- Olathe South High School
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Olathe South High School 
Old entrance to South prior to 2010 remodel. Address 1640 East 151st Street [1]
Olathe, Kansas, 66062
United StatesCoordinates 38°51′22″N 94°47′33″W / 38.8561546°N 94.7924174°WCoordinates: 38°51′22″N 94°47′33″W / 38.8561546°N 94.7924174°W Information School type Public, High School Established 1981 School board Board Website School district USD 233 [2] CEEB Code 172222 [3] Principal Phil Clark Grades 9-12 Enrollment 2,100 (Approx.)[4] Campus Suburban Color(s) Blue and Gold Mascot Falcons Rival Olathe East High School Newspaper The Eyrie Yearbook The Talon Website School Website Olathe South High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of four high schools in the Olathe Unified School District (USD 233). Olathe South High School was recognized as a National School of Excellence for the 1990-91 school year by the U.S. Department of Education[5], becoming the first high school in Olathe to do so. Olathe South's official colors are blue and gold, and the official mascot is the Falcon. The average annual enrollment at Olathe South is approximately 2,100 students.[4]
Olathe South High School was established in 1981 in order to help educate the rapidly increasing population of Olathe, KS. In 2009, construction began on remodeling the school in order to accommodate ninth graders for the first time.[6]
Olathe South is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 6A division and are known as the "Falcons". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs.
Contents
History
Built in 1981, Olathe South became the second high school in the Olathe public school system. In 1990, the school was awarded Blue Ribbon status. In 2002, a black box theater was added to the school. In June 2009, construction began on remodeling the school in order to accommodate ninth graders for the first time.[6]
Campus
The most notable feature of Olathe South is that it is entirely on one level. The campus is situated near the intersection of 151st and Ridgeview Roads in southern Olathe.
Adjacent to the Olathe South building on the west side of the campus is Indian Trail Junior High. Towards the northern end rests Heritage Elementary. The eastern side of the campus is the track, practice football, marching band, and soccer fields. .
Academics
The typical school day begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:00, features seven class hours of 50 minutes, and 7 thirty minute lunch breaks. Block scheduling is offered on Thursday and Friday. The Olathe South participates in two 21st Century Programs; these two programs are only offered at Olathe South.
Professional Careers Academy
The Professional Careers Academy (PCA) goals are to teach students leadership skills and ethics and prepare students for life after high school.[7] The PCA also brings in guest speakers in a program called the "PCA Lecture Series". This has brought in such speakers as ethics professor Marianne Jennings, local judge Janice Russell, ex-district attorney Paul Morrison, and many more.[8] PCA assists students in finding internships in their prospective field for their senior year of high school as well as teach career-building skills, such as writing resumes.[9]
CaSE
The Computer and Software Engineering (CaSE) program provides students with the computer programming skills they need for their future endeavors in the computer market. These students are also called the "Data Rangers".[9]
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
The Falcons compete in the Sunflower League and are classified as a 6A school, the largest classification in Kansas according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Throughout its history, Olathe South has won fifteen state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics.
State championships
State Championships[10] Season Sport Number of Championships Year Fall Soccer, Boys 2 1994, 2008 Volleyball 1 2005 Winter Gymnastics, Girls 2 1992, 1994 Boys Basketball 2 1997, 2004 Basketball, Girls 1 2010 Spring Golf, Boys 1 2007 Baseball 2 1986, 1994 Softball 2 1990, 1996 Soccer, Girls 2 2003, 2006 Total 15 Eco-Club
Ecology Club (Eco-Club) is sponsored by science teacher Tim Oberhelman. Eco-Club is derived from the Student Naturalist class, which raises awareness about things students can do to protect the environment. As well as improving the greening up of the campus.[citation needed]
Instrumental music
The Olathe South Falcon Regiment marching at Old Settler's Day.
Band
The marching element of the band is called the Olathe South Falcon Regiment (pictured right). The band is led by Mr. Chad Coughlin. During concert season, OSHS has two bands, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. The Falcon Jazz Ensemble performed for the 2004 Kansas Music Educators Inservice Workshop. The Falcon Spirit Pep Band, a volunteer group, plays for basketball games, Spirit Riots (pep rallies) and other school events.[citation needed]
Orchestra
The orchestra, directed by Mr. Greg Ferguson, is made up of an Advanced orchestra, a Concert orchestra and a group for both sophomores and freshmen. They play a selection of classical, baroque, chamber, and contemporary music, including scores from popular movies. Every fall, the orchestra performs with all the other Olathe high school orchestras, giving them a chance to play with new people and stretch their performing skills. They have gone to clinics taught by notable people, including American composer Soon Hee Newbold and former Trans-Siberian Orchestra member Mark Wood (violinist). Every spring, they compete in the State Large-group Orchestra Competition.[citation needed]
Publications
The Eyrie
The Eyrie is a student-written publication that publishes 12 issues a year. The Eyrie staff of 2010/2011 is advised by Vicki Kohl and features co-editors Trevor James and Emily Cook; Sports editors Tess Hart and Janessa Beck; Entertainment editor Colin Karr; Opinion editor Joey Leoni; Feature editor Kristen Oyer; Business manager Chelsea Butler, as well as many reporters. The Eyrie annually competes in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA) journalism competition, hosted at the University of Kansas. Some members of The Eyrie are also part of Quill and Scroll, a journalism honor society. The paper is named after the nest of the falcon, an "eyrie." Along with creating videos and podcasts, The Eyrie also publishes online versions of the paper.[citation needed]
Talon
The Talon is the name of the annual yearbook. OSHS yearbook is actually given out at the start of every year at enrollment, so that activities and athletics past the spring page deadlines could be included.[citation needed]
Theatre
The Olathe South Theatre Department presents five mainstage plays a year. Olathe South, troupe #5006, is a member of the International Thespian Society. Olathe South participates in Kansas City Starlight Blue Star Awards. The Performing Arts Department has received 42 nominations for Starlight Blue Star Awards,including two for Outstanding Overall Performance,and has won nine Blue Star Awards. In June 2010, Olathe South was selected to perform "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at the International Thespian Festival. South will be performing "Dead" as a Chapter Select performance at the 2011 International Thespian Festival. In 2010 and 2011, Olathe South had a finalist in the English Speaking Union's National Shakespeare Competition. South Theatre students have won five Johnson County Shooting Star Scholarships and five Kansas Thespian Scholarships.
S.A.S.H.
Students Achieving Social Harmony (S.A.S.H.) is an activity where students are given semester issues dealing with anything from socioeconomics to religion. The club has done charitable work such as decorating Children's Mercy Kansas City as well as hosting a Toys for Tots fundraiser.[citation needed]
STUCO
The Student Council (STuCO) is a four-person elected body: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as 4 sets of 4 class officers of the same names. There is also an elected body representing all four grades called the General Assembly, or GA. This organization is sponsored by Jennifer Fales.[citation needed]
Notable alumni
- Don Davis, former linebacker for the New England Patriots[11]
- Jim Suptic, Rob Pope, Ryan Pope of the prototypical indie rock band, The Get Up Kids[12]
See also
- Olathe Unified School District
- Other Olathe High Schools:
- Olathe South feeder schools:
References
- ^ GNIS for Olathe South Senior High School; USGS; November 16, 2006.
- ^ USD 233
- ^ High School CEEB Code Search
- ^ a b "Olathe South Enrollment" (English). https://external-apps.olatheschools.com/apps/stats/bldg_stats.php?date=20080905&opt=clean&cdate=20090320&bldg_id=160. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ Blue Ribbon Schools list 82-02
- ^ a b OS Construction "OS Construction" (English). http://teachers.olatheschools.com/osconstruction/ OS Construction. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ "Olathe South Flyer on PCA" (English). http://schools.olathe.k12.ks.us/olathesouth/pca_flyer.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-25.[dead link]
- ^ "Olathe South Professional Careers Academy" (English). http://schools.olathe.k12.ks.us/olathesouth/multimedia.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-25.[dead link]
- ^ a b "21st Century Programs at OS" (English). http://schools.olatheschools.com/olathesouth/21stcentury.html. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ "State Records & State Champions" (English). http://catchitkansas.com/Global/category.asp?C=112444. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "Don Davis" (English). http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=23960. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ "The Get Up Kids" (English). http://www.last.fm/music/The+Get+Up+Kids. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
External links
Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1981
- High schools in Kansas
- Olathe, Kansas
- Blue Ribbon schools in Kansas
- Schools in Johnson County, Kansas
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