January 29

January 29, 2010

Issue 12

The Collegiate Connection

Our Mission Statement

We prepare students for advanced education, successful careers and responsible citizenship through a commitment to academic excellence and humanitarian ideals.

From Our Head of School

Dear Parents, Families and Friends, Mr. Patterson

At its January meeting, the Board of Trustees voted to increase tuition by 3.9% for next year. That's an increase of $140 for Jr. Pre-K, $301 for full-day Pre-K, and $341 for Kindergarten thought eighth grade. Most School families will pay only about $34 more per month, based on a

10-month payment plan.

Some context:

· Last year, sensitive to the difficult economic times, the Trustees increased tuition by a record low amount: only 1.1%, or $99.

· Traditionally, tuition increases have been about 5% per year.

· Inflation and the Consumer Price Index are up around 2%. Independent school tuition is generally figured as

CPI + 1%.

· Our tuition is less than tuition at comparable independent schools and our tuition increase is lower than our historical tuition increases at Topeka Collegiate School.

The Board is walking a very difficult line, trying to balance its duty to continue the School's financial recovery with the equally important commitment to do what is fair and reasonable for our families.

We are very sensitive to your need to know next year's tuition as soon as possible, in order to plan your family's budget. We, too, need to budget and staff our School appropriately for 2010-2011. Reenrollment contracts will be mailed to current School families on February 12. It is very important that you let us know your intentions for next year by March 12.

Please call me or contact Operations Director Jane Tilghman if you have questions about the tuition increase and how it affects your family.

Educationally yours,

Dick Patterson
Head of School

In This Issue

Calendar Highlights

Flu Shots Offered

History Fair February 2 and 3

TCS Chess News

2nd Quarter Conferences

Auction 2010

Friday Popcorn Returns!

TCS Quiz

Around Campus...

Volunteer Spotlight On:

Kehres Cares

Pet Week in 2nd Grade

2nd Grades Assembly

Free Fundraisers!

3rd Grade Travel Convention

Head for a Day

K Celebrates

New Spirit Gear Apparel

Free Fundraisers

Quick Links

Academic Calendar

Past Newsletters

Join our Newsletter Mailing List!

Calendar Highlights -- January and February

Now -- Bring your auction items to school

Monday, February 1 -- Flu shots available 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.; see article below

Tuesday, February 2 -- TCS History Fair, 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall

Wednesday, February 3 -- TCS History Fair judging, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Friday, February 5 -- Popcorn for sale after school

Saturday, February 6 -- Kansas Scholastic Chess Tournament, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., schoolwide; ACT testing for middle schoolers, 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Assembly Hall; Mathcounts chapter competition, Lawrence

Thursday, February 11 -- Valentine's Day observed (ask your child's teacher about classroom parties); spirit gear apparel order forms due

Friday, February 12 -- No school; parent/teacher conferences; child care will be available; for more information, go to the TCS website, click on the "Programs" button, and follow the link to the Extended Day Care Program

Monday, February 15 -- No school; Presidents Day; no child care

Thursday, February 18 -- Middle School service day

Friday, February 19 -- Auction RSVPs are due; Mrs. Schwerdt's and Mrs. Frederick's 1st grade assembly, 8:35 a.m., Assembly Hall; popcorn for sale after school; all-school roller skating party, 5:00 - 7:00 at Sk8away, 815 SW Fairlawn, $5 per skater. Wear your TCS spirit gear!; Middle School Dance, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., Commons

Tuesday, February 23 -- Lower School Art Show (pre-K through 4th grade), 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Assembly Hall

Friday, February 26 -- Mr. MacDonald's 6th grade assembly, 8:35 a.m., Assembly Hall; popcorn for sale after school; Auction 2010 Preview, 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 27 -- History Day district competition, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Washburn University

Remembering Micah Rolfs '95

We report with sorrow the death of alumnus Micah Rolfs '95 on January 23, at the age of 29. Micah is Micah & Mrs. Hoyt

remembered with great affection by the Topeka Collegiate family, who take comfort in the knowledge that Micah's generous heart now beats in the chest of a transplant recipient.

This evening, at the request of his mother Lavetta and sister Rachel Rolfs Rogers '90, students from Topeka Collegiate sang our school song, Fly Like an Eagle, at Micah's memorial service.

Here are rememberances from some of those who knew Micah

(at right with Mrs. Hoyt):

"Micah had a kind heart and a positive approach to life. I taught him for four years, and I do not remember an unkind word or a negative comment from him. Micah was everyone's friend.

Phyllis Hoyt

Mathematics Teacher

"I never had the pleasure of being a teacher to Micah in a classroom, but he learned from everyone. Knowing and watching Micah was one of the main reasons I am teaching at Topeka Collegiate. I jumped at the chance to apply when an art teaching job became available in 1998, because I thought that any school that turned out a fine young man such as Micah would be a school I would want to be associated with. Tonight a heart is beating somehwere and Micah still lives. And it will continue."

Blake Zachritz

Art Teacher

Hundreds of postings on Micah's Facebook page testify to how much he was loved and how much he will be missed. Here are some from TCS alumni:

"I am grateful for the blessing of being by your side as you transition out of this beautiful world. Goodnight sweet brother. Love you always. Someone is being blessed with a heart of gold today."

Stacy Elmer '95 (left, with Micah and Language Arts teacher John MacDonald)

"Thinking of Micah today; of Topeka Collegiate games of basketball and Frisbee, of Russian class at Topeka High, and of an incredibly kind person and his wonderful mother, Lavetta.

John Van Sickle '94

"Sending warm thoughts as fond Micah-memories come to my mind. Belting out "They Might be Giants" tunes, countless middle school lunches, and outdoor adventure camp together. Micah, I'll eat something with ketchup in your honor."

Samantha Crow '95

"I remember the TCS days, Micah, and the memories will live on. Fly like an eagle!"

John Freeman '98

"Love you always."

Kelly Farmer '95

"I remember Micah as a kind 'big kid' who was nice to me. Good luck out there, Micah, you're missed by more people than you could ever imagine."

Mike Poulton '96

"I am sad to hear of his passing but happy to see that he had so much love, fun, and just plain life in his life."

Katherine Crowe '95

Free H1N1 Flu Shots Offered at School -- Monday, February 1

The Shawnee County Health Agency in cooperation with Topeka Collegiate School will be offering the H1N1 vaccination free of charge to Topeka Collegiate students during their school day on Monday. Those who wish to be present while their child is immunized may do so, but vaccinations are only available to the student attending the school. We are unable to accommodate additional people during this time.

Vaccinations for students will be available on Monday, February 1st between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in the Community Room (room 110). There will be no make-up dates.

If you would like for your child to participate:

Look for materials that will be coming home in your child's home folder this week
Read all of the materials carefully
Fill out, sign, and return the form to school by Monday, February 1st

Please contact Health Services Director Danielle Huckins if you have questions.

History Fair -- Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2 and 3

Middle school students will present their History Day projects at a fair Tuesday night, February 2nd in the Assembly Hall. From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., students will showcase their exhibits, web sites, or documentaries on the theme "Innovation in History: Impact and Change."

Judging of all projects takes place the following day, Wednesday, February 4th, including performances, which are presented before judges and all middle school students in the Commons at 1:00 p.m. After performances, students will show their documentaries. The fair concludes at 3:30 p.m.

The entire school community is invited to Tuesday night's fair and Wednesday's performances.

TCS Scholastic Chess Tournament -- Saturday, February 6

Topeka Collegiate will be hosting our annual scholastic chess tournament on Saturday, February 6. We look forward to hosting approximately 120 chess players and their families for the day.

A flyer with more information can be found at http://www.ksca.us/schedule.htm. You may register your child online at http://ksca.us/kscadb/register.php?id=19. This is a great first tournament for scholars who have not experienced tournament play.

If you have any questions please contact Ms. Bauer at dbauer@topekacollegiate.org or 554-8799.

The K-3 chess team fared very well at the December 12th Cordley Chess Tournament which was held at KU. Santino J., Kody D., Malcolm L., Dario P., Harun K., Malik B., and Angel F. worked together to earn 1st place out of 11 teams! Thomas K., Christopher G., and Charlie L. also did a great job at the tournament but did not have enough players to form a complete K-6 team.

Spending the day at KU was a great experience for all of the scholars as well as the parents who attended. Collegiate scholars always represent our school in such a positive way, frequently earning compliments from other parents and chess coaches.

-- Dallas Bauer

Parent/Teacher Conferences; No School -- Friday, February 12

With the end of the second quarter, it is nearly time to sign up for optional parent/teacher conferences. Homeroom and resource teachers will be available to meet with parents from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12th.

To schedule your conference with your child's teachers, please sign up in person in the notebooks that will be available in the foyer by the Assembly Hall between Wednesday, February 3rd at 3:30 and Wednesday, February 10 at 5:30 p.m. Please schedule your meetings during this time period; it is difficult to accommodate requests the day of the conferences.

Auction 2010 -- A Starry Night

The Topeka Collegiate School annual auction is scheduled for the evening of March 6, 2010!

The time has come to deliver your auction acquisitions to school! Please drop off the item or service that you have procured either in the school office or in the Development office (room 109).

If you have not submitted your acquisition form or buy-out form, please return your form(s) as soon as possible. Extra acquisition forms are available in the school office and on the TCS web site by clicking on the "Giving" button, and selecting "Auction" from the drop-down menu. If you're still pondering what to donate to the auction, contact one of our auction co-chairs (Erin Bess Pennington and Amy Spurgeon-Hochard) and they'll try to help you with ideas.

Invitations have been mailed; please return your RSVPs to school by February 19th.

Friday Popcorn Returns!

It's back!

Freshly popped popcorn each Friday afternoon, courtesy of the Class of 2011, who have begun fundraising for their eighth grade SeaCamp trip. Popcorn will be available every Friday after school beginning January 22. Just watch for students in orange SeaCamp t-shirts. Questions? Contact seventh grade parent volunteers Isolde P. or Tonya S.

Match Wits With Our Mathletes:

Mathletes headed for the Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition, to be held at KU on February 6, competed in a practice Countdown Round last Friday. Students buzz in for the chance to answer the problem correctly. Speed counts!

Some sample questions:

1) Billy's age is twice Joe's age and the sum of their ages is 45. How old is Billy?

2) What is the degree measure of an angle whose measure is double the measure of its complement?

3) The area of one face of a right pyramid with an equilateral triangular base is 75 square meters. If the slant height is 30 meters, what is the length of the side of its base, in meters?

(Answers appear at the bottom of the newsletter)

Around Campus

$431 was raised for Haiti relief by the student council-sponsored bake sale on January 26th. Thank you to everyone who baked, donated, and purchased treats; it is for a worthy cause, and we appreciate your generosity.

TCS Students TSA Swimmers

Several Topeka Collegiate students swim for an hour or more almost every day after school and on Saturday mornings, too. They swim with a club called Topeka Swim Association. On the weekend of January 8, 9, and 10, some of them competed in the True Blue Igloo Swim Meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. The swimmers compete against their age and gender, as well as to achieve qualifying times for other meets. The four competitive swim strokes are the freestyle, breast, back, and butterfly. At this level of competition, swimmers with qualifying times progress on to Division 2, Division 1, and Sectional Meets.

Michael P., seventh grader, has been swimming for Topeka Swim Association since he was six years old. At the meet, he finished in the top eight of swimmers for seven of his events and swam his best times in six events. Nine of his events are qualifying times for Division 1. Alexandra M. is in eighth grade and swims with Michael. She achieved her best times in all of her events and qualified for Division 2 in seven events. Both she and Michael competed in the 1000 yard free for the first time. Emily P. is in fifth grade and started swimming with TSA when she was four years old. She accomplished three best times in her events, finished in the top eight for two events, and has four Division 2 qualifying times including a 500 yard Free. Lana P. is in fifth grade and loves to swim the breast stroke and freestyle. She will attend the MAL Championship West, February 13 and 14 in Lawrence. She enjoys being a part of the TSA team and strives to beat her old times at each meet.

Walker R. and Haley U. are in sixth grade and dropped times in several of their events. Walker's best stroke and distance is the 200 yard free, but his favorite strokes are back and breast. In addition, Haley's brother, Grant, participated in the meet. He is a competitive swimmer and in third grade. Haley and Grant's favorite stroke is freestyle. Connor B. and Nick B. are in eighth grade and finished their events with respectable times. Before swimming with TSA this school year, Connor had been swimming in the summers with the Topeka Country Club. Nick started swimming a couple of years ago with TSA and continues to take time off of his best times at each meet. His favorite stroke and distance is the 100 yard butterfly.

These nine students and swimmers are looking forward to the Division 2 Swim Meet on February 26, 27, and 28. It will be held at Capital Federal Natatorium.

-- Linda Millhuff

Beatriz San Miguel Tabodela, an exchange student from La Coruna, Spain, visited Mr. Martinez' middle school language class earlier this month as 7th grader Courtney B.'s "show and tell." The B. family is Beatriz' host family during her stay in Kansas.

Volunteer Spotlight On Our Auction Co-Chairs

When you see Auction Co-Chairs Amy Spurgeon-Hochard and Erin Bess Pennington, please thank them for the hours of time and effort they are devoting to our "Starry Night" school auction. They are working so hard to make this historic auction (first time ever at school) fun, memorable, and successful.

If you have not already received your invitation for the Saturday,

March 6 auction, it should arrive soon.

Hats off to you, Amy and Bess!

Kehres Cares

Discovery Day will be held on Sunday, February 21 from 1:00-3:00. Prospective families interested in Junior Pre-K, Pre-K or Kindergarten can bring their children to our school to participate in fun "Rumble in the Jungle" activities. If you know of someone who may be interested in learning more about TCS, please provide me with their name and contact information. Thank you.

It's Pet Month in Second Grade

(Left) Erin B. brings in her pet guinea pig Piglet during second grade's pet week. (Above) Veterinarian Dr. Shirley Fouse assists Lucas S. with a stethoscope as he listens to the heartbeat of O'Malley the cat.

Second graders have been enjoying their "pet" theme this month. They kicked it off with an assembly on January 15th, telling the tales of presidential pets (see photo below). Each student had the opportunity to bring a pet to visit the classroom. They were entertained and educated about pets from our own Mr. Patterson: he shared stories of pet skunks, squirrels, and cows, to name a few.

Dr.Shirley Fouse (Michael B. - 6th, Ashley B. - 4th) visited the classroom to speak about being a veterinarian. She brought along family pet O'Malley, who relaxed while each student listened to his heartbeat with a stethoscope. hey each got to try out listening to a cat's heartbeat with a stethoscope. The students will visit Petco this week for a field trip. They have also enjoyed making crafts, writing animal reports and completing non-fiction book projects about an animal of his/her choice.

Combined Second Grade Classes Assembly

Mrs. Bammes's and Mrs. Mosier's second grade classes explored presidential history by learning about White House pets in their January 15th play, Presidential Pets.

Buy Your Grocery Cards Here Before Shopping!

We have Dillons and HyVee grocery store merchandise cards available for purchase in denominations of $20, $50 and $100 each in the school office. The cards may be used at Dillons and HyVee stores for merchandise including prescriptions and gas.

For every card you buy, Topeka Collegiate receives a six percent rebate. The 6% rebate will go in to the Eagles Flight Fund, which will be used to support our school's operating budget.

Third Graders Put On Travel Convention

Travel convention 1 As part of their geography unit on regions and states in the United States, each 3rd grade student researched a state of his or her choice, creating three-dimensional displays designed to entice tourists to visit their state.

On the evening of January 22nd, the students assembled their displays in the Assembly Hall to form a "Travel Convention." The students gave a short report to each visitor, pointing out the factual information and special virtues they had uncovered about their state, as well as relating a few interesting facts.

Most state representatives had a sample of their state's resources - food, drinks, minerals - to share with interested travelers.

Travel convention 2