Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Happy Monday! We are excited for our second full week of learning and growing! Please note there will be NO SCHOOL next Monday, September 5th due to Labor Day.

Click the link to access the 2022-2023 Family Handbook.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

September 5: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 14: Picture Day

September 27: Outdoor Health & Math Night @ 5:30-6:30

You can find all school events listed on our school calendar which you can access on our webpage.

As part of Home Visits, each family completed the ASQ3 and ASQSE2 developmental screeners. As results were received, a parent report was generated which gives more information and some easy-to-use strategies that you can use at home to support your child's development. You will receive your parent report in your child's Friday Folder in the coming weeks. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions after you receive this report.

If you have not yet completed the ASQ screeners, please do so as soon as possible! This is a requirement for our program. You may access the screeners to complete digitally with the links below.

English: https://www.asqonline.com/family/58ce82

Spanish: https://www.asqonline.com/family/824204

At Sheldon we refer to students who do not ride the school bus as "OT" - Other Transportation. All Sheldon students who are OT will receive a car tag to place on the rearview mirror of their vehicle. This will have the student's name and room number on it. This makes it SO MUCH easier for us to transition students in and out during arrival and dismissal each day, especially as we get to know our new students. Thank you in advance for making sure you have this tag up each day!

As part of our Head Start programming, we have a Policy Council at Sheldon. This group is made up of parents and community members. The Policy Council meets monthly and receives updates on the status of program areas, provided feedback to building coordinators and administration, and is involved in the decision making process at Sheldon. We will vote on new members in September. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you are interested in joining!

If your child takes medication at school, you will need to have your child's physician complete and sign a Request to Administer Medication form, which will need to be returned to Ms. Andrea in the clinic. Medication must be sent in the original packaging with the original label. If your child needs meal modifications due to religious or medical restrictions, please complete and return the attached forms.

At home visits, teachers provided families with a labeled bus harness if they are a bus rider OR a labeled lanyard for students who are OT (Other Transportation - car line/walker). Please make sure your student is ready for the bus with their harness on under any jacket they may be wearing. OT students need to have their lanyard around their neck as they exit the vehicle in the car line. This will help us transition students to their classrooms quickly and more importantly, safely!

We have seen in the news recently about many children and caregivers not surviving car accidents because they were not properly restrained. Unintentional accidents are the leading cause of death among children. If you need a car seat, we have a great resource to obtain one. Also, please remember that the car seat needs to be properly restrained within the car as well and you must have the proper number of seatbelts per person in the car. Please move seats between cars as needed when changing vehicles with the children.

Each week the Sheldon staff reviews one of our Head Start Policies & Procedures and felt it was

important that families stay up to date on these as well. This quarter our focus is on Health & Safety, and Nutrition. If you ever have any questions regarding our policies and procedures, please reach out!

Toileting

POLICY:

Bathrooms will be kept clean and sanitized throughout the day and accommodations will be made for each child’s individual toileting and hand washing needs. This policy relates to Head Start Performance Standards 45 CFR Part 1302.47

PROCEDURE:

1. Bathrooms/toilets for use by the children will be within or close to the classroom whenever possible.

2. All bathrooms will have a sink with running warm water. Water heater/pipes will be regulated to ensure that water temperature does not exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Bathroom fixtures and accessories, including toilets, sinks, mirrors,soap, paper dispensers, etc. will be child-sized and appropriate to the age and height of children whenever possible.

4. All surfaces in the bathroom will be cleaned and sanitized daily.

5. Bathrooms will be supplied with paper towels, toilet tissue, and liquid soap within reach of the children.

6. Toilets will be adapted for independent use by the children. A non slippery plastic stool to step up to the toilet and/or sink and a toilet seat adapter may be used.

7. Teachers in classrooms that do not have a restroom must have a system in place for taking children to the hallway restrooms. Classrooms must stay in ratio and have supervision at all times.

8. Children who require assistance will be accompanied to the toilet by a staff member.

9. Staff will monitor toileting areas to ensure that proper hand washing and safety is maintained.

10. In the event that a child has an accident and visible body fluids are present, staff must wear disposable gloves and wash hands after assisting the child with cleaning themselves and sanitizing the toilet, sink, floor, etc. soiled with body fluids.

See the attached document for the latest information on testing, quarantine, and close contacts. Please be sure to review both the COVID Update and the information on the Parent Resources page for the latest information from the CDC. Masks are encouraged, but not required. We will maintain strict sanitation protocols.

Late Start is on FRIDAYS for this school year and the arival time will be at 10:15.

You can find the 2022-2023 Academic Calendar HERE.

The Sheldon Food & Clothing Bank is up and running! If your family has any needs, reach out to your Family Advocate or call 785-438-4530.

You can find the link to the 2021 Community Resources Council Resource Directory here. This directory provides contact information for a variety of community resources.

If in need of resources, you can also contact the United Way by dialing 211.

See the following links for Food Pantry resources available to families.

English and Spanish

Website: https://sheldon.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1155 SW Seabrook Ave.
Phone: 785-438-4530
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart