Topeka Collegiate School
| Topeka Collegiate School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
2200 SW Eveningside Dr | |
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Principal | Dr. Lyn D. Rantz[1] |
| Grades | Pre-K through 8 |
| Website | http://www.topekacollegiate.org |
Topeka Collegiate School is a preschool through 8th grade co-ed, college preparatory school serving the city and surrounding area of Topeka, Kansas, United States.
History[edit]
Topeka Collegiate School was founded in 1982 as Shawnee Country Day School by Susan and Kent Garlinghouse. In its first year it had 40 students and 7 teachers. As the school grew, it moved to its current location at 2200 SW Eveningside Drive. In 1996, additional classrooms, a new gymnasium, and a commons area were built to accommodate the growing number of students.[citation needed]
Fast facts about Topeka Collegiate School:
- Co-educational, non-sectarian, independent
- Preschool - 8th grade
- 161 students
- 22 teachers, 12 with advanced degrees
- 37% ethnic diversity
- Half-day and full-day preschool options
- Average class size - 14[citation needed]
Curriculum[edit]
Topeka Collegiate School offers preschool to grade 8, with preschool having afternoon or morning classes. The average grade size is 16, and the graduating class of 2016 had a total of 27 students.
Each grade at Topeka Collegiate is required to put on an annual class play, presented in front of the school. This prepares students for public speaking. The optional annual choir musical, annual middle school play, and winter and spring concerts provide students with performance opportunities.
Tuition[edit]
Topeka Collegiate's tuition is approximately US $11,000, and 40% of families receive financial aid.[2]
Topeka Collegiate School is made up of two grade groups: lower school and middle school.
Lower school[edit]
First and second-grade students each have their own iPads, while third, fourth, and fifth-grade students each have their own Chromebooks which they use in science and computer classes as well as the regular classrooms.
Students have three 20-minute recesses in which to exercise and interact with their peers in an unstructured environment.
In addition to grade-specific classroom rigor, students go to a science specialist with knowledge and skills specifically tailored for this subject. In art, the students learn from a teacher who expands their creative skills. The IDEA lab focuses on typing fluency, computer research skills, coding, and robotics. All students receive instruction in Spanish twice a week.
Each grade completes special projects, such as the 3rd-grade recreation of the Amazon rainforest using papier-mâché, and the 4th-grade wax museum in which students depict European explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. Pre-K to kindergarten participate in a Halloween play in which they sing spooky songs to entertain their parents.
Middle school[edit]
Middle school students participate in various special activities, including a 7th-grade trip to Arkansas and an 8th-grade trip to marine biology school.
The middle school holds an annual awards ceremony in which outstanding students receive recognition, including the elite Mac Grives award. Afterwards, students shower the graduating 8th-grade class with roses as a farewell.
Most graduating students attend Washburn Rural High School and Topeka High School. Some attend Topeka West High School and Shawnee Heights High School.
Extracurricular activities[edit]
Topeka Collegiate School offers several extracurricular activities. Both grade groups have the option of attending aftercare, in which the student may join a club. Collegiate is known for its summer program, in which students participate in various summer activities.
Sports are offered to middle school students. They include boys' and girls' basketball, coed soccer, girls' volleyball, and coed track and field. The soccer team has won the regional schools tournament for three years in a row under coaching by athletic director Nichole Bishop.[citation needed]
Collegiate's music department is headed by Kay Siebert. Students participate in musicals and plays, and several attend local competitive music festivals.
Notable faculty[edit]
- Dr. Lyn D. Rantz (Head of School)[1]
- Kay Siebert (music teacher)
External links[edit]
References[edit]
Coordinates: 39°01′37″N 95°44′07″W / 39.0270°N 95.7354°W
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