Dear Families and Friends,

Yesterday marked the end of the third quarter, and we celebrated with a fantastic student-organized pep assembly, recognizing the achievements of our academic and athletic teams. We’re so proud of our students’ hard work and dedication! As we head into spring break, teachers will be preparing to finish the year strong. A heartfelt thank you to the Board of Trustees for providing a meal for our faculty on March 24, and to all the families who brighten our Fridays with delicious treats — your kindness means so much to our amazing teachers.

As students enjoy a few days off, I encourage them to focus on two things: reading and discussing what they are reading. Take the opportunity to visit our wonderful Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library with your child and explore books that spark your interest. Enjoy some quiet time together by sitting outside and reading in the beautiful spring weather. These peaceful moments of reading and reflection will not only benefit you and your child, but also provide a chance for much needed rejuvenation and a lasting bonding connection. 

Please note that due to the number of snow days, Topeka Collegiate will have school on April 18.

Enjoy the break, and we look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, March 25, for our final quarter of the school year!

Sincerely,

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

Head of School

SeaCamp 2025 Recap

Our 8th-grade students returned on Sunday from their unforgettable 2025 SeaCamp capstone trip! They had an incredible experience exploring marine life, Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Kea, and the unique physical and human geography of Hawaii’s Big Island. This adventure allowed them to go Beyond the Book in the most meaningful way — learning together, firsthand, through exploration, study, and reflection.

Pep Rally and Recognition

Amidst the excitement of the 8th-grade students enjoying their SeaCamp adventure, the students in Grades 6 and 7 spent time planning a pep rally, recognizing our students in their academic and athletic successes so far this school year.

Students groups receiving special attention included quiz bowl, science day, spelling bee, basketball, soccer, Math Counts, AMC 8, AMC 10, Volleyball, National History Day, Model UN, Honor Roll, and Kid Wind.

While students enjoyed the accolades, the ultimate highlight was the annual student basketball team vs the faculty team. After a hard fought game, the faculty team of Mrs. Philbrick, Mr. Simons, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Park, Mrs. Grey, and Mr. Park came away with the win. What a great way to end the third quarter!

KidWind Challenge

The KidWind Challenge, launched in 2009, gives students the opportunity to design, test, and compete with their own wind turbines—building real-world skills in STEM and renewable energy. Under the leadership of Technology Teacher Ms. Shelly Robinson and Mr. Ken Park, eight 4th-grade students participated in the 2025 Kansas KidWind Challenge in Burlington on February 28.

Throughout this year-long experience, students explored the science and technology behind wind power, gaining hands-on knowledge of turbine mechanics and blade design. At the competition, they engaged in four events:  

State Science Day

On Friday, March 7, five 7th-grade students traveled to Wichita for the State Science Day competition. While only five students participated from Topeka Collegiate, many of the 8th-grade students also qualified at the Regional Competition last month in Ozawkie. Due to this date conflicting with the Sea Camp trip to Hawaii, none of our 8th-grade students were available to compete.

At State Science, each project is judged three times, with students required to present their project and results to each judge separately. Feedback from the judges was positive, and students have information for improving their process for next year.

A team project by Falon B. and Mina W. received Third Place in their division. Congrats to them and to Mr. Simons, the middle school science instructor!

Read Across America

In celebration of Read Across America week, students spent a part of their day, and in some cases the whole week, participating in a variety of reading activities to recognize Read Across America.

The students in Grades 2-5 spent an afternoon reading in the gym…with a twist. They brought blankets and flashlights as the gym was dark. Their lights created a fun effect and made the reading even more enjoyable.

Another group of Book Buddies created their own spaces, using blankets, chairs, and other materials to craft hiding places to read. All in all, every Topeka Collegiate student in Prekindergarten through Grade 7 spent time celebrating the special week of literacy!

Yearbook Submissions

Complimentary student yearbooks will be ordered soon!

Each family receives two customizable pages at no cost, with an option to purchase additional pages to commemorate all your child's school year adventures.

Click here for instructions on how to submit these special yearbook pages!

Submissions are due by Sunday, March 23.

Aftercare Policy Reminders

Please review the following school phone policy and safety procedures for Aftercare:

• Students are not to be on their phones while in school, including while in Aftercare; this is a school policy, which students have been informed and reminded.

(See page 10 of the Family Handbook)

• All parents need to come into the school to check out their student(s) from Aftercare.

(See page 11 of the Family Handbook)

• If you need to convey a message to your student while in Aftercare, you can call Ext. 2122 or call or text Ms. Bonilla at 785-554-5032.

Summer Blast

Summer Blast registration is now open! We are excited for a new summer filled with adventures, fun, creativity, and learning!

Scan the QR code or click here for details and to register today.

We are excited to support their journeys and watch them thrive in their learning adventures!

Help Us Grow Topeka Collegiate!

We are always looking to connect with families seeking an independent school education, and we need your help to broaden our reach! Here’s how you can make a difference:

✅ Leave a Review & Engage on Social Media – Share your positive experience at Topeka Collegiate by leaving a review on Google or Facebook. Your words help prospective families discover our vibrant community! And don’t forget to check in and tag Topeka Collegiate when posting on social media—word of mouth is the most powerful way to grow our school’s impact.

✅ Spread the Word – Know an organization that values education and children? Invite Dr. Rantz to speak and share the Topeka Collegiate story or bring that group on campus for a meeting. This could be a business meeting or an organization such as Rotary, Junior League, or a GTP event. We are eager to partner with a local company to help us reach more families who would benefit from our school.

✅ Connect Us with Realtors – We are looking for a Sunflower Association of Realtors, Inc. member to help introduce Dr. Rantz to local realtors.  This connection will allow us to share our school with families moving to the area. If you are a member or can connect us with one, please reach out to Dr. Rantz directly.

If you have other ideas for increasing our enrollment, just let us know. Your support helps us grow and strengthen the Topeka Collegiate community. Thank you for being an advocate for our school!

2025-2026 Admissions

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