Sheldon Update

Dear Sheldon Families,

We hope you had a great long weekend! Did you know that October is Head Start Awareness Month? We are SO PROUD to be a Head Start program at Sheldon, serving those who need it most in our community. Take a look at this video celebrating 60 years of Head Start programming! Interested in supporting our Kansas Head Start Association? Check out the link below for merch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFJBabs_H90

https://www.bonfire.com/store/kansas-head-start-association/

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

Students photos have arrived and have been sent home with those students who ordered. Still need to order pictures? The NEW Code Lookup Tool is now available. You can simply scan the QR code and follow the directions to access your child's picture ordering gallery. No need to contact Customer Service for an access code! *Student last name and Student ID number will be required for data security.*

Sheldon's Picture RETAKE Day is coming up on October 29th! If your child was absent on picture day, had not yet started school, OR you are dissatisfied with your child's portraits, you are welcome to have them retake their picture. If your child did have their picture taken in September and you are wanting retakes, you must return the original pictures you received. The flyer below provides details on the different packages that are available for order. You may order online, or pay by cash or check. If paying by cash, you must provide the EXACT amount. We will not be able to make change. If paying by check, please make the check out to Strawbridge Studios. Paying online is the easiest! We will collect orders and payments at the school up until picture day, October 29.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on October 22nd from 4:00-8:00 and October 23rd

from 8:00-8:00. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on October 23rd & 24th. 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 are excited to be heading to the Pumpkin Patch for our first field trip of the school year! All

classrooms will be going on Monday, October 20th. Permission slips for this trip will be sent

home. These must be returned by the day before your child is scheduled to go. Those students

without signed forms the day of the trip will not be allowed to attend. It is critical all students

arrive on time to school as buses will leave as scheduled.

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: Monday, October 20th @ 10:00-12:00

Discovery Center: Monday, February 16th @ 10:00-12:00 (upstairs classrooms)

Discovery Center: Monday, February 23rd @ 10:00-12:00 (downstairs classrooms)

Topeka Zoo: Monday, April 6th @ 10:00-12:00 (upstairs classrooms)

Topeka Zoo: Tuesday, April 7th @ 10:00-12:00 (downstairs classrooms)

Please note that Picture Retakes will take place on October 29th NOT October 16th.

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 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 and Child Development & Education Services.

Behavior Management

POLICY:

Sheldon is dedicated to using positive behavioral strategies to help children manage their behavior, promoting social skills, respect, self-esteem, and a safe environment.

PROCEDURE:

1. Corporal punishment is strictly prohibited and grounds for immediate termination. Other forbidden practices include withholding play, food, or bathroom access, name-calling, and demeaning actions. Violation will result in disciplinary action.
2. The classroom environment will support social-emotional development through:

• A structured daily schedule, engaging children mentally and physically.
• Materials and activities that promote individual and group play.
• Books, stories, and experiences reinforcing positive behavior.
• Opportunities for success.
• A designated area for children needing a break from tasks due to inappropriate behavior (e.g., calming station, book area, or quiet spot).

3. Classroom staff will:

• Utilize Reactive Plan to address behavioral concerns
• Provide an accepting environment with praise for positive behavior.
• Respect children's feelings and ideas.
• Encourage social skills, peer relationships, and conflict resolution.
• Help children manage stress and provide challenging activities suited to their skill level.
• Involve children in creating classroom and playground rules, posted in clear, positive language with visual aids.
• Use time-away only when necessary (self-harm, harm to others, or property destruction).

4. Accommodations will be made for children who need additional support.

5. Ongoing concerns will be documented through Concern Sheets and/or Synergy, as outlined in the Reactive Plan.

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

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