Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

We hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend and enjoyed time with their loved ones!

We will start the car line at our regular time of 3:45 this week and for the rest of the school year.

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

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. We will provide a few potty training resources in next week's newsletter!

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 4: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

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 (details coming soon!)

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! (details coming soon!)

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.

Please make sure your student is ready for the bus with their harness on under any jacket they may be wearing. Car riders need to have their lanyard around their neck as they exit the vehicle in the car line. This will help us transition students to their classrooms quickly and more importantly, safely!

If your student is coming to school or leaving school in the car line, please be sure your car tag is displayed in your front passenger window. We use an app to dismiss students and it makes the car line move very quickly! Having this information displayed once you join the car line helps it to continue to move fast. If someone else will be transporting your child, please provide them your car tag. Let your classroom teacher know if you need more.

We have seen in the news recently about many children and caregivers not surviving car accidents

because they were not properly restrained. Unintentional accidents are the leading cause of death

among children. If you need a car seat, we have a great resource to obtain one. Also, please

remember that the car seat needs to be properly restrained within the car as well and you must have the proper number of seatbelts per person in the car. Please move seats between cars as needed when changing vehicles with the children.

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.

Food Handling and Sanitation

POLICY: 45 CFR Part 1302.47(b)(1)(iii)

The program will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local food safety and sanitation laws

regarding food storage, preparation, service, and the health of food handlers.

PROCEDURE:

1. Food service staff will wear clean clothing and aprons and maintain personal cleanliness. Staff will not handle food if ill or have a skin infection.

2. Food handler gloves must be worn when touching food and changed as frequently as

necessary.

3. Hairnets or coverings will be used to prevent hair from contacting food and surfaces.

4. No eating or drinking is permitted in the food preparation area.

5. Hands must be washed before and during food preparation to prevent cross-contamination.

6. Countertops, cutting boards, and utensils must be sanitized before and after preparing each

food item.

7. Raw fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly before cooking or serving.

8. Potentially hazardous foods must be cooked to the required temperatures as set by the

Kansas Department of Health.

9. Frozen food may be thawed in the refrigerator at 40°F or below or completely submerged

under running water (in a plastic bag or original wrap).

10.Use spices in moderation.

11. Leftovers will not be sent home with children, staff, or volunteers. Uneaten food must be

discarded, and food waste will be kept in leak-proof, covered trash cans.

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.

Shawnee County has a youth soccer program beginning at 3 years old! There are scholarships available.

Shawnee County Parks & Rec Youth Sports

Scholarship Information

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