| April 11, 2008 | Issue 17 |
 |
The Collegiate Connection
|
| From Our Head of School |
Dear Friends,
The eagle bursting from the birthday cake (right)
is the work of TCS alumna Lesley Ash
'96. Lesley's artwork decorates the invitations
to our 25th Anniversary Reunion weekend April 25-27. We
have much to celebrate.
Many of the people who helped make our school what it is
today are returning to join the celebration - all three
former Heads of School, for example (Bill Rollings, Jim
Wright and Michael Roberts).
Former faculty members like first grade teacher Susan
Wilson and science teacher Debra Pakaluk (for whom the
end-of-the-year award is named) are coming back, along
with Carl Graves, who was one of the first teachers
hired at Topeka Collegiate, or Shawnee Country Day
School, as it was called then.
Whether you're an old-timer or a new TCS family, we hope
that you will help celebrate 25 years of excellence in
education. Please RSVP for the weekend events by
returning your reply card, or by phone or e-mail.
Friday, April 25:
BBQ and Blues - Kansas Expocentre's Heritage
Hall (6:00-11:00 p.m.)
($25 per person; children 5 & under free)
Sunday, April 27:
Picnic Lunch and Games - TCS (Noon-3:00
p.m.)
While we're on the subject of upcoming events,
mark your calendars for next week's middle
school play. I haven't seen it but I'm told it's
very funny. Directed by TCS parent Stephanie
Nesseth and starring our own 6th, 7th and 8th
graders, The Rules of Comedy runs
Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19, at 7:00
p.m. on the Assembly Hall stage.
Warm regards,
David Hudspeth
|
| Quick Links |
| 2008-2009 Academic Calendar Now Online |
|
The 2008-2009 Academic Calendar is now
online. To view the calendar use the link below or go to our
website, click "Calendars" and select the 2008-2009 Academic
calendar button.
|
| The Rules of Comedy--Middle School Play |
What do you get when you take two rubber chickens, a pie fight
and a band of pirates and inject them into the most tragic scene
in all of literature? We're not sure either, but we do
guarantee a night of laughter (except during the parts that
aren't funny). Mark your calendars, April 18th and 19th at 7:00
p.m. for the middle school's production of The Rules of
Comedy by Peter Bloedel. Tickets will be on sale after
school next week. $5/adult and $3/students. Don't miss this
fun event! |
| Calendar Highlights |
|
April 14 -- In Service
(Extended Care Available)
April 15--Reservations Due for
25th Anniversary Event
April 17 -- Day in the Life of a
Lower School Student 9:30-11:00
April 17 -- Lower School Open
House 5:30-7:00
April 17 -- 27 Third Grade Rain
Forest
April 22 -- Earth Day
Celebration 5-7 p.m.
April 22 -- TCS Diversity and
Inclusivity Self-study Meeting,
6:30-9:00
April 25 --
25th Anniversary Celebration,
Heritage Hall (Ks. Expocentre), 6-11
p.m.
April 26 --
State History Day
April 27 --
25th Anniversary Picnic, TCS, 12 - 3
p.m.
April 30 -- TCS Diversity and
Inclusivity Self-study Meeting,
6:30-9:00
May 1 -- Open
Forum, 5:30 dinner, 6:00 p.m.
meeting
May 2 -- Day
of the Child
May 6 -- Lower School Field Day
May 9 -- Middle School Field Day
Follow the quick link
(above right) to a concise academic calendar
for 2007-2008.
Follow the quick link
(above right) to a full events calendar for
2007-2008.
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| Parent Council News |
|
Meeting minutes for the 4/3/08
Parent Council Meeting are now posted on the website.
Please read through them for information regarding needs
for events in the near future. The school has approved
the sale of spiritwear at the anniversary events in
April. Tracey Goering and Jennifer Shipp will run the
sale table at the evening event at the Expocentre's
Heritage Hall and Dave Lob and Greg Schneider will run
it at the picnic. In addition to the regular
spiritwear, there will be sterling silver charms and
keychains with the 25th logo and blue TCS bands for
kids. We will also be creating an order form and posting
it with pictures of our items to the website.
The council would like to have new participants in
the officers and committee head roles. If you would
like to co-chair a committee or office with the
current chair, please contact Tracey Goering at
tgoering@topekacollegiate.org. This would be a
great way to be involved without having the stress
of learning the job yourself. We would love to see
new parents or parents who want to be involved, but
haven't been able to join us in our efforts.
2007-2008 Officers
President - Joe Pennington (contact Joe
with agenda items)
Vice President - Dave Lob
Treasurer - Elena Carrington
Secretary - Tracey Goering
Fundraising - Julie Unruh
Special Events - Debra Ricks & Sarah Shipman
School Support - Kim Baker
Marketing - Mary Brownback
MEC - Dallas Bauer
Communications - Jill Cox
Anyone wishing to volunteer on any of these
committees should contact the Volunteer
Chairperson listed above.
|
| SumDay Results |
4th Grade Laura N. - 1st Place Number Sense ; 1st Place Geometry Sarah S.- Top Ten Number Sense and Geometry Jeremiah S. - Top Ten Geometry
5th Grade Lang P. - Top Ten Number Sense
6th Grade Irene N. - 1st Place Number Sense; 2nd Place Geometry Josh G. - 2nd Place Number Sense; 1st Place Geometry Sahil R. - 3rd Place Number Sense; Top Ten Geometry Alec B. - Top Ten Number Sense and Geometry Carter P. - Top Ten Number Sense David G. - Top Ten Number Sense
7th Grade Cain M. - 2nd Place Number Sense; 2nd Place (tie) Geometry Alix W. - 3rd Place Number Sense; 2nd Place (tie) Geometry Eddie L. - Top Ten Number Sense and Geometry Joe V. - Top Ten Geometry Cooper S. - Top Ten Number Sense Cody J. - Top Ten Geometry
8th Grade Edward C. - 1st Place Number Sense; 2nd Place Geometry Nicky H.- 2nd Place Number Sense; 1st Place Geometry Haley R. - Top Ten number Sense and Geometry Haley P. - Top Ten Geometry Colton M. - Top Ten Geometry  Nicky
H. (center) was the high scorer in the AMC-10, a
high school exam for students through 10th grade. He scored
in the top 1% of high
school students who took this exam. This
qualified him to compete at the next level, the AIME, which
involved a 3 hour, 15 question exam.
|
| Revised Summer Adventures Catalog to be Posted Tuesday |
| The Summer Adventures catalog will be posted to the website on Tuesday. Camp Invention is returning this year. For more information on this camp, you may speak with Mrs. Oswald, the program's local director; Mrs. Shinn, Director of Co-Curricular Activities; or view the website at www.campinvention.org. Several new and exciting Summer Adventures camps will be offered this summer as well as our traditional themed Summer Day Camp. Day camp is offered from May 27 to August 15. |
| TCS Alum Available for Summer Childcare and Tutoring |
| Jordan Carter '03 will soon be home for the summer after her freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis. She babysat and tutored - primarily math and English - throughout high school and has continued tutoring in St. Louis public schools. She has a car and flexible hours and is available from mid-May through early August for tutoring and/or childcare. Feel free to call 785-221-8875 or email her at jaecarter@gmail.com if you have a need for either service. |
| TCS Student Has Successful Swimming Season |
|
Michael P. swims for the Topeka Swim
Association (TSA) and recently concluded his Short Course
swimming season. As his season finale, Michael participated in
the Division 1 swim meet which was held in Wichita March 7-9.
Michael had D1 qualifying times in five individual events and
also was a member of a relay team that participated in two
relays. Michael did very well, achieving five season best times
and making finals (top 16) cuts in three events. Overall best
finishes included a 7th, an 11th, and a 14th. Additionally,
Michael's relay team finished 7th in both relay events. After a few weeks off, Michael and his sisters, who also swim for TSA, have begun the Long Course season. |
| 2nd Grade Assembly -- Mrs. Lowrey |
 .
Mrs. Lowrey's second graders'
recent assembly featured the story of a painter whose
paintings were so good they came to life. In the
Adventures of Slappy Hooper, they found that the
best job for Slappy was to paint the sunset, the sky and
the stars.
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|
Chess Tournament
|
|
The TCS Chess Club ended its chess
season with a trip to Kansas City for the State Chess
Tournament. Federico P., Leonardo P., Malcolm L.,
Charlie L., Jackson D., Malik B., Karl L., Jack M.,
Christopher G. and Thomas K. each
played six matches. Between matches, scholars did homework,
practiced chess, and played video games. All scholars did a
great job and had fun! Leonardo P. and
Christopher G., both third graders, were
awarded medals for placing in the top 50 for the state in
the K-5 division.
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| First Grade Field Trip |
(left) Students dig for treasure in the Dig Pit.
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| First Grade Basketball Season Ends Successfully |
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| TCS Student Wins Texting Tournament |
|
Kaitlyn H. entered a 20below Teen Texting
contest and beat 7 competitors for first place.
Kaitlyn typed the final phrase, "Have you talked to Hannah
lately? She's having a party." in 10 seconds, less than
half the time of her opponent. She and another student also
won the partner texting contest. Other categories included
blind texting, texting from an unfamiliar phone, and partner
texting. Kaitlin texts more than 9000 messages a month.
Congratulations!
|
| Ye Wang Visits Watercolor Elective Class |
|
| Please Turn in Your Labels!! |
| As the year winds down, the school needs to turn in all fundraising labels and projects for credit. Please bring in your Tyson A+ rewards program items, soup labels, boxtops, and water bottle labels! We will also arrange for an end-of-year pick up of toner or ink cartridges and cell phones. Thanks for your participation in these programs. The school has been able to procure many items, such as a digital camera, with credit from various programs. |
| Fifth Grade Coffeehouse |
Fifth graders enjoy all the comforts of home and an upscale bookstore, as they relax in their pajamas with books, soft music, hot chocolate, and soothing scents. The idea of the fifth grade coffeehouse is to try a different genre - to read "outside the box." Who knows? You might like it!
Ariel S. and
Savia P. enjoy a book together at the 5th grade
coffeehouse.
Noah C. takes in a
good book while relaxing in PJ's.
|
| Cub Scout Car Derby |
Cub Scouts in Pack 7 designed and created race cars for the recent Car Derby, and several brought home prizes. Carter W.'s car took 2nd place overall, Karl L's third place, and Max L's was peer voted the "coolest car". |
| 25th Anniversary Celebration Calendar and Contest |
|
At the end of the first semester the lower and middle school classes with the most points received pizza parties. At the end of the second semester, the students in the classroom with the most points for the entire year will all receive movie passes.
At the end of the year each student will have a chance for every point he or she received to be in a drawing for a grand prize. There will be a middle school winner and a lower school winner. The grand prizes will be a $100 gift certificate at Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, Wal-Mart or Toys 'R' Us.
Your child's homeroom teacher will have a chart in the classroom to keep track of the students' participation. If one of the activities is off-site please have your child remind his or her teacher to record it on the chart.
Here is a list of the activities. Some dates are still to be established.
Back to School Picnic - 8/14 Raising of the 25th Anniversary Flag - 8/15 25th Anniversary Assembly - 9/7 Human number 25 Photo Shoot - 9/7 Chili Supper - 10/3 Run for a Reason - 10/13 Dress up for Halloween - 10/31 Buy a book at the Book Fair - 11/12-11/20 Dress up for Stucco Spirit Day - Jan. Participate in making the classroom auction item - Jan. Attend the History Day Fair - 2/5 Attend the Art Show Participate in the Multi Cultural Event Attend the 3rd Grade Form and Function Science Fair Come to a Skating Party Bingo Night Participate in Day of the Child Attend the Science Fair Participate in Field Day Attend a TCS Sporting Event Perform Community Service (such as donating items or your time or participating in a class project) Match the Staff and Faculty with their pictures from 1982 Dust your dancing shoes off for Disco Night - 3/7 Participate in decorating the Hallways for the Alumni Picnic - 4/25 Current Families and Alumni Picnic - 4/27
Some activities might be subject to change or cancellation. We will keep you and your child updated.
Please show your TCS spirit by encouraging your child and your whole family to participate in the exciting activities planned for this year for our 25th Anniversary! |
It's
time to celebrate our 25th year at Topeka Collegiate. To keep
the spirit going all school year long we have established a 25th
Anniversary Celebration Calendar of 25 activities. TCS students
will get points for every activity they attend or in which they
participate.|
Go to the people. Learn from
them. Live with them.
Start with what they know. Build with what they have. The best
of leaders when the job is done, when the task is accomplished,
the people will say we have done it ourselves. |