Community News 3/17/21

Community News 3/17/21
Posted on 03/17/2021
Topeka High School Girls' Basketball team

Community News

Congratulations

Congratulations to the Topeka High School Girls' Basketball team on their 6A State Runner-Up finish and to the Topeka West High School Boys' Basketball team on their 5A State Runner-Up finish for the 2020-21 season. Coaches of both teams will represent their team members at the March 18, 2021, Board of Education Meeting. On that Thursday we encourage all staff and students to wear pink in support of Coach Bloomquist, Topeka West Head Boys Basketball Coach.

Message from the Superintendent

Dear Topeka Public Schools Family,

This first week back from Spring Break has been wonderful! Over the break, our Topeka West Men's Basketball Team and Topeka High Women's Basketball team both traveled to State and finished as State Runners-up. Congratulations to both teams on a wonderful season!

All staff that wanted the vaccine have now had their second dose and we thank all health and government officials who helped make this possible.

This week we have enjoyed hosting St. Patrick's Day events at schools and we are preparing to start the 4th quarter on April 1st. The photo above is a Shaner scholar celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Principal Broyles and staff at Shaner Early Learning Academy engaged scholars in various holiday activities throughout the day.

At the last board meeting, our board agreed to the request to allow students to have increased access at the secondary level with continued six feet social distancing and masks. Secondary principals have reviewed requests for in-person school from Option Week and they will be communicating with parents next week about their schedules for students.

All secondary schools are finalizing end-of-year events and the principals will be sharing more information with parents in April.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day Across the District

Students across the district wore some green and celebrated St. Patrick's day with fun crafts and activities. Students at Shaner Early Learning Center participated in sensory bins where students hunted for gold! They also made rainbows with fruit loops and made a leprechaun trap after reading the book "How to Catch a Leprechaun." Remote learners joined in on the fun with kits that included all the supplies to make a leprechaun trap and they were able to make them with their teacher virtually. With a little extra luck, they just might catch a leprechaun. Happy St. Patrick's Day from everyone at TPS!

Dan McCready

TPS Teacher Honored as NEKMEA Outstanding Young Orchestra Director

On Monday, March 1, Dan McCready was directing a handful of orchestra students when he was surprised by representatives from the Northeast Kansas Music Educator Association (NEKMEA). They were there to present McCready with one of three Outstanding Young Director awards, given to the region's most promising orchestra, band, and choir teachers early in their careers. McCready, who doubles as orchestra director at Robinson Middle and Topeka High, is only in his second year of teaching at Topeka Public Schools and already has found innovative ways to adapt how they teach orchestra students during a pandemic. McCready was quoted by The Topeka Capital-Journal saying, “I will do a (virtual) rehearsal with who I have, but I also send out videos I make on my professional duty day and send it out to people who may have missed or if their internet was bad." Congratulations Mr. McCready, thank you for all you do for TPS!

KAB

TCALC Students Win State Awards for Broadcasting

Two Topeka Center for Advanced Learning Careers (TCALC) students have been recognized by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for their video work. Tyler Parucki won a KAB 2nd place award in the category of Promotional Video or Audio for his video "Come to TCALC." Former TCALC student Gabriel Johnson won a KAB award for a video that was created during his time at TCALC. Johnson won 1st place in the category of Entertainment Program with his video titled "Footsteps." They will both be formally celebrated during the virtual KAB Student Seminar on April 8 with a video presentation at 10:30 a.m. The event will also be streamed live on KAB's Facebook page.

Virtual School

Enroll Now in TPS Virtual School for the 2021-22 School Year

The Topeka Public Schools Virtual School is opening its doors to all Kansas districts in order to build a lasting partnership for the betterment of Kansas students and families. KSDE partnered with Topeka Public Schools to extend the virtual school to offer an elementary virtual program using Kansas state standards to any Kansas scholar. Elementary and secondary students have been highly successful using a virtual school aligned to Kansas Standards. TPS offers virtual education to elementary, middle and high school students currently and in 2021 any Kansas student may enroll in K-12.

TPS utilizes a KSDE-approved curriculum focusing on Kansas State Standards that prepares students for academic achievement and post-secondary opportunities. The program is staffed with highly qualified and certified educators ready to offer virtual academic support, in-person tutoring, SPED support, ELL support, and social-emotional learning. Data demonstrates this time-tested program decreases dropout rates and increases graduation rates. Students that need a virtual option may enroll for the 2021-2022 school year.

Watch this video to view the virtual program serving elementary students in action and this video to see the enrollment process and what our virtual school has to offer. To learn more about registration and fees click here or contact Dr. Joy Grimes at [email protected], or Mrs. Lauren Frederic at [email protected].

Elaine Bunten

Topeka High Senior, Elaine Bunten, Selected as March Senior of the Month

Elaine Bunten, from Topeka High School, has been named Senior of the Month for March 2021. Many would describe Elaine as intelligent, determined and strong. She is at the top of her class and also involved in school activities such as cheerleading. She is very goal-oriented and always succeeds in her endeavors. Following graduation, Elaine plans to attend the University of Kansas to study chemical engineering. Congratulations, Elaine! We can't wait to see what you accomplish after leaving the halls of Topeka High.

Celebrating Women's History

TPS Celebrating Women's History Throughout the District

March is Women's History Month and Topeka Public Schools has so many amazing stories to tell. Our TPS family is full of inspiring women educators like Capital City High School Principal, Aryn McCoy,

who was named one of four Outstanding Women of Kansas in 2020. Ms. McCoy originally started her career at Topeka Public Schools 20 years ago as a paraeducator. Over the years, she worked her way through the ranks, becoming a special education teacher, head softball coach at Topeka High School and eventually principal at Capital City.

Chrishayla Adams is definitely someone you should know. We are so proud of this Topeka High School graduate. She claimed first place in a national Public Speaking competition sponsored by Jobs For America's Graduates in 2020. Ms. Adams was also recently selected by Governor Laura Kelly to be on the state's Kansas Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention!

We are so proud to have so many amazing women who will continue to inspire many generations of women to come.

Social Workers are Essential

TPS is Celebrating School Social Workers all Month Long

Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. The theme for Social Work Month 2020 is "Social Workers are Essential." TPS recognizes the tremendous impact school social workers can have in helping students achieve school success. Although always essential, the work of social workers has grown during this difficult time. Thank you, social workers!

Sharefest Logo

Help Give Back to TPS Through ShareFest 2021

Sharefest is an event that was created with the belief that churches and organizations can do more together than any one group could do separately to reach out to its community. Topeka Public Schools is among the organizations to benefit from this year's ShareFest on Saturday, April 24, from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. ShareFest is a way for Topeka to come together to volunteer to improve our community. Landscaping, painting and cleaning up the grounds of local schools are ways that volunteers will be spending their time to help give back to TPS, among other organizations. For more information or to get involved, visit www.sharefesttopeka.com

Tevin Jenkins

Topeka High Alumnus, Teven Jenkins, 2021 Chiefs Draft Prospect

One Topeka High Alumnus could be headed to the NFL! It was recently announced that Tevin Jenkins is a 2021 Chiefs draft prospect. Jenkins is currently the starting offensive tackle for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. While a student at Topeka High, Jenkins was a football star, and also starred in baseball and basketball. He earned All-State honors in his junior and senior seasons. Coming out of high school, Jenkins committed to Oklahoma State for college football over schools like Kansas State, Nebraska, Missouri, and Louisville. Congratulations on a successful college football career and good luck on any future endeavors.

McClure Salvation Army Donation

McClure Helps Victims of Winter Storm in Texas

After extreme winter storms devastated Texas in the middle of February, students at McClure Elementary wanted to help any way they could. They raised over $800 to buy water for families in Texas affected by the severe winter storm through a McClure Kids Care Coins For Texas Fundraiser. Just over 300 students raised $863.46. Dr. Jennifer Gordon, principal at McClure, sent word to the Salvation Army and Christian Lopez, corps commander at the capital city's Salvation Army citadel, came to the school to accept the check on behalf of the organization in Texas. Students from the school even presented the check to Lopez. We are so proud of the generosity of our McClure students during a very difficult time.

TPS Logo

Second Quarter Report Card Information

Report Cards for the second quarter are available in the Documents area of the Parent or Student portals of TylerSIS. After you log in, choose your student from the top of your screen and then select documents to see the report card information for that student.

The third quarter is scheduled to end on March 31, so report cards should be updated to the parent and student portals a week or so after that date.

Preschool Orientation

Pre-Register for Kindergarten Orientation in April

Do you have a young scholar ready to start kindergarten in the fall? Join us at Virtual Kindergarten Orientation on April 8th from 5:30–6:30 p.m. This event is an opportunity for parents to learn more about Topeka Public Schools and what their children can expect in kindergarten. Children must be five-years-old by August 31 in order to be kindergarten eligible. A virtual Kindergarten Orientation will take place at every elementary school building, so please attend the Zoom meeting hosted by your child's school.

Magnet Day Flyer

Magnet School Application Day, March 22

Any resident in Shawnee County can enroll in Topeka Public Schools. Applications for Scott Dual Language Magnet School, Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet, and Whitson Spanish Enrichment Program will be taken online from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Openings include:

  • Scott Dual Language Magnet, Kindergarten
  • Whitson Elementary, Kindergarten Spanish Enrichment
  • Williams Science and Fine Art Magnet, K-5

For more information on the benefits of these programs visit the school website by clicking here.

 

Engage students in the highest quality of learning • Prepare students for responsible, productive citizenship • Inspire excellence for a lifetime
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.