Grief is a big feeling of sadness that comes from the loss of someone or some living thing that we deeply loved. At Tuscan, we are aware of the many ways that grief can affect children and as a caring school community, we are empathetic and responsive to those experiencing feelings of grief.
To help our students build emotional intelligence, resilience and empathy, on Thursday, November 17, 2022, class meetings will be held to discuss how students can be a friend by helping to support peers and themselves to feel better when they experience sadness and other difficult emotions.
During a class meeting, students will listen to a read aloud of The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr (grades K-2) or In My Heart by Jo Witek (grades 3-5) and engage in a short circle discussion reflecting on the story. Students will then participate in an activity to help in building empathy and understanding.
We know that from time to time, all of us go through difficult experiences, and the best thing we can do is to be a friend by showing empathy, offering a boost of encouragement and treating each other with kindness, today and every day.
Thank you to Katie Rickard for bringing our awareness to this opportunity to support Tuscan children in further developing skills in emotional intelligence, resilience and empathy.
Eva Buggy, Tuscan School Social Worker
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A blue crayon labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone.
Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age!
Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries!
Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue!
TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK | NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2022!
"Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.
The week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.
How to be a Better Ally and Support Transgender and Non-binary Students, Families, Friends and Coworkers:
Great Diverse Children's Books with Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Expansive Children
A Beginner’s Guide Being an Ally to Trans-People
A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Non-binary Youth
Transgender and Non-binary Children Books to Help Adults Understand
New York Public Library | Trans and Non-binary Centered Books
2022-23 SY Student Code of Conduct & Restorative Justice Guide
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.
REMINDER: Sign-Up to Receive Text Message Updates & Reminder to Update Contact Information in School Messenger
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.
TUSCAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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