Tomahawk Talk

Dear Tomahawk Families,

Happy New Year! We hope that you had a restful and joyful winter break filled with cherished moments. As we step into 2025, we are excited to kick off the second half of the school year with enthusiasm and purpose.

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to school this week, pending weather conditions. Please stay tuned for any updates as we monitor forecasts to ensure everyone's safety.

Together, let’s make 2025 a year of growth, learning, and success for our students. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to create a vibrant and nurturing school community.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

Warm regards,

Dr. Ematrudo

Monday, January 6th

• Snow Day! ❄️

Tuesday, January 7th

• 5:45 PM: BCS BOE Meeting

Thursday, January 9th

• 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM: Social Studies Fair Setup

Friday, January 10th

• Social Studies Fair
• 9:00 AM: Judging begins
• 2:30 PM: Award Ceremony in Library - parents are welcome!

Monday, January 13th

• 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Math Field Day Practice
• 6:00 PM: PTO Meeting in Library

Tuesday, January 14th

• Dental Clinic Visit (for eligible students)

Thursday, January 16th

• 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Student Council Meeting

Friday, January 17th

• REVISED DATE: Report Cards
• REVISED DATE: i-Ready Reports

Monday, January 20th

• NO SCHOOL: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 22nd

• Data Review Meetings for Staff
• After-school Club Pictures for Yearbook

Monday, January 27th

• 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Rec Club

Set-up for the Social Studies Fair will be this Thursday, January 9th in front of the library. Students may set up before or after school. However, if setting up after school, set-up will be from 3:45 - 5:00 to avoid bus dismissal. Student must check in with Mrs. Otto first to get their project number.

Additionally, students are reminded to place their completed abstract on the table with their project and other artifacts. If students have anything valuable or breakable to place on the table, they may do so on Friday, but the rest of the project must be set up before the fair begins on Friday morning. Student names should NOT be anywhere on the project (this includes the back of the project board) or abstract. Missing abstracts or projects with names on them will be disqualified.

Judging for the Social Studies Fair will begin around 9 AM on Friday, January 10th. Students will be called individually to give their speech and present their projects. There will be an Award Ceremony at 2:30 and parents are welcome to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Otto (botto@k12.wv.us).

Students who do NOT earn the March Magic event on Thursday, March 13th will have a regular day of school. They'll be in a classroom with instructional activities and academic support. The criteria for the reward day is listed below.

As we head into colder weather, we want to remind everyone that students will go outside for recess as long as the "real feel" temperature is 32 degrees or above. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat, hat, gloves, and any other winter gear they may need to stay comfortable.

We want to tell you about some changes to the attendance rules for all public schools in West Virginia. The state has a new policy, called Policy 4110, that explains how important it is for students to be in school every day and what happens if they miss too many days.

The new policy says there are two types of absences: “excused” and “unexcused.” Excused absences include:

• Failure of bus to run
• Judicial obligations
• Military obligations
• Death in the family
• Medical/dental appointments (with a doctor's note)
• Chronic medical condition (school meeting required)
• Personal illness/injury of student or family member (Limit 10 per school year)

Our Lost and Found rack is overflowing with items! If your child is missing a hoodie, lunchbox, water bottle, or other item, please have them check the Lost and Found, which is located directly outside of the cafeteria. It would also be helpful if student names were written inside of personal items so that we can return them to the rightful owner when misplaced.

We try our best to serve the menus we post; however, sometimes circumstances beyond our control require us to make last minute menu changes.

As a reminder, transportation updates are posted to the BCS Transportation Dashboard: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/transportation-dashboard

In the event that a bus is canceled, we encourage parents/caregivers to transport student(s) to and from school. If you are unable to transport your student to school, please contact our main office at (304) 754-3171. Absences will be marked excused if due to a cancelled bus route.

Please complete this form https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/page/absencenote if your child is absent from school. This form is for all parent notes, and also for medical appointments. Please upload the doctor's note for all medical appointments during school hours, or when a child is out of sick due to illness.

Minors:

*Classroom-managed behaviors. Teachers will provide verbal warnings, redirect students, remind them of expectations, re-teach behaviors, and inform parents of minor incidents. Consequences may include: loss of recess time, lunch detention, loss of privileges, referral to school counselor, etc. Repeated violations of minor behaviors will become major offenses (habitual violation of school rules).

Examples of minor behaviors:

• yelling out

• out of seat

• inattentive behavior

• interrupting instruction

• minor disrespect

• talking during instruction

• minor peer to peer conflict

• name calling (non-Title IX)

• inappropriate language

• invading personal space

• touching another student WITHOUT intent to harm

• rough play

• refusing to open a book, complete an assignment, work with another student, work in a group, take a test, or do any other class – or school-related activity not listed herein.

Majors:

*Administrator-managed behaviors. Possible consequences include: in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, lunch detention, loss of privileges, referral to school counselor, etc.

Examples of major behaviors:

• Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation: A student will not bully/intimidate/harass another student. According to W. Va. Code §18-2C-2, “harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional gesture, or any intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, communication, transmission or threat that:

• A reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a student, damaging a student’s property, placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person, and/or placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property;

• Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or emotionally abusive educational environment for a student; or

• Disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school.

• Disrespectful Conduct Toward Peers or Staff: done with intent to harm and/or repetitive. Note: repetitive behavior may be defined as bullying. Major disrespect includes: screaming, throwing items (chair, desk, sharp object, etc. with intent to hit peer or staff), or profane language indecent act/gesture.

•False Fire Alarm: setting-off the fire alarm knowingly and willingly without cause.

• Habitual Violation of School Rules: evidence of previous interventions; minimum of 2 prior parent conferences (phone or in-person). Student’s behavior is consistently impeding on the learning of others.

• Physical Fight with Intent: Engaging in a physical altercation using blows with intent to harm or overpower another person or persons.

• Possession/Use of Weapon: As defined in WV Code §61-7-2, a “dangerous weapon” means any device intended to cause injury or bodily harm, any device used in a threatening manner that could cause injury or bodily harm, or any device that is primarily used for self-protection. Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, blackjack, gravity knife, knife, knifelike implement, switchblade knife, nunchaku, metallic or false knuckles, pistol, or revolver. A dangerous weapon may also include the use of a legitimate tool, instrument, or equipment as a weapon including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, compasses, or combs, with the intent to harm another.

• Sexual Misconduct: Exposing oneself publicly and indecently, displaying or transmitting any drawing or photograph of a sexual nature, or committing an indecent act of a sexual nature on school property, or on a school bus, or at a school sponsored event.

• Technology Misuse: Violating WV Code 126CSR41, WVDE Policy 2460, Educational Purpose and Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources, Technologies and the Internet.

• Threat to a Student or Staff Member: Severely disruptive, imminently dangerous, illegal, and/or aggressive behaviors are willfully committed and are known to be illegal and/or harmful to people and/or property. The inappropriate behaviors include, but are not limited to: verbal, written, electronic and/or illustrative communications intended to offend and/or humiliate.

• Use/Possession of Tobacco Product: usage or possession of tobacco products on school property (cigarettes, vapes, jewels, chewing tobacco, etc.).

• Vandalism: • done with intent and/or cannot be easily cleaned or repaired.

If you need to contact us, please call the office at 304. 754.3171 or email the following personnel:

- Dr. Ematrudo, Principal: kematrudo@k12.wv.us

- Mr. Robison, Assistant Principal: matthew.robison@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Brandy Pulse, School Nurse: brandy.pulse@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Kline, Attendance Secretary: ekline@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Kercheval, Afternoon Secretary: kimberly.kercheval@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Walling, Enrollment Secretary: twalling@k12.wv.us

- Mrs. Boyd, School Counselor: megan.boyd@k12.wv.us

- Ms. Thomas, School Counselor: katlyn.thomas@k12.wv.us