Community News

Topeka Public Schools | 3/25/22

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Message from the Superintendent

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Dear Topeka Public Schools Staff and Families:

This has been a busy week as we started announcing our Distinguished Staff Award Recipients for this year. This is the highest honor a staff member can receive.


Pictured above are students from Giovanna Mendez's fifth-grade class at Whitson Elementary. She is the Distinguished Staff Award winner for the First Year Elementary Teacher category. To learn more about this award, read the article in the Community News below.


Our Dual Language Program staff members were also celebrated by the National School Boards Association for our work in equity. Topeka Public Schools has the only PreK-12 Dual Language Program in Kansas and the national award is evidence of the excellence at Scott Dual Language, Landon Middle School, and Topeka High School.


Many of our scholars, coaches, and staff have been highlighted for awards in athletics and in academics this month, and we congratulate them all! Last night, the school board had their first meeting in which students and staff attended, where we celebrated fine arts, school social workers, and our female wrestlers. We look forward to seeing more students and staff at the next meeting.


Thank you for the tremendous support.


Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

Congratulations to our 2022 Distinguished Staff Award Recipients!

Congratulations to our 2022 Distinguished Staff Award Recipients!

Topeka Public Schools is excited to announce that the recipients of the 2022 Distinguished Staff Awards (DSA) have been selected!


Our first round of honorees received a surprise visit from Dr. Anderson, Ms. Wallace, and their school colleagues to announce the awards.


View a video of the surprises on Facebook, and stay tuned for more DSA announcements next week!


DSA recipients will be honored at 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 28 at Bishop Professional Development Center. DSA recipients, thank you for all that you do for Topeka Public Schools!

Congratulations to our 2022 Distinguished Staff Award Recipients!
Topeka Public Schools Athletes & Coach Recognized With All-League Honors

Topeka Public Schools Athletes & Coach Recognized With All-League Honors

Following the conclusion of the Kansas state basketball tournaments, All-League lists were released by leagues across the state.


The Centennial League recognized Elijah Brooks, a senior at Topeka West, and Kiki Smith, a junior at Topeka High, as Player of the Year!


Additionally, Topeka West basketball coach, Rick Bloomquist, earned the Coach of the Year honor.


Topeka Public Schools congratulates Coach Bloomquist and these outstanding athletes, as well as the many Topeka Public Schools students who competed in the state tournament and earned All-League team selections.

Topeka Public Schools Athletes & Coach Recognized With All-League Honors
Topeka West Thespians Attend Theatre Advocacy Day at the Statehouse

Topeka West Thespians Attend Theatre Advocacy Day at the Statehouse

Throughout the month of March, Topeka Public Schools celebrated Music, Theatre, & Visual Arts in Our Schools Month.


Students from Topeka West Thespian Troupe 3061 spent a day at the Statehouse for Theatre Advocacy Day, where they met with Governor Laura Kelly and state legislators to discuss the benefits of theatre education.


View more photos from Music, Theatre, & Visual Arts in Our Schools Month on Facebook.

Topeka West Thespians Attend Theatre Advocacy Day at the Statehouse
Topeka Public Schools Female Wrestling Teams Make State History

Topeka Public Schools Female Wrestling Teams Make State History

Students from Topeka High, Topeka West, and Highland Park recently made history at the KSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament as the first female wrestling teams in the district to compete at this level.


Brantajia Loggins (Topeka High), Marilena Zuniga (Topeka High), and Tristyn Johnson (Topeka West) also made the podium at the State Tournament, making program history for their schools!


Several of these outstanding athletes were recognized by the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education during their meeting last night. View the livestream on YouTube.

Topeka Public Schools Female Wrestling Teams Make State History
Jardine Elementary Counselor Recognized as Outstanding Community Partner

Jardine Elementary Counselor Recognized as Outstanding Community Partner

Mrs. Donelle Sage, a School Counselor at Jardine Elementary, was recognized this week as the Outstanding Community Partner of 2021 for her work with the AmeriCorps Foster Grandparent program!


This program brings volunteers to Jardine to support students in a variety of ways, such as reading in the hallway, helping in the classroom, and having lunch together.


We are proud to have Mrs. Sage as part of the Topeka Public Schools family!

Jardine Elementary Counselor Recognized as Outstanding Community Partner
Enrollment for Topeka Public Schools Summer Enrichment Camps is Now Open!

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.

Enrollment for Topeka Public Schools Summer Enrichment Camps is Now Open!
All Families With Young Children Invited to Roll & Read Event on April 2

All Families With Young Children Invited to Roll & Read Event on April 2

Topeka Public Schools has partnered with Parents as Teachers, the Kansas Health Foundation, and the United Way to take part in a Roll & Read Event!


Roll & Read will be held from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 2 at Evergy Plaza and Redbud Park.


The event combines literacy with physical fitness and features reading stations, community booths, a stroller/wagon decorating contest, and free food!


Together we will walk, bike, skate, push a stroller, or pull a wagon while taking breaks along the way to read stories.


View the flyer in English and Spanish to learn more.

All Families With Young Children Invited to Roll & Read Event on April 2
Tour TCALC & Explore Career Pathways Offered to Students on April 11

Tour TCALC & Explore Career Pathways Offered to Students on April 11

The Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers (TCALC) will host tours for future students and families on Monday, April 11 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.


Come take a tour and learn more about the Career Pathways TCALC has to offer for students in grades 10-12!


Please call 785-274-6350 to schedule your tour.

Tour TCALC & Explore Career Pathways Offered to Students on April 11
Save the Dates to Celebrate Retirees & Staff Members With 25-Years of Service

Save the Dates to Celebrate Retirees & Staff Members With 25-Years of Service

Topeka Public Schools will celebrate its staff members with 25 years of service to the district on Thursday, May 5.


We will also honor staff members retiring from the district on Thursday, May 12.


Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks.

Save the Dates to Celebrate Retirees & Staff Members With 25-Years of Service
Topeka Public Schools Superintendent is Kansas Honoree for USA TODAY's Women of the Year

Topeka Public Schools Superintendent is Kansas Honoree for USA TODAY's Women of the Year

Topeka Public Schools is excited to announce that Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson has been honored by USA TODAY as Kansas Woman of the Year, a recognition of women across the country who have made a significant impact.


We are so proud of our women educators in Kansas and honored USA TODAY is showing how educators use love and grace to serve.


Learn more about Topeka Public Schools in this video on Facebook.

Topeka Public Schools Superintendent is Kansas Honoree for USA TODAY's Women of the Year
Topeka Public Schools Celebrates National Crayon Day With Drawing Contest

Topeka Public Schools Celebrates National Crayon Day With Drawing Contest

Topeka Public Schools is celebrating National Crayon Day with a social media drawing contest!


Inspired by Topeka Dino Days, a four-month celebration of dinosaur-themed activities and events all over the city, we are challenging students to draw a picture of their favorite dinosaur.


Comment your student's picture on our Facebook post by 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 31, and the picture with the most likes will win a special Crayon Day gift bag!

Topeka Public Schools Celebrates National Crayon Day With Drawing Contest
Message from the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education

Message from the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education

At the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education meeting on March 24, the Stout Elementary boundary lines were approved.


Next month, the Board of Education will meet on Thursday, April 7 and Thursday, April 21 at 5:30 PM.


Meetings are open to the public. You can also watch live on the Topeka Public Schools YouTube channel.

Message from the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education
District Calendar & Upcoming Events

District Calendar & Upcoming Events

The 2021-2022 academic year district calendar is available at topekapublicschools.net. The calendar includes dates of parent-teacher conferences, no school days, and more.


Below are important dates for the beginning of April:


  • April 1-30: Autism Acceptance Month
  • April 1-30: Occupational Therapy Month
  • April 1-30: School Library Month
  • April 2: Roll & Read
    10:00 AM | Evergy Plaza & Redbud Park
  • April 2-8: Week of the Young Child
  • April 4: Preschool Registration Opens Online
  • April 5: Kindergarten Orientation
    5:30 PM | All Elementary Schools
  • April 7: Board of Education Meeting
    5:30 PM | Burnett Center
  • April 6: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
  • April 11: TCALC Tours
    5:00 PM | TCALC
  • April 12: Indigenous Family Night
    5:30 | Jardine Middle School
  • April 15: NO SCHOOL
  • April 21: Board of Education Meeting
    5:30 PM | Burnett Center
  • April 22: Earth Day
  • April 25: NO SCHOOL
  • April 27: Middle School Parent Orientation
    5:30 PM | All Middle Schools
  • April 28: Distinguished Staff Awards
    5:30 - 6:30 PM | Bishop Professional Development Center
  • April 30: ShareFest
    8:00 AM | Learn more at sharefesttopeka.com
District Calendar & Upcoming Events
Other TPS Publications

Topeka Public Schools Publications

Other TPS Publications

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. For students, the Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 compliance coordinator compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 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) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.


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