Community News

We have had a very successful start to the school year with many achievements and celebrations already. The White House made it's second visit to Topeka Public Schools since 2021, with U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, visiting as part of his back-to-school tour, in which he highlighted how we are raising the bar as a model of excellence.

We also had a wonderful time kicking off the Homecoming season with celebrations last week at Highland Park. Celebrations will be held at Topeka High and Topeka West in the coming weeks. This week, we celebrated district achievements and the 2023 Patron Award winner at the TPS Foundation breakfast, where it was announced that Highland Park was given a $5 million donation by alumni Susan Guffey in support of the excellence offered through their school for HPH scholars. We are grateful to Ms. Guffey and her family for this generosity and investing in current and future HPH students.

Our dedicated staff members continue to be highlighted locally and statewide, and we congratulate Mrs. Ann DeMiranville (formerly Ms. Gorsuch) and Ms. Eva Yerkes, who were selected for the 2023 Topeka's Top 20 Under 40, Ms. Danielle Twemlow and Ms. Veronica Byrd, our Parents as Teachers educators, who will be recognized during the YWCA Women of Excellence Awards on September 23, and the many scholars and staff who have been celebrated locally in so many ways.

As we end the month, our district has gained approval to provide staff members with additional compensation as we thank them for joining Topeka Public Schools as part of our continued recruitment efforts.

We look forward to seeing all of our families at Family Fitness Fun Night on September 20. Thank you for helping us have such a wonderful start to the school year!

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

On September 5, Topeka Public Schools hosted officials from the U.S. Department of Education for a tour of the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers (TCALC).

Secretary Miguel Cardona met with Dr. Anderson and TCALC students and staff as the first stop on a nationwide tour to recognize districts raising the bar to ensure student success, while highlighting teacher diversity and innovative recruitment initiatives. They were accompanied by Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson.

Four TPS educators and future educators from the TCALC Teaching as a Profession Pathway then participated in a round-table discussion with Secretary Cardona and Dr. Anderson at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.

Learn more in this article from WIBW and view photos on Flickr.

This week, the Topeka Public Schools Foundation (TPSF) 14th Annual Community Breakfast and Superintendent's State of the District Address was held at Manor Conference Center.

This year's event brought together many public officials and community partners to celebrate the 2023 Patron Award recipients, BT&Co., for their decades of service to public education.

Additionally, it was announced by TPSF Executive Director, Pamela Johnson-Betts, that Highland Park High School would be the recipient of a $5 million donation from alumni Susan Guffey, the largest donation in the history of Topeka Public Schools. Learn more in this article from WIBW.

We send a special thank you to Ms. Guffey and her family, and the many community partners who continue to support Topeka Public Schools students. View photos from this event on Flickr and video highlights on YouTube.

On September 8, Highland Park High School students and staff kicked off the district's 2023 Homecoming festivities with their royalty assembly and parade.

The Scots then took on FL Schlagle High School for the varsity football game at Hummer Sports Park, where Evelyn Guajardo and Jordan De La Torre were crowned as Homecoming Royalty. View photos on Flickr.

Upcoming Homecoming Events

Topeka High School

Friday, September 29 (View Calendar)
Homecoming Parade at 2:00 PM
Homecoming Game at 7:00 PM at Hummer Sports Park

Topeka West High School

Friday, October 6 (View Calendar)

Homecoming Pep Assembly at 2:00 PM & Parade at 2:40 PM
Homecoming Game at 7:00 PM at Hummer Sports Park

On August 22, two Topeka Public Schools staff members were surprised with the exciting news that they had been selected for the 2023 Topeka's Top 20 Under 40!

Ann DeMiranville (formerly Ms. Gorsuch), Principal of Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary, and Eva Yerkes, School Counselor at Ross Signature Music Elementary, were selected from hundreds of nominees by the Jayhawk Area Council for their exceptional leadership as educators.

Congratulations Mrs. DeMiranville and Ms. Yerkes!

Help us congratulate Danielle Twemlow and Veronica Byrd, two of our outstanding TPS Parents as Teachers educators, on being named as honorees for the 2023 YWCA Women of Excellence!

Five years ago, Ms. Twemlow joined Topeka Public Schools as an educator in the Parents as Teachers Program. Her professional career has always included working with families to help educate, provide resources, and to support them as they embark on their parenting journey.

Ms. Byrd is a native of Topeka who has been with Topeka Public Schools for nearly a decade and currently serves as the Site Coordinator for the Pine Ridge Partnership and an educator with the Parents as Teachers program. Ms. Byrd has dedicated her career to working with families to help them set and meet goals while providing family-driven solutions.

Ms. Twemlow and Ms. Byrd will receive their awards from the YWCA at the Women of Excellence banquet on September 23.

Our September 2023 Senior of the Month, Avery Zimmerman, is a senior at Topeka High School.

Avery excels academically, taking honors and AP courses, and participates in many extracurricular activities, including golf, soccer, yearbook, and Interact Club. She also works on the daily THS Morning Report.

Avery is a superstar on the soccer pitch, serving as a leader on the team. She has committed to play soccer at Emporia State University, and most of her tuition has already been paid for through scholarships.

Avery plans to major in nursing, and her abilities are being fast-tracked by attending the CNA licensing program at TCALC. At the end of the fall semester, she will have earned her CNA license and can begin working in the field.

Learn more about this outstanding senior in this highlight video.

On September 11, 2001, the world watched as the deadliest attack in American history unfolded. This week, students and staff at Topeka Public Schools took the time to honor the heroes and remember those whose lives were impacted 22 years ago.

Peaceful remembrance took place at each school, and flag ceremonies were held by ROTC programs at each high school. Educators reminisced about living through the tragedy and now preserving history for a new generation of students who were not yet alive when it took place.

View photos and videos from the remembrance ceremonies on Facebook and Flickr.

Join us at Hummer Sports Park for the 13th annual Topeka Public Schools Family Fitness Fun Night at 5:30 PM on September 20!

This event provides information to families and the community on education and healthy living in a positive and fun atmosphere for all ages in a safe and socially-distanced setting.

Attendees can visit various booths to learn about nutrition, fitness, and mental health and participate in fun games and activities. We can't wait to see you there! View the event flyer here.

Students across the district are celebrating culture, history, music, and art during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 - October 15.

Topeka Public Schools provides students with the only PreK-12 Dual Language Program in the region. In 2022, the Dual Language Program was honored with the Magna Award Grand Prize by the National School Boards Association as a model of excellence for other school districts across the country.

On September 21, the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education will sign a proclamation in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, read by students from Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary.

Stay tuned to our social media channels for more exciting activities in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Topeka Public Schools students and staff serve on the Shawnee County Suicide Prevention Coalition, and mental health teams work to provide support at all schools.

We encourage students, families, and staff to view the district's well-being resources and information about suicide prevention from Family Service & Guidance Center (FSGC). Families can watch the September Ask a Child Therapist segment on talking to kids about suicide by following FSGC on Facebook.

The 988 Lifeline is available 24 hours a day to provide mental health support, no matter what you are going through. Connect with a trained crisis counselor who is ready to support you simply by dialing 988.

On September 7, the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education approved a $2,500 salary increase for classified staff members. Through negotiations this summer, qualifying certified staff receive $2,000 to their base pay plus an additional $500 step movement.

Additionally, grant funding was recently approved for the district to provide one-time compensation of $3,000 to full-time, active staff members, which will be dispersed as $1,500 in October and $1,500 in December. This amount will be pro-rated for part-time staff. Learn more by reading the Frequently Asked Questions document from Human Resources on the TPS Staff Site.

To further assist the district with recruiting substitutes before the cold and flu season, we are hiring a substitute manager. Learn more about this position and apply at topekapublicschools.net/careers.

As the district celebrates our forward movement in compensation and academics, with more students moving out of Level 1 in state test scores, we will hold a All School Staff Development & Celebration at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, October 10 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC). We look forward to celebrating our many achievements as one united team!

The Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) provides qualifying parents and guardians with $1,000 per eligible student to spend on approved educational goods and services.

KEEP funds can be used on enrichment and educational activities, including:

• Musical instruments, supplies, and lessons
  
• Curriculum and educational materials, including school supplies and certain allowed technological devices
• Tutoring
• Language classes
• Camps with academic-related curriculum such as music, arts, science, technology, agriculture, mathematics, and engineering
  

An application and more information can be found at www.keep.ks.gov.

Living the Dream, Inc. is sponsoring its 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Art, Poetry, and Essay Competition for students in grades 1-12. Contest information and submission forms for each competition are below.

• Student Art Competition
• Student Poetry Competition
• Student Essay Competition

Certificates and gift cards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner in each grade category during the King Holiday Student Awards and Recognition Program on January 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall (2801 SE Indiana Ave).

Midland Care's Healing Hearts Camp is a fun and safe place for children to learn about grief after the death of a loved one, where they will learn new coping skills to help them on their life journey.

The camp will be held from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM on Friday, October 27 at the Big Gage Shelter House (635 SW Gage Blvd). Students ages 7-12 will have the opportunity to share memories, express feelings, sing, and explore the Topeka Zoo with others who are dealing with loss and grief.

This year, the Healing Hearts Camp has been fully funded through the generous donations of the Mike McDonnel Golf Tournament, so no registration fees are required. Register by October 6 by calling 785-430-2313 or by email at bereavement@midlandcc.org.

As our families and staff plan for the upcoming year, view the 2023-2024 academic calendar, which is available on the Communications Department drop-down menu.

The district Google Calendar is also available on our home page.

Below are important dates for September 2023:

• September 1-30: National Campus Safety Awareness Month
• September 1-30: National Suicide Prevention Month
• September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 17: Constitution Day
• September 19: National IT Professionals Day
• September 20: College Prep Academy Jacketing Ceremony
  9:00 AM | TCALC
• September 20: Family Fitness Fun Night
  5:30 PM | Hummer Sports Park
• September 21: Board of Education Meeting
  5:30 PM | Burnett Center
• September 29: Topeka High School Homecoming
  View Event Calendar

Stay up-to-date with everything you need to know about the 2023-2024 Kansas Legislative Session on the Current Events page at kslegislature.org.

• Topeka Public Schools Blog
  
  
• Topeka Public Schools YouTube Channel
  
  
• Board of Education Meeting Minutes & Agenda

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. For students, the Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 compliance coordinator compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 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) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.

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