Tuscan Tidings

Tuscan is fortunate to have a strong team of caring and dedicated teachers who are diligently working to make the 2021-2022 school year as enjoyable and enriching as possible for all of our students. Our low rate of staff turnover adds richly to our ability to consistently provide Tuscan’s children with quality learning experiences.

However, each year staff changes are inevitable. Please join us in warmly welcoming our new faculty and staff members!

New Faculty/Staff Members & Teaching Assignment Changes

for the 2021-2022 School Year @ Tuscan!

• On the fabulous 1st Grade Team, Mrs. Koltenuk and Special Education teacher Ms. DePaolo will be co-teaching our Grade 1 inclusion class.

• Mrs. Amato received an incredible opportunity to merge her passion for teaching with her love for dance to serve as a dance teacher in another school district. Mrs. Amato’s good fortune provides a wonderful opportunity for us to warmly welcome back, to the sensational 2nd Grade Team, Mrs. Amanda Duarte who was Mrs. Thomas’ former student teacher.

• To co-teach a new section of Grade 2 inclusion with Mrs. Dore, Special Education teacher Mrs. Yvonne Phillips is joining the sensational 2nd Grade Team.

• Ms. Keith received an opportunity to teach in another school district. This wonderful opportunity for Ms. Keith opens the door for us to soon welcome a new Special Education Inclusion teacher to the terrific 3rd Grade Team to co-teach with Kim Boryeskne.

• Our best wishes to new mom Mrs. Gina Rodriguez on the birth of her baby! To serve as Leave Replacement Teacher for Mrs. Rodriguez, for this school year, please welcome Mr. Michael Donovan to the fabulous 4th Grade Team.

• Welcome back to Special Education Teacher Mrs. Kristin D’Alconzo who is returning from leave after the birth of her new baby! Mrs. D’Alconzo will be co-teaching homeroom 4R with Mr. Donovan and Mrs. Silvestri.

• Mrs. Rickard (4Ri) is joining the fabulous 4th Grade Team and will teach 4th Grade and 5th Grade Mathematics, Science and Social Studies for homerooms 4Ri and 5Sm.

• Mrs. Smith (5Sm) is joining the phenomenal 5th Grade Team and will teach 4th Grade and 5th Grade English Language Arts for homerooms 4Ri and 5Sm.

• We are pleased to welcome to the Tuscan family, Special Education teacher Hee Sook Inn, to co-teach 5Sm homeroom with Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Rickard.

• We are delighted to welcome, back to her Tuscan School home, Mrs. Stefanie Wrembel (5th Grade Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) teaming with Mrs. Secor (5th Grade English Language Arts).

• Also joining the phenomenal 5th Grade Team, we are delighted to welcome to the Tuscan family, Special Education teacher Ms. Jessica Pace, to co-teach homeroom 5Se with Mrs. Secor and Mrs. Wrembel.

• We are also pleased to welcome to the Tuscan family Mr. Domenic Croce who is replacing Mrs. Hershfield as our 5th Grade Orchestra teacher.

• We are thankful to have the support of Ms. Debra West and Mr. Mike Paquette as building based substitute teachers on special assignment.

Tuscan teachers, support staff and school administrators are profoundly grateful to have such steadfast and generous support from our amazing Tuscan Family. We understand that as parents of school age children you face a myriad of challenges and we deeply appreciate your positive partnership, patience and understanding. Please know that we are here to support you and your child in every way that is possible. If you have questions or concerns, please continue to reach out to us at ROARforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us.

Please stay safe and be well!

In partnership,

Malikah Tamar Majeed, Principal

Dear Tuscan Kindergarten Family~

The Kindergarten Experience at Tuscan School is an exciting time for all of us and our goal is to create a firm foundation for a life-long love of learning. We know that learning unfolds uniquely for each child and we are dedicated to providing our students with a safe, healthy, and firm foundation for active and mindful engagement in learning.

Please look for the link joining us virtually as soon as possible for our Kindergarten Meet and Greet Orientation to learn about your child's upcoming Kindergarten experience at Tuscan!

Until then, please join our school community in the joys of summer reading by exploring the link below to Tails & TALES Summer Reading 2021.

Tuscan School Reopens for Students on Thursday, September 9th, 2021.

We are diligently planning and working to ensure a safe reopening of school, for all Tuscan students, families, faculty and staff. Should you have any questions about the Tuscan experience please email us at RoarforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us. Please know that we will do our best to respond to emails as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, continue to enjoy summertime family fun, be well and stay safe!

~Ms. Majeed

September 3: District Closed - Holiday Recess

September 6: District Closed - Labor Day

September 7-8: District Closed - Rosh Hashanah

September 16: District Closed - Yom Kippur

September 29: Tuscan School 12:45 pm Dismissal/ Back to School Night

Construction work on the Tuscan blacktop beginning this summer is part of the District’s Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP).

To commemorate the launch of construction at Tuscan, the South Orange & Maplewood School District along with EPIC Construction hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 28, 2021.

Although we will deeply miss the Tuscan blacktop, we will hold dear in our hearts all the happy memories of the beloved space.

Please know that while construction is taking place, we will do our best to more fully utilize all available outdoor space at Tuscan. When construction is complete, the portable classrooms will be removed and the new space gained will be developed for safe outdoor play and arrival/dismissal. We are so excited that in the near future all Tuscan students and teachers will be connected under one roof.

New patterns for student arrival/morning line up and dismissal will be shared prior to the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

• 8/16/2021 Tuscan Construction Update
• 8/9/2021 Tuscan Construction Update
• 8/8/2021 Tuscan Construction Manager Status Report
• 7/19/2021 Tuscan Construction Update

• District Mental Health & Wellness Resources
• SOMSD Intentional Integration Initiative (III) Microsite
• MAPSO/ SOMA COVID-19 Community Guide (Covid Vaccine Overview)
  
• Maplewood Township COVID-19 Resource Portal
• South Orange Village COVID-19 Info Portal
• Face Mask Protection Guidelines for COVID-19

The School District of South Orange and Maplewood

Email: ROARforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: www.somsd.k12.nj.us/tuscan/
Location: 25 Harvard Avenue, Maplewood, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-378-5221