Tamanend Connections

Beginning Monday, June 5, 2023 we will be trialing a new morning drop-off/traffic pattern at Tamanend. Starting on this date, in the morning only, car riders will use the “bus loop” and ONLY busses and staff members will be allowed to enter the Main entrance. Car riders should pull up as far as possible in the unloading zone, but may drop off their children anywhere along the sidewalk. We will continue to encourage drivers to enter the school property from the Kelly Road side so that they may make a right-hand turn on to the property. Our hope is that this new pattern will decrease the amount of time parents and students spend in the car line and alleviate some traffic congestion in the morning. The afternoon traffic pattern will remain unchanged, with parents utilizing the Main entrance and busses utilizing the “bus loop”. We will monitor the impact of the this traffic pattern and communicate any changes, if applicable. In addition, we will communicate which traffic pattern we will use for the 23-24 school year as part of our summer communications. This change also provides a good opportunity to remind everyone in our community about the importance of driving safely around our school. We have many students who walk to and from school. Some of our students must cross Stuckert Road in the mornings and afternoons. Please remember the speed limit on our property and in the school zone on Stuckert Road is 15 miles per hour. Thank you in advance for driving safely and for watching closely for our students who walk to school.

Freshman Celebration--Friday, June 9 7:30 PM to 10:00 (details below)

Freshman Day--Wednesday, June 14--during school day (details below)

Final Awards & Closing Ceremony / Last Day of School--Thursday, June 15

INFORMATION:

• CONGRATULATIONS to all of our Spring teams for successful seasons, especially to those student athletes who medaled at Track champs and our 8th grade girls soccer team who won the CB championship in an incredible game that had to be decided by penalty kicks.
• Boys who are currently in 8th or 9th grades and interested in playing soccer for CB South next year are encouraged to reach out to Coach Pettican at KPETTICAN@CBSD.ORG and provide your name, grade, and email address. Those who contact Coach Pettican will be added to South soccer’s TeamSnap account and will receive updates on summer events and tryout information for the Fall.
• On Friday April 21, the CB Titan wrestling program started hosting FREE Friday night sessions for all interested student grades K thru 6 for 7 whole weeks. These sessions combine wrestling-based drills along with gymnastic style games to not only introduce the sport to your child but begin forging the basic skills of our sport into our future wrestlers. Click HERE for details.
• It is becoming increasingly difficult to secure officials/referees/umpires in all sports, and this issue is anticipated to get worse over the next several years. The PIAA is looking to build its officials ranks. If interested, please visit Become an Official - PIAA. Additionally, students who are 16 years old or older have a special opportunity from the PIAA. The PIAA has waived the fee for its Junior Officials Program. All students who go through the course will then have the opportunity to make money officiating middle school through 9th grade sports. For more information, please visit Junior Officials Program.pdf (piaa.org).

· If you and would like to receive immediate updates on game schedules, cancellations, etc., visit Tamanend Athletics web page and become a “fan” to get alerts for your child’s team.

FROM CB SOUTH:

• Any 9th graders interested in joining the CB South Cross Country Team should attend the interest meeting at CB South on June 6, 2023. The meeting will take place in classroom D204 and go from 3:15-4pm. Any questions please contact Coach Simpson at csimpson@cbsd.org.
• Open gyms for boys basketball for 8th graders and above started Thursday, April 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 at CB South.
• Boys interested in playing soccer for CB South next year are encouraged to reach out to Coach Pettican at KPETTICAN@CBSD.ORG and provide your name, grade, and email address. Those who contact Coach Pettican will be added to South soccer’s TeamSnap account and will receive updates on summer events and tryout information for the Fall.

Tamanend families are welcome to stop by and browse the Complimentary Clothing Boutique! Formal wear, casual wear, shoes, and accessories will be available to pick up at this event and free of charge. Our goal is to reduce the amount of clothes that end up in landfills. Only 1% of them can be recycled, so they can be donated and reused. This boutique will be held on Wednesday, June 7th, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Tamanend Cafeteria. Organized by the Reuse and Recycle Enrichment.

We are holding our evening Freshman Celebration on Friday, June 9. Join us for an evening of music, dancing, food, and fun! Please note that this is not a prom. Students are encouraged to dress nicely, but do not have to dress for a formal. Students do not need a date to attend. The cost is $21. Tickets and permission forms are now available on MyPaymentsPlus. Registration will close on June 6, 2023.

We are holding our traditional Freshman Day outside at Camp America. Join us for music, food, and a great variety of outdoor activities on this fun day. Students should bring bathing suits, towels, and sunscreen. Tickets and permission forms will be available shortly on MyPaymentsPlus. We will send out another communication once MyPaymentsPlus is open. The cost is $25. Tickets and permission forms are now available on MyPaymentsPlus. Registration will close on June 8, 2023.

Sign up here to participate in mandala coloring during I&E. Mrs. Walter will add you to the I&E spreadsheet. Please see Mrs. Walter in the library for the coloring markers.

Curious about origami, the Japanese art of paper folding? Join us for an origami enrichment opportunity, learning and making new creations every week! No experience necessary! We will meet Mondays during I&E. Email Mrs. Walter at twalterveverka@cbsd.org to sign up! A reminder that students must be in good academic standing (good grades, not make-up work) in order to attend enrichment activities during Tiger’s i.

Join us on Thursdays during Tiger’s i in the Library for games of strategy, critical thinking, problem-solving, and a little luck. Choose from Catan, Pandemic, Azul, The Quest for Eldorado, Chess, escape room games, and 1000-piece puzzles! A reminder that students must be in good academic standing (good grades, not make-up work) in order to attend enrichment activities during Tiger’s i. Please email Mrs. Walter at twalterveverka@cbsd.org to sign up.

Student Council is excited to begin the election process for the 2023-2024 9th grade class officers. Are you interested in being a leader of your 9th grade class? Do you want to be a part of the planning process for Tamanend dances, special events and fundraisers?

If you are interested in running to be a 9th grade class officer next year, we are asking that you do the following:

• Complete the nomination form which can be picked up outside of Ms. Vitacco’s room, Room 225
• Drop off your completed nomination form to Ms. Vitacco (Room 225) or Madame Orinski (Room 212)

We are asking that you submit your completed nomination form to Ms. Vitacco or Madame Orinski by Monday, June 5th at noon.

We are so excited for this year’s elections! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Ms. Vitacco and Madame Orinski

Visit the CBSD website at www.cbsd.org/sealofbiliteracy to learn more. You can learn how to apply for the Seal of Biliteracy by watching this video.

If you are a Tamanend parent/guardian interested in volunteering at Tamanend this year, please click on link below to our Sign Up Genius--https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0849AFA62CA4FB6-parent Our first volunteer opportunity will start next week. Please review the volunteer requirements below before signing up. Thank you for your support!

Pennsylvania law requires all persons having direct contact with school children to obtain background checks and clearances. If you are planning on volunteer in in a Central Bucks school during the 2022-2023 school year, you will need to go to Volunteer Required Paperwork, and complete what is needed to be an approved volunteer in our school. Thank you!

Congratulations to the just-over-100 Tamanend Musicians who marched in this year’s Doylestown Memorial Day Parade! You did amazing work with only 2 weeks to practice and the audience was left impressed, as always, with your energy and musicality as you performed our Country’s Service Songs for our community! You have so much to be proud of; well done!

Calling all 2023/2024 9th – 12th graders! Are you interested in learning more about joining the Marching Titans? Join us for our 2023 Spring Mini-Clinics this May/June to learn more about what it’s like to be a member of the Central Bucks South Marching Titans! The six clinics will focus on various aspects of what it’s like to be a member of CBSMT and provide students a detailed look into what Marching Band is all about. Come join us for as many of our clinics and you can to get an in-depth look into what it’s like to be part of one of the greatest shows on turf!!! To learn more please CLICK HERE or visit bit.ly/CBSMTmini2023 to fill out our interest form! You can also follow us on social media @cbsouthbands to learn more! Can’t wait to see you all soon, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at dmyers@cbsd.org!

Tamanend Middle School empowers students to grow academically, socially and emotionally. Students, staff, and families work collaboratively to model the acronym ROAR.

Respect yourself, others, and property.

Own your behaviors.

Act appropriately.

Remember Kindness.

We believe that a caring, positive school culture and learning environment foster respectful, thoughtful, appropriate, and kind citizens.

In order to operationalize our mission, Tamanend utilizes a school-wide positive behavioral intervention and support plan (SWPBIS). This plan helps us establish a social culture in which students expect and support appropriate behavior from one another— creating school environments that are socially predictable, consistent, safe, and positive. This helps to reduce problem behaviors that lead to office discipline referrals and suspensions, and to change perceptions of school safety.

• Verifications for current 7th Grade students were to be confirmed in the Parent Portal Thursday, February 16th.
  
• Verifications for current 8th Grade students were to be confirmed in the Parent Portal Tuesday, February 28th.
• Verifications for current 9th Grade students were posted in the Parent Portal on Friday, March 17th and are to be confirmed by Wednesday, March 29th. (If using the Parent Portal app, select the menu and go to “More”, then “Backpack” in order to view and confirm.)
• The CB South Curriculum Fair for next year's 10th Graders was held on Thursday, January 5th. CB South's Program Planning & Curriculum page contains videos from across their various departments and can help give a sense of their offerings. Paramount to the high school transition are relationships and connectedness. Tamanend and CB South counselors will continue to plan and program for relationship-building opportunities as your child transitions to high school, including the forthcoming program planning assembly with high school and middle school counselors, curriculum fair, Q&A with high school counselors during the Intervention and Enrichment time, and welcome days at the high schools. We will share more information about these exciting events soon. Please reach out to your child’s counselor for additional assistance and information as we work together to support this transition.
• MBIT’s Open House was held on Thursday, December 1st at 6:00. Please visit their website (www.mbit.org) to see all of the amazing programs that MBIT has to offer.
• MBIT offers a Summer Exploration Program. Information can be found at Summer Career Exploration Program / Overview (mbit.org).

A reminder that in order to attend school, students need to be fever free for 24 hours without medication. A fever is considered 100.4 or higher.

Families can access the online application for Free & Reduced Meals by clicking here. The application must be submitted each year.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

CBSD is currently accepting applications for Free & Reduced Lunch. Students who qualify for the Free and Reduced School Meals Program may also qualify for a variety of needs-based assistance based on their program eligibility. Federal law requires the family’s consent before Central Bucks School District can use or share eligibility status for purposes other than the provision of free or reduced lunch. This information will only be shared if you consent to help provide needs-based assistance to your student that may be beneficial to your family. Your decision to share or not share this information will not in any way affect your eligibility status for the Free and Reduced School Meals Program; it is completely optional.

If your student(s) qualifies for the Free and Reduced School Meals Program, you will receive a notification of a document that needs your attention in the Parent Portal. The Free/Reduced Lunch Information Sharing Consent Form requests permission to use the eligibility status to qualify for various needs-based assistance and programming. You may consent for all areas listed below, decline consent to all areas, or provide partial consent. See the link below for instructions to complete this consent form.

Free/Reduced Lunch Information Sharing Consent Form Instructions

Best wishes for a wonderful start to the school year.

For supervision and safety reasons, students may not be dropped off at school before 7:10 a.m. If you are driving your student to school and arrive before 7:10, please remain in your car with your student until 7:10 a.m.

Students are not required to purchase a CBSD issued physical education uniform; however, students will be required to change into athletic attire and sneakers to participate safely and practice good hygiene. Student attire must adhere to the dress code guidelines presented in the student handbook. CB locks will still be required to purchase to ensure personal items are secured in a locker. Locks are available for purchase on MyPaymentsPlus.

When the weather is poor (heavy rain, low temperatures, etc.), more and more parents/guardians choose to drive their children to school. A reminder that students are expected to be in their 1st Period classes by 7:30 AM. If a child is late to school because of CBSD transportation, their tardiness will be excused. If a student is late to school because of car trouble, over-sleeping, or they are in the car drop-off line, their tardiness is unexcused. Typically, there are few cars in the drop off line from when the doors open at 7:10 until about 7:20. After 7:20, the line begins to get very long.

If you drive your child to school and the weather is poor, please consider leaving home earlier so that your child arrives to class on time.

Thanks for your assistance!

The regular school day is from 7:30--2:30.

7:10: Students may be dropped off at Tamanend.

7:10--7:20*: 7th Graders wait in the Auditorium; 8th Graders wait in the Cafeteria; 9th Graders wait in Main Gym

7:20: Classrooms open to students

7:27: Reminder bell rings

7:30: First period classes begin

*Breakfast is available to students in all grades beginning at 7:10 in the Cafeteria.

Last year, CB middle schools began running a weekly intervention and enrichment period. The purpose of this period is to provide time, space, and support for students to receive help from a teacher, to participate in enrichment activities, and to prepare for upcoming assessments and projects. At Tamanend, we called this time Tiger's i. For the 2022-2023 school year, our middle schools will be expanding this from a weekly program to a daily program. Students' Tiger's i groups will meet during the I & E block on their schedule.

You may report your child's absence in any of the following ways:

• Phone (Attendance hotline): 267-893-2920
• Written note to be turned in to Main Office
• Through Portal. Click here to learn how to report student absences through Portal.
  

Tamanend is committed to ensuring that every child has a positive experience at our school. We work hard to ensure that we have financial supports in place for families in need. Please be aware that we can help with the following resources:

• Food--pantry with healthy snacks and personal care items available all day outside of Guidance; meals to take home (students and/or parents and guardians can contact Mrs. Consoletti in the Guidance Office or Mrs. Myrtetus in the Health Office); weekend food packages to take home (students and/or parents and guardians can contact Mrs. Consoletti in the Guidance Office or Mrs. Myrtetus in the Health Office)
• Clothing
• Internet access
• Field trips, school supplies, fees
• Holiday gifts

If your family experiences a financial hardship, please feel free to email one of the staff members below so that we may help:

Brian Caughie (Principal) bcaughie@cbsd.org

Kyle Dudley (Assistant Principal) kdudley@cbsd.org

Lauren Myrtetus (Certified School Nurse) lmyrtetus@cbsd.org

Jeff Klein (Guidance Counselor and Athletic Director) jklein@cbsd.org

Mandy Cammann (Guidance Counselor) mcammann@cbsd.org

Andrea Consoletti (Guidance Secretary) aconsoletti@cbsd.org

Please click on the link below to learn about food assistance for families in Central Bucks:

https://vimeo.com/748146211 (English version)

https://vimeo.com/748143109 (versión en español)

Any Central Bucks family who may need a little extra food assistance is welcome to join on us at Barclay Elementary School. Our 2022-23 drive-up food distribution runs from 4:30 to 5:30 PM on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. We generally have free dry goods, fresh produce, milk, eggs, and bread, and often have some frozen meat and poultry. At each event we pass out an average of 10,000 pounds of food. No advanced sign-up is necessary. We kindly ask that you do not line up before 4:30 so as not to interfere with our student dismissal, and that you do not block our neighbors’ driveways. If you do line up during our student dismissal, you will be kindly asked to leave. Also, do not pull forward until you are certain that you have enough room and will not block someone’s driveway. Our neighbors are very understanding and supportive of our work, but also need to come and go during our events.

We received a donation of brand new backpacks. If you would like one for your child, please email one of the following staff members and we will set one aside for you:

Brian Caughie, Principal bcaughie@cbsd.org

Patti Hartz, Secretary phartz@cbsd.org

Andrea Consoletti, Student Service Secretary aconsoletti@cbsd.org

Here is a list of ways Tamanend communicates with students, families, and the community:

• Tamanend website: includes important information, resources, calendar of school events, and daily announcements
• Calendar of school events (posted on our website)
• Daily announcements (Posted each school day morning on our website and in Canvas. Look for the “Tamanend Announcements” course. Students will self-enroll in this course during the first week of school.
  
• TV show (weekly, during Advisory period)
• Email blasts from Tamanend administration regarding important news, new procedures, and reminders
• Parent Portal: student information, grades, and attendance
• Tamanend Connections newsletter: useful information, important reminders, and school highlights emailed weekly during school year and posted on Tamanend website
• Twitter: @CBTamanendMS highlights of activities, events, and daily life at Tamanend
• CBSD app: highlights of activities, events, and daily life in Central Bucks
  

¡Bienvenidos a Tamanend! Yo soy Brian Caughie, Director de Tamanend Middle School. Soy hispanohablante. Pasé mucho de mi vida en España. Estoy aquí para apoyarles a todos los estudiantes y familias en Tamanend. Favor de llamarme or escribirme (en inglés o en español) si Ud. tiene cualquier duda o pregunta.

Correo electrónico: bcaughie@cbsd.org

Oficina: (267) 893-2900

Starting with the 2022-2023 school year, Tamanend is changing how we publish daily announcements. We will continue to post our daily announcements on our website. We will also be publishing daily announcements through Canvas. We believe this change will make students more connected to the many activities and events available at our school. Tamanend Students will self-enroll in the "Tamanend Announcements" Canvas course during the first week of school. If parent(s)/guardian(s) wish to receive the daily announcements via email blast, they should email Mrs. Patti Hartz.

Tamanend students make a difference in our community. Share your story about the accomplishments and good work of a Tamanend student with Dr. Caughie at bcaughie@cbsd.org so that he may highlight this good news in an upcoming edition of Tamanend Connections.

Email: tms@cbsd.org
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/25
Location: 1492 Stuckert Road, Warrington, PA
Phone: 267.893.2900