Tuxedo Talk

Dear Tuxedo Community,

It's hard to believe that we're entering the final phase of the 2023-24 academic year! As the days grow longer and more mild, we're looking forward to the many exciting lessons and activities in our schools. Please be on the lookout for specifics regarding year-end events and celebrations across all grade levels.

Spring is also the season for state and district learning assessments. These exams provide valuable insight into curriculum and instruction yielding key data that helps TUFSD make decisions that support all students. Please see our district website for more information about the importance of assessments and the TUFSD testing schedule.

District administrators have been hard at work in recent weeks preparing the district's 2024-25 budget. The Board of Education is expected to formally adopt the proposed fiscal plan on Thursday, April 18. The annual public budget vote and Board Trustee election is scheduled for May 21, 2024. We encourage you to review the budget information that will be posted to our website on May 1 and exercise your right to vote.

Providing our TUFSD students with a high-quality education is a responsibility that I take very seriously. It cannot be accomplished without the valuable input and support of our community. Together we are cultivating a learning environment that fosters academic excellence, personal growth and social responsibility, helping to make Tuxedo students the leaders of tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jeff White

The New York State English Language Arts (ELA) and Math assessments are being administered to Tuxedo students online between April 8 and May 17. Visit the Parent University page on our website for more information and answers to commonly asked questions about the assessments.

George Grant Mason Students participated in a Potato Book Character Contest, decorating a potato with craft supplies to transform it into their favorite book character. Read more

George Grant Mason kicked off Read Across America Week with “Cozy Up With a Book” day. Read more

The hallways of George F. Baker were filled with the aromas of a gourmet kitchen as students cooked up mushrooms that they grew in Living Environment class. Read more

On March 8 and 9, fourth and fifth grade students wowed audiences with their production of "High School Musical Jr." Read more

Isaiah Minano Villasenor earned the title of “Principal for a Day” as a reward for reading the most minutes in the Reading Log Challenge. Read more about his day.

Students in René Blume’s second grade class explored the forces of wind as a source of energy and how it can be harnessed to do work. Read more

George F. Baker students competed in a spring STEM challenge that had them walking on eggshells! Read more

Eighth graders Brooke Bower and Emma Keating have been friends since they were in first grade. They have shared many educational experiences and leadership positions, including being the only two Tuxedo students invited to participate in Junior Leadership Orange (JLO) program this year. Read more about their experience, and how the duo handles their relationship as friends and competitors.

George F. Baker social studies Teacher Ryan Fitzsimmons recognizes that not every student has a passion for history, but he finds ways to connect with his pupils in order to make learning the material fun. Read more

The Tuxedo Union Free School District is proud to announce that George Grant Mason Elementary has earned the National Certificate for STEM Excellence (NCSE) - Campus Certification from the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE). Read more

George Grant Mason Principal Dr. Melissa Jean-Paul and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and George F. Baker Principal Jared Kahmar presented an overview of Tuxedo Union Free School District's performance in the 2023 NYS assessments and Regents exams at the March 20 meeting. View a copy of the presentation here.

At the March 20 meeting, District Treasurer Brian Weir presented the first part of a two-part Budget Workshop series reviewing expenditures for the Tuxedo Union Free School District. View the presentation here.

At the Special April 8 meeting, the second of the two-part Budget Workshop series reviewing expenditures for the Tuxedo Union Free School District was presented. View the presentation here.

On April 18, the the final version of the 2024-2025 expenditure budget will be presented for approval and adoption by the Board of Education in the George Grant Mason All-Purpose Room at 7:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed online here.

This year's school budget vote will take place on May 21. Click here to see the full schedule of Board of Education meetings and important dates. All meetings are held in the George Grant Mason multipurpose room, unless otherwise stated.

For the full agenda and documents pertaining to the March 20 and April 8 meetings, and all previous Board of Education meetings, please visit the Tuxedo Union Free School District Board of Education section of Board Docs.

Congratulations to junior Mo Berthe who was invited to play with the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Coaches Association Divisional All-Star Basketball Team. Players were selected by coaches other than their own, based on their performance in the regular season and Mo’s capabilities were so impressive that he earned one of 50 spots on the Section IX All-Star Team. Way to go, Mo!

The New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts and Mathematics Tests and Grade 5 and Grade 8 Science Tests will be administered as follows:

ELA- April 16-17 for grades 3-8 with make-ups on April 18-19

MATH- May 7-8 for grades 3-8 with make-ups on May 9-10

SCIENCE- May 14 for grades 5 and 8 only, with make-ups on May 15-17

Please note that the Tuxedo Union Free School District will be closed on April 23, 2024 for Passover.

Save the date! The George Grant Mason and George F. Baker Spring Concerts will be held on Tuesday, May 21. More information coming soon!