Topeka Collegiate School Parent Council officers would like to invite you to a morning coffee to be held Tuesday, October 14th. This coffee is for parents of students in all grade levels.

 

Please plan to drop in to the Assembly Hall between 8:15 and 9:15 a.m.  We'll supply the coffee and pastries; you supply the conversation! 

Join us for an evening of autumn fun with a family outing to R. Fruit Farm!

 

Gather around the bonfire and enjoy a delicious pork sandwich meal, followed by a hayrack ride through the orchard at night. While you're there, pick out a pumpkin and add some delicious apple cider to your basket; the shop will be open until at least 7:00 p.m. for your purchases. 

This spook-tacular event will be held from 6:00 p.m. to  9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17th. The cost is $3 per person. No R.S.V.P. is necessary. Everyone is encouraged to wear their Topeka Collegiate spiritwear!

 

R. Fruit Farm is located at 2476 K4 Highway, about 4 miles east of Topeka on 24 Highway. 

 

Special thank yous to Rex and Shannon R. and to their daughter Shaylene (6th grade) for hosting us!

Every autumn, 4th grade students and the Multicultural Education Committee (MEC) hold a bake sale with all proceeds going to UNICEF (the United Nations Childrens Fund). This year's bake sale will take place on Wednesday October 22, 2008.  

 

All students will have the chance to purchase up to two items (up to $1) at the sale during the day; please send the appropriate amount of money with your child if you would like him or her to participate. All leftover treats will be offered for sale after school.  

 

If you would like to contribute baked goods to the sale, please send your treats individually packaged to be sold at 50¢ each. Treats may be delivered to the Assembly Hall before school on the 22nd. 

The Multicultural Education Committee (MEC) is seeking two or three volunteers to co-chair a fun and interesting one-day event on March 6, 2009.

 

MEC will be hosting several former volunteers who have served with the Peace Corps in locations around the world.  Each classroom will will be visited by one of the Peace Corps members, who will relate tales of their service in foreign locales. 

 

Helpers are needed to coordinate activities, to match the Peace Corps volunteers with classrooms, and to arrange for lunch and refreshments to be served to the volunteers and to their 8th grade escorts. 

 

If you'd like to help with preparations for Peace Corps Day on March 6, 2009, please contact Mary Loftus now at 228-0490 or at mloftus@topekacollegiate.org.

At our last Open Forum, a parent expressed concern about a protruding electrical box on the east wall of the gym that was at students' eye level. Mr. Ginapp reports that the box has been moved up the wall to prevent any chance of contact injury.

 

The 7th grade girls and the 6th -  8th grade boys were victorious in their first volleyball competitions. The 6th grade and 8th grade girls were not as fortunate.

 

From Coach Ginapp:

With the Topeka Collegiate School soccer and volleyball seasons well underway, I would like to recognize our volunteer coaches for this season. Thank you to Loren Shinn (6th-8th soccer), Bob Oswald (6th-8th soccer), alumna Stacy Elmer '95 (6th-8th soccer), Bert Lyons (6th-8th soccer), Kaytlyn Converse (7th-8th girls volleyball), Cheryl Kingfisher (7th-8th girls volleyball), Liz Garcia (7th-8th girls volleyball), Katrina Van Aalst (6th grade girls volleyball), Danielle Huckins (6th grade girls volleyball), and Jim Shields (6th-8th boys volleyball) for teaching and coaching our student-athletes.  All of these coaches have put in a lot of time and effort to support TCS athletics.  Please give them a big thank you the next time you see them. Go Eagles! 

 

Sincerely, 

Nick Ginapp

Anyone who has suffered through a hot, stuffy P.E. class or team practice in our gymnasium during hot weather will be pleased to hear that the gym is now completely air-conditioned!  A brand-new air conditioning unit was installed in late summer, much to the relief of Mr. Ginapp and our student-athletes.

 

Congratulations, Anneleise!

Topeka Civic Theatre has announced the cast of its upcoming family musical Annie Warbucks, which includes five talented TCS students and a TCS parent: Skyler D. will play the role of Tessie; Bailey B., Mira R., Bailey S., and Lillian W. are perfomers in the Orphan Ensemble; and Marjorie L.-A., mother of Charlie and Malcolm, will appear in multiple roles.

 

From the TCT website: "The world's favorite orphan returns in the sequel to the international smash hit Annie. The action begins as Child Welfare Commissioner Harriet Doyle arrives on the scene to inform Daddy Warbucks he must marry in sixty days so the newly-adopted Annie can have a proper mother. In the end, Daddy Warbucks' whirlwind search for a fitting bride uncovers not only a plot by Doyle and her daughter to strip him of his fortune, but also his true feelings for Grace Farrell. Annie Warbucks delivers all of the fun, warmth, and adventure that made the original an instant classic!"

Annie Warbucks runs November 28 through December 21 on the main stage at TCT. To order tickets and for more information, go to www.topekacivictheatre.com.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighters are our friends!  

 

All three Pre-K classes commemorated learning about the letter "F" this week with a visit from the Topeka Fire Department firefighters. 

 

The students learned the importance of how to "stop, drop, and roll" if their clothing catches on fire, and learned a song about calling 911 in an emergency.

 

After the classes toured the big pumper engine, each child had a turn operating the fire hose, blasting a stream of water over the grass and trees (and occasionally over their teachers and classmates!)

 

Science teacher Loren Shinn added the technical know-how by partially filling each rocket with water and connecting it to an air compressor. When the release cord was pulled, the rockets blasted into the air, much to the delight of the students.

 

At left, Mr. Shinn prepares Malik B.'s rocket for take-off.  

Alex G., father of Kai and Sho, has sent us an update on the boys' visit to Japan. 

 

Alex is on sabbatical as Professor of Law at the Washburn University School of Law this academic year to accept an appointment as a visiting scholar at Waseda Law School in Tokyo.

 

Alex's wife, and Kai and Sho's mother, Yumiko G., grew up just outside Tokyo, in the house where her parents still live. Yumiko and Alex met while Alex lived in Tokyo in the 1990s. The boys and their grandparents are enjoying seeing each other so often.

 

Kai and Sho both attend a regular Japanese school, which has been an experience for both them and their parents.

(Above left) Kai (left) and his brother Sho (right) proudly wear their Collegiate shirts while posing at their local subway station, "Yoga". (Above right) Kai working on his homework.

 

Kai will be a second grader in Mrs. Shinn's class and Sho will be a Kindergartner in Mrs. Berryman's class when they resume studies at Topeka Collegiate in mid-February.

 

In the afternoon we were introduced to a anti-bullying program called "Peaceful Schools" by Stephen Twemlow, grandfather of Isabel and Isaiah H. The curriculum is based upon three goals: instilling self-esteem, respect and compassion in students through the acquisition of social and physical skills and philosophies derived, in part, from martial arts; making students, parents and all staff aware of the bully-victim-bystander power dynamics so that they can quickly recognize them in their own interactions with others; and giving students tools for solving conflicts in non-physical ways and teaching them to utilize better and more effective coping skills. Integration of the program will require constant reinforcement of key terms and behaviors that become part of the school's daily language. Teachers, children and parents are essential to the success of the program. It will be exciting to incorporate these elements in our school day.
 
Thank you to parent Julie Unruh for taking time to instruct our faculty; your time and efforts are appreciated.

 

Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday, 10:45 to 1:00. Come one day a week or all five! 

 

Contact Karen Benson and we'll get you set up.

 

 

Rehana's left palm has been painted with henna in an an intricate design.

 

 

As advertised, Family Fun Night at Topeka Collegiate was fun for all who attended. Students served as tour guides as they led their families to their classrooms and showed us what they've been up to so far this year. In the Commons, 8th graders oversaw a cake walk and served up chili, soup, and side dishes as a fundraiser for November's trip to Sea Camp.

 

(Above left) Spiritwear gurus Debbie Gibson and Leslie Ham sell Collegiate gear to Mindy B. and daughters Claire and Erin (or is it Erin and Claire?)

 

Thank you, Tracy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyson Project A+ Labels -- Tyson chicken product labels are worth 24¢ to Topeka Collegiate.

 

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. 

 

 

 

We'd like to thank Debbie Rosacker for her past coordination of the label redemption program, and say welcome and thank you to parents Elena Carrington and Carisa Sims for taking over these important fundraisers!