Sheldon Update
January 11, 2021
Welcome from Mrs. Tanner
Dear Sheldon Families,
We had an excellent first week back with students last week! I am so proud of what a great job our students did wearing their masks and following COVID protocols. We believe our safety protocols have been effective in keeping our Sharks healthy and I thank you for entrusting your students to us each day.
As you may have seen in the message from Dr. Anderson, we will be returning to remote learning this coming Tuesday, January 19th following the no school day on Monday, January 18th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. The district will work closely with local health officials to monitor community spread and determine when we can safely and effectively reopen for in person learning. I will keep you informed via our weekly newsletters, Facebook, our website, email, text, and through the TPS App. While we will be in remote learning, please know that our charge is to provide our students a high quality, developmentally appropriate education and we will continue to do just that! It reminds me of the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham, while they may be here or there, we love our students EVERYWHERE! If your family has any needs or concerns during remote learning, please feel comfortable reaching out to myself, Haley Mortensen (social worker), your classroom teacher, or family advocate. We are all in this together as one big Sheldon Shiver (I just learned today that this is what a group of sharks is called. Cool!)!
A couple of reminders as we start this week of in-person learning:
- Students must be wearing a face covering to enter the bus and school building. Please make this a part of your morning routine.
- iPads and chargers need to be returned to the school. This week we will be sending back home those devices and chargers that families returned to school following Winter Break.
- Please send coats, hats, and gloves with your students to school each day during these winter months. Labeling these items with your students' name or initials is very helpful for our classroom staff. We will be going out for our outside times as much as possible!
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
Items That Need Your Attention
Color Days
Picture Retakes @ Sheldon
We have rescheduled our Picture Retake Day. We will have times dedicated to on-site learners as well as remote learners. If you are wanting retakes for your student, you MUST return the original pictures to the school by picture day. If your student is new or did not get their picture taken in November for some reason, they will be able to have their picture taken at this time. Regardless of ordering, all students will have their pictures taken for school records.
The flyer above will be coming home in folders soon. Orders are due back to school or completed online by Tuesday, January 12. We CAN NOT make change in the office, so if you are paying cash please have exact change. We can also accept checks made out to Strawbridge Studios. Online orders can be paid by debit/credit card.
Remote Learners, PLEASE RSVP so we know to expect you! Students will need to wear a mask. We will greet the students at the front door, escort them to the picture area, and then bring them back to their adult. Adults will not need to enter the building.
On-Site Learners: January 14th beginning at 10:00
Remote Learners: January 14th from 11:00-12:00
Thursday, Jan 14, 2021, 10:00 AM
Sheldon Head Start School, Southwest Seabrook Avenue, Topeka, KS, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Zoom Schedule Reminder
Checking ID at Pick-Up
Here Comes the Bus
Contact Information Changes
Attendance Reminder
Attendance expectations are in place even when in remote learning. Please make every effort for your student to join each Zoom session as well as completing their SeeSaw activities.
Please review the below information regarding attendance. Your family may be receiving an attendance plan letter if you are not following through with the requirements for our program. Sheldon has offered many ways to help your child keep their attendance above 85% and are willing to help with individual circumstances as they arise. We are here to support you!
Head Start Performance Standards require children to be in attendance at a minimum 85% of the time. If a child’s attendance falls below 85% attendance rate, there must be involvement with the Family Advocate and/or Administration to determine a remedy to the problem.
Not only is 85% attendance a requirement, it is vital for your child’s educational development and your family’s school year success. Children who are not able to maintain consistent attendance are at risk for being dropped from the program. In Topeka Public Schools we become concerned when a child drops below 90% attendance because they are considered chronically absent.
If you have any questions or need support in maintaining your child’s attendance, please call Ann Kuebler (Family Service Coordinator) at 438-4538.
Chiefs Gear
Informational Items
Remote Learning Kits
Community Resources Council Directory
Kansas Children's Service League Upcoming Events
Key Behaviors of the 24/7 Dad: January 12-14 (Tue., Wed., Thu.; 6p-8p nightly) This virtual workshop helps fathers develop a set of behaviors that will help them become the best fathers possible. These behaviors are centered around 5 common traits of the 24/7 Dad: Self-Awareness, Caring for Self, Fathering Skills, Parenting Skills, and Relationship Skills. All participants who complete the workshop will receive a certificate of completion, and be eligible to win a variety of door prizes. This is a FREE event, but registration is required: www.tinyurl.com/kb0121.
Parent Café: Taming Technology – Weapons of Mass Distraction: Thursday, January 21; 6pm-8pm This virtual Parent Café will give parents and caregivers an opportunity discuss the challenges of technology, screen time and social media. Our Parent Cafés create a safe space for you to share opinions, successes and ideas on how social services, agencies, schools, child care centers and the community can provide higher quality services and support for families. This is a FREE event, registration is required: www.tinyurl.com/ParentCafeWMD.
iPad Support
Parent Resource Site
Late Start Wednesday
Revised 2020-2021 Academic Calendar
COVID Exposure Response Plan
Sheldon Head Start Child Development Center
Website: https://www.topekapublicschools.net/sheldon
Location: 1155 SW Seabrook Ave.
Phone: 785-438-4530
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheldonChildDevelopmentCenterHeadStart