The Weekly Update #4
November 27th, 2023
From the Principal
It is always amazing to me how quickly time goes by, especially when we are about to complete our first semester of the school year! As we reach this halfway point to the year and get ready to spend some quality time at home with our families please know that your Chase family is wishing you a happy and safe holiday season. We will see you all in 2024!
ID cards: When students return to school on January 4th, they will be given a Chase photo ID card. It will come on a lanyard so they can wear it around their neck if that is their preference. They can also use it at extracurricular activities to show they are a Chase student and will be required to attend events. This card will be used at school and the students should have it with them every day. Staff can also scan a students ID badge to add Cougar Cash to students incentive accounts. The cougar cash can only be used at the cougar cart.
Yvonne Spalding
Principal
Student Attendance
Regular attendance, punctuality, and success in school are closely related. The primary responsibility of good attendance at the middle level rests with students and their parents/guardians. Patterns of good attendance are usually established early in the school year. It is necessary for a parent/guardian to notify the school the day of the student’s absence. If no phone is available, a note may be sent with the student on his/her return to school. Parents will be contacted in the evening by an automated dialing system when their student has an unexcused absence or tardy. In order for an absence to be excused, the parent/guardian must notify the office each day of absence or have the student bring a note to the office excusing him/her upon returning to school. When a student’s illness extends beyond three (3) consecutive school days, a physician’s statement verifying the necessity of the absence is required, giving permission to return to classes, and/or requesting restricted activity. When a student has accumulated 2 unexcused absences, a pre-truancy advisory letter will be sent. When a student accumulates 10 or more absences a doctor or a medical professional’s note will be required to excuse further absences. If no note is provided, the absence is considered unexcused. Truancy status may result in a loss of transfer status if a student is attending Chase on a transfer. Truancy Chase Middle School complies with all State of Kansas truancy laws.
All cases of truancy will be reported to the School District’s Truancy Officer. When a student accumulates three (3) consecutive unexcused absences, five (5) cumulative unexcused absences in a semester, or seven (7) cumulative unexcused absences in a school year, the principal may file a Truancy Report verifying the dates and extent of such absences with the Truancy Officer for USD 501. The report will then be forwarded to Court Services for processing. Any student who leaves school for any reason during school hours must have parent/guardian’s permission and must sign out in the office before leaving the building. Upon returning to school, a student must check in at the office for a pass to class. If this should involve a doctor’s appointment, etc., please have your parent call or send a note stating where you are going and what time you should be excused. Your parent could also come to the office in person. A student will not be allowed to leave school without prior notification from parent/guardian. Tardies Regular attendance, punctuality and success in school are closely related. Being on time for school is a behavior that will benefit students not only while in Chase Middle School, but will also prepare them for high school and the world of work.
Nursing Department News
Students are not allowed to carry medications with them during the school day. All medication including prescription and over the counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen must have proper paperwork in place and all medications must be kept in the school nurse's office. (This includes cough drops.) Exceptions can be made for Inhalers and Epi-Pens, with an additional form. If you have questions please contact Shelly Garst @ sgarst@tps501.org for the appropriate forms. MEDICATION GUIDELINES
Request to Administer Medication This form is required for any/all medications prescribed by a physician or healthcare provider, including Inhalers, Epi-Pens, or for any medication taken on a daily basis. This form will require the prescribing physician’s signature and a parent or guardian’s signature before the medication can be administered.
Request to Take Medication This form is required for over the counter medication that a student may need to take on an as needed basis, such as tylenol, ibuprofen, or cough drops. Students may only use over the counter medications per the directions on the label, including age and dosage. This form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian.
Permission To Carry Epi-Pen (Medication Release Form) If you wish your student to carry their Epi-Pen on them during the school day, this form must be completed by the Prescribing Physician, the Parent or Guardian, the School Principal and the School Nurse. This form is in addition to the Request to Administer Medication.
Permission to Carry Inhaler (Medication Release Form) If you wish your student to carry their inhaler on them during the school day, this form must be completed by the Prescribing Physician, the Parent or Guardian, the School Principal and the School Nurse. This form is in addition to the Request to Administer Medication.
Updating Student Information
CHANGE OF ADDRESS, TELEPHONE OR EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON It is extremely important that we maintain accurate and timely information on each student, so we can make contact in case of an emergency. Please make changes in Synergy Parent Portal or call the office to report all changes in telephone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts and e-mail addresses.
November Students of the Month
Classroom Happenings
During the final weeks of 2023, the 8th-grade students will be exploring the Collection of stories in ELA called "The Move Toward Freedom." They will be reading about the lives of people such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. Students will explore what happened during The Civil War through a variety of texts. Students will also complete a project where they choose a historical figure from this time period to research. Students will take the MAP Assessment for Reading on December 4, 5, & 6.
CMS PTO Shout Out
Thank you so much to our very own Chase PTO for donating and supporting students and staff during the Winter Olympics! The PTO loaded the Jolly Trolley for teachers full of snacks and hot chocolate. They also provided gift cards for three lucky students during the fun-filled day!
Reading over Winter Break
Don't forget to make some time to READ over Winter Break! There are plenty of things to read outside of what you might think of as traditional "books" - graphic novels, audiobooks, recipes, and more!
Try out this snowball challenge to get your children engaged in reading every day of break.
8th Graders to High School 24/25
Parents will be able to see what classes their child has selected during parent-teacher conferences in February with Mr. Hershberger or Mrs. Sage. High School Parent Information Nights are listed below:
Topeka High January 31, 2024 6-7 PM
Highland Park February 1, 2024 6-7 PM
Topeka West January 30, 2024 6-7 PM
If your student is planning on requesting a transfer to attend a different high school, it is important that they apply once applications are made available on January 1st. The application link will be put on the students’ science class Google Classroom after winter break. If transfers are not approved prior to high school visits in May, students will only be allowed to visit their assigned high school based on their attendance area.
Inclement Weather
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 your child's school events, inclement weather, and more.
Parents and guardians can participate in this free service* just 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.
SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy Pledge, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.
From Our Social Worker
Although parents may let their kids stay up late or sleep in during special occasions (like winter break), they should transition to their regular sleep patterns before returning to school. That's because quality, consistent sleep is essential to your child's ability to learn.
Too little sleep has been associated with "attention, behavior, and learning problems," according to a statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). "Insufficient sleep also increases the risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and depression."
So how can you help your whole family get back into the swing of things? Follow these seven tips to support your children as they begin a new
In the days before classes start, move bedtime back by 15- 30 minutes each night until you're back to their sleep normal schedule. The AASM recommends the following optimal amounts of sleep for children and teens:
Ages 4-12 months: 12-16 hours (including naps)
Ages 1-2 years: 11-14 hours (including naps)
Ages 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps)
Age 6-12 years: 9-12 hours
Age 13-18 years: 8-10 hours
Create a Back-to-School Countdown
Lazy days spent relaxing in pajamas seem to abruptly stop once school starts again. Ease the transition back to class, especially for younger kids, by creating a visual countdown for the end of winter break (put a calendar on the refrigerator and mark off the days). That way, the different routine won't creep up so unexpectedly. Older kids can enter the date on their personal calendars, letting them track how much more freedom they can enjoy.
Discuss The Year Ahead
Before school starts in the fall, it's a great idea to chat with your child about expectations for the year ahead. After winter break, parents might presume their children won't need the same amount of preparation, since teachers and classes largely remain the same. But some things will change in the new year—such as the coursework your child will do each day. Talking through any worries or concerns can help them feel more confident.
Celebrate Their First Week Back
Returning to school after a fun-filled winter break can feel a little disappointing. Help soften the blow by organizing something special to celebrate the completion of their first week back. Some examples: a movie night, special play date, dinner at their favorite restaurant, game night, or bowling.
Stock Up on School Supplies
Start the new year ready for new challenges by ensuring your child has all the resources they need. For younger kids, this might mean a fresh set of sharpened colored pencils, new glue sticks, boxes of tissues, or hand sanitizer. Older kids might appreciate some new reading material, colorful folders, or notebooks.
Make Your Mornings Easier
School mornings can be hectic, especially if kids have gotten used to moving at a slower pace during the holidays. Make the before-school hours run smoothly by planning tasks the day before. For example:
Ask kids to organize and pack their school supplies and backpacks before bed.
Prepare breakfast or lunch the night before.
Lay out clothing options.
Agree on a bathroom schedule if you have a large family.
Plan to leave a 10-minute buffer to avoid being late on the first day back.
Validate Your Child's Feelings
Just as you might not look forward to your own daily grind after winter break, it's normal for kids to have mixed feelings, too. They might be eager to see their friends and their teacher—or they might feel anxious and apprehensive about the situation. Both reactions are normal and valid. Encourage kids to voice their feelings and listen with patience. When children feel heard, they're more likely to share their feelings and worries. Act as a safe space, and let your kindness help them muster the courage needed to face all of life's challenges.
Upcoming Events
December
8- Boys' B-Ball Meeting During AB
11- Girls' B-Ball Varsity
12- Band Concert
15- Winter Olympics
18-1/3 - Winter Break
January
4- School Resumes
All Activities can be found at the link below:
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.
MISSION STATEMENTS
Topeka Public Schools
The mission of the Topeka Public School is ENGAGE students in the highest quality learning; PREPARE students for responsible, productive citizenship, and INSPIRE excellence for a lifetime.
Chase Middle School
Through the implementation of the Comprehensive, Integrated, 3-Tiered System of Supports (CI3T), all staff will guide students to succeed at their highest potential academically, socially, and emotionally.
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