Tuxedo Talk

Dear Tuxedo Community,

With the winds of March turning into the warmer temperatures of spring, excitement is in the air as we move closer to year-end events and celebrations of academic accomplishments. Our George F. Baker seniors are fully immersed in making their post-high school plans. Students who will pursue collegiate pathways have amassed an impressive list of acceptances including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Connecticut, Pratt Institute and a Presidential Scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology. Our career-bound students are also pursuing admirable vocational pathways including culinary arts and apprenticeships with local trade associations.

We invite you to view the full list of where our students have been accepted on our website.

It gives me immense pride to see the remarkable achievements of our students. From outstanding academic performances to impressive accomplishments in extracurricular activities, our TUFSD students are soaring - across all grade levels. Our Ethics Clubs recently scored high marks at the National High School Ethics Bowl, our elementary students are showcasing their artistic flair in the production of High School Musical Jr., and our National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society members have demonstrated leadership skills through fundraising and community service projects.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our students for their commitment to excellence, as well as to our teachers, staff and parents for their unwavering support and guidance. Together, we have created a nurturing environment where our students can thrive and reach their full potential. I am confident that with continued dedication and teamwork, our students will continue to achieve great things in the future.

As a reminder, TUFSD schools and offices will be closed March 25- April 1 for Spring Break. I wish all of you an enjoyable, relaxing time off.

Sincerely,

Jeff White

The New York State English Language Arts (ELA), and Math Tests will be administered to Tuxedo students online between April 8 – May 17. Visit the Parent University page on our website for more information and answers to commonly asked questions about the assessments.

In this section of our newsletter, we address the current educational landscape and provide resources to help parents understand New York State Next Generation Learning Standards, Assessments and what they mean for TUFSD students.

The tables were turned in the third and fourth grade classrooms of George Grant Mason Elementary when four students acted as “Teachers For a Day.” Read more

Students in Beth McGowan’s AP Biology class engaged in a hands-on activity utilizing dyes to simulate gel electrophoresis - a technique used to separate DNA fragments according to their size. Read more

George F. Baker High School Principal Jared Kahmar announced that Reggie Juance is the valedictorian and Jake Sandak is the salutatorian of the class of 2024! Read more

Pre-K, kindergarten and first grade classes were visited by a local dentist, accompanied by some special guests in honor of National Children's Dental Health Month. Read more.

Moms, dads, police officers and elected officials were some of the special guests that visited George Grant Mason Elementary to participate in PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) month! Read more.

George F. Baker students worked in groups and utilized STEM problem solving skills to build a free standing tower made entirely of spaghetti and marshmallows. Read more.

Two George F. Baker seniors participated in the “Arts Build Confidence” Student Showcase hosted by the Orange County New York Arts Council at the Galleria at Crystal Run. Read more.

Senior Alondra Sarabia is one of several ENL students who have joined the TUFSD family in the past few years, but how she has adjusted to her new life and community is nothing short of remarkable. Read the full story on our website.

In René Blume’s second grade classroom you are likely to find students engrossed in activities such as sewing, studying birds, or constructing a vessel from common classroom items. Read more about René's teaching philosophy on our website.

Congratulations to George F. Baker High School Seniors Reggie Juance and Jake Sandak who were awarded the 2024 New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Read more.

At the February 14 meeting, the Tuxedo Board of Education voted to adopt Reveal Math, a new curriculum for grades K-5. One of two programs that was piloted by George Grant Mason teachers earlier in the 2023-24 school year, Reveal is strategically designed to fuel student engagement, spark curiosity and deepen conceptual understanding, as well as create more equitable learning experiences for young learners.

District Treasurer Brian Weir presented the preliminary revenue projections for the Tuxedo Union Free School District at the February 14 meeting. View the presentation here.

This year's school budget vote will take place on May 21. The Tuxedo school community is invited to upcoming Board of Education meetings so that they may give input on the 2024-2025 school budget. Click here to see the schedule of upcoming meetings.

For the full agenda and documents pertaining to the February 14 and March 20 meetings, and all previous Board of Education meetings, please visit the Tuxedo Union Free School District Board of Education section of Board Docs. The next meeting of the Tuxedo Board of Education will be held on March 20 at 7 PM in the George Grant Mason Elementary Multi-Purpose Room.

Congratulations to eighth grader Tyler Marsh who is our Tuxedo Tornadoes Athlete of the Week for the week of February 5! The Modified Basketball player has shown tremendous improvement this season and has proven himself to be a good teammate, says Coach Juilus Floyd. “He is a presence in the middle of the defense, rebounding and helping the team be successful.” Keep up the great work, Tyler!

Senior athletes from the boys and girls basketball and wrestling teams are being honored as the Tuxedo Tornadoes Athletes of the week for February 12! The junior varsity and varsity winter sports seasons wrapped up before students headed home for President’s break, and Athletic Director Marco Margotta was very happy with the teams' performances. “I am incredibly proud of the time and commitment that these athletes displayed. The seniors are committed to various activities and are still able devote time to athletics, setting a good example for our younger athletes. Their contributions to the success of our winter sports program were significant.” Congratulations to our senior winter athletes! (Missing from the photo: Emaan Malik and Sam Kainatsky).

Congratulations to Nassenaba Berthie and Max Mitchell who are the Tuxedo Tornadoes Co-Athletes of the Week for the week of February 26!

Nassie has proven herself to be a great teammate, says girls modified basketball coach Jaime Eckstein. The eighth grader demonstrates great commitment, and “her hustle and spirit are a great inspiration for the team.”

Max is a hard worker, and has shown steady improvement over the past few games as a result. The eighth grader “motivates his teammates to try harder and strive to be better,” says boys modified basketball coach Julius Floyd.

Kudos to Nassie and Max!

February 15 was National SRO (School Resource Officers) Appreciation Day! The TUFSD is thankful for our School Resource Officers Jean Desrouilleres, Freddy Jimenez and Dean Trevisano who work to keep our students and staff safe every day.

Pre-K registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. Orientation will be held April 3 at 1:00 pm. See the TUFSD website for more information.

Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. See the TUFSD website for more information.

Please note that the Tuxedo Union Free School District will be closed March 25 - April 1 for Spring Break. Enjoy the time off!

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held April 4. Please see our website for more information. Read more.