News From the Nest

Happy December! As we wrap up 2024, this month is full of exciting activities, celebrations, and learning. Be sure to check the calendar for upcoming events, and let’s encourage our students to finish the semester strong.

We wish you and your family a joyful holiday season and a wonderful winter break!

We began our Gift of Giving Kick-Off on Monday, November 18th. Each grade level will focus on a specific organization in our community to help during this holiday season. Students watched a video in their classroom about each organization, highlighting the importance of giving and how we can contribute to the world around us. We will be collecting donated items until Thursday, December 19th. We will have our final assembly on December 19th and will present our donations to each organization. We appreciate your donations as we work to make a difference within the Topeka community!

Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade - Impact Topeka Wishlist

Third Grade and Fourth Grade - TFI Foster Care and Child Welfare Services - Wishlist

Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade - Capper Foundation Wishlist

We are excited to continue with our JSE Angel Tree this holiday season. Beginning December 2, we will have an Angel Tree located in the foyer of Jay Shideler. Several families in the Auburn Washburn community would benefit from additional assistance in providing gifts of new clothing and toys under the tree this holiday season. Please stop by the building and choose a snowflake off the tree if you would like to participate. All wrapped gifts need to be dropped off in the front office by Friday, December 13th.

If you missed out on the deadline to order a JSE blanket, do not worry! We will have additional blankets for sale in the JSE office beginning December 5.

If you are interested in purchasing, please call the office at 785-339-4600.

During the month of November we focused on Responsibility and recognized over 110 students! We are so incredibly proud of our Responsible Blue Jays!

In December, we will be focusing on Gratitude. Read the family newsletter below!

The JSE PTO has been busy this fall with several fundraisers and activities. With our major fundraisers done, the JSE PTO budget committee will meet to review funding requests. The committee is made of parent volunteers, teachers and Mrs. Cromwell. In addition to the already existing PTO funding that is invested directly into JSE classrooms, the committee will review and select funding requests submitted by teachers and staff for special projects that the school district doesn’t plan to fund in the near future. We will let you know next semester how the budget committee decides to invest this school year’s funding.

December at Jay Shideler gives the JSE PTO an opportunity to reflect on how blessed it is to have strong family involvement. Without fail, JSE parents and grandparents step up to volunteer in our classrooms, to go on field trips, and to support school fundraisers. Your support of JSE enables the JSE PTO to invest in our classrooms, teachers and students. We couldn’t do it without you – thank you!

In the month of December, we are also partnering with Penguin Patch to bring the JSE Holiday Shop to our students. The week of December 9-13, students will have the opportunity to explore the shop as they pick out holiday gifts for their family and friends. If you are interested in assisting students as they are shopping, consider signing up for a volunteer shift HERE.

The JSE PTO won’t meet for our regular monthly meeting in December. Instead, Dr. McWilliams will lead a Strategic Planning Meeting for all JSE families, talking about the development of the next five year cycle of the Auburn Washburn Strategic Plan. Please plan to attend and share your input on December 10th at 6 p.m. in the library.

Katie Elwell

PTO Secretary

The book fair was a huge success! Thank you for supporting our library and our readers. Through this fundraiser, we were able to add many books to the library as well as to our Book Vending Machine to celebrate student birthdays throughout the year!

We have checked out over 10,000 books from the JSE library so far this year!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Hall

JSE Library Website

In December, the 4-6th students will be watching the Growth and Development Videos. Notes will be sent home soon. The girls will be presented on December 19th and the boys on December 20th. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask Lacy Randall (school nurse) or myself about the information.

Mrs. Kickhaefer

Nov. 18-Dec. 19 - Gift of Giving Campaign

December 6 - Chess Club Practice 3:45 - 4:45 in the library

December 9-13 - JSE Holiday Shop (student shopping during school hours)

December 10 - Strategic Planning Meeting with Dr. McWilliams-JSE Library @ 6:00 p.m.

December 11 - EARLY RELEASE @ 2:15 p.m.

December 12 - 5th Grade Band, Choir, Orchestra Concert @ 6:00 p.m.

December 12 - 6th Grade Band, Choir, Orchestra Concert @ 7:30 p.m.

December 13 - Chess Club Practice 3:45 - 4:45 in the library

December 13 - STEM Club 3:45-5:30 p.m.

December 16 - 2nd Grade Holiday Concert @ 6:00 p.m.

December 16 - 3rd Grade Holiday Concert @ 7:30 p.m.

December 17 - Culver's Eat Out Night 3:00 - 10:00 p.m.

December 19 - Gift of Giving Assembly @ 9:30 a.m.

December 20 - Winter Parties @ 2:45 p.m.

Dec. 21-Jan. 5 - WINTER BREAK

January 6 - School Resumes / Start of 3rd Quarter