Shaner Families Weekly Newsletter
Shaner Early Learning Academy
Week of: Monday, December 11, 2023
"Be the Light- Shine Bright!"
A Message from the Principal
Shaner Families,
Thank you to all who donated items to the Helping Hands Humane Society drive. The items were delivered on Friday and the staff at Helping Hands was very appreciative!
This Friday, December 15th, is our last day of school before Winter Break. The school office will be closed beginning Monday, December 18th. We will return to the office on Tuesday, January 2nd and students return to school on THURSDAY, JANUARY 4th!
Upcoming Dates Overview:
- Wednesday, 12/13- Happy Bear Presentations
- Thursday, 12/14- Topeka Zoo Visits Shaner
- Friday, 12/15- Holiday Sing-Along and Holiday Parties, 2:30 PM
- Friday, 12/15- End of the 2nd Quarter, Last Day of School before Winter Break
- Monday, 12/18 through Wednesday 1/3- Winter Break, No School
- Thursday, 1/4- Classes Resume after Winter Break
- Tuesday, 1/23- Family Engagement Night- Let's 'Taco'-Bout Sensory, 5:00-6:00 PM
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Happy Holidays!
Shaner Proud,
Mrs. Baxter, Principal
(785) 235-7290
Fall Attendance Challenge: October 30-December 15
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Holiday Sing-Along and Parties
Please join us on Friday, December 15th at 2:30 PM for our Holiday Sing-Along in the Shaner Cafeteria. Students will sit with their classes in designated spaces. Guests will join the students by sitting on the floor or standing against the cafeteria walls. The Sing-Along will be followed by a fun treat decorating activity in your child's classroom. All items will be provided by the school for the holiday parties.
Let's 'Taco'-Bout Sensory- Family Engagement Night
We will be hosting our next Family Engagement Night on Tuesday, January 23rd from 5:00-6:00 PM. Shaner PTO will be selling tacos as a fundraiser at the event. Bring the family for dinner and fun!
Save the Date- Scholastic Book Fair
Positive Behavior Referrals
STAR Behavior is:
S- Strive to do our best
T- Take responsibility
A- Act with kindness
R- Respectful to others
This week, these students were recognized for exceptional STAR behavior at Shaner:
- Ander
- Emerson
- Jaxson
- Ezekiel
- Zaira Rubi
- Lyla
- Maiya
- Wade
- Bernardo
- Solomon
- Eligia
Other Important Information
Outdoor Recess- Wind Chill
Outside Food & Drink
Students cannot bring any outside food and drinks into the school in the morning. We do not know the complete list of ingredients that are in different foods and cannot control the allergens that are in meals that are made outside of Shaner. We have many students with various allergies and need to ensure their safety.
If you stop and get breakfast on the way to school, please make sure your child is finished eating before the student arrives in the carline.
Weekly Learning Intentions
- We are learning to identify if feelings are the same or different so we can be kind to others.
Phonics:
We are learning to identify letters and sounds so we can read holiday baking recipes.
We are learning to blend together sounds in words so we can write directions on how to make a snowman.
Reading:
- We are learning to identify key details so we can understand text better.
- We are learning about the author and illustrator of a text so we can understand how the book was created.
- We are learning to identify the connection between texts so we can understand information information in a text.
We are learning to show our thoughts with words and pictures so we can write our thoughts.
Math:
We are learning to identify and describe shapes in the real world so we can build different things.
Social Studies:
We are learning to identify holidays so we can compare celebrations in different cultures.
Shaner Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)
Shaner PTO
October PTO Meeting:
Our next PTO meeting is TOMORROW Tuesday, December 12th from 5:30-6:30 PM via Zoom.
Zoom Information:
https://tps501.zoom.us/j/84943012432
Meeting ID: 849 4301 2432
Passcode: ShanerPTO
If you are interested in serving on Shaner's PTO, please reach out to shanerelapto@gmail.com or notify Ms. Mindy Darling, mdarling@tps501.org.
Shaner General Information
Preschool School Day Hours
- Arrival begins: 8:20 a.m.
- School starts: 8:30 a.m.
- Arrival ends: 8:45 a.m. (students will be considered tardy after 8:45 a.m.)
- Dismissal begins: 3:30 p.m.
- Dismissal ends: 3:45 p.m. (all students must be picked up by 3:45 p.m. unless enrolled in after school childcare)
Late Start Fridays (every Friday)- 9:20 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Arrival carline begins: 9:10 a.m.
- School starts: 9:20 a.m.
- Arrival ends: 9:35 a.m. (students will be considered tardy after 9:35 a.m.)
- Dismissal begins: 3:30 p.m.
- Dismissal ends: 3:45 p.m. (all students must be picked up by 3:45 p.m. unless enrolled in after school childcare)
Follow Shaner Early Learning Academy on Facebook
Shaner Family Handbook
Please take time to review this handbook.
Attendance Policy
It is important your child attends school each day to have a consistent educational program. Of course, illness or other family emergencies can cause absences. If your child will be absent please let us know by contacting the office at 785-235-7290.
The Topeka Public School Procedures are as follows:
Absences are excused for student illness or family emergencies. If your child is going to be absent, you should call the office before 9:30 a.m. It is each parent’s responsibility to be sure the office has been notified of the reason for absence. Advanced notice is appreciated.
A phone call attempt will be made on every child that does not arrive at school by 9:30am.
After 2 days of unexcused absences, staff will conduct a home visit or make other direct contact with child’s family, determine what assistance is needed to remedy the problem.
Unexcused absences can result in a truancy report being filed.
Each absence after 10 excused absences may result in the need for a doctor’s release note to be considered an excused absence.
Although Kansas law does not require students to be in school prior to the age of 7, ANY child enrolled in public school does fall into the state truancy policies. Truancy reports will be made to the district truancy officer for any student with excessive absences and/or tardies.
Text Message Notifications
Topeka Public Schools utilizes the SchoolMessenger system for web services and to deliver text messages to families in the district. Alerts come straight to your mobile phone with important information about school events, school closings, and more.
Parents and guardians can participate in this free service by sending a text message of "Y" or "Yes" to the TPS short code number 67587. You can also opt-out of these messages at any time by simply replying "stop" to one of our messages.
View our communications document to learn more about how Topeka Public Schools communicates with families throughout the school year.
Parents as Teachers
Playgroups
Roll & Read
Community Resources
Other Resources
Community Resources
- Community Resources Council Resource Directory- This directory provides contact information for a variety of community resources.
Food Resources
- Food Pantry List- See the following links for Food Pantry resources available to families. English and Spanish
- Kansas Food Source (Food Pantry Locations & Partners)- The link takes you to a statewide interactive map. You can click on a specific county to see where pantry resources are located in that county.
Contact Us
Email: mbaxter@tps501.org
Website: https://shanerela.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1600 SW 34th St, Topeka, KS 66611, USA
Phone: (785) 235-7290
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShanerEarlyLearningAcademy