Tashua Family Weekly Update
Mrs. Neumeyer, Principal
National Stress Awareness Day
On Wednesday, Tashua celebrated National Stress Awareness Day. Throughout the entire school day, the students and staff participated in activities to help them learn strategies for coping with stress. Many of our activities were focused on the eight skills of TPS's Vison of the Graduate including Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, Growth Mindset ,Integrity, Self Efficacy, Innovation and Emotional Intelligence.
Students participated in eight workshops including yoga, walking, mindful drawing, coloring, storytime to learn about emotions and more. A special thank you to our specialist staff members for preparing this day. A special thank you also to Mr. Dan Smith, author and former Tashua parent, for volunteering for the read aloud workshop and to Mrs. Diana Philbin for being a guest presenter teaching the students how to use their senses to help reduce stress including ASMR which helps reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia.
Tashua Celebrates Our Veterans: November 11th
In celebration of Veterans Day, invite all veterans to attend our assembly on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:00 AM. During the assembly, we will be honoring these heroes by having them introduce themselves and share their military branch of service. Please use the following link to sign up a special guest: 2026 Veterans Day Assembly Guest RSVP.
In addition, we will be creating a bulletin board with pictures and a brief description of our honored veterans. If you would like to recognize a current service member or veteran, you may send in a picture with the name, location and military branch of service, the connection to your family or any information you would like to share. To participate, please use the link: 2026 Veterans Day Bulletin Board Project. Please make your submission by Wednesday November 4th. For directions, please use the link: 2026 Veterans Day Directions. Once completed, please put your last name in the title. Then copy the link and email to smckenna@trumbullps.org or smckenna@trumbullps.net.
Further, we will also be collecting unopened Halloween candy to be donated and delivered to Veterans. Please have your child bring any candy you wish to donate in a sealed zip-lock bag, marked Veterans Donation. All donations are due by Friday, November 6th. If you have question, please contact Mrs. McKenna at 203-452-4438 or email smckenna@trumbullps.org.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Thank you to the PTA for hosting a wonderful breakfast for our staff members this morning. It was a wonderful treat to enjoy after evening conferences!
Tashua Math Challenge #3
Thank you to all families who participated in Challenge #2. Math Challenge #3 is now available and ends Nov. 19th. We hope to see strong participation rates in all grades. Each month, random winners will be chosen from each grade for recognition over the loud speaker. At the end of the school year, if your child participates in 12 or more challenges, they will be part of a special recognition ceremony. All students can participate in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Click here to access the new challenge and find solutions for Challenge #2: https://www.mathinaction.org/tashua-school.html
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Gidwani at sgidwani@trumbullps.net.
A Message from Tashua's Diversity Committee: Diwali
Deepawali or Diwali for short, is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. It is a festival of lights which marks the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Diwali began as a Hindu celebration but it evolved over the centuries to be a festival celebrated by people who observe the Jain and Sikh faiths too.
It is a national holiday not only in India but also Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka,Mauritius, Guyana, Surinam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Fiji. It is also widely celebrated all around the world, by more than one billion people who observe the Hindu, Jain and Sikh religions. The Diwali festival takes place over five days. The biggest celebrations occur on the third day which coincides with the new moon between mid-October and mid-November..
There are several stories in Hindu tradition which are associated with Diwali. One story describes Lord Rama defeating a demon king named Ravana. Another story is about Lord Krisha defeating a demon called Narakasura. People also celebrate the Hindu Goddess of prosperity, wealth and
fertility during Diwali. According to tradition, she chose Lord Vishnu to be her husband during the night of Diwali.
In Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527B.C.. In Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Although these stories are unique, they all have a common theme of good winning over evil, which is why the symbolism of light triumphing over darkness is a major part of the celebrations.
How Do People Observe Diwali?
- Day 1: People prepare for the festival by going shopping, cleaning and decorating their homes with flowers. This can be a very busy day for families who celebrate Diwali!
- Day 2 :People light small oil lamps called diyas, and they make special artwork designs on the
- floor at their home’s entrance called rangoli. The decorative patterns are made using colored rice, flour, powder, or sand. Special sweet foods and treats are also prepared.
- Day 3: This is the main day of the festival. Families gather for Lakshmi Puja – a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth). They pray to be blessed with good fortune for the upcoming year. Offerings may include fruit, rice pudding, flowers, or other gifts. Fireworks and a large feast end the night.
- Day 4: This is the first day of the new year. Friends and family visit with gifts and sweets.
- Day 5: This day celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. Siblings spend time together, pray, exchange gifts, and enjoy a meal.
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/diwali-history-customs-indian-festival-of-lights
Resources for students and families to learn more:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali
https://www.globetrottinkids.com/diwali-festival-of-lights/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/style/rangoli-art-diwali.html
A Note from the Trumbull Police Department
Trumbull Police Department recently partnered with Linked, Autism Safety Project. Linked is a group that works with over 40 police departments throughout the state. It is a way for loved ones to register those with special needs in a secure system. By doing this it allows the Police Department to have a little insight on those in the household prior to responding. A notification would be added to the residence giving us quick information, whether it is as simple as "7 year old boy, nonverbal, afraid of dogs, overstimulated by flashing lights" or as in depth to detail elopement destinations and photos of the individual in case they leave the residence. When families share how best to respond to their residence it allows first responders to help in the most effective way possible without adding more chaos to the situation, whether it's for a simple fire alarm or a dog barking, it is a great resource to help facilitate a positive interaction. Here’s the link to sign up and learn more: https://www.trumbull-ct.gov/1259/Sensory-Awareness-System
Calendar Reminders
- EARLY DISMISSAL for Students on Tuesday, November 17th for Teacher Professional Development.
Common Sense Education
Your child is taking part in classroom lessons from Common Sense Education. Common Sense helps kids learn the habits and skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly in school, at home, and beyond.
What is Digital Citizenship?
Kids today may seem like experts at using technology, but the digital world requires all kinds of skills and habits that kids don’t just pick up as they go. Digital citizenship helps them learn those skills. The Common Sense lessons help kids in grades K–2 develop healthy media habits and learn how to be safe online. Lessons for kids in grades 3–5 continue to focus on screen time and online safety. Older kids also learn about how to recognize cyberbullying, what is and isn’t OK to share online, and how to find credible news and information.
What Can Families Do?
Common Sense Education provides resources to help you support your kid’s learning. As we teach these lessons in class, we’ll be sending home tip sheets, videos, and activities for you to do with your kids. You can visit the Common Sense website at www.commonsensemedia.org for more. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Working together with Common Sense Education, we can prepare today’s kids to think critically and use tech in positive, creative, and powerful ways.
To view the October Article, Healthy Habits: Helping Kids Balance Their Media Life, Please click the link: October 2026 Common Sense Education.
Tashua's Tiger Den Requests
Thank you to everyone who has already contributed! If you are interested in supporting the Tiger Den again this year, we invite you to check out our 2026 Tiger Den Wishlist. Contributions are completely optional, and we are deeply grateful for your support in any form!
November Lunch Menu
Please see below for the November lunch menus:
Continental Math League
We are excited to bring back Continental Math Leagues to Tashua this year! This is a CHALLENGING enrichment opportunity for students looking to engage in math outside of the classroom.
CT Invention Convention
For more information, please use the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14f-3LvHNxh-NRFxZ_WviQHkpcrKIWTGc/view?usp=sharing
PTA REFLECTIONS CONTEST
An opportunity for your child to express themself! PTA Reflections inspires students to reflect on a specific, student-submitted theme to create original artwork. This year's theme is What My Culture Means to Me! (Fun fact - This national theme was submitted by a student in nearby Wilton, CT!)
Get your creative thinking cap on and design an original work exploring this year's theme in one of the following categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. Use this inspiration sheet or the National PTA website to help with ideas!
Steps to enter:
1. Students create an original work exploring the theme “What My Culture Means to Me”. Click here for official rules and guidelines by category.
2. Complete the CT PTA Reflections Entry form.
3. Email your digital entry to ReflectionsCTPTA@gmail.com with the file name equal to the student's name and entry title.
4. Drop off your original artwork at the Tashua main office and/or email Tashua PTA at TashuaReflections@gmail.com to confirm your submission. Participants will receive recognition, and entries will be displayed in the Tashua lobby at the end of the school year!
Your student’s name and/or other identifying information should not be visible on or within the submitted entry so that the entry can be judged on a “blind” and unbiased basis.
Entries are due to the CT PTA by February 1, 2027. Entries will be reviewed by the CT PTA for school and state placement.
Questions? Contact Janet Howard or TashuaReflections@gmail.com.
Attendance Information and Reporting an Absence
If you child will be absent or tardy, please inform the Tashua School Office prior to the start of the school day. You can report an absence by calling 203-452-4433 or via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (More/Absence Requests).
