Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Have a great week!

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

Picture Day is coming up on Thursday, September 18! Retakes will be on October 16. Paper order forms will be sent home within the next week. The flyer below provides details on the different packages that are available for order. If ordering photos, you may pay in the following ways:

• Pay by Cash: You must provide the EXACT amount. We will not be able to make change.
• Pay by Check: Make the check out to Strawbridge Studios
• Pay Online: This is the easiest! See the information in the flyer below.

We will collect orders and payments at the school beginning Monday, September 8 and ending on picture day, September 18.

You can also use this link to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school (you can double check this in your Synergy ParentVue).

Parenting the Love and Logic® Way. This 10-week course begins Monday, September 22, from 6:00–8:00 PM, and is designed to help parents, step-parents, guardians, grandparents, and caregivers develop practical tools for raising responsible, respectful children in a supportive and encouraging environment. More information is available here: https://wsbctopeka.org/kids/parenting_classes.

Scholarships are available for families in need, and space is limited.

If your child is still working on potty training, please be sure they are coming to school in pull-ups NOT diapers.

Potty Training Resources

-The Right Age to Potty Train (English)

-The Right Age to Potty Train (Spanish)

-Toileting Independence in Preschool Age Children - Head Start Resource

-Help Children Use the Bathroom On Their Own (this includes songs, videos, and book ideas!)

Students being picked up before 3:15 do have their attendance adjusted to show that they left early. These times do add up and negatively impact a student's attendance. Please be sure your child comes to school each day and stays all day.

Please return GraceMed Dental Consent Forms if you want your student to receive dental screening and cleaning at school, provided by GraceMed. If you have lost the form, please let your teacher or nurse Andrea know. If you have any questions, please call nurse Andrea at 785-438-4533.

On behalf of the Topeka High Cheer Program, I am excited to share details about our Annual Kids Clinic coming up in 2 weeks! Boys and girls of all ages are welcome!

The clinic is a fun and memorable opportunity for students to:

• Learn cheers, chants, and routines directly from the Topeka High Cheerleaders.
• Be grouped by age, so younger kids and older kids learn at their own pace.
• Perform with the squad at a Topeka High School football game under the Friday night lights.
• For middle school students interested in trying out for cheer in the near future, we’ll also teach skills and content that can help them prepare for high school tryouts.

📅 Clinic Details

Practice Dates: Tuesday & Wednesday, Sept. 16th & 17th | 5:30–7:00 PM

Practice Location: Topeka High School (800 SW 10th St, Topeka, KS 66612)

Game Day Performance: Thursday, Sept. 18th | Kickoff 6:45 PM

Game Location: Hummer Sports Park (2751 SW East Circle Dr S #1, Topeka, KS 66606)

Cost: $30 per child

🎀 Optional Spirit Items (available for purchase):

$8 Black/white/gold checkered hair bow

$5 Plain black or white bow

$20 Mini black & gold poms

$20 Parent shirt

📌 Families can sign up here: Register Online

September 8-12: Color Week (see flyer below!)

September 9: StoryTime with Boomer Bear

September 10: Fire Safety Lesson with Topeka Fire Department

September 11: Tornado Drill

September 11: StoryTime with Boomer Bear

September 16: Outdoor Health & Social Emotional Family Night (see flyer below!)

September 17: Family Fun Fitness Night @ Hummer Sports Park @ 5:30-7:00

September 18: Picture Day!!

September 18: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

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.

As a state and district expectation, all preschool children must have the ASQ3 and ASQSE2 completed each year. These are also required to be completed by our Head Start grant.

Please use the appropriate link below to complete both the ASQ and ASQ-SE screening forms. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. When you click on the link, you will have the option of choosing to complete BOTH surveys.

English version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/58ce82

Spanish version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/824204

If you need additional help completing the screener please use our step-by-step directions using the link below.

ASQ Parent Guide

SPANISH ASQ Parent Guide

Thank you to the families who have delivered, sent or uploaded the required preschool documents!

If you have not done so, please submit your child's:

• birth certificate
• immunization records
• health assessment (physical), including hemoglobin and lead testing
• oral health form

The above documents can be submitted by , scanning and emailing them to kneufeld@tps501.org, faxing to the Sheldon office (785-271-3647), or delivering them to the Sheldon office.

We must have the required documents before the first day of school.

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.

Meal Service

POLICY: 45 CFR Part 1302.44

Meal service promotes children's physical, social, emotional development, and healthy eating habits.

PROCEDURE:

1. The CACFP Program serves as the primary funding source for meal services, with Head Start

funds covering allowable costs not addressed by CACFP.

2. Children enrolled for more than six hours will receive meals and snacks that fulfill 1⁄2 to 2/3 of

their daily nutritional needs. Meals are nutrient-rich and low in fat, sugar, and salt. Parents may

not send extra food for their child unless approved. This is for special circumstances only.

3. Children who arrive late without having had breakfast will be served a nourishing meal.

4. There must be at least two hours between the start of breakfast, lunch, and snack.

5. Children are given adequate time to eat: Breakfast (15-20 minutes), Lunch (20-30 minutes),

Snack (15-20 minutes).

6. Calming activities should be planned before meals to foster good appetites and a relaxing

environment.

7. Mealtimes will be held in quiet, well-lit, and ventilated areas.

8. Children, staff, and volunteers will eat together family-style, sharing the same menu as much

as possible. Snack and meal times will be structured to promote interaction, communication,

and socialization.

9. Food will not be used as punishment or reward. Children are encouraged to eat but not forced

to finish their food.

10.A variety of foods will be served to enhance each child's food experience.

11. Children will participate in meal-related activities that promote decision-making,

communication, sharing, and fine motor skills (e.g., setting tables, preparing food).

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

Policy Council is an opportunity for parents to be part of program decision-making. Policy Council gives parents an opportunity to have a voice and learn about program leadership. Policy Council members vote on Grant Approvals, Program Budget Approvals, Staffing, Publics Relations, and Policies & Procedures.

The Sheldon Policy Council meets monthly for 1 hour and asks for a one year commitment. More information will be shared at Home Visits.

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