Community News

We have had a busy start to our summer! Yesterday, we had an incredible day on the greens at the 31st annual Topeka Public Schools Foundation Golf Tournament. Thank you to all who donated their time, talent, and resources for this special event to support our TPS scholars.

This week, we started our Summer Enrichment Programs and Extended School Year, which have been full of students engaged in learning opportunities.

On June 3, we joined the Topeka Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration, Inc. for their Unity Walk and Flag Raising Program at the Capitol, where all 50 states were represented by an organization raising the Juneteenth flag in unity. We look forward to continued Juneteenth activities leading up to the holiday. Stay connected with us on social media for continued updates.

We also hosted engaging and inspiring professional learning sessions this week with Corwin authors and educators Professor John Hattie and Karen Flories, and look forward to more exciting opportunities for staff throughout the summer months. Information on our next professional learning workshop is included in the newsletter below.

As a reminder, enrollment for next school year is filling up fast, so please register this month to ensure your child attends your first choice of school. We look forward to seeing students and families at our upcoming in-person enrollment events.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

This week, Topeka Public Schools kicked off our Summer Enrichment Programs and Extended School Year!

The district is keeping scholars in grades PreK-12 engaged through courses on gardening, athletics, coding & robotics, drama & theatre, engineering, fine arts, world languages, and much more. View photos from our summer programs on Flickr, where photos will be added throughout the month of June.

To learn more about summer learning opportunities, visit topekapublicschools.net.

Throughout the summer months, our Topeka Public Schools Food Service staff members are dedicated to serving students and families!

The 2024 Summer Meal Program kicked off on June 3, where meals are served at no cost Monday through Friday at congregate meal sites across the city for children 18 and under. Please note that meals must be eaten on-site.

Visit our website to see a full listing of sites, offerings, and schedules.

Looking for fun family activities this summer? Download the Sunflower Summer app!

Developed by the Kansas State Department of Education in partnership with Kansas teachers, Sunflower Summer provides a fun and engaging way to ensure student learning continues during the summer months.

All Kansas students in grades PreK-12, and up to two accompanying adults, may access one ticket voucher to each of the participating attractions in the Sunflower Summer app at no charge.

To get started, visit sunflowersummer.org to learn how the program works. Next, download the free mobile app and start planning your adventures!

Online registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open for students in grades PreK-12! Returning TPS families may register their students at this link or through the ParentVue app on a mobile device.

Families NEW to Topeka Public Schools will create a new account and register by following these instructions.

Families can view important dates for the 2024-2025 school year, a school supply list, and more at topekapublicschools.net on the Online Registration page.

Topeka Public Schools is proud to partner with Topeka Moms Demand Action on June 7-9, as we come together as a community for Wear Orange Weekend to honor survivors of gun violence and raise awareness about the need for safer communities.

By wearing orange, we stand in solidarity with those affected and show our commitment to ending gun violence and promoting gun safety awareness.

As a reminder, gun safety locks are available at no cost for homes through Topeka Moms Demand Action. To learn more about secure gun storage, please contact BeSmartTopeka@gmail.com or visit the Be SMART for Kids website.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Melanie Stuart-Campbell, who has served on the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education since January 2020, as she transitions into an exciting new role within the Kansas Migrant Education Program.

This new position will require her to provide direct services to Topeka Public Schools students, necessitating her resignation from the school board. Ms. Stuart-Campbell shared that she is thrilled to continue to serve the district in support of our migrant students, and you will still see her visiting schools across Topeka.

“Serving on the TPS school board has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life," said Ms. Stuart-Campbell. "I want to thank my constituents for having faith in me and the entire TPS staff for your unbound dedication to our students. I especially want to thank the board for volunteering your time and passion to support the best possible learning and teaching environments for our beloved community. I will be forever grateful for our shared fellowship and everything I learned from you.”

Ms. Stuart-Campbell is a former TPS educator, mother of two TPS students, and wife of a TPS teacher. She has over 25 years of experience in education, both in the US and overseas.

We are grateful for Ms. Stuart-Campbell's passion, dedication, and service to Topeka Public Schools. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on our district, and we are excited to see her continue to make a difference in her new role.

On June 3, Topeka Public Schools had the incredible opportunity to host award-winning education researcher and best-selling author Professor John Hattie for the dynamic Visible Learning+ Workshop.

Educators from across Kansas were engaged in professional learning at Bishop Professional Development Center, College Prep Academy, and Jardine Elementary School, gaining valuable strategies to bring back to their classrooms.

Breakout sessions included learning from Corwin authors and educators Karen Flories and Dr. Tiffany Anderson, who provided instructional strategies to support educators and parents in the classroom and throughout the community.

View photos from the workshop on Flickr.

Topeka Public Schools is excited to host an exclusive workshop featuring award-winning children's author and acclaimed educator Lester Laminack!

Mr. Laminack has authored over 25 books and serves as a consultant, working with schools across the United States to provide valuable insights and guidance to educators.

This workshop is open to all educators in the state of Kansas and free to Topeka Public Schools staff members. Attendees will receive a FREE copy of Mr. Laminack's book, "The Ultimate Read-Aloud Resource."

Learn more in this event flyer and register to attend at bit.ly/TPSLaminack.

This week, Topeka Public Schools students and staff kicked off the annual celebration of Juneteenth, a national holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US, held annually on June 19.

Dr. Tiffany Anderson, the first African-American female Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools, served as the keynote speaker for the Topeka Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration, Inc. Unity Walk and Flag Raising Program at the Kansas State Capitol, where every state in the union raised the Juneteenth Flag in unity.

To learn more about the significance of Juneteenth and local celebrations in our community, view this article from WIBW.

The Topeka Public Schools Foundation (TPSF) held its 31st annual benefit Golf Tournament on June 6, where Rob Seitz served as the 2024 Tournament Honorary Chair.

We congratulate all of this year's tournament winners, who are listed below. View photos from the event on Flickr.

• First flight, first place: Mike Munoz & Team
• First flight, second place: Jeff Daniels & Team
• First flight, third place: Simon Everhart & Team
• Second flight, first place: Monte McClanahan & Team
• Second flight, second place: Sue Bolley & Team
• Second flight, third place: Chuck Cooper & Team

Thank you to all the participants, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event a huge success. Your support helps us continue to provide valuable resources and opportunities for our students.

This weekend, we will celebrate the life and legacy of a beloved special education teacher, Ms. Marian Dawson, who passed away after an unexpected health event at her home.

Ms. Dawson has been a member of the McEachron staff since 2007-2008, and her passing has impacted the entire school community.

A memorial will be held at the home of Mr. Vic Williams (3909 NW 37th Ter) on Saturday, June 8. Staff, family, and friends are invited to attend a cookout at 6:00 PM, followed by the memorial at 7:00 PM. To RSVP, please contact Mr. Williams at vwilliams@tps501.org. Additional information is included on the Facebook event page.

Please keep Ms. Dawson's family uplifted in your thoughts and prayers.

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

Please note that all Summer Program sites will be closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

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

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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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