Tuscan Tidings

Tuscan School 12:53 pm Early Dismissal Days

Lunch is not served on 4-hour days.

If your child will be attending YMCA After School Care please remember to send a lunch.

Back to School Night at Tuscan School!

Thursday, October 12th, 2023

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Dear Tuscan Family~

Back-to-School Night is an opportunity for teachers to provide valuable information about the curriculum and suggestions for establishing routines at the beginning of the school year that will be essential for successful student learning throughout the school year. Back-to-School Night is not the time for individual conversations about your child’s progress. Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place from November 29th – December 1st, 2023.

Prior to Back-to-School Night your child’s teacher(s) will email directions to their classrooms for parents and guardians to attend presentations at the scheduled times indicated below.

Back-to-School Night at Tuscan!

Classroom Presentations

6:30 pm – 7:15 pm | Grades K, 2, 4 & Specialists (Art, Library, Music, PE, Spanish)

7:15 pm – 8:00 pm | Grades 1, 3, 5 & Specialists (Art, Library, Music, PE, Spanish)

We realize that many parents/guardians have more than one child at Tuscan. Therefore, teachers will anticipate that some parents/guardians may need to attend more than one Back-to-School Night presentation. Please do not feel that you are interrupting as you go from one classroom to another.

In partnership,

Tuscan School Administration

Tracy Sham Photography

www.tracysham.com

https://www.facebook.com/TracyShamPhotography

https://www.instagram.com/tracyshamphotography

Students from kindergarten to fifth grade challenge themselves to explore their interests such as reading, learning a musical instrument, keeping a journal, participating in sports, writing, or drawing instead of watching TV.

Studies have shown that students who watch ten hours or less of television a week perform better in school. To be equitable, all students will borrow the same amount of books each week, even if they are participating in TV Turnoff (1 book a week in kindergarten and 2 books a week in grades 1-5).

*TV Turnoff will officially begin on Monday, October 23, 2023.

Amy B. Popp

Library Media Specialist

Tuscan School

The Elementary School Social Work Program offers counseling services for students at each of South Orange and Maplewood School District's elementary schools from grades K - 5. The program offers individual and small group counseling with a social work intern. Its aim is to remove barriers to success and to provide students with the social/ emotional support necessary for them to get the most out of their school experience.

Areas of Focus can Include:

• Dealing with anxiety
• Managing your feelings (stress, worry, anger, etc.)
• Feeling good about yourself
• Working out friendship problems
• Dealing with peer pressure and bullying
• Dealing with behavioral concerns
• Dealing with loss or family changes
• Crisis intervention
• Referrals

As per Board policy the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" information is to be disseminated annually to all school staff, students, and parents.

The "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" 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 "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct". K-12 Principals will review core principles and key components of the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" with their staff. In developmentally appropriate ways, beginning on the first day of school of each school year and frequently throughout the year, teachers will create and cultivate a community of learners based on the importance of kindness and respect.

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 the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" are practiced and reinforced in our school on a daily basis.

Click the link to view the 2023-2024 SY Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct

While we appreciate the companionship pets can provide, it is important to note some individuals may have allergies or fears related to animals. To ensure the comfort of everyone, we must maintain a pet-free environment. Therefore, we kindly request everyone's cooperation in adhering to

District Policy 7490 – Animals on School Property.

This policy is designed to promote the well-being and safety of our students, staff, and visitors. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

South Orange Maplewood School District

• October 2-6: Week of Respect at Tuscan
• October 10: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | PD for Staff
• October 12: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | Back to School Night
• November 6-10 Fall Break | District Closed
• November 22: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | Holiday Recess
• November 23, 24: Thanksgiving Break | District Closed
• November 29, 30: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | Evening Conferences
• December 1: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | Afternoon Conferences
• December 5: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | PD for Staff
• December 22: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal | Holiday Recess
• December 25, 26: Holiday Recess |District Closed
• December 27, 28: Holiday Recess |Schools Closed
• December 29: Holiday Recess |District Closed

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.

We hope all Tuscan 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).

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.

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/

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