Tuscan Tidings

Dear Tuscan Family,

New Jersey public schools recognize the first full week in October as the “Week of Respect”.

Week of Respect @ Tuscan October 3, 2022-October 7, 2022!

At Tuscan, the “Week of Respect” is intended to prevent incidences of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB). Throughout this week, students will be engaged in grade level appropriate read alouds, morning meeting discussion prompts and activities created by Tuscan School Social Worker, Ms. Buggy. Throughout the school year we will encourage students to continue to refrain from bullying by respecting differences and using 'I-messages' to stand up for themselves and others.

Also, please read further in this edition of the Tuscan Tidings as our amazing Physical Education Teachers are excited to encourage participation in “Family PE Week” from October 3th -7th, 2022!

Anti-Bullying Spirit Week @ Tuscan October 10 - 14, 2022!

Anti-Bullying theme days are planned for October 10th - 14th, 2022. Please see the calendar of events below. Thank you to our teachers, students and parents for joining us in a week long opportunity to show commitment to anti-bullying by participating as best you can.

Please see below for the calendar of activities for

• The Week of Respect
• Family PE Week and
• Anti-Bullying Spirit Week at Tuscan

Throughout the school year, anti-bullying, empathy-activating class discussions will continue to promote the Tuscan way by providing students with guidance on how best to ROAR (Respect Others and Act Responsibly).

Dear Tuscan Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to share with you that our school will be participating in Family PE Week from October 3rd-7th!

Daily physical activity has many benefits for kids, such as increasing their energy, focus, and readiness to learn. Physical activity also reduces stress and anxiety. Of course, physical activity has benefits for people of all ages, so helping our students’ families be active together is one of our Physical Education goals!

We hope that your family will participate together in the Active Family Challenges we have included, or create your own fun activities. We want you to experience firsthand the fun and enjoyment that being active as a family provides!

Active Family Challenges:

Dance or Move!

Fall This or That?

Yoga Freeze Dance!

We also hope that you will share your experience on social media in words and photos using the hashtag #TuscanTigers or #TuscanFit.

Sincerely Yours in Health & Wellness,

Noelle Sullivan & Ted Panayoutou

Tuscan Physical Educators

Please see the calendar of events below for Anti-Bullying theme days at Tuscan for October 10th - 14th, 2022.

Thank you to our teachers, students and parents for joining us in a week long opportunity show commitment to anti-bullying by participating as best you can.

The South Orange Maplewood School District provides all parents / guardians access to the district’s PowerSchool parent portal.

Having access to the parent portal allows you to view important information regarding your child.

Parents / Guardians can:

• View daily attendance records.
• View marking period grades.
• View printable report cards and progress reports.
• View school welcome letters (elementary schools).
• View schedules (secondary schools).
• View student Google account information (new students).
• View locker information (High School)
• Make changes to contact information.
• Review and acknowledge forms and documents.

If parents have any difficulties accessing a parent portal account, please review the information found here: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/district/information-technology/parentportalhelp/.

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 August 29th, 2022.
• 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 2021 - 2022 school year and were assigned a Chromebook should continue to use that Chromebook during the 2022 - 2023 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/

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.

Click the link to view the 2022-23 SY Guide

October 5: Yom Kippur —District Closed

October 11: 4 Hour School Day/12:45 pm Dismissal (PD for staff)

October 13: 4 Hour School Day/12:45 pm Dismissal / Back to School Night 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

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