Dear Families and Friends,

It’s been a busy and exciting week on our campus! Our seventh-grade students traveled to Rock Springs for a three-day trip focused on teamwork and leadership skills. We’re excited to hear about all they learned and experienced during this special adventure.

On Wednesday, the entire student body gathered to celebrate our second-grade students as they launched their bottle rockets—a thrilling event for everyone!

Thursday was equally eventful, with students teaming up with their book buddies to explore this month’s Core Competency, "Humanitarians." Later, our Kindergarten students embarked on their first field trip of the year to the Kansas Museum of History Trail.

Last Friday, September 27, we were delighted to host author and illustrator Jo Renfro. A Kansas native now living in Colorado, Jo returned to her home state to participate in the Kansas Book Festival at Washburn University. During her visit, she shared her book Peg Gets Crackin' with our students, creating a delightful experience for all ages.

Early childhood students listened to Jo’s story and shared their own experiences of overcoming fear. Lower School students also enjoyed the reading and got an exciting sneak peek at her upcoming book. For Middle School students, Jo’s presentation delved into the entire process of turning a creative idea into a published work, offering valuable insights into writing and publishing.

Jo was given a special tour of Topeka Collegiate during her visit, guided by eighth-grade students, followed by a lunch hosted by the same group. Olive (8th), was surprised by how long and meticulous the publishing process can be. Another student found inspiration in Jo’s journey of following her passion for illustration, while Scott (8th) admired her perseverance and positive outlook. He hopes to emulate her determination in pursuing his own passions.

We are proud to offer so many Beyond the Book experiences that enrich our students' education. Be sure to ask your child about these special activities. A big thank you to our teachers for creating these opportunities, and to our parents for your ongoing support of our school.

Sincerely,

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

Head of School

CONNECT

Topics that support the Connect Pillar of the Strategic Plan, fostering an inclusive and supportive community.

October Visitation Days

A great way to refer your friends/family is to have them join us on campus for a Visitation Day. We have three opportunities this month. October 15, 18, & 25. You can share an event flyer or a link to our Admissions Event page. Registration is required.

We invite all caretakers to join community conversations about the unique demands of raising alpha children, where we can share experiences, explore current research on this generation, and connect.

Our discussions will be based on the article End the Phone-Based Childhood Now by Jonathan Haidt. Please read before attending our event.

Discussion facilitated by Marie Pyko, CEO of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library and Topeka Collegiate Trustee.

Join one of our sessions:

In-Person: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM (childcare will be provided

Online: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88178175341?pwd=QSDU3HIkwrgpaK2j25tlvOvMm09oH5.1

Meeting ID: 881 7817 5341

Passcode: EagleAlpha

Calling All Alumni

Recently, we sent out an invitation asking you to share your personal and professional updates for our upcoming alumni edition of Collegiate Life. Whether it’s a career milestone, academic achievement, family news, or a personal accomplishment, your story helps inspire both our community and future generations of students.

If you haven’t had a chance to respond yet, we encourage you to share your updates by October 10, 2024. Simply click here to submit your news. Thank you to those who have responded!

Former Faculty and Staff Update Survey

Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle! At Topeka Collegiate, we know that the heart of our school has always been our dedicated teachers and staff who’ve left a lasting impact on countless students. When our alumni speak of their time here, they often talk about the meaningful influence of a teacher or mentor who shaped their journey.

We’d love to hear from you! Please take a moment to give us an update on what you’ve been up to since your time at Topeka Collegiate. We will share updates at an upcoming Collegiate Life. Whether it’s personal milestones, career achievements, or reflections on your time here, your stories mean the world to us and continue to inspire the generations that follow.

Thank you for being part of our legacy—because the impact you made still resonates today.

Volunteers Needed

Parents are invited to thank our outstanding Topeka Collegiate faculty and staff by participating in our Friday Treats for Teachers tradition.

Collegiate Kitchen has begun! Enjoy time with our fantastic students by volunteering. Sign-up for the Collegiate Kitchen can be found here.

Mark Your Calendar!

Best of luck to our Soccer and Volleyball teams in their games! Find the full game schedules here. GO EAGLES!

October 4: Soccer Game at Topeka Collegiate; 5:00 PM
October 7: Volleyball Game at St. Matthew’s; 7:00 PM
October 8: Grade 4 Field Trip; Topeka Zoo; 9:10 AM-11:40 AM
October 11: Final Day of Quarter 1
October 11: Soccer Game at Topeka Collegiate; 5:00 PM
October 11: Middle School Dance; 7:00 PM
October 14: NO SCHOOL; Teacher Work Day
October 14: Volleyball Game at St. Matthew's; 8:00 PM
October 16: Volleyball Game at CTK South Court; 6:00 PM
October 18: Grade 6 Assembly; Assembly Hall; 8:30 AM
October 18: PreK and Grade 1 Field Trip; Gary’s Berries; 9:30 AM-1:00 PM
October 21: Report Cards Sent
October 25: Grade 1 Fall Festival; 2:00 PM-3:30 PM
October 25: BINGO Night; 6:00 PM
October 25: Poinsettia Order Deadline; 10:00 PM

Sustain

Topics that support the Sustain Pillar of the Strategic Plan, ensuring a strong future through strategic investments.

Fundraising Opportunites

As a reminder, the school has two official fundraisers each year: the Annual Fund in early fall and the Evening on Eveningside event in February. We greatly appreciate your support of these important efforts, which are essential to the school's operations.

Additionally, our eighth-grade students hold various fundraisers throughout the year to support their Seacamp capstone event. These student-led fundraisers include activities like mum sales, poinsettia sales, BINGO night, Friday Yum days, and more. While we are grateful for any support, participation in these fundraisers is entirely optional.

Poinsettia Sales

Brighten your surroundings with these large beautifully 6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch pot size and colorful poinsettias!

Partnering with Jackson's Greenhouse, your SeaCamp Class of 2025 has six vibrant-colored poinsettias available for your purchase - with every poinsettia purchase resulting in a $10.00 donation to their fundraising efforts!

Orders must be placed by October 25 at 10:00 PM.

Bingo Night

Join the Class on Friday, October 25 at 6:00 PM for Bingo Night!

The Class of 2025 will be hosting this fun-filled night to help raise funds for their Sea Camp adventure next school year.

Annual Fund Update

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our Annual Fund!

We’re excited to share the current class participation levels:

PreK: 67%

Kindergarten: 75%

Grade 1 (Cook): 70%

Grade 1 (Dudinyak): 65%

Grade 2: 60%

Grade 3: 27%

Grade 4: 65%

Grade 5: 35%

Grade 6: 58%

Grade 7: 38%

Grade 8: 36%

Every contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference. To donate, you may go HERE. Classes that reach 100% participation will receive an extra recess and enjoy a healthy snack! Several classes are close to reaching that goal!

While the class participation competition concludes tonight at midnight, the Annual Fund campaign will continue through May 31, 2025. You are welcome to participate at any time. If you know of family members, friends, or businesses we should contact for potential contributions, please let us know. We have reached nearly 50% of our total fundraising goal for the Annual Fund in only one month!

Click here to donate by midnight tonight. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Director of Development, Barbara Gannaway, at bgannaway@topekacollegiate.org.

Thank you for your continued support!

Next week is the final week of Quarter 1. Don’t forget Monday, October 14 is a teacher work day so no school for students.

Thank you again for your Annual Fund Donations and all the support and collaboration within our wonderful school community.

View the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar here.

Click here to subscribe to the Collegiate Connection.