Dear Sheldon Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I am so excited to welcome all of our new and returning Sheldon Sharks!

I am privileged to be beginning my fifth year as principal at Sheldon Head Start and Pine Ridge Prep Preschool. Here at Sheldon we are blessed with the best ~ the most passionate and dedicated teaching staff, incredible students, and rock star families! Working together, we will set the tone for your child's continued academic success!

Once school starts, you will receive a weekly newsletter from me highlighting all upcoming dates and events. The weekly newsletter will also include reminders and important information. Please make sure to read the newsletter each week so you stay informed! This is the number one way I communicate with all families. This newsletter will be sent via email, text, and posted on our Sheldon Facebook page. Speaking of, haven't followed us yet on social media? Please do! We love to share pictures of all the fun we are having!

This edition of the newsletter contains important information you need to know leading up to the first day of school. I hope this newsletter helps answer many of your questions. There are also several required items that MUST be completed. Please pay careful attention to those and complete them ASAP.

If you have further questions after reading, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

August 12-16: Home Visits

August 20: Meet the Teacher Night @ 4:30-5:30

August 21: First Day of School!

August 22: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

August 28: On-Site Physical Clinic

August 31: All ASQs must be complete!

September 2: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 5: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

September 10: Fire Safety Lesson #1

September 12: Picture Day!

September 18: Family Fun Fitness Night @ Hummer Sports Park

September 19: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

September 23: NO SCHOOL - Personal Development Day

September 24: Sheldon Outdoor Health & Social-Emotional Family Event

Families should plan to attend "Meet the Teacher Night" on Tuesday, August 20th. This event is from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and is a come and go event. Bring your child, see your child's classroom and school.

As a state and district expectation, all preschool children must have the ASQ3 and ASQSE2 completed each year. These are also required to be completed by our Head Start grant.

Please use the appropriate link below to complete both the ASQ and ASQ-SE screening forms. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. When you click on the link, you will have the option of choosing to complete BOTH surveys.

English version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/58ce82

Spanish version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/824204

If you need additional help completing the screener please use our step-by-step directions using the link below.

ASQ Parent Guide

SPANISH ASQ Parent Guide

Thank you to the families who have delivered, sent or uploaded the required preschool documents!

If you have not done so, please submit your child's:

• birth certificate
• immunization records
• health assessment (physical), including hemoglobin and lead testing
• oral health form

The above documents can be submitted by , scanning and emailing them to kneufeld@tps501.org, faxing to the Sheldon office (785-271-3647), or delivering them to the Sheldon office.

We must have the required documents before the first day of school.

The child nutrition form is a required form that all enrolled families need to complete. The district was awarded a grant that results in all students in Topeka Public Schools receiving free meals this school year. By filling out this form, you will NOT be charged any amount for meals this school year. This form benefits the TPS district because it helps us receive funding for many programs and technology to ensure student success. Please take time NOW to complete the form.

This form is for your whole family, so if you have multiple children at several schools, you only have to complete one form.

Child Nutrition Form

This will take you to a Horizon Software page that indicates Topeka Public USD #501 at the top. Read through the "Welcome" page and click on "Start Application" at the bottom.

Monday-Thursday: 9:15 AM - 4:00 PM

• Arrival begins: 9:00 AM (drop off through car line)
• School starts: 9:15 AM
• Arrival ends: 9:15 AM (Students will be considered tardy after 9:15 AM. Students arriving after 9:15 AM will need to sign in at the main office)
• Dismissal begins: 3:45 PM (pick up in the car line)
• Dismissal ends: 4:00 PM (all students must be picked up by 4:00 PM)

Late Start Fridays (every Friday): 10:15 AM - 4:00 PM

• Arrival begins: 10:15 AM (drop off through car line)
• School starts: 10:15 AM
• Arrival ends: 10:30 AM (Students will be considered tardy after 10:30 AM. Students arriving after 10:30 AM will need to sign in at the main office)
• Dismissal begins: 3:45 PM (pick up in the car line)
• Dismissal ends: 4:00 PM (all students must be picked up by 4:00 PM)

Before the first day of school, you will receive a newsletter that explains the arrival and dismissal car line procedures.

Late Start is on FRIDAYS for this school year and the arrival time will be at 10:15. The first late

start of the year will be on Friday, August 23rd.

During this time of the year, as people return from vacation, respiratory viruses do occur and can spread. Masks are available and can be worn as desired. Generally at the start of the year and during the winter months, more people become ill and we encourage everyone to practice safety precautions that include, but are not limited to handwashing and remaining home when you are under the weather. The guidelines we are giving to parents and staff are on our Safe Return to School Web Page.

This handbook includes important information about Sheldon Head Start including our mission and vision, policies and procedures.

Please take time to review this handbook.

Class lists have been finalized.

Your child's teacher should have already reached out to you to schedule a home visit to occur before the first day of school. At Sheldon, we complete a home visit before school starts so your child can meet his or her teacher team in a familiar environment. This allows the staff to learn about your child and begin building a relationship in a setting that your child is comfortable with. We love meeting students at the home visit because then the child has already met the teachers. This results in a much smoother "Meet the Teacher Night" and "First Day of School." We will also conduct an end of the school year Home Visit. This is the reason for Sheldon students ending the school year earlier than others in the district. This also fulfills the Head Start requirement of home visits with each family twice a year and gives us a one-on-one opportunity to share information and complete required paperwork.

We look forward to meeting each of our families!

As a Head Start program, Sheldon provides all school supplies. The only items we ask your child bring are two sets of weather appropriate clothes (socks, underwear, bottom, top) in case of an accident or getting messy throughout the day. Additionally, while a backpack is not required, most students do bring one. If you need assistance with providing a backpack for your student, please reach out as we do have a few on hand!

If you haven't yet, please be sure you send TWO extra sets of clothes (bottom, top, underwear,

socks) with your student on the first day of school, in case of accidents or just because

sometimes preschool can be messy! Make sure they are appropriate for the current weather.

We will be providing each student a water bottle to use throughout the day. There is no need to

send one with your student.

At Sheldon Head Start, we provide breakfast, lunch, and snack to all students. As we are a

Head Start program, nutrition guidelines are very strict and due to this outside food and drink

is NOT allowed. We are very blessed to have our Head Chef, Mr. Jim, who has been providing

home cooked meals to Sheldon students for over 25 years! This past year he surpassed TWO

MILLION meals served! Please do not send your student with a lunch or a snack.

If your child takes medication at school, you will need to have your child's physician complete

and sign a Request to Administer Medication form, which will need to be returned to Ms.

Andrea in the clinic. Medication must be sent in the original packaging with the original label.

If your child needs meal modifications due to religious or medical restrictions, please

complete and return the attached forms.

Sheldon Head Start follows the Topeka Public Schools Academic Calendar. The only exceptions are a later start date and earlier end date. The first day of school for Sheldon students is Wednesday, August 21st. The last day of school for Sheldon students will be May 16th.

***If your child will be dismissing in a way that is different than normal, please contact your child's classroom teacher prior to 2:00 PM.

Sheldon will be using a car line for arrival/dismissal again this year. It will take us a few days

to get it down, but if you give us grace during that time, I ensure that we will be a well-oiled

machine by the end of the second week of school! Our highest priority is student safety so we

will take our time to ensure the safety of all. The number one thing I have learned over the

years is that when everyone follows the rules, the system works, and works quickly!

It is CRITICAL that the car line procedures are followed to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal for all students, families, and staff. The map below highlights the traffic flow for the car line. Please remember that we are located in a fairly compact neighborhood. We want to ensure we are respectful of all Sheldon's neighbors by following speed limit and other traffic signs and by not blocking driveways or intersections.

The car line will run from 9:00-9:15 on Monday-Thursday (10:15-10:30 on Fridays). Any student arriving after 9:15 (10:30 on Fridays) will need to check in at the main office as the car line will have ended. The dismissal car line will begin at 3:45. Any adult arriving to pick up a child after 4:00 will need to check them out at the main office as the car line will have ended.

To use the car line:

• Turn west onto Munson Ave. from Gage
• Drive down Munson toward the Temple Beth Shalom.
• Please remember, The Temple is PRIVATE PROPERTY and they are incredibly kind for allowing us to use their space for our car line. Firearms, drugs, and alcohol are PROHIBITED on The Temple's property. Please be respectful of our neighbors.
• When you enter The Temple's parking lot, there is a drive on the right side that wraps around the building. Follow this drive and form the car line around the outside edge of The Temple's parking lot, proceeding up to the cone on the curb next to Sheldon.
• DO NOT enter or exit the car line using Seabrook Ave. in front of the school. This is our bus lane and will cause all kinds of traffic jams.

At home visits, teachers will provide families with a labeled bus harness if they are a bus rider OR

a labeled lanyard for students who are in the car line. Please make sure your student is ready for the bus with their harness on under any jacket they may be wearing. Car line students need to have their lanyard around their neck as they exit the vehicle in the car line. This will help us transition students to their classrooms quickly and more importantly, safely!

All families will be provided a car tag for in case they need to use the car line. We tried to make it easy for you by making it so that it can hang from your rearview mirror. This car tag MUST be visible in the front window so that your student can be called for dismissal. If someone else will be transporting your student, please provide this car tag to them. If you need additional tags, please let your child's classroom teacher know.

Our Sheldon Head Start Facebook page is active! We use this as a way to communicate with families and share many pictures. Please follow the page to stay updated!

@SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors that determine school success. The habit of attending school every single day begins with the preschool year(s).

Daily Absence Information

• Parents/guardians should notify the school each day a student is absent by 9:15 a.m, by calling (785) 438-4530. If leaving a voicemail, please provide the student's name, classroom teacher and reason for absence. If the parent/guardian fails to notify the school, the school will attempt to contact the parent/guardian. The communication can be in a variety of methods, such as electronic communication, telephone call or in person. Home visits will be conducted if there has been no contact made after two days.
• All absences, including those excused, will count against a student’s attendance.
• The school encourages parents to schedule doctor and dental appointments after school hours, or on days when school is not in session.
• Parents/guardians may be required to submit supporting documentation in order to excuse the absence of their student if student absenteeism is excessive.
• Preschool absences are recorded in Synergy, the district's student information system. The expectation is that students attend school at least 90% of the time. If the student falls below 90% (excused or unexcused) a letter will be sent home. If this issue does not improve an official attendance plan will be put into place and/or a meeting with the school principal will be scheduled.

The Kansas State law specifically says that a student is truant if they have missed 3 unexcused days in a row, 5 unexcused days in a semester, or 7 unexcused days in a school year. Truancy may result in a report being filed with DCF.

Examples of Excused Absences:

• Personal illness or medical appointment
• Illness of an immediate family member
• Death in the immediate family or other emergency beyond the control of the family
• Religious holidays of the student’s religious faith
• Participation in a district approved or school sponsored activity or event
• Required court appearance or subpoena by a law enforcement agency
• Family vacation/Out of town (that have been pre-approved by the school principal)

Examples of Unexcused Absences:

• No contact by parent/guardian
• Oversleeping
• Personal grooming appointments (hair, nails, etc)
• Shopping/errands
• Suspension from school
• Family vacation/ Out of town that have not been pre-approved
• Missing the bus/ride

Policy Council is an opportunity for parents to be part of program decision-making. Policy Council gives parents an opportunity to have a voice and learn about program leadership. Policy Council members vote on Grant Approvals, Program Budget Approvals, Staffing, Publics Relations, and Policies & Procedures.

The Sheldon Policy Council meets monthly for 1 hour and asks for a one year commitment. More information will be shared at Home Visits.

Take a look at the Topeka Resources Checklist. This is very helpful for planning! This is a list of possible resources to help you stretch your dollars and avoid economic emergencies. Place a check beside the ones you are using or have used.

You can find the link to the 2021 Community Resources Council Resource Directory here. This directory provides contact information for a variety of community resources.

If in need of resources, you can also contact the United Way by dialing 211.

See the following links for Food Pantry resources available to families.

English and Spanish

Website: https://sheldon.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1155 SW Seabrook Ave.
Phone: 785-438-4530
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart