McClure Newsletter

We believe in the importance of partnering with families to support our students' education which is why we hope you can join us for our quarterly Site Council meeting on Monday Dec. 6th at 5pm via Zoom.

The purpose of School Site Council is to be a decision-making body that represents all stakeholders of the school community. The primary responsibility of this council is to identify common goals and assisting and advising the school in establishing and executing a plan to achieve the goals.

Zoom Meeting

https://tps501.zoom.us/j/88211055866?pwd=L2pNSHBPeWhzMjc1ZkVYMHh3dDlGZz09 Meeting ID: 882 1105 5866 Passcode: 126626

We hope you can join us for the December PTO meeting tonight, Dec. 6th, at 6pm. The meeting will be held through this Zoom link. The Zoom link is also posted on our school website.

As you may know, we have scheduled a “Family Code Night” at-home learning event for all K-5 families on Monday, December 6th at 5:00PM. We encourage you to attend with your children -- it's great fun, and important learning.

• What is Family Code Night? Watch this short video, which describes what you'll be doing.

• How can you participate? Join the Livestream at the above start time at this link. (youtube.com/csiselementary/live)

• Is coding experience needed? No! All you need is a shared computer, tablet, or Chromebook for each two family members, connected to the internet.

• Are there prizes? Yes! One lucky family will win a special prize drawing for Dash's Neighborhood, a robotics virtual playground from Wonder Workshop, makers of Dash the Robot. And everyone gets a Code@Home Guide, full of free coding games and activities.

I hope you and your children will join in for this family fun and shared learning. We’ll see you online!

The dates to make purchases have been extended from Tues.-Friday; however, the sooner students make their purchases the better as items are likely to sell out.

Monday-

• Students will be previewing the items available for purchase in their classrooms.
• Students should have received a blue flyer last week with an attached envelope.
• Make sure you have sent home the blue letter and envelope with your students.

Tuesday -Friday-

• Students circle the items on the Penguin Patch Menu they receive in class that they are purchasing using money sent to school in their envelope.
• Students will receive the items they purchased in bags along with any remaining change. Students will place these items immediately in their bookbags to be sent home.
  

More information regarding this PTO fundraiser can be found by clicking HERE.

Due to COVID-19, parents and room parents cannot enter the building for winter parties. If you signed up to provide snacks, they must be sent with you student at the start of the day on Dec. 17th. Thank you for your understanding.

The Spelling Bee tryouts for grades 3-5 will be Tuesday December 14th. More information will be sent home with students.

Mr. Lohse will be transforming the gym next week for the annual Winter Wonderland week event. Please email him at klohse@tps501.org if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.

The Penny War winners are....

House Zimmeedaarree-$243.18 & Mrs. Palmer's 2nd grade class-$180.98

As a school we raised a total of $1408.16!! The total proceeds will be split among the student selected charities-St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Helping Hands Humane Society, Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries, and Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas.

McClure’s 2nd grade classes led a schoolwide can drive during November. Thanks to everyone who donated we were able to donate over 700 canned and boxed goods to the Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries!

Students will be participating in the winter Fastbridge and Scantron assessments throughout the month of December.

Parents or guardians must enter the building to sign out their student if they will be leaving prior to 3:35pm; otherwise, parents and guardians must supply their student's dismissal number in order for the student to be dismissed. Students will not be dismissed unless they have been signed out through the office or their dismissal number has been entered.

Please take a moment to complete the Student Needs Assessment form. This form helps us to identify the needs our students have as resources become available.

Love McClure? Want to have the same schedule as your child? Apply for a paraprofessional position at McClure by clicking here. Share this application link with anyone you know who may be interested.

We are also hiring after school tutors to support our program on Tues., Wed., & Thurs. Interested in this position? Click here.

With the temperatures dropping, we want to include a reminder about our recess policy found in the Student Handbook. The policy states:

"Students will not be going out for recess if one of the following conditions prevails: We are in a severe weather alert; It is raining; The chill index is below 20° or heat index is 95° or above. During cold weather, please make sure your child comes to school with a warm coat, hat, and gloves. Even if we stay inside, an emergency that would cause us to evacuate the building in cold weather would leave students who have come without a warm coat and are in danger of getting cold. In Topeka Public Schools, we believe that fresh air and exercise are good for the body and the mind. While students may not stay outside for an entire play period, if the wind chill index and temperature are within reason, students will go outside, if only to “run off a little excess energy.”

If for medical reasons, your child is restricted from this play, a note should be sent. If the restricted period is for more than one or two days, a note should be sent from the physician.

Inclement Weather: Topeka Public Schools will NOT have remote learning on inclement weather days. We will observe "snow days." It is difficult to effectively get devices out to elementary students.

FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program: Please share with your teams that the FCC has announced a permanent affordable connectivity program that will provide eligible families, who apply, 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 information from Cox in either English or Spanish.

Topeka Public Schools is excited to host Virtual Transportation Thursdays! These weekly hiring events offer the public a chance to explore our transportation job openings one-on-one with a recruiter. We may have the perfect spot for you to make a difference in a child's day!

School bus drivers begin at $16-20 per hour, plus a signing bonus and the opportunity to receive Topeka Public Schools Premium Retention Pay.

Schedule a virtual interview by completing this short form. We look forward to seeing you!

Mon. Dec. 6th

• Penguin Patch Holiday Shop preview for students
• Online Family Code Night, 5pm
• Site Council, 5pm
• PTO, 6pm

Tuesday, Dec. 7th

• Penguin Patch Holiday Shop

Wednesday, Dec. 8th

• Penguin Patch Holiday Shop

Thursday, Dec. 9th

• Papa John's Night

Monday, Dec. 13th

• Kujali Spirit Week

Tuesday, Dec. 14th

Friday, Dec. 17th

Monday, Dec. 20th

• Start of Winter Break

Wednesday, Jan 5th

• Students Return to School/Start of 3rd Quarter

Monday, Jan. 17th

• No School-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, Jan. 25th

• Family Social-Emotional Learning Night

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