Tomahawk Talk

Hello, Tomahawk Families!

It’s hard to believe we are already heading into October! The first marking period will come to a close on October 13, which means now is a great time for our Eagles to finish strong!

As we move through these next few weeks, we encourage our students to persevere, give their best effort, and use the strategies they’ve been learning when things feel challenging. Learning isn’t always easy, and that’s okay! Keep trying, ask for help, learn from mistakes, and show what you know. We want every student to be proud of the growth they have made during our first marking period!

As we settle further into the school year, this is also a good time for a reminder about behavior expectations. Our SOAR expectations apply throughout the entire school day, including arrival, dismissal, recess, the cafeteria, and especially on the school bus. The bus is an extension of school, and students are expected to follow directions, remain seated appropriately, keep their hands and feet to themselves, use respectful language, and make choices that allow the driver to focus on getting everyone home safely. Please take a moment to reinforce these expectations with your child at home.

October is a BUSY month at Tomahawk! We have lots of activities, important dates, and events coming up. We’ve included everything you need to know in this week’s Tomahawk Talk, so please take a few minutes to read through the newsletter and mark those calendars!

Let’s finish our first marking period strong and kick off October with Safety, Ownership, Attitude, and Respect! Let’s SOAR! 🦅

In Partnership,

Dr. Ematrudo

Principal

Arrival:

- Student Drop-Off: 8:15 AM - 8:40 AM

- Students are tardy after 8:40 AM

Dismissal:

- Parent Pick-Up: 3:10 PM

- Bus Dismissal: 3:15 PM

Monday, September 28th:

• Starbase: Parks
• 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Stream Study @ Creek (Ansari)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: The Palette (selected 5th graders)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Math Field Day Team (selected students)
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Good News Club

Tuesday, September 29th

• Joe Corbi's Fundraiser ENDS
• Starbase: Parks
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• Parent Drop-Off Fundraiser: Grab a Drink and a Donut for $5.00!
• 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Stream Study @ Creek (Church)
• 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Stream Study @ Creek (Kurutza)

Wednesday, September 30th:

• Starbase: Parks
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 8:15 AM - 8:40 AM: School Store (near cafeteria)
• 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Stream Study @ Creek (DiNello)
• 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Stream Study @ Creek (Sowers)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Science Fair Success Club
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run

Thursday, October 1st:

• Starbase: Church & Kurutza
• Paint the Town PINK: Donate $1.00 for Relay for Life
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Stream Study @ Creek (Parks)
• 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Stream Study @ Creek (Mayes)

Friday, October 2nd:

• Starbase: Church & Kurutza
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Stream Study @ Creek (Mance)

Monday, October 5th:

• Starbase: Church & Kurutza
• Mobile Ag Lab: Shaffer, Hause, Inskeep & Blacker
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: The Palette (selected 5th graders)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Math Field Day Team (selected students)
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Good News Club

Tuesday, October 6th:

• Starbase: Church & Kurutza
• Mobile Ag Lab: Blacker, Irwin, Inskeep & Shaffer
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 5:30 PM: PTO Meeting in Library

Wednesday, October 7th:

• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 8:15 AM - 8:40 AM: School Store (near cafeteria)
• Mobile Ag Lab: Hott & Irwin
• 12:45 PM: Early Dismissal
• NO after-school clubs

Thursday, October 8th:

• Starbase: Church & Kurutza
• Mobile Ag Lab: Hott, Otto, Hause & Irwin
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings

Friday, October 9th:

• Starbase: DiNello & Mance
• Mobile Ag Lab: Hott, Inskeep, Otto & Hause
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings

Monday, October 12th:

• Starbase: DiNello & Mance
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: The Palette (selected 5th graders)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Math Field Day Team (selected students)
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Good News Club

Tuesday, October 13th:

• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• Starbase: DiNello & Mance
• End of 1st 9 Weeks!

Wednesday, October 14th:

• No School for Students: Professional Learning Day for Staff

Thursday, October 15th:

• Starbase: DiNello & Mance
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Student Leadership

Friday, October 16th:

• Starbase: DiNello & Mance
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings

Monday, October 19th:

• Starbase: Mayes & Sowers
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: The Palette (selected 5th graders)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Math Field Day Team (selected students)
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Good News Club

Tuesday, October 20th:

• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• Starbase: Mayes & Sowers
• 1st.9 Weeks Report Cards

Wednesday, October 21st:

• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 8:15 AM - 8:40 AM: School Store (near cafeteria)
• Starbase: Mayes & Sowers
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Science Fair Success Club

Thursday, October 22nd:

• Starbase: Mayes & Sowers
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Student Leadership
• 6:00 PM: Trick or Treat Night

Friday, October 23rd:

• Starbase: Mayes & Sowers
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 2:30 PM: 1st 9 Weeks Rally for Students

Monday, October 26th:

• Superhero Day! Dress Like a Superhero (no masks, weapons or props)
• Starbase : Ansari
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: The Palette (selected 5th graders)
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Math Field Day Team (selected students)
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Good News Club

Tuesday, October 27th:

• Wacky Hair/Silly Hat Day!
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• Starbase: Ansari

Wednesday, October 28th:

• Pajama Day!
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 8:15 AM - 8:40 AM: School Store (near cafeteria)
• Starbase : Ansari
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Girls Who Run
• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Science Fair Success Club

Thursday, October 29th:

• Team Jersey Day!
• Starbase: Ansari
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings
• 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 30th:

• Costume Day - no masks, weapons, or gore!
• Starbase: Ansari
• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM: Strings

We want to make our Tomahawk families aware that Nurse Kim’s last day with Berkeley County Schools was Friday, September 25.

While we work to fill the nursing position at Tomahawk, our school will receive nursing coverage through BCS nurses and/or substitute nurses. We are working closely with the BCS Lead Nurse to ensure that we have adequate coverage and that the health and medical needs of our students continue to be supported.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition. We will share additional information with families once a permanent replacement has been identified.

We are so grateful for the time our volunteers give to support Tomahawk! Your help with our activities and events makes such a difference, and we truly appreciate having you in our building.

As a friendly reminder, while you are volunteering, we ask that you please remain in the area where you are assigned. To help us keep the school day running smoothly and minimize disruptions to classrooms, volunteers should not visit classrooms, stop by to see their child, or visit other areas of the building during their volunteer time.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and productive learning environment while still being such an important part of our Tomahawk community. We appreciate you! 🦅

n the past few days, many families have jumped in to help our fundraiser by getting registered and sending support invitations to friends & family around the country...Thank you!

To reach our goal, we need EVERY student to register online and add at least 10 contacts. Each student that gets registered will be entered to win from over 1,000 different prizes including Apple Air Pods, MacBook Pros, Visa Gift Card, and more.

Get Registered NOW at: FundPrizes.com

Thank you for your support!

Get ready to Fill the Eagle during the month of October! Our PTO is sponsoring this fun, optional fundraiser to support Tomahawk Intermediate.

Students will bring home a Fill the Eagle sheet this week. Families who would like to participate can collect donations throughout October and work toward filling their eagle!

🎉 Fill the Eagle and be entered to win!

Every 5 spaces filled = 5 entries for a gift card drawing! Fill the entire eagle and receive 10 entries to win. We will select ONE gift card winner from each grade level - 3rd, 4th, and 5th!

Participation is completely optional. If your child participates, please be sure to write their name on the sheet before returning it to school, as there is not a designated name spot on the form.

Thank you for supporting our PTO and TIS! 🦅

This year marks an important change for our third-grade students. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, the Third Grade Success Act includes requirements related to promotion and possible retention at the end of third grade.

At the end of the year, all third-grade students will take the West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA) in English Language Arts and Mathematics. A student who scores “Does Not Meet Standard” in ELA, mathematics, or both is considered to demonstrate minimal understanding of grade-level content. Under the Third Grade Success Act, this performance can lead to a recommendation for retention in third grade.

This makes the WVGSA especially important for our third-grade students this year. While we never want a single assessment to define a child, it is important for families to understand that third-grade WVGSA performance now has potential implications for promotion to fourth grade.

That is also why the work happening throughout the year matters. We are using student data to identify skill gaps, provide targeted reading and math intervention, monitor progress, and ensure students have opportunities to strengthen grade-level skills well before the spring assessment.

Our goal is no surprises at the end of the year. If your child has been identified with a reading or mathematics deficiency, we will continue communicating with you about progress and the supports being provided.

For our third-grade students, every instructional day matters. Attendance, effort, intervention participation, classroom learning, and building the stamina to work independently all help prepare students to demonstrate what they know on the WVGSA and be ready for fourth grade. 🦅

PASS volunteers provide academic and student support to students on a one-to-one ongoing basis, generally 30 minutes per week.

Our Destination is Graduation!

Your assistance is key to ensuring the academic success of PASS students! Sign-up TODAY to become a PASS Volunteer.

Research shows that on-going personal involvement enhances the education of students as they progress through the educational system and impacts their decision to remain in school.

A PASS volunteer may assist a student with a particular area of study or spend time talking with a student in an effort to provide encouragement and support.

🎃 Trick or Treat Night is coming to Tomahawk! Join us on Thursday, October 22 at 6:00 PM for a fun evening with our Tomahawk community! 🍬👻

This is NOT a trunk or treat. Students will walk the exterior of the building and visit teachers and staff who are set up along the way!

Candy Donations Requested

Student Leadership will also be collecting donations of individually wrapped candy in classrooms from September 28–October 22. Thank you for helping make this event a sweet success! 🧡🦅

Start your Tuesday with a treat while supporting the Tomahawk PTO! On Tuesday, September 29, from 8:15–8:40 AM, grab an Alani energy drink AND a donut for just $5. Please bring exact cash only. All proceeds go directly to the Tomahawk PTO to support our students and school. 🦅

BCS is hosting an Internet Safety session for families on October 6 at Spring Mills High School in the auditorium from 6:00–7:15 p.m. The session will be presented through Project iGuardian, a Homeland Security Investigations outreach program focused on helping children, teens, parents, and trusted adults stay safer online.

This event is specifically for parents and caregivers.

We know students love their Nee-Dohs, fidgets, slime, and other fun toys, but we are asking families to please help us keep these items at home. These items have become a distraction during the school day and can easily be lost, traded, damaged, or cause disagreements between students.

Unless a fidget or sensory item is specifically provided or approved by the school as part of a student’s individual needs, personal toys should not be brought to school.

Thank you for helping us keep classrooms focused on learning and prevent unnecessary distractions!

We have noticed that some of our students have already missed school days this year. Currently, 20% of Berkeley County students have missed two or more days since the first day of school. Establishing strong attendance habits early is important, and we are committed to partnering with families to support every student’s success.

If you have received communication from your student’s school regarding attendance, we encourage you to connect with the identified staff member. Together, we can work to support your child and keep them on track for a successful year.

Did you know that you can write a note and provide documentation to explain your student’s absence? Providing a valid reason helps ensure accurate attendance records, supports student safety, and reinforces the importance of communication and responsibility—skills students will carry with them into the future.

When documentation is not received, the absence must be marked as unexcused. Students who accumulate more than ten unexcused absences may be considered truant under state law. Our goal is to help families stay informed and avoid this situation by working together proactively.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting student attendance. Your involvement makes a difference in helping every student stay engaged, connected, and successful.

Attendance Policy Reminders:

• Parents are allowed to excuse ten days of absence due to illness during the school year (a doctor’s note is not required for these days).
• Send a note within three days of absence. Please use the Absence Note link
• Include the date(s) of absence and reason.
• If your student suffers from a chronic medical condition, please contact the school nurse.

• Absences related to trips/vacations are no longer excused by State Law.

Minors:

*Classroom-managed behaviors. Teachers will provide verbal warnings, redirect students, remind them of expectations, re-teach behaviors, and inform parents of minor incidents. Consequences may include: loss of recess time, lunch detention, loss of privileges, referral to school counselor, etc. Repeated violations of minor behaviors will become major offenses (habitual violation of school rules).

Examples of minor behaviors:

• yelling out

• out of seat

• inattentive behavior

• interrupting instruction

• minor disrespect

• talking during instruction

• minor peer to peer conflict

• name calling (non-Title IX)

• inappropriate language

• invading personal space

• touching another student WITHOUT intent to harm

• rough play

• refusing to open a book, complete an assignment, work with another student, work in a group, take a test, or do any other class – or school-related activity not listed herein.

Majors:

*Administrator-managed behaviors. Possible consequences include: in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, lunch detention, loss of privileges, referral to school counselor, etc.

Examples of major behaviors:

• Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation: A student will not bully/intimidate/harass another student. According to W. Va. Code §18-2C-2, “harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional gesture, or any intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, communication, transmission or threat that:

• A reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a student, damaging a student’s property, placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person, and/or placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property;

• Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or emotionally abusive educational environment for a student; or

• Disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school.

• Disrespectful Conduct Toward Peers or Staff: done with intent to harm and/or repetitive. Note: repetitive behavior may be defined as bullying. Major disrespect includes: screaming, throwing items (chair, desk, sharp object, etc. with intent to hit peer or staff), or profane language indecent act/gesture.

•False Fire Alarm: setting-off the fire alarm knowingly and willingly without cause.

• Habitual Violation of School Rules: evidence of previous interventions; minimum of 2 prior parent conferences (phone or in-person). Student’s behavior is consistently impeding on the learning of others.

• Physical Fight with Intent: Engaging in a physical altercation using blows with intent to harm or overpower another person or persons.

• Possession/Use of Weapon: As defined in WV Code §61-7-2, a “dangerous weapon” means any device intended to cause injury or bodily harm, any device used in a threatening manner that could cause injury or bodily harm, or any device that is primarily used for self-protection. Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, blackjack, gravity knife, knife, knifelike implement, switchblade knife, nunchaku, metallic or false knuckles, pistol, or revolver. A dangerous weapon may also include the use of a legitimate tool, instrument, or equipment as a weapon including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, compasses, or combs, with the intent to harm another.

• Sexual Misconduct: Exposing oneself publicly and indecently, displaying or transmitting any drawing or photograph of a sexual nature, or committing an indecent act of a sexual nature on school property, or on a school bus, or at a school sponsored event.

• Technology Misuse: Violating WV Code 126CSR41, WVDE Policy 2460, Educational Purpose and Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources, Technologies and the Internet.

• Threat to a Student or Staff Member: Severely disruptive, imminently dangerous, illegal, and/or aggressive behaviors are willfully committed and are known to be illegal and/or harmful to people and/or property. The inappropriate behaviors include, but are not limited to: verbal, written, electronic and/or illustrative communications intended to offend and/or humiliate.

• Use/Possession of Tobacco Product: usage or possession of tobacco products on school property (cigarettes, vapes, jewels, chewing tobacco, etc.).

• Vandalism: • done with intent and/or cannot be easily cleaned or repaired.

If you need to contact us, please call the office at 304. 754.3171 or email the following personnel:

- Dr. Ematrudo, Principal: kematrudo@k12.wv.us

- Ms. Aliveto, Assistant Principal: cari.aliveto@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Ponton, Student Assistance Facilitator: mponton@k12.wv.us

- Vacancy, School Nurse:

- Mrs. Kline, Finance: ekline@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Boyd, School Counselor: megan.boyd@k12.wv.us

- Ms. Thomas, School Counselor: katlyn.thomas@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Kercheval, Registrar: kimberly.kercheval@k12.wv.us