Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Thank you for your patience last week during the HOT weather! We sure are looking forward to cooler fall days! Please be sure the time sensitive items listed below have all been taken care of. A reminder that there is no school next Monday due to Labor Day. Have a wonderful week!

Click here to access the 2023-2024 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 4th: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 14th: Picture Day

September 20th: Family Fun Fitness Night @ Hummer

September 26th: Outdoor Health & Family Night @ Sheldon

Picture Day is coming up on Thursday, September 14! Retakes will be on September 19, 2023. We will send home a paper flyer and order form on September 6. 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 7 and ending on picture day, September 14.

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).

All students must have at least one full set of extra clothes on hand at school (top, bottom, underwear, socks). Two sets is preferred. If a student does not have extra clothes and is needing to be changed, parents will be called to bring clothes to the school.

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.

Topeka Public Schools Homepage

Click on "Free/Reduced Meal Application." 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.

A requirement for early childhood programs is that all families complete the ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE2 for their student(s). Below you will find links to complete these online, available in both English and Spanish. Please choose the first option to complete BOTH surveys at the same time. You are able to save and come back to it if you need more time. It is important on the questions that ask about whether your child can do a certain task/skill that you actually ask/do those with your child. This gives us accurate information to support your student at school. Please complete these as soon as possible and let us know if you have any issues! Thank you!

ASQ - English

ASQ - Spanish

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)
• 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.

Monday through Thursday: 9:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Arrival begins: 9:15 a.m.

Arrival ends: 9:30 a.m. (students will be considered tardy after 9:35 a.m.)

Dismissal begins: 3:45 p.m.

Dismissal ends: 4:00 p.m. (all students must be picked up by 4:00 p.m.)

Late Start Fridays (every Friday): 10:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Arrival begins: 10:15 a.m.

Arrival ends: 10:30 a.m. (students will be considered tardy after 10:35 a.m.)

Dismissal begins: 3:45 p.m.

Dismissal ends: 4:00 p.m. (all students must be picked up by 4:00 p.m.)

Please see the Transportation section a little further down for important information about the car line!

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

***If your child will be dismissing in a way that is different than normal, please contact your child's classroom teacher.

To access the car line, follow these directions. It is CRITICAL all families using the car line follow these procedures in order for it to flow smoothly and quickly. If someone else picks up your child, please share this with them as well.

• Turn west off of Gage onto Munson Ave.
• Go all the way down Munson to the Temple Beth Shalom, turn right and follow the drive to loop behind the building and around the outside edge of the parking lot. Return east on Munson.
• Pull up to unloading area on the north side of Sheldon.
• Remain in vehicles at all times.

Please also note the following:

• Please have your car tag visible in your window.
• Seabrook Ave. in front of the school is NOT AVAILABLE to cut through to the car line or to exit. The car line may ONLY use Munson. The buses are loading/unloading in the front of the building.
• DO NOT pass a bus that has it's stop sign out and flashing lights on.

The car line will begin at 9:15 (10:15 on Fridays). Any student arriving after 9:30 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.

If your child is a bus rider, please follow the directions below to download and use the Here Comes the Bus app. The school code, as stated in the directions, is 29036. If you need your student's ID number, you can find that in your Synergy ParentVue account (where you registered your child for the school year). The second picture below shows where you will find it.

Sheldon Head Start follows the Topeka Public Schools Academic Calendar.

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!

Immunizations

POLICY:

All children enrolled in the program will be required to have an up-to-date immunization record on file based upon age and date of last immunization. Children who do not receive immunizations due to religious beliefs must have a signed waiver. Every child enrolled has an immunization record in their folder in a locked filing cabinet. Head Start tracks all immunizations in the program’s tracking system. This policy relates to Head Start Performance Standards 45 CFR Part 1302.42

PROCEDURE:

• At the time of enrollment, staff will inform parents that immunizations must be up to date and on file. Parents will be assisted by staff with obtaining immunizations from their primary health care provider/medical home or Health Department.

• The Health Coordinator will review immunization records within 30 days of students' entry into the program. If a student is found to be out of compliance, the parents will be notified by written letter.

• If the required immunizations are not on file within 30 days of student entry, the child will be excluded from the program until required immunizations are obtained. If this does not occur within 10 school days the child will be dropped from the program.

• Every child should continue to receive immunizations according to schedule. Staff will encourage parents to provide the program with any updated information. The Health Coordinator will work with families to ensure that they are informed and have the resources needed to remain “up-to-date” on the child’s immunizations.

• A copy of the immunization certificate or Medical/ Religious Exemption form will be filed in the child’s health folder and information entered in the student information system.

Kids at the Market is back! Join Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods at the Breadbasket Farmers Market where children ages 5-12 will receive five, $1 vouchers to be spent on fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. The market will feature an in-season produce item each week by offering activity sheets focused on tasty fruits and veggies market vendors are selling. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to participate. Kids at the Market happens Saturday, September 2 and 16 from 10 am to noon!

Take a look at the Topeka Resources Checklist. This is very helpful for planning! This is a list of possible resources to help you stretch your dollars and avoid economic emergencies. Place a check beside the ones you are using or have used.

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