French Middle School

April 1st-- Last Day to purchase yearbooks

April 2nd- 4th-- Math KAP Testing

April 17th-- Late work due

April 19th-- No School

April 22nd-- Midterms Posted

April 25th-- Last Day of FAME

April 29th-- No School

April 30th- May 2nd-- Math MAP testing

April 30th-- High School Visits

Happy Spring Falcons! As we begin our final quarter of the school year, it is even more important for all Falcons to be in attendance each day. We have limited time to prepare all students for the next school year as the countdown to summer begins as well. We ask all parents to stay in communication with classroom teachers regarding academics, attendance, and behavior.

Midterms will be posted in synergy on April 18th. Therefore all missing work for the first half of the quarter is due Wednesday, April 17th. Be sure to keep an eye on our school calendar for updated end of year information. Since we did not use all of our snow days this year we will end the school year 2 days early. The last day for all middle school students is May 20th. We will run a normal schedule that day and dismiss at 2:45pm. May 21st will be 8th grade Promotion. Only 8th graders and their families come that day. More information will be shared as the date gets closer.

We are in full swing of state assessment mode. Students in all grades took their reading assessment during the last week of March. The math assessment will be administered on April 2-4. Our spring MAP assessments will be in May for reading and math. We are excited to see how much our students have academically grown over the year.

We look forward to enjoying the spring with you and your student. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We want all Falcons to have a positive 4th quarter!

It is our plan to take our 8th grade class to Worlds of Fun, Friday, May 17, 2024. This is an event that has been a French Falcon tradition for many years. This trip is a reward for all 8th graders who earn it by demonstrating Falcon PRIDE throughout the second semester. The cost of the trip will be $35 per student. Students can use a season pass if they have one.

Eighth graders wishing to attend are expected to earn points each week of semester 2, that they stay DR free. Students must also have at least one eligibility point and no suspensions during the second semester. Students will start collecting points beginning the week of January 16, 2024 and will continue until Friday, May 17, 2024. Students must earn 15 out of 17 points in order to be invited to attend. Students who purchase a ticket and become ineligible after we ordered tickets, will NOT be reimbursed for their ticket as it is non-refundable through WOF.

Students will leave French MS by 8:15 AM on the day of the trip. Students will be given ample time to explore the park independently with friends. They will be required to appear at two mandatory “check point” times. Students will need to bring money for lunch. Students will return to French around 6:00 p.m. We will leave and return from the back parking lot at French MS.

8th graders will be visiting the high schools on April 30th or May 1st. Students will visit the high school that they are scheduled to attend during the 2024-25 school year. Students will get to tour the high school, meet administrators and teachers, and get a chance to hear what high school will be like. The visits will be a great opportunity for students to see what their next four years will be like. If you have questions about the high school enrollment process please contact your school counselors.

Incoming 6th graders for the 2024-2025 school year: Students from our elementary schools will be visiting on April 23, 2024 during the school day. That evening, we welcome all incoming 6th grade parents and students to our parent night beginning at 5:30pm. Parents will have the chance to hear a little bit about French Middle School and tour the school.

Thursday, May 16 from 6:00pm-8:00pm will be our big end of the school event. Students have been working all school year to earn an invitation to this special night. To be invited, students must have only earned one office referral, no out of school suspensions, be in good academic standing and have eligibility points. The night is filled with prizes, dancing, games and food. It is a very special event to celebrate a wonderful school year. Invites to those who are eligible will go home May 1st.

Our final session of the after school program kicked off March 26. We meet each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 4:30pm. Students receive a snack and the opportunity to meet with teachers and get help on school work. The last hour of the program is devoted to a club for students to sign up for and enjoy an activity sponsored by a staff member. Students can choose between : technology fun, swimming at the YMCA, creative writing, paint by numbers, calligraphy and adventures await. Sign up is located on our school website.

We would like to thank 2 individuals who volunteer at French throughout the school year.

Mr. Rogenmosher: Mr. R comes into the building a few times a week and works in our math classrooms to support students needing additional help on their math skills. Mr. R works with large groups of students and with individual students to help strengthen and reinforce the skills they are learning. We thank him for being consistent and someone that has taken time to support our students.

Mr. Gartner: Mr. Gartner is a fixture on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch at our “A la carte” table. On those two days, Mr. Gartner is definitely the most popular person to visit at lunch! Not only does he run the snack cart, he also spends time between lunches cleaning tables and sweeping the floor. Thank you Mr. Gartner for all you do!

On May 14, 1897, John Philip Sousa played his new march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” This song would become the national march of the United States on December 11, 1987. The students were to write a 600 to 1000-word essay reporting the following.

“Imagine it is 1897 and you are a newspaper reporter for The Philadelphia Times. Your newspaper editor has asked you to write an article about the new song performed that day. Your article needs to tell about Sousa’s life and the story behind the song. It is the first performance of the song, so make sure your article includes thoughts about the music and how the audience reacts to what was seen and heard that day.”

All gifted ELA students submitted an entry and three winners were representing FMS at the DAR meeting on Feb. 10, 2024. The winners were sixth grade, Ethan Frazier; seventh grade Garrett Sallee; and eighth grade Corbin Jones. They received medals and a monetary gift after they shared their story with the DAR ladies. These winning essays were sent on for State competition and Congratulations go to two of them who won State, Corbin Jones, gr 8, and Ethan Frazier, gr 6.

Corbin Jones and Ethan Frazier will be honored during a State DAR awards banquet on, April 27, 2024, at the Marriott Hotel in Wichita. The essays will then be sent off for the National DAR competition.

The SUMday competition was held on Saturday, March 23rd at Washburn Rural Middle School. FMS was represented by sixth-grade students Rian Deepan Sahaya Jerin, Adison Rosencutter, Abby Claspill, and Lucas Jackson. The seventh-grade students were Michael Harrison and Connor Tippets. Congratulations are in order for all of them just to be competing. Special recognition goes to Connor Tippets for being in the Top Ten for Test 2 in geometry.

The Hermanitas Conference, hosted by Washburn University, brought together Hispanic female students from Topeka for a day of empowerment. Judge Cheryl Rios set the tone as keynote speaker, followed by sessions on various career paths. The day ended with an energetic life focused game, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills. The conference continues to inspire students towards a future filled with promise. French was excited to be a part of this conference with some of our 7th grade students.

Boys Tennis, Boys and Girls Track and Girls Soccer started March 19th, the day the students returned from Spring Break. Students wanting to participate need to be passing 5 classes at the end of the 3rd quarter grades and have all eligibility points. A sports physical signed by a doctor also needs to be on file before any participant may practice.

All meets and games are updated on our school website calendar. Admission for track and soccer is $2.00 at the gate.

Head Coaches-

Boys Tennis- Mr. Ritter (sritter@tps501.org)

Track- Mr. Mellen (bmellen@tps501.org)

Girls Soccer- Ms. Hirt(thirt@tps501.org)

Requirements for all athletics:

Must pass 5 classes the previous quarter to be eligible.

Must have an updated physical signed by a licensed physician and head concussion sheet signed by parents.

Must have eligibility points left for the current quarter, each student starts with 10 points.

Must participate in practice to participate in games/meets.

Must follow the coach's rules and guidelines to be in good standing.

Must be passing all classes the week of a game to be eligible to play in that week's game/meet.

General reminder:

French is a member school of KSHSAA and must follow and abide by the rules and guidelines set by the governing body of KSHSAA.

KSHSAA RULE 22 : A student who is a member of a school athletic, scholars bowl or debate squad effective Tuesday following Labor Day through Friday preceding Memorial Day may not participate as a member of an outside team or as an independent competitor in the same sport, scholars bowl or debate activity during the school season.

Athletes in the spring sports of tennis, soccer and track must know and abide by this rule.

All questions to be addressed by Tim Wilson- 438-4162 or twilson@tps501.org

Please see our school website for more detailed information as well as our calendar of events.

A sensory diet is a unique plan used to meet an individual’s sensory input needs. For example, some people may feel overwhelmed and need calm sensory input to relax. Others may be tired or sluggish and need movement activities to become alert. The goal of a sensory diet is to meet the nervous system’s needs which can help to calm and regulate a person so that they are better able to focus, be attentive, and interact with others.

Some summer sensory input activities include:

Lifting, pushing and pulling

• Swimming

• Playing hopscotch

• Vacuuming

• Pushing/pulling a stroller, cart, or wagon

Spinning or Swinging

• Lying in a hammock

• Rolling

• Dancing

• Jumping jacks

Touching

• Hand massages

• High fives

• Messy play

• Crocheting, knitting, sewing

Auditory

• Listening to music

• Listening to sounds in nature

• Using noise canceling headphones

• Playing an instrument

Visual

• Organizing clutter

• Keeping a space clean

Smell

• Smelling calming scents

• Smelling flowers

• Sniffing different herbs and spices

• For those who do not like scents - find smell less products to use

Taste

• Eat crunchy foods if you like to chew

• Or chewy foods such as beef jerky or marshmallows

• Popsicles, ice cubes and straws are great for people who like sensory input by sucking or licking

Each person’s sensory diet will be different and specific to their unique sensory input needs. By meeting these needs people can feel calmer and in control of their emotions. This can be especially helpful for children who may experience difficulty transitioning from their school routine and into the summer.

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.

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.

TPS Provides Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on New Open Enrollment Policies

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.

GraceMed will be at French Middle School, providing dental cleanings during the school day on Tuesday May 14th. If you would like your student to be seen by a hygienist, please complete the following link. A representative from GraceMed will contact you directly with more information. https://gracemed.org/dental-consent

6th Grade Students:

Students who will be entering 7th grade in the 2024/2025 school year are required to have updated immunizations including: Tdap (tetanus booster) and MCV (meningococcal). If your student has already received these immunizations, please send documentation to the nurse at this time. Students will be required to provide proof of immunization within 30 days of the start of school in the fall.

With the weather changing, more students will be walking or riding their bikes to and from school. Here are a few ways to help keep them safe.

Pedestrian Safety

1. Teach kids at an early age to look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking until safely across.

2. Teach kids to put phones, headphones and devices down when crossing the street. It is particularly important to reinforce this message with teenagers.

3. It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

Bicycle Safety

1. Wear a properly-fitted helmet. It is the best way to prevent head injuries and death.

2. Ride on the sidewalk when you can. If not, ride in the same direction as traffic as far on the right-hand side as possible.

3. Use hand signals and follow the rules of the road. Be predictable by making sure you ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between cars.

4. Wear bright colors and use lights, especially when riding at night and in the morning. Reflectors on your clothes and bike will help you be seen.

Bullying Policy

French Middle School will not tolerate bullying of any kind. Bullying is defined as any ongoing verbal or physical mistreatment where there is an imbalance of power, and the target/victim is exposed repeatedly to negative actions by one or more students. Bullying can be direct (physical or verbal), or indirect (exclusion, cyber-bullying, emotional). In order for everyone to feel safe and secure at school, every Topeka Public School has adopted the following rules against bullying. “I will not bully others. I will try to help students who are bullied. I will do my best to include students who are easily left out. When I know somebody is being bullied, I will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.” Students, staff, and parents should report any bullying that they are aware of to administration through the on-line bully report link on the French website. Students who bully others will receive consequences. Our counselors will be visiting 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes in August and September to remind students what bullying is, what we can do to prevent bullying, and what students should do if they or someone else is being bullied.

Notice of Non- Discrimination

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. The Title VI and Title IX compliance coordinator is the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching/Learning/Administration. The Section 504/Title II compliance coordinator is the Coordinator of College and Career Ready Services. For employment, the EEO/AA officer is the General Director of Human Resources. All compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 SW 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) 295-3045 or by writing to 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294.