CMS October 24

Welcome to October! October is full of events to celebrate our students such as Honor Roll Assemblies, Parent Teacher Conferences and the accomplishments of our students in extracurricular activities. We also want to share that Chase Middle School was recently honored with the Challenge Award of Merit. It was awarded to us for our 2023 outstanding achievement based on state assessments. The efforts of our amazing students, our outstanding staff and supportive parents are the reason behind this achievement!

We need your help, if you need to get a message to your student, please call our front office and we are happy to get a message to them. Students are expected to have cellphones off and in their lockers during the school day. Thank you for your continued support with this policy. Together we can achieve more!

We look forward to seeing you all at Parent-Teacher Conferences October 23 and 24.

Enjoy our newsletter!

Ms. Spalding

Regular attendance, punctuality, and success in school are closely related. The primary responsibility of good attendance at the middle level rests with students and their parents/guardians. Patterns of good attendance are usually established early in the school year. It is necessary for a parent/guardian to notify the school the day of the student’s absence. If no phone is available, a note may be sent with the student on his/her return to school. Parents will be contacted in the evening by an automated dialing system when their student has an unexcused absence or tardy. In order for an absence to be excused, the parent/guardian must notify the office each day of absence or have the student bring a note to the office excusing him/her upon returning to school. When a student’s illness extends beyond three (3) consecutive school days, a physician’s statement verifying the necessity of the absence is required, giving permission to return to classes, and/or requesting restricted activity. When a student has accumulated 2 unexcused absences, a pre-truancy advisory letter will be sent. When a student accumulates 10 or more absences a doctor or a medical professional’s note will be required to excuse further absences. If no note is provided, the absence is considered unexcused. Truancy status may result in a loss of transfer status if a student is attending Chase on a transfer.

Chase Middle School complies with all State of Kansas truancy laws. All cases of truancy will be reported to the School District’s Truancy Officer. When a student accumulates three (3) consecutive unexcused absences, five (5) cumulative unexcused absences in a semester, or seven (7) cumulative unexcused absences in a school year, the principal may file a Truancy Report verifying the dates and extent of such absences with the Truancy Officer for USD 501. The report will then be forwarded to Court Services for processing. Any student who leaves school for any reason during school hours must have parent/guardian’s permission and must sign out in the office before leaving the building. Upon returning to school, a student must check in at the office for a pass to class. If this should involve a doctor’s appointment, etc., please have your parent call or send a note stating where you are going and what time you should be excused. Your parent could also come to the office in person. A student will not be allowed to leave school without prior notification from parent/guardian.

Your Chase PTO has spirit wear for sale again! Click on the button below to order. PTO will be hosting a baked goods table and raffle baskets during parent-teacher conferences. Don't forget to stop by their table and enter a chance to win or take home some baked good!

Wednesday evening, October 23 and all day Thursday, October 24 have been reserved for teachers to meet with students and parents to discuss progress and strategies for success. Look for communication coming home from your student’s AB teacher, to schedule your time or contact your child’s advisor if you need to reschedule.

We suggest you allow 30 minutes for conferences in order to have the opportunity to visit with teachers other than your child’s advisor. Students are encouraged to attend conferences with their parent(s). We look forward to seeing all parents and students at conferences October 23 and 24.

There is no school for students on Thursday or Friday, October 24 and 25.

First quarter honor roll assemblies will take place on the following dates listed below. All assemblies will be held in the gym and begin promptly at 2:15 PM. If a parent is present during the assembly the honor student is welcome to leave with the parent following the assembly.

6th Grade- Wednesday, October 16

7th Grade- Thursday, October 17

8th Grade- Friday, October 18

Cellular telephones and other ECDs must remain off and out of sight in classrooms and not used during instructional time. However, at the high schools, students are permitted to use cellular phones and other ECDs during the lunch period and passing periods. Middle school students must keep their cellular devices off in their locker during the instructional day. Elementary students must keep their cellular devices in their backpack during the school day. Exceptions may be made in special circumstances with prior approval from the principal or designee including but not limited to medical reasons documented by a licensed physician.

Easily pay School Fees online! Create your free MySchoolBucks account to conveniently and securely pay for your student’s school fees online or with the mobile app. With MySchoolBucks you’ll be notified when fees are due, and make payments from anywhere!

Get Started Today:

1. Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app

2. Create your free account and add your students using their school name / student ID

3. Add school items or invoices to your cart

4. Check out using your credit / debit card or electronic check

If you need assistance with your account, you can find helpful how-to videos and answers to commonly asked questions by visiting myschoolbucks.com. Or, you can contact MySchoolBucks directly by logging into your account to start a chat conversation or give them a call at (855) 832-5226.

It is true! All students must have badges to leave the classroom, check out library books, or attend extracurricular activities. Please remind your student to have their badge on or with him/her every morning before leaving for school.

Re-takes are scheduled for Friday, November 1. If your student did not get a photograph taken, they will be photographed. If you ordered a packet and are unhappy with your picture and would like a re-take, save your packet and bring it with you on November 1. You will turn in that complete packet and get a re-take and receive the exact same package. For more information about Strawbridge portraits and on-line ordering, please visit https://www.strawbridge.net/.

Students in their 7th grade Geography class learned about the importance of freshwater availability around the world. Millions of people (primarily girls) around the world carry water for hours every day. Students in our classes did a water walk to "experience" what this would be like.

The 7th Grade class collected $566.74 to help take clean water to the people of South Sudan School 1. Congratulations to Mr. Nienhuis and his team of 7th graders for making this possilble.

Students are not allowed to carry medications with them during the school day. All medication including prescription and over the counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen must have proper paperwork in place and all medications must be kept in the school nurse's office. (This includes cough drops.) Exceptions can be made for Inhalers and Epi-Pens, with an additional form. If you have questions please contact Nurse Shelly for the appropriate forms. MEDICATION GUIDELINES

Request to Administer Medication This form is required for any/all medications prescribed by a physician or healthcare provider, including Inhalers, Epi-Pens, or for any medication taken on a daily basis. This form will require the prescribing physician’s signature and a parent or guardian’s signature before the medication can be administered.

Request to Take Medication This form is required for over the counter medication that a student may need to take on an as needed basis, such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, or cough drops. Students may only use over the counter medications per the directions on the label, including age and dosage. This form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian.

Permission To Carry Epi-Pen (Medication Release Form) If you wish your student to carry their Epi-Pen on them during the school day, this form must be completed by the Prescribing Physician, the Parent or Guardian, the School Principal and the School Nurse. This form is in addition to the Request to Administer Medication.

Permission to Carry Inhaler (Medication Release Form) If you wish your student to carry their inhaler on them during the school day, this form must be completed by the Prescribing Physician, the Parent or Guardian, the School Principal and the School Nurse. This form is in addition to the Request to Administer Medication.

The Topeka Public Schools’ Board of Education is committed to providing a positive and productive learning and working environment. Bullying, hazing, harassment, intimidation, or menacing by students, staff or third parties is strictly prohibited and shall not be tolerated in the district. The Board of Education hereby prohibits bullying in any form on school property, in a school vehicle or at a school-sponsored activity or event. The superintendent of schools shall propose, and the Board of Education shall review and approve, a plan to address bullying on school property, in school vehicles or vehicles of contracted transportation providers or at a school-sponsored activity or event. The plan shall include provisions for the training and education of staff members and students and shall include appropriate community involvement as approved by the Board of Education. Threatening, harassing behavior is considered to be bullying when it is intentional, repeated, and one-sided. Students whose behavior is found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion. Individuals who violate this policy may also be referred to law enforcement officials.

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 IX compliance coordinator is the executive director of administration. The Section 504 compliance coordinator is the general director of special 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, Kansas 66611-1294.