Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Each week, you will receive a 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

DO NOT park in Reserved parking spaces!!!!! There are several in front of the school. I understand they may be empty when you arrive at school, but that's because these staff report to work later than others and can not get into the parking lot due to the car line running. These spaces need to be available for the staff they are intended for when they arrive.

Please be sure students are ready to exit the vehicle in the car line. We are running about 15 minutes longer than we should be and are having a lot of delays with students not being ready. Once you pull in the parking lot is a good time to start unbuckling, putting on jackets and backpacks, and giving those final hugs and kisses. We appreciate your help keeping this busy time of day running efficiently!

We have become familiar with students and students know where they are headed so we will start collecting lanyards.

Finally, please don't pull the car line into the parking lot until 8:55 so staff can enter and exit as they need to.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on October 21st from 4:00-8:00 and October 22nd from 8:00-8:00. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on October 22nd & 23rd. Expect to hear from your child's teacher soon to sign up for a time frame that works best within your schedule. Teachers will then use that information to create a finalized schedule. Once that has been done, your student's teacher will send a confirmation of the date and time for your conference. These conferences will be held in person in your child's classroom. We look forward to meeting with you and sharing your child's progress!

October is Head Start Awareness Month and part of our celebration is an ongoing display of Head Start graduates in our main lobby. If you or a family member graduated from a Head Start program (not just Sheldon!), we would love if you would send in a picture for us to display! If you don't have a printed copy, just email it and we will get it printed.

You are still able to order your child's picture through the Strawbridge website. If you have any trouble, please reach out to their Customer Service department.

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).

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: Wednesday, October 14th @ 10:00-12:30

Discovery Center: Monday, January 25th @ 10:00-12:00 (upstairs classrooms)

Discovery Center: Monday, February 1st @ 10:00-12:00 (downstairs classrooms)

Topeka Zoo: Monday, April 12th @ 10:00-12:00 (upstairs classrooms)

Topeka Zoo: Tuesday, April 13th @ 10:00-12:00 (downstairs classrooms)

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.

Tooth Brushing

POLICY:

A program must promote effective oral health hygiene by ensuring all children with teeth are assisted by appropriate staff, or volunteers, if available, in brushing their teeth with toothpaste containing fluoride daily.

PROCEDURE:

1. Each child will have his/her own toothbrush labeled with his/her name.
2. Toothbrushes will be stored with the head of each brush upright in an appropriate toothbrush holder, not touching.
3. Toothbrushes and toothbrush holders will be kept clean and sanitary.
4. Toothbrushes must be kept out of the reach of children in a place where contamination will not occur. They should not be kept inside a bathroom.
5. When toothbrushes become worn, they are discarded and replaced (approximately every 3 months).
6. Toothbrushes will be discarded and replaced if a student was diagnosed with Strep Throat.
7. Classroom schedules should be developed so children will be able to brush their teeth once a day.
8. Students should be monitored by a staff member and provided direction on how to properly rinse their own toothbrush if an adult in the classroom is not.
9. Only toothpaste with fluoride is to be used.
10. To eliminate contamination when one large tube of paste is used, place a small dab (pea size) of the paste on the inside of the child’s rinsing cup just prior to the child brushing. The child will use his/her toothbrush to scoop the paste off the cup onto their toothbrush. This will avoid transferring germs from one child’s brush to another.
11. Staff should wear gloves when handling toothbrushes. Hands should be washed after removing gloves.
12. Teachers will provide group activities that allow children to learn proper brushing techniques. Toothbrushing must be supervised by an adult.

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)

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

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 19th. The last day of school for Sheldon students will be May 17th.

Kansas Head Start parents and alumni parents, including those who are now Head Start staff, are invited to share their Head Story through Voices of Head Start in Kansas. Here is the direct link.

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 9:00 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

If in need of resources, you can also contact the United Way by dialing 211.

English and Spanish

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