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

Follow the steps below to begin to receive Parent Square notifications by text. This is the easiest way to stay up to date! Example photos are below.

1. Log in to your Parent Square app. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner.

2. Click on Account and then Notifications.

3. Toggle ON Text Notifications. Please note, if you have children in more than one school, you can change this setting for each school. Your other schools, as well as Topeka Public Schools, are listed below. Click the arrow to expand each one and view/change the settings.

Pediatric Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic

• Ages 7 months and older
• Stormont Vail Health Pediatrics Gage (4100 SW 15th St, Topeka, KS 66604)
• No Appointment Necessary
• Eligible family members accompanying the patient may also receive their flu shot at that time
• Must be an established patient and have had a flu shot previously. (No first-time flu shots.)
• Includes Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
• Oct. 22, 2026 - 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Oct. 29, 2026 - 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Stormont Vail Health Pharmacy

• Ages 6 months and older
• 830 SW Lane St. Suite B, Topeka, KS, 66606
• Walk-ins are welcome during our vaccine hours:
• Monday through Friday, 8:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.
• Appointments can also be scheduled via MyChart.
• Open to all community members, you do not have to be a Stormont Vail Health patient

Pine Ridge Family Health Center

• 2721 SE 10th St., Topeka, KS 66607
• (785) 783-8453
• Open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday
• Closed for lunch Monday thru Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday’s Only
• WALK-INS WELCOME!

Shawnee County Health Department Immunization Clinic

• 2115 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604
• 785.251.5700
• Email: HA10thSTClinic@snco.us
• Monday, Thursday, Friday: 8am-11am, 1pm-4pm
• Tuesday: 10am-1 pm, 3pm-6pm
• Wednesday: 8am-11am, 2pm-4pm

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!

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 26th @ 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 Mental Health, Child Development & Education Services

Behavior, Social, and Emotional Screening

POLICY:

Teaching staff will conduct a Behavior, Social, and Emotional Screening for each child enrolled in the Head Start program.

PROCEDURE:

1. Teachers will use the Ages & Stages Social Emotional Questionnaire during the first home visit. Parents will complete the form electronically, and teachers will discuss any concerns with the family.
2. The Student Risk Screening Scale for Early Childhood is administered 3 times a year. Results will be used to determine student intervention needs.
3. In the classroom, if concerns arise, a Concern Sheet will be completed. The Concern Sheets Team will meet weekly, and the Mental Health Coordinator will follow up to address individual needs.
4. If concerns persist, teachers may refer the child for additional observations and screenings.
5. Screening results are documented in a local spreadsheet.

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