The Falcons are off to a great start for the 2022-23 school year. We currently have 436 students enrolled and a few more trickling in each day. Our Meet the Teacher Night was a huge success. We enjoyed meeting many of our families. Thank you to PTO for providing delicious ice cream treats and raffle prizes. Congratulations to the following prize winners:
Student winner: Jonah Tevis Galloway
Parent Winner: Edward Whitlock
Teacher Winners: Mrs. Campbell & Ms. Lassiter
We are well on our way into our 1st quarter. Midterms will be visible in Tyler September 16th. Please stay connected with your student's teachers. If you are having any difficulty reaching any teacher please let Mrs. Wagner and I know so we can assist. Tyler is the place to log onto weekly to check grades, missing work, and attendance. A strong bond between home and school in addition to open communication is the foundation for building a positive relationship and ensuring your student finds success this school year. ~Mrs. Hoffman
School Pictures
MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT SUCCESS
Meet the teacher night was a success! The PTO Board enjoyed talking with students and their parents at Meet the Teacher night. We were able to raffle off some great door prizes for our students, parents, and staff!
A special thank you to our PTO sponsors that have generously donated so far this year to support our school!
Pepsi-Linpepco , Johnny’s Tavern, Old Navy, El Ranchito, Pizagel’s, Fat Shack, The Pennant, Walmart, El Mezcal, Sonic and West Ridge Lanes
Meet Wilson the Therapy Dog
Wilson Carl Sagan Wood is a professional therapy dog at French Middle School and belongs to Jenny Thayer-Wood, instructional coach at French. Wilson, a Labradoodle, started his training as a puppy in 2018 and became certified after extensive training and passing multiple tests to comply with the district’s requirements. He and his trainer/owner work as a team to provide companionship and relief in anxiety-provoking situations to students and staff. Most of his days are spent just hanging out with kids. He is full of personality and has been known to break out into a tail-chasing episode while walking down the hall. The students get a kick out of his tricks, with “whispering” being one of their favorites. Wilson has been lucky enough to meet some pretty important people, including the US Secretary of Education. He has appeared on the news several times, and he even has his own social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter--TikTok coming soon!) When he’s not at French Middle School, he can be found hanging out with his human family, his cat “sisters,” and his pet chickens out on the farm.
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Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics
Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) is a teaching and learning practice that emerged from over 15 years of research into how teachers can transform their classrooms from a space where students mimic to where students think. BTC is giving students the opportunity to truly problem solve-- what we do when we don't know what to do. Students are getting stuck. They will think and get unstuck. This is the learning process: try, fail, try again.
In a thinking classroom, students work daily with random groups of students in the class on vertical surfaces such as whiteboards. Students express their ideas, question each other, extend their thinking, and learn from one another. After two short weeks, we have seen an increase in student confidence, perseverance, and engagement.
IMMUNIZATIONS
All students entering 7th grade are required to have a Tdap (tetanus booster) and a Meningococcal vaccination on file. If your student has had the vaccines, but you have not yet submitted that information for their file, please forward a copy to Nurse Besenyi as soon as possible. If your student is new to the district, ALL vaccination records will need to be sent. If your student has received the Covid Vaccinations or Booster, please provide verification for their file. You may email records to kbesenyi@tps501.org or fax to (785) 271-3609 or send a paper copy directly to the school. 2022-2023 Immunization Requirements
MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
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 Nurse Besenyi 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.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
If your student has a known chronic medical condition that may require intervention or treatment while they are at school, please complete the Anticipated Health Crisis Plan. This will give nursing and school staff directions as to how you as the Parent/Guardian would like staff to address specific situations. This form should be completed for students with conditions including Asthma, Food Allergies, Seizures, Headaches, Frequent Nosebleeds, Heart Conditions or any other condition or disease regardless of whether or not they take medication at school. (This form is required to be completed at the beginning of each school year, previous forms are not kept on site.)
COVID VACCINATION CLINIC
On Saturday, September 10, Topeka Public Schools will host a mobile drive-thru vaccination clinic in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and Harvesters Food Pantry.
The vaccination clinic will serve all ages and offer 1st round, 2nd round and booster COVID-19 vaccinations and be held in conjunction with the Harvester Food Pantry at 9:00 AM at Jardine Middle School. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and must have a signed consent form. To register for the vaccine clinic, please complete this form.
COVID TESTING OPTIONS
Test to Learn, Test to Know, Test to Play: Rapid Covid Antigen tests and Rapid Covid PCR tests are available for students. In order for your student to be tested at school, the Consent form must be completed before the test can be administered. Parents/Guardians can find the E-Form on the Tyler SIS parent page. Once you log in to your Parent portal, you will see a yellow highlighted line that states there are New Optional E-Forms available. Once you click “view”, you will then see the 2022-23 Covid-19/Flu/Strep Testing Consent form, you will be given the option to consent to testing, and the form will be immediately available for nursing staff. Please complete this form at your earliest convenience so we have it on file should the need arise. Nursing staff will make every effort to contact you prior to any testing, even if the form is on file. (Flu and Strep Testing are not available at this time.)
