10.11 Family Newsletter

Welcome to our Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools Family Newsletter, designed to serve both our Elementary and Middle School families as One Magnet Family. Section 1 will include information and updates that apply to all families, while Section 2 will feature news and information specific to Elementary School and Section 3 will focus on Middle School. Section 4 will serve as our Essential Information section, where important resources, reminders, procedures, and other information families may need to reference will remain available for an extended period of time.

Magnet Family,

Students brought report cards home on Friday, October 16th. Please take the time to review the report card with your child.

We have the 50th day of school and Unity Day on October 21st. Students can either wear orange or dress in their 50's attire. Please see the information below in the newsletter.

We have two barrels in the main foyer that do not have much food in them! Please help us fill them up. Send in non-perishable food items!

As always, if you need anything, let us know!

• Grand Opening (Presented by The City of Tuscaloosa, Pepsi, University Medical Center, and Townsquare Media) – Monday, November 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | Celebrate the season with lights, music, and Santa’s arrival.
• Pet Palooza (Presented by RiverFall Credit Union)– Sunday, December 6, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Bring your office pets and enjoy community fun.
• Suit Up With Santa (Presented by Price McGiffert Construction) – Saturday, December 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. | Take festive team photos with Santa.
• Holiday Market (Presented by Sign Pro and Fincher & Ozment) Saturday, December 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Shop local vendors for that unique gift
• Family Night (Presented by Premier Service Company)– Friday, December 18 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Games, crafts, scavenger hunts, and photos with Santa for the whole family

Hello TMS-E family! We appreciate all the ways you've been generous this year with your time, money, and skills. If you haven't joined TMS-E PTA this year or made a tax-deductible charitable donation yet, please visit https://tmse.givebacks.com/shop to learn how.

Ben Baxter- PTA President

Dear Families,

We've been working hard on handwriting skills in our elementary classes, and I wanted to share some simple ways you can support your child's progress at home — no special materials needed!

Why Handwriting Matters
Strong handwriting helps with reading, spelling, and getting ideas on paper. At this age, we're building the hand strength, control, and muscle memory that make writing easier as schoolwork increases.

Easy Practice Ideas:

• Write notes together — grocery lists, thank-you cards, notes to family members
• Trace in fun materials — shaving cream on the table, sand in a tray, finger paint, or chalk outside
• Play with playdough, Legos, or tweezers — these build the hand muscles needed for gripping a pencil
• Draw and color — encourage staying inside the lines and holding crayons correctly
• Practice their name daily — on artwork, papers, or a special "sign-in" sheet at home
• Let them help with writing tasks — addressing envelopes, labeling items, writing their name on belongings

Keep It Short & Positive
Just 5–10 minutes a few times a week makes a difference. If your child gets frustrated, take a break — we want writing to feel successful, not stressful. If you have questions about your child's handwriting progress or how to help at home, please reach out!

• Oct. 19- Flu Clinic for Students
• Oct. 21- 50th Day of School (Dress in 50's Attire/ Soda Floats)
• Oct. 21- Unity Day (Wear Orange)
• Oct. 23- United Way Tailgate
• Oct. 30- No Extended Day/ Birthday Snack
• Oct. 30- United Way Costume or Pajama Day ($5.00 if you didn't pre-pay)

To build a culture of high expectations for all students by meeting their social, emotional, and academic needs through high-quality instruction, innovation, and wrap-around services.

Our middle school PBIS Celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 30th. This is a special opportunity to recognize and celebrate students who have demonstrated positive behavior and met PBIS expectations. Snacks will be sold during the celebration. We look forward to a fun event as we continue encouraging positive choices and a strong school culture.

Our students are building model cities for the Future City Competition, and we need supplies to bring their creative ideas to life! This year's theme is Fire Resilient.

We are asking for donations of small, clean items that can be repurposed into buildings, roads, and features of our city.

Examples include:

• Empty cartons or containers (yogurt cups, egg containers, small milk cartons, Chick-Fil-A or other restaurant sauce cups/containers, empty cans, paper plates)

• Small boxes (cereal, snack, jewelry, mascara and other small makeup boxes, small gift boxes

• Empty cartons or containers (yogurt cups, egg containers, small milk cartons, Chick-Fil-A or other restaurant sauce cups/containers, empty food cans, paper plates)

• Wire, Straws, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, scraps of aluminum foil and plastic wrap

• Bottle caps, soda can tabs, buttons lids, sponges, spools, or other small nicknacks

• Lego pieces and wheels

• Fake grass, trees, flowers used for 3D models

• Cardboard tubes (paper towel or toilet paper rolls)

• Any other clean, reusable odds and ends

Please send items with your child over the next few weeks. Every little piece helps—together we can build something amazing!

Thank you for supporting our students’ creativity!

Mrs. Junkin

If students enter the building after 7:55 without a parent or guardian, the parent will be asked to return to check the student into school.

It is ESSENTIAL that students attend school every day. If your child is going to be absent, please send a doctor's note. Please note that you have 5 parents excuses per year. Once those are used, a doctor's note will be required moving forward. If not, they will count as unexcused absences.

After two unexcused absences, the office staff will begin sending truancy letters. Please note, excessive check-in's can also lead to receiving a letter about attendance.

Let us know if you have any questions.

School lunches will be free during the 2026-27 academic year. Adult breakfast price will be $4.00 and adult lunch will be $6.00. Teachers are not allowed to warm student lunches in the microwave.

Ice Cream-$1.50

Slushie-$1.50

Chips-$1.50

Cookies-$1.50

Brownies-$1.50

Rice Krispy Treat-$1.00

Fruit Roll Up-$.75

Gummies-$.75

Extras: Meats-$1.50 Veggie-$.75 Milk-$.75

Tuscaloosa City Schools has a district-wide ban on student cell phone use during the school day, which is in compliance with the Alabama FOCUS Act (SB92). The policy requires all wireless communication devices to be turned off and stored in a district-approved manner (Yondr Pouch for Middle School Students) upon arrival on campus.

We will continue to reinforce the message of “See Something, Hear Something, Say Something” with our students throughout the year. However, it is just as important for parents to have open conversations at home about safety, expectations, and appropriate behavior.

We are encouraging students to speak up and report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or raises concern. They can share information with a teacher, administrator, or any trusted staff member. Reports can also be submitted to a trusted adult, by email, or through our Say Something, Anonymous Reporting App that can be found in students' ClassLink on their Chromebooks.

If your child shares something with you that may impact school safety or discipline, please notify us right away. Working together ensures a safer environment for everyone.

When entering the building, all visitors will be asked to identify themselves. When checking out a student, a valid photo ID will be required and verified through the PowerSchool Portal. Please ensure your contact information and student check-out list are current. All visitors must also be screened through our Raptor Visitor Management System. To help maintain a secure campus, students will not be called to the office for check-out until a parent or guardian has arrived and completed the check-out process.

Throughout the school year, we will conduct routine unannounced weather drills, intruder drills, fire drills, and mixed-method safety searches. TMS administrators will follow the behavior expectations and disciplinary procedures outlined in the Tuscaloosa City Schools Code of Conduct. Please review the electronic copy of the Code of Conduct with your child. (It is linked below.)

Thank you for partnering with us to help maintain a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. We look forward to a successful school year!

All safety procedures and disciplinary expectations will be consistently enforced.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools is now using ParentSquare—a unified platform for all school, classroom and district communications. With ParentSquare, you can receive updates via email, text or app; view calendars and RSVP to events; sign up to volunteer; and securely receive student documents like report cards and IEPs. What's even better is you'll get communications from school administrators, teachers, coaches and the district all through Parentsquare. Download the free app to stay connected across all your children’s schools. We encourage every family to join and engage with our school community on ParentSquare.

Dr. Constance Pewee-Childs

Principal

Email: cpewee@tusc.k12.al.us

April Ball

TMSE Assistant Principal

Email: aball@tusc.k12.al.us

Laura Bechtel

TMSM Assistant Principal/IB Coordinator

Email: lbechtel@tusc.k12.al.us

Whitney Sewell

TMSE Secretary/Bookkeeper

Email: wsewell@tusc.k12.al.us

Tchalla Jones-Jerido

TMSM Secretary/Bookkeeper

Email: tjonesjerido@tusc.k12.al.us

Laura Angel

TMSE School Counselor

Email: Langel@tusc.k12.al.us

LaTiffany Tabb

TMSM School Counselor

Email: ltabb@tusc.k12.al.us