Tomahawk Talk

Welcome back, Tomahawk families!

We are so excited to welcome our students back for the 2026–2027 school year! It was wonderful seeing so many of our families at Orientation last evening, and we are looking forward to having our students back in the building on Thursday, August 20!

As we prepare for the first day, please remember these important arrival and dismissal reminders:

• If you are driving your child to school, please do not arrive on school property before 8:00 AM. Vehicles arriving earlier than 8:00 AM block access to staff parking spaces as our employees are arriving for work. If you arrive before 8:00 AM, you will be asked to leave school property and return after 8:00 AM. Thank you for helping us keep the parking lot clear and accessible for our staff.

• If you are picking your child up in the afternoon, please do not arrive on school property before 3:00 PM. Arriving later helps us keep traffic flowing and ensures our parking areas remain accessible throughout the school day.
• We expect longer than normal wait times for the first few days as we work to get our students into a routine.

Everything you need to know for a great start to the school year is included in this newsletter, so please take a few moments to read through it carefully.

Throughout the year, you can expect Tomahawk Talk in your inbox every Sunday afternoon with important updates, reminders, and a look at the week ahead.

We appreciate your help in making arrival and dismissal safe and smooth for everyone. We’re ready for a great year at TIS and can’t wait to see our students on Thursday!

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

Students

• August 20, 2026: First Day of School

• May 28, 2027: Last Day of School

PL/CD Days ( No School)

• October 14, 2026: Professional Learning Day

• March 17, 2027: Curriculum Development Day

2.5 Hour Early Dismissals

• September 16, 2026: Teacher Prep Time

• October 7, 2026: Faculty Senate Meetings

• December 18, 2026: Faculty Senate Meetings

• January 19, 2027: Teacher Prep Time

• February 3, 2027: Faculty Senate Meetings

• February 24, 2027: Teacher Prep Time

• April 14, 2027: Faculty Senate Meetings

Holidays (Schools & Offices Closed)

• September 7, 2026: Labor Day

• November 3, 2026: Election Day

• November 11, 2026: Veterans Day

• November 26, 2026: Thanksgiving Day

• December 25, 2026: Christmas Day

• January 1, 2027: New Year's Day

• January 18, 2027: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

  
  

Breaks

• November 23-27, 2026: Thanksgiving Break

• December 21, 2026 - January 4, 2027: Winter Break

• March 29-April 2, 2027: Spring Break

Graduations

• May 24, 2027: Spring Mills High School

• May 25, 2027: Martinsburg High School

• May 26, 2027: Hedgesville High School

• May 27, 2027: Musselman High School

Thursday, August 20th:

• First Day of School for Students!

Friday, August 21st:

• Safety Drills for Students

Monday, August 24th:

• iReady Inform Benchmark Window Opens (all grades)

Wednesday, August 26th

• Evacuation Drill

Friday, September 4th:

• iReady Inform Benchmark Window Closes (all grades)

Monday, September 7th:

• No School: Labor Day

🎉 BACK-TO-SCHOOL RAFFLE WINNERS! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Back-to-School Raffle at Orientation! We truly appreciate your support of Tomahawk and hope you enjoyed kicking off the new school year with us!

• 🎒 Purple Bookbag + Supplies: Aundraya M.
• 🎒 Black Bookbag + Supplies: Oliver A.
• 👕 Tomahawk Shirts: Brianna L., Dillon W., Rowan G. & Xavier H.
• 🦅 Tomahawk Bag + Bottle: Audrielynn W.
• 🍕 Pizza Lunchbox + Gift Card: Ronan M.
• 🐸 Sweet Frog Gift Card: Vivianne K.
• 🥪 Toasted Gift Card: Braelyn F.
• 📚 Blind Date Book Basket: Zaylyn I.

Congratulations to all of our winners! 🎉

Winners will receive their prizes in their homerooms on the first day of school! Thank you again for your support. We can't wait to welcome everyone back to TIS! ❤️🖤

Drop-Off Procedures:

• Please enter the parking lot and take the 2nd or 3rd left into the parking lot where students will exit the vehicle with a staff member is present.
• Please ensure students are ready to exit the vehicle as they approach a staff member to keep the flow of traffic moving. We ask that you say goodbyes before arriving to the drop-off spot.
• There will be 2 lanes in each drop-off section, and staff will control traffic.
• Please do not allow your child to exit the vehicle prior to a staff member's directive.
• Please DO NOT enter the bus loop at any point for student drop-off.
• Drop-off time is from 8:15 AM to 8:40 AM.
• We request that you adhere to this schedule to prevent congestion and delays.

***Parents are NOT permitted to walk their child into the building for safety reasons.***

Late Arrivals:

• Students are considered tardy after 8:40 AM.
• If your child arrives after this time, they will need to be signed in by a parent or guardian in the school office. This helps us keep track of attendance and ensures your child's safety.

Important Note:
We kindly ask that you do not pull into the bus loop during drop-off or pick-up times. This area is reserved for our school buses and should remain clear to ensure the safety of all students.

We also ask that you try to avoid office pick-ups between 3:00 PM and 3:15 PM. Many of our students are transitioning back to class from specials, and all staff members are working to get students packed up for the day during that time. It becomes disruptive to the environment when we have to call students out a few minutes early. If you need to sign your child out prior to 3:00 PM, please send in a note so that the teacher is prepared for their early dismissal. Your help in honoring this request is appreciated.

By following these procedures, we can make sure that our students arrive safely and on time, ready for a day of learning. Thank you for your cooperation, and if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school office at (304) 754-3171.

We appreciate your partnership in creating a safe and efficient school environment.

***EVERY DAY/ROUTINE PARENT PICK-UP***

• Our afternoon pick-up procedures mirror our morning drop-off process:

• Parents will not park or exit their vehicle during dismissal

• Students will be brought to cars by staff

• Pick-up will take place in designated zones, organized by student last name

• Car tags must be clearly displayed in your rearview mirror for pick-up

Pick-Up Zones

To help streamline dismissal and reduce congestion, students will be dismissed using the following zones:

• Zone A: Last names A–L

• Zone B: Last names M–Z

• Zone C: Special Accommodations

Staff members will be present in each zone to assist students and ensure a safe, efficient dismissal.

If you do not have a car tag, you will be asked to show photo ID.

The map below indicates where parents should line up during afternoon pick-up.

Note: If your child needs to be added to parent pick-up on a day they are not normally scheduled, please call the office before 2:30 PM. Last-minute changes can disrupt our dismissal procedures and may not allow enough time for the classroom teacher to receive the notification. Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and smooth dismissal for all students!

If your child will be a regular parent pick-up this school year, please complete our Parent Pick-Up Registration Form. This form is intended only for students who will be picked up on a consistent basis, not for occasional pick-up changes.

Providing this information in advance will help us ensure a safe, smooth, and efficient dismissal process for all students. Thank you for your cooperation!

Thursday, August 20

Breakfast: Turkey Sausage & Egg Bagel OR Turkey Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Scrambler, applesauce cup, juice box, and milk.
Lunch: BCS Loaded Nachos with salsa & guacamole OR Cheese Quesadilla with salsa & guacamole. Choice of fiesta corn & beans, green beans, or fresh baby carrots; tropical fruit and milk.

Friday, August 21
Breakfast: Blueberry, Powdered, or Chocolate Donut Holes, sliced apples, juice box, and milk.
Lunch: Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets with dipping sauce OR Tony’s Cheese French Bread Pizza, Pepperoni French Bread Pizza, or BBQ Chicken Pizza. Choice of roasted broccoli, buttery corn, or fresh mixed bell peppers; pineapple chunks, milk, and Annie’s Chocolate Bunny Graham Crackers.

Monday, August 24
Breakfast: Banana Bread, Blueberry Bread, Lemon Bread, or Pumpkin Bread; apple, juice box, and milk.
Lunch: Breaded Whole Grain Chicken Tenders OR Cheese Lasagna Rollup with marinara dipping cup & whole grain garlic toast. Choice of crinkle-cut fries, broccoli & cheese, or fresh grape tomatoes; sliced pears and milk.

Tuesday, August 25
Breakfast: Snack N Waffle (Cinnamon, Blueberry, Buttery Maple, or Confetti), pineapple tidbit cup, juice box, and milk.
Lunch: Salisbury Steak with brown gravy & white dinner roll OR Side Salad with Cheesy Breadstick & Dressing. Choice of mashed potatoes, green beans, or fresh baby carrots; mandarin oranges and milk.

Wednesday, August 26
Breakfast: Whole Grain Cinnamon Roll, applesauce cup, juice box, and milk.
Lunch – Breakfast for Lunch: French Toast Sticks with three cheese egg bite OR Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with marinara sauce. Choice of hash brown patty, honey coin carrots, or fresh mixed bell peppers; orange pineapple juice and milk.

Thursday, August 27
Breakfast: Maple Chicken Pancake Wrap, Sour Watermelon Raisins or Rock’n Blue Raspberry Raisins, juice box, and milk.
Lunch: Chicken Drumstick with Cornbread Mini Loaf OR Cheese Quesadilla with guacamole. Choice of scalloped potatoes, baked beans, or fresh cucumber slices; sliced apples and milk.

Friday, August 28
Breakfast: Croissant Sausage & Cheese Sandwich, banana, juice box, and milk.
Lunch: Breaded Fish Sandwich with tartar sauce OR Stuffed Crust Pizza (Cheese or Pepperoni). Choice of Parmesan broccoli, buttery corn, or fresh celery sticks; tropical fruit salad, milk, and a shortbread cookie/cracker.

Dear TIS Families,

We are excited to continue our Strings Program at Tomahawk Intermediate this school year and to welcome our new Strings teacher, Mr. Rihn! 🎻

Strings is open to students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, whether they are brand new to an instrument or have previous experience. Students may choose from violin, viola, cello, or bass (upon consideration).

Classes will take place before school from 7:30–8:15 AM, with student drop-off between 7:15–7:25 AM. Instruction days will be determined based on enrollment, and families will receive their student's schedule by September 10. Classes will begin the week of September 14.

If your child is interested in participating, please complete the registration form below by September 4, 2026.

Space is limited to 25 students per class, so families interested in participating are encouraged to register early. Limited school-owned instruments are also available for students who may need assistance obtaining an instrument.

If you have questions about the program, instruments, or registration, please contact Mr. Rihn at nrihn@k12.wv.us.

We are looking forward to another great year of music at TIS! 🎶

In the past, we have encountered issues with students using large thermos cups (for example, 40 oz. Stanley cups) as they were spilling on the bus, in class, and students were filling them with liquids other than water.

All students have access to water throughout the day as each wing has a water fountain and a bottle filling station. For the 2026-2027 school year, we are asking that all water bottles meet the following guidelines:

1. No bottle should be larger than 32 oz. in size.

2. Bottles must have a screw-on cap (no straw lids).

3. Bottles must ONLY contain water (no juice, Gatorade, PRIME, etc.).

4. We recommend students bring clear plastic bottles if possible.

Students who do not come to school with water bottles are given access to the water fountains and cups for the bottle filling station during lunch. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!

The policy says there are two types of absences: “excused” and “unexcused.” Excused absences include:

• Failure of bus to run
• Judicial obligations
• Military obligations
• Death in the family
• Medical/dental appointments (with a doctor's note)
• Chronic medical condition (school meeting required)
• Personal illness/injury of student or family member (Limit 10 per school year)

If the reason doesn’t fit into these categories, it’s considered unexcused.

Big Change

In the past, families have used Educational Leave ("Leave of Educational Value") for things like trips or 4-H activities. That is no longer allowed under the new law.

Chronic Absenteeism

If your child misses 10% or more of the school year, they are considered “chronically absent.” In a regular school year of 180 days, that would mean missing 18 or more days. When a student misses this many days, the school will reach out to see how we can help.

What Happens If Your Student Has Too Many Unexcused Absences?

If your child has too many unexcused absences, the school may take further steps, such as a home visit or other actions. But we want to work together with you to fix attendance problems before it gets to that point. Remember, "strive to miss less than five" days of school!

Has your child's emergency contact information changed? Does your child have allergies, require medication at school, or have special dietary or medical needs? Keeping this information up to date helps us provide the best care and respond quickly in the event of an emergency.

Parents/caregivers of all Berkeley County Schools students are required to complete an Annual Forms & Information Update each school year. Please submit one update for each student, even if your information has not changed. To save time, use the "Fill Again" option at the end of the form to pre-fill information from your previous submission.

What's Included

✅ Student Information
✅ Home Language Survey
✅ Emergency Contacts
✅ Medical Information
✅ Special Dietary Needs
✅ Special Education Services
✅ Photo & Media Release
✅ Parent Permissions
✅ Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement

✅ Student Handbook Acknowledgement

For more information on becoming an approved chaperone/volunteer, please click the link below.

Students are not permitted to use cell phones during the school day. **Cell phones should be powered off and in the student’s backpack at all times.* We also do not allow students to use smartwatches for communication purposes during the school day. Students who violate these expectations will receive consequences based on the BCS discipline matrix and parents/guardians will be asked to pick-up the device.

Our main office will contact parents/guardians if there is an emergency or for any other necessary reason. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Please choose BCS busing for your student!

With an increase in our population, we are growing by the minute! Our school parking lot was not originally designed to handle a tremendous amount of vehicle traffic. We are asking all families to choose BCS busing as their child's mode of transportation.

To find your child's bus # and bus stop information, please click here: http://webquery.bcswv.org/livewq/webquery/.

We are going to have very strict guidelines in place for parents who choose to drive their child to and from school to ensure student safety in the parking lots. Cars will not be permitted on school property earlier than 8:00 AM in the morning and 2:45 PM in the afternoons.

Your cooperation and understanding are both greatly appreciated!

Bus schedules for the 2026-2027 school year are now available! Families are encouraged to review their student's transportation information before the first day of school and plan to arrive at their designated bus stop a few minutes early during the first week as routes are finalized and drivers become familiar with their schedules.

For the most up-to-date transportation information, Berkeley County Schools encourages families to download the Edulog Parent Portal app. The app allows parents and guardians to view their student's assigned bus stop, pickup and drop-off times, receive transportation notifications, and track the location of their child's bus in real time when available.

Please remember that bus pickup and drop-off times may vary slightly during the first few days of school as our Transportation Department works to ensure routes operate safely and efficiently. We also encourage families to review bus safety expectations and discuss appropriate bus behavior with their children before the first day of school.

Need to request a bus stop? Please contact the Berkeley County Schools Transportation Department at (304) 267-3575 for assistance.

If your child requires emergency medication at school such as an EpiPen, inhaler, diabetic or seizure medication, per BCS policy, these must be present in the health clinic prior to the first day of school. Please be sure your new orders are dated on or after July 1st. Orders and medications can be brought into the school beginning August 12th, and on orientation night. A copy of the medication form is linked below.

Due to state and county nutrition policies, we do NOT permit cupcakes or any food items for birthday celebrations. Each student will have their name called over the loud speaker during morning announcements and will receive a birthday bracelet from the office. Any food items sent in with students will be held in the office, and returned at the end of the school day. Your cooperation and understanding are aprpeciated.

Last year, we saw a number of conflicts at school that began outside of school hours—often through text, FaceTime, or social media. While these issues may start at home, they can carry over into the school day and impact student learning and relationships.

We are asking for your partnership in helping to reduce these conflicts:

• Talk with your child regularly about the power of their words—online and in person.

• Monitor phones and social media apps to help guide responsible use.

• Remind your child that what happens outside of school can still affect the school day.

• If issues carry over into school, there will be consequences based on the Berkeley County Schools Discipline Matrix.

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

- Mrs. Locke, School Nurse: kimberly.locke@k12.wv.us

- 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