November-December Newsletter

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. The month of October was extremely busy for all with the end of the quarter and parent-teacher conferences. We enjoyed seeing parents here supporting their student/s in their educational journey. Thank you for participating in conferences, whether that was in person or by phone. Your participation and support is greatly appreciated not only by staff, but also by your students. We were able to connect with 75% of Chase parents during conferences.

As we approach the end of November, we want to remind you of some upcoming dates and activities.

The boys soccer season as well as girls basketball season are well underway with the boys soccer team playing for 3rd place tonight. The girls basketball team will play through December. Students wanting to cheer on these teams may attend home games without a parent, but must be with a parent for the duration of any away games.

Our band, string, and choir students will be performing the evening of December 17. We hope to see you all at this evening of wonderful music.

The halfway point for the school year is December 20 which is also the end of Quarter 2 . Please continue to check in with your student about any missing work they may have. It becomes overwhelming when they get too far behind. Please encourage your student to talk with teachers about any missing assignments as well as assignments missed when they are absent. It is important for students to ask for make-up work and make arrangements to get extra help if they need it after returning from an absence. We appreciate your help!

We look forward to hearing from you and working together for a positive and successful quarter!

Yvonne Spalding

Principal

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.

Girls basketball

Games are Tuesdays and Thursdays. All regular season games start at 3:15 and are usually over by 5:30. Games cost $2.00 to enter. Game dates can be found on our school website calendar. Students are not allowed at away games unless accompanied by a parent.

Boys Basketball will start Thursday Jan. 6th. Boys games are held Mondays and Thursdays, starting at 3:15 and are over by 5:30. Make sure that you have your sports physical completed before the first practice. Now is the time to make sure that assignments are getting turned in and your grades are up. Students MUST pass 5 classes in the 2nd quarter in order to play basketball in the 3rd quarter.

Sportsmanship

We would like to remind spectators that Chase Middle School is a member school of the Kansas State High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) and is governed by their rules. One of those rules which, we completely support is Rule 52 which states:

ALL ACTIONS are to be FOR, NOT AGAINST; POSITIVE, NOT NEGATIVE or DISRESPECTFUL

Section 1: General Regulations (apply to grades 7-12)

Art. 1: SPORTSMANSHIP is a general way of thinking and behaving. The following sportsmanship policy items are listed below for clarification:

a. Be courteous to all. (Participants, coaches, officials, staff and fans)

b. Know the rules, abide by and respect the official’s decisions.

c. Win with character and lose with dignity.

d. Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team.

e. Exercise self-control and reflect positively upon yourself, team and school.

f. Permit only positive sportsmanlike behavior to reflect on your school or its activities.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS, TELEPHONE OR EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON It is extremely important that we maintain accurate and timely information on each student, so we can make contact in case of an emergency. Please make changes in Synergy Parent Portal or call the office to report all changes in telephone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts and e-mail addresses.

How the school year is flying! Starting the first week of January our Chase counselors will begin meeting with 8th graders to select classes for high school. High school counselors will be at Chase visiting with our 8th graders in late January. Students will select classes they would like to take during high school and complete a 4 year individual plan through Naviance.

Parents will be able to see what classes their child has selected during parent-teacher conferences in February with Mr. Hershberger or Mrs. Sage. High School Parent Information Nights are listed below:

Topeka High January 29, 2025 6-7 PM

Highland Park January 22, 2025 6-7 PM

Topeka West February 5, 2025 6-7 PM

If your student is planning on requesting a transfer to attend a different high school, it is important that they apply once applications are made available on January 1st. The application link will be put on the students’ science class Google Classroom after winter break. If transfers are not approved prior to high school visits in May, students will only be allowed to visit their assigned high school based on their attendance area.

We are learning about Natural Forces so we can show what we have learned about how people plan for, deal with, and recover from forces of nature. Students had choices for their Project Based Learning.

Public Service Announcement (PSA)

○ What to do in the event of an emergency
(Slides with Screencastify or Canva)
Create an Infographic
○ Choose a type of severe weather and give safety tips
○ Community resources in the event of a natural disaster (Canva)
Emergency Plan
○ Create a “Go Bag” and explain the purpose of each item selected (Go Bag or Slides with Screencastify)

Featured is Carlos Morales-Bermudez and his emergency "Go Bag" that he created for his household.

Topeka Public Schools utilizes the SchoolMessenger system for web services and to deliver text messages to families in the district. Alerts come straight to your mobile phone with important information about your child's school events, inclement weather, and more.

Parents and guardians can participate in this free service* just by sending a text message of "Y" or "Yes" to the TPS short code number, 67587. You can also opt-out of these messages at any time by simply replying "stop" to one of our messages.

SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy Pledge, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.

Although parents may let their kids stay up late or sleep in during special occasions (like winter break), they should transition to their regular sleep patterns before returning to school. That's because quality, consistent sleep is essential to your child's ability to learn.

Too little sleep has been associated with "attention, behavior, and learning problems," according to a statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). "Insufficient sleep also increases the risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and depression."

So how can you help your whole family get back into the swing of things? Follow these seven tips to support your children as they begin a new

In the days before classes start, move bedtime back by 15- 30 minutes each night until you're back to their sleep normal schedule. The AASM recommends the following optimal amounts of sleep for children and teens:

• Ages 4-12 months: 12-16 hours (including naps)

• Ages 1-2 years: 11-14 hours (including naps)

• Ages 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps)

• Age 6-12 years: 9-12 hours

• Age 13-18 years: 8-10 hours

Create a Back-to-School Countdown

Lazy days spent relaxing in pajamas seem to abruptly stop once school starts again. Ease the transition back to class, especially for younger kids, by creating a visual countdown for the end of winter break (put a calendar on the refrigerator and mark off the days). That way, the different routine won't creep up so unexpectedly. Older kids can enter the date on their personal calendars, letting them track how much more freedom they can enjoy.

Discuss The Year Ahead

Before school starts in the fall, it's a great idea to chat with your child about expectations for the year ahead. After winter break, parents might presume their children won't need the same amount of preparation, since teachers and classes largely remain the same. But some things will change in the new year—such as the coursework your child will do each day. Talking through any worries or concerns can help them feel more confident.

Celebrate Their First Week Back

Returning to school after a fun-filled winter break can feel a little disappointing. Help soften the blow by organizing something special to celebrate the completion of their first week back. Some examples: a movie night, special play date, dinner at their favorite restaurant, game night, or bowling.

Stock Up on School Supplies

Start the new year ready for new challenges by ensuring your child has all the resources they need. For younger kids, this might mean a fresh set of sharpened colored pencils, new glue sticks, boxes of tissues, or hand sanitizer. Older kids might appreciate some new reading material, colorful folders, or notebooks.

Make Your Mornings Easier

School mornings can be hectic, especially if kids have gotten used to moving at a slower pace during the holidays. Make the before-school hours run smoothly by planning tasks the day before. For example:

• Ask kids to organize and pack their school supplies and backpacks before bed.

• Prepare breakfast or lunch the night before.

• Lay out clothing options.

• Agree on a bathroom schedule if you have a large family.

• Plan to leave a 10-minute buffer to avoid being late on the first day back.

Validate Your Child's Feelings

Just as you might not look forward to your own daily grind after winter break, it's normal for kids to have mixed feelings, too. They might be eager to see their friends and their teacher—or they might feel anxious and apprehensive about the situation. Both reactions are normal and valid. Encourage kids to voice their feelings and listen with patience. When children feel heard, they're more likely to share their feelings and worries. Act as a safe space, and let your kindness help them muster the courage needed to face all of life's challenges.

Starting November 4, the Student Council will host a canned food drive contest. The Advisor Base from each grade level that brings the most cans will win a snow cone and popcorn party. We will use the cans in our Thanksgiving food baskets, which will be given to 7 families in our community. Please consider donating cans of food that you are not using.

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 Shelly Garst @ sgarst@tps501.org 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.

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.

MISSION STATEMENTS

Topeka Public Schools

The mission of the Topeka Public School is ENGAGE students in the highest quality learning; PREPARE students for responsible, productive citizenship, and INSPIRE excellence for a lifetime.

Chase Middle School

Through the implementation of the Comprehensive, Integrated, 3-Tiered System of Supports (CI3T), all staff will guide students to succeed at their highest potential academically, socially, and emotionally.