Olathe South High School is a public high school located in
Olathe, Kansas
Olathe ( ) is the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in both the Kansas City metropolitan area and the state of Kansas, with a 2020 population of 141,290.
History 19th century
Olathe was ...
, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of five high schools in the
Olathe USD 233
Olathe USD 233, also known as Olathe Public Schools, is a public unified school district headquartered in Olathe, Kansas, United States. It is one of the major school districts in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and is one of the larger school ...
school district. 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
The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...
, 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
Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
Adult falcons ...
. 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. 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
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is the organization which oversees interscholastic competition in the U.S. state of Kansas at the high school, high-school level. It oversees both athletic and non-athletic competition, ...
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 Ribbon
The blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the 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.
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 Middle School. Towards the northern end rests Heritage Elementary. The eastern side of the campus is the track, practice football, marching band, and soccer fields.
Academics
In 1990, Olathe South High School was selected as a
Blue Ribbon School
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States Department of Education award program that recognizes exemplary public and non-public schools on a yearly basis. Using standards of excellence evidenced by student achievement measures, ...
. The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes public and private schools which perform at high levels or have made significant academic improvements.
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, school begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:00, features seven class hours of 48 minutes, and one 50-minute lunch break known as "Falcon 50." Odd Blocks, on Wednesdays, feature four class hours (1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th), each about 90 minutes long, with seven lunch breaks. Seminar Blocks, on Thursdays, feature the collaboration (7:30-8:10), three class hours (2nd, 4th and 6th) and the seminar, each about 90 minutes long.
AP courses
Olathe South has AP courses in Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, European History, French 5, Government & Politics (U.S.), Music Theory, Psychology, Spanish 5, Statistics, Studio Art and U.S. History.
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 Morrison, 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.
CSA
The Computer Science Academy (CSA) program provides students with the computer programming and cyber security skills they need for their future endeavors in the computer market.
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
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is the organization which oversees interscholastic competition in the U.S. state of Kansas at the high school, high-school level. It oversees both athletic and non-athletic competition, ...
. Throughout its history, Olathe South has won sixteen state championships in various sports. The Olathe South Athletic Program promotes education and discipline through athletics.
State championships
Eco-Club
Ecology Club (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). 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 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
Soon Hee Newbold is an American composer, conductor, musician, and actress.
Early life
Newbold was born in South Korea and adopted as an infant. She spent her childhood growing up in Frederick, Maryland with two sisters. Newbold began studying ...
and former
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli (both members of Savatage) and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to ...
member
Mark Wood (violinist)
Mark Winthrop Wood is an American electric violinist and the founder of Wood Violins, a company that makes electric violins. His educational program has been featured on news programs nationwide. He is also an Emmy-winning composer and a former ...
. Every spring, they compete in the State Large-group Orchestra Competition.
Publications
;''The Eyrie''
''The Eyrie'' is a student-written publication that publishes 12 issues a year. ''The Eyrie'' annually competes in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA) journalism competition, hosted at the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
. Some members of ''The Eyrie'' are also part of
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 ...
, 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
Th
Olathe South Theatre Departmentpresents multiple main stage shows a year. Olathe South, troupe #5006, is a member of th
International Thespian Society The theatre department has taken 5 shows to th
International Thespian Festival Their production of ''13'' won the
KC Starlight Blue Star Award' for Outstanding Overall Show in 2013. The troupe received the Outstanding School Award fro
Educational Theatre Associationin 2013. Three students from South have competed at th
Olathe South Theatre students hav
in theatre.
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
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks.
Th ...
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.
Math Team
Olathe South has a competitive math team that goes to many competitions throughout the year. It is coached by John Hail. They have participated in every Olathe Math Battle since it was started in 2009, and have won it 6 of the 7 times.
Notable alumni
*
Sally Buzbee
Sally Streff Buzbee is an American journalist and editor and the executive editor of ''The Washington Post''.
Before joining the ''Post'', Buzbee worked at the Associated Press for more than three decades, serving as executive editor and senior ...
, Executive Editor of the
Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
*
Don Davis, former linebacker for the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
*
Rob Pope
Robert Pope is an American musician, best known as the bassist for Spoon and The Get Up Kids.
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 band ...
, member of the prototypical indie rock band,
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Olathe, Kansas. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the " second wave" of emo music. Their second album ''Something to Write Home About' ...
*
Ryan Pope
Ryan Pope is an American musician who lives in Lawrence, Kansas.
History
Ryan Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Rob and future The Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic. After ...
, member of the prototypical indie rock band,
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Olathe, Kansas. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the " second wave" of emo music. Their second album ''Something to Write Home About' ...
*
Braden Smith
Braden Smith (born March 25, 1996) is an American football offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn.
Early years
A native of Olathe, Kansas, Smith attended Olathe ...
, offensive guard for the
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
.
*
Jim Suptic
Jim Suptic (born October 14, 1977) is an American musician and entrepreneur, best known for being the guitarist for the rock band The Get Up Kids.
Career
The Get Up Kids
Jim Suptic is best known for being the guitarist and sometime lead singer ...
, member of the prototypical indie rock band,
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Olathe, Kansas. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the " second wave" of emo music. Their second album ''Something to Write Home About' ...
See also
*
List of high schools in Kansas
This is a list of high schools in the state of Kansas.
Allen County
* Humboldt High School, Humboldt, USD 258
*Iola High School, Iola, USD 257
* Marmaton Valley High School, Moran, USD 256
Anderson County
* Anderson County Jr/Sr High Schoo ...
*
List of unified school districts in Kansas
This is a list of unified school districts (USD) in the state of Kansas. It is grouped by county, based on the headquarters location of each school district.
Allen County
* Humboldt USD 258
* Iola USD 257
* Marmaton Valley USD 256
Ande ...
;Other high schools in Olathe USD 233 school district
*
Olathe East High School
Olathe East High School is a public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of five high schools in the Olathe USD 233 school district. Olathe East is a member of the Kansas State ...
in Olathe
*
Olathe North High School
Olathe North High School is a public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of five high schools in the Olathe USD 233 school district. The school colors are red and royal blue an ...
in Olathe
*
Olathe Northwest High School
Olathe Northwest High School is a public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9–12. The school is one of five high schools in the Olathe USD 233 school district. The school colors are blue, black, and ...
in Olathe
*
Olathe West High School in Olathe
;Olathe South feeder schools:
*
Frontier Trail Middle School
*
Indian Trail Middle School
*
Chisholm Trail Middle School
References
External links
*
Olathe USD 233 School District
{{Authority control
Educational institutions established in 1981
1981 establishments in Kansas
Public high schools in Kansas
Education in Olathe, Kansas
Schools in Johnson County, Kansas
Buildings and structures in Olathe, Kansas