McClure Newsletter

Dear McClure Families,

I hope you and your family have had an enjoyable and relaxing summer! The first day of school is right around the corner and our school staff have been busy at work

preparing for our halls to be buzzing with students in a few short days. This newsletter is filled with lots of important information about the start of the school year. If you have questions or need clarification on any topic, please don't hesitate to call or email.

I look forward to seeing our students and families next Tuesday, Aug. 9th from 4:30-5:30, during our Meet the Teacher Night. This is an opportunity for students to drop off their supplies and hopefully ease some back to school jitters before we officially kick off the 2022-2023 school year with the first day of school, Wed. Aug. 10th.

For returning families, you will notice several new staff members in the halls of McClure. We will introduce these new faces in upcoming newsletters and on our updated school Facebook page. Please welcome these individuals to our McClure family as you begin to interact with them in the upcoming weeks.

Please know you may reach out to me at any time this school year with questions, concerns, or to provide feedback. My number is 785.438.4346 and my email address is cartzer@tps501.org.

Enjoy the last of summer and we will see you soon for another great school year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Artzer

Principal

YOU'RE INVITED: Join us for the annual Night Out Against Crime & Back-to-School Fair next Saturday, Aug. 6th from 5-7pm at McClure. This event is held in partnership with Safe Streets Coalition. This completely free event will include a meal, games, drawings, local law enforcement, and more! We look forward to seeing you there!

Class lists will be posted on McClure's front doors this Friday, Aug. 5th, at 4pm. You also be able to view your child's teacher through the TylerSIS Parent Portal starting Monday, Aug. 8th.

Meet the Teacher Night is Tuesday, August 9th from 4:30-5:30pm. Stop in during this hour, to meet your child's teacher, drop off school supplies, and take a tour of the building. We look forward to seeing you next Tuesday!

In an effort to improve safety for all, our arrival and dismissal procedures have been revised for this school year. You will receive more information regarding the details in an email closer to the start of the school year. There will also be a flyer outlining the updates at Meet the Teacher Night.

Student bus route information can be found in TylerSIS once the routes are finalized.

All enrollment must be completed before bus routes can be established. Like last school year, Topeka Public Schools will be offering transportation for students who live in their school's attendance area but also live outside the 1.75 mile radius.

Click the attached file below for directions on how to access routes in TylerSIS once they are finalized and posted.

TPS has partnered with Kansas Central School Bus in implementing a free school bus routing parent notification app and website service. This program allows you to view the real-time location of your child's school bus on your device.

This App is free and available for both Apple and Android devices. Just search for Here Comes the Bus in the App Store or Google Play, or click on the convenient links below to access the app download site.

How to get signed up:

1. Visit www.herecomesthebus.com or download the app to your smart phone or table from the Apple Store or Google Play.

2. Click the 'sign up' button.

3. Enter school code 29036 and click 'Next' followed by 'Confirm.'

4. Complete the 'User Profile' box.

5. Under 'My Students,' click 'Add.' Enter your child's last name and student ID number. If you do not know your student's ID number, please call Mrs. Ford or Mrs. Ard in the office.

6. Once you confirm your information, you're ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!

School supply shopping? Be sure to bring the TPS supply list with you! The pdf version can be printed by clicking here-https://www.topekapublicschools.net/resources/back_to_school_headquarters

The district's academic calendar provides a quick-glance overview of important dates for parents to be aware of. This calendar includes days school is not in session, parent-teacher conferences, and start and end dates for the 2022-2023 school year.

The McClure school calendar is posted on our school website. Click here to view.

School Doors Open

Students are not allowed to enter school until 8:20 a.m (9:10am on Fridays) unless they are enrolled in the before school child care program, are participating in a before-school program under the direction of a teacher, or are under the supervision of a parent.

School supervision will be provided for students beginning at 8:20 a.m. (9:10am on Late Start Fridays). All students are to come inside and sit in their assigned location with their classes if they arrive after 8:20 a.m. and before 8:30 a.m. Students are to be seated and quiet until the bell rings at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served from 8:20 until 8:40 a.m. Dropping students off outside of school to wait unsupervised before 8:20 a.m. (9:10am on Late Start Fridays) could present a safety risk. Parents are asked to supervise your children until 8:20 a.m. (9:10am on Fridays)

School Instructional Hours

Mon.-Thurs.- Students enter the classroom at 8:30am. Direct instruction begins at 8:40am. Students are dismissed at 3:40pm.

Fri.-Students enter the classroom at 9:20am. Direct instruction begins at 9:40am. Students are dismissed at 3:40pm.

Early Pick-up

Our school day ends at 3:40pm. Classes will not be dismissed before 3:40pm. Students may be excused early for appointments, but a parent/guardian must check-in at the office and sign the student out. Students will only be dismissed from class after someone checks them out of the office first. This ensures that we keep our students safe.

Meeting With Staff

We ask that you call to make an appointment with a teacher or staff member in the event that you need to meet with him/her in person. Our teachers and staff utilize every minute of the day to benefit our students, so it is important to respect their instructional time by minimizing distractions. If you need to visit with a principal, teacher, or other staff member, please call the office at 438-4340, and a meeting time will be set up that will be most convenient for everyone.

Every Friday of the school year (except for the first Friday, August 12th), the doors will open at 9:10am, and school will start at 9:20am students will be counted tardy at 9:40am. This allows time for teachers to collaborate, look at data, and plan for the following week with their teams. Thank you for your flexibility in supporting teacher collaboration!

The McClure Site Council is an advisory group made up of parents, teachers, and community members for McClure. This group learns about what is happening in the school and participates in study topics that help with decision making for the school. If you are interested in serving on Site Council, email Dr. Artzer at cartzer@tps501.org.

Site Council Meetings are once a quarter in the school's library at 5pm. The dates are listed below:

Aug. 30th

Nov. 1st

Jan. 31st

April 25th

We would like to invite all parents and guardians of McClure students to attend our PTO meetings. These meetings are held monthly on Tuesdays at 6pm in the library. Our first meeting is Tuesday, August 30th at 6:00 pm.

Our PTO is essential to assisting in raising funds for many school projects and instructional resources. You do not need to hold a PTO position in order to be a part of PTO. We hope to see many of you at the first meeting!

There are several opening on our PTO executive board. If you are interested in serving one of these open roles, please completed the Google form below.

The following PTO positions are still needing to be filled:

• 
  
• Fundraiser Committee Member
• Carnival Coordinator
• Carnival Committee Member
• District Community Advisory Council (DCAC) Representative

Complete the Google Form below if you are interested in serving in one of these PTO positions for the 2022-2023 school year. These positions will be voted on during the first PTO meeting of 22-23.

To receive certain benefits each year, Topeka Public Schools MUST HAVE ALL families complete the Family Benefits Application AND the Meal Benefits Application. Our records indicate you need to complete one or both of these forms.

If you qualify for Meal Benefits, you will receive:

• Reduced School Fees
• Reduced or Free School Lunch
• Reduced Musical Instrument Fees
• Free Advanced Placement Testing exams
• Free ACT exams
• Tuition scholarships for concurrent college credit
• If you complete the Meal Benefits Application (using the link below) and qualify, would your family be interested in discounted internet services through the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program?
• If you complete the Meal Benefits Application (using the link below) and qualify, would your family be interested in borrowing a district Chromebook for use at home while your student(s) attend one of Topeka Public Schools' Elementary schools?

In addition to the benefits listed above, families who accurately complete the form linked below also help the district qualify for federal and state funds used to support at-risk students and critical programs.

Click this link to apply: https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/TOPP01

BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES ARE NO LONGER FREE.

Please see pricing below. If you want more information, please visit the TPS Child Nutrition website.

Breakfast

Regular price: $1.50

Reduced price: $0.30

Lunch

Regular price: $2.50

Reduced price: $0.40

Kindergarten-5th Grade

Full Pay (do not qualify for free lunches)

$50 Textbook Fee

$15 Computer Fee

Reduced Pay (qualify for free lunches)

$10 Textbook Fee

$15 Computer Fee

Preschool

Full Pay

$20 Textbook Fee

Reduced Fee

$10 Textbook Fee

In order to support you and your child, the Kindergarten teachers at McClure have designed this opportunity to give you hands-on practice on how to work with your child at home. During these evenings, you will be informed about upcoming skills that your child will be learning during that quarter. Then, the Kinder teachers will teach YOU how to practice these skills with your child, then YOU will practice with your child while we are there to support and answer questions you may have. This format allows you to get hands-on experience to practice "in the moment" because your child will be at your side during your learning experience. It promises to be a fun and worthwhile time for you and your child.

The first quarter session will be Tuesday August 23rd from 5:30-6:30pm. The remaining dates are listed below.

2nd quarter-October 4th, 5:30-6:30pm

3rd quarter-January 10th, 5:30-6:30pm

4th quarter-March 21st, 5:30-6:30pm

The Kansas State Board of Education would like for parents of incoming kindergarten students to complete two questionnaires: ASQ-3 and ASQ: SE-2.

The ASQ-3 provides a check of your child's development. Your answers show your child's strengths and any areas in which your child may need more help or practice. Try each activity with your child before you mark a response.

The ASQ: SE-2 provides a quick check of your child's social-emotional development. Your answers will show your child's social-emotional strengths as well if there are behaviors you would like to talk about.

At McClure, our goal is to have 100% completion. If you haven't done so already, you may complete the questionnaires at home by clicking on the links below.

Online link to ASQ-3:

ASQ-3 English https://www.asqonline.com/family/8a86b7

ASQ-3 Spanish https://www.asqonline.com/family/cd805e

Online link to ASQ: SE-2:

ASQ: SE-2 English https://www.asqonline.com/family/5a81da

ASQ: SE-2 Spanish https://www.asqonline.com/family/0fec69

Thank you for completing these questionnaires. We greatly appreciate your support!

McClure is starting our own before and after school childcare program this year. If you are interested, please complete the registration form linked below. The form also outlines the monthly fees, times, etc. Once you submit the form, you will be contacted within 48 hours to notify you if there is enough room in the program for your child to attend.

McClure 22-23 Childcare Registration Form

Parents of 4th & 5th graders may view their child's state assessment results from 21-22 by following the directions below.

LOGGING IN TO KITE PARENT PORTAL:

1. Access Kite Parent Portal at: https://parentportal.kiteaai.org/

2. Enter your email address your previously registered with your child's school district in the Email Address field.

3. Click Get Started!

4. An email will be sent from the Kite Service Desk to the registered email address with a temporary access code.

5. Paste or enter the access code in the area provided on the login screen.

6. Select Let's Go.

There are a few extra yearbook available to purchase for $20. Call our office at 785.438.4300 to purchase one of these extra copies.

If you attended our PTO spring carnival and had your photo taken at the photo booth, click HERE to view your photo(s).

The Topeka Public Schools Community Cupboard is now accepting donations of new or gently used children's size clothing. All donations go to support students and families in the Topeka Public Schools community. The Community Cupboard is open to all students and families in the district in need of food, clothing, or other items.

Donations can be dropped off at the main office at Quinton Heights Education Center (2331 SW Topeka Blvd) from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Monday through Friday.

Through our ongoing partnership with the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, all Topeka Public Schools families will be able to opt-in for a free library card when enrolling online or in-person.

Being a student in Topeka Public Schools means you have access to all resources at the public library, including online databases, e-books, digital audio books and streaming videos, as well as all of the physical items at the library or bookmobiles. Enroll your student and apply for your free library card in the Parent Portal at topekapublicschools.net.

https://www.facebook.com/TPS501McClure

Harvesters Food Pantry is serving families at multiple Topeka Public Schools locations this summer! To learn more about food assistance and find a site near you, visit harvesters.org.

Below is a list of dates and locations for drive-thru pick-up:

August 5

4:00 - 5:00 PM

Robinson Middle School

August 13

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Jardine Middle School

August 26

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Hummer Sports Park

FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program: FCC has announced its affordable connectivity program to provide eligible families, a credit of up to $30 per month to cover the cost of Broadband services with various providers, including Cox. Eligible families include those who qualify for free & reduced school lunch, SNAP, WIC, or those with an income level at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline for family size. Click here for either English or Spanish.

• August 5: Class lists posted

• August 6: Safe Streets Night Out 5-7pm

• August, 9: Meet the Teacher Night 4:30-5:30

• August, 10: First Day of School

• August 19: First Late Start
  

• August 23: Kinder Kollege 5:30-6:30

• August 30: Hearing & Vision Screenings

• August 30: Site Council, 5pm in the library

• August 30: PTO, 6pm in the library

• September 6: Tues/Thurs. Learning Loss/Enrichment Program begins

• September 8: Papa John's Night

• September 14: Grandparent's Day Event

• September 21: Family Fitness Fun Night at Hummer Sports Park
  

• September 23: 4th Grade Kanza Field Trip

• September 27: PTO Meeting 6pm in library

• September 28: Family Fitness Fun Night - Rain Date

Email: cartzer@tps501.org
Website: https://mcclure.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 2529 Southwest Chelsea Drive, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: 785.438.4340
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TPS501McClure