Invite Grandma and Grandpa over for some old fashioned board games, fold some paper airplanes, imagine shapes out of the clouds, and tell scary ghost stories in the dark with flashlights.

That was the idea behind the 5^th Grade Music Program on Ocober 7^th.  What a fun production! 

Thanks, Mrs. Owen and the 5^th graders!

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. McFarland's News

The month of October brings us some wonderful events in education.  One of the most important events is taking place next week with our parent-teacher conferences.  These will be occurring on Wednesday, from 4:30-8:30 and again on Thursday, from 11:00-8:00.  We appreciate parents and guardians taking time out of their busy schedules to have a conversation with our teachers.  Face-to-face conversation is truly the best form of communication when it comes to discussing student learning, but also the hardest to schedule.  Thank you so much for making the effort to attend.

Another fun event in October is of course Halloween.  On October 31^st, we will be having our Halloween Parade and Parties.  For our a.m. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, their parade will begin at 10:30 and their parties will begin at 10:45.  For the rest of the school, our parade will begin at 2:30 and parties will begin at 2:45.  Here are some friendly reminders:

·         All students in grades 1-5 should arrive at school dressed as they would for a regular school day.

·         Students will work on regular academic work throughout the day until 2:15 when students will be given the opportunity to change into their costumes.

·         Please keep costumes school appropriate.  No weapons or weapon representatives, no blood, no guts, no gore will be allowed.

·         All parents are welcome to attend the parade, which will begin in the halls of the school and then circling the playground.  If it rains we will parade through our lunchroom and gymnasium. 

·         At 2:45, classroom parties will begin – thanks for making this a safe and fun environment for our students!

Sincerely,

Scott McFarland

Hearing/Vision Screenings

Hearing/Vision Screenings

On November 6, 2014 elementary hearing screenings will take place at Heritage.  A hearing screening is required for all Early Childhood, Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 5^th grade students, all students new to the district and all students with an IEP.

 During the months of November and December vision screenings will take place at Heritage.  Vision screening is required for all Early Childhood, Kindergarten, 2^nd, and 4^th grade students and all students new to the district.  Student’s with IEP’s are also required to have their vision checked every 2 years.  If you would like to waive the hearing or vision screening for your child, please contact the school nurse, Ms. Hicks at 780-7496.  You will not be contacted regarding the results of the hearing or vision screening, unless your child needs further testing.

 

 

Girl Scouts Mission Southside Food and School Items Drive

Girl Scouts at Heritage Elementary are partnering with Mission Southside and several other elementary schools to collect food items and school supplies to benefit low-income and homeless school children in Johnson County.

A collection barrel for donations is available at Heritage Elementary inside the school office.
The items collected will be delivered to Mission Southside on October 25, 2014.

Donation list attached. The food items are very specific, as they will be used for the Back Snack Program.

Contact Information: susan.clement@gmail.com or 913-254-0804

 

Girl Scouts partner with Mission Southside

How can you help Mission Southside

help our community??

School supplies needed:	Food drive items needed:
All supplies are needed, but especially….	Canned pasta
Spiral notebooks	Canned veggies
Folders	Canned meats
Glue sticks	Juice boxes
School glue	Individual fruit cups
Crayons	Individual applesauce cups
#2 pencils	Individual pudding cups
Highlighters	100% fruit chews
Dry erase markers	Granola bars
Water base markers	Cereal bars
Boxes of tissues	Peanut butter crackers
Hand sanitizer	Ramen noodles

Any school supplies would be appreciated, but the above list has items that schools run out of during the school year. Many students run short on supplies and do not have the resources to replenish them.

The items needed for the food drive are very specific. They will be going to help out in the Back Snack Program. This program is to provide food for children who would otherwise have nothing to eat on weekends when they are not attending school. Many of the children who receive these snack packs on the weekends are homeless or on free and reduced lunch. For many of these kids, the only meals they receive on the weekend are these packs.