French Middle School
October 2021 Newsletter
Upcoming Events
- October 1-- Vision/Hearing Checks
- October 8-- End of 1st Quarter
- October 11-- No School--Grades Due
- October 12-- No School-- District PD
- October 13-- 2nd Quarter Begins
- October 14-- Boys Soccer & Girls Basketball Practice Begins/ PTO Meeting @ 5:45pm
- October 20-- Parent Teacher Conferences @ 3:30pm
- October 21-- No School-- Parent Teacher Conferences from 7:30am-7:30pm
- October 22-- No School/ Last Day For Red Wheel Fundraiser
- October 28-- Picture Retakes
October 13th begins our second quarter of the school year. First quarter will end October 8th, with missing assignments due by end of day October 6th. An email will be sent out to parents confirming when grades are finalized and posted in Tyler. Report cards are viewed in Tyler electronically. Teachers are looking forward to visiting with parents and students at our October Parent/Teacher Conferences.
We have a zoom link for students who are home with covid/quarantine related absences. Students will be emailed the link. A certified teacher is available via the link to take attendance and assist with any instructional questions. Students need only check in once per day via zoom link as they work on classroom assignments posted in google classroom by their teachers. Direct any questions to Principal Hoffman at khoffman@tps501.org.
We look forward to seeing parents and students at conferences later in the month. Thank you to all Falcon Families for a successful 1st quarter.
Red Wheel Fundraiser
The French MS PTO kicked off their annual fundraiser September 30th. Students are encouraged to sell Red Wheel Items Sept, 30th through October 22nd. Red Wheel items include delicious food and snack items. Top sellers earn gift cards. Profits earned go to our PTO and are used to purchase items for school improvement, classroom supplies for special projects, field trips, rewards for students, treats for teachers and so much more. Families can also make a donation to PTO in lieu of selling items. We appreciate any and all families willing to help support the Falcons. The pick up date for fundraiser items is scheduled for November 9th 5-7pm. Mark your calendars today and help our PTO raise money for the French Falcons!
Thank You April Kelsey from Farm Bureau
On behalf of the school community we extend a big thank you to Mrs. Kelsey from Farm Bureau. Mrs. Kelsey made a large donation of feminine hygiene products to our nursing office. We appreciate Mrs. Kelsey’s support and are grateful for community partners like Farm Bureau.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Our parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for October 20 and 21, 2021. Wednesday conferences will run from 3:30pm-7:30pm and Thursday from 7:30am-7:30pm (closed for lunch from 1:00-2:00pm). Students/parents will schedule a time with their advisor base teacher. Your student will lead the conference by sharing a slideshow created by students, highlighting their progress during the 1st quarter. After meeting with your advisor base teacher, you can drop by to see other teachers regarding your students’ progress. Scheduled conferences will take priority over parent drop in meetings. Be on the lookout for communication from the AB teacher to sign up. We are requesting only the adult parents/guardian of the student attend to limit the amount of people in the building and at tables with staff. Zoom conferences will be available to parents who request. All patrons will be required to wear a mask while in the building.
Picture Retakes
Picture retakes are October 28, 2021. If your student was absent on picture day, they will be photographed on retake day and will be able to turn in money for a picture packet. For any students wanting retakes, please bring the original picture packet the day of retakes and give it to the photographers. If you haven’t already, you can register using the link below to get up to date information regarding your students’ pictures.
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/french-middle-school/fall-pictures-9-8-2021-11/optIn
COVID-19: In an effort to assist with Contact Tracing, it is important that parents communicate with the school nurse when there is a Covid related situation in your home. The school nurse or a district nurse will provide details on district quarantine policies as well as work with the Shawnee County Health Department on Contact Tracing.
Please report the following situations to the school nurse as soon as possible:
Student is experiencing symptoms or has been tested for Covid-19
Anyone in the home has been tested for Covid-19 or has tested positive for Covid-19
Student has been identified as a Close Contact with someone outside of the home who has tested positive for Covid-19
Student has been identified as needing to quarantine based on recent travel
SYMPTOMS: Fever (measured at 100.4ºF or above), chills, rigors, myalgia (muscle aches/body aches), malaise, headache, sore throat, lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing), new olfactory and taste disorder(s), congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea without an alternate more likely diagnosis. (KDHE, 10.29.20)
If a student is experiencing any ONE or more of the symptom listed above they must:
Students must have a negative PCR test before they can return to school (rapid or antigen tests will not be accepted.)
OR
Receive an evaluation by their child’s healthcare provider with a written alternative diagnosis (NOT COVID-19), based on the healthcare provider’s recommendation,
OR
Isolate their child for 10 days from symptom onset, be fever-free for over 72 hours without taking fever reducing medication, and have improving symptoms
Any student who is experiencing ONE or more of the above symptoms while at school, WILL BE “ISOLATED”, assessed and REFERRED FOR COVID-19 TESTING, if indicated.
WHERE CAN I GET TESTED:
You are encouraged to contact your healthcare provider for evaluation and testing if indicated. Or you can visit the following:
University of Kansas Health System -
Complete the Self-Evaluation checklist located at www.kutopeka.com/coronavirus or call 1.833.463.9362.
Stormont Vail Health:
Complete the Pre-Screening tool located at www.stormontvail.org/covid19/ or call 1.785.354.6000.
Shawnee County Health Department:
Appointments may be made online at www.gogettested.com/kansas or by calling 1.877.837.8461.
The following Sites are operational Monday – Saturday during the hours listed below and closed on holidays:
Hummer Sports Park - 500 Tuffy Kellogg Dr
Hours: 7:00am - 4:30pm
Walmart - 25th & California
Hours: 9:00am - 5:30pm
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library - 1515 SW 10th Ave
Hours: 10:00am - 6:30pm
Medications At School: Students are not allowed to carry medications with them during the school day. All medication including prescription and over the counter need to have proper paperwork in place and be kept in the school nurses clinic. (This includes cough drops.) Please contact the school nurse for appropriate forms. Medical Forms and Health information can found at: https://www.topekapublicschools.net/Domain/70
Attendance Reminder
Attendance is important and is essential to good performance in school. Good attendance is a life skill that students need to be successful in middle school and life after middle school. Absences add up and even if your child only misses a day or two every few weeks this can add up and lower their chances of graduating. Research shows that students who have an attendance rate below 95% have lower test and achievement scores than those above the 95% rate. We ask that you help your child by discussing the importance of good attendance and helping your child be at school. You can help your child by only keeping them home if they are sick, making appointments when possible when school is not in session, and planning vacations when school is not in session. Attendance is taken for every class. If your student is absent from a class you will get an automated phone call in the evening to let you know they missed one or more classes. If you are having difficulties with getting your child to school and need assistance you can call our counselors, Mrs. Barnett or Ms. Ryan, or our social worker Ms. Jones. Thank you for making attendance a priority for your child.
After School Program- FAME (Falcons After school Means Engagement)
Falcons, we are off to an amazing start with our after school program. To date we have over 80 students signed up to attend the program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This number continues to grow daily. Students are enjoying activities such as: arts and crafts, science experiments, art in history, creative writing and swimming at the YMCA. The current session will end October 7, 2021 and resume October 26, 2021-November 18, 2021. To register your student for this free program, please use the link below. A large portion of this program includes tutoring & homework time in which students can meet with individual teachers before enjoying time in the club of their choice.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d44aea928a4fac43-fameafter
The Serve, Lead and Inspire Conference on Sat Sept 25 was a big success. FMS had 45 students learn about civic engagement and service leadership throughout the entire day. They heard from Jami Crispin from Americorps about her years of national service, students talked about how to go about volunteering and the benefits of volunteering. They participated in team building activities to talk about the reasons why we help our community. Area agencies came out and shared information about volunteering opportunities for youth. Those agencies were Silverbackks, Helping Hands Humane Society, Topeka Community Cycle Project and Topeka Shawnee County Public Library. The students enjoyed hearing about all the different options. Students each made a plan for what they want to do next. Thanks also goes out to Kansas Volunteer Commission for the grant that made this possible and also to Downtown Topeka Kiwanis for supporting an extra 10 students and for their assistance throughout the day. Thanks to the following individuals that also helped during the day Deanna Lassiter, Sharon Austin, Cynthia Maxwell, Christina Smith, Takara Carpenter, Cristina Alegria & Rogelio Alegria.
The fall sports season is quickly coming to an end . The cross country team ended a productive season with many personal best times at the city XC meet, as well as taking first place overall. Ashlyn Padilla and Payton Rice came home with the gold medals both placing first in 7th grade girls and 8th grade girls. Congrats to all Falcon runners!
Congratulations to Lady Falcons for all of the smashing success at the girls city tennis meet at Kossover Tennis Center! Shoutouts to 7th grader Laneeiah Wilkins for winning 3rd place in JV singles, 8th grader Jordan Felsburg for grabbing third place in varsity singles, and sister squad Liz and Cailee Gray for taking second place in varsity doubles. Additionally, Isaac Bowers and Colton Langley were unanimously voted “tennis managers of the year”
The Varsity Volleyball team is sitting in 1st place in the city and looking to repeat (4th consecutive)as City Champions on Wednesday Oct. 6th at the city volleyball tournament at Topeka West High School. All levels of girls volleyball found great success this season, with the JV going undefeated and taking 1st place in the city . Great Job ladies.
The football season is winding down and will play a final Varsity game at 3:15 Wednesday Oct. 13th at Hummer with a team yet to be determined. While the season had some ups and downs, the team followed the French model of ”You're a better player today than you were yesterday” and got better every day.
Girls Basketball starts Thursday October 14th from 3:00-5:00 until teams are chosen, then B team will practice mornings 6:30-7:30. Games are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Nov. 2nd. Coaches are Mr. Hamilton(Varsity) Mr. Fannin(JV), Ms. Ketterman (B team)Remember, you can not play for an outside team once you start a French team. You can join French once your club team has finished their season.
The boys Soccer season will also be starting Thursday Oct. 14 and coached by Mrs. Hirt, a former Baker University soccer star. At this time, there will only be a varsity team, with the remaining athletes being an instructional team. This may change once we get final numbers from all middle schools. Like all other sports, you can not play for an outside team once you start a French team. You can join French once your club team has finished their season.
Just a reminder that a district wide grade policy has been adopted at all Middle Schools. Any student with an F on their grade checks will be ineligible for the next game until the F is brought up. An F list will be created every Friday, with student athletes informed that day if they are on the report. It is then their responsibility to bring that grade up and communicate with the coach when that has happened with a note or email from the teacher.
We would like to remind spectators that French Middle School is a member school of the Kansas State High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) and is governed by their rules. One of those rules which, we completely support is Rule 52 which states:
ALL ACTIONS are to be FOR, NOT AGAINST; POSITIVE, NOT NEGATIVE or DISRESPECTFUL
Section 1: General Regulations (apply to grades 7-12)
Art. 1: SPORTSMANSHIP is a general way of thinking and behaving. The following sportsmanship policy items are listed below for clarification:
a. Be courteous to all. (participants, coaches, officials, staff and fans)
b. Know the rules, abide by and respect the official’s decisions.
c. Win with character and lose with dignity.
d. Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team.
e. Exercise self-control and reflect positively upon yourself, team and school.
f. Permit only positive sportsmanlike behavior to reflect on your school or its activities.
We hope that you can attend the games this year to cheer on the Falcons!
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.