Principal Garcia's Newsletter

We are so excited to welcome our Jaguars back to Torey J. Sabatini School next week! Our teachers and staff have been hard at work this week preparing their classrooms, planning engaging learning experiences, and getting everything ready for a wonderful start to the school year. There is truly a special energy in the building as we get ready to welcome our students back!

As you know, our building has been undergoing significant improvements through our referendum projects. Because of the ongoing construction, teachers have had limited access to their classrooms and less time than usual to prepare and beautify their spaces before our Meet & Greet on Tuesday, September 1. As a result, some classrooms may appear more complete than others when you visit—and that is perfectly okay! Our focus right now is on creating a warm, welcoming environment for our students while the exciting work throughout our building continues.

Don’t forget about our Meet & Greet on Tuesday, September 1, from 2:00–3:00 PM! This is an open house, so families may stop by at any time during that hour to visit the classroom, meet the teacher, and help your Jaguar feel ready for the first day of school. We can’t wait to see you!

As we begin this new school year, we are excited to live out our theme: “At TJS, we lead with True Jaguar Spirit!” We look forward to a year filled with learning, connection, kindness, growth, and plenty of Jaguar pride. Please also take a moment to revisit my Welcome Back to School communication, which includes many important details and reminders to help your family prepare for the start of the year.

It is going to be a wonderful year at TJS, and we are incredibly grateful to have your families as part of our school community. We cannot wait to see our Jaguars back in the building! 💚🐆

Warm Regards,

Ms. Garcia

• August 31-September 1, 2026 - MPS All Staff In-Service Days
• September 1, 2026 - PTO Sponsored Popsicle Party for New Families Only (1:15 - 2:00 PM) on the TJS Playground / New Families Meet Mrs. Bletcher for a Tour
• September 1, 2026 - Teacher Meet and Greets - Open House Classroom Visits 2:00 - 3:00 PM
• September 2, 2026 - First Day of School for Students at 8:30 AM / Single Session 12:45 PM Early Dismissal Day (No lunch served)
• September 3, 2026 - Single Session 12:45 Early Dismissal Day (No lunch served)
• September 4-7, 2026 - Schools Closed for Labor Day
• September 11, 2026 - FIRST TJS Spirit Wear Day (first Friday of each month!)
• September 15, 2026 - MPS Board of Education Meeting
• September 21, 2026 - Schools Closed for Yom Kippur
• September 24, 2026 - TJS Back to School Night at 7:00 PM

We are so excited to welcome our students back to TJS and give them an opportunity to meet their teachers, see their classrooms, and begin getting ready for a wonderful new school year! The TJS Meet and Greet Open House will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM.

This is a special opportunity for students to stop by, say hello to their teacher, explore their new classroom, and start feeling comfortable and excited about the year ahead. Families may stop by the school at any time during this timeframe.

Parents/guardians may choose to bring their child’s school supplies to the Meet and Greet or send them with their child on the first day of school. We look forward to seeing our Jaguars and starting the school year together!

A friendly reminder that Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3, are Single Session Days, with dismissal at 12:45 PM. Lunch will not be served on either day.

Please be sure to send your child to school with a hearty, nut-free snack to enjoy in the classroom. A filling snack will help keep our Jaguars fueled and ready for their first days of an exciting new school year!

A friendly reminder that an Arrival/Dismissal Form must be completed and submitted for EACH child and is due on the first day of school.

Accurate dismissal information is especially important at the start of the school year. To help us ensure the safe and smooth dismissal of every student, please be sure your child’s form is completed and submitted by the first day of school. Thank you for helping us keep our Jaguars safe!

We are excited to welcome our Jaguars back to TJS! To help make the first morning feel organized, welcoming, and stress-free, all homeroom teachers will be stationed outside the building at their assigned entrances on the first day of school only. Teachers will greet students and walk them into the building, helping them become familiar with the route to their classrooms.

Before the first day, please take a moment to review your child’s designated entrance, which is outlined below. Each homeroom teacher will be easy to identify with cones and signage at their assigned location.

Because the drop-off area can be especially busy on the first day, we encourage families to keep first-day photos brief and take them before entering the main drop-off zone. This will help keep traffic moving and allow everyone to arrive safely and efficiently.

Grades 1–5: Families are asked to locate their child’s teacher and then use a “kiss and drop” approach. This will help reduce foot traffic, keep the arrival area moving, and allow students to begin their day calmly and confidently with their classmates and teacher.

Kindergarten: We understand that the first day of kindergarten is a big milestone! Kindergarten parents/guardians may remain with their child at the designated cone until the entire class is ready. Once all students have arrived, the homeroom teacher will escort the class into the building together.

Thank you for helping us make the first morning safe, smooth, and welcoming for everyone. We can't wait to see our Jaguars on the first day of school!

As noted above, there are three designated entrances for morning drop-off. Your child’s entrance is determined by grade level and helps us manage congestion and maintain a smooth traffic flow throughout the building. Staff members will always be stationed at each designated entrance (both inside and outside the building) to welcome students and assist families as needed.

For everyone’s safety, pedestrians must use the designated sidewalks and should not walk across the TJS parking lot, Glenwild Circle, and the MPS BOE parking lot, which are all active roadways.

Students arriving by bus will be dropped off in front of the BOE office on Woodland Road. At 8:30 AM, a supervising staff member will greet students as they exit the bus and walk them safely to their designated grade-level entrance.

This process helps ensure that all bus riders are safely welcomed into the building and ready to begin their school day.

A very important reminder: The TJS and BOE parking lots and parking spaces are reserved for staff members only. Parents/guardians should not park in either lot at any time before, during, or after the school day.

This includes parking when:

• Dropping off or picking up students at BASCC
• Picking up a student early
• Picking up students attending PTO ASE classes
• Dropping off items for your child during the school day
• Attending other school-related activities

We understand that parking can be challenging, and we appreciate your help in keeping these areas available for our staff. When visiting TJS, families are asked to park on surrounding streets, such as Glenwild Road or Woodland Road, where permitted, or walk to school.

Our parking capacity is extremely limited, and keeping the TJS and BOE lots clear is essential to maintaining safe and accessible spaces for staff and ensuring smooth traffic flow around the school. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership!

A friendly reminder that the school day begins promptly at 8:30 AM each day. To help make morning arrival smooth and efficient, we have a five-minute drop-off window from 8:30–8:35 AM.

Morning announcements will begin promptly at 8:35 AM so that we can maximize valuable instructional time throughout the school day. Students arriving after 8:35 AM will be marked tardy and must be signed in by an adult in the main office.

We appreciate your partnership in helping your child arrive on time, ready to learn, and start each day on a positive note!

At dismissal, teachers will bring their classes outside through their designated doors:

• Kindergarten: Classes will be brought outside at 3:10 PM.
• Grades 1–5: Classes will be brought outside at 3:15 PM.

To help dismissal remain safe, orderly, and efficient, we ask that parents/guardians identify a designated “meeting spot” with their child. An ideal meeting spot is somewhere that is visible from the designated exit door but not directly in front of the door.

Please be sure to leave adequate space around each exit. It is essential that classes have enough room to exit the building safely and completely. Parents/guardians/caretakers should not stand directly in front of or immediately around exit doors during dismissal.

Once you have picked up all of your children, please leave school property promptly. This helps reduce congestion and allows our dismissal process to continue smoothly for everyone.

Thank you for helping us create a safe, calm, and efficient dismissal experience for all of our Jaguars!

We know how much our TJS families love their furry friends! As we begin the new school year, please remember that pets are not permitted on school property.

We kindly ask that all pets stay home during school arrival and dismissal. This helps us maintain a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for all students and families.

Thank you for your cooperation—and please give those four-legged family members an extra cuddle when you get home! 🐾

The transition back to school can bring a mix of excitement and nerves for children (and parents, too!). A few simple steps at home can help your Jaguar feel confident, comfortable, and ready for the first day:

• Re-establish routines: Begin moving bedtime and wake-up times closer to the school-day schedule so the transition feels more manageable.
• Talk positively about school: Ask your child what they are looking forward to and remind them of the exciting people, activities, and experiences waiting for them at TJS.
• Keep goodbyes calm and confident: A warm, confident goodbye helps children feel secure. Reassure them that you know they are ready and that you will see them after school.
• Practice independence: Encourage your child to practice opening lunch containers, managing their backpack, putting on their jacket, and taking care of their belongings.
• Talk through the first day: For younger students especially, briefly review what arrival, the school day, and dismissal might look like. Knowing what to expect can ease first-day jitters.
• Expect some big feelings: It is completely normal for children to experience excitement, nervousness, or even some tears during the first days of school. Give them time and reassurance as they adjust.
• Keep the conversation going: Ask specific questions after school, such as “What was something that made you smile today?” or “What was something new you tried?”
• Trust the transition: Our teachers and staff are ready to welcome, support, and care for your children. We will work together to help every Jaguar feel a sense of belonging from day one.

Most importantly, remember that the first few days are about connection, comfort, and building routines. Your confidence in your child can help them feel confident, too. We are so excited to partner with you for a fantastic year! 💚🐆

Click here to read more about Pomptonian's Food Allergy Practices

Don’t forget to follow Torey J. Sabatini on Instagram, Facebook, and X @toreyjsabatini to stay connected and see all of the wonderful learning, celebrations, and special moments happening throughout our TJS community!

We love sharing the amazing things our Jaguars are doing each day, and we’d love for you to follow along! 💚