Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Have a wonderful week! Just a reminder that this is our last week of school before Winter Break. Students will return to school on January 6th. We hope you have a wonderful break and happy holidays!

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

As a reminder, we follow district guidelines for outside time during colder months. We WILL go outside if the wind chill is 20 degrees or above. Please be sure you are sending your student with weather appropriate clothes, coat, hat and gloves. If you need help with any of these items, please reach out to your Family Advocate.

Let's keep the fun and learning happening over Winter Break! The Winter Break Choice Board pictured below will be sent home with all students today. Students who return it in January with at least 8 items signed off by a parent will receive a book to take home!

Let's have some fun counting down the days to Winter Break!

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.

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)

Norovirus season is here, and if your kid's school looks like a ghost town right now, you're not alone. This virus is absurdly contagious — we're talking as few as 18 viral particles to get infected. It survives on surfaces for days to weeks, spreads through vomit and poop (and even tiny aerosolized droplets when someone throws up), and people stay contagious for at least a few days after they feel better. Talk about spreading holiday cheer!

So what actually helps?

• Soap and water. Hand sanitizer doesn't cut it with norovirus. Scrub those hands before eating and after bathrooms. 🧼
• If someone pukes near you, leave. Seriously. Aerosolized droplets are no joke. 🏃‍➡️
• If it hits your house:
• 🧤Gloves on, clean the area with paper towels, then disinfect with a bleach solution (5-25 tbsp per gallon of water). Leave it on for at least 5 minutes.
• 🦠Wash contaminated clothes/linens on hot, dry on high heat.
• 😷Keep the sick person away from food prep for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.

• For sick kids: Small, frequent sips — not big gulps — of an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte). If they won’t take that, try diluted juice or broth. Every 5 minutes. It's tedious but it works.
• Watch for dehydration: sunken eyes, no tears, dry mouth, feeling weak or dizzy, not peeing much.
• Call your pediatrician if you're seeing those signs.

You will get through this! 🫡

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.

Field Trips

POLICY:

Field trips will enhance classroom learning, align with current curriculum, and reflect the

developmental levels and cultural backgrounds of children. Safety will be the top priority for all off-site activities.

PROCEDURE:

1. Field trips must connect to the curriculum and reflect children’s needs, interests, and cultures. This connection must be documented in lesson plans.
2. All trips must be pre-approved prior to scheduling.
3. Parents will receive advance notice with trip details (date, location, activities, appropriate attire) and must provide written permission for participation.
4. Parents are welcome to attend but may need to arrange their own transportation due to limited bus seating. No child will be excluded if their parent does not attend.
5. Volunteers and parents may assist but do not count toward ratio or serve as primary supervisors.
6. Children must be counted and documented before departure and again before returning.
7. Each child must be labeled with the program’s name.
8. If transportation is provided, appropriate safety harnesses must be used.
9. First Aid Kits are required on all trips.
10. Parents may transport only their own children in personal vehicles. Head Start children cannot be transported by other parents. Siblings attending are the sole responsibility of the parent.
11. Children with disabilities must be included and transported in the same vehicles as their peers whenever possible. Reasonable accommodations must be provided.

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