Tuscan Tidings

The planting beds for the Tuscan School Garden have been completed!

Did you know that Tuscan School was the only school in the district without a school-based cooperative garden?

Tuscan School Green Team is creating a cooperative volunteer-driven school garden at Tuscan to increase a sense of school community, promote family collaboration and student involvement. The Tuscan Garden will encourage hands-on learning opportunities, and produce vegetables/herbs/flowers to beautify the school all while making a positive impact on the environment.

The Green Team already has a list of people willing to volunteer but would love to have additional volunteers. If you are interested in this wonderful volunteering opportunity to keep the community updated on the initiative, progress, grant writing, etc. please visit the Tuscan PTA Website for volunteering information.

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, over 100 Tuscan Tigers spent the day with their parents/guardians for Bring Your Child To Work Day and we would love to know how our students spent the special day.

If you wish, please feel free to continue to upload photos of your child to our Tuscan Families Bring Your Child To Work Day Google Photo Album. Your photos may also be shared in SOMSD social media, newsletter, etc.,

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and the first week in May is National Physical Education and Sport Week! One specific event the Tuscan community participates in is Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously)!

This year the event is on Wednesday, May 1st. This is an annual event that has been in existence for 36 years! It is also a global event with people all over the world exercising together, and has been labeled as the world's largest exercise class! It is a symbolic gesture of fitness and unity to show the world how important and fun being physically active is! For more information you can go to www.projectaces.com.

Tuscan staff and students will participate in this event together on the Tuscan blacktop. There will not be assigned areas, therefore you may participate anywhere you would like. The event will run from 2:30 to approximately 2:50, so please be outside by 2:30 so we can start on time. Please remind your students to wear sneakers and comfortable clothing that day.

Also, we have attached the May Health & Physical Education Calendar which includes daily activities for the month. This calendar is a resource for you and your students for brain breaks as well as physical, social & emotional health. As always, thank you all for your support and we cannot wait to celebrate Project ACES with you!!

Noelle Sullivan & Ted Panayoutou

Physical Educators

Tuscan School

Tuscan Elementary School’s Annual

Art Show

Save the Date!

Join us on

Thursday, May 2nd from 5:00 - 7:00 pm

The show will be held at Tuscan Elementary School

Student work will be displayed throughout the school.

The show will feature the creative and beautiful artwork of Tuscan Art Students.

One art project has been selected for each student and will be on display at the Art Show.

Celebrate your child's creativity in a gallery setting.

At Tuscan School the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. The following drop off, pick up, and parking guidelines are designed to increase student safety at Tuscan School.

As posted on the Tuscan PTA website.

Important Traffic Safety for Drop Off and Pick Up - PLEASE READ (even if you think you already know)

Tuscan has always encouraged families to walk to school, however we do understand that there are situations where driving to school may be necessary. In those situations, safety for our children (and crossing guards!) is our number one concern. Please read through our Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures and study the map, even if you are a long time Tuscan Family. It seems that some families are not aware that Tuscan has a safe, designated vehicle drop off location. It's located just beyond the staff/teacher parking lot. Please see attached map. Signs will be posted this month.

• Tuscan Families are encouraged to walk from home OR park on the side streets and walk up to the school.
• There is always plenty of parking on Girard, Prospect, Bowdoin, and Yale.
• There is no parking on Harvard between Valley and Prospect during Drop Off / Pick Up times. Please observe the posted signs.
• The vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone is ONLY for Grades 3-5. Families with K-2 children MUST walk children to the blacktop.
• The vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone is just beyond the teacher parking lot. Please note the GREEN Zone on the attached map.
• Please do not idle in the vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone, even during inclement weather.
• Harvard Avenue is a ONE WAY traffic flow during Drop Off / Pick Up. You MUST continue to Valley St if you are utilizing the vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone. K-Turns and U-turns are NOT allowed during these times.
• Tuscan Rd is NOT a vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone. Osborne Terrace is NOT a vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone.
• Please follow the directions of the Crossing Guards and DO NOT block any Crosswalks with your vehicles.
• The barriers are in place for everyone's safety. Please DO NOT move, block, or drive around the barriers.

Additional information can be found below:

We strongly recommend that you walk your child to and from school.

• If feasible and as often as possible, please walk to Tuscan School or park a few blocks away from the school.
• Plan a safe walking route to cross intersections under the direction of a Crossing Guard.
• Crossing Guards are on duty at the following corners: Harvard and Osborne, Harvard and Prospect, Prospect and Tuscan, and Tuscan and Valley.
• If your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader walks to Tuscan without adult supervision, please discuss the safest route to Tuscan.

Tuscan Road & The Bridge

• Children should not cross Tuscan Road unsupervised.
• The staff parking lot is the only pathway to/from the Bridge on Tuscan Road to the front of the school.

If you drive, please take a route that allows you to follow the established school arrival/dismissal traffic pattern around Tuscan School and will remain in effect on school days as follows:

8:00 am to 9:00 am

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm on 4 hour days when applicable

2:45 pm to 3:45 pm

• Harvard Avenue will be blocked off with barricades at Valley Street preventing east bound traffic (uphill) on Harvard Ave
• Osborne Terrace will be blocked off with barricades at Girard Place preventing north bound traffic towards Harvard Ave
• All children should exit vehicles onto a sidewalk, never into the street. Allowing children to exit vehicles into traffic to cross the street, especially between stopped or parked cars is illegal and extremely unsafe.
• There is No Parking permitted in the designated fire zone in front of Tuscan School only charter buses, police, fire, or school district vehicles are permitted to stop directly in front of the school.
• There is No Parking in the space directly in front of the bridge. Please do not park or idle in this area to ensure access to the sidewalk ramp.

The Drop Off Zone is designated for students in Grades 3 – 5 only.

Students in Grades K- 2 must not be dropped off at the Drop Off Zone. K-2 students must be escorted directly to their teacher at the designated morning line up location or to the front door of Tuscan upon tardy arrival.

• Please arrive to the Drop Off Zone with your 3rd – 5th Grader ready to exit the car.
• Children must never exit vehicles into the street.
• In order for traffic to flow quickly and efficiently, drivers should not park in the Drop Off Zone or exit vehicles.

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

• May 27: Memorial Day | District Closed
• May 28, 2024 - Incoming Kindergarten Parent Orientation*
• June 4: Election Day | District Closed
• June 7: Kindergarten Student Orientation @ Tuscan
• June 14: CHS Class of 2024 Clap Out @ Tuscan!
• June 17: Rainbow Picture & Chalk it up!
• June 18, 19 & 20: 4 Hour Day | 12:53 pm Dismissal
  
• June 21: Juneteenth Observed | District Closed

*Incoming Kindergarten Parent Orientation is a Virtual Event

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.

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).

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

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