Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

It is a short with this week with students attending Monday-Wednesday. There is NO SCHOOL on Thursday and Friday this week. We look forward to meeting with all of you for Parent/Teacher Conferences!

Families of OT students, the car line is a RIGHT TURN ONLY out of our parking lot. DO NOT BLOCK intersections or driveways!

Click the link to access the 2022-2023 Family Handbook.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

All events can be located on our calendar on our school website.

Please be aware that students are NOT allowed to bring food, candy, or drinks onto the bus. First of all, eating and drinking while the bus is in motion is a safety hazard. Secondly, Head Start maintains strict nutritional guidelines and outside food is not allowed. If your child is finishing up their food/drink before getting on the bus, it will need to be taken by the parent or thrown away at the front of the bus.

We will hand out circus tickets at Parent/Teacher Conferences!

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on February 8th from 4:00-8:00 and February 9th from 8:00-8:00. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on February 9th & 10th. Your child's teacher should have reached out to schedule a conference for a time that best works within your schedule. If you have not heard from your child's teacher to schedule, please reach out to them directly. These conferences will be held in person. We look forward to meeting with you and sharing your child's progress!

We will be celebrating Friendship Day on February 14. Students are welcome to send Valentines for their classmates. Any candy that comes with their Valentines is okay to send, knowing we will send it home in backpacks to be consumed at home. Other treats, such as cupcakes or cookies to be consumed at school, are not able to be brought in due to Head Start regulations.

Preschool can be messy! We play outside, use fun materials like paint, Play-Doh, shaving cream, and sometimes have accidents. Every Sheldon student should have 2 extra sets of clothing (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) at school. Please ensure these clothes are weather appropriate. The upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences would be a great time to restock the classroom with your child's extra clothes!

If your family needs COVID tests for your home, please email or call the school nurse, Ms. Andrea. aferrell1@tps501.org or 785-438-4533.

GreatSchools.org is a website that provides families with information about the schools in their area. Many families use this site when buying a new home or researching their options to help them determine the best placement for their child.

Have you had a positive experience at Sheldon? We would love for that to be highlighted on the website! Please take 1 minute to visit GreatSchools.org, search for Sheldon Child Development, click on the Review icon, and share what you love about our program!

Students are encouraged to wear their Sheldon shirts every Friday!

Each week the Sheldon staff reviews one of our Head Start Policies & Procedures and felt it was important that families stay up to date on these as well. This quarter our focus is on Family Service & Parent Involvement. If you ever have any questions regarding our policies and procedures, please reach out!

Parent Participation

POLICY:

All staff encourage and help parents participate in Head Start program activities. This policy relates to Head Start Performance Standards 45 CFR Part 1302.34, 1302.50

PROCEDURE:

1. Staff will instruct parents in regards to Head Start components and opportunities for parent involvement at the beginning of the program year and during any parent meeting. Staff will encourage male involvement.

2. Head Start classrooms are open to parents during all program hours. Parents are welcomed as visitors and encouraged to observe children as often as possible and to participate with children in group activities.

3. The program provides parents with opportunities to participate in the program as paid employees or volunteers. When qualifications are equal, parents receive preference for employment vacancies.

4. The participation of parents in the program is voluntary and is not required as a condition of the child’s enrollment.

5. During the Covid-19 Pandemic these have been modified for the safety and well-being of families and staff when needed.

Children, teens and adults can use this calculator to identify an appropriate bedtime. Simply select your age and choose your wake time to see the results.

https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/bedtime-calculator/

Each month, Home Depot offers a fun workshop for kids! Show up toward the beginning of the session to ensure there are enough materials for your child. Children must be present to receive a kit. They get to keep their project, receive a free certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin (while supplies last). Can't make it to Home Depot for the kids' workshop? Why not bring the party home! Here are just a few of the ready to assemble kits you can buy and build at home. Homedepot.com also offers great kids' activities, videos, and how-to's!

Workshops take place the first Saturday of each month from 9:00-12:00.

March 5: Airship

Please be sure to review both the COVID Update and the information on the Parent Resources page for the latest information from the CDC. Masks are encouraged, but not required. We will maintain strict sanitation protocols.

Late Start is on FRIDAYS for this school year and the arival time will be at 10:15.

You can find the 2022-2023 Academic Calendar HERE.

The Sheldon Food & Clothing Bank is up and running! If your family has any needs, reach out to your Family Advocate or call 785-438-4530.

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