Let's Talk TPS

TPS Families -

March is here and as the saying goes, "In like a lion and out like a lamb". Despite Punxsutawney Phil's prediction, we will hope for more "lamb-like" weather as we head into spring.

The situation in the Ukraine and Russia is on all of our minds and may be affecting our students more than we know. If your student is expressing worry or concern, please let us know, speak with your school's guidance counselor, and take advantage of the articles on how to speak with your students, the new Anxiety resources page, and the Mental Health resources on the Parent Resources page of our website.

Monday marks the move to masks optional in our schools. This is a big change for all of us and although there is a sense of freedom that comes with this change, we know that some individuals may need or choose to leave their masks on. Please remind your students that their schoolmates may need their masks for health or other reasons and to be accepting of each individual's personal decision. Our counselors remain available to assist students with any feelings that may be associated with this change to optional mask wearing. Please do not hesitate to reach out to them for help with the transition.

Our TPS students continue to amaze us and we try to share all of their amazing accomplishments on our social media pages and website. From our record-breaking high jumper to our first-place scientists, the accomplishments are truly amazing. Please follow us on our social media sites and check the website often so that their achievements can inspire you as they do me!

Yours in Education,

Shauna C. DeMarco

Superintendent Tenafly Public Schools

Beginning March 7th, Tenafly Public Schools moves to masks optional for all students and staff, with exception of those students returning to school on days 6-10. For more details, visit the TPS website or see Policy 1648.11. Please note that our policy and practices will continue to support any individual’s right to continue wearing a mask.
Some related reminders:

• Busing companies can require students to wear masks when on school buses.
• The Symptom Tracker must be completed prior to coming to school each day.
• TPS will continue to contact trace, quarantine, and provide virtual instruction if applicable.

Is your student feeling anxious about the imminent move to masks optional? After two years of explaining that masks make you safe, removing them may seem a bit scary or concerning. Please let your students know that masks are optional and for those students who may need some reassurance, visit the Anxiety Resources page on our website for some helpful information.

CAP and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Present: Internet and Social Media Safety, a program for students in grades six to 12 and all parents. Understand potentially dangerous situations arising from internet usage, address common challenges parents face protecting their child’s privacy online, and learn how to recognize if your child might be at risk. Masks required.

Keynote Speaker: Detective Sergeant James Calaski, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Cyber Crimes Unit

Date: Wednesday, March 2nd

Place: Tenafly Middle School Auditorium, 10 Sunset Lane, Tenafly

Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Each spring, recommendations are made to the Board of Education regarding the continued employment of pre-tenured faculty members in the Tenafly Public Schools. Parents who wish to share any information about the performance of any faculty member(s) on the pre-tenure list are encouraged to submit their comments to Superintendent DeMarco on or before March 4, 2022. Thank you.

THS juniors - Join College Counselor Jane Weinfeld on Tuesday, March 8th for THS Junior College Night. Join the Zoom event: Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/6195857717?pwd=N0JINWtJS2FXRldWTEJLc21LeEZRZz09. Details can be found on the THS website.

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SCOIR

The THS counseling team is announcing a new college admissions network called SCOIR (pronounced score) to help parents and students navigate the college selection and application process. This new program will replace the Naviance program previously in place. Historical data from Naviance has been transferred to SCOIR. More details coming soon!

Several email providers are currently blocking the Daily Symptom Tracker emails. This is not something of which TPS has control and the company is working on correcting the issue.

If you are one of the families currently not receiving the Daily Symptom Tracker emails, please use this link to fill out the form or visit the TPS website homepage and select the link for the Daily Symptom Tracker - Online Form. You will need your student’s ID number.

Please join us for an in-person evening presentation on elementary K-5 mathematics on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 7pm in the High School Library Media Center. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

The event will be hosted by district administrators, Ms. Amelia Bowers (K-12 Math Supervisor), Ms. Heidi Chizzik (Director of Gifted Services), and Dr. Evelyn Mamman (Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction).

This event is for parents/guardians of students in grades K-5 interested in learning more about our district’s approach to meaningful, rigorous mathematics instruction, the three stages of learning mathematics, and differentiation in the mathematics classroom.

To register visit https://forms.gle/fz4P244ENG7JVaP28.

Congratulations to THS Science Research students who were recently recognized as finalists and will be presenting at the NJ Junior Science and Humanities Symposiums; the New Jersey Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (NJJSHS) at Rutgers University and the Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium (JSJSS) at Ocean County College.

Our finalists who presented at Northern NJ Junior Science & Humanities Symposium ON February 28th at Rutgers University are senior Hannah Joung - Long term toxicity of e-cigarettes using markers of cardiovascular health in mice as a persistent comparative outcome, and junior Crystal Ye - Using Endogenous MicroRNAs in Virus Diagnostics - who both placed first!; poster finalist junior Alexandra Yanowitz - Exploring the Scenario-based Need for EV Charging Locations in NJ Using ILIT Location Analysis Model; and 3-minute pitch finalist for sophomores and freshmen, sophomore David Sen - Using Artificial Intelligence for Cancer Detection from Images. Crystal Ye placed third overall and will travel to the National JSHS in Albuquerque!

Presenting at Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium at Ocean County College this month are poster finalists senior Isabel Dubov- Using Cdc14 ortholog to create antifungal treatment against Verticillium longisporum, senior Jacob Wolmer - A Novel Method of Text Encoding for LSTM Network Text Generation, and junior Kathy Zhang - A Low-cost Autonomous Quadropod that Measures Basic Soil Quality Values in Real Time for Early Preventions of Soil Pollution. Way to go Tigers!

The third annual International SEL Day is next week on Friday, March 11, 2022. The theme this year is Finding Common Ground, Pursuing Common Good. Join us from home with suggested activities and other SEL fun as we celebrate a full week of SEL, culminating in a March 11th SEL-ebration! Find daily SEL activities on our website and join in on Thursday and Friday as we SEL-ebrate district-wide.

Thursday: Wear black, orange, and/or Tenafly spirit wear and show your Tiger Pride!

Friday: We “GLOW” together- wear neon to celebrate how bright and energized we feel on SEL Day!

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 7-8pm, CarePlus Clinical Program Manager Mackenzie Kuhl, LSW will present Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning+ (LGBTQ+) Youth: An Overview of Cultural Awareness & Supporting LGBTQ+ Folks. Learn how to best support your LGBTQIA+ youth through an overview of cultural awareness and competencies of the key principles related to the LGBTQIA+ community through this 30-minute presentation. Q&A to follow discussion.

When TMS guidance counselor Ellie Zerling challenged her sixth and seventh grade ambassadors to find creative ways to fundraise for charity, she expected the traditional bake sale. What she got was much much more! The students, with some help from principal John Fabbo and agreement from vice principal Patrick Comey, came up with Shaving for Smiles. Vice principal Comey agreed to have principal Fabbo shave his beard if the students could raise at least $1000 for SmileTrain, the organization known for providing 100%-free cleft surgery. The students raised nearly $1500 and on February 24, 2022, vice principal Comey stayed true to his word. Click the image to see the outcome!

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