Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Welcome back to the 2022-2023 school year! Staff reported back last week and we have been busy preparing for students to arrive! As a reminder, the first day of school is August 18th. We open the doors at 9:15 and will begin our dismissal at 3:20 for the first week or so, working up to our normal dismissal time of 3:45.

This is the first of our weekly parent newsletters for this year. I try to make this very comprehensive and include school and district information that you need, as well as community resources. Please read carefully each week as this is the major form of communication you will receive. I send this out via email and text, and post it on our website and Facebook page.

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

August 17: Meet the Teacher Night @ 4:30-5:30

August 18: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!! Doors open @ 9:15

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. Additionally, all families will receive a Sheldon calendar and a one-pager of events for the year at Meet the Teacher Night.

Teachers have begun calling families to schedule home visits prior to the first day of school. If you haven't heard from your teacher by the end of this week, please reach out!

Please be sure you send an extra set of clothes (bottom, top, underwear, socks) with your student on the first day of school, in case of accidents. Make sure they are appropriate for the current weather.

We will be hosting a Meet the Teacher Night on Wednesday, August 17th from 4:30-5:30. While you will have already met your teacher through home visits, this is an opportunity to see your child's school and classroom, ask any last minute questions you may have, and receive additional school information.

The first day of school for students is Thursday, August 18th. Arrival is 9:15 and we will begin dismissal at 3:20. We will be serving breakfast and lunch. The car line and bus transportation will run as usual. We will share updated bus routing information for this school year as those routes are finalized. We expect delays with busing the first week or two as kinks in the routes are worked out. If you are able to transport your child, please do so.

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.

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

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!

The maps below highlight the traffic flow for the car line and for families who walk up. 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.

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.

Current construction on Gage may require you to adjust your route. It would be easiest to approach going Southbound on Gage so that you can turn right onto Sena St. and avoid the construction. Please note the car line is a right turn in, right turn out ONLY and this will be strictly enforced.

The picture above shows the proper way to enter the neighborhood to join the car line. If headed northbound on Gage, please turn left onto Sena St., continue toward Sheldon, and turn right into the parking lot on Sena St., just past Seabrook. If headed southbound on Gage, please turn right onto Munson Ave., continue toward Sheldon, turn left onto Seabrook, wait for a break in traffic to turn right onto Sena, and then turn right into the parking lot. All traffic must turn right out of the parking lot onto Sena St. and then proceed on the most convenient path.

When approaching the parking lot on Sena, just past Seabrook, vehicles will turn RIGHT into the parking lot and follow the painted arrows to loop through the parking lot. Adults will not exit their vehicle. Staff will greet students at the vehicle and then escort them into the building where additional staff members will escort them to their classrooms. Once the student exits, the vehicle may continue to follow the painted arrows to complete the loop through the parking lot. Vehicles will make a RIGHT turn out of the parking lot onto Sena St. If you have a situation that requires you stop to exit the vehicle or you need to have a conversation with a staff member, please pull to the right out of the car line so that it can continue to flow smoothly.

Families who are walking up will not walk up to the front entrance. Instead, please enter school grounds through the small gate located in front of the school, on the south end of Seabrook. Proceed up the ramp, down the stairs and through the small gate into the parking lot. Follow along the perimeter of the building (stay out of car traffic!) until you reach the door. Staff will sign in the student. Students will then be escorted to their classrooms. Adults are asked to follow the same path to exit school grounds.

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.

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. The first late start of the year will be our second day of school, August 19th.

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