French Middle School
August 2023
Upcoming Events
· August 8-- First Day of School 6th Grade Only
· August 9-- First Day of School for All Students
· August 11-- Picture Day
· August 14-- First Day of Fall Practice
· August 17-- PTO Meeting @ 5:45
· August 23-- MTTN @ 6:00
· August 30-- VB-Var/JV home-B@ LMS
· August 30--GTN-Home
· August 31-- FB @ Hummer vs Jardine
Note from Principal
Note from Principal
Welcome back Falcons! We are excited to kick off the 2023-24 school year with our new
Rock ‘n’ Roll theme, "Rockin’ the Falcon Nest”! We look forward to seeing all new and returning Falcons. The first day of school is August 8th for 6th grade only. All grades will report on August 9th. Bus riders will be dropped off in our back parking lot and will enter the building at 7:20am. Students who walk or have other transportation will enter through our front doors beginning at 7:30am. Students will report to their Advisor Base teacher on their first day of school to receive copies of their daily schedule. Student schedules will be available online through the new student information system, Synergy after August 1st. We will continue to make schedule adjustments to balance classes until the first day of school. Because we want our classes balanced academically, racially, and by gender, we do not honor requests for specific teachers.
As a reminder, all students will receive free school lunches. We still need families to complete the lunch application form. Families that qualify can also apply for additional benefits that include discounts for internet services for home through Cox Communications & reduced textbook fees. A large percentage of our school funding comes through at-risk funding via lunch applications. We appreciate all families completing the form and ensuring we have adequate funding for our teachers and students. Online Meal Application Link to
Again we can’t wait to see everyone! Get ready to Rock the Falcon Nest!
Online Registration
Online Registration is now open. We would like to provide a few important tips to prepare our families for the experience with our new Student Information System, Synergy!
When registration opens, families who have at least one student returning to Topeka Public Schools will receive an automated individual email sent directly from the Synergy system. This email will include a unique code the parent must have in order to create a username and password to use with the Synergy ParentVue portal. Once the parent creates these credentials, the link for online registration is at the top-right in ParentVue.
When registration opens, families who have NO STUDENTS previously attending Topeka Public Schools will begin the process from the district's website. Families with any returning students cannot begin from the website, as they must have the unique code provided in the automated email.
If you have an electronic copy of the student's birth certificate and other requested documents, you will be able to upload those prior to submitting your registration. This will save you having to provide those items to the school in-person later.
If you have any questions about logging into Synergy ParentVue or Submitting your Online Registration, please email SISHelp@tps501.org or call 785-438-4750 between 7:30 and 4:30 for assistance.
If you have any questions after submitting your online registration, please contact your student's school or the demographics office at 785-295-3000 for assistance.
We are very excited about this transition to Synergy's Online Registration System, and we look forward to the many exciting ways we will use this platform in the upcoming academic year.
Meals for the 2023-2024 School Year
We are excited to provide meals to all TPS students free of charge for the 2023-2024 school year!
Families are still encouraged to complete the Free & Reduced Meal Application, as this information is vital for the district to receive funding for many programs, technology, and more to ensure student success.
Families may qualify for reduced textbook fees and free or reduced-cost internet from Cox Communications. Complete the application at topekapublicschools.net.
FAME- Falcons Afterschool Mean Engaged
Our after school program will begin September 12-October 19. It will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-4:30pm. It is free for students to join, however there is no transportation home at 4:30pm. Arrangements for students to be picked up must be made by 4:30pm. Students will receive a light snack, have a study hall, and tutoring from 2:45-3:30pm and from 3:30pm-4:30pm they will join the enrichment club they signed up for. All school wide expectations still are enforced during the afterschool program.
Our next session will run from November 6-December 7. We will hold two additional sessions during the second semester.
Watch your email in late August for signups. They are first come first serve and each session does have a limited number of spots.
French PTO
Sweet Tea Ice Cream will be at French on August 23 during Meet the Teacher Night. Plan to stop by for a yummy treat while helping to support the French PTO!
FMS Meet the Teacher Night
August 23rd is the designated night to tour the building and meet teachers!
8th Grade Families Only : HS Transition meeting begins at 6:00pm, FMS Commons
All grades will meet with the AB teacher at 6:30-6:45pm in classrooms. Families will tour the building 6:45-7:30pm
All band students and parents will have a short meeting in the band room at 7pm.
PTO is selling ice cream from Sweet Tee as a mini fundraiser. Ice cream treats are $4 and part of the proceeds go back to FMS PTO!
Please be in your child’s AB classroom during the designated date/time listed above. A brief formal presentation will be provided by AB teachers. Parents & students will tour on their own following the presentation.
Sertoma Clubs of Topeka Duck Race
WHAT: The 28th Annual Sertoma Great Topeka Duck Race. A minimum of 10,000 rubber duckies will swim, splash and bob their way down the cove South of the swim beach, at Lake Shawnee. Amazing prizes will be given to the lucky duck winners which will be randomly selected by our “E-Quack” computer database immediately following the Race.
You don’t have to be present to win. Winners will be called. Ducks can be adopted for a $5.00 donation each. A number will be assigned to each duck. Winners will be selected by our E-Quack computer database. Every duck is given an equal chance to win. Adopt your ducks online with a credit card. Go to the “teams” tab and scroll down to find French Middle School PTO.
WHEN: Saturday, September 16, 2023. Ducks will slide into the water at 10:00 a.m. Winners will be determined within the hour after.
WHERE: Event: Lake Shawnee, Topeka, Kansas, south of the swim beach, South of 29th & Croco Road. Parking: Tinman Circle, East Edge Road & Croco, south side of East Edge.
WHY: To benefit the FMS PTO and programs of the Sertoma Clubs of Topeka and their sponsorship beneficiaries which have included Capper Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network, The Villages, The Marian Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Head Start Programs, LULAC and East Topeka Sr. Center, Safe Streets, KVC, LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center, Ronald McDonald House, TARC, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka Serving Shawnee County, Boys & Girls Clubs, Sole Reason, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, hearing health missions, and many other worthy causes.
New Staff
Please help us welcome our new staff that are joining the Falcon family this year. We are so excited to see them in action and creating an environment of success.
6th grade new staff:
Ebony Taylor- Mrs. Taylor will be teaching English Language Arts. She comes to us from Florida where she has taught for many years. We are excited she and her family chose Topeka, Kansas and French Middle School!
Adam Collins- Mr. Collins taught 7th grade math part of last school year. He is moving to 6th grade and is very excited. Mr. Collins’ wife is also a teacher in TPS and they adore their rescue dogs.
7th grade new staff:
Taylor Mattis- Ms. Mattis will teach 7th grade math and comes to us from Missouri. She has a number of years of teaching experience and will be a great addition to our team.
Noah Lamp- Mr. Lamp is a recent graduate and will begin his first year of teaching English Language Arts. He has a zest for learning and promises to provide the best educational experience to his students.
Willie Ramsdell- Ms. Ramsdell will be teaching English Language Arts. He did his student teaching at French and taught at one of our other middle schools last year. We are happy to have him back in our building!
Special Education new staff:
Pamela VanDyke- Mrs. Vandyke is so excited to be joining French as a staff member. She has been a parent for a few years and now we can officially call her a Falcon! Mrs. VanDyke will be serving students in a variety of settings including math classes. Welcome Mrs. VanDyke.
Orchestra:
Emily Johnson- Ms. Johnson will be our new orchestra teacher. She comes to us all the way from Virginia! She is excited to continue the strong tradition of our strings program and will find that being a Falcon was the best choice!
Art:
Catherine Tew-Ms. Tew is so excited to be in her “dream job” at French Middle School. She has been prepping her room and making exciting lessons for her students. Her students will be sure to have a great time in art this year.
Instructional Coach:
Jennifer Walker- Ms. Walker has served in multiple capacities in Topeka Public Schools and most recently as an instructional coach. She will be bringing all her wonderful ideas and be ready to support our staff.
Office Staff:
Penny Marin- While Ms. Marin is not new to French, she is in a new role. She is the Administrative Assistant and will deal with all things financially. You will still get to see her familiar face when you come into the office.
Kaylien Hewitt: Mrs. Hewitt is our new attendance secretary and has been working hard since day 1! You can count on a warm smile and positive greeting when you arrive in the front office!
Support Staff:
We would like to welcome all of our new support staff. Each will support students in multiple locations and capacities throughout the day. Mr. Rhoten, Mr. Kelley, Mrs. Meade, Ms. Chrys Figguero-Barrios, Travis Bervert and Jesamine Scoggins.
School Pictures
School photos will be August 11, 2023. The following link will take you directly to the Strawbridge website where you can view the packages and purchase what you would like. There are paper copies of the order form available in the front office. Please make sure payment is made prior to picture day or send the order form and money with your student the day of pictures.
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/french-middle-school/fall-pictures-8-11-2023-1/optIn
Immunizations
6th Grade Students: Students who will be entering 7th grade in the 2023/2024 school year are required to have updated immunizations including: Tdap (tetanus booster) and MCV (meningococcal). Students will be required to provide proof of immunizations within 30 days of the start of school in the fall. Letters will be mailed home in May for the students who need to provide proof of immunization to the school nurse.
Medications
If your student has brought medication to school this year, please make arrangements with the nurse to have these medications picked up by a parent/guardian prior to the last day of school. Any medication not picked up by the last day of school will be destroyed, as they are NOT stored over the summer.
Medical Forms
Health &/or Medical forms are required to be completed each school year. This includes Crisis Plans, Medication forms and Health History forms. Forms may be found on the district website https://www.topekapublicschools.net/departments/health_services or you may contact the nurse at the beginning of the school year to discuss student health history or current conditions to determine which forms may be needed.
Some things to keep in mind for the upcoming year if your student is hoping to be a Falcon Athlete…
-Sports are only offered to eligible 7th and 8th graders.
- Sports offered in the fall are football, volleyball, girls tennis and cross country
-Students wishing to participate in athletics need to have passed 5 classes from the previous quarter. This would be 4th quarter grades from the 2022-23 school year. Summer school does not count for this rule.
-Students will need to have a sports physical signed by a doctor dated after May 1st in order to be allowed to play for the upcoming school year. Forms and information can be found at http://www.topekapublicschools.net/
Or
https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/PDF/FORM-PPE.pdf
Physicals need to be ready for the first practice to minimize any loss time by athletes. First day of practice for fall sports is August 14th.
Please note-You are not able to play on a team in the same sport outside of school while playing for a school team during the season of that same sport. This pertains to all sports whether club or rec. Before and after the season is allowed.
BULLYING POLICY
French Middle School will not tolerate bullying of any kind. Bullying is defined as any ongoing verbal or physical mistreatment where there is an imbalance of power, and the target/victim is exposed repeatedly to negative actions by one or more students. Bullying can be direct (physical or verbal), or indirect (exclusion, cyber-bullying, emotional). In order for everyone to feel safe and secure at school, every Topeka Public School has adopted the following rules against bullying. “I will not bully others. I will try to help students who are bullied. I will do my best to include students who are easily left out. When I know somebody is being bullied, I will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.” Students, staff, and parents should report any bullying that they are aware of to administration through the on-line bully report link on the French website. Students who bully others will receive consequences. Our counselors will be visiting 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes in August and September to remind students what bullying is, what we can do to prevent bullying, and what students should do if they or someone else is being bullied.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program or activity provided by the school district. The Title VI and Title IX compliance coordinator is the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching/Learning/Administration. The Section 504/Title II compliance coordinator is the Coordinator of College and Career Ready Services. For employment, the EEO/AA officer is the General Director of Human Resources. All compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000. The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3045 or by writing to 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294.