Nov. 10, 2016

Counselor and Principal Honored by the KSCA

Ravenwood Elementary School counselor Karen Thompson was named one of three finalists for the 2016-17 Kansas School Counselor of the Year awards program by the Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA). The KSCA Outstanding Counselor of the Year state finalists were recognized on Nov. 3 at the 67th Annual Fall School Counseling Conference held at Emporia State University.

In addition, Arbor Creek Elementary School Principal Melanie DeMoss was recognized with the KSCA Principal Advocate Award. This award is designed to recognize the unique contributions of the school administrator in working with the school counselor to maximize the impact of the school counseling program in serving students and families. She was one of three principals to earn the recognition this year in Kansas.

Community Blood Center Honor

The Olathe Northwest High School Student Council was recognized yet again by the Community Blood Center as a Top Organization for the outstanding success of its blood drive. The group has earned this honor five of the past six years. Kathy Ingles and Carol Toburen are the ONW Student Council sponsors. Bessie Bauman is the Student Council president.

During the 2015-16 school year, 610 pints of blood were collected at three blood drives. The next blood drive will be on Nov. 11.

Generous Donation Benefits OATC

Thanks to a generous gift from Jon and Christi Stewart, the Welding program at the Olathe Advanced Technical Center (OATC) will have a new Power Bending/Rolling machine.

The $10,000 gift will purchase a GMC Heavy Duty Power Plate Bending Rolls machine, materials, and prep work for the OATC facility to accommodate the equipment.

The Welding program at the OATC provides classroom instruction and shop activities utilizing a variety of processes, techniques and equipment to prepare students for the American Welding Society Welder Certification Program. One hundred percent of the welding students in the OATC program either are placed in welding jobs or go on to earn advanced vocational training in welding. By training students in welding, a skill for which there is a drastic shortage of skilled workers, local manufacturers and machinists can count on a pool of applicants for hard-to-fill positions.