Sheldon Update
Sheldon's Weekly Family Newsletter ~ August 26, 2024
Welcome from Mrs. Tanner
Dear Sheldon Families,
What a GREAT first several days of school! Students are doing a great job learning the names of their teachers and friends in their classrooms, and getting used to routines and procedures. I know they were TIRED on Friday!
If you have further questions after reading, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~
Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal
Upcoming Events
August & September Events
August 28: On-Site Physical Clinic
August 31: All ASQs must be complete!
September 2: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
September 5: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30
September 10: Fire Safety Lesson #1
September 12: Picture Day!
September 18: Family Fun Fitness Night @ Hummer Sports Park
September 19: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30
September 23: NO SCHOOL - Personal Development Day
September 24: Sheldon Outdoor Health & Social-Emotional Family Event
Picture Day
Picture Day is coming up on Thursday, September 12! Retakes will be on October 17. We will send home a paper flyer and order form on September 3. The flyer below provides details on the different packages that are available for order. If ordering photos, you may pay in the following ways:
- Pay by Cash: You must provide the EXACT amount. We will not be able to make change.
- Pay by Check: Make the check out to Strawbridge Studios
- Pay Online: This is the easiest! See the information in the flyer below.
We will collect orders and payments at the school beginning Thursday, September 5 and
ending on picture day, September 12.
You can also use this link to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school
portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more
pictures at a later time. When entering student information, be sure to enter the student's
name as it is on file at the school (you can double check this in your Synergy ParentVue).
Toileting Procedures
Please note that it is not typical procedure for staff to help potty trained students with wiping after using the restroom. Practice with your children at home so they are prepared to be as independent as possible with this process.
Time Sensitive Items
ASQs
As a state and district expectation, all preschool children must have the ASQ3 and ASQSE2 completed each year. These are also required to be completed by our Head Start grant.
Please use the appropriate link below to complete both the ASQ and ASQ-SE screening forms. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. When you click on the link, you will have the option of choosing to complete BOTH surveys.
English version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/58ce82
Spanish version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/824204
If you need additional help completing the screener please use our step-by-step directions using the link below.
Required Preschool Enrollment Documents
Thank you to the families who have delivered, sent or uploaded the required preschool documents!
If you have not done so, please submit your child's:
- birth certificate
- immunization records
- health assessment (physical), including hemoglobin and lead testing
- oral health form
The above documents can be submitted by , scanning and emailing them to kneufeld@tps501.org, faxing to the Sheldon office (785-271-3647), or delivering them to the Sheldon office.
We must have the required documents before the first day of school.
Required Child Nutrition Form
The child nutrition form is a required form that all enrolled families need to complete. The district was awarded a grant that results in all students in Topeka Public Schools receiving free meals this school year. By filling out this form, you will NOT be charged any amount for meals this school year. This form benefits the TPS district because it helps us receive funding for many programs and technology to ensure student success. Please take time NOW to complete the form.
This form is for your whole family, so if you have multiple children at several schools, you only have to complete one form.
This will take you to a Horizon Software page that indicates Topeka Public USD #501 at the top. Read through the "Welcome" page and click on "Start Application" at the bottom.
Important Information to Start the Year
Bus Lane (In Front of School)
The front of our building is our bus lane for loading and unloading students at the beginning and end of the day. Please DO NOT park in the spaces at the front of the school from 9:00-9:30 Monday-Thursday (10:00-10:30 on Fridays) and 3:00-4:00. If your vehicle is parked there, you will be asked to move and you risk getting blocked in by the school buses. Thank you for your attention to this!
Car Line Reminder
At Sheldon we run a car line and buses at dismissal. It takes every single staff member to make this process run safely and efficiently. We ask that families arriving/picking up during the arrival/dismissal windows DO NOT walk up to drop-off/pick-up their child. We do not have the staff available to support this.
For this week, we will be starting dismissal at 3:45, our regular time.
Sheldon Head Start School Day Hours (Updated)
Monday-Thursday: 9:15 AM - 4:00 PM
- Arrival begins: 9:00 AM (drop off through car line)
- School starts: 9:15 AM
- Arrival ends: 9:15 AM (Students will be considered tardy after 9:15 AM. Students arriving after 9:15 AM will need to sign in at the main office)
- Dismissal begins: 3:45 PM (pick up in the car line)
- Dismissal ends: 4:00 PM (all students must be picked up by 4:00 PM)
Late Start Fridays (every Friday): 10:15 AM - 4:00 PM
- Arrival begins: 10:15 AM (drop off through car line)
- School starts: 10:15 AM
- Arrival ends: 10:30 AM (Students will be considered tardy after 10:30 AM. Students arriving after 10:30 AM will need to sign in at the main office)
- Dismissal begins: 3:45 PM (pick up in the car line)
- Dismissal ends: 4:00 PM (all students must be picked up by 4:00 PM)
Late Start Fridays
Late Start is on FRIDAYS for this school year and the arrival time will be at 10:15. This is for every Friday that school is in session.
Sheldon Family Handbook
This handbook includes important information about Sheldon Head Start including our mission and vision, policies and procedures.
Please take time to review this handbook.
TPS 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
Sheldon Head Start follows the Topeka Public Schools Academic Calendar. The only exceptions are a later start date and earlier end date. The first day of school for Sheldon students is Wednesday, August 21st. The last day of school for Sheldon students will be May 16th.
Transportation Information
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
***If your child will be dismissing in a way that is different than normal, please contact your child's classroom teacher prior to 2:00 PM.
Sheldon will be using a car line for arrival/dismissal again this year. It will take us a few days
to get it down, but if you give us grace during that time, I ensure that we will be a well-oiled
machine by the end of the second week of school! Our highest priority is student safety so we
will take our time to ensure the safety of all. The number one thing I have learned over the
years is that when everyone follows the rules, the system works, and works quickly!
It is CRITICAL that the car line procedures are followed to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal for all students, families, and staff. The map below highlights the traffic flow for the car line. Please remember that we are located in a fairly compact neighborhood. We want to ensure we are respectful of all Sheldon's neighbors by following speed limit and other traffic signs and by not blocking driveways or intersections.
The car line will run from 9:00-9:15 on Monday-Thursday (10:15-10:30 on Fridays). Any student arriving after 9:15 (10:30 on Fridays) will need to check in at the main office as the car line will have ended. The dismissal car line will begin at 3:45. Any adult arriving to pick up a child after 4:00 will need to check them out at the main office as the car line will have ended.
To use the car line:
- Turn west onto Munson Ave. from Gage
- Drive down Munson toward the Temple Beth Shalom.
- Please remember, The Temple is PRIVATE PROPERTY and they are incredibly kind for allowing us to use their space for our car line. Firearms, drugs, and alcohol are PROHIBITED on The Temple's property. Please be respectful of our neighbors.
- When you enter The Temple's parking lot, there is a drive on the right side that wraps around the building. Follow this drive and form the car line around the outside edge of The Temple's parking lot, proceeding up to the cone on the curb next to Sheldon.
- DO NOT enter or exit the car line using Seabrook Ave. in front of the school. This is our bus lane and will cause all kinds of traffic jams.
Lanyards, Car Tags, and Bus Harnesses
At home visits, teachers will provide families with a labeled bus harness if they are a bus rider OR
a labeled lanyard for students who are in the car line. Please make sure your student is ready for the bus with their harness on under any jacket they may be wearing. Car line 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!
All families will be provided a car tag for in case they need to use the car line. We tried to make it easy for you by making it so that it can hang from your rearview mirror. This car tag MUST be visible in the front window so that your student can be called for dismissal. If someone else will be transporting your student, please provide this car tag to them. If you need additional tags, please let your child's classroom teacher know.
Time to Eat!
Follow Sheldon Head Start on Facebook
Our Sheldon Head Start Facebook page is active! We use this as a way to communicate with families and share many pictures. Please follow the page to stay updated!
Sheldon Attendance Policy
Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors that determine school success. The habit of attending school every single day begins with the preschool year(s).
Daily Absence Information
- Parents/guardians should notify the school each day a student is absent by 9:15 a.m, by calling (785) 438-4530. If leaving a voicemail, please provide the student's name, classroom teacher and reason for absence. If the parent/guardian fails to notify the school, the school will attempt to contact the parent/guardian. The communication can be in a variety of methods, such as electronic communication, telephone call or in person. Home visits will be conducted if there has been no contact made after two days.
- All absences, including those excused, will count against a student’s attendance.
- The school encourages parents to schedule doctor and dental appointments after school hours, or on days when school is not in session.
- Parents/guardians may be required to submit supporting documentation in order to excuse the absence of their student if student absenteeism is excessive.
- Preschool absences are recorded in Synergy, the district's student information system. The expectation is that students attend school at least 90% of the time. If the student falls below 90% (excused or unexcused) a letter will be sent home. If this issue does not improve an official attendance plan will be put into place and/or a meeting with the school principal will be scheduled.
The Kansas State law specifically says that a student is truant if they have missed 3 unexcused days in a row, 5 unexcused days in a semester, or 7 unexcused days in a school year. Truancy may result in a report being filed with DCF.
Examples of Excused Absences:
- Personal illness or medical appointment
- Illness of an immediate family member
- Death in the immediate family or other emergency beyond the control of the family
- Religious holidays of the student’s religious faith
- Participation in a district approved or school sponsored activity or event
- Required court appearance or subpoena by a law enforcement agency
- Family vacation/Out of town (that have been pre-approved by the school principal)
Examples of Unexcused Absences:
- No contact by parent/guardian
- Oversleeping
- Personal grooming appointments (hair, nails, etc)
- Shopping/errands
- Suspension from school
- Family vacation/ Out of town that have not been pre-approved
- Missing the bus/ride
Sheldon Policy Council
The Sheldon Policy Council meets monthly for 1 hour and asks for a one year commitment. More information will be shared at Home Visits.
Community Resources
Topeka Resources Checklist
Community Resources Council Directory
If in need of resources, you can also contact the United Way by dialing 211.
Sheldon Head Start Child Development Center
Website: https://sheldon.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1155 SW Seabrook Ave.
Phone: 785-438-4530
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart