Community News

What an exciting month of October! We celebrated our 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees, Ms. Giovanna Mendez and Mr. Phillip Wrigley, who are pictured above. Congratulations to these outstanding educators!

This month, we celebrated our final Homecoming event of the season at Highland Park, and enjoyed many fine arts, academics, and athletics activities across the district. We are so proud of our Topeka High athletes who competed in the State Tennis Tournament and our Highland Park varsity football team for winning the Meadowlark Conference League Championship, the first in school history. Our Jardine Jaguars also captured the City Football Championship, and the Landon Lady Lancers became three-time City Volleyball Champions.

We also celebrated the end of Hispanic Heritage Month at the Scott Dual Language Kermés School Carnival, as well as Hispanic Heritage Night at Topeka High. Topeka Public Schools is proud to offer the only PreK-12 Dual Language Program in the region.

We enjoyed seeing many of our families at Parent Conferences, and look forward to our Fall Festivals at each elementary school on October 31. As we continue to collect feedback from families, please take a few moments to complete this 360 survey. Every response helps us to best serve our TPS students and families.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

This month, Topeka Public Schools announced the district's 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year Nominees, Ms. Giovanna Mendez and Mr. Phillip Wrigley!

Ms. Mendez, known by her students as Ms. Gigi, is our elementary nominee and a beloved 4th-grade teacher at Whitson Elementary. Mr. Wrigley, our secondary nominee, is a history teacher at Topeka High, where he inspires students through his passion for civic engagement.

These amazing educators are a huge part of what makes our district such a special place for students to learn and thrive! Learn more in this video highlight.

Topeka Public Schools proudly celebrates Ms. Aubree Rineberg, School Counselor at State Street Elementary School, who was named a finalist for the Kansas School Counselor of the Year Award by the Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA).

On October 15, Ms. Rineberg was surprised with the exciting announcement by the KSCA President, joined by district and school leadership, and her family. Known across the district for her compassion, dedication, and unwavering care for students and staff, Ms. Rineberg embodies the heart of Topeka Public Schools. Her positive energy and commitment to serving TPS families make her an outstanding representative of both State Street and the district as a whole.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Rineberg on this well-deserved recognition and celebrating the incredible impact she makes each day in the lives of our students!

For families in need of food assistance, the City of Topeka has compiled a helpful list of Food Banks, Pantries, and Meal Services (English and Spanish) available in Topeka. This resource provides essential information on where to find support in the community.

Our district's partnership with Harvesters will also continue to provide access to fresh food and essential items through mobile food pantries at multiple schools, which are open to the community. Please refer to the Harvesters Food Locator for information on additional sites.

• Robinson Middle School – First Fridays: November 7 & December 5 | 4:00–5:00 PM
• Jardine Middle School – Second Saturdays: November 8 & December 13 | 9:00–10:00 AM
• Capital City School – December 12 | 9:00–10:00 AM (Fourth Fridays resume in January 2026)

To access food and other needed items through the district's Community Cupboard at Quinton Heights, please reach out to your school's counselor or social worker for an appointment. We hope to connect all individuals and families to the resources they need during this time.

As a reminder, all Topeka Public Schools students will continue to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for the 2025-2026 school year! This initiative ensures every child has access to nutritious meals that fuel learning and success.

Families will also notice new interactive menus for each school, making it easier to see what’s being served each day and explore the many new menu items our Child Nutrition Services team has introduced. We thank families for their patience as adjustments are made to these new menus to best meet the needs of our students.

To explore the interactive menus and learn more about our meal programs, visit the Child Nutrition Services page.

Highland Park High School was buzzing with excitement and Scot pride on October 9 as students, staff, and proud alumni gathered to celebrate Homecoming.

The week was packed with festivities including spirit days, a high-energy pep rally and royalty assembly, and a vibrant parade through the community. Topeka Public Schools Board of Education member and retired educator, Ms. Sue Bolley, served as this year's Grand Marshal in the parade.

That evening, the Scots varsity football team faced off against Atchison High School at Hummer Sports Park, where they won 42-18. The Scots later earned the title of Meadowlark Conference Champions, the first conference title in school history!

Highland Park also crowned Jhessdiel Santiago and Maria Muro-Munoz as the 2025 Homecoming King and Queen, a moment filled with cheers and applause. View photos from the Homecoming celebration on Flickr.

A new era of financial learning has begun at Topeka High School! Envista Credit Union members, including President & CEO Ronald D. Smeltzer, Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, and representatives from the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, joined Topeka High administrators on October 15 to celebrate the grand opening of The Trojan Vault, a student-run Envista Credit Union branch located on campus.

This exciting partnership gives students hands-on experience in financial literacy and real-world banking operations, empowering them to develop valuable career and life skills. Through The Trojan Vault, students are not only gaining practical knowledge but also helping strengthen the Topeka High community through financial education and leadership.

Topeka Public Schools thanks Topeka High Business Teacher, Mrs. Sheila Krohe, and our partners at Envista Credit Union for making this meaningful opportunity possible for students!

This month, the Topeka Public Schools Foundation set out on its annual Grant Patrol, surprising TPS educators across the district with checks to fund innovative classroom projects and special programs for students.

For 39 years, the TPS Foundation has supported educators by providing grant funding that fuels creative, hands-on learning experiences for Topeka Public Schools scholars. These grants celebrate educators who go above and beyond to bring new ideas to life in their classrooms, schools, and across the district.

In 2025, the Foundation’s Grant Allocations Committee awarded 24 grants totaling $15,603.72, funding a wide range of classroom, school-wide, and district-wide initiatives that create learning opportunities not otherwise possible. View additional photos from the Grant Patrol on Flickr.

In October, Topeka Public Schools wrapped up Hispanic Heritage Month with vibrant celebrations across the district, including the Scott Dual Language Kermés School Carnival, which brought together students, families, and community members for an evening filled with food, music, dancing, and cultural pride.

Topeka High also hosted a dynamic Hispanic Heritage Math & Coding Night, celebrating culture, creativity, and community through hands-on learning and collaboration.

Topeka Public Schools is proud to offer the only PreK–12 Dual Language Program in the region, enriching students’ learning through bilingual education and global citizenship. View photos from all of this month's festivities on Flickr and our social media channels.

On October 21, Topeka Public Schools held the annual Warm Little Ones Coat Giveaway at Quinton Heights. Hundreds of families from across Topeka were able to shop for free coats, hats, gloves, and more, while also enjoying grilled hot dogs and sides provided by the Topeka Public Schools Foundation.

Additionally, the district partnered with Kansas Gas Service to provide each family with a weatherization kit for their home. Community partners from the Shawnee County Health Department, Kansas Department for Children & Families, City of Topeka, and KTWU-11 Public Television also supported the event and provided resources for families. View photos on Flickr.

You can help support the Warm Little Ones Coat Fund by making a monetary donation or by dropping off new or gently used coats to Quinton Heights (2335 SW Topeka Blvd). Families still in need of winter attire or other items can schedule an appointment to visit the TPS Community Cupboard by reaching out to their school's counselor or social worker.

The Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers (TCALC) was filled with excitement on October 16, as juniors and seniors from across Shawnee County attended the annual College & Career Fair!

Students had the opportunity to connect with more than 70 community colleges, universities, technical schools, and employers, exploring options for their future academic and career paths. This engaging event helps students learn more about the application and enrollment process while discovering potential career opportunities right here in Kansas and beyond.

The fair is one of many ways Topeka Public Schools prepares students for success after graduation, whether their next step is college, technical training, or entering the workforce. View photos from the College & Career Fair on Flickr.

Check out our College Connections Newsletter on Smore! With an easy to navigate Table of Contents, it's now simpler than ever for high school students and families to find helpful information on college and career readiness.

This month's newsletter covers the following topics:

• Applying for Federal Student Aid
• The Kansas Promise Act
• College registration/admissions process & deadlines
• Scholarships
• ACT/SAT testing dates
• Job opportunities for students
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses (watch video)

As families prepare for the upcoming year, the 2025–2026 academic calendar is available to help with planning for important dates, breaks, and events. We encourage families to review the calendar early as they make arrangements for the coming year.

The district Google Calendar is also available on our home page.

Below are important dates for October & November 2025:

October 2025

• October 1-30: National Principals Month
• October 1-30: National Audiology Awareness Month
  
• October 1-30: National Physical Therapy Month
• October 23-31: Red Ribbon Week
• October 31: Fall Festivities

November 2025

• November 1-30: Native American Heritage Month
• November 3-7: National School Psychology Week
• November 6: Board of Education Meeting
  5:30 PM | Burnett Center
• November 8: National Parents as Teachers Day
• November 11: Veterans Day
• November 17-21: American Education Week
• November 18: Principal for a Day
  10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Districtwide
• November 20: Board of Education Meeting
  5:30 PM | Burnett Center
• November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break
  NO SCHOOL IN SESSION
• November 27: Thanksgiving Day

Stay up-to-date with everything you need to know about the 2025 Kansas Legislative Session on the Current Events page at kslegislature.org.

• Topeka Public Schools Blog
  
• Topeka Public Schools YouTube Channel
  
• Board of Education Meeting Minutes & Agenda

The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program or activity provided by the school district. For students, the Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000.The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.

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