Tuscarora Elementary

https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/tuscarora

Dear Parents & Guardians,

As the holidays approach, I want to take the time to thank each and every one of you for your support of Tuscarora. Parents/Guardians like you are what make Tuscarora so great!

I would like you to please take note of some important dates for this month. Our annual 2nd grade Winter Concert is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12th. This is a great way to get into the spirit of the holidays. The concert will take place at Tuscarora in our cafeteria and begin at 6:30 PM.

In addition, the 2nd 9 weeks & 1st semester will be concluding on December 21st. There will be a 2-hour early dismissal for students on December 21st as this is a Faculty Senate & Professional Learning day for our staff. Students will be dismissed at 1:20 PM on this day. This year the Winter Holiday break for Berkeley County Schools will run from December 22nd – January 2nd. Students will return back to school on January 3rd. On December 14th there will be a 2-hour delay.

In closing, please have a wonderful holiday break. Take the time to enjoy your families and friends and be grateful for your time together!

Sincerely,

Tyler Long Ed.D, Principal

Dec 5-7 Holiday Gift Shop (see below)

Dec 12 - Bank Day

Dec 12 - 2nd Grade Winter Concert

Dec 14 - 2 Hour Delay

Dec 21 - 2hr Early Dismissal

Dec 22 - Jan 2 Winter Break

Jan 3 - Students Return to School

Second grade students will be performing their Winter concert on Tuesday, December 12th. Show time is 6:30 pm. Second grade students needs to arrive by 6:10 to warm up and line up. Please come support these students as they have worked hard to prepare and it promises to be a fun evening.

Tuscarora's PTO is offering a Holiday Gift Shop for students. They will have an opportunity to purchase gifts for their family during school hours. There will be volunteers here to help your child shop. All gifts are $2.25 each CASH ONLY. Please fill out the form that was sent home with each student and return it along with the money in a baggie or envelope labeled with your child's name/teacher's name.

12/5/23 Tuesday - Kindergarten

12/6/23 Wednesday - First Grade

12/7/23 Thursday - Pre-K and Second Grade

Please join us in some holiday fun by participating in the December dress up days:

12/1- Are you ready for it? Lets Start this Holiday Countdown Right... Everyone wear your RED and WHITE

12/4 - Deer John Era- Wear reindeer headwear or attire

12/5 - Bejeweled Era- Wear any holiday accessory

12/6 - Shake it Off Era- Wear something with bells or sparkle

12/7 - Mean Era- Wear green or Grinch attire

12/8 - Karma is a Guy on the Chiefs- Wear athletic attire

12/11 - Cruel Summer Era- Wear Hawaiian shirts or Leis

12/12 - All Too Well Era- Wear plaid or flannel

12/13 - Blank Space Era- Wear bold colors or crazy holiday colors

12/14 - All Too Well Era- Wear your favorite holiday flannel

12/15 - Anti Hero Era- Wear your favorite villain

12/18 - Red Era- Wear red or Santa attire

12/19 - Happiness Era- Wear any holiday attire that makes you happy

12/20 - Wildest Dreams Era- Wear your favorite holiday pajamas

12/21 - Cardigan Era- Wear your favorite holiday sweater

Happy December!

I hope this newsletter finds you all doing well.

From December 1st through 12th students are invited to color in / decorate the “Snow Many Ways to Stay Healthy” coloring sheet. The sheets can be picked up in the nurse’s office. Students who turn them in (with name and grade) will be entered to win a prize from our School Based Health Clinic Provider. A winner from each grade level will be picked on Wednesday December 13th. Students are encouraged to color / decorate the page to highlight ways to stay healthy this winter! Good luck to all – I’m excited to see the drawings!

Here are some friendly tips from the to keep in mind as the winter weather is quickly approaching:

· Layer up. Students typically are outside during the day. Dressing in several layers is a great way to stay comfortable during the day. If your student has a spare set of clothes in his/her bag, be sure to have them updated to include options for colder weather.

· Protect your head, hands, feet, and ears. When it is cold, blood flow is concentrated in your body’s core, leaving your head, hands, and feet vulnerable to frostbite. Send students to class with a coat, hat / gloves, and appropriate footwear for school and when playing outside.

· Play it safe. Even when roads are closed to traffic, it’s not safe to play or sled in the street. Visibility can be limited due to snowbanks and ice on the roads making breaking difficult.

· Beware of clothing hazards. Scarves and hood stings can be dangerous for younger / smaller kids if the student gets wrapped / caught up in it. Children in car seats should not have heavy / puffy coats or snowsuits on under the straps as it could make them too loose. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting a light blanket on over them after buckled in and reminds adults to check and ensure the child doesn’t get too warm while traveling.

· Prevent nosebleeds. If your child suffers from minor winter nosebleeds, consider using a cold-air humidifier to keep the nasal passages hydrated (just be sure to clean the humidifier between uses and while in storage).

· Stay hydrated. Don’t forget about drinking plenty of water. It’s just as important during cold weather as it is in the heat. In drier winter air, kids lose more water through their breath. Offer plenty of water and try giving them warm drinks and soup for extra appeal.

· Limit sugar In addition to its other negative effects, sugar is proven to suppress the immune system by decreasing your white blood cells ability to fight bacteria. Sugar consumption can also increase inflammation. From Halloween candy to holiday treats, there’s a lot of temptation during this time of year, but limiting sugar intake is a proven way to help keep your kids healthy.

· Enforce bedtime Speaking of sleep, one of the best ways to help keep your children healthy this winter is to make sure they are getting the proper amount of sleep. Being well-rested will help their body fight off viruses they may be exposed throughout the day.

· Change their clothes Get in the habit of having your kids change out of their school clothes as soon as they get home, and leave their shoes at the door to help prevent tracking germs into your house.

· Stay up-to-date on vaccinations Vaccines are an important component of protecting a child’s health by working with their body’s natural defenses to develop immunities to various diseases. This can be done during your child’s regular well visit with his or her pediatrician. Consistent well visits when your child is healthy are an important part of preventing your child from getting sick.

· Stay Active Don’t let dropping temperatures keep you from getting plenty of exercise. Families can incorporate fun activities like family dance party, jumping jack contest, twister, musical chairs, indoor play areas and even sledding.

Warm wishes for a healthy and fun December!

Nurse Lynne

Holiday Smencils will be on sale in the office every Tues/Thurs this month for $1 each.

Please remember that when your student is absent you need to send a note explaining the absence within 2 schools days. If your child has a doctor's appointment or is sick and you take them to the doctor, always ask for a doctor's note to excuse the absence.

Berkeley County Schools has established an on-line form for parents/guardians to use when a student is absent. Please use the attached link to access this form.

https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/Page/16679

We wish to THANK the parents/guardians/community members for their support of the Scholastic Book Fair. We met our fundraising goal and will receive around $2700 worth of new books for our school library. We appreciate your support.