Tuxedo Talk

Tuxedo Talk is a monthly update for TUFSD parents, caregivers, and community members, providing a look back at lessons, events, and happenings taking place in the District.

Dear Tuxedo UFSD Community,

As we move into the second half of the 2024-25 academic year, February brings exciting opportunities for our students and important planning for our district.

We are now fully engaged in budget development for the 2025-26 school year. Our administration and Board of Education are committed to transparency and we welcome community involvement in this process. I encourage all residents to attend the regular Board of Education meeting on February 12, during which our business official will present revenue projections and review the timeline of the fiscal plan. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the district’s budget development process and ask questions. Your input is invaluable as we work together to make the best decisions for our students and schools.

This past month, our students engaged in meaningful lessons honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Lunar New Year. Through these activities, children not only learned about these important historical and cultural celebrations, but also reflected on values such as equality, perseverance and the importance of embracing diverse traditions.

For our sports fans, we’re excited to share that the weekly athletics schedule is now available on the district’s social media channels - Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to follow along for game times and locations so you can cheer on our Tornadoes!

Looking ahead, a reminder that Mid-Winter Recess is coming up and our schools will be closed from February 17-21. I hope all of our students, staff and families enjoy a restful break.

Sincerely,

Nancy Teed

Acting Superintendent

Tuxedo Union Free School District

We are pleased to announce that TUFSD is now accepting applications for the Universal Pre-K program and registration for Kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year, and orientations for both programs will be in a few weeks - spread the word to your friends and neighbors! Read the letter from GGM Principal Park to learn more.

We look forward to the return of GGM Saturday Basketball on March 8, 2025. This program is slated to run from March 8 to May 10 and will operate as it has in past years for students in grades 3 to 6. The schedule detailing specific times will be released in the coming days, but we are hoping to offer specific times for specific grade levels (e.g. grades 3 and 4 will operate from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., grades 5 and 6 will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.) Times for each section may alternate weekly.

We are very thankful to volunteers Chris Scanlon, Matt Takeuchi, John Sandak and Rick Marsh for reviving a welcomed tradition!

An exciting new after-school program for children in grades 1 through 5 will start on March 10 and run through May 23, 3 - 4 p.m. Alternating days will offer intramural athletic activities and a reading/math club as follows:

- Mondays/Wednesdays- Grades 1-3 Intramural Athletic Activities

- Mondays/Wednesdays- Grades 4-5 Reading Club/Math Club

- Tuesdays/Thursdays- Grades 1-3 Reading Club/Math Club

- Tuesdays/Thursdays- Grades 4-5 Intramural Athletic Activities

Stay tuned for registration information!

George F. Baker students in grades 6-12 experienced a powerful presentation by Dr. Mykee Michael Fowlin, a psychologist, performer, poet and motivational speaker. With a heartfelt message of inclusion, healing and kindness, he addressed many of the challenges that teens can experience in their daily life. Visit our Instagram page to learn more about his performance.

George Grant Mason fourth and fifth graders visited the ice rink at Bear Mountain State Park, where their skating adventure turned classroom lessons on energy, forces and motion into a real-life learning experience. To see photos from the trip, visit our Facebook page.

Art teacher Michelle Foligno and STEM advisor Marco Margotta teamed up to lead ninth graders in a project that took hands-on learning to new heights! Read more about this fun and engaging experiment in Instagram.

George F. Baker Global History I and Honors Global History I students have been curating their own "masterpieces" for a Smithsonian-inspired Africa wing! Visit our Facebook page to learn more about this multi-dimensional learning experience.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s core values of kindness, fairness and courage resonate deeply with elementary school students. George Grant Mason Elementary scholars spent time learning about Dr. King's life and legacy. Visit our Instagram page to discover more about their learning journey and how these lessons connect to their everyday lives.

The TUFSD welcomed Valter Ulaj to the George F. Baker High School English Language Arts (ELA) department. See the announcement on our Facebook page.

On January 28, George Grant Mason Elementary celebrated National Lego Day with a school-wide event that provided grade-level challenges that tested their engineering skills, creativity and teamwork. See photos of some of the creative builds on Facebook.

The TUFSD is thrilled to welcome Tracy Nagengast to the District as a school psychologist. Tracy will work with students K - 12, and is looking forward to getting to know the students and their families. Read more about Tracy in the announcement on Instagram.

Eight George F. Baker High School students recently took a trip to a recording studio in New Jersey, where they gained hands-on experience producing a professional music video. Learn more about the experience and see photos on Instagram.

Kayleigh Donnelly has attended TUFSD since kindergarten, and credits the close-knit school community for much of her academic and musical success. Visit our website to learn more about Kayleigh and her future plans.

While football fans are counting down the days to Super Bowl LIX this weekend, Melinda Oliveri Sheehan finds her excitement in math, where each solved problem and student breakthrough feels like a touchdown. Read more about her "sport" and how she shares that passion with her students on our website.

At the January 15 Tuxedo Board of Education meeting, the Board offered an opportunity for members of the public to provide input on the development of the 2025 - 26 budget.

For the full agenda and documents from the January 15 meeting and all previous Board of Education meetings, please visit the Tuxedo Union Free School District Board of Education section of Board Docs.

The next meeting of the Board of Education will take place on February 12 at 7 p.m. Click here to see the full schedule of Board of Education meetings and important dates. All meetings will be held in the George F. Baker auditorium unless otherwise stated.

Kicking off the Tuxedo Tornadoes Athlete of the Week series for 2025 is senior Rachel Marin! A shining example of resilience and determination, the junior varsity basketball player recently returned to the court after a serious knee injury and hasn’t missed a beat.

Coach Matt Van Houten says the team captain leads by example—offering a helping hand, never giving up and inspiring her teammates with her unwavering dedication. “Rachel works to improve every day . She is the definition of toughness.” Congratulations, Rachel!

Congratulations to Mo Berthe, the Tuxedo Tornadoes Athlete of the Week for January 13! As captain of the varsity basketball team, Mo has delivered standout performances, including back-to-back double-digit scoring games. The senior recently scored 16 points against Keio Academy and followed up with 12 points against Livingston Manor/Roscoe High School, going a perfect six-for-six from the foul line! Coach Matt Takeuchi says Mo’s leadership and consistent play have been instrumental to the team’s success. “His strong performances, including a near-double-double against SS Seward Institute, show just how hard Mo works on and off the court.”

Way to go, Mo!

Please note that the Tuxedo Union Free School District will be closed from Monday, February 17 to Friday, February 21 for Mid-Winter Recess. School will re-open on Monday, February 24.