WESTWORD
SEPTEMBER 2020 - VOLUME 5 ISSUE 2
Mission Statement
Working toward career and college readiness,
Engaging students in quality learning,
Sustaining culture of respect and a
Tradition of excellence
ALL STUDENTS HAVE BEGUN REMOTE LEARNING
- Students are expected to attend all classes from 7:55-3:00 daily.
- Students are expected to complete/turn in assignments/tests as assigned.
- Grades will be recorded daily or weekly and attendance will be taken daily.
- Students are expected to have appropriate work area at home.
- Students are expected to be dressed, use given name and have the video turned on when in Zoom classes.
- Students are to be prepared to be active participants in class.
- Screen time will be monitored and reduced by teachers.
- Students are expected to use school issued devices and technology platforms.
My student has an issue with their schedule, help!!
- If your student has a hole or an issue in their schedule, please click on this link to contact their counselor. Schedule changes must be requested by Thursday, September 17.
- If you have other questions for their counselor, please email using the links below. .
Division 1 (Students Last Name A-G) Brooke Mulford
Division 2 (Students Last Name H-K) Jackie VanPetten
Division 2 (Students Last Name L-O) Lashawna Harris
Division 3 (Students Last Name P-Z) Megan Sturm
I have questions about your COVID reopening plan, where can I find more information?
FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE A MEAL APPLICATION FORM THIS YEAR. JUST CLICK HERE TO START
Families must complete the 2020-21 Online Meal Services Application
Families must qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits
Families must apply for the Cox Connect-2-Compete Program
Cox will send TPS the current monthly bill for each family that completes the steps above and qualifies. Apply Now to ensure your students are ready for remote or hybrid learning!
CHROME BOOK EXCHANGE
New Students to Topeka Public Schools and Topeka West
Grab & Go Meal Sites - During Phase 1: Remote Learning
- Tuesday
- Friday
What times can I pick up food?
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- 3:15 PM - 5:30 PM
Where do I go to get the food?
- Highland Park High School
- Jardine Middle School
- Chase Middle School
- Robinson Middle School
- French Middle School
- Meadows Elementary
- Jardine Elementary
- Ross Elementary
- Williams Science & Fine Arts
What do I need to do to get the meals?
- Drive through the pick up line and let them know how many school age children you have at home.
DIVISION OFFICES CONTACT INFORMATION
Division 1 (student last name A - G) 785-438-4005
Associate Principal - Mrs. Andrea York (ayork@tps501.org)
Counselor - Mrs. Brook Mulford (bmulford@tps501.org)
Division 1 Secretary - Mrs. Casey Holle
Division 2 (student last name H - O) 785-438-4006
Assistant Principal - Mrs. Laura Nichols (lnichols@tps501.org)
Counselors - Mrs. Jackie Van Petten & Ms. LaShawna Harris
(jvanpetten1@tps501.org & lharris@tps501.org)
Division 2 Secretary - Ms. Leigh Camper
Division 3 (student last name P - Z) - 785-438-4004
Assistant Principal - Mr. Beau Caryl (bcaryl@tps501.org)
Counselor - Mrs. Megan Sturm (msturm@tps501.org)
Division 3 Secretary - Mrs. Kellie Patterson (dallen1@tps501.org)
Athletics (785)-438-4022
Athletic Director- Mr. Richard Mariani (rmariani@tps501.org)
Athletic Administrative Assistant- Mr. Marco Hunter (mhunter@tps501.org)
Principal - Mr. Colin Cathey (785)-438-4000 (ccathey@tps501.org)
Administrative Assistant to the Principal - Mrs. Dani Allen
THE FORM ALSO CAN BE FOUND ON THE KSHSAA WEBSITE AND THE TOPEKA WEST HIGH SCHOOL WEBSITE UNDER THE ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS TAB.
WESTSIDE PRIDE BOOSTER CLUB
Greetings Topeka West Families and Welcome to a New School Year!
There is no doubt that this will be a unique school year with many creative responses to keep staff and students safe while returning to school. Regardless of the challenges and changes, there are some things that will remain the same:
1. Teachers and staff at Topeka West are still dedicated to your student’s success!
2. Teachers, staff, and students at Topeka West still need our support (perhaps now more than ever!)
3. Joining Westside Pride Booster Club is a GREAT way to support the school. In the past we have used our funds to support teachers (meals at parent-teacher conferences, supplies, etc.), the Arts (Theater, Band, etc.) and Athletics (Supplies, Training opportunities). We may spend our money on different things this year, but it will still be done to support the school.
4. We love having new faces at our monthly meetings. This is a very welcoming group of people! This year they will be run via Zoom until it is safe to meet face-to-face again.
5. Coming to Westside Pride Meetings is a great way to hear about what’s going on at the school. Every month, we hear the “Principal’s Report” and have a chance to ask one of our principals questions about any concerns you may have.
We look forward to interacting with you this year! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions about Westside Pride at drswagners@sbcglobal.net or 785-271-4404 (landline).
Tracy Wagner
President, Westside Pride Booster Club
Our Next Meeting is Monday, September 14th at 6pm over Zoom. Hope to see you all there!
All meetings will be the first Monday of every month!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
The PSAT / NMSQT is the qualifying assessment (test) that students must take to enter the National Merit Scholarship competition. Students with top scores on this standardized test could be designated a National Merit Scholar, Commended Scholar, Achievement Scholar, National Hispanic Scholar or Corporate Scholar. While results of individual students’ PSAT scores are typically shared with students sometime in mid-December, National Merit results from the October, 2020 test will be announced during the spring of 2021. Primarily, current juniors and some sophomores are encouraged to take the PSAT /NMSQ.
This assessment is also a good practice test for future college entrance exams such as the ACT and/or SAT. The test will be given on the designated National Testing Date, Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
Students will need to register and the cost of this test is $20 which is to be paid at the time of registration.
Registration information will be available soon on our school website and social media page. Flyers with exam specifics (what to bring, arrival time, etc.) will be delivered to all registered students the Monday prior to their test date.
If you have questions about the PSAT fee of $20, please contact LaShawna Harris (D Building) (438-4014)
REMINDER FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS
Click the link below for the Washburn Concurrent Enrollment Partnership Student Calendar
https://washburn.edu/admissions/non-degree-high-school/cep/CEP-Student-Timeline.pdf- Dates and deadlines for the semester are include on the Washburn CEP page.
- Course offerings at their high school and write down the courses they are interested in taking.
- Student should visit becomeanichabod.washburn.edu to fill out their application/request to enroll – They will apply here AND fill out their request to enroll as part of the application. Admissions will process the application.
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS
Welcome back! And welcome to the Seniors 2021 Google Classroom. This is Mrs. Steinkuehler, I do scholarships at West. My office is in B 200, feel free to stop by anytime before or after school during 1st or 2nd lunch or email me to set up an appointment. The Seniors 2021 Google Classroom is the primary way that I get out information about scholarships, and the counselors put out information on ACT testing, college visits etc. All seniors have been added to this classroom. Please utilize it. In prioritizing scholarships, the biggest scholarships you will get will come from the college/university where you plan to attend. These should be your first priority. These are called freshmen automatics. They are based on your GPA and ACT score. If you have not taken the ACT, you should talk to your counselors about it There will be a free ACT for seniors who have not taken it in October.
For more information about studying, how to sign up and study for the ACT....https://sites.google.com/a/tps501.org/twhs--gifted-education/class-2 Your second priority should be state and local scholarships. You are the most likely to get these because there is a smaller pool of applicants. And your third priority should be national scholarships.
In the fall when there are not many state and local scholarships emails are less frequent but expect to get them once a week during spring semester. Right now, there are not a lot of state/local scholarships to apply for. There are nationals, which can be found online ere are a list of some of the search engine http://scholarships4students.com/ http://www.free-4u.com/ http://www.fastweb.com/ https://niche.com/ I suggest that you set aside time everyday to apply for scholarships. The students who are successful treat it like a part time job. Are you considering athletics? If so have you looked at the NCAA Eligibility site?https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/ Also, you should look at the Wendy's Heisman
https://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/ Another thing to be working on is your resume. Most local scholarships require one. Here is a link to a common resume template https://docs.google.com/a/tps501.org/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=dHBzNTAxLm9yZ3x0d2hzLS1naWZ0ZWQtZWR1Y2F0aW9ufGd4OjZkMzE2Y2NhMjVlZTIzOWY. You can also make an appt. and work on this with me in the north alcove. Once you are done writing your resume, most local/state scholarships will require 2 to 3 reference letters Give your resume to several teachers and someone in the community (who is not a relative) and ask them to write a reference letter for you.
If you have questions or need help with resumes, etc.. I can be reached at csteinkuehler@tps501.org. If you know of someone who would like to be on the list and is not (this includes parents) please contact me with their information. I am working on the Scholarship, and hope to have it available by October. When it is available, I will send out a google form for you to order one and have it delivered to your seminar It will also be available online at my web page. In the meantime I have posted some national scholarships that you can be applying for now.
"The power of imagination makes us infinite." John Muir
$2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship https://colleges.niche.com/scholarship/apply.aspx?source=Scholarships360&utm_source=Scholarships360&utm_medium=Scholarships360&utm_campaign=Scholarships360NES
--$2,000 award given away monthly, you may re-apply every month
--Must be planning on enrolling within 12 months
--Random monthly drawing
--Deadline August 31 University of Kansas
—Raise Me UP! https://www.raise.me/join/ku
--Students beginning freshman year can earn up to $1,000 in scholarship money to the University of Kansas by getting good grades, perfect attendance, playing sports and other activities.
--This cannot be used in conjunction with other scholarships from KU
--ACT score of 21
Gates Scholarship https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship
--Deadline Sept. 15
--Full scholarship (tuition, books, room and board)
--Must be Pell-eligible, minority, U.S. citizen
--3.3 or greater GPA
Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship http://www.odenzascholarships.com/awards/9/application_odenza_marketing_group_scholarship.php
-- $500
--Deadline Sept. 30
--Students ages 16-25 are eligible
-- 2.5 minimum GPA
--500 word essay
US Bank Internet Scholarship https://www.usbank.com/community/financial-education/scholarship.html
--40 $1,000 scholarships
--Random drawing
--Deadline October 26
Quest Bridge https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students ACT, Two letters of recommendation, transcript
--Selection criteria is based on academic achievement, financial qualification and personal circumstances
--Full tuition to a number of upper tier schools including Dartmouth, Columbia, Carleton, Caltech and others.
--Deadline September 2
Shout It Out Scholarship! https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/shout-it-out-scholarship#/fromscholarshipexperts
--- Award amount $1,500
---Complete application required with contact information, demographic, academic details at:
--All students ages 13 and up --Be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application. --Be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2018) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education.
--Submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the scholarship topic: “If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, what would it be and why?
--Deadline September 30
Contact Us
Website: https://www.topekapublicschools.net/Page/41
Location: 2001 Southwest Fairlawn Road, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: 785-438-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TopekaWest501
Twitter: @TPSTWest