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December 18, 2009 |
Issue 9 |
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The Collegiate Connection
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Our Mission Statement
We prepare students for advanced education, successful
careers and responsible citizenship through a commitment
to academic excellence and humanitarian ideals. |
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From Our Head of School
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Dear Parents, Families and Friends,
I want to wish you all a happy and safe Winter
Holiday.
It has been a great first semester
at Topeka Collegiate because our school community has
developed a very positive feeling. Students are actively
learning in their classrooms, teachers are collaborating
more than ever, and parents are supporting the work of
the school. In the refurbished community room, parents,
teachers and staff are coming together.
Our exceptional teachers have
created a very positive climate for your students to
gain knowledge and self assurance. As I walk the halls I
see students beaming excitement and confidence. This
carries over to the classroom where they are motivated
and eager to learn. I want to thank you for what you do
in this partnership of raising your child. Your support
is essential for our teachers to deliver a challenging
curriculum.
This is the time of the year that
families can enjoy the holiday break with family
traditions. I want to wish each of you a meaningful and
safe holiday.
Thanks for you partnership and
support,
Dick Patterson
Head of School
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Calendar Highlights -- December, 2009 - January,
2010 |
Monday, December 21 --
Alumni family reunion and chili feed, 6:00 -
8:00 p.m., Commons (see article below).
Monday, December 21 through
Sunday, January 3, 2010 --
No school - winter break. No child care.
Monday, January 4, 2010 --
No school - teacher in-service. Day care is
available. Check our web page under the
"Programs" tab for more information.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 --
School resumes.
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Topeka Collegiate Alumni Family Reunion -- Monday,
December 21 |
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Calling all
alumni and their families!
Please join us for:
Chili Supper
Monday, December 21
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Topeka Collegiate School
See old friends and teachers. Laugh at stories of
the old days. Enjoy a hearty meal.
Featuring: The O'Shea Sisters (Erika
'04 and Shannon '06) (pictured,
above)
$5/person or $20/family
Adult beverages available. Please bring I.D.
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AMC-8 2009 |
Results have arrived for the AMC-8 competition given
on November 18. The AMC-8 exam is a 25-question
multiple choice exam given nationwide to students
through grade 8.
Congratulations to Josh G., (8th),
who scored a perfect 25! He joins Hero Okano
'04 and Andy Brownback '02, the
only other students in TCS history to achieve a
perfect 25 in this competition.
School-wide Winners
1st Place: Josh G.
2nd Place: Irene N.
3rd Place: Laura N., Sage
P.
The students receiving the top 3 scores in each
grade will be awarded a certificate at the awards
assembly at the end of the year. Congratulations to
the following high grade-level scorers:
8th Grade
1st Place: Josh G.
2nd Place: Irene N.
3rd Place: Alec B.,
Carter P.
7th Grade
1st Place: Skyler D.
2nd Place: Mariella K.
3rd Place: Gabriel B.,
Max H.
6th Grade
1st Place: Laura N.,
Sage P.
2nd Place: Jeremiah S.
3rd Place: Madeline B.,
Neha T.
5th Grade
1st Place: Leonardo P.
2nd Place: Justin A., Toma
D., Satchel P.
3rd Place: Chase H., Dalton
V.
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Festival of Trees Entry Wins Award |
Our Topeka Collegiate third graders' "Frosty the
Snowman" Tree won Best Youth Tree at the Festival of
Trees!
Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for Sheltered Living,
an organization that supports people with disabilities
to achieve independence and actively participate in the
community.
Third graders visited the Festival to see their tree at
the Kansas Expocentre Agricultural Hall Friday, December
4. The children had hand-crafted the ornaments, and were
very excited to see their hard work rewarded.
"Ms. Bauer, Mrs. Armbruster, and Ms. Kido's
Third grade scholars made a
Frosty the Snowman tree. They donated it to
Festival of Trees. The
Festival of Trees sold it and the money will go
to Sheltered Living.
Sheltered Livign is an organziation that let's
people with
disabilities live independelty. The 3rd grade
decorated the tree with
hand-made ornaments. This community service
project took place in
Agruclatre all at the Kansas Expo Center."
-- Kai G.
(Above) Ms. Bauer's class; (below)
Ms. Kido's class
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TCS Quiz |
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For how many consecutive years has
the Topeka Collegiate third grade class won the award
for Best Youth Entry at the Festival of Trees?
A) two
B) three
C) five
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Auction 2010 -- A Starry Night |
The Topeka
Collegiate School annual auction is
scheduled for the evening of March 6, 2010!
You may still turn in your auction
acquisition form, buy-out form, and
other forms to school! Plan to
bring your auction item to school
after winter break!
If you would like to participate in the
procurement of items to auction off, help coordinate
your child's classroom auction project, volunteer on one
of the committees, or if you have any questions, please
contact one of this year's co-chairs, Erin Bess
Pennington, or Amy Spurgeon-Hochard.
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Book Fair Proceeds Benefit TCS Library, Local
Community |
(Left to right)
Thomas K., (6th), Mariella
K., (7th), Anjum S. (6th),
Book Fair Co-Chair Tammy S., Doorstep Holiday Store
volunteer Judy Neher.
Thank you to everyone who visited the Scholastic
Book Fair in November!
Because of your generous support, Topeka Collegiate
School earned $3,000 in materials and $1,198 in
cash. Our librarian, Jan Allison, was able to
choose new, award-winning books directly from the
book fair shelves to add to our library's
collections. In addition, comfy, reader-friendly
bean bag chairs have already been ordered for the
library; other enhancements items will be ordered
after the new year.
The coins you deposited in the OneforBooks balloon
boxes allowed us to purchase 77 books to donate to
Doorstep, a community service organization. Three
students and Book Fair Co-Chair Tammy S. (Amber -
4th, Thomas - pre-K) delivered the books during
Doorstep's December 8th Board meeting. Accepting the
donation, Board President Lew Mills referred to
Doorstep's emergency food distribution
program: "Normally we provide food for the stomach,"
he said. "Today we're providing brain food."
We would like to acknowledge
and thank Scholastic Book Fair co-chairs Tammy S.
and Rehana S. for heading up this year's book fair;
we couldn't have done it without you! Thank you,
too, to all our wonderful volunteers who unpacked,
displayed, stocked, sold, and re-packed all those
books. See you next November!
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From the Development Office |
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Throughout the year, our school benefits from many
generous gifts.
In this season of giving,
it seems appropriate to highlight a few that have
touched us this year.
Not long ago, we received a gift
from a former faculty member, now living out of state.
The donation was earmarked for technology and prompted
by a Collegiate Connection article about the new
teacher laptops and interactive white board technology.
With the check came a note, "Teachers need tools to
inspire."
Another gift came from the family
of a young man who died prematurely. While he never
attended Topeka Collegiate, his uncle did. The family
said, "You could invariably find the two of them in the
computer room. Computers and technology were a passion
the two shared." The gift is designated for technology.
Just before break, a smiling
family brought in a big box of brand new Scholastic
books and educational supplies, purchased at a surplus
sale just in time for the holidays. Clearly, for this
family, the adage is true: It is better to give than to
receive.
These are a few examples of the
generosity that helps sustain our school. There are many
more. We thank all of you who have given so selflessly
this year.
Happy Holidays!
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8th Grader Wins School-wide Geography Bee |
 Congratulations
to Alec B. (8th), this year's
school-wide Geography Bee winner! Alec competed with
nine other 4th through 8th graders in several rounds of
oral and written answers during the December 11
competition. He will now take a written test to
determine whether he is eligible to advance to the State
Geography Bee.
Thank you to Patti Cross for organizing the
Geography Bee! Thank you, too to judges Ken Park,
Cindy Armbruster, Gail Franklin, and Donna LaLonde,
and to moderator Sonja Czarnecki.
(Left) Sonja Czarnecki, Alec, Patti Cross
"Well done" to this year's Geography Bee
participants:
(Back row) Max H. (7th),
Alec B. (8th), Carter P.
(8th), Dakota B. (7th),
Adam C. (5th)
(Front row) Emily P.
(5th), Charlie L. (4th),
Stormy R. (4th), Jeremiah S.
(6th), Sage P. (6th).
How well do YOU know your
geography? Test your knowledge:
1) From Round 5 - Geography of
Extremes:
Question: Chernobyl, site of the world's worst
nuclear power accident, is found in which
present-day country - Moldova or Ukraine?
2) From Round 4, - Continents:
Question: The Aswan High Dam provides
electricity to the lower Nile River valley in
the northern part of which continent?
3) From Round 7 - Cultural Geography:
Question: The Swiss Guards are responsible for
the protection and safety of the Pope and are
based in which country?
1) Answer: Ukraine
2) Answer: Africa
3) Answer: Vatican City
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Second Graders Complete One-Room Schoolhouse Unit |
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Second graders in Mrs. Bammes's and Mrs. Mosier's
classrooms have completed their Apple Valley School
unit.
During their studies, each child took on the name
and traits of a pioneer child, and learned how
children in "the olden days" lived.
Earlier this week, the students attended a one-room
schoolhouse at the Stach school on the grounds of
the Kansas Historical Society (left).
(Below, left) Volunteer (and Collegiate
grandparent)Sharon Read assists Psalm K.
with dipping a cord in hot wax to create a candle
(Below, right) Students celebrate their
graduation from Apple Valley School (pictured,
Petre D.).
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Student Directory Additions |
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Please make this correction to your student directory:
Steve W. (Chloe, pre-K)
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Volunteer Spotlight On Megan Nusbaum |
Megan Nusbaum is a dedicated
and gifted volunteer who helps in the Jr.
Pre-kindergarten classroom every day. Yes, every
day! The children adore "Miss Megan", as they
call her. Miss Megan (here with Boden
K. and Sage M.) was
the constant in Jr. Pre-k students' young lives as
Mrs. Forstein went on maternity leave and Mrs.
Millhuff stepped in as long-term substitute. Hers
was the familiar face that helped smooth the
transition from one teacher to the other.
We are indeed fortunate to
have Megan Nusbaum at our school!
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Around Campus
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As part of their commitment to community service,
Student Council representatives volunteered December
12 as bellringers to collect donations for the
Salvation Army. Their next stint will be Saturday,
December 19th between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at
Hobby Lobby. Stop by and say hello!
(left to right) Jordie S.,
Anneleise M., Jacob C.,
and Jeremiah S. man the
kettle outside Dillons at 21st and Fairlawn.
Signs of the season: snow boots line the Lower
School hallway.
(Left) 4th grader Claire P.
poses with Head of School Dick Patterson beneath the
metal hallway sign purchased by her family at
Auction 2009. "Ohana" means "family" and reflects
Claire's Hawaiian heritage.
(The personalized metal
signs for both the north/south hallway and the
east/west hallway will again be available during
Auction 2010 on March 6, 2010!)
(Above, right) "Welcome!" to
Noor (5th) and Maha
(3rd) K.!
The SWAT team is at work trouble-shooting
computer-related snafus and assisting with the
installation of the new technology recently
purchased for faculty.
(Left) Anjum S. and
Mira R.; (above)
Jeremiah S.
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Choir Entertains During Holiday Season |
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Middle School students and
Topeka Collegiate Youth Choir members "Celebrate the
Season with Song" at their December 15th program.
Students in the Youth Choir made their annual
holiday caroling tour earlier this week, where their
audiences included shoppers at West Ridge Mall
(below) and a local nursing home (left).
Thank you to Kay Siebert for nurturing our students'
talent and for sharing that talent with the
community!
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Scientific Inquiry on Display -- Science Fair 2009 |
Middle school students displayed and explained
their science projects for families and friends
Tuesday, December 8th. Among the subjects of
students' scientific curiosity: generic vs. name
brand consumer products; how different materials
conduct electricity; the effect of various
incubators on chick hatching and the reliability
of eyewitness testimony. Members of Washburn
University's Tri Beta Biological Society judged
the projects and offered students feedback on
their efforts.
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Kindergarten Students Enjoy Day at Civic Theatre |
Both kindergarten classes were
treated to a special performance of A Winnie the
Pooh Christmas Tail Wednesday at Topeka Civic
Theatre, located in the renovated Gage School.
Following the performance, the students enjoyed
lunch in the former kindergarten room, complete with
its unique wall murals. The room now serves as the
Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy's board room.
Characters from the play visited the students following
the show, as they enjoyed their lunch. Then the students
took a tour of the theater to get a "behind the scenes"
look at TCTA.
Thank you to the Dietrick family for arranging for
tickets for all our Kindergartenders and to Dan and
Chelle Decker for providing the backstage passes and
lunch for everyone!
Be sure to check out the
Spotted section of cjonline.com for pictures of our
kindergartners! |
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4th Graders Raise $740 for UNICEF |
All the coins in all the orange
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes have been counted and
tallied, and the final figure is in: Topeka Collegiate
School collected $740 for the United Nations Childrens
Fund.
Thank you to every witch and
goblin who helped the fourth graders with
their community service project this fall!
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Earn Money for Collegiate Through Everyday Activities! |
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You can earn money for Topeka Collegiate through everyday
activities like going to the grocery store, searching and
shopping online, and recycling useful products. Click on the
links for more information on participating brands and special
promotions.
 www.goodsearch.com
-- Each time you use GoodSearch, a Yahoo!-powered search engine,
for your online searches, Topeka Collegiate receives a cash
donation. Be sure to designate Topeka Collegiate as your
designated cause.
 Box
Tops for Education -- For each Box Tops 4 Education coupon
you clip and turn in to the office, TCS receives 10 cents. The
Box Tops logo can be found on hundreds of participating brands
from diapers to frozen vegetables to disposable bags. And if
you shop online at the Box Tops marketplace, a portion of every
qualifying purchase (up to 22%) is donated to our school at no
extra cost to you. Participating online stores include GapKids,
Pottery Barn, Hotels.com, and Lands' End. During the 2008-2009
school year, your contributions earned our school $748.26!
Drop off your Box Tops in the school office or in the marked
container in the school's mail room, across the hall from the
office.
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Dillons grocery store merchandise cards are available for
purchase for $20, $50 and $100 each in the school office.
The cards may be used at any Dillon's store for merchandise
including prescriptions and gas.
For every card you buy, Topeka Collegiate receives a six
percent rebate. For every $1,000 of Dillons cards we
sell, the school receives $60, for example. The 6%
rebate will go in to the Eagles Flight Fund, which will
be used to support our school's operating budget. Cards
may be purchased in the office.
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HyVee grocery stores are available for purchase $20,
$50, and $100 each in the school office. Like the
Dillons cards, Topeka Collegiate receives 6% of all
sales. Cards may be purchased in the office.
 Best
Choice Labels -- When you purchase Best Choice brand
products, clip out and return the UPC portion
(the proof of purchase) to the office. For each bundle of 1,000
UPCs, our school will earn $30. Topeka-area stores that
carry Best Choice products are Apple Market, Tilton's Westside,
Price Chopper, Perry Lecompton and Oskaloosa Thriftways, and
Checkers. Drop off your labels in the school office or in the
marked container in the school's mail room, across the hall from
the office
Campbell's
Labels for Education -- You no longer need to save the
entire label - just the UPC code as shown
above is needed for redemption. Other brand names besides
Campbell's in this program include Pepperidge Farm, Prego,
Swanson, V8, Market Day, Franco-American, and SpaghettiO's.
Drop off your UPCs in the school office or in the marked
container in the school's mail room, across the hall from
the office. Go to www.elabelsforeducation.com to
register for e-Labels for Education.
  Tyson
Project A+ Labels -- Labels from boxes and bags of
Tyson frozen chicken products are worth 24¢ to Topeka
Collegiate. Clip the end flap from boxes (top
left) or the top edge from bags (bottom right).
Drop off your labels in the school office or in the marked
container in the school's mail room, across the hall from the
office
 Office
Depot 5% Back to Schools Program -- 5% of your purchase
comes directly to the school in the form of free
supplies. School supplies qualify for the program, while
computers, technology items, and other items do not. Simply
identify TCS as your school choice at the checkout and/or
supply the school ID number: 70039209. Past purchases can
be credited to the school as long as they were made within
the last quarter.
 Target
Take Charge of Education Program -- Apply and get approved
for a Target REDCard. When you enroll, designate TCS as your
school of choice and Target will send our school a
no-strings-attached check worth up to 1% of your REDCard
purchases at Target and Target.Com.
Recycle your old cell phones, printer
and toner cartridges, plastic containers
marked with a 1 or 2 within a triangle, paper,
corrugated cardboard, and newspapers --
all of these items are collected and redeemed for cash. Please
place old cell phones and printer cartridges in the collection
boxes across from the main office in the teachers' workroom.
Plastic, cardboard, paper, and newspaper may be placed in the
marked Dumpsters on the east side of the campus.
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TCS Quiz Answer:
The correct answer is C. Topeka
Collegiate School third graders have been awarded the prize
for the Best Youth Entry at the Festival of Trees every year
since the prize's inception in 2005 for a total of
five consecutive years.
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