Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Reminder - there is NO SCHOOL this Thursday and Friday! Did you know that October is Head Start Awareness Month? We are SO PROUD to be a Head Start program at Sheldon, serving those who need it most in our community. Take a look at this video celebrating 60 years of Head Start programming! Interested in supporting our Kansas Head Start Association? Check out the link below for merch! We will be celebrating with a Head Start Spirit Week the last week of October. See the flyer below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFJBabs_H90

https://www.bonfire.com/store/kansas-head-start-association/

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

October is Head Start Awareness Month and it would be amazing to highlight Head Start graduates. If you, your child, family or friends went to Head Start, please share a photo for us to display. You are welcome to bring in a photo or email them to Ms. Sara at shermann@tps501.org. Thank you for your help!

Sheldon's Picture RETAKE Day is coming up on October 29th! If your child was absent on picture day, had not yet started school, OR you are dissatisfied with your child's portraits, you are welcome to have them retake their picture. If your child did have their picture taken in September and you are wanting retakes, you must return the original pictures you received. The flyer below provides details on the different packages that are available for order. You may order online, or pay by cash or check. If paying by cash, you must provide the EXACT amount. We will not be able to make change. If paying by check, please make the check out to Strawbridge Studios. Paying online is the easiest! We will collect orders and payments at the school up until picture day, October 29.

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)

Let Mrs. Tanner know if you need a printed copy of the Christmas Bureau sign-up forms to complete!

Please note that Picture Retakes will take place on October 29th NOT October 16th.

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.

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 Mental Health and Child Development & Education Services.

Safe Place

POLICY:

Head Start classrooms will provide a designated "Safe Place" as a behavior management tool to

support children's emotional regulation. The Safe Place is a calming area where children can go to

manage their emotions, reflect on their behavior, and practice self-regulation skills. It is not intended as punishment but as a supportive space for children to calm down and regain control.

PROCEDURE:

1. Safe Place Setup: The Safe Place should be equipped with calming materials, including comforting blankets, stress-relief tools, paper for drawing, and visual reminders of calming techniques. Items should engage all five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound.

2. When to Use the Safe Place: Teachers will guide children to the Safe Place when they are struggling to make safe choices or manage their emotions. This may include situations where children are showing aggression, frustration, or other challenging behaviors.

3. Support During Regulation: Once in the Safe Place, staff will help the child work through the five steps of self-regulation:

○ I Am: Identify the emotion (e.g., "I am angry").

○ I Calm: Use calming strategies like breathing exercises or stress-relief tools.

○ I Feel: Use tools like feeling charts or Feeling Buddies to identify and label emotions.

○ I Choose: Encourage the child to choose other calming activities (e.g., using a choice

board or Brain Smart Choice Cubes).

○ I Solve: Guide the child to think about and resolve the issue before returning to class

activities.

4. No Time Limit: The Safe Place is not to have a set time limit. Children regulate at their own pace, and the goal is for them to regain control in a way that feels comfortable for them.

5. Documentation and Communication: If a child repeatedly uses the Safe Place, document the behavior, the date, and any interventions used. Do not take videos or photos of children in the Safe Place. Regular communication with parents and caregivers is encouraged to provide insight into the child's emotional development and the use of the Safe Place.

6. Consistency and Reinforcement: The Safe Place is most effective when used consistently as part of the classroom's behavior management strategy. Staff should reinforce positive behavior when children successfully use the Safe Place and reflect on their emotions.

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

Check out this link for Kansas Food Source. This link provides a map of all of the KS counties and indicates what food resources are available in each county.

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