Volume 5 Issue 12
Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour! We get an extra hour this Sunday! That means you get an extra hour of sleep before Dino Dash on Sunday. We've got only two weeks until Thanksgiving! Remember no school next Friday.
This week's background features pictures from our Big Buddies in 8th grade. They visited Mrs. Maeda's students this Thursday and it was amazing! Also, the 8th graders had some community time and we've got a picture of our students playing Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese Pizza Card Game! Yes that is a real game and looks pretty fun!!!!
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or compliments, please reach out to Mr. Fineberg, our principal, at efineberg@tustin.k12.ca.us.
Principal's Message...
I'd like to use this space this week to touch on a subject that we continue to grapple with as educators and as a parent I struggled with my own children and that is math facts. I recently read an article that shed some light on the subject as well as referenced some additional studies on the topic. In a nutshell, two things stood out for me.
- Students need to learn their facts to free up the capacity in their working memory to learn concepts
- Flashcards do work to help students memorize their facts
If you are a little nerdy like I am, you'll want to read the studies to learn more. The overall message is what I think we all know is that if students don't learn their math facts, as they proceed through more complex math, their ability to learn complex processes will be diminished if they are using their working memory to work through basic facts. Of course, one size doesn't fit all and the best strategy is the one that works and your student is willing to use. The important piece is whatever method, it's important they learn their math facts, or if they have a disability that prevents them from memorizing their facts, they have compensatory strategies (e.g. multiplication chart, calculator...) to be able to proceed into more complex operations.
This Sunday, November 5th is the Dino Dash. If you have not attended previously, it is the largest single community event in Tustin in which all the profits are donated to TUSD schools. The event is sponsored by the Tustin Public Schools Foundation at the Tustin/Irvine Marketplace. Mr. Fineberg, Mrs. McCourtney, and Mrs. Dove will be at the event along with staff and community from across the district. Students and families can sign up at www.tpsf.net. Runnerships are available for any students interested in running/walking/biking. So, please join us on Sunday!
As always, if you have any questions, compliments, ideas, and/or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out at (714) 430-2052 ext. 52103 or efineberg@tustin.k12.ca.us. Have a great weekend.
Mr. Fineberg
✍️ Elementary Information ✍️
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End of Trimester and Report Cards: With the trimester ending today, grade books will be closed today and all parents will have access to report cards on their Aeries Parent Portal on November 17th. That also means we are 1/3 of the way through the 2023/24 school year! Wow!
🦖 LAST CHANCE! Dino Dash: Please join us for our annual TPSF fundraiser on November 5th! The Dino Dash is a wonderful way for students and families to come together and raise money for TUSD schools. The event is held at Tustin Marketplace where families from all over TUSD can get some fresh air, exercise, and enjoy the many booths with games, food, and fun. My family and I participate every year and I'd love to get a group of TC Mavericks together on race day. Prices go up again soon- register now!
- Register at https://www.tpsf.net/dinodash
- For each registration, $10 goes straight to the classroom for supplies.
- If you can't run, you can purchase a runnership to sponsor another runner in TUSD and $10 still goes to the classroom! If you'd like to participate and use a runnership, please let me know!
- We always need volunteers to run the event. If you are interested, please click here.
Math Group - Wednesdays 12:30-1: 4-6 grade students have the opportunity for math intervention group on Wednesdays. If your child would benefit from more support in math, please let me know and they can join the group on Wednesdays from 12:30-1.
😃Middle School Information😃
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7th/8th Graders Optional In-Person Time: In order to offer more in-person opportunities for students that are interested in additional support and work time, we are opening our 7th/8th grade classroom on Tuesdays from 1-3 pm starting next week.
Math Lab: Math Lab continues to run for our Middle School students on Wednesday afternoon. It is an incredibly helpful session with specialized support for students based on their needs. Please be sure to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to support math instruction.
👍 High School Information 👍
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Golden Touch Awards: If your student hasn't done so already, please be sure to send in your nomination for a TUSD employee on campus that has made an impact on our students from office staff, to instructional aides, teachers, counselors, custodial staff, anyone. Please check out the video. The program is student driven and only high school students can nominate an employee. Golden Touch Video Overview.
Juniors Grad Check Meetings: This month, Mrs. W will be meeting with each junior individually to review credits and begin discussing and planning for senior year/ post-graduation plans. They will do a mini "graduation check" and check in to see how the year has been going so far.
Junior students are asked to schedule a meeting time with Mrs. W using this link: https://calendly.com/rwijnhamer/junior-counselor-check-in
IVC virtual workshop: IVC is hosting a series that will be held on Zoom during the week of Monday, November 13 through Friday, November 17 from 4:30pm-5:30pm.
Each day there will be different topics covered on IVC programs, including:
- Transferring to a Four-Year University
- College Financial Aid and the Irvine Valley Promise Program
- College Credit with Dual Enrollment
- Irvine Valley College Honors Program
- Fast-Track to Success: Career Education (CTE) in 2 Years or Less
Students can pre-register here: Webinar Registration - Zoom
PTA Round Up
Hello Maverick Families,
As a service to our students and community, Spirit Wear is now on sale! Visit the website https://www.tustinconnectpta.com/spirit-wear to get yours today! We have them in stock just purchase them and pick them up! You can order online via our website and show your receipt to the office, or you can bring cash or check to the office made out to PTA.
- T-shirt $10
- Dri-fit $15
- Jammie Pants $30
If you are interested in getting involved, we'd love the help! Please contact the office and we can connect you to our PTA. You can also reach out to our PTA President, Ziggy McBride via email at ziggy.mcbride@gmail.com.
Counselor Corner: Resources and link to workshops and more!!!
Coffee With the Principal/Counselor/Mental Health Professional was last Wednesday. Our Counselor and Mental Health Professionals did an amazing job to define and share strategies for coping with anxiety and depression. As advertised, it was an invaluable opportunity to learn from the professionals. If you missed the presentation or would just like to take a closer look at the slides, please check them out.
Irvine Valley College is hosting a special week for TUSD students online. The topics including transferring to a 4 year university, financial aid, dual enrollment, IVC honors program, and CTE in 2 years of less. The sessions are the entire week M-F 4:30 - 5:30 pm. Pre register at bit.ly/ivc-spotlight23. Zoom links will be emailed to those that registered before the event. Please see the flyer for more details.
Our small groups at the K-8 and high school sites have begun. We are so excited to be able to meet with students in a group setting. See below for more information on the small groups and how to join.
Check out Mrs. Wijnhamer's Monthly Counselor Newsletter.
Our Counselor and Mental Health team have a great website with lots of resources to check out.
Free Online Tutoring Available for K-12 Students
Brainfuse HelpNow is an on demand, anytime, anywhere eLearning platform available for all ages and levels. Last week, it was announced that every Californian can now access free online tutoring available 24/7 through a new initiative offering homework help in every K-12 subject and skill-building resources for K-12 and adult learners.
Real-time homework assistance can now be accessed 24/7 here and on the websites of any of the 1,130 local public libraries around the state – click on the “HelpNow” link to reach a one-on-one tutor. The pilot program led by the State Library offers assistance in Math, Language Arts, and other core K-12 subjects in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. There’s no age limit to who can use the service. Adult learners can also access writing assistance, citizenship resources and other tools.
SORA Virtual Texts Collections
TUSD Resource Sora Summer Read
Sora Sweet Reads in an annual summer reading program designed for schools to encourage students to keep reading all year long. "Check out" the free collection of simultaneous use juvenile and young adult ebooks (and select audiobooks).
Login to Sora to access these and many any other great ebooks and audiobooks all summer long through Clever, TUSD Student Portal or soraapp.com using your TUSD Google login and password.
Student Request - SORA books – Here is a link to a Google Doc to send suggestions and recommendations for new books for our collections!!
Technology Questions/Needs - There's Help Available!
Important Upcoming Dates - Please check our school Website Calendar for all the latest!
November 5: Dino Dash
November 5: Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 10: Veteran's Day (no school)
November 17: Last Day to Donate Pajamas for Project Pajamas Event
November 20-24: Thanksgiving Break (no school/new assignments all week)
November 29: Maverick Hangout (K-8)
November 29: Make-up Picture Day 8:30 - 10 am (K-8 campus)/10:30-12 (9-12 campus)
Our Mission
Email: efineberg@tustin.k12.ca.us
Website: www.tustinconnect.org
Location: (K-8) 14741 North B Street; (9-12) 1151 San Juan Street
Phone: (714) 430-2052
Twitter: @tustinconnect