Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Have a great week! Reminder - there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, September 29th!

You will receive a weekly newsletter from me highlighting all upcoming dates and events. The weekly newsletter will also include reminders and important information. Please make sure to read the newsletter each week so you stay informed! This is the number one way I communicate with all families. This newsletter will be sent via email, text, and posted on our Sheldon Facebook page. Speaking of, haven't followed us yet on social media? Please do! We love to share pictures of all the fun we are having!

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

The Policy Council is made up of Head Start parents and community members who help guide and make decisions for the program. Members are elected by parents of children currently enrolled. Please take a moment to cast your vote for all of this year’s candidates. Thank you!

The car line begins at 9:00 Monday-Thursday and 10:15 on Fridays. PLEASE do not pull the line into the staff parking lot until about 5 minutes before the line will begin. This gives enough time for staff to arrive for the day and park. Please do not pull ahead of cars that are lined up on the curb outside of the parking lot. Join the end of the line.

Brave Talk provides engaging prevention education for elementary students, from PreK through 6th grade, equipping them with essential tools to stay safe and make confident decisions. A parent tip sheet and opt-out form (both pictured below) will be sent home prior to these lessons.

Our program covers:

• Body Safety: Teaching about safe and unsafe touches and empowering children to set boundaries as the boss of their bodies.
• Identifying Safe Adults: Helping kids recognize trusted individuals they can turn to for support.
• Technology Safety: Guiding students on how to navigate the internet and social media safely and responsibly.

Brave Talk’s curriculum is designed to meet children at their grade level, using age-appropriate

language and activities to engage young learners. We aim to build awareness, confidence, and

critical thinking, empowering kids to protect themselves and thrive in a digital and real-world

environment.

We will go on several field trips this year. Dates and locations are listed below. Parents are welcome to attend field trips BUT must provide their own transportation and their own entry fee. Siblings are welcome to attend, with parents providing transportation and entry fee, EXCEPT for the Discovery Center field trip as they are closed to the public on the day we visit and children outside of Sheldon will not be able to attend. We will pay all fees for Sheldon students. Even if their family attends, students are to stay with their school group. Finally, we require a signed permission slip before every field trip. Teachers will provide these. These MUST be completed in order for students to attend.

Lil Munchkins Pumpkin Patch: Monday, October 20th @ 10:00-12:00

Discovery Center: Monday, February 16th @ 10:00-12:00 (upstairs classrooms)

Discovery Center: Monday, February 23rd @ 10:00-12:00 (downstairs classrooms)

Topeka Zoo: Monday, April 6th @ 10:00-12:00 (upstairs classrooms)

Topeka Zoo: Tuesday, April 7th @ 10:00-12:00 (downstairs classrooms)

September 22-26: Super Attendance Spirit Week! (see flyer below!)

September 23-26: GraceMed Dental Clinic

September 24: Physical Clinic @ 9:00-12:00

September 25: StoryTime with Advisors Excel

September 29: NO SCHOOL - Personal Development Day

New this year! Please use this form (save to your bookmarks!) to report your student's absence from school. This helps us keep accurate attendance records and ensure student safety.

Submit one form per student. If your child will be absent for more than one day, please complete a separate form for each day they will be out.

If you have any urgent concerns, please contact the school office directly, (785) 438-4530. A QR code to this form is included below. We will also be providing all families with a fridge magnet with the QR code at the start of the school year.

Sheldon staff had a great professional development session at the beginning of the year focused on Speech/Language Development with preschool students and ways to address common concerns. We thought it would be helpful to share this information with parents as well so that you can continue working with your student at home on these skills! If you have questions or concerns regarding your child's speech/language development, reach out to your child's teacher.

As a federal Head Start program, Sheldon implements policies & procedures to ensure a safe and effective program. Each week, one will be posted here for review. This quarter our focus is on Health & Safety and Nutrition.

Vision and Hearing Screening

POLICY:

All children enrolled in Head Start will receive vision and hearing screenings within 45 calendar days of enrollment. If recent exam records are provided by parents, an additional screening is not required.

Vision Screening Procedure:

• Trained staff will conduct vision screenings using the SPOT Camera, which will indicate either "Screening Complete" (pass) or "Complete Eye Exam Recommended" (fail).
• If follow-up is needed, staff will assist with next steps and notify parents/guardians of results.

Hearing Screening Procedure:

• Hearing screenings will be conducted annually or within 45 days of enrollment.
• The Health Coordinator or designated trained staff will perform the screenings.
• Screening results will be recorded, and parents will receive a copy.
• Children who fail or are unable to test will be rescreened within two weeks.
• If a child fails two screenings, a referral to a physician or audiologist will be made.
• Documentation will be maintained in the child’s file and entered in Synergy.

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)

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 20th. The last day of school for Sheldon students will be May 18th.

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!

@SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart

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

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