Community News

Throughout this month, we are celebrating National School Social Work Month, Read Across America, and Music, Theatre, & Visual Arts in Our Schools Month. I had a wonderful time reading with kindergarten friends in Ms. Hartz’s class at Highland Park Central Elementary, who are pictured above. As we showcase the fine arts this month, we recognized theatre, art, and music students and student artwork is posted in our boardroom.

It has been incredible seeing many of you at school performances and it was a special treat joining many of our families and students at the concert Overcome, a tribute to the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board at White Concert Hall, featuring a solo from our Williams Magnet music teacher Mrs. Cluke, and our choir teacher from Topeka High, Mrs. Hernandez. We congratulate all of our music, art, and theatre educators and students on the performances and achievements this season.

The Highland Park High School athletes have had a very exciting season as they competed in the KSHSAA State Basketball Semi-Finals this afternoon. We congratulate our athletes and coaches for their competitive season, and we are all cheering on our Scots as they play for 3rd place on Saturday.

Have a relaxing Spring Break!

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

Spring Break will be held the week of March 11-15, 2024. There will also be no school for students on Monday, March 18.

Students will return to school on Tuesday, March 19.

Please note there is also no school for students on Friday, March 29.

Families who are interested in scheduling an in-person or telehealth appointment with the Campus Care Clinic during the break may view the March 2024 clinic schedule here. The clinic serves all USD 501 staff, students, and their household family members.

Music, Theatre, & Visual Arts in Our Schools Month provides an opportunity for the entire community to learn about the benefits of these subjects in schools!

Topeka Public Schools students in elementary, middle, and high school have been putting these skills to work over the past month as they perform in musicals, plays, and concerts across the district.

In celebration of this month, members of the national award-winning theatre troupes, Topeka West Thespian Troupe 3061 and Topeka High Thespian Troupe 210, visited the Kansas Statehouse on March 5, where they were recognized by legislators for theatre education and advocacy.

Additionally, students engaged in a proclamation signing with Governor Laura Kelly and performed in the rotunda as part of the Kansas Thespian Conference's Advocacy Day activities. Students also appeared on the Red Couch with WIBW's Melissa Brunner to share their platform.

After placing 3rd in the state in 2023, we congratulate the Highland Park High School boys basketball team on being named their division's 2024 Sub State Champion.

The Scots moved on to compete in the 2024 KSHSAA 5A State Tournament in Emporia on March 6, defeating Andover 57-32 to advance to the State Semi-Finals. They then took on Kapaun Mt. Carmel of Wichita on Friday, March 8, with a final score of 64-67 in overtime.

The Scots will now compete for 3rd place on Saturday, March 9 at 12:00 PM. We congratulate the Scots on an incredible season, entering the tournament as the no. 2 seed with a 21-1 regular season record.

On March 1, Whitson Elementary School presented a big check for $2,500 to the family of a special first-grade student, Isaac, who is battling cancer.

Students and staff fundraised throughout the month of February by selling tickets to pie their favorite school staff member. Following the presentation of the big check, students enjoyed seeing 25 of their teachers and principals being pied for a great cause.

Additionally, the Kansas City Chiefs sent a special Super Bowl basket for Isaac, which was presented during the assembly.

Watch highlights from the assembly in this Facebook video and in this segment from WIBW.

Topeka Public Schools is excited to announce the opening of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library exhibition, "Our Stories: African American Topeka Before and After Brown," which will be on display through May 19.

The Black American Blueprint Collective is led by Robinson Middle School teacher Mr. Michael Kates and TSCPL genealogist, author, and historian Sherri Camp. TSCPL employee Jessie Revell researched and designed the exhibit.

The display features pictures of several past and present notable Topekans, including Pamela Johnson Betts, a proud graduate of Topeka High School and Executive Director of the TPS Foundation. All are recognized as “historic Topeka trailblazers” who have led the way for future generations.

On February 27, over 50 Topeka Public Schools high school students attended “The Real World: AE Day” at Advisors Excel.

Students gained valuable career experience as they were immersed in the “real world” of working for Advisors Excel in various departments. They even had the opportunity to hear from other Topeka Public Schools alumni who now have thriving careers with AE.

We thank Advisors Excel for their continued support of Topeka Public Schools students! View photos from the event on Facebook.

Topeka Public Schools is celebrating National School Social Work Month throughout the month of March!

We thank all of our school social workers for their tremendous impact in helping our students and families achieve success.

You can share your appreciation, thanks, and encouragement for the school social worker in your life by leaving a comment on our Facebook video highlighting social workers across the district.

Check out our new College Connections Newsletter on Smore! With an easy to navigate Table of Contents, it's now simpler than ever for high school students and families to find helpful information on college and career readiness.

This month's newsletter covers the following topics:

• Applying for Federal Student Aid
• The Kansas Promise Act
• College registration/admissions process & deadlines
• Scholarships
• ACT/SAT testing dates
• Job opportunities for students
• High School Program of Studies (watch video)

The Topeka High School Theatre Program is holding an auction for used pro audio equipment. Proceeds will contribute to the new Martha Herrick Black Box Theatre at Topeka High.

All sound items were uninstalled by Cytek Media Systems in January 2024 and were in working order when uninstalled unless noted otherwise.

Sealed bids must be received by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 15, 2024. Learn more about these items and how to place a bid at this link.

Families who have a preschooler ready to begin kindergarten this fall are encouraged to join us for 2024-2025 Kindergarten Orientation at 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 11!

This event is an opportunity for parents to learn more about Topeka Public Schools, meet teachers and staff, and tour our schools.

Kindergarten Orientation will take place at each elementary school in the district, so please attend the event hosted at the school where your child plans to attend. Eligible students must be 5 years-old by August 31, 2024.

ShareFest is an event created with the belief that churches and organizations can do more together than any one group could do separately. The event brings together citizens from all over Topeka to improve our community!

Topeka Public Schools is among the organizations to benefit from this year's ShareFest, which will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Volunteers will spend the day landscaping, painting, and cleaning up the grounds of Eisenhower Middle, Landon Middle, Lowman Hill Elementary, Meadows Elementary, Pine Ridge Prep Preschool, Ross Elementary, and Topeka West High School.

This event is only possible with the help of volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit sharefesttopeka.com.

Do you have a young scholar ready to begin preschool? Get ready! Our 2024-2025 preschool application will be available online beginning in April!

Topeka Public Schools is accepting applications for State Pre-K, Preschool Intervention Program, Sheldon Head Start, Pine Ridge Prep, Scott Dual Language, and Shaner Early Learning Academy.

View the 2024-2025 preschool flyer in English and Spanish here. For more information on our outstanding preschool programs, visit topekapublicschools.net.

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.

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.

View the 2023-2024 academic calendar or the district Google Calendar to plan ahead for parent-teacher conferences, no school days, and more.

Below are important dates for March 2024:

• March 1-31: Music, Theatre, & Visual Arts in Our Schools Month
• March 1-31: Women's History Month
• March 1-31: National Social Work Month
• March 4-8: National School Social Work Week

• March 11-15: SPRING BREAK
  NO SCHOOL IN SESSION
• March 18: Staff Planning & Prep Day
  NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• March 21: Board of Education Meeting
  5:30 PM | Burnett Center
• March 29: No School for Students

As our families plan for the upcoming year, Topeka Public Schools has also released the 2024-2025 academic calendar, which is available on the Communications Department menu.

Stay up-to-date with everything you need to know about the 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.

Copyright © 2018, All rights reserved.