French Middle School
May Newsletter 2022
Upcoming Events
- May 3-- National Teacher Day
- May 6-- GraceMed Dental Clinic
- May 7-- 8th Grade Worlds of Fun Trip
- May 12-- FMS Art Show @ 4pm/PTO Meeting @ 5:45pm/ Choir/Orchestra Concert @ 6:30pm
- May 13-- 8th Grade Dance from 5:30-8:30pm
- May 16-- Band Concert @ 6:30pm
- May 18-- 8th Grade Save the City Rally from 3:00-4:00pm
- May 19-- 6th & 7th Grade Chromebook Check In
- May 20-- Falcon Fun Day
- May 23--8th Grade Chromebook Check In & Last Day of School for Middle School
- May 24-- 8th Grade Promotion from 8:00 am
- June 2--French MS office closes for the summer
Greetings Falcons! Summer is just around the corner. This school newsletter is filled with end of year activity dates and reminders. Student’s last day will be May 23rd. We will run a normal schedule with regular school hours. Please encourage your student to be in attendance up to our last day. Report cards will be finalized and posted in TylerSIS after May 27th. Our main office will close for the summer on June 3rd.
On behalf of our faculty and French Middle School, I want to thank all families for another successful school year. We have appreciated your flexibility and patience as we continued to maneuver through the pandemic. We are grateful to see many of our school activities return to normal. Please enjoy a peaceful and restful summer. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the fall. –Mrs. Hoffman, Principal
8th Grade Promotion
Our 8th grade promotion will be held May 24th at 8am in the French MS gymnasium. Students need to arrive at their advisor base classroom by 7:45am. Our promotion ceremony typically lasts about 45-60 minutes. Eight grade families are invited to attend. We hope to see you there as we give a final Falcon Farewell to all 8th graders.
8th Grade Worlds of Fun Trip
Our 8th grade trip to Worlds of Fun is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th. Students are eligible and purchased a ticket, are set to attend. Students need to meet their AB teacher in the back parking lot of French Middle School at 9:45 am. Students attending need to bring money for lunch in the park. The park is cashless. Therefore students will use card kiosks in the park to transfer their cash onto a cash card that can then be used in the park for food or other services. Students will be free to enjoy the park on their own and will have 2 check in times with staff. Students will return to the French Middle School back parking lot around 7:00pm. Please remember that students who become ineligible will not be refunded ticket money.
Online Registration for 2022-23 School Year
Online registration is open now! We offer a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of all students including preschool, career and technical education, college prep, as well as signature and magnet schools. Secure your space now to ensure you get the school of your choice. There are instructions on how to enroll new students and returning students, as well as resources for families here: https://www.topekapublicschools.net/cms/One.aspx?portalId=8252843&pageId=8862756
Sharefest
Falcon Fun Day
On May 20, 2022 we will hold Falcon Fun Day. This will be an all day event where eligible students will participate in a variety of activities with their grade level. They will rotate between swimming at the YMCA, indoor activities with their Advisor Base and outdoor activities planned by the PE teachers. Students will enjoy a grilled hamburger or hotdog and sides for lunch. Students who do not wish to participate in swimming, the YMCA will have their basketball gym open for students to play basketball and other games. We ask students who plan to swim to bring a towel and wear their bathing suit under their clothes. Students will be riding a bus to the YMCA and walking back to school.
To meet the eligibility requirements for this event, students must be passing all classes with a C or higher, have no missing work, no tardy detentions and no office referrals/out of school suspensions for the 4th quarter. We will inform those who do not meet these requirements and they will work in a study hall for the day. All others will enjoy a day of fun and games!
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 1-7. We will celebrate all our teachers throughout the week with a variety of activities/gifts each day. We encourage you and your students to reach out with a note or email to let teachers know how much they are appreciated. They work hard each and every day to make French MIddle School the best place to be! We look forward to celebrating them!
Save the City Rally
Save the City Rally is back! French MS 8th grade students were tasked to identify a problem in Topeka where improvements could be made for the community. Eight grade science students were given 9 weeks to come up with their best solution for the problem. Come to French on May 18th from 3:00-4:00pm to see what our 8th graders believe would help make Topeka a better place. The students will set up their presentations and you can wander through and see all their hard work!
May PTO
Our final PTO meeting will be May 12, 2022 at 5:45pm in the media center. We will elect our new officers for the 2022-2023 school year as well as finalize any end of the year events.
If you would like to be a part of our PTO for the 2022-2023 school year, we would love to have you. Our meetings are open to the school community so whether you want to be a part of the PTO board or want to attend as a parent, you are always welcome to.
The following individuals have been nominated as PTO board members for next school year:
-Nominations for President- Heather Lindsey
-Nomination for Vice President-Mashayla Mason-Hibler
-Nominations for Treasurer- Christie Green
-Nominations for Secretary- open
-Nominations for DCAC Rep- 2 open seats
If you know of someone interested in the one of the two open positions, please have them contact Mrs. Hoffman or Mrs. Wagner at French Middle School.
Spring Music Concerts
Plan to join us on May 12th for our joint Orchestra/Choir concert beginning at 6:30 PM. Our band will also hold a spring concert on May 16th also beginning at 6:30 PM. Performing students are expected to stay the entire concert. Both concerts should last about an hour and will be held in our gymnasium at French Middle School. We hope you can join us for these last performances of the school year.
8th Grade Dance
The 8th grade dance is scheduled for May 13th from 5:30-8:30pm. We wanted to do something special for our 8th graders this year and will start the evening with dinner and then the dance to follow. No outside guests are allowed at middle school dances. 8th graders must have eligibility points to attend this dance and no out of school suspensions 4th quarter. Our theme this year is Enchanted Forest. The cost is $5 and includes dinner. We hope to see all of our 8th graders at the dance this year. This should be a fun night for all!
First Root Project
First Root Participatory Budget project - The 7th grade FACS class has been involved in a participatory budget process that taught them about developing a proposal and budgeting for it. Advisors Excel partnered with First Root and donated $2000 for this process. Students worked in small groups on a school improvement proposal. They found items that fit their proposal and figured out the costs, shipping and other expenses connected with the proposal. Then the small groups presented their ideas to Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Wagner to see which proposals could move forward for voting. We had 7 proposals get the green light to move forward. Then all the students in the school were given the opportunity to vote on the proposals. The winning proposals will be funded and in place by the end of the year. The teams that won will receive a pizza party. The 3 winning proposals are 1. Couch in the wellness center 2. Sports equipment (balls) for tennis, football and volleyball 3. A spinning chair and an egg chair - 1 for the wellness center and 1 for the library. Congratulations to the 3 winning teams.
Chromebook Check in and Cleaning up Google Drive
It’s truly spring cleaning time in the media center! We’re pulling in books for inventory, preparing for new flooring, reducing our Google Drive storage, and–of course–storing Chromebooks for the summer.
Reducing Google Drive Storage– (It matters…a lot)
This summer, Google will be changing its policies for TPS Drive storage. There will be a set amount of storage allotted to the district as a whole, and our challenge is to stay under that amount.
If we don’t–no one will be able to use their Gmail, Docs, etc. Students and staff need to remove any items that they don’t use by either moving them to another location (home computer or flash drive, for example) or deleting them. Here’s how you find the storage:
Open the Drive and look for the word “storage” at the bottom of the left column. Click on that to see how much storage is being used. Then remove unused items and emails.
Here’s more information if you’re interested: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6374270?hl=en
Chromebook Check-in
All of the students will be turning in their chromebooks and chargers soon. Sixth & 7th graders turn their chromebook in on Thursday, May 19 and 8th graders turn their chromebook in on Monday, May 23. Students will have an opportunity to clean their chromebooks and note any issues that they would like our technician to look at over the summer. Parents will be notified if repairs require a repair fee.
For 8th grade, that will also include removing any stickers because they will receive different devices when they go to high school. Students may stop by the media center May 2-13 if they need help with removing stickers.
If their current charger is not working, has exposed wires, or the USB connector is bent, they will need to replace the charger that they borrowed. Replacement chargers are available for purchase in the front office for $20.
Rising 7th/8th Grade WU STEM Camp
Enrollment for Topeka Public Schools Summer Enrichment Camps is Now Open!
Topeka Public Schools will once again be offering a variety of summer enrichment opportunities for students in grades PreK-12. Summer Enrichment Camps will include arts, academics, cooking, robotics, athletics, and more! To learn more about Summer Enrichment Camps and to enroll your student, visit topekapublicschools.net.
Summer Tips
Here are things to keep in mind as you plan your summer:
Summer learning experiences can help you to work on skills essential for next year and high school transition. Talk with your teachers for suggestions and enrichment activities.
Use your local resources. Parks and recreation; libraries; community centers – these are all great places to tap into.
Reclaim your joy. What do YOU love to do? Things that often get put on the backburner during a busy academic year can now be reclaimed this summer. Read for enjoyment. Take a photography class. Journal / blog. Start playing the piano again. When YOU feel connected to something, you will enjoy it more.
Unplug and engage with people. Reconnect with friends, families and mentors. Face to face connections are important. Write thank you notes to people who have helped you throughout the year.
What about a summer job? Or creating your own small business like lawn cutting, dog walking or babysitting? This builds self-reliance and self-confidence. How empowering to manage your own schedule and save some money – right?!
Volunteer in your community. Share your talents and passions with others.
Build those life skills. Learn to cook. Do laundry. Practice good money management / budgeting.
And finally... Make an impact by letting your interests be your roadmap. When you are true to your authentic self, you will have an awesome summer.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, STOMP Out Bullying is hosting a series of Facebook Lives every Tuesday in May to discuss mental health and selfcare. Join them as they kick off the series May 3rd at 3P EST on Facebook Live!
Tue 5/3 (3PM EST) - Dr. Jeff Gardere, America’s Psychologist & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss the importance of caring for your mental health.
Tue 5/10 (3PM EST) - Stephanie Mandel, Board Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Certified Emotion Code and Body Code Practitioner and Emotional Freedom Technique Coach & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss selfcare through nutrition.
Thur 5/12 (3PM EST) - Dr. Scott A. Weiss, DPT, MS, ATC/L, CSCS, CEP, DMQ, & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss selfcare through exercise.
Tue - 5/24 (3PM EST) - Dr. Jeff Gardere, America’s Psychologist & Ross Ellis, Founder & CEO of STOMP Out Bullying, discuss how to care for your mental health all year long.
As the school year comes to an end, hereare some things to keep in mind for the upcoming year.
-Sports are only offered to eligible 7th and 8th graders.
-Students wishing to participate in athletics need to have passed 5 classes from the previous quarter. In the case of next year, that would be their grades from the 4th quarter, not final overall grade. Summer school does not count for this rule. If you did not pass 5 classes, you are not eligible to participate.
-Students will need to have a sports physical signed by a doctor dated after May 1st in order to be allowed to play for that school year. Forms and information can be found at http://www.topekapublicschools.net/
Or
Physicals need to be ready for the first practice to minimize any loss time by athletes. The first practice for all fall sports (cross country, volleyball, football and girls tennis) is Monday August 15th 2022.
Please note-You are not able to play on a team in the same sport outside of school while playing for a school team during the season of that same sport. This pertains to all sports whether club or recreational. Before and after the season is allowed.
-Stay active over the summer months. It will be much easier on your body at the start of the school sports season if you are in shape. Some easy exercises to do at home are sit-ups, push-ups, lunges, stretching and jogging. See below for more easy examples to help prepare yourself for the upcoming sports season.
Have a fun and productive summer. Stay safe!
Low cost physical dates and locations
Get your child's 2022/2023 sports physical done early by taking advantage of the Stormont Vail Health sports physical clinic. If your student athlete gets their physical done now with our specially trained Sports Medicine doctors at Cotton O'Neil, they'll be able to focus on training to gear up for the next sports season.
The clinic is open to student athletes from all area high schools and junior highs who are playing sports next year.
Saturday, May 7 from 8 - 2 p.m.
$20 by check, cash, or card*
Cotton O'Neil Kanza Park
2660 S.W. 3rd St.
Topeka, KS 66606
Please enter the West doors and proceed to the 2nd floor
For more information, call Cotton O'Neil Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at (785) 270-8880 or visit stormontvail.org.
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM ST. FRANCIS CAMPUS Low-Cost Sports Physicals For middle school and high school student athletes
Cost: $20 per person (cash or check only)
Monday, May 23, 2022 - 5-7 p.m.
Location: Topeka High School - Campus Care Clinic
The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is offering convenient, low-cost sports physicals for all middle school and high school athletes. No appointment is necessary. Parent/guardian does not have to be present, but must complete and sign required forms. This exam meets the annual state requirement.
Per Kansas State High School Activities Association, the annual history and the physical examination shall not be taken earlier than May 1 preceding the school year for which it is applicable; therefore, all physicals dated May 1, 2022, or after will be acceptable for the 2022-2023 school year.
For more information call 785-270-7454.
Key Exercises for Developing Hand Eye Coordination and Improving Your Athletic Performance
What Is Eye-Hand Coordination?
Eye-hand coordination is "the coordinated control of eye movement with hand movement, and the processing of visual input to guide reaching and grasping along with the use of proprioception of the hands to guide the eyes." Eye-hand coordination tends to decline when we stop developing it.
When Do I Use Eye-Hand Coordination?
Whether you are reaching for a cereal box, swatting at an insect, driving your car, playing catch, placing a pencil into a pencil sharpener, or lining your cursor up with an item to click on, you are using eye-hand coordination. Much of this skill is developed in childhood, but you can continue to improve it throughout adulthood.
Skills to Improve Eye-Hand Coordination
A lot of skills, jobs, sports and hobbies done by people today can benefit from having improved hand eye coordination. When trying to improve eye-hand coordination, it is important to include both sides of the body, including your non-dominate hand. Below are a few simple drills that you can incorporate into your workout routine to maintain and improve your eye-hand coordination, for both sports and activities of daily living.
Play Catch
Have a partner toss you a ball - tennis ball, Wiffle™ ball, or a 3 - 4 pound medicine ball, for instance. Practice catching the ball with both hands at first, then catch with just one, alternating sides. No partner? Toss the ball up in front of you and catch it. Or toss a tennis ball against a wall so that it bounces back to you.
Make it more difficult: Have several balls available. Write a number or letter on each ball. When the ball is in the air, call out what letter or number is on the ball.
Racquet Drills
Hold a tennis (or squash or racquetball) racquet with your palm up. Place a ball on the strings and bounce it repeatedly off the racquet. Repeat with your palm down. Repeat with other hand.
Make it more difficult: Alternate palm up and palm down with each bounce.
Hammer and Ball
Hold a hammer, palm down, with the flat side up. Bounce a tennis ball, ping-pong ball, or golf ball repeatedly off the flat side. Repeat with palm up. Switch hands and repeat. Because of the weight of the hammer, this exercise also strengthens grip and forearm muscles.
Make it more difficult: Walk while doing this exercise.
Juggle
Begin with one tennis ball and toss it from hand-to-hand. Add a second ball and finally a third. Juggling will highly improve eye-hand coordination, focus, and concentration.
Reaction (Reflex) Ball
A reaction ball, found in local sporting good stores, is a rubber ball with several knobs on it, designed to create unpredictable bounces that force you to make split decisions in order to catch the ball. The random bounce trains your eye-hand coordination and reaction time. Throw the ball against any hard surface or work with a partner.
Racquet Sports
Whether it is table tennis, tennis, squash or racquetball, all will improve your eye-hand coordination, since you have to react to your opponent's movement, as well as track the ball and react to its bounce. If you have no partner, you can hit the ball against a wall.
Dental Screenings
GraceMed will be at French Middle School, providing dental cleanings during the school day on Friday May 6th, 2022. If you would like your student to be seen by a hygienist, please complete the following link. A representative from GraceMed will contact you directly with more information. https://gracemed.org/dental-consent
Immunizations
6th Grade Students: Students who will be entering 7th grade in the 2022/2023 school year are required to have updated immunizations including: Tdap (tetanus booster) and MCV (meningococcal). Students will be required to provide proof of immunizations within 30 days of the start of school in the fall.
Medications
If your student has had medication at school, please make arrangements with the nurse to have these medications picked up by a parent/guardian prior to the last day of school. Any medication not picked up by the last day of school will be destroyed, as they are NOT stored over the summer.
Medical Forms
Health &/or /Medical forms are required to be completed each school year. This includes Crisis Plans, Medication forms and Health History forms. Forms may be found on the district website https://www.topekapublicschools.net/departments/health_services or you may contact the nurse at the beginning of the school year to discuss student health history or current conditions to determine which forms may be needed.
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.