Community News
Topeka Public Schools | 12/12/25
Winter Break: December 22, 2025 - January 5, 2026
As a reminder, there will be no school for students from December 22 through January 5 for Winter Break! Students will return on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. We wish all of our students, staff, and families a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
TPS Scholars Shine in the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Holiday Parade
This past Saturday, Topeka celebrated the 30th annual Miracle on Kansas Avenue Holiday Parade, and Topeka Public Schools scholars were proudly featured throughout the event.
Congratulations to Highland Park High School senior Jhessdiel Santiago, who was named this year’s Junior Grand Marshal, and to Ross Elementary second-grader Jaydn Brown, who served as the Cheer Meister. The Topeka High Trojan Band also helped kick off the festivities, leading the parade with beautiful holiday music.
TPS was well-represented, and we are grateful to all students, staff, and families who participated in making the parade a memorable community celebration!
Photo courtesy of RAW Shutter Photography.
TPS Announces 2025 Holiday Card Contest Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our 2025 Topeka Public Schools Holiday Card Contest!
- Sharleen Bruckner: Topeka West High School, 12th Grade
- Linzy Tumey: Hope Street Academy, 12th Grade
The winning designs will be featured by the district as we send virtual and print cards this holiday season! In addition, each winning school and family will receive print copies. View each of the winners and download digital copies at topekapublicschools.net.
Two TPS Music Teachers Honored By NE Kansas Music Educators Association
We are excited to announce that two Topeka Public Schools music teachers, Mrs. Jennifer Antonetti and Ms. Kiana Jackson, were honored by the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association on December 6.
Mrs. Antonetti is the band director at Topeka High School, and was selected as the winner of the 2025 Outstanding High School Band Director Award. Ms. Jackson is an orchestra teacher at Topeka West High School and Landon Middle School, and was selected as the winner of the 2025 Outstanding Young Orchestra Teacher Award.
We congratulate Mrs. Antonetti and Ms. Jackson on this well-deserved recognition! Both of these dedicated music teachers are loved by students and staff across the district.
Community Partnership Delivers $10,000 in Support for TPS Students & Families
On December 4, Topeka Public Schools receivied a generous $10,000 investment benefiting Scott Dual Language Magnet School and the district's Parents as Teachers program!
The funding, recommended by Washburn University Aleshire Venture Grant students, will provide learning supplies for students and food support for the district’s community pantry. As part of the grant allocation, students recommended $6,007.93 for Scott Dual Language Magnet School and $3,992.07 for Parents as Teachers.
We are so grateful to the Washburn University Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement and the United Way of Kaw Valley for their ongoing investment in our schools and community! Their support continues to enhance opportunities for children and families across Topeka.
Supermercado Nuestra Familia Launches Topeka Store With $5,000 Donation to Highland Park High School
Supermercado Nuestra Familia officially celebrated the grand opening of its Topeka location on December 6, with festive music, family-friendly activities, and strong community engagement!
The event highlighted the store’s commitment to supporting local schools, as leaders generously presented a $5,000 donation to Highland Park High School. Students from Ross Elementary School added to the celebration by proudly participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Topeka Public Schools extends a heartfelt thank you to store director Joaquin Castillo and the entire Supermercado team for their partnership and investment in our students and East Topeka community! View highlights in this segment from WIBW.
Topeka West Photography Students Featured in Museum Exhibition
The Museum of Art + Light in Manhattan, Kansas, recently hosted a youth photography competition open to middle school, high school, and college students within a 150-mile radius. Out of 170 digital submissions received, only 26 were selected for inclusion in the museum’s temporary digital exhibition, and five of those honored entries came from Topeka West High School students!
Congratulations to seniors Madison Gregory, William Hitch, Kameron O’Keeffe, and Duncan Yardley, along with junior Jackson Reaka, for having their photographs chosen for display. All five honorees are enrolled in Digital Photography I, taught by Ms. Jennifer Miller.
Learn more and view all of the winning photographs in this segment from WIBW.
Jardine Elementary Educator Honored as KSNT's November Teacher of the Month
Congratulations to Mrs. Andrea Graham, first-grade teacher at Jardine Elementary School, who was recognized as KSNT 27 News’s November Teacher of the Month! With nine years of dedicated service, she continues to inspire, support, and uplift students through her nurturing approach and commitment to academic excellence.
Mrs. Graham works each day to create a positive and engaging learning environment that helps Jardine students grow, learn, and thrive. Her passion for teaching reflects the very best of Topeka Public Schools, and we are proud to celebrate this outstanding honor with her.
As part of this recognition, Ms. Graham received a $500 donation for her classroom, courtesy of Laird Noller Ford, KSNT’s partner in the Teacher of the Month segment.
TPS Hosts Annual English Learners Family Winter Party at Quinton Heights
Hundreds of families gathered at Quinton Heights on December 5 for Topeka Public Schools’ annual English Learners (EL) Family Winter Party, hosted by the district’s Department of Cultural Innovation. This cherished event brings together EL students and their families from across the district for an evening of connection and celebration.
This year’s festivities featured authentic Mexican food, games, live music, a photo booth, community resource tables, and raffle prizes, creating a joyful space for families to engage and feel at home within the Topeka Public Schools community.
The district’s EL Program now serves more than 2,000 multilingual learners and continues to grow each year, including over 30 Ukrainian families and more than 50 Filipino families, many of whom have joined the TPS family since 2022.
TPS Welcomes Mr. Tim Hallacy as Interim HR Compliance Officer
Topeka Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Tim Hallacy as the district’s Interim HR Compliance Officer. He began his role on Wednesday, December 10 and will serve through the remainder of the year.
Mr. Hallacy is a highly experienced Kansas educational leader with more than 30 years of service in public education. He previously served as Superintendent of Shawnee Heights Schools and Silver Lake Schools, bringing extensive expertise in district leadership, strategic planning, and system-wide improvement. His earlier career includes roles as a principal, vice principal, athletic director, teacher, and coach, demonstrating his deep commitment to supporting students, staff, and families.
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Hallacy to Topeka Public Schools! We look forward to the leadership and insight he will bring to this important role.
District Citizens Advisory Council Meeting Scheduled for January 6
The District Citizens Advisory Council (DCAC) for Topeka Public Schools will host its next regular meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Marvin Auditorium at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. The meeting will also be accessible virtually via Zoom to ensure broad community participation.
TPS families and community members are encouraged to attend and engage in the discussion. Materials for the meeting, including the minutes from the November meeting, an Impact Study update, and the proposed agenda for January 6, are available for review in advance.
Zoom Information:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://tps501.zoom.us/j/83116588461
Meeting ID: 831 1658 8461
Passcode: EngageDCAC
Dial by Phone: 312-626-6799
We hope to see you there and appreciate your continued engagement in Topeka Public Schools.
TPS to Celebrate Mid-Year Graduates in January 2026
Topeka Public Schools high schools are hosting mid-year graduation ceremonies on Monday, January 26, 2026 for students who are eligible to graduate at mid-year.
Each school will hold its own ceremony, which will also be streamed live on the respective high school's YouTube page. Schools will reach out to graduates and families with more information in the coming weeks.
Ceremony times are as follows:
- Topeka West High School: 8:30 AM
- Topeka High School: 9:30 AM
- Highland Park High School: 5:00 PM
December College Connections Newsletter
Check out our new College Connections Newsletter on Smore! With an easy to navigate Table of Contents, it's now simpler than ever for high school students and families to find helpful information on college and career readiness.
This month's newsletter covers the following topics:
- Applying for Federal Student Aid
- The Kansas Promise Act
- College registration/admissions process & deadlines
- Scholarships
- ACT/SAT testing dates
- Job opportunities for students
- NCAA Requirements (watch video)
TPS Weather Notifications
Throughout the winter season, we want to remind families and staff of school closing notification procedures.
As we make decisions about closing school, a number of factors come into play, including the safety of travel but also the safety of students who will be home during the day. Additional information is available on our website at topekapublicschools.net/weather.
Should school be canceled, we will:
- Send a text, email, and/or phone call via SchoolMessenger
- Update the district social media pages
- Update the district website
- Contact our local media partners
To sign up for text message updates, text Y to 67587. To learn more about school delay and closure notifications, please review our How We Communicate With Families document.
Stay Updated on Transportation With the Here Comes the Bus App
Parents can stay updated on transportation by downloading the Here Comes the Bus app!
- 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.
How to get started:
- Download the Here Comes the Bus app or visit herecomesthebus.com
- Sign Up by visiting the Here Comes the Bus website.
- Enter school code 29036 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
- Complete the “User Profile” box
- Under “My Students,” click “Add" then enter your child’s last name and student ID number
- Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!
District Calendar & Upcoming Events
As a reminder, there will be no school for students from December 22 through January 5 for Winter Break! Students will return on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. We wish all of our students, staff, and families a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
Topeka Public Schools Foundation
The TPS Foundation is here to help support students and staff in Topeka Public Schools through grants, scholarships, summer programs, and student resources. Information about our programs and services is available on the TPS Foundation website.
TPS STAFF: If you would like to support the Foundation through our Employee Giving Campaign, please complete this form.
Legislative Advocacy
Topeka Public Schools Publications
TPS Tip Line
Use the helpline numbers:
- 785-GET-HELP
- 785-438-4357
for any emergency questions or concerns.
TPS In The News
TPS Parent Resource Site
View information and health alerts from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on our Parent Resource Site.