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CMS April/May Newsletter
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From the Principal
As we begin our final quarter of the school year, it is even more important for all Cougars to be in attendance each day. We have limited time to prepare all students for the next school year as the countdown to summer begins as well. We ask all parents to stay in communication with classroom teachers regarding academics, attendance, and behavior.
Grades will be posted in Synergy on April 18th. Therefore all missing work for the first half of the quarter is due Wednesday, April 17th. Be sure to keep an eye on our school calendar for updated end of year information. Since we did not use all of our snow days this year we will end the school year 2 days early. The last day for all middle school students is May 20th. We will run a normal schedule that day and dismiss at 2:45pm. May 21st will be 8th grade Promotion. Only 8th graders and their families come that day. 8th grade promotion will begin promptly at 8 AM.
We are in full swing of state assessments. Students in all grades took their science assessment during the last week of March. The ELA assessment was administered April 2-4.Math assessments will be in April 9-12. We are excited to see how much our students have academically grown over the year.
We look forward to enjoying the spring with you and your student. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We want all Cougars to have a positive 4th quarter!
Congratulations Ms. Rhoads!
Congratulations to Ms. Rhoads on receiving Distinguished Staff Award for Middle School Teacher! Our Chase family is so proud of you!
PTO Bingo Night- April 26
Join us on Friday April 26 @ 5 PM for the PTO Bingo Night. Cards will be available, $5 for 6 cards as well as a meal package (hotdog, chips, water) $5. Lots of family fun and prizes! If you have any questions or would like to volunteer during the event, please call the main office at 295-3840.
2024-2025 Enrollment is Open!
Save the date! Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will open online in April 2024. Families are encouraged to register early, as we anticipate classes filling up quickly again this year.
Information regarding enrollment, school supply lists, and other items for families to prepare for next year will be available in April at topekapublicschools.net. View the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar here.
As a reminder, returning families will receive an email to register their students from Synergy Student Information System and enroll through ParentVue. Families new to Topeka Public Schools will create a new account and register online.
TPS Provides Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on New Open Enrollment Policies
The new open enrollment policies and procedures for the 2024-2025 academic year outline a series of important timelines and processes established by the Board of Education.
Nonresidents (families that do not live within the TPS boundaries) must apply to attend any TPS school. Approval is not automatic under this new open enrollment policy and depends largely on capacity at the requested TPS school.
View answers to frequently asked questions on the new open enrollment policies at topekapublicschools.net.
Library Books
Please check with your child if they are turning in their library books. Most of our kids are great at this, but we have quite a few wayward books that need to make their way back to the library.
Students will be asked to help replace books that have been lost or damaged beyond repair.
If your student is returning to Chase in the fall and would like to check out library books over the summer, they may do that the last week of school after all their other books are turned in. More information will be provided to students in May.
Students who wish to take books home for the summer must meet the following requirements:
- clean library record (no missing books/lost book fines)
- returning to Chase in August
- parent agrees to responsibility for extended library checkouts for the summer with a signed note or email
- parent email and phone number to contact if needed
- Any books lost or damaged over the summer must be paid for/replaced in August
Nursing Department News
6th Grade Students:
Students who will be entering 7th grade in the 2024/2025 school year are required to have updated immunizations including: Tdap (tetanus booster) and MCV (meningococcal). If your student has already received these immunizations, please send documentation to the nurse at this time. Students will be required to provide proof of immunization within 30 days of the start of school.
7th and 8th Grade Students:
If you have not yet provided documentation of your students most current immunizations, please do so as soon as possible. If your student has not had the required immunizations, please contact the nurse with a schedule as to when you plan to have them done. You may email or fax records to the school nurse: Shelly Garst @ sgarst@tps501.org or fax 785-575-6632.
5th Graders Visit Chase
Students from our elementary schools will be visiting on April 22, 2024 during the school day. On April 23, we welcome all incoming 6th grade parents and students to our parent night beginning at 5:30pm. Parents will have the chance to hear a little bit about CMS and take a tour.
8th Graders to High School
8th graders will be visiting the high schools on May 1st. Students will visit the high school that they are scheduled to attend during the 2024-25 school year. Students will get to tour the high school, meet administrators and teachers, and get a chance to hear what high school will be like. The visits will be a great opportunity for students to see what their next four years will be like. If you have questions about the high school enrollment process please contact your school counselor.
Hermanitas Conference
The Hermanitas Conference, hosted by Washburn University, brought together Hispanic female students from Topeka for a day of empowerment. Judge Cheryl Rios set the tone as keynote speaker, followed by sessions on various career paths. The day ended with an energetic life focused game, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills. The conference continues to inspire students towards a future filled with promise. Chase Middle School students were excited to be a part of this conference with some of our 7th grade students.
8th Graders to Worlds of Fun
It is our plan to take our 8th grade class to Worlds of Fun, Friday, May 17, 2024. This trip is a reward for all 8th graders who earn it by demonstrating the CHASE WAY. The cost of the trip will be $31 per student. Any food or drink purchased at the park will be at the student’s expense. We will provide a sack lunch for each student. A payment plan option is available to you this year. Simply bring in any
amount of money that you would like to go toward your ticket cost. It will be put in an "account" in your name and you will be given a receipt. Once you have paid for the ticket in full you will receive a
receipt showing "PAID IN FULL” Payment for the field trip must be paid in advance. Checks should be payable to Chase Middle School.
Eighth graders wishing to attend are expected to have no F’s, no out of school suspensions, and less than 3 ISS incidents. Students must also have at least one eligibility point remaining during the 4th quarter. We will check student profiles weekly beginning March 19th and will continue until Thursday, May 16, 2024. Students must meet the eligibility criteria in order to be invited to attend. Students who purchase a ticket and then become ineligible after the tickets have been ordered, will NOT be reimbursed for their ticket as it is non-refundable through WOF.
Students will leave Chase MS by 8:15 AM on May 17th. Students will be given ample time to explore the park independently with friends. They will be required to appear at two mandatory “check point” times. Students will need to bring money for lunch. Students will return to Chase around 5:00 p.m. We will leave and return from the parking lot at Chase MS.
Please remember that this is a reward for students who meet the criteria, not an absolute for every 8th grader. Students who are not eligible to attend the trip or do not wish to go will have an alternate schedule the day of the trip.
If you have further questions, please call your student’s Advisor Base teacher at 295-3840.
Student Sport Physical 2024/2025
Sport Physicals will be available to Chase Middle School Students during the month of May. Please find the below 24/25 physical form. Physicals must be completed after May 1, 2024. 24/25 physicals will be offered at Chase Middle School for Chase students on May 16 and 17th. Students must be present with all form completed and signed. $10 cash only to provider on the day of service. If you have any questions regarding sports, please contact Ms. Soldani at 295-3847.
23/24 School Fees
Topeka Public Schools launched a new fee payment system this school year, SchoolPay. Some issues were encountered while implementing the fee payment system, but we feel SchoolPay is now functional.
Parents/Guardians may now access SchoolPay to pay 2023-2024 school fees.
To access SchoolPay through your ParentVue account, visit topekapublicschools.net. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the SynergySIS Login link.
Items for Families
Chase Middle School is fortunate to have acquired hygiene items to provide our families with items they may need. Here is a list of items that we currently have in stock. If your family has a need for any of these items, you can fill out this simple form, or call us with which items you need. This link will also be on our school website to access as needed.
- Laundry detergent
- Deodorant
- Chapstick
- Combs
- Toothpaste
- 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner
- Face wash
- Bar soap Hand sanitizer
Dillons Community Reward Program
To Use the Dillons Food Stores Community Rewards Program:
Simply encourage your participants to visit the appropriate link below..
- For Dillons Stores - go to http://www.dillons.com
- For Baker's Stores - go to http://www.bakersplus.com
- For Gerbes Stores - go to http://www.gerbes.com
Once logged into their Dillons Food Stores account they can search for Chase Middle School either by name or TK880 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
*Customers must have a registered Dillons Food Stores rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Dillons Food Stores rewards card, please let them know they are available at the customer service desk at any Dillons Food Stores
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your organization until after your participants register their rewards card.
Participants must swipe their registered Dillons Food Stores rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Dillons Food Stores rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
Thank you!
Dillons Food Stores Community Rewards Department
Middle School Family Day Experience @ KU
Open File Below For Details
Washburn University STEM Camp
The STEM Camp is for students that will be going into the 7th and 8th grades next fall. It is a free residential camp to be held on Washburn’s campus in July. Click on the file below for enrollment application.
CAPE Summer Program @ Chase
CAPE will have a summer program offered to current Chase Middle School students. The summer program will take place May 29-May 31 and , June 8 and June 3-7 from 8am-noon. Your student must be signed up for the CAPE after school program if they would like to attend. There is also a required parent permission form for summer attendance. If your student is not currently signed up for CAPE but is interested in attending, contact Amy Rhoads at 785-295-3840 for details on how to register.
Summer 2024 Information
Bullying Policy
Chase Middle School will not tolerate bullying of any kind. Bullying is defined as any ongoing verbal or physical mistreatment where there is an imbalance of power, and the target/victim is exposed repeatedly to negative actions by one or more students. Bullying can be direct (physical or verbal), or indirect (exclusion, cyber-bullying, emotional). In order for everyone to feel safe and secure at school, every Topeka Public School has adopted the following rules against bullying. “I will not bully others. I will try to help students who are bullied. I will do my best to include students who are easily left out. When I know somebody is being bullied, I will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.” Students, staff, and parents should report any bullying that they are aware of to administration through the on-line bully report link on the Chase website. Students who bully others will receive consequences. Our counselors and administration have visited 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes in August and January to remind students what bullying is, what we can do to prevent bullying, and what students should do if they or someone else is being bullied.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program or activity provided by the school district. The Title VI and Title IX compliance coordinator is the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching/Learning/Administration. The Section 504/Title II compliance coordinator is the Coordinator of College and Career Ready Services. For employment, the EEO/AA officer is the General Director of Human Resources. All compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000. The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3045 or by writing to 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294.