| August 19, 2008 | Issue 2 |
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The Collegiate Connection
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From Our Head of School
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Dear Parents and Friends,
 As the first day of school is upon us, I have the pleasure of introducing several additional staff and faculty to our school team. Please join me in welcoming them!
I look forward to welcoming you and your students to the new
school year in the next few days.
David Hudspeth
Head of School
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| Quick Links |
| Calendar Highlights |
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Follow the quick link
(above right) to a concise academic calendar
for 2008-2009.
August 19 -- All-school "Back to School" potluck
picnic at TCS. From 5:00 to 6:00 pm, drop in and
meet your teachers and the students in your
class! 6:00 - 8:00 pm - picnic.
August 20 -- First day of school - 1/2 day, noon
dismissal. Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade
parents: come to Assembly Hall for coffee and
conversation after drop-off.
September 26 -- RenWeb training for parents 7pm - 8pm, Assembly Hall.
September 1 -- Labor Day, No School.
September 4 -- Open Forum, 5:30 pm dinner,
meeting begins promptly at 6:00 in Assembly
Hall.
September 5 -- Parents' Poker Party, 8th grade
fundraiser. Dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Poker
from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Childcare is available
either in the commons or in the gym. Parents are
welcome to bring friends.
September 8 -- Back-to-School Night.
September 15 -- Students' picture day.
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| Media Specialist -- Tracey Goering |
 Tracey Goering
has been hired to fill the position of Media Specialist and will
be teaching computer classes to our lower school and middle
school students this year.
Ms. Goering earned a BS in Business Administration from
Kansas State University and spent her professional years in
management and systems development at several companies. At
Topeka Collegiate, she has served in many volunteer
capacities, including Co-Chair of the 2007 Auction. She has
assisted with the After-School Adventures and Summer
Adventures programs in planning and implementation, catalog
development, and has taught several extra-curricular classes
to lower school students. Ms. Goering also served as a
substitute pre-Kindergarten teacher last year.
Most recently, Ms. Goering has assisted in the overhaul of
the TCS website and will continue her role updating and
maintaining the site. She has been setting up the calendar
portion of ParentsWeb for the August implementation. Ms.
Goering has two sons at Topeka Collegiate: Drew
will be a third grader, and Matt will be in
second grade.
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| Pre-Kindergarten -- Amy Hubbell |
 Amy
Hubbell joins our faculty as the third pre-K teacher after four
years as a pre-school teacher and three years as Assistant
Director at Building Blocks Child Care of Topeka.
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| On the Move! |
Proving the old adage
that "many hands make light work,"
faculty and staff pitch in to move Mrs. Wilk's classroom down
the hall, making room for Mrs. Hubbell's new pre-K class. |
| Administrative Assistant -- Sherilyn "Sheri" Cook |
 Sherilyn
Cook joins us as Mr. Hudspeth's adminstrative assistant,
replacing Cindy Stillings, who resigned the position in June.
Sheri has worked most recently as the senior administrative
assistant at the KU Public Management Center. Before that, she
performed administrative assistant duties at the Topeka Chamber
of Commerce and Washburn University. Sheri is shown here with
Sadie, one of three dogs in the Cook household. |
| Development Staff -- Rehana Syed |
 Rehana
Syed will be assisting in the Development Office in the
part-time position previously held by David McCoy, who is
leaving to continue his education. Mrs. Syed was born in
India, raised and educated in Kuwait, and has lived in several
states. She recently relocated from Boise, Idaho to Topeka with
her husband and daughter Anjum, who will be
a fifth grader at Topeka Collegiate this year.
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| Support Staff -- Karen Benson |
 Karen
Benson came to Topeka Collegiate School in the fall of 1996 as a
pre-K parent. She volunteered each year in her son's classroom (Steven
Benson '06) and by 2002 was a full-time volunteer. This
year, we are happy to report Karen has joined the TCS staff. Her
duties include data entry for After-School Adventures, Summer
Adventures, the TCS Auction, and various other projects. |
| Food Services -- Debbie Maichel |
 Debbie
Maichel and her husband Carl were both full-time volunteers
in the kitchen last year, preparing and serving hundreds of
meals at lunchtime and at after-school events. Mr. and Mrs.
Maichel are back again this year -- Mrs. Maichel will be on
staff, and Carl will continue to volunteer. Debbie previously operated the Seabrook Bar and Grill. Carl is retired from Goodyear after more then 28 years of service. Debbie and Carl Maichel are the parents of Jacob (eighth grade), Matt (sixth grade) and Madison (fifth grade). |
| Food Services -- Shaileece Bratton |
 Shaileece Bratton
will be in the kitchen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. helping the
Maichels with lunch preparation and service. Shaileece, who
goes by the nickname "Shay," comes to us with restaurant and
customer service experience, and describes herself as honest,
humorous, and organized. |
| Communications -- Kim Baker |
 Kim
Baker takes over the part-time position writing and editing
The Collegiate Connection. Mrs. Baker will also assist in
creating publications for TCS Summer Adventures and After-School
Adventures programs.
Mrs. Baker's son Edward
will be a third grader this year.
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| Thanks, Joe! |
Thank you for your help, Penningtons!
Joe and his wife Erin are the parents of Satchel
(fourth grade) and Rose (first grade).
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| Thanks, ZiYan! |
July with a party. In lieu of gifts,
ZiYan asked her guests to contribute to Topeka Collegiate's
Capital Campaign - Building Futures One Child at a Time)
to help build a permanent midle school to replace the
trailers, and to enhance science and technology.
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