Community News

We hope all of our students, families, and staff enjoyed a restful Spring Break. It has been great welcoming everyone back to school this week, and we look forward to many exciting events taking place across the district throughout March and April.

This week, the Topeka West and Topeka High theatre programs were recognized for their exceptional contributions to theatre education and advocacy by Mayor Mike Padilla and the Topeka City Council. We thank Mayor Padilla for highlighting Topeka Public Schools and the district's commitment to excellent fine arts education. Pictured above are some of our national award-winning theatre students and educators who helped us celebrate fine arts during the board meeting on March 7.

We also congratulate the Highland Park High School basketball team for their outstanding performance in the recent KSHSAA State Tournament, where they placed as one of the top teams in the state for the second year in a row. Both the boys and girls teams received numerous conference awards, including Coach of the Year honors for Coach Mike Williams and Coach Rob Brown. Both teams will be honored at the first board meeting in April.

Registration is now open for our Academic/Enrichment Summer Programs. These programs offer valuable opportunities for students to continue their learning and explore new interests during the summer months. Information on how to register is included in this newsletter.

As a reminder, there will be no school for students or staff on Friday, March 29. Thank you for your continued support and engagement in our school community.

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

As a reminder, there will be no school for students or staff on Friday, March 29 due to unused inclement weather days.

View the 2023-2024 academic calendar or the district Google Calendar to plan ahead for parent-teacher conferences, no school days, and more.

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

On March 9, the Highland Park High School Scots took 3rd place in the 2024 KSHSAA 5A State Basketball Tournament, with a final score of 66 to 55 against Maize South, after an intense and hard-fought game against Kapaun Mt. Carmel the previous day, where the Scots lost by 3 points in overtime.

We congratulate Coach Mike and all of the players and coaches who worked hard to ensure the Scots' success as one of the top teams in the state once again. Students, parents, and school and district leadership filled the stands, cheering them on to victory, and the student spirit bus was full.

Learn more about the Scots' tremendous post-season run and numerous conference awards, including back-to-back Coach of the Year Awards for Coach Mike Williams (boys basketball) and Coach Rob Brown (girls basketball), in this article from the Topeka Capital-Journal.

We look forward to recognizing the Highland Park basketball coaches and athletes at the April 4 Board of Education meeting!

On March 13, the ACT’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) announced its fifth annual 2023 School of Excellence awardees, a group of 27 exemplary schools that are helping students pursue postsecondary success.

Congratulations to Highland Park High School for receiving the School of Excellence Award for the State of Kansas! This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire school community.

We send a special thank you to Highland Park College & Career Advocate, Ms. Allena Ross, for inspiring and empowering students to reach their college dreams.

Congratulations to Mr. Dan McCready, a music educator at Topeka High School, Robinson Middle School, and Lowman Hill Elementary School, who was recently honored by the Kansas Chapter of the American String Teacher's Association (KASTA) with the Young Teacher of the Year Award.

Mr. McCready was recognized by a room full of his peers and fellow educators during the annual KASTA Luncheon at the Kansas Music Education Association In-service Workshop in Wichita.

The award was presented to Mr. McCready by Washburn University Professor and KASTA board member, Erinn Renyer, as well as KASTA President Martha Barnhill, for outstanding commitment to Orchestral Education in his schools, his district, and to students throughout Kansas.

On March 19, Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla and the City Council recognized March as Theatre in Our Schools Month and honored thespians from Topeka West High School and Topeka High School for excellence in theatre education and advocacy.

Mayor Padilla presented certificates to Thespian Troupe 3061 and Thespian Troupe 210 in celebration of their national recognition by the Educational Theatre Association.

Both schools received the Outstanding Impact Award and were recognized nationally multiple times for their advocacy work during Theatre in Our Schools Month. Learn more in this highlight from WIBW.

Congratulations to our March 2024 Senior of the Month, McCall Beall, an outstanding scholar at Topeka High School. McCall excels academically and is active in many extracurricular activities, including drumline, softball, student government, tennis, and so much more.

In college, McCall plans to study music education and has already signed her contract to return to Topeka Public Schools as a music educator after graduation. She hopes to join the staff at Topeka High School and has aspirations of leading the drumline. We can not wait to see the amazing things she will accomplish!

Learn more about this outstanding senior in this highlight video.

Families who have a preschooler ready to begin kindergarten this fall are encouraged to join us for 2024-2025 Kindergarten Orientation at 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 11!

This event is an opportunity for parents to learn more about Topeka Public Schools, meet teachers and staff, and tour our schools.

Kindergarten Orientation will take place at each elementary school in the district, so please attend the event hosted at the school where your child plans to attend. Eligible students must be 5 years-old by August 31, 2024.

Topeka Public Schools offers a variety of summer programs at Scott Dual Language Magnet & Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet for students in grades PK-12 that provide academically and intellectually enriching experiences.

Courses include coding/robotics, language, art, fitness, cooking, and more! The district will also offer academically enriched courses to support student learning loss for grades PreK-8.

Students committing to four weeks of courses AND who qualify will receive transportation. The deadline to request transportation is May 17, 2024.

Shaner Early Learning Academy will offer a PreK-Kindergarten Summer Camp for students attending Shaner or Sheldon Head Start. Transportation will not be provided.

All families will enroll for summer programs using Synergy ParentVue. Any requests for courses made after May 17, 2024 will go on a waiting list.

Visit our Academic/Enrichment Summer Camps page to learn more, and use these documents to view instructions on how to enroll through Synergy ParentVue in English and Spanish.

Topeka Public Schools has partnered with Parents as Teachers and the Kansas Health Foundation for another exciting Roll & Read event, as we celebrate the Week of the Young Child in April.

Roll & Read will be held from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 13 at Evergy Plaza (630 S Kansas Ave) and Redbud Park in NOTO (935 N Kansas Ave.). Free bussing between locations will be available.

The event combines literacy with physical fitness and will feature a parade kickoff, reading stations, community booths, a stroller decorating contest, and free food while supplies last.

Together we will walk, bike, skate, push a stroller, or pull a wagon while taking breaks along the way to read stories. Learn more in this event flyer.

Do you have a young scholar ready to begin preschool? Get ready! Our 2024-2025 preschool application will be available online beginning in April!

Topeka Public Schools is accepting applications for State Pre-K, Preschool Intervention Program, Sheldon Head Start, Pine Ridge Prep, Scott Dual Language, and Shaner Early Learning Academy.

View the 2024-2025 preschool flyer in English and Spanish here. For more information on our outstanding preschool programs, visit topekapublicschools.net.

Save the date! Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will open online in April 2024. Families are encouraged to register early, as we anticipate classes filling up quickly again this year.

Information regarding enrollment, school supply lists, and other items for families to prepare for next year will be available in April at topekapublicschools.net. View the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar here.

As a reminder, returning families will receive an email to register their students from Synergy Student Information System and enroll through ParentVue. Families new to Topeka Public Schools will create a new account and register online.

The new open enrollment policies and procedures for the 2024-2025 academic year outline a series of important timelines and processes established by the Board of Education.

Nonresidents (families that do not live within the TPS boundaries) must apply to attend any TPS school. Approval is not automatic under this new open enrollment policy and depends largely on capacity at the requested TPS school.

View answers to frequently asked questions on the new open enrollment policies at topekapublicschools.net.

ShareFest is an event created with the belief that churches and organizations can do more together than any one group could do separately. The event brings together citizens from all over Topeka to improve our community!

Topeka Public Schools is among the organizations to benefit from this year's ShareFest, which will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Volunteers will spend the day landscaping, painting, and cleaning up the grounds of Eisenhower Middle, Landon Middle, Lowman Hill Elementary, Meadows Elementary, Pine Ridge Prep Preschool, Ross Elementary, and Topeka West High School.

This event is only possible with the help of volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit sharefesttopeka.com.

Topeka Public Schools is excited to honor the class of 2024 on Saturday, May 18 at the Stormont Vail Events Center

(1 Expocentre Dr, Topeka, KS 66612). Each ceremony will also be live-streamed on the district YouTube channel.

• Topeka West High School: 9:00 AM
• Highland Park High School: 11:30 AM
• Topeka High School: 2:00 PM

Hope Street Academy's graduation ceremony will take take place in the school gymnasium on Wednesday, May 15, at 10:00 AM. This event will also be live streamed on YouTube.

Capital City High School's graduation will take place at TCALC on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 PM.

Students or families who have questions about graduation may contact their building/division principal for additional information.

Topeka Public Schools is committed to providing mental health support and resources to all students, staff, and families in need and would like to remind you of free resources available in our community.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at no cost, 24 hours a day to support mental health during challenging times. When people call, text, or chat with the 988 Lifeline, they are connected to a crisis counselor who is trained to provide free, confidential emotional support and mental health resources.

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

View the 2023-2024 academic calendar or the district Google Calendar to plan ahead for parent-teacher conferences, no school days, and more.

Please note that there is no school for TPS students and staff on Friday, March 29.

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

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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• Board of Education Meeting Minutes & Agenda

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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