Cougars ROAR: TEMS Community News

I hope the new year has brought positive energy and exciting opportunities for both our students and their families. I remain incredibly grateful to this community as we continue to foster a positive and inclusive school culture. Our school thrives when we all work together, and your involvement makes a significant difference. Whether you can volunteer your time, share your expertise, or simply attend school events, your contribution is valued and appreciated. Thank you for being an essential part of the Timothy Edwards family. Here's to a month filled with continued growth, learning, and success.

I would like to congratulate our hardworking students for their achievements in various academic and extracurricular activities. Whether it's academic excellence, artistic endeavors, or athletic achievements, our students continue to showcase their talents and dedication. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing them excel in the coming months.

Once again, the TEMS literary magazine, Out of the Blue, has been selected to receive the rank of Distinguished in the 2023 NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program. Several of the students authors and artists joined a celebration of students during last week's family event, the Winter World of Words. Students who participate in Spotlight Show Choir, Entertainers, and the UConn Writing Project also presented that evening.

As we head towards the end of the regular season for middle school basketball our teams have had some impressive wins. The girls team starts this week with a record of 6-3 and the boys are currently 5-4. Our cheerleaders are busy preparing their routine for upcoming competitions and the Timothy Edwards regional cheer showcase on February 22nd.

Please click here to see a month-at-a-glance for February. You can also reference the school event's calendar that can be found on the school's website. Follow TEMS on Facebook, Twitter, and Threads.

• Spring Assessment Letter
• IMPORTANT: Updated 2023-2024 Calendar
• South Windsor Public Library Teen Events
• Hartford Public Library Teen Events
• TEMS Athletics Schedules

Safety is our biggest priority at Timothy Edwards. With this in mind, please help us keep our students safe during arrivals, dismissal, and while parking for after school events.

• Please follow the traffic patterns during morning drop offs. Please stay vigilant and avoid parking in Lot D since there are many students walking in the area. If you do need to park, please take great care when exiting your spot.
• Lot A (the lot closest to the front of the school) is closed immediately after dismissal. We need this lot clear for the arrival of our late buses. If you do come to school for an after school activity please use Lot B.

The TEMS PTO meetings are a great way to stay involved and connect with the principal and with other parents. You are welcome to submit questions or agenda items to our meetings by using this link in advance of our meetings.

Join us for our next meeting on February 8th at 6:30 in the TEMS Library Media Center. You are welcome to join virtually- the link will be sent with the reminder I send in February.

Friday February 9th, our CougarTHON fundraising matinee is hosting a TEMS Volleyball Tournament! Teams of 7 to 10 players are invited to sign up for this amazing night of volleyball, face painting, enter-to-win opportunities, and more! To get a sign up packet, students can go to Mrs.Klosowski’s classroom or go on the TEMS website and print your own!

Connecticut River Academy is an early college magnet school with five pathways in manufacturing, healthcare, business, computer science, and liberal arts. Liberal arts students have two specializations available in music or environmental science. Students have the opportunity to graduate with over 30 college credit hours! If college isn't in your plans, they also offer several certifications and paid internships your senior year to set you up for immediate hire upon graduation. Learn more by emailing kheiner@goodwinmagnetsystem.org or exploring their website at riveracademy.org.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is being administered to SOME students on February 2nd. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation’s Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents/guardians, policymakers, and the public.

If your child is one of the 8th graders that have been randomly selected to take the test in reading, mathematics, or science you would have been notified earlier in January. This letter includes more information about what the test is and information for opting out. More information about NAEP can be found here.

Mrs. Alison Fetta and Mr. Kent Besocke are instructional coaches that support faculty and staff in providing instruction that meets the needs of our diverse learners at TEMS.

Deep Student Engagement involves going beyond basic understanding, having voice and choice, and being involved in cognitively challenging activities. Presently, TEMS students are invested in challenging and complex tasks by:

• working in collaborative groups to construct and problem solve.

• rotating through various learning tasks in purposefully planned stations.

• thinking critically and engaging in discussions.

• making inferences and evaluating word choice.

Next month, we will share how the TEMS staff implements aspects of Clarity for Learning: Five Essential Practices That Empower Students and Teachers.

We are excited to be welcoming back musicians from the Blues and Beyond during student assemblies on February 29th. The Blues and Beyond is a learning program that teaches the story of African Americans from ancient West Africa to present day through music, narration, video and photographs. Highlighting both historical and musical legacies, this engaging and entertaining program leaves students with an appreciation for our rich history.

Students are also invited to participate in a matinee with teaching artists from the Blues and Beyond during the spring matinees. More information will be shared later this month with matinee offerings.

Spring Athletics Registration opens on February 15th and closes on April 1st. Spring sports include baseball, softball, and track & field.

Please visit the Athletic Registration page for more information, but be sure to complete the following prior to the deadline:

1. Register on Parent Portal.
2. An updated physician statement dated after June 1st of 2023 and turned into the main office by the deadline. Athletes cannot tryout without this form on file in the nurses office.

The South Windsor Patriotic Commission is pleased to announce its annual essay and poster contest is now open. The contest is open to any South Windsor resident who is a student anywhere in grades K-12 and any non-resident student in grades K-12, attending a South Windsor district school.

The contest features essay topics for three different grade levels, and posters for students in grades K-2:

Grades 6-8 Essay - "What does patriotism mean to me?"

All entries must be received by the Patriotic Commission no later than Friday, March 8, 2024. Please visit the SWPC website, by clicking here, for detailed rules and guidelines, a listing of prizes awarded, to submit an entry online, or to request a paper entry form (required for poster submissions). Good luck to all!

The daily TETV Morning News serve as our primary vehicle for communicating important information to students each day. This is where students can learn about upcoming events, tryouts, clubs and activities, and current events. In addition to playing during homeroom each day you can access the daily news on our school website.

South Windsor Youth and Family Services invites families to join a parenting support group. Please see the flier below.

The South Windsor Teen Center is a valuable partner. Please visit their site for information about upcoming events and programming. The South Windsor Teen Center is located in the Charles N. Enes Community Center at 150 Nevers Road in South Windsor.