Community News

Happy holidays from all of us at Topeka Public Schools!

This holiday season, we had the privilege of bringing joy to families in need across our community. Thank you for supporting our holiday family adoption process at Central Office and at many of our school buildings, which provided us opportunities to donate gifts to families in need across Topeka.

In addition to the donations from our schools, many of our partners have donated to our schools, such as Advisors Excel, who adopted families at every school location this year. Learn more in this article from KSNT.

The love and generosity shown by our students, families, staff, and Board of Education members have helped countless families as we approach the holiday season. We are especially grateful for Capital City School, who helped provide hundreds of families with groceries and holiday hams thanks to the generosity of Hy-Vee and Harvesters.

Volunteers helped many of our schools end the year with so many exciting activities, which include the Career Fair at Landon Middle School. Learn more in this article from WIBW. We look forward to an even more exciting 2024 school year, and we thank you for your unified support and love this year. Please stay safe over Winter Break and remember school resumes on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

May your Winter Break be filled with peace, joy, and laughter.

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

We wish all of our students, staff, and families a wonderful end of the semester and holiday season with loved ones!

As a reminder, there will be no school for students from December 18, 2023 - January 3, 2024 for Winter Break. School will resume on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

View the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar here.

Topeka Public Schools Central Office, Information Technology Department, and many of our schools adopted families in need across our community this holiday season.

Pictured are members of our staff from Central Office and Meadows Elementary School, who delivered gifts to one of our adopted families on December 15. We send a special thank you to the Topeka West High School Choir for uplifting the family with beautiful music during the gift delivery. View photos on Flickr.

In addition, the majority of our schools adopted families and delivered gifts throughout the final week of school. Thank you to all of our students and staff who worked together to uplift families this holiday season! Your generosity and kindness is truly inspiring.

On December 13, Topeka Public Schools, Harvesters, Hy-Vee, and local first responders partnered for a special Hams for the Holidays event at Capital City School.

Volunteers distributed 285 Hormel Cure 81 hams to Topeka families in need, donated by Hy-Vee. Families also received free vegetables, potatoes, pies, and other items from Harvesters food pantry to create a wonderful holiday meal this season.

Thank you to all who made this event possible for coming together to uplift and support our community! Learn more in this Facebook live video.

It may not be cold and snowy outside, but students at Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary School had the opportunity to enjoy a Winter Wonderland before the break!

Each winter season, Scott PE teachers Troy St. Clair and Cody Bonham create a magical experience for students with lights, inflatables, and winter-themed fitness activities like sledding, snow ball fights, and ice skating.

The activity has been so popular with students over the past 15 years, it has spread to other schools in the district as well. Mr. Kurt Lohse, a PE teacher at McClure Elementary, also provides an amazing Winter Wonderland for students to enjoy!

Learn more in this article from WIBW.

On December 14, Topeka Public Schools Parents as Teachers and Pine Ridge Prep Preschool, with support from the Topeka Housing Authority, held their annual holiday event for Topeka families.

The event included holiday photos, a full dinner, games, and holiday gifts. Students also enjoyed cookies and milk while Santa Claus read them a story.

Thank you to our TPS Parents as Teachers Team for uplifting Topeka families this holiday season!

On December 15, students at Chase Middle School participated in the 3rd annual Student Holiday Shop.

Students use their collected Chase Way stamps to “purchase” gifts for their families. Items for sale in the Holiday Shop are donated by staff, families, and community members.

Thank you to all who donated, as well as our Chase Middle School staff members, for helping students spread some holiday cheer to their loved ones!

Nearly 300 families were in attendance for the district's annual English Learners (EL) Family Winter Party at Quinton Heights on December 7.

The event brings together EL students and families from across the district and features games, authentic Mexican food, live music, a photo booth, and raffle prizes.

The Topeka Public Schools EL Program serves over 2,000 learners and continues to grow every year, including over 30 Ukrainian families Topeka Public Schools has welcomed since 2022.

Learn more about this event in this article from WIBW and view photos on Flickr.

On December 14, Katherine Valdivia, a beloved Special Education teacher at McCarter Elementary School, earned the Crystal Apple Award from KMAJ Majic 107.7.

Ms. Valdivia, known by her students as "Ms.V," was nominated by a McCarter parent who shared the positive impact she has made on her daughter, and the love she shows her students each day in class.

The parent shared, "From day one of knowing her, she has been such an AMAZING person, teacher, advocate, friend, God sent miracle. She has a bright smile that lights up a room. Kids, adults, and animals, love her to pieces."

Learn more about this outstanding educator in this article from KMAJ.

Last week, middle school students from Chase, Eisenhower, and Jardine competed in the Federal Aviation Administration / Kansas State University drone racing league competition.

Congratulations to the Chase Flying Cougars drone team, who earned 1st place! Fabian Trejo, a Chase student, completed the drone course in only 21 seconds, the fastest across all schools.

To celebrate this incredible achievement, our technology team members and Chase staff presented Fabian with a special trophy this week.

Congratulations to the principals unanimously approved by the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education for the 2024-2025 school year!

The following leaders, who are currently serving at their buildings, will remain or be promoted to the permanent principal position in January.

• Mr. Dustin Dick at Topeka High School
• Mrs. Heather Garcia at Randolph Elementary School

Additionally, due to retirements, the Board unanimously approved for the next school year in 2024-2025, Ms. Elizabeth Smith at McEachron Elementary School and Mrs. Nicole Johnson, the Director of Certified Personnel, as Principal of Hope Street Charter Academy.

Join us in congratulating these outstanding leaders who have served with Topeka Public Schools for many years and are excited to move into their new roles!

Topeka Public Schools is now offering flu shots to all staff, middle school and high school students, and household family members of staff and students through the Campus Care Clinic, located at Topeka High School (800 SW 10th Ave, Room 101).

As we approach Winter Break, please review the Campus Care Clinic calendar for December 2023 and January 2024.

To schedule an appointment with a provider or to get your flu shot, please call 785-295-3256 or email THSCampusCare@KUMC.edu. Voice messages will be returned in a timely matter.

Topeka Public Schools high schools are hosting mid-year graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 for students who are eligible to graduate at mid-year.

Each school will hold its own ceremony, which will also be streamed live on the respective high school's YouTube page. Schools will reach out to graduates and families with more information in the coming weeks.

Ceremony times are as follows:

• Topeka West High School: 8:30 AM
• Topeka High School: 9:30 AM
• Highland Park High School: 5:00 PM

As we approach Winter Break, we want to remind families and staff of school closing notification procedures.

As we make decisions about closing school, a number of factors come into play, including the safety of travel but also the safety of students who will be home during the day.

Should school be canceled, we will:

• Send a text, email, and/or phone call via SchoolMessenger
• Update the district social media pages
• Update the district website
• Contact our local media partners

To sign up for text message updates, text Y to 67587. To learn more about school delays and closures, please review our How We Communicate With Families document.

Parents can stay updated on transportation by downloading the Here Comes the Bus app!

• View the real-time location of your child’s bus.
• Access the app from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
• Receive push notifications or email alerts.
• Send your child to the bus stop at just the right time.

How to get started:

1. Download the Here Comes the Bus app or visit herecomesthebus.com
2. Sign Up by visiting the Here Comes the Bus website.
3. Enter school code 29036 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
4. Complete the “User Profile” box
5. Under “My Students,” click “Add" then enter your child’s last name and student ID number
6. Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!

Please note that there will be no school for students from December 18, 2023 - January 3, 2024 for Winter Break.

We hope our students and families have a terrific end of the semester and holiday season!

View the full 2023-2024 academic calendar or the district Google Calendar to learn more.

Stay up-to-date with everything you need to know about the 2024 Kansas Legislative Session on the Current Events page at kslegislature.org.

• Topeka Public Schools Blog
  
• Topeka Public Schools YouTube Channel
  
• 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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