October Newsletter

Welcome back to another school year. I hope your child has had a good start to the school year and your family is now back in the routine of school and all the busy-ness that comes with fall.

Student schedules can be found on Edsby, including the teacher and classroom numbers. The Edsby platform is how the school and the division do most of their communication, so it is an important tool for students and their families. If you need help as to how to get into the app, then please contact the school office (306-873-2352) and Andrea, our admin assistant, can help you through it.

On the first day of school, we had a school wide assembly in the Auditorium. New staff were introduced (we have a lot of newbies with several teachers on maternity leaves), as well as sharing changing roles and/or locations with a few of our staff.

Regular attendance has always been a school priority, but this year, the provincial Ministry of Education as well as the North East School Division have made attendance a formal goal. Research has shown that students who attend 80+% perform better academically and attain timely credits at the high school level. 80% attendance means students should not be missing more than one day a week.

A few reminders to families as we start the new school year:

• The provincial cellphone policy will be enforced by staff in the same way as last year. All students are expected to hand their cellphones in to their teacher at the beginning of class. Grades 6-8 students are not allowed cellphones in class. They can use them during the lunch break. Gr 9-12 students may use cellphones, but only at the teachers’ requests. If your child has difficulty with this policy, then I may end up with the cellphone in the office, and if I deem it necessary, I’ll only return the phone to a guardian, not your child. Let’s try to avoid this inconvenience.

• Please drop off your child at the front of the RECplex in the morning. We should not see any traffic in our bus loop.

• Remember to add utensils to lunches. The office and the concession will not be supplying them.

• Some students regularly ask to charge their devices at the office. This practice will not continue. Let’s get them into the routine of charging their cellphones at home at night.

• Some students also regularly ask for Tylenol/Advil. This is not a healthy routine. If we deem over-the-counter medication necessary, we’ll call a parent/guardian and ask them to bring some to school.

• The TMSS dress code allows headwear, like ball caps and toques, but students are NOT allowed to wear clothing promoting alcohol or drugs, including cannabis. Items that have profanity and sexual messages are also not allowed.

Thank you for your support. School success is a combined effort of students, families and school staff.

We look forward to another great school year!

Carmen Messer

TMSS will be holding Student Led Conferences on October 14 and 15. Watch your Edsby in early October for an invitation to schedule a conference with your student's teacher.

This month’s GRIT Award for Grade 6 goes to Isla Possberg! Isla has had a fantastic start to the school year and has already shown what it means to have GRIT. She demonstrates growth and resilience by consistently striving to do her best in all subject areas, especially in math, where she confidently tackles challenging problems and perseveres when things get difficult. Isla shows integrity through her words and actions. She is open, honest, and always willing to lend a helping hand to others. She demonstrates togetherness by being a cooperative group member and a strong leader among her peers. Congratulations, Isla, on being this month’s GRIT Award recipient!

Our Grade 7 GRIT this month goes out to Mitchell Wakefield has been a great example of what it means to show GRIT. He has had an excellent start to the school year by consistently making the effort to get to school, participating in class, and being willing to ask questions when he needs help. He shows Resilience by continuing to put in the effort, even when things are challenging, and by making a consistent effort to be at school and engaged in his learning. Mitchell demonstrates Integrity by taking responsibility for his learning and making positive choices each day. Mitchell’s effort, attitude, and commitment to having a great start to the year make him very deserving of this acknowledgement. Congratulations, Mitchell!

Flory Weibe is the Grade 8 GRIT award winner! Flory starts each day with a positive attitude, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the classroom while building strong relationships with her peers. She consistently demonstrates integrity and togetherness by helping classmates who have been absent catch up on missed work and gather the materials they need. When faced with challenging subjects, she shows determination and resilience by continuing to practice and work hard, even when learning does not come easily. Her kindness, perseverance, and commitment to supporting others make her an excellent example of GRIT and a deserving recipient of this award.

Our Grade 9 GRIT award for this month goes to Rey White. Rey has been a great example of GRIT this first month of school. He comes to class with a positive attitude and is willing to put in the effort to get his work done. Rey is friendly, easygoing, and brings a great sense of humour to the classroom. He is someone who brings positive energy to the people around him and is always enjoyable to have around. Our classroom is better with him in it. It has been great to see him getting involved and being part of different activities at school. His love for football really stands out, and he has been a great addition to the football team as well. Rey’s attitude, effort, helpfulness, and willingness to be involved make him very deserving of this month’s GRIT Award!

This month's Grade 10 GRIT award winner is Bryce Lair. Bryce shows GRIT everyday. She shows growth by consistently working on improving herself and her academics. She shows resislience by working through her struggles, which include having math in period 5. She shows integrity by doing the right thing and being honest. She shows togetherness by inviting others to sit with her, asking questions, and helping them out if they need. I am looking forward to seeing how Bryce continues to show GRIT throughout the school year.

Blaise Huvenaars is our Grade 11 GRIT winner this month. Blaise consistently demonstrates what it means to commit to GRIT. He is dedicated, kind, and has a positive attitude. Blaise puts full effort into his schoolwork and takes pride in doing his best. He approaches learning with a willingness to put in effort, asks questions to further his learning, and continues to improve. He consistently puts forward his best effort, even when the schoolwork is challenging. He demonstrates persistence and commitment to completely work with quality. Blaise can be counted on to do the right thing. He takes responsibility for his learning and treats those around him with kindness and respect. Blaise supports the people around him. He is willing to help his peers and share his knowledge. His positive attitude towards learning and helping others is amazing to see. Blaise embodies GRIT through his everyday actions. His strong work ethic, willingness to help others, and kindness towards the people around him make him a positive role models for his peers.

The Grade 12 Grit Award winner for September is Jaelyn Gonzales. She is the definition of a silent leader—someone who leads not by seeking attention, but through her actions, work ethic, and character. She puts her all into everything she does, whether it is academics, athletics, her work at the Co-op, or simply being there for the people around her. She consistently does the right thing, helps others without being asked, and approaches every situation with a calm and steady demeanor. Don’t let her lack of smiles fool you—she is friendly, cooperative, caring, and has a warm and fuzzy side that comes through in the way she treats others. She is capable of having mature, thoughtful conversations with peers, teammates, coaches, teachers, and coworkers, and she handles herself with a level of maturity that is well beyond her years. She also has a great sense of humour and knows how to bring some lightness to the people around her. She is dependable, hardworking, respectful, and genuine—the kind of student every teacher hopes to have in their classroom and the kind of person any team or workplace is fortunate to have.

Show your Tornado pride with some new TMSS gear!

Whether you're a student, parent, alumni, or community supporter, there's something for everyone in our 2026 TMSS clothing collection.

• A wide variety of apparel and accessories available
• Great for school, sports, and everyday wear
• Every item purchased includes a $5 donation to TMSS SRC and Tornado Athletics to support student activities and programs.

Shop online here: TMSS Online Clothing Store https://tmssgear2026.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

Store closes October 18 at 5:00 p.m. Don't miss out!

We are off to a strong cross country season. We have over 20 runners on our team this year. We hosted the first meet and had many runners placing in the top 3 or showing better times than last year. The next meet was in Hudson Bay. This was the same night as our TMSS Academic Awards, so only 3 athletes went. We then took most of the team to Rolling Pines.

The last two meets will be in Tisdale October 1, then NESSAC at Rolling Pines October 6. If athletes in grade 9-12 place in the top ten at NESSAC, they can attend provincials. Provincials are October 17 at Table Mountain. We look forward to finishing the season strong and seeing how our athletes compete against the rest of the province.

NESSAC was in Melfort on September 14. Despite the weather, the kids battled through, met some new friends, and represented Tisdale very well. We’re proud of the effort and sportsmanship they showed! Unfortunately, no one advanced to provincials this time, but there’s still more golf to come!

On October 1st, the Jr. team will be travelling to Nipawin to hit the course. GO TORNADOS!

The 2025-26 TMSS Yearbooks will be arriving in November.

There is still time to purchase one! All yearbooks are $45. Payment can be made at the TMSS office with cash or cheque made out to NESD #200, or you can pay online at the TMSS online portal (be sure to choose the correct year for the yearbook you would like to purchase.)

Students are welcome to submit any photos to tmssyearbook@gmail.com

All families and students are required to read the NESD Driver Education Handbook for important information such as:

1. Getting proper personal identification and documents ready for SGI
2. Getting Customer Number from SGI
3. Student and Parent Responsibilities

View Driver Education Session options for 2026-2027 for Tisdale Middle & Secondary School.

Students MUST USE their NESD email to sign up for NESD Driver Education.

Driver Education Registration for 2026-2027

Students aged 14 years and 9 months can register for Driver Education.

Once registered, check your NESD email regularly for driver education information.

Back in June, Ms. Will could see how the past 22 years were taking a toll on the instruments and chairs being used daily in the band room. Chairs were becoming bent and cracked due to the proper posture and playing position of the band students, and the aging instruments were needing more and more repairs to keep them in use. There also were not enough instruments due to increasing enrollment in the band program.

Ms. Will reached out to the Katherine Montgomery Community Trust and the Tisdale Lion L’s. The support from these two committees was astonishing! The Katherine Montgomery Community Trust donated $41, 158.61, and the Tisdale Lion L’s donated $5,000! We are extremely fortunate for this very generous support. We are better because Katherine Montgomery, the Community Trust committee, and the group effort of the Tisdale Lion L’s. TMSS community cherishes these contributions!

Our TMSS goal this year was to raise at least $1,100, and our Grade 12 classes surpassed that goal all on their own, raising $1268.45! What an amazing display of generosity, leadership, and school spirit!

And the great news doesn't stop there... as a school community, TMSS raised a total of $1,914.70 for the Terry Fox Foundation. We are so proud of all our students, staff, families, and supporters who contributed to this worthy cause. Every dollar raised helps continue Terry's dream of a world without cancer.

Way to go, Grade 12s! You set the bar high and showed what can happen when a community comes together for a great cause.

TMSS send our sincere thanks to Maddy at the RECPLEX Concession. Each month, they are running a promotion that puts money back in the pockets of our TMSS clubs by donating $1 from every specialty drink sold to a TMSS Club. September's donation of $97.00 went to the TMSS Soccer club!

Here is a list of future donation recipients.

September: Soccer Club

October: DET Bowling

November: Volleyball

December: Curling

January: Basketball

February: Drama

March: Archery

Thanks, Maddy, and thank you to those who are supporting this initiative!

You can follow her on Facebook for daily specials and more, at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EjxMwST8Q/

The Saskatchewan Student Leadership Conference (SSLC) returned this year after a six-year post-pandemic pause, and TMSS was excited to be part of it! We were fortunate to secure spots for five students and two advisors to attend the conference in Nipawin from September 23–25.

Our students had the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn alongside 465 student leaders from across Saskatchewan. They exchanged ideas, shared school spirit initiatives, and discovered new ways to make a positive impact as leaders within their school communities. The conference also featured inspiring messages from three keynote speakers, along with a banquet and dance that gave students a chance to celebrate together. It was truly inspiring to witness the energy, enthusiasm, and joy that this event brought to Saskatchewan’s youth!

The TMSS SRC is excited to carry that momentum forward by hosting a regional version of the conference, called Horizons, on November 19. We hope to welcome approximately 175 students and continue the conversations, connections, and leadership development that began in Nipawin.

To make this event possible, we are currently seeking sponsorships and in-kind donations. If you or your organization is interested in supporting student leadership in our community, we would love to hear from you! Direct inquiries to Simpson.Stacey@nesd.ca

Congratulations to our TMSS grade 11 student Mikeilah Magnaye, who is now a member of the 2026-27 Government of Saskatchewan Youth Council, 12 high school students from communities across Saskatchewan are stepping forward to share their ideas and help shape education in our province. Their insights and experiences will guide ongoing work to enhance policies, curriculum and programs in Saskatchewan schools. Thank you for representing our school and advocating for education in our province!

You can read more about the Saskatchewan Youth Council here.

The SHSAA Outstanding Coach Award recognizes outstanding contributions of individuals in the coaching field. The SHSAA Outstanding Official Award recognizes outstanding contributions of individuals in the officiating field. These individuals are recognized by each district during a district or school function.

Congratulations to our own TMSS coach Hannah Clifford for her peer recognition!

Throughout Truth and Reconciliation Week, students at TMSS engaged in meaningful learning opportunities to deepen their understanding of the history, experiences, and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

On September 29, students and staff gathered at the front of the school to tie orange ribbons along the fence in remembrance of the children who never returned home from residential schools. This act of reflection and solidarity served as a powerful reminder of the lasting impacts of the residential school system and the importance of honoring those affected.

During Period 3, TMSS partnered with Reconciliation Tisdale and the Town of Tisdale to host a community assembly followed by a Community Walk. The event brought together students, staff, community members, and local leaders to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and to reaffirm our collective responsibility to learn from the past and move forward together in the spirit of reconciliation.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Elder Darrell Cappo for opening the gathering in a good way and sharing his talent. Thank you as well to Town Councillor Amanda Reynolds and NESD Superintendent Susan Plant for their thoughtful remarks during the assembly. Appreciation is also extended to the Tisdale RCMP for supporting the Community Walk, our student volunteers who proudly carried the Every Child Matters banners, Riverside Co-op for providing lunch for our Elders, and the Foods 20 class for preparing delicious desserts.

At TMSS, our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation extends beyond a single day or week. We remain dedicated to learning the truth about our shared history, honoring the experiences and voices of Indigenous Peoples, and fostering understanding, respect, and meaningful action as we continue the journey toward reconciliation.

Every Child Matters.

The TMSS SRC is assisting the Tisdale Suicide Awareness committee with their campaign to collect and repurpose Better Together t-shirts. From October 19-30 we will have a drop off bin outside the TMSS Main Office where students and community members can drop their gently used shirts (all sizes and designs welcome). Our SRC will sort, wash and prepare the shirts for the committee to distribute how they see fit!

Tisdale Middle & Secondary School is grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the President's Choice Children's Charity Power Full Kids | Eat Well 2026-2027 Grant in the amount of $10,637.

This generous funding will help support student nutrition initiatives at TMSS, ensuring our students have access to healthy food so they can stay focused, energized, and ready to learn every day.

A heartfelt thank you to President's Choice Children's Charity for investing in the health and well-being of our students. Your support makes a meaningful difference in our school community! 💚