Overland Trail Elementary PTO

Thank you OTE for a great year! We hope you have a fun, safe, and memory-filled summer!

We'll be back together again in no time! See you soon!

Congratulations, 5th graders! Our OTE graduates! We wish you good luck as you start your new Middle School adventure.

You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.

You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

- Dr. Seuss

Thank you to our 2023-2024 PTO Board and Committee Chairs. These volunteers gave their time and talents in leadership positions this year to help fulfill the mission of the PTO; to build a more connected community and to provide support to OTE above and beyond what the District can provide. They showed up, stepped up and made things happen!

Alongside these leaders were many volunteers that stepped up to give their time to plan and execute all the events and programs throughout the year. If you served as a Room Parent, served on a committee or stepped in when a Sign Up went out, you have not gone unnoticed.

Finally, the PTO relies on the support of donations, including financial contributions, providing food for Staff meals, and the giving of products & experiences for our Auction. This was an incredibly successful year in terms of giving and made a big impact for OTE.

This impact includes nearly $11,600 given in PTO Staff Grants, over $4000 given to OTE families in need through our Support a Cougar Program, over $4000 given in Staff Appreciation meals & gifts, 3 FREE family nights for our OTE Community: Bingo for Books, Glow Party and our new Cultural Night. And so much more.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our PTO leaders, volunteers and supporters. None of this happens without you!

Yearbooks will be sent home on Thursday for those that ordered. The PTO did order a limited quantity of extra yearbooks for those that forgot to order. These are available in the front office now for purchase on a first come first serve basis for $20. Checks should be made out to the Overland Trail Elementary PTO. If your family needs financial assistance to purchase a yearbook for your student, please contact OTE’s Social Worker, [email protected]

Finally, THANK YOU to Lora Lee, our Yearbook Chair this year. She did an amazing job pulling together thousands of pictures, ensuring new students were included, and working up to the last minute to finalize our yearbook. Thank you, Lora!

Last chance for Birthday Marquee spots! Only a few spots remain for next year!

Say Happy Birthday to your student in style next school year. While the majority of our Birthday Marquee spots sold during our online Auction, a few spots remain for the 2024/2025 school year. If you would like to grab one of the remaining spots, you may do so here: https://www.otepto.org/birthdaymarquee

TONIGHT! Restaurant Night at Andy's, 4-8:00 p.m. Let them know you're there for the OTE fundraiser and a portion of OTE sales will be donated back to our school. 135th & Nall location by Chicken N Pickle.

ONE WEEK LEFT to order 24/25 School Supply Kits!

All supplies are packaged and delivered to your door! While the kit price is rounded up to the nearest dollar to donate to our Support a Cougar program, this is otherwise NOT a fundraiser for the PTO. This allows the kits to be as affordable as possible. Follow the link and use code OVE003 (3 letters, 3 numbers) to access OTE's kits. Order deadline is 5/21/24.

https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks

To our OTE Staff,

You deserve more than 1 week of appreciation. Our OTE Community is what it is because of you. We are thankful for your dedication to our children and for investing in their learning, development and their overall well-being.

We are grateful for you not just this week, but every week. Thank you for showing up for our kids and our families.

We appreciate you!

Come celebrate! Our final Community Service meeting of the year is here! If your student attended any of the Community Service events this year, come join us for a year-end celebration. We’ll meet in the Art Room after school until 4:30 p.m. for treats and fun! Parents are encouraged to attend with their children. Please be sure to update their dismissal plan in Pick Up Patrol.

As we kick off Teacher Appreciation Week and also round the corner to the end of the school year, we wanted to point out a resource on our PTO website, Staff Favorites. If you are wanting to treat our OTE Staff to something extra this week and/or at the end of the year, let this be your guide!

https://www.otepto.org/stafffavorites

Last call for donations!

Every year during Teacher Appreciation Week (5/6 - 5/10) the PTO does something special for the Staff each day of that week. We cap off the week by giving a $10 Amazon gift card to EVERY Staff member. Typically, the PTO asks for your support for the various meals and treats provided that week. This year instead, we're asking for a $10 contribution to support the gift cards.

Thank you for helping us show our gratitude to our wonderful OTE Staff, we appreciate your support.

https://www.otepto.org/packet/29727

OTE Field Day is coming up on Wednesday, May 22nd. Field Day is a day of activities and recreation for our OTE students. They'll visit 16 different activity stations on the playground. OTE Staff will run each station, but we need parent volunteers to walk around with each class to the stations to ensure a safe and fun experience. Volunteer here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0944AEA62CA1FDC25-49348074-field

TONIGHT! Book Fair Family Night!

5:30-7:00 p.m. - Join us in the OTE Library for Family Book Fair Shopping & activities.

VIP Shopping will be available for PTO Members from 5-5:30 p.m. (check your e-mail for your VIP shopping badge)

We hope to see you there!

It's Book Fair Week! Here's the rundown...

Tuesday - Thursday, Class Shopping -
If you prefer your student shop cash free, please set up their Scholastic eWallet before their shopping time. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/ote2024spring.

Tuesday Night, Family Night -
Join us in the OTE Library for Family Book Fair Shopping. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. VIP Shopping for PTO Members from 5-5:30 p.m. (check your e-mail for your VIP shopping badge)

Volunteer -
We still need a few volunteers for Family Night and Tear Down. Please help us out if you're able.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0549A4AE2DA6FF2-48910502-otespring?fbclid=IwAR2M9cNs2D9RfBXZ-O2nuTGNTDZHYKjDjWu_GSZu0NyeQhIRAgRu4xcgxg0_aem_AZuAB8uiRMrcChLYjgRb_Elr0T2pk2zsfchH8J856Yz7CLcvTjy0-0wVe5Jr8KYjD2HLNtrP9EQ2BuVqjSIVpc1_ #/

School Supply Kits are now available for NEXT school year. All supplies are packaged and delivered to your door! While the kit price is rounded up to the nearest dollar to donate to our Support a Cougar program, this is otherwise NOT a fundraiser for the PTO. This allows the kits to be as affordable as possible. Follow the link and use code OVE003 (3 letters, 3 numbers) to access OTE's kits. Order deadline is 5/21/24.

https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks

Every year during Teacher Appreciation Week (5/6 - 5/10) the PTO does something special for the Staff each day of that week. We cap off the week by giving a $10 Amazon gift card to EVERY Staff member.

Typically, the PTO asks for your support for the various meals and treats provided that week. This year instead, we're asking for a $10 contribution to support the gift cards. If you'd like to make a donation to sponsor a gift card, click here: https://www.otepto.org/packet/29727

Thank you for helping us show our gratitude to our wonderful OTE Staff, we appreciate your support.

TODAY - 1:00 P.M. - Cougar Community Service Park Clean Up

Join us for a Parent/Child Community Service event, an Earth Day Park clean up. Meet us at Stoll Park, 12500 W. 119th St, Overland Park, KS 66210. We will meet in the first parking lot to the right as you enter the park from 119th Street.

We hope to see you there!

Last call to order yearbooks! The deadline to order is TOMORROW 4/19. Any late requests to order after the deadline will not be accepted. Please get your orders in today!

https://www.otepto.org/packet/29354

THIS FRIDAY - APRIL 19th - 1:00 P.M. - Cougar Community Service Park Clean Up

Join us for a Parent/Child Community Service event, an Earth Day Park clean up. Meet us at Stoll Park, 12500 W. 119th St, Overland Park, KS 66210. We will meet in the first parking lot to the right as you enter the park from 119th Street.

We hope to see you there!

Reminder - there's no school on Friday!

Dinner made easy! Pop into Goodcents from 3-8:00 p.m. TODAY and 20% of OTE sales will come back to support our school. Be sure to tell the cashier you're there for the fundraiser, OR, use code OTE for online orders.

📣 OTE Alumni Graduating Seniors - The OTE PTO is hosting a reception in your honor to celebrate your graduation, Wednesday, May 15th from 4-5:00 p.m. Stop by the OTE Library for some refreshments, to peruse old yearbooks, visit former teachers and walk the halls where it all began. Parents of Seniors are welcome to attend as well.

Volunteers needed for our Spring Book Fair! Events like these cannot happen without your help. Please take a moment to grab volunteer slot to help make Book Fair a success. We appreciate your support!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0549A4AE2DA6FF2-48910502-otespring #/

While the majority of our Birthday Marquee spots sold during our online Auction, a few spots remain for the 2024/2025 school year. The PTO offers 3 name spots for each month to celebrate your student on our school marquee during their birthday month. If you would like to grab one of the remaining spots, you may do so here:

https://www.otepto.org/birthdaymarquee

We will also be promoting the remaining spots to the new incoming Kindergarten families at Kindergarten Round Up this Friday. To secure your spot, we recommend grabbing one before Friday morning.

Last call to upload pics for yearbook! Pics from Field Trips, Class Parties, Sports, OTE Events, and more. Please be sure to add in a brief description to your uploads so we know what event/grade the pics are from.

https://plicbooks.com/guest/uploader/e26fc7b5-ca25-4048-8ff0-11c735d91fe8?school=We%20Are%20Family&embeddedTags=destinationAlbum-067ff1da-c0c9-4eec-810f-64818fb98cd1&destinationName=Misc

And don't forget, the deadline to order yearbooks is 4/19!

Order Here: https://www.otepto.org/packet/29354

OTE, we'd say Trivia Night was a HIT! THANK YOU to everyone who not only attended last night, but who also went all in! The commitment to the 90's theme was top notch and your generosity overflowed. We are so grateful for this fun and generous community!

Please join us in celebrating...

🎉 Trivia Night Winners: The Quizzards of Oz
🎉 Best Team Theme Winners: The Scream Team

Please join us in thanking...

🎤 Our Trivia Hosts, Jerry & Teri Wonderlich. They DONATED their time, trivia and talents to OTE to be our emcees for the night. This was such a gift to us.

🙌🏼 Our Trivia Night Planning Committee. This is a BIG event, and it is the first time the PTO put on a Trivia Night, so it was a learning experience for all. Planning began last fall and involved a lot of details to make happen. We cannot put on events like these without the support of volunteers. The Trivia Night Committee was led by Co-Chairs, Alyson Jones & Liz Levy. And supported by PTO Board Members, Crystalyn Ellis, Lindsey Evans, Amy Moss & Libby Moss.

Thank you, OTE! We appreciate YOU!

We hope to see you again next year - Trivia Night will be BACK! 🥳

Last call for bidding! Our online auction will close in 2 hours at 8:30 p.m.

https://new.biddingowl.com/OTEAuction2024

Auction Feature: Food, Beverage, Clothing & Memorabilia

Autographed Football by KC Chiefs Defensive Backs
Autographed Bat by Royals Shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr.
Elkie & Co Bag
Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon
Eagle Rare Bourbon
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon
KC Pub Pass Experience

Bid Now: https://new.biddingowl.com/oteauction2024

Bidding Closes, 4/6 at 8:30 p.m.

Auction Feature: Getaways and Entertainment

3 Night Stay in Branson on Lake Taneycomo (sleeps 10-12)
KC Plaza Staycation
Starlight Theater Tickets
KC Symphony Tickets

Bid Now: https://new.biddingowl.com/oteauction2024

Bidding Closes, 4/6 at 8:30 p.m.

Auction Feature: Parking Spots & Birthday Marquee

This is your chance to have a reserved parking spot for the 24/25 school year. There are FOUR VIP Parking Spots up for grabs, located facing the circle drive in the south parking lot by the playground.

This is also your chance to celebrate your student during their birthday month on our school marquee. There are 3 spots for each month (Sept 2024 - August 2025) available.

Bid Now: https://new.biddingowl.com/oteauction2024

Bidding Closes, 4/6 at 8:30 p.m.

Auction Feature: Classroom Experiences

These are always a kid favorite! Thank you to our OTE Staff for their awesome contributions. Place your bid for...

KDG Donut Party
1st Grade Pizza Party
2nd Grade Donut Party
3rd Grade Scavenger Hunt
4th Grade Pizza Party
5th Grade Pizza Party
Principal for a Half Day
Movie and Crafts with Ms. Baldus
Paint, Glaze and Fire with Mrs. Franchett
Ice Cream Party with Mrs. Franchett
Bracelet Making Party with Mrs. Nead
Kids Yoga Class with Ms. Moriarty
DJ for a Friday and Pizza Lunch w/ Mrs. Harsh

Bid Now: https://new.biddingowl.com/oteauction2024

Bidding Closes, 4/6 at 8:30 p.m.