Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

Reminder - there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day!

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

In order to learn our students and get our procedures down, we will start our car line early this week (August 31-September 4) at 3:35. I think next week we will be ready for our regular start time of 3:45!

The car line will begin at 3:35 and ends at 4:00. If you arrive after 4:00 and don't see Mrs. Tanner smile and wave at you, the car line has ended and you need to pick up your child from the front door and sign them out.

There are 9 school days in August. To keep your child's attendance at 90% or higher, they cannot miss a full day of school. Missing just one full day drops their attendance to 89%.

Please remember that arriving late (tardy) or leaving school early also affects your child's attendance percentage. Thank you for helping your child be at school every day and on time!

Picture Day is coming up on Monday, September 21st! Retakes will be on October 28th. Paper order forms will be sent home soon. 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 Tuesday, September 8th and ending on picture day, September 21st.

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)

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!)

Our full Arrival & Dismissal Procedures are further down in the newsletter in the Transportation section. After the first few days, there are a few things we must improve on to keep these busy times of day as safe and calm as possible.

1. Please use the car line in the morning and afternoon. If you truly walk your child to school, work with Mrs. Tanner on a plan. It is not sustainable for so many families to walk their children in the front door each morning. Student safety will always be the priority as procedures are being put in place. If you have questions, reach out to Mrs. Tanner.

2. Students in the car line MUST have their lanyard on. This makes it so much faster to get them to their classroom while we are still learning everyone's names!

3. You've been doing awesome having your car tags up on the passenger side! Thank you!!!

4. DO NOT BLOCK driveways or intersections! We share this neighborhood with so many wonderful neighbors who still need to be able to access their homes and get in and out. Let's be respectful!

5. Please stop cutting into the car line from side streets. All cars should enter from Gage.

6. While it may seem odd, bus harnesses zip up on the student's BACK. This is to prevent them from unbuckling themselves!

Due to the new state law on social media communication, Topeka Public Schools is using 5 approved tools for family communication - including the new app Parent Square. Directions are below for how to download the app and log in to your account. This will be our primary communication tool at Sheldon, so please download the app and access your account as soon as possible. Let Mrs. Tanner know if you have any issues!

Parent Square Directions:

• Scan the QR Code. Or go straight to the App Store and download the app (a picture is on the flyer below).
• Scroll down past the long list to the bottom of the page and click on either the Download App from Apple Store or Download App from Android Store.
• Once the app has downloaded, sign-in using the same email and password you use for Synergy ParentVUE (this is how you enrolled your child in school this year). It will not tie you to our school if you try to use a different email.
• Once logged in, you should be on the Sheldon Home Page. If not, check to see if you received an invitation email from Parent Square to join Sheldon and click the link in that email.
• If you have children in multiple TPS schools, you will have a drop-down option at the top of your screen that lets you switch between schools.
• Email Mrs. Tanner if you are having any issues! gtanner@tps501.org

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

We LOVE our friends on Sesame Street! They have so many great resources for families. Check it out here!

Color Week is coming up! We will have a color "spirit week" to help us all learn our colors!

***If your child will be dismissing in a way that is different than normal, please contact the office prior to 2:00 PM.

Sheldon will be using a car line for arrival/dismissal again this year. It will take us a few days to get it down, but if you give us grace during that time, I ensure that we will be a well-oiled machine by the end of the second week of school! Our highest priority is student safety so we will take our time to ensure the safety of all. The number one thing I have learned over the years is that when everyone follows the rules, the system works, and works quickly!

It is CRITICAL that the car line procedures are followed to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal for all students, families, and staff. The map below highlights the traffic flow for the car line. Please remember that we are located in a fairly compact neighborhood. We want to ensure we are respectful of all Sheldon's neighbors by following speed limit and other traffic signs and by not blocking driveways or intersections. Our car line becoming backed up can significantly impact the traffic on Gage - which makes the morning and afternoon commute no fun for anyone!

The car line will run from 9:00-9:15 on Monday-Thursday (10:15-10:30 on Fridays). Any student arriving after 9:15 (10:30 on Fridays) will need to check in at the main office as the car line will have ended. The dismissal car line will begin at 3:45. Any adult arriving to pick up a child after 4:00 will need to check them out at the main office as the car line will have ended.

The picture above shows the proper way to enter the neighborhood to join the car line. The only way to enter the carline that will allow it to flow efficiently, is to enter from Gage.

From Gage, turn west onto Sena St., continue toward Sheldon, and turn right into the parking lot on Sena St., just past Seabrook. All traffic must turn right out of the parking lot onto Sena St. and then proceed on the most convenient path.

I HIGHLY SUGGEST coming from 10th & Gage, heading south down Gage, and then turning right onto Sena. Gage is a busy street and it can take awhile for the chance to turn left if you are driving northbound!

When approaching the parking lot on Sena, just past Seabrook, vehicles will turn RIGHT into the parking lot and follow the painted arrows to loop through the parking lot. Adults will not exit their vehicle. Staff will greet students at the vehicle and then escort them into the building where additional staff members will escort them to their classrooms. Once the student exits, the vehicle may continue to follow the painted arrows to complete the loop through the parking lot. Vehicles will make a RIGHT turn out of the parking lot onto Sena St. If you have a situation that requires you stop to exit the vehicle or you need to have a conversation with a staff member, please pull to the right out of the car line so that it can continue to flow smoothly.

Topeka Public Schools is NO LONGER USING Here Comes the Bus. If you used this app in the past, you can delete! The new bus tracking app is called VersaTrans MyStop. A step by step guide to downloading and using this app is linked below.

Getting Started is Easy:

1. Step by Step Guide - English
2. Step by Step Guide - Spanish
3. Download Versatrans My Stop™ from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
4. Select Topeka (KS) as your school district.
5. Log in using your student's Student ID as the username and their 8-digit date of birth (MMDDYYYY) as the initial password.

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.

Determining Child’s Health Status

POLICY:

To assess and address individual health needs, staff will verify each child's access to ongoing health services and obtain documentation of an age-appropriate health assessment upon enrollment or within the required timeframe per Head Start. These documents will be kept in each student's file that is locked in the office.

PROCEDURE:

1. At enrollment, parents will be informed of program health requirements and encouraged to provide updated documentation, including a physical exam, lead and hemoglobin results, dental exam, and immunization record.
2. For families without a medical or dental home, staff will assist in selecting providers and scheduling appointments. The Health Department (unless serving as the child’s provider) and urgent care/emergency rooms are not considered medical homes.
3. During the family assessment, the Family Advocate will identify barriers to healthcare access and develop a documented action plan.

Determining Child’s Health Status:

1. If a child is not up to date with well-child visits, staff will assist families in arranging care, including transportation support. Children without Medicaid (KanCare, CHIP) or other coverage will be referred to contracted providers or the local health department.
2. For children following the recommended schedule, staff will monitor health records to ensure continued compliance.
3. Health status assessment includes:

• Child Health History
• Physical Exam (completed/signed by a healthcare provider, including lead and hemoglobin results) 90 Days
• Immunizations (valid immunization record or Medical/Religious Exemption form) 30 Days
• Dental Exam (completed/signed by a dentist with treatment report) 90 Days

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.

Topeka Public Schools utilizes the SchoolMessenger system for web services and to deliver text messages to families in the district. Alerts come straight to your mobile phone with important information about school events, school closings, and more.

Parents and guardians can participate in this free service by sending a text message of "Y" or "Yes" to the TPS short code number 67587. You can also opt-out of these messages at any time by simply replying "stop" to one of our messages.

View our communications document in English and Spanish to learn more about how Topeka Public Schools communicates with families throughout the school year.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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

FREE English conversation instruction for people who speak other languages/English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Start Date: September 8, 2026

When: Tuesday and Thursday

Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Location: Washburn University, Main Campus near the Student Union

Living Learning Center, Reading Room (first floor)

1801 SW Jewell

Topeka, KS 66604

Contact Person: Anita Epps

Participants will fill out a simple application form when they first attend. No books are required.

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