Warrior News
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year!
We are preparing for an exciting new school year. Last week, we hosted our in-person registration at Whitson. It was so nice to see so many families. We are full at multiple grade levels so if you have not registered your student please do so as soon as possible.
A Message From the Principal
Meet Our New Assistant Principal
It is my honor to introduce myself as the Assistant Principal of Whitson for the 2022-23 school year. I have heard from everyone across the district and around the community how great of a school Whitson is and I have already been able to see that firsthand. I feel so grateful to be joining the Whitson family and look forward to getting to know each of you and your students.
Prior to joining the Whitson family, I was a classroom teacher and a consulting teacher for the district. I grew up in a small town in South Central Kansas (Pratt) and have spent my entire teaching career in Topeka Public Schools. I'm a graduate of the University of Kansas, Grand Canyon University, and Kansas State University. I'm a Jayhawk at heart and am excited to be returning to KU to start work on my doctorate. I love to attend sporting events with my family and play board games.
I cannot wait to for the year to start and to have the opportunity to meet the rest of our Whitson Warriors! Please feel free to contact me at any time! My email is htaylor@tps501.org and my phone number is 785-438-4584.
See you soon!
Ms. Taylor
Welcome the rest of our new Whitson staff!
- Lori Stevenson - Kindergarten
- Kamren Holmes - 3rd Grade
- Jennifer Hayes - 3rd Grade SE
- Lyndelle Anderson - 4th Grade - former Whitson paraprofessional :)
- Melissa Wheeler - 4th Grade
- Evelyn Tradio - Special Education Consulting Teacher
- Alyssa Gleason - Instructional Coach
Upcoming Events
August 9
(Sneak Peek)
Come calm your first day jitters, see your classroom, and meet your teachers! Sneak Peek for Kindergarten-5th grade is on August 9 from 4:30-5:30pm.
August 10
Kindergarten- 5th grade will start school on Wednesday! Doors open at 8:20, we are excited to see our Warriors!
August 13
PTO Cookout, 5-7 PM
Come join us on Saturday, August 13th from 5-7 PM for a cookout sponsored by PTO!
August 17
Back to School Night (Pre-K), 4:30-5:30 PM
(Sneak Peek)
Come calm your first day jitters, see your classroom, and meet your teachers! Sneak Peek for Pre-K is on August 17 from 4:30-5:30pm.
August 18
We will welcome back our Pre-K students on the 18th! We can't wait to meet our youngest Warriors!
August 23
Kindergarten families, come learn about academic, behavior, and social-emotional expectations for your Kindergarten student on August 23rd from 6-7 PM.
ENROLLMENT: DON'T FORGET THIS FORM!
To receive certain benefits each year, Topeka Public Schools MUST HAVE ALL families complete the Family Benefits Application AND the Meal Benefits Application.
If you qualify for Meal Benefits, you will receive:
- Reduced School Fees
- Reduced or Free School Lunch
- Reduced Musical Instrument Fees
- Free Advanced Placement Testing exams
- Free ACT exams
- Tuition scholarships for concurrent college credit
- If you complete the Meal Benefits Application (using the link below) and qualify, would your family be interested in discounted internet services through the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program?
- f you complete the Meal Benefits Application (using the link below) and qualify, would your family be interested in borrowing a district Chromebook for use at home while your student(s) attend one of Topeka Public Schools' Elementary schools?
In addition to the benefits listed above, families who accurately complete the form linked below also help the district qualify for federal and state funds used to support at-risk students and critical programs.
Whitson Warrior News
Back to School Community Kickoff
Back to School Headquarters
You can also find the supply list for Pre-K and K-5 on our Whitson website at this link.
Class Lists
Breakfast and Lunch
Please see pricing below. If you want more information, please visit the TPS Child Nutrition website.
Breakfast
Regular price: $1.50
Reduced price: $0.30
Lunch
Regular price: $2.50
Reduced price: $0.40
School Fees
Full Pay (do not qualify for free lunches)
$50 Textbook Fee
$15 Computer Fee
Reduced Pay (qualify for free lunches)
$10 Textbook Fee
$15 Computer Fee
Preschool
Full Pay
$20 Textbook Fee
Reduced Fee
$10 Textbook Fee
Attention Parents of Incoming Kindergarteners: Please Complete
All incoming Kindergarteners must complete the Kansas State Board of Education required Kindergarten Readiness Questionnaires: ASQ-3 & ASQ-SE-2.
The ASQ-3 provides a check of your child's development. Your answers show your child's strengths and any areas in which your child may need more help or practice. Try each activity with your child before you mark a response.
The ASQ: SE-2 provides a quick check of your child's social-emotional development. Your answers will show your child's social-emotional strengths as well if there are behaviors you would like to talk about.
If you would like someone to guide you through these questionnaires, please feel free to call and set up an appointment with Ms. Taylor. We will also have opportunities at our Back to School Night and Kindergarten Parent Night for you to complete these surveys with staff guidance.
Click this link to complete the survey in English: https://www.asqonline.com/family/29ea31
Click this link to complete the survey in Spanish: https://www.asqonline.com/family/ae50db
Kids Quest
Registration Information and Dates
The 2022-2023 Kids Quest Before and After School program application must be completed IN PERSON at the YWCA office in downtown Topeka, 225 SW 12th St between 7 am and 5:30 pm.
July 11: Enrollment opens for families who were enrolled in the ELC or Kids Quest before/after care for the 2021-2022 school year.
*Families must not have any past due fees in order to enroll.July 12: Enrollment opens for Topeka Public Schools USD 501 staff and faculty
July 13: Enrollment opens for the general public
Kids Quest Hours
- Before school: Mon-Thur: 7:00 am – 8:10 am & Fri: 7:00 am – 9:10 am
- After school: Mon – Fri: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm, snack provided
Kids Quest Fees
Billed every two weeks.
- Both AM and PM: $75 / week per child
- AM only: $40 / week per child
- PM only: $40 / week per child
- Enrollment fee: $20 per child; $30 per family (2 or more children)
The registration fee and the first two weeks tuition will be due at the time of registration. There will be no exceptions to this. Families can pay by check, credit card, debit card, or use their EBT edge app to pay with DCF funds.
For more information, visit the Kids Quest website.
Transportation
Important Dates to Remember
- August 9: Back to School Night, 4:30-5:30
- August 10: First Day of School (K-5)
- August 13: PTO Cookout, 5:00-7:00
- August 17: Pre-K Back to School Night, 4:30-5:30
- August 18: First Day of Pre-K
- August 23: Kindergarten Parent Night, 6:00-7:00
- August 24: SPMT, 4:00-5:00
- September 1: Papa John's Night
- September 5: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
- September 12: Grandparent's Day
- September 13: PTO, 6:00-7:00
- September 21: Family Fun and Fitness Night, Hummer Sports Park
Want all of these dates easily accessible and to be able to check if anything changes? Access our school calendar on the Whitson website! There, you can add the calendar to your own or even sign up for email alerts if something changes using the menu with the < sign above Saturday!
Good to Know Information
Start of the Day - DOORS OPEN AT 8:20
We will be returning to having the two main doors open for students arrival! Students may enter the main doors by the flag pole or the second set of main doors by the 2nd and 3rd grade hallway. Doors open at 8:20 and students will be counted as Tardy after 8:40. Please keep all students in the car prior to 8:20 as there is no supervision before the doors are open! It is very important for students to be on time to school every day. It makes for a better day of learning when students are in their seats when the bell rings (8:30). Thank you for your help and support in this!Early Pick-up
When picking students up early please be aware that anytime away from school is recorded. Picking students up early multiple times can affect attendance. Our school day ends at 3:40. Students may be excused early for appointments, but a parent/guardian must check-in at the office and sign the student out. Students will only be dismissed from class after someone checks them out of the office first. This ensures that we keep our students safe.
Dismissal
Dismissal for the 2022-23 school year will be similar to last year for those that are returning. Teaching will take place until 3:40; therefore, the main office doors will be locked until then. Bus riders will be dismissed by their supervising teacher out the northeast hallway and to their bus. Car riders will remain in their classroom until their number has been selected and entered into our data base. Students with a sibling will meet inside together and be dismissed to their car pick up location once called. Walkers, First Christian and Kidsquest will be dismissed by their supervising teacher at the south gym doors to their after school care provider or begin walking. Parents who wish to have students released from school prior to the end of the academic day must check students out from the office. Notification of an expected absence or appointment should be given to the teacher in advance. An emergency plan must be in place if a child remains at school after 3:40 p.m.
Loading/Unloading
Students riding to and from school in cars or buses are to be loaded and unloaded from the side of the street adjacent to the school grounds. At no time should unattended students cross the street to or from cars! Students are not to be loaded or unloaded in the marked crosswalk areas. Arnold Avenue is a one direction street going north to south from 3:00—4:00 p.m. to help with dismissal flow of traffic. Arnold, in front of the school, is a no parking zone between the hours of 8-10am and 3-4pm on school days. Patrons are subject to a fine if parked during these times.
Meeting With Staff
We ask that you call to make an appointment with a teacher or staff member in the event that you need to meet with him/her in person. Our teachers and staff utilize every minute of the day to benefit our students, so it is important to respect their instructional time by minimizing distractions. If you need to visit with a principal, teacher, or other staff member, please call the office at 438-4570, and a meeting time will be set up that will be most convenient for everyone.
Late Start Fridays
Whitson PTO
Dear Parents,
We would like to invite all of the parents of Whitson students to attend our PTO meetings. These meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the library. Our first meeting is Tuesday, September 13th at 6:00 PM.
The group helps raise funds for many school projects such as PE and recess equipment, classroom libraries, and field trips! There are openings on all committees after the last year due to COVID. Come to a meeting or contact us to see what options are available for extra help.
Please e-mail us with questions! ptowhitson@gmail.com
Thank you,
Whitson PTO
President: Julie Phillips
Vice President: Chelsea Douglas
Secretary: Jennifer Phelps-Roper
Treasurer: Helen Swan
Topeka Public Schools App
This dynamic resource will take advantage of leading technology resources to connect with parents, students, and other community members. Using existing tools, streamlining access to information, allowing parents and the community to customize the information they receive and engage users with timely and responsive news and conversation about our schools and students.
The TPS Mobile App is free and available for both Apple and Android devices. Just search for Topeka Public Schools in the App Store or Google Play, or click on the convenient links below to go directly to the app download.
Here Comes the Bus App
This App is free and available for both Apple and Android devices. Just search for Here Comes the Bus in the App Store or Google Play, or click on the convenient links below to access the app download site.
More information regarding this service will be mailed to you along with you bus route information the first full week of August.
How to get signed up:
1. Visit www.herecomesthebus.com or download the app to your smart phone or table from the Apple Store or Google Play.
2. Click the 'sign up' button.
3. Enter school code 29036 and click 'Next' followed by 'Confirm.'
4. Complete the 'User Profile' box.
5. Under 'My Students,' click 'Add.' Enter your child's last name and student ID number. If you do not know your student's ID number, please call Ms. Perkins in the office.
6. Once you confirm your information, you're ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!
Get Connected!
Email: kpierce@tps501.org
Website: https://whitson.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1725 Southwest Arnold Avenue, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: 785-438-4570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitsontps