Olathe South High School
Encyclopedia
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. .
, and many more. 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.
. 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.
and former Trans-Siberian Orchestra
member Mark Wood (violinist)
. Every spring, they compete in the State Large-group Orchestra Competition.
. 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.
as well as hosting a Toys for Tots
fundraiser.
Olathe, Kansas
Olathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 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, 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
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
. The average annual enrollment at Olathe South is approximately 2,100 students.
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.
Olathe South is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association
Kansas State High School Activities Association
The Kansas State High School Activities Association is the organization which oversees interscholastic competition in the state of Kansas at the high school level. It oversees both athletic and non-athletic competition, and sponsors championships in several sports and activities.The KSHSAA was...
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.
History
Built in 1981, Olathe South became the second high school in the Olathe public school system. In 1990, the school was awarded Blue RibbonBlue Ribbon Awards
The are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan.The awards were established in 1950 by which is composed of film correspondents from seven Tokyo-based sports newspapers...
status. In 2002, a black box theater
Black box theater
The black box theater is a relatively recent innovation, consisting of a simple, somewhat unadorned performance space, usually a large square room with black walls and a flat floor.-History:...
was added to the school. In June 2009, construction began on remodeling the school in order to accommodate ninth graders for the first time.
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
Indian Trail Junior High
Indian Trail Junior High School is one of the nine middle schools schools in Olathe, Kansas. The school opened in the August of 1981 and serves a diverse population. It is administrated by Ms. Becky Verbas, principal, Ms. Margo Twaddle, assistant principal, and Mr. Shane Kaberline, assistant...
. 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. 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 MorrisonPaul Morrison
Paul Morrison is the name of:* John Paul Morrison , aka Paul Morrison or J. Paul Morrison, Canadian computer programmer* Paul Morrison , British film director & screenwriter...
, and many more. 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.
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".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 AssociationKansas State High School Activities Association
The Kansas State High School Activities Association is the organization which oversees interscholastic competition in the state of Kansas at the high school level. It oversees both athletic and non-athletic competition, and sponsors championships in several sports and activities.The KSHSAA was...
. 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
1 | 2011 |
| Soccer, Boys | 2 | 1994, 2008 | |
| Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... |
1 | 2005 | |
| Winter | Gymnastics, Girls Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body... |
2 | 1992, 1994 |
| Boys Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
2 | 1997, 2004 | |
| Basketball, Girls Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
1 | 2010 | |
| Spring | Golf, Boys Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
1 | 2007 |
| Baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... |
2 | 1986, 1994 | |
| Softball Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand... |
2 | 1990, 1996 | |
| Soccer, Girls | 2 | 2003, 2006 | |
| Total | 16 | ||
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.Instrumental music
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.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 NewboldSoon Hee Newbold
Soon Hee Newbold is an ASCAP award winning American composer, conductor, musician, and actress.- Biography :Newbold was born in Seoul, Korea, and adopted by the Newbold family. She grew up in Frederick, Maryland, with two sisters and began playing piano at age five and violin at age seven. ...
and former Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
member Mark Wood (violinist)
Mark Wood (violinist)
Mark Winthrop Wood is an electric violinist, as well as the founder of Wood Violins, a company that makes unique electric violins. He is also an Emmy-winning composer. His music and strings education program has been featured on news programs nationwide....
. Every spring, they compete in the State Large-group Orchestra Competition.
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 KansasUniversity of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. Some members of The Eyrie are also part of Quill and Scroll
Quill and Scroll
Quill and Scroll is an international high school journalism honor society that recognizes and encourages both individual and group achievements in scholastic journalism. According to the Quill and Scroll website, over 14,104 high schools in all 50 U.S. states and 44 countries have established local...
, 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.
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.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 CityChildren's Mercy Hospital
Children's Mercy Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric hospital located in Kansas City, Missouri that provides medical care to patients from birth to 18 years of age. Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is the only free-standing children's hospital between St. Louis and Denver.-The Berry...
as well as hosting a Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
fundraiser.
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.Notable alumni
- Don DavisDon Davis (American football)Donald Earl Davis Jr. is a former American football player and the current Team Chaplain for the New England Patriots.-High school years:...
, former linebacker for the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - Jim SupticJim SupticJim Suptic is an American musician and entrepreneur, best known for being the guitarist for Kansas City, Missouri band The Get Up Kids.-The Get Up Kids:...
, Rob PopeRob Pope-History:Rob Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Ryan and future Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic. After the band broke up due to internal conflicts, Rob and Jim re-formed with Matt Pryor, who had been playing with Secular Theme...
, Ryan Pope of the prototypical indie rock band, The Get Up KidsThe Get Up KidsThe Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
See also
- Olathe Unified School District
- Other Olathe High Schools:
- Olathe East High SchoolOlathe East High SchoolOlathe East High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. Olathe East is one of four public high schools located within the city limits of Olathe, KS, and it is the largest of the four, and also the largest in the state. The...
- Olathe North High SchoolOlathe North High SchoolOlathe North 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 public high schools in the Olathe School District. The school colors are red and royal blue and the mascot is the Eagle...
- Olathe Northwest High SchoolOlathe Northwest High SchoolOlathe Northwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of four high schools in the Olathe School District. The school colors are blue, black, and white, and the school mascot is the Raven...
- Olathe East High School
- Olathe South feeder schools:
- Frontier Trail Junior High School
- Indian Trail Junior High School
- Chisholm Trail Junior High School