Tuscan Tidings

May is Asian American Pacific Island Heritage Month

May is Haitian American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month

Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Haitian Americans and Jewish Americans are an integral part of the expansion of Civil Liberties throughout our history and have made significant contributions in government, art, science, theater, business and much more.

We believe that it is important for our students to be able to see themselves represented in the faces and stories of accomplished people of diverse backgrounds and heritages. In this edition of the Tuscan Tidings is a photo array of diverse people with Asian American, Pacific Islander, Haitian or Jewish heritage. Test your knowledge with these pictures. Do you know the names, stories or contributions of these accomplished leaders, thinkers, artists, activist and athletes? (Hint: Google Lens is a great app to search what you see.)

At Tuscan School we continue to remain diligent in our efforts to celebrate diversity, achieve equity and embrace inclusion.

As always, we thank you for all you do in support of student learning at Tuscan School! Should you have any concerns about your child’s Tuscan experience please contact your child’s teacher(s) or school administration at ROARforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us.

Enjoy the extended Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start to Summer!

Ms. Majeed, Tuscan School Principal

Opt-In For Text Messages

In order to participate in the text messaging service, you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages to your phone, even if you received text messages this year. You must do this whether you have a child in the school system or belong to a community organization that wants to keep up-to-date with our alerts.

To learn more about signing up for SMS text messaging visit: website: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/headlines/district-news/2019/12/16/sms-text-message-communications-from-the-district/

REMINDER! Update Contact Information for All Parties Via School Messenger:

In order to communicate with you through School Messenger, it is important that we have the most up-to-date contact information available for all parties.

• Parents/Guardianss, if you have not yet completed the annual online parent portal forms, we are requesting you do so as soon as possible. More information for parents is found here.
• All staff members are asked to communicate any telephone number changes to the Human Resources department using the “Change staff contact information” form found on the Human Resources website.

The South Orange Maplewood School District provides all parents / guardians access to the district’s PowerSchool parent portal.

Having access to the parent portal allows you to view important information regarding your child.

Parents / Guardians can:

• View daily attendance records.
• View marking period grades.
• View printable report cards and progress reports.
• View school welcome letters (elementary schools).
• View schedules (secondary schools).
• View student Google account information (new students).
• View locker information (High School)
• Make changes to contact information.
• Review and acknowledge forms and documents.

If parents have any difficulties accessing a parent portal account, please review the information found here: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/district/information-technology/parentportalhelp/.

Visit the Tuscan PTA website at https://tuscanpta.membershiptoolkit.com.

From there you will be able to opt-in to Tuscan PTA weekly newsletter, volunteer for events, purchase spirit wear and receive important communications.

Tuscan PTA membership is $12 per person.

We hope all parents will become a member of the PTA. If cost is prohibiting your participation, please reach out confidentially to Principal Ms. Majeed (mmajeed@somsd.k12.nj.us) or Social Worker Ms. Buggy (ebuggy@somsd.k12.nj.us).

As per Board policy the "Student Code of Conduct & Restorative Justice" information is to be disseminated annually to all school staff, students, and parents. This Code of Conduct & Restorative Justice is presented to assist students, staff, and parents/guardians to understand the expectations for acceptable conduct while in school or attending school-sponsored activities, on school grounds, and while on the way to and from school. All students are expected to follow the Code of Conduct & Restorative Justice. K-12 Principals will review core principles and key components of the Code of Conduct & Restorative Justice with their staff and students (as developmentally appropriate) at the beginning of each school year, and as needed throughout the year. We ask families to do the same with their children. It is the collective responsibility of students, staff, and parents/guardians to ensure that the expectations set forth in this Code of Conduct & Restorative Justice are adhered to.

Click the link to view the 2022-23 SY Guide

Chromebook Distribution (New Students):

• Grades K - 2 Chromebook distribution will occur near the end of September (if not sooner).
• Grade 3 - 12 families of new students and students that will need upgraded devices were notified via email that appointments are required for families to pick up Chromebooks from the Technology Office starting end of August 2023.
• Chromebook appointment sign up and pick up location can be found here: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/district/information-technology/1to1/

Chromebook Information (Returning Students):

• Students who attended the district during the current school year and were assigned a Chromebook should continue to use that Chromebook during the next school year.
• The Technology Department will reach out to families to coordinate any device replacements for Chromebooks that are no longer compatible with current requirements.

Chromebook Repairs:

• Chromebook repairs will be coordinated through classroom teachers in the elementary schools.
• Elementary school students that have broken Chromebooks should bring their devices into the classroom and leave them in the class.
• Teachers will submit request for Chromebooks repairs to the school IT technicians.

Additional Chromebook info for families can be found here: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/district/information-technology/1to1/

• May 26 Give Back Day / District Closed
• May 29 Memorial Day / District Closed

• May 30 Tuscan School Virtual Kindergarten Parent Orientation
• June 2:Tuscan School In-Person Kindergarten Student Orientation
• June 6: Election Day / District Closed
• June 16: Juneteenth Observed / District Closed
• June 22: Tuscan Rainbow Picture
• June 23: 12:45 pm Dismissal / 4 Hour Day
• June 26: 12:45 pm Dismissal / 4 Hour Day
• September 7: First Day of School @ Tuscan Grades K - 5!
• September TBD: 12:45 pm Dismissal/ Tuscan Back to School Night
• September 25: Yom Kippur —District Closed

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