Dear Families and Friends,

Our eighth-grade students recently showcased their creativity and technical skills in an exciting partnership with the Topeka Zoo. Guided by technology teacher Shelly Robinson, students designed and produced 3D ornaments for the Festival of Trees at Fairlawn Plaza. This unique project allowed our students to innovate and collaborate with a valued community partner, bringing their ideas to life using our state-of-the-art 3D printers.

The result is a beautifully adorned tree that reflects the spirit of our Beyond the Book experiences. Our eighth-grade students spent a morning with the Zoo staff this week, learning more about the behind-the-scenes artistic and engineering work of Zoo Lights. If you haven’t yet visited the Festival of Trees, we encourage you to stop by and admire their hard work. Our tree is a shining example of the innovative potential fostered at Topeka Collegiate.

Thank you to our middle school and fifth-grade parents who joined us for Science Night, organized by Mr. Simons Middle School Science Teacher, and Thursday night's Grade 5 and 7 parent meetings. We also extend our gratitude to the many alumni and adult volunteers who generously served as judges for our 2024 Science Day projects. Your time and expertise make a meaningful impact on our students' learning experiences!

Sincerely,

Lyn Rantz, Ed.D. P'19, P'21

Head of School

Grandparent/VIP Day

A huge thank you to families, Mrs. Kay Siebert, and our Community Engagement Coordinator Hayley Smith for making our Grandparent/VIP Day so incredible! It was a wonderful day connecting with our extended Topeka Collegiate families. 

And a very special thank you to Nick Krug (Bruce-4, Olive-8) at nickkrugweddings.com for all the family photographs. The pictures have been mailed home, however, you can find digital copies of all photos here.

Science Night

The Topeka Collegiate Science Night was a huge success! The student’s dedication to their research projects was evident, and their hard work paid off as they were able to share their findings with the community. The focus on environmental issues like microplastics, bacteria reduction, and healthy food preparation shows a strong commitment to addressing current global challenges.

Mr. Kevin Simons, MS science teacher, spoke on the tradition of Science Night. “Science Night is a reflection of the scientific method, the foundation of all scientific pursuits. Students experience and celebrate practicing the scientific process. They learn to approach something with no opinion to get to the natural proof of it.” Mr. Simons’ quote highlights the importance of the scientific method in fostering curiosity and discovery, and it's clear that this event offered a valuable learning experience for all involved. It was inspiring to see the students’ projects and hear about their new knowledge!

Thank you to the following volunteers who judged our Science Day projects:

Elizabeth Albin (Preston-7)

Tevin Asamoah

Will Boyd ‘22

Megan Leon (Izzy-1, Sophia-8)

Taylor Rantz ‘21

Hayley Smith

Zach McIntrye (Wyatt-8)  

Dr. Samantha Muppella (Sanvi-6)

Aditi Nimishakavi '21

Subrahmanya Nimishakavi

Shelly Robinson

Your time spent with our students is greatly appreciated!

ERB Testing

Students in Grades 4-8 participate in the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) tests each autumn. The ERB consists of seven subtests, with student progress measured in Verbal Reasoning, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Writing Mechanics, Writing Concepts and Skills, Quantitative Reasoning, and Mathematics. Fourth-grade students take an Auditory Comprehension subtest in place of the Vocabulary subtest. Students approached the tests with a positive outlook and took them seriously, and the results were very good. The individual results will be sent home with students on Friday, December 13. Please be looking for these, and reach out to the homeroom teacher if you do not receive them. Additionally, the second quarter report cards will be emailed to parents on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Pre-K, Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade are once again teaming up to make this winter an extra warm and cozy one for the individuals TARC serves!

We will be donating the following items to TARC, our school’s service learning partner:

• New Infant Onesies 
• New Children’s Pajamas
• Blankets
• Apple Sauce
• Pudding

Donations can be placed in the collection boxes located in the Eagle Foyer and by the Main Office until Tuesday, December 17.

Thank you for helping to make the holidays a little brighter for the individuals that TARC serves!

Wiser Advisors Gingerbread House Competition

The middle school advisor students will be hosting a Gingerbread house building competition!

Join us on December 20 from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM in the Topeka Collegiate Commons.

From the School Nurse

As a reminder, we are pleased to offer testing services for COVID and Flu to all current staff and students. We have OTC Take-home tests and Point-of-Care Tests through our Wellness Coordinator, Jennifer Russell. Please see this link for details.

Inclement Weather/Snow Days

As we approach the potential of winter weather, we wanted to call your attention to the inclement weather section of the Family Handbook.

2025-2026 Admissions

Now is the time to submit an application to www.topekacollegiate.org/admissions for your rising Eagle, before our recruitment season begins. Apply today or connect with Leilani Grey at lgrey@topekacollegiate.org if you have any questions. 

2025-2026 FIT Rate Application Fund

For families who did not lock in their contract FIT rates, are advancing to the next Division, or wish to reevaluate their current locked rate, the School and Student Services (SSS) application process for the 2025-26 school year is now open.

This financial application process is essential for evaluating your unique FIT rate. You can access the application form and additional details on our school’s website under the Admissions: Tuition ReImagined section, or directly via the SSS website.

Application Deadline is Monday, January 27, 2025. For further guidance on how to apply, please refer to our flyer. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Debra Ricks, Director of Finance and Operations, at dricks@topekacollegiate.org.



In early January, families with locked student contracts or students transitioning to a new division will receive an email outlining the next steps for re-enrollment for the 2025-26 academic year, if applicable. If re-enrollment is uncertain, the email will also include the necessary steps and deadlines for that process.

Annual Fund Update

As 2024 comes to a close, we know you have many philanthropic choices.  If you haven’t had an opportunity to complete your year-end giving, the Topeka Collegiate Annual Fund is a great option.  Gifts to Annual Fund help support our school operations, and are 100% tax deductible!  Donations can be mailed to the school, or made electronically at www.topekacollegiate.org/giving/annual-fund.cfm.

Gifts of securities and Corporate Matching Gifts are also gladly accepted. If you have questions, please contact Director of Development, Barbara Gannaway at 785-228-0490 ext. 2130 or bgannaway@topekacollegiate.org. For more information on ways to give, visit our website.

Reading for Education

This holiday season, make your shopping count! By shopping through www.readingforeducation.com and selecting Topeka Collegiate you can access over 400 participating merchants and earn money for our school with every purchase!

Evening on Eveningside

Plans are well underway for Evening on Eveningside: A Night of Giving in Celebration of Topeka Collegiate, which will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025! We are deeply grateful for your generous support of this event over the years, whether through your attendance or donations.

For those new to Topeka Collegiate, this is one of two major fundraising campaigns we hold each year. Funds raised through this event are unrestricted, meaning they support the school’s daily operations and the special programs that make Topeka Collegiate so unique!

Please check your email for information sent from Barbara Gannaway, Director of Development for details on how you can participate in this fantastic event.