|
New Security Protocol in Place |
|
Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February
25th, you will need to use the buzzer located between the front
doors in order to gain entry to the building. You may be asked
to identify yourself and the reason for your visit. Please do
not be offended by these questions. They are being asked to
ensure the safety of our students. These procedures will be new
to everyone, so we ask for your patience as we work out
the rough spots. The doors will be unlocked from 7:00 a.m. -
9:00 a.m. and 3:15 - 5:30 p.m. We are encouraging all parents
and visitors to enter through the main entrance. Beginning
Monday, the gates to the playground will be secured at 4:00
p.m. to ensure the safety of the after-school care students.
|
|
New Web Site Launches Monday |
|
On Monday, February 25th, the updated
school Web site will be launched. It has a clean, new
appearance and easier navigation, though much of the information
is the same. Though lots of effort has gone into this new site,
we view this as "phase 1" of the project and anticipate many
more changes in the future. We welcome comments or
suggestions. Many thanks to Andrew Goodrick and David Zlotky
for their efforts in the design and implementation of this site.
|
|
Calendar Highlights |
February 25 -- New Security Protocol Implemented and
New Website Launched
March 6 -- 3rd Grade Travel Convention, 5:00 p.m. in the
Commons
March 6 -- Open
Forum, Dinner at 5:30 p.m., Meeting at
6:00, Childcare provided
March 7 -- All School Disco Dance
Night at 7:00 p.m.
March 8 -- State MathCounts
Competition in Salina
March 11 -- MEC (Multicultural
Education Committee Meeting) 5:30
Childcare provided
March 17th - 21st -- Spring Break
March 24 -- No School, Teacher
In-service
March 28 -- Progress Reports
March 28 -- BINGO Night
March 31st - April 4th -- MAT 8
Testing
April 4 -- Skating Party
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.
|
|
MATHCOUNTS Team Takes First |

Topeka Collegiate mathletes
(back row) Cody J., Alix W., Haley
P., Eddie L., (front row) Josh G.,
Edward C., Nicky H. and Cain M.
Congratulations to our
MATHCOUNTS team for its amazing 1st place
finish at the regional competition in
Lawlrence on February 9. Coached by Mrs. Hoyt and
Mr. McCoy, these mathletes finished ahead of teams
from seven other middle schools in the Topeka and
Lawrence areas.
All four of our team members
also placed in the top ten in the individual
competition, thereby qualifying each of them to
compete in the oral Countdown round. Final places
for the team members are: Nicky H.
(1st), Edward C. (3rd),
Josh G. (4th), and
Cain M.
(9th). NIcky and Edward are eighth graders, Cain is
a seventh grader, and Josh is a sixth grader. For
his first place finish, Nicky received a $25 gift
certificate for any Art of Problem Solving product.
For placing in the top four, Josh, Edward and Nicky
were awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Kansas
University School of Engineering.
The first place team now
advances to state compertition on March 8 in Salina.
Congratulations also to
Cody J., Eddie L., Haley P. and
Alix W. for their great job in the
individual competition. They were just points away
from the Top 10.
MATHCOUNTS is a timed
mathematic competition that emphasizes both
individual and team skills.
|
|
Academic Honors Announced |
|
Congratulations to all Topeka Collegiate
School students for their academic accomplishments during the
second quarter of the 2007-2008 school year. High honors
are achieved by those middle school students, grades six through
eight, who have earned a grade point average of 3.7 or above.
Honors are achieved by middle school students who have earned a
3.4 to 3.69 grade point average.
HIGH HONOR ROLL
3.7 AND ABOVE
Eighth Grade Seventh
Grade Sixth Grade
Emran
A. Blair A
. Nick B.
Shelby C.
Alexandria B. Alec
B.
Alex
C. Megan
B. Connor B.
Edward C.
Colby
B. Dylan C.
Joyce
B. Christine
E. Michael E.
Patrick E.
Bailey
E. Caty F.
Kate H.
Cody J.
Brandon F.
Nicky
H. Connor
K. David G.
Colton
M. Eddie
L. Josh G.
Madison M.
Cain M.
Maria K.
Alessandra P.
Riley M.
Austin M.
Haley
P. Luke
M.
Alexandra M.
Haley
R. Mackenzie
M. Irene N.
Matthew R.
Cooper S.
Federico P.
Meaghan R.
Natalie S.
Carter P.
Nicole R.
Joe
V. Sahil
R.
Marissa W.
Alix W.
Ashley S.
Anne
W.
____________________________________________________________________________________
HONOR ROLL
3.4 TO 3.69
Eighth Grade
Seventh Grade
Sixth Grade
Nick G.
Soren L.
Megan A.
Asher G.
Meredith R.
John H.
Rebecca K.
Christopher S.
Andreia S.
Nyalia
L.
Naftali Z.
Maura
M.
William
M.
Julian M.
Nick P.
|
|
Parent Council News |
Volunteers are needed to fill in for Mrs.
Buckland in the health room over the noon hour.
She is also seeking additional names to assist
in her absence. Contact Kim Baker if you are
able to help. Volunteers are also needed for
various committees for the Disco Dance on March
7th. Contact Debra Ricks if you are available
for this one time event.
The next meeting is 4/03/08.
Please plan to attend. The minutes to the 2/7/08 meeting
are posted online. PC
Meeting Minutes 02/08/08
12/6/07; 2/7/08; 4/3/08
All meetings will begin at
5:30 p.m.
Officers
President - Joe Pennington (contact Joe
with agenda items)
Vice President - Dave Lob
Treasurer - Elena Carrington
Secretary - Tracey Goering
Volunteer Chairpersons for 2007-2008 School Year
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.
|
|
First Grade Dissects a Heart for Heart Month |
|
February is American Heart Month. What better way to recognize
it than by dissecting a pig heart? The first grade was honored
to have Dr. Sanjay Tripathi (father of first grader
Sachin and fourth grader Neha), a
cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, visit the class and dissect
a pig heart while explaining the features of the organ. He
talked to the students about Healthy Heart Month and how to keep
a heart healthy. The first graders were allowed to cut into
certain parts of the heart.
|
|
25th Anniversary Celebration Calendar and
Contest |
|
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.
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! |
|
Third Grade Assembly--Ms. Bauer |
Ms. Bauer's 3rd grade class put
together an assembly explaining the 12-year cycle of the
Chinese calendar. The fable includes a race across a river
to see what place the animals will occupy in the 12-year
cycle.
At the end of the play, the class
further explained the cycle by allowing the students to
guess Mrs. Zachritz's age. They determined that she is 39
years old! Mrs. Z. is such a great sport!
Ms. Bauer displayed a chart outside her room where
everyone could find the symbol of their birth year and
sign it.
|
|
History Day Schedule of Events |
|
2007-2008
District History Day
February
23, 2008
Washburn
University
Some forty-five middle school students will compete at
district History Day competition tomorrow, Saturday,
February 23 at Washburn University. This year's theme is
Conflict and Compromise in History.
Students in
the exhibit categories set up between 7:30 and 8:30 in
Washburn Room A of Memorial Union, and are judged throughout the
morning. Exhibits are available for public viewing from 7:30 -
8:45 a.m. and from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Students in
the paper category are not required to attend. Their
papers are on display in the Shawnee Room of the Union from 8:00
a.m. until noon.
Following are
times and locations for performances and documentaries:
9:00 Megan A
Individual Performance KS Room, Union
9:40
Mullican/Chanay/Henriquez Group
Documentary 308, Henderson
9:40 Carpenter/Lamb/Lui Group
Performance Washburn B, Union
10:00 Kaye/Ramirez Group
Performance Washburn B, Union
10:00 Elisha/Phillips Group
Documentary 308, Henderson
10:20 Brennan/Manley Group
Performance Washburn B, Union
10:30 Edward C
Individual Performance KS
Room, Union
10:40 Rattan/Vosburgh Group
Documentary 308, Henderson
11:00 Luke M
Individual Performance
KS Room, Union
The awards ceremony is at 3:30 in Washburn Room A of the
Union.
|
|
MAT-8 Testing Dates Set |
|
Dates have been set for MAT-8 standardized testing. First
through eighth graders will be taking the tests the week of
March 31 - April 4. Please make sure your students get plenty of
sleep that week and send them off with a nutritious breakfast so
they can perform their best on the tests. |
|
Basketball News |
|
The TCS middle school basketball teams
concluded their season last week with the end-of-the-season
Parochial League basketball tournament. We had two teams bring
home trophies this year!
The 7th grade boys wrapped up
the season with a 5-6 record and 4th place in the
tournament. Team members and coaches are: Soren L.,
Cooper S., Cain M.,
Sam T., Joe V., Skyler Y.,
Chris S., Jacob M.,
Marshall S., Coach Jackie Schumann and Coach Tracie
Lamb.
The girls' team (6th-8th
graders) finished their season 4-9 and 4th place in
the tournament. Once again, Coach Nanny Matthias did an
outstanding job with a team where a majority of the girls had
not played basketball very much. We are very lucky that she is
willing to share her time and expertise with our athletes! A
special thanks to Melody Evans for stepping in and assisting
Coach Matthias. The team members and coaches are:
Hillary R., Shelby C., Joyce
B., Alessandra P., Bailey E.,
Anne W., Natalie S.,
Meredith R., Alexandra M.,
Josie P., Irene N., Ashley S.,
Mickayla S., Coach Melody Evans and Coach Nanny
Matthias.
The 8th grade boys' team
concluded their season with a record of 1-9. Their win came in
the first round of the tournament thus extending their season by
a day! Good Luck to the 8th graders who try out for
high school basketball next year! Team members and coaches are
Nick G., Nick P.,
Madison M., Nicky H., Nyalia L.,
Edward C., Julian M.,
Asher G., Reston P., Coach Bruce Myers
and Coach Damon Williams.
The 6th grade boys were split
into two teams for the season. Team 1 went 2-8 and Team 2 went
1-8. Both teams had some very close losses. The future of 6th
grade boys' basketball is very optimistic. All the boys showed
improvement throughout the season. Team members and coaches are
Nick B., Alec B.,
Connor B., David G., Austin M.,
Federico P., Sahil R.,
Thomas C., Dylan C., Michael
E., Brandon F., John H.,
Carter P., Josh G.,
Naftali Z., Coach Ben Coates, Coach Jane Greene and
Coach Tracie Lamb.
None of these student athletes would be
able to play for TCS without our valuable volunteer coaches.
The approximate amount of time given to our program by all of
our coaches was a whopping 250 hours. Please express your
thanks and appreciation to the coaches. We can't have a good
quality program without them!
|
|
TCS 2nd and 3rd Graders Join Hands for Successful Basketball
Team |
This group of 2nd and 3rd graders
formed a team last fall under the coaching and supervision
of TCS Parent Nanny Mathais and Cody Ausborn to play in the
Mega Basketball League at the Sportzone.
The team struggled through the first
part of the season--learning defense, effective
ball-handling, teamwork, etc. But by the end of the second
half of the season, they were a "lean, mean, shooting" team,
winning 5 games and losing only one. Nanny's special touch
with youth in sports is especially obvious with this fine
group of ball players. Congratulations to the "Spitfire"
team!
Pictured here is the team:
(bottom) Will B., (1st row)
Adam H., Jacob S., Drew M.,
(2nd row) Luke J., Christopher G., (3rd
row) Adam C., Job K., and
Dalton V. Not pictured: Blake R.
|
|
TCASA First Aid and Babysitting Course |
|
Students in the Babysitting and First Aid
course offered in the After-School Adventures program by TCS
parent Julie Unruh, RN, used a real baby to learn how to hold a
small child properly. The course is Red Cross certified.
Students learn about supervising and caring for small children,
how to handle emergencies, and first aid.
TCS hopes to offer a similar course during
the summer or after school next fall.
|
|
Chess Tournament Results |
|
The Cordley Elementary Chess
tournament drew more than 200 students to the KU Student
Union in Lawrence earlier this month. They
played in
four sections. Here's how our students placed:
Jacob M. 40th
Lang P. 29th
Ryland E. 33rd
Fed P. 44th
Matt M. 51st
Jenna B. 64th
Madison M. 67th
7th as a team
K-3
Leo
P. 1st (6 points)
Malcolm L. 28th
Will B 29th
Charlie L 30th
Jack M 36th
4th as a team
|
|
Math Olympiad #4 |
|
The fourth Olympiad was given February 5th.
We recognize any student who received a 3, 4, or a 5. In the 4th
grade we recognize students who received a 2, because they are
taking the same test as the 5th and 6th
graders.
4th
Grade -
Students
receiving a 2
Michael B.
Madison M.
Jeremiah S.
Benjamin T.
Brennen S.
4th
Grade -
Student
receiving a 3
Jordie S.
5th
Grade -
Student
receiving a 3
Skyler D.
6th
Grade -
Students
receiving a 3
Maria K.
Federico P.
4th
Grade -
Student
receiving a 4
Laura N.
6th
Grade -
Students
receiving a 4
Josh G.
Carter P.
Sahil R.
6th
Grade -
Students
receiving a 5
Megan A.
Irene N. |
|