Tilden Elementary

We are excited to share our first newsletter of the year! In this issue we'll be sharing a great amount of information so please read through it.

As we kick off this October newsletter, our classrooms are bursting with creativity and energy! We can't wait to share the highlights of what your children are learning and how they're growing!

We can't wait to keep you updated and connected. Here's to a fantastic year filled with learning, laughter, and lots of Tilden spirit!🦅

Tilden Health Room

We have had a great start to the school year! I wanted to share some information and reminders.

Any medication, including over-the-counter medications, will require a doctor’s order to be given in school. Tylenol and Tums may be given with parent permission. Parents will need to complete the Medical Updates and Information Form on Sapphire Community Portal each school year, to give permission for Tylenol and Tums administration.

The state of Pennsylvania requires students to have a physical exam and dental exam in Kindergarten, as well as an additional dental exam in 3rd grade. Forms are available online, in the front lobby, or on request. We encourage students to have private exams. We will offer a basic physical and dental exam later in the school year for families that choose that option. Please remember these exams given by the school are a screening only, as no treatment can be provided. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sara Linderman M.Ed., BSN, RN, CSN

610-562-2241 ext 4560

We are having a great start to the school year in Wellness class! We have been working on our heart health, learning how to find our heart rates and learning about the muscular system. Each class has also been working hard on their five components of fitness, six components of skill-related fitness, gross motor skills and our physical, social and emotional health. Be sure to have fun and stay active for at least one hour a day!

Kindergarten in August and September was very busy. Our kindergartners spent a lot of

time in training! Learning many rules and procedures, then putting them into practice,

required an enormous amount of patience from everyone. We are thrilled to have reached

October! The kids have adjusted to our schedules and learning is in full motion.

Academically, we began diving into our major subjects of Reading, Math, and Science.

Reading skills included left/right discrimination, directionality, position words, and

prewriting (tracing and writing various strokes). Reading knowledge included a study of

many nursery rhymes and several fables. Math consisted of sorting/classifying objects,

counting and identifying numbers to 10, and writing numerals to 5. We began Science Unit

1 , Animal Needs. Extra topics included Apples and the season of Autumn. Socially, we

concentrated on taking turns, respecting personal space, making friends, and being kind.

We look forward to many exciting Fall activities through October and November.

The Kindergarten Team would like to thank parents and caregivers for sending donations of

tissues, wipes, napkins, bags, sanitizer, and glue sticks. We are stocked!

KN Mrs. Noecker

KF Mrs. Felty

KD Miss Dix

KM Mrs. McGinley

KA Mrs. Albrecht

We would like to welcome all our new students and families to 2nd grade. Time has been flying by very quickly! We can’t believe we are in October already. Students have been busy learning and reviewing the rules and routines of our classrooms. We have completed fun activities to help learn them. Along with learning new routines, we have a new English Language Arts program called CKLA. We have completed Unit 1 on Fairy Tales and Tall Tales. We are currently learning about Ancient Greece and the Greek gods/goddesses. Students are also learning about bar graphs, measuring, and place value in math. We have started our Mystery Science program. We are trying to figure out what animal left poo all over a cave! Please ask your child what animal they think it is and why.

On Friday, October 17, 2025, we will be traveling to The Berks Heritage Center for our field trip. Information will be coming home very soon! We look forward to seeing all the parents at our Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, November 24th and Tuesday, November 25th. Further information will come out closer to this time.

If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please reach out to their teacher.

Second Grade Team at Tilden Elementary

We jumped right into learning, making friends, and exploring new topics together. Here’s a look at what we’ve been working on:

📚 ELA – From Toad to Tigers!
We wrapped up our first CKLA unit, The Wind in the Willows, with a big finale: students created clever disguises to help Toad escape after all of his irresponsibility! We also performed lively reader’s theaters to bring the story to life. Now we’re loving our new unit on animal classification, where students are exploring vertebrates, animal traits, and adaptations. 🐸🦁🐠

➗✖️➕➖ Math – Building Strong Foundations
We began the year with an introduction to multiplication and division, building an understanding of how the two connect. Now, we’ve moved into a unit on place value, rounding, and addition and subtraction. These skills are the building blocks for solving bigger problems, and a little extra fact practice at home helps keep the momentum going!

🌍🦕 Social Studies & Science – Citizens and Scientists
This fall, we studied Government and Citizenship, learning about the Constitution, the three branches of government, and the importance of voting. To bring it to life, students even held a classroom “Candy-date Election,” complete with campaign posters, speeches, and ballots. Next up in Science, we’ll be exploring Animals Through Time—digging into fossils, dinosaurs, and how animals and environments have changed over millions of years. 🦖

✨ Looking Ahead
It’s been an exciting start—filled with creativity and lots of smiles. From candy elections to dinosaurs, our students are off and running on a learning journey we can’t wait to continue!

During Science, students delved into the fascinating world of earthworms, uncovering their vital contributions to soil health and ecosystem balance. Through engaging discussions and hands-on activities, they explored how these remarkable creatures enhance nutrient cycling and promote robust plant growth.

Our first Reading Unit was all about Personal Narratives. Students embarked on a creative journey in their reading and writing sessions, crafting personal narratives that highlighted a time they were surprised. Students honed in on their storytelling skills, learning to capture the attention of their audience.

In math, we’ve been diving deep into the world of numbers! First up, we tackled place value, making sure everyone understands how to make sense of those big numbers! It’s all about knowing where each digit belongs and how it helps us in calculations. Next, we rolled up our sleeves and jumped into the exciting realm of multiplying and dividing in multi-step word problems. Students are learning to decompose problems, which is like solving a mystery one clue at a time!

📚 What is Amplify CKLA?

Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) is a comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum for grades PreK–5. It combines foundational skills (like phonics) with rich content knowledge in history, science, literature, and the arts to build strong readers, writers, and thinkers.

🧠 Two Main Strands of Learning

1. Skills Strand (K–2):

• Focuses on reading, writing, phonics, spelling, and grammar.

• Explicit instruction in decoding words (phonics) and building fluency.

• Students learn to read and write independently.

2. Knowledge Strand (PreK–5):

• Builds background knowledge in subjects like history, science, geography, and literature.

• Students build vocabulary and comprehension through listening and reading complex texts.

✏️ What Students Learn (by Stage)

• PreK–K: Letters, sounds, storytelling, listening, and speaking skills.

• Grades 1–2: Phonics, spelling, reading fluency, grammar, and writing simple texts.

• Grades 3–5: Reading longer texts, analyzing literature and informational texts, and writing essays and reports.

🌍 Knowledge-Rich Topics Include:

• World and American history (e.g., Ancient Egypt, Early American Civilizations)

• Science (e.g., Human body, Astronomy, Ecology)

• Classic literature and myths (e.g., Aesop’s Fables, Greek myths)

• Foundational U.S. civics and geography

🧩 Why It Works

• Systematic phonics helps early readers decode confidently.

• Background knowledge + vocabulary improves reading comprehension.

• Builds critical thinking and writing skills from a young age.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How Parents Can Help

• Read aloud to your child and discuss what you read.

• Practice decoding and sight words with younger children.

• Talk about the history or science topics they’re studying.

• Encourage writing at home—stories, letters, or journal entries.

Hello Everyone, and welcome back to another exciting school year! We would like to introduce the Elementary Student Assistance Program to the community, as you may not have heard about us before!

Our Elementary Student Assistance Program (or ESAP for short) is designed to help students who are experiencing academic difficulty due to mental health issues, substance use, or other barriers they may be facing. Our goal is to remove those barriers that prevent achievement, so your student can reach their full potential. Students may be referred to our program for several behaviors, including (but not limited to): withdrawing from family/friends, changes in mood, defiance of authority, aggressive actions, sudden drops in academic success/performance, recent death/deployment/incarceration of a loved one and suicidal ideation.

Our program is run by a team of teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, and a Caron Education Alliance Specialist. Team members have received intensive training from the state to serve on the team, and all members understand and respect the importance of confidentiality. While more staff may receive training to join the team throughout the year, our current team consists of the following:

• Alyssa Fink - Tilden Elementary Center Principal
• Maya Donato - School Counselor
• Sara Linderman - School Nurse
• Kevin McFarland - Home & School Visitor
• Jocelyn VanNess - School Social Worker
• Hannah Beers - Emotional Support Teacher
• Amy Easter - School Teacher
• Dr. Shawn Gravish - Director of Operations
• Kaylee Quinter - Caron Education Alliance Specialist

Our goal is to work as a team with you as the parents, and to collaborate to ensure that your student is able to receive the help they may need. While we are a team with a vast amount of experience and knowledge, we know that you as the parents are a vital part of the process. Teachers and other school staff make a large portion of the referrals; however you as the parent also have the ability to refer your student directly to us. Should you be interested, you can contact any of the ESAP team members to begin that process!

If you have any questions about ESAP or would like to know some more information, please feel free to contact your school counselor or Kaylee Quinter at kquinter@caron.org (m-f, 8am-4pm).

With all of that said, we wish all of you a safe and enjoyable school year!

Sincerely,

The ESAP Team😊

If you are switching your child from bussing to Parent Pick-Up for dismissal time or Early Dismissal, please do the following:

1. Send a note in the morning to your child's teacher. Please see the attachments below for Early Dismissal notes or Parent Pick Up notes for dismissal time. If you are unable to print please include the information requested in your written note.

2. If you are unable to send a note or have a change during the school day, please call the office 610-562-2241 ext. 4502 no later than 1:30 PM

*Please do NOT message your child's teacher on Dojo. They are busy teaching and may not see the message. We must filter through the office during the school day. Thank you!

On Friday, October 31, 2025, children have the option of wearing their Halloween costumes to school and participating in a parade. Parents are invited to watch the parade this year at 10:00 a.m. Please see the map for the parade.

Costume requirements:

• Children should arrive to school dressed in their costume and must be able to use the restroom independently if wearing a costume.

• NO face paint/make up, masks, weapons, replicas of weapons, blood, gore or props of any kind.

• If children would like to take off the costume at some point in the day, they must be able to do so themselves.

• Inflatable costumes may not be inflated while riding the bus. These costumes should be removed following the parade.

Limited parking will be available in the main lot. Parking is not permitted in the back of the school. Please carpool if possible due to limited parking. Do not arrive prior to 9:30 a.m.

Parents should report to the designated location in the back of the school upon arrival and do not need to sign in at the office. Following the parade, children will return directly to the classroom to complete the remainder of the school day. In the event of rain, the parade will be held indoors. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate parents indoors in the event of rain.

To ensure the safety of all students, we ask that parents:

• Stay behind the designated cones to maintain a safe distance from the parade route.

• Refrain from approaching children during the parade.

• Be respectful to children and staff and follow any additional safety instructions given by school staff.

If your family does not celebrate Halloween or you do not wish for your child to participate in this activity, please inform your child’s classroom teacher.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us create a safe and enjoyable experience for all!

✨🌟 Shoutout to our September Students of the Month! 🌟✨

We are so proud of these students for their hard work, kindness, and leadership.💛 Keep soaring high, Hawks!! 🦅💫

Our Tilden Hawks had a blast at our Fire Prevention Day, hosted by Union Fire Company No. 1 of Hamburg! The incredible firefighters set up educational stations and hands-on activities for our students to learn and practice fire safety! THANK YOU, volunteer firefighters for a great day!

The Tilden PTO is seeking volunteers! Our PTO does an incredible job supporting students and staff at Tilden Elementary Center. Please join this incredible group if you can!

🍭TRUNK OR TREAT 🍭

Currently, the PTO is seeking volunteers and donations for the Trunk or Treat event on 10/24.

Volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AABAA2FA2FF2-57648231-tildens?useFullSite=true#/

Set up a Trunk: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AABAA2FA2FF2-57652492-trunk?useFullSite=true#/

🎄GIVING TREE 🎄

The Tilden PTO Volunteers, in conjunction with the families of Tilden Elementary and the Hamburg Community, are joining together once again to provide some holiday cheer. The holidays are a special time in our community, and we want to ensure every family can experience the joy of the season. Our Giving Tree program provides gifts and support to families who could use a little extra help this year. To make sure we can support those who need it most, we kindly ask that families only register if they truly need help this year. Your honesty allows us to stretch our resources and share the spirit of giving with as many families as possible. Gift requests are limited to Tilden Elementary students and their siblings up to 18 years old. If your family is facing financial hardship or could benefit from some assistance this holiday season, we invite you to register via this link: 2025 Tilden PTO Giving Tree PLEASE ONLY FILL OUT THIS FORM ONCE. MULTIPLE REQUESTS WILL BE DELETED.

🎅HOLIDAY WORKSHOP 🎅

The PTO is currently looking for vendors for the Holiday Workshop the evening of 12/12. Vendor items must be less than $10. The items will be purchased by children to wrap and gift so please keep that in mind. There is no cost but there is a $50 refundable deposit to hold your spot, which will be returned to you upon your arrival to the event. If you would like a vendor contract, please email tildenpto@gmail.com

October:

10/10 - No School for Students

10/13 - No School for Students

10/15 - PTO General Meeting at 6 PM

10/22 - Picture Retake Day

10/24 - PTO Trunk or Treat 6-8 PM

10/27-10/31 - Red Ribbon Week

10/31 - Halloween Parade at 10 AM

November:

11/5 - PTO Planning Meeting at 6 PM

11/17 - End of first trimester

11/19 - PTO General Meeting at 6 PM

11/24 - Early Dismissal - Parent-Teacher Conferences*

11/25 - Early Dismissal - Parent-Teacher Conferences*

11/26-12/1 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

*communication will occur in the beginning of November to sign up for a conference*

December:

12/3 - PTO Planning Meeting at 6 PM

12/4 - Tilden Winter Concert Grades 3-5 (more info to come)

12/12 - Tilden PTO Holiday Workshop 6-8 PM

12/17 - PTO General Meeting at 6 PM

12/22 -1/2 - Winter Break - No School

You can stay connected with Tilden Elementary Center in many ways!

Tilden's Website

Tilden's Facebook

Tilden's Instagram