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McClure Newsletter
February 4, 2022
McClure Recertified as a State School of Character
Article on TPS Website:
Topeka Public Schools is proud to announce that Character.org has recertified McClure Elementary as a Kansas State School of Character! McClure was originally certified under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Gordon, who retired in 2021 and passed the torch to her successor, Principal Chelsea Artzer.
Character.org, a national advocate and leader for character, designated 67 schools and 2 districts as State Schools of Character for 2022. Since its inception, Character.org's Schools of Character program has positively impacted nearly three million students, staff, parents, and other community members.
Each year, Character.org certifies schools and districts at the state level that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development which has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior, and school climate.
Schools and districts announced today will be considered for Character.org's highest distinction – National School of Character. McClure is now recertified at the state level for five years, and their application moves on to be reviewed at the national level. There will be a virtual site visit this spring, and McClure will know in May if the school will be officially recertified at the national level for the next five years.
Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools, shared, "Under Dr. Gordon's leadership, McClure Elementary earned the distinction of being a school of character at the state and national level. This recertification confirms the continued excellence as a state model of Kansas School of Character as Dr. Gordon and the current principal, Ms. Artzer, continues to focus efforts on the positive character development of every student."
Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences
Please fill out the bottom portion of the confirmation form and return to school with your child. If you are unable to attend your scheduled conference, please call our office at 438.4340 by next Wednesday, Feb. 9th, to reschedule your conference time.
Teacher conference Zoom links can be accessed HERE. Directions on how to login to the Zoom links are also listed at the bottom of this linked document. These links will also be sent to you in email closer to conferences.
2nd Quarter Grades
Major Saver
Character Counts: Pillar Focus
CARING: Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
During the months of February and March, we will be teaching the pillar of Caring. The Character Counts Coalition uses the color red to symbolize this pillar.
There are two main ideas that pertain to the pillar of Caring. The first is concern for others. This means that a caring person would show compassion and empathy, be kind, loving and considerate in their actions, be grateful for the things that other people do for them, forgive others for their shortcomings and mistakes, be sensitive to the feelings of others, and are not mean or cruel to others. The second idea is that of charity. This means that a caring person is giving to others of their time, money, support and comfort to help make someone else’s life more comfortable or better and that they would do this without thinking of what or how they will be rewarded for their deeds in return.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” - AESOP
Splash of Kindness
In February we will be celebrating Splash’s birthday! We will be doing a special kindness campaign. This goes right along with our Character Counts trait of caring! This will be separate from the awards given out at our monthly assembly. In my lesson’s next week we will be learning about filling each other’s buckets with kind words and deeds. While this book has been around awhile I love how simple and yet so powerful this concept can be.
Each staff person will be given 1-2 stars this Friday Feb 4 to give to students who you see demonstrating acts of kindness. This could be super simple or more significant. The student will then put their name on the star and it will be hung in the cafeteria. Feb 7,8,9 and 10 I will call students to the cafeteria at 3:15 to get their picture with Splash and add their star to the display. On Feb 14 I will draw names from those winners to select students to attend a toy making party. Toys will be donated to the Helping Hands Humane society
HHHS Donations
Mrs. Hight is accepting old jeans and old towel donations. These donated items will be used for a group of students to make toys for the pets at Helping Hands Humane Shelter. Donated items may be dropped off in the front office by Feb. 14th.
Valentine's Day Party
Reading Incentive
In February, we want to CATCH students reading! Each student will have a punch card and every time an adult sees them reading they can earn a punch. The goal is to have the card punched 12 times in the month of February. Then, we will have a drawing for one winner per grade level.
3rd Quarter Site Council Meeting
https://tps501.zoom.us/j/87312875421?pwd=ZFhqdm5vNmd5ODlDdkpEZzIvNkFxUT09
Meeting ID: 873 1287 5421
Passcode: 790104
Feb PTO Meeting
Zoom Meeting ID: 98594469620
Upcoming PTO Fundraiser
Preschool & 5th Grade Promotion Dates
May 18, 2022: PIP Promotion, 2:00
May 19, 2022: PIP Promotion Rain Date, 2:00
5th Grade-
- May 23, 2022: 5th Grade Promotion, 2:00
- May 24, 2022: 5th Grade Promotion Rain Date, 9:30
Spelling Bee
Available Student Coats
Lost & Found
Class Picture Day-Rescheduled
Music Programs-Revised Dates
Spring music program dates have been revised to allow the programs to be held outside.
Revised Music Program Dates:
K- May 5- 6:00
1- May 12- 6:00
2- April 28- 6:00
3- May 5- 7:00
4- May 12- 7:00
5-April 28- 7:00
Inclement Weather Makeup Date-May 19th
TPS News
Student Transfers: The window for student transfer requests opened 1/1/22 and will run until 3/31/22. The link can be found here or on our TPS website.
FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program: FCC has announced a permanent affordable connectivity program that will provide eligible families, who apply, a credit of up to $30 per month to cover the cost of Broadband services with various providers, including Cox. Eligible families include those who qualify for free & reduced school lunch, SNAP, WIC, or those with an income level at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline for family size. Click here for information from Cox in either English or Spanish.
Mental Health Day: At our school board meeting on February 3, 2022, we expressed appreciation to our counselors for National School Counseling Week and we shared the importance of investing in mental health.
In support of our staff, our school board approved a calendar adjustment to close school on President's Day on February 21, 2022, in support of providing one paid mental health day for all staff.
Partner organizations agencies agreed to support this by providing our staff with low or no-cost self-care services that include physical and mental health resources.
Read the full letter to families in English and Spanish.
TPS Parent Resource-COVID-19
Openings at McClure
We are also hiring after school tutors to support our program on Tues., Wed., & Thurs. Interested in this position? Click here.
Upcoming Dates
Mon. Feb. 14th
- Valentine's Party-2:30pm
Wed. Feb. 16th
- Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences-4-8pm
Thurs. Feb. 17th
- No School
- Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences-8am-8pm
Fri. Feb. 18th
- No School
Mon. Feb. 21st
- No School
Tues. Feb. 22nd
- 2-2-22 Celebration Day
Thurs. Feb. 24th
- 4th Grade Symphony Field Trip
Mon. Feb. 28th
- Site Council, 5pm
- PTO, 6pm
Tues. March 1st
- Statewide Tornado Drill
March 7-11th
- Respeto Spirit Week
March 14th-18th
- Spring Break-No School
Mon. March 21st
- Teacher Planning & Prep Day-No School
Tues. March 22nd
- 4th Quarter begins
Thurs. March 24th
- Papa John's Night
Mon. March 28th
- PTO Meeting, 6pm
Wed. March 30th
- Geography Bee
Thurs. March 31st
- Deadline for TPS Transfer Requests
McClure Elementary
Email: cartzer@tps501.org
Website: https://mcclure.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 2529 Southwest Chelsea Drive, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: 785.438.4340
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TPS501McClure