WESTWORD
DECEMBER 2020 - VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5
MISSION STATEMENT
Working toward career and college readiness,
Engaging students in quality learning,
Sustaining a culture of respect and a,
Tradition of excellence
SCHOOL PICTURES
Charger Community,
We are excited to announce that we will be having school pictures during the week of December 14th through December 18th. We have set up a sign-up sheet to promote social distancing during remote learning. We are asking that your student have their picture taken opposite their attendance group (if your student is in A group, have them get their picture during B-group.) This will be a drop-in process where a student will get their picture taken in the auditorium during their scheduled time, and exit campus immediately following their picture. Temperatures will be taken upon arrival, and masks must be worn before and after student photos.
The link to the sign-up is here. We have also included the picture packet information in this email so that you have a copy of pricing information. We will have printed copies of the packets on hand during the day in the event that you need them.
We have created a schedule for the week for different grade-levels to have their photos taken and it is as follows:
Monday, December 14: Freshman
Tuesday, December 15: Sophomores
Wednesday, December 16: Juniors
Thursday, December 17: Seniors
Friday, December 18: Make-up for anyone who missed a day
8 Students will be able to sign-up for every 15-minute time slot.
We will schedule a retake day second semester but have not established that at this time.
Thank you,
Andrea York
Associate Principal
messages/attachments/eeec50283fd9fc20c5097b2dc3186bd6/Picture_Packet.pdf
THE LETTER JACKET MAN
Website: http://letterjackets.com/c-303-schools.aspx
Phone: (785) 478-3480
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Letter-Jacket-Man-268345953210331
JROTC DRIVE THROUGH CHILI FEED
PURCHASE YOUR TICKET NOW WITH THE LINK BELOW
Saturday, Jan 23, 2021, 04:30 PM
Topeka West High School, Southwest Fairlawn Road, Topeka, KS, USA
TOPEKA WEST MUSIC DEPARTMENT
"Families of Former Topeka West Instrumental Students,
If you are the parent of, or are a former member of, any Topeka West band and/or orchestra (strings) ensemble and you are currently in possession of a Topeka West or District instrument, please return the instrument to Topeka West as soon as possible. We are in search of instruments that were used by students in the last school year that did not get returned due to the pandemic. We are missing many instruments and would greatly appreciate their return to Topeka West. Even if your student is a freshman or a new student to Topeka West and may have an instrument from their previous middle school or high school, we will gladly take the instrument and return it to where it belongs. We ask that when it is returned, it is labelled with the student's name and the school they attended in the last school year. The sooner the instruments are returned, the better so that we may be able to clean and repair the instruments and then return them to their proper homes quickly. We appreciate your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the instrumental music directors with any questions at the emails below. Thank you!
Band:
Barry Evans (bevans@tps501.org)
Kevin Harry (kharry@tps501.org)
Orchestra (Strings):
Mariah Boos (mboos@tps501.org)
Kindest Regards,
Your Topeka West Instrumental Music Directors"
WESTSIDE PRIDE BOOSTER CLUB
Greetings Topeka West Families!
Hopefully you’ve all been able to roll with the changes in schedule as we pivot back to remote learning. I know our family appreciates the concern for safety, but we are also looking forward to getting back to in-class learning once that can occur again. Regardless of your family’s situation, we would love to connect with you. This year our monthly meetings are held via Zoom. You can find the link on the school calendar or copy it here
(https://tps501.zoom.us/j/98179314443 Meeting ID: 981 7931 4443 Passcode: Chargers) and put it on your calendar. (We don’t meet in December, but have meetings January 11th, February 8th, March 8th, April 12th, and May 10th.)
If you’ve been looking forward to getting some Topeka West gear (T-shirts, sweats, caps, etc) then we have a wonderful opportunity for you! We’ve started working with Scott Mossman at Go Blue. He has been great about coming up with a variety of designs so that there is something for everyone. You can see these designs on the online store where you can order exactly what you want from the website (www.twestgear.com) and pick it up from his store (4545 SW 21st Street). In the future, we hope to have days when you will be able to pick up orders at school (games, parent-teacher conferences, etc), but with current COVID restrictions we are grateful for this decreased contact option. This is a great way to help your student feel connected to school even when in-person attendance isn’t possible. Order now if you want to use these for gifts!
This is definitely an unusual year and we’re missing the chance to meet in person. However, we have been pleased that so many new and returning families have come to our Zoom Meetings. If you have any thoughts or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at drswagners@sbcglobal.net or 785-271-4404 (landline).
Tracy Wagner
President, Westside Pride Booster Club
Our Next Meeting is Monday, January 11th at 6pm over Zoom. Hope to see you all there!
ACADEMIC GUIDANCE CORNER
Second Semester Courses: Students should be visiting with their counselor now to update their second semester schedule. The last day to make schedule changes for second semester is February 5, 2021.
TWHS/Washburn Tech. Connection: Your student has the opportunity to participate in programs at Washburn Institute of Technology while they are attending Topeka West. Eligible students must be at least 16, classified as a junior or senior, and have sufficient credits to graduate with their class. No tuition charges are assessed students in high school. It is on a first come/first served basis. Students are required to take the Accuplacer entrance exam. The test is given on the Topeka West campus throughout the year. If you have questions contact Rose Cantrell. (rcantrell@tps501.org).
LOCATION: TOPEKA WEST HIGH SCHOOL
REPORT BY 7:45 A.M. B BUILDING
If you have questions: please call Megan Sturm, counselor 438-4036
Topeka West High School Code: 172-928
Students must bring photo I.D., calculator, #2 pencils, and their admission ticket.
To register go to: (www.collegeboard.com)
SAT EXAM - MARCH 13, 2021
DECEMBER COLLEGE & CAREER EVENTS
12/8- Financial Aid Help event (via zoom): 5:30-6:30pm. Brief financial aid presentation and Q&A with Ms. Lawrence
ID: 83108231193
Password: 003032
12/10- Pittsburg State Virtual Info session w/ Ms. Blubaugh 6pm, please email dblubaugh@pittstate.edu to register. Opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship
Washburn Tech
Students interested in Washburn Tech may take the Accuplacer remotely if interested in attending in the future. To set this up please call Washburn Tech Directly at (785) 670-2010.
Miscellaneous Information
The scholarship book is available on the Topeka West website. Click on Guidance and you will see a tab for Scholarship book 20-21. This year Ms. Steinkueher has added virtual visits for over 50 Kansas colleges and universities for students to view.
If you missed parent teacher conferences, the counselors presented on multiple topics. Below are the videos for future reference. They can also be found on the Topeka West website under the Guidance tab.
Junior Class Meeting
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l_Y_5ihVcF6QpVuFEyyguZYAgPw_4aew/view?usp=sharing
Senior Class Meeting
https://drive.google.com/file/d/192_cme6yKX3PTm7fo67g7pk-1CSV9-9h/view?usp=sharing
Financial Aid 101
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19ItgFojOD5na3EWM-cPE4hvupYAZaBkU/view?usp=sharing
NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Requirements
https://drive.google.com/file/d/192_cme6yKX3PTm7fo67g7pk-1CSV9-9h/view?usp=sharing
College Admissions Information
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ymbOjouJ2cvFCZSCCWydNw3Wrc2APwYM/view?usp=sharing
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS
These are all of the state and local scholarships that are available online at https://www.topekapublicschools.net/domain/1605. All scholarships are posted on the Seniors Class of 2021 Google Classroom—parents and students are all welcome to join. If you have any questions email Ms. Steinkuehler at csteinkuehler@tps501.org.
December 11th--Rudd Scholarship--
--Must be going to WSU, ESU or FHSU
--Full tuition, room and board and books for 4 years
--Must have a 3.0 GPA
--Must be PELL eligible
--Apply at Rudd Foundation Scholarships
December 1st—Washburn University Legacy Scholarships
--Must have a parent(s), sibling(s), grandparent(s), or a spouse who is either a graduate of or is attending Washburn University or Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech).
--Must have a 2.75 GPA
-Application and abiographical statement that includes your educational background, financial need, a statement of goals and objectives for obtaining a college degree or technical certification
https://wualumni.org/legacy-scholarships
December 20th-- Olive Ann Beech Kansas Factual Story Contest
http://www.kshs.org/event/native-sons-and-daughters-essay-contests-deadline/18440
--Stories or anecdotes of factual, unpublished happenings and anecdotes in the lives of Kansans today and yesterday. The contest is open to everyone. Stories must be true and unpublished, take place in Kansas, and limited to 750 words.
--Prizes $175 for first, $125 for second, $100 for third and $50 honorable mentions
February 21st—Topeka Community Foundation Scholarships
--The Topeka Community Foundation has a number of scholarships that are open to West students, you will create a log in and fill out a general application and then the site will give you specific scholarships that you are eligible for.
--These are some of the best local scholarships
-- https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/highschoolscholarships
Kansas State Treasurer’s Scholarship/search engine https://www.kansascash.ks.gov/ScholarShop.html
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 (cholle@tps501.org)
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 (lcamper@tps501.org)
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 (kpatterson@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 (dallen1@tps501.org)
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