Dear Sheldon Families,

Thank you for your patience and assistance in ensuring a smooth start to the day with the 2 hour delayed start! This is the last week of school for the 3rd quarter. Students do not have school next week, March 14-18, for Spring Break. Additionally, there is no school for students on Monday, March 21 as this is an end of the quarter teacher work day. We will see students back after the break of Tuesday, March 22.

As a reminder, per the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education decision on March 3, 2022, masks are no longer required and are now optional. If you send your child in a face mask, we will have them keep it on for the remainder of the school day.

Today I became aware of an excellent resource that I know I will be utilizing as a parent! Check out understood.org. It will ask you to complete a sentence using drop down boxes to specify what you would like support in. Once you've done that, it provides quick tips, articles, and resources to help provide support in that area. It is so quick and easy to use and I found it very helpful!

As always, if you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

• March 7-11: National School Social Work Week
  
• March 9: Policy Council Meeting @ 12:00
• March 10: Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30
• March 11: End of 3rd Quarter
• March 14-18: Spring Break ~ NO SCHOOL
• March 21: NO SCHOOL
• March 24: Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30
• March 28-April 1: Sheldon Dino Week!
• March 28 & 29: Discovery Center Field Trips
• March 29: Math Family Engagement Event
• March 31: National Crayon Day!

Topeka Public School District uses a wide variety of communication tools to engage its families. You can get more information here.

As we continue to respond to the community spread, if your student has tested positive for COVID-19 or had a COVID exposure, please complete the TPS COVID-19 Self Reporting form located on our website, and a district health official will contact you within 24 hours. Your child should not return to school until given guidance from school health officials.

Due to the volume of exposure in our county, all COVID student exposures being reported to Topeka Public Schools are to be reported online by going to TopekaPublicSchools.net. This process will allow us to address the current parent COVID needs and allow nurses to carry out their regular school duties and meet daily student needs. Please click on the link labeled Reporting a COVID-19 Exposure, which is on our main web page. Based on the information parents provide, an emailed response will be given informing you of the date your child can return to school and your child's school principal and nurse will be notified.

If you do not have the internet and need to report your exposure through this call, please provide your name, phone number, email address (if you have one), your child's name, birthdate and the date of the COVID-19 positive exposure. If you have school-related questions regarding a COVID-19 exposure, please leave a message and a health professional will return your call within 2 business days. Messages are only checked once every afternoon as our nurses are focused on patients for the majority of the day.

Families are asked to complete the self-reporting form for any COVID exposure. If a parent does not have internet access, they can call the COVID-19 reporting line at 785-438-HELP (785-438-4357) to report a COVID exposure. Schools will redirect families to the form on our web page or to the number to call.

Each week the Sheldon staff reviews one of our Head Start Policies & Procedures and felt it was important that families stay up to date on these as well. This quarter our focus is on Family Service and Parent Involvement. If you ever have any questions regarding our policies and procedures, please reach out!

Parent/Child Fees

POLICY:

The program does not charge any fees for participation. This policy relates to Head Start Performance Standards 45 CFR Part 1302.18

PROCEDURE:

1. Under no circumstances will the program solicit, encourage, or in any way condition a child’s enrollment or participation in the program upon the payment of a fee.

FCC has announced a permanent AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM that will provide eligible families, who apply, a credit of up to $30 per month to cover the cost of Broadband services with various providers, including Cox. Eligible families include those who qualify for free and reduced lunch, SNAP, WIC or those with an income level at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline for family size. Click one of the next links for information from Cox in either ENGLISH or SPANISH.

Here Comes the Bus is an app that will allow you to track your student's bus in real time. It is free on both the Android and Apple app stores. You will need your child's student ID number, which you can find in your account in TylerSIS. If you have trouble locating this, please give us a call and we will provide it. Directions for downloading and setting up the app are below:

Here Comes the Bus®

Now available to parents of (Topeka Public Schools) students

• View the real-time location of your child’s bus.

• Access the app from your smartphone, tablet or computer.

• Receive push notifications or email alerts.

• Send your child to the bus stop at just the right time, every time.

How to get started:

1. Download the Here Comes the Bus app* or visit herecomesthebus.com

2. Sign Up by going to the Here Comes the Bus website https://login.herecomesthebus.com/SignUpConfirm.aspx

3. Enter school code 29036 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”

4. Complete the “User Profile” box

5. Under “My Students,” click “Add.” Enter your child’s last name and student ID number

6. Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!

The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education voted on August 5th to follow the CDC Universal masking guidelines to start the school year. This means that masks will be required indoors for all staff, students, and visitors regardless of vaccination status. Masks will not be required during outside times. Please be sure you send your student to school with a clean face mask each day. This is part of their required dress code and we appreciate your assistance with ensuring we are providing a safe environment for our students! We will also be continuing with frequent handwashing/sanitation, disinfection protocols, and maintaining a social distance of 3 feet. Follow this link to view the entire "TPS Safe to Return to School Plan".

Check out the March Health and Fitness Tip here!

You can find the 2021-2022 Academic Calendar HERE.

There is a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) now available on HealthCare.gov for people with lower incomes. Those eligible for this SEP can enroll in a plan or switch plans at any time during the year, without having to experience a qualifying life event.

Eligibility for the new SEP is based on a person’s household income. Their annual income must be between 100-150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which is $12,880 - $19,320/year for a household of 1, and $26,500 - $39,750/year for a household of 4. A full chart of FPL guidelines for larger family sizes can be found here.

Starting around March 18th, people whose income is between 100-150% FPL will automatically get the SEP when they submit a HealthCare.gov application, but Cover Kansas Navigators can assist prior to this date.

To discuss your eligibility, please visit GetCoveredKansas.org or call toll-free 866-826-8375. Navigators are available for free year-round and are unbiased, certified professionals.

Did you know that you can check out a WiFi Hotspot from the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for FREE? Get more information here.

This updated document provides a list of food pantries and food resources available in English and in Spanish.

The Sheldon Food & Clothing Bank is still up and running! If your family has any needs, reach out to your Family Advocate or call 438-4538.

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.

Website: https://sheldon.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1155 SW Seabrook Ave.
Phone: 785-438-4530
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart