The Weekly Update 1/10/2025

Register by Wednesday, January 13th

Connections over Compliance: Adult Nervous System states through the lens of Applied Educational Neuroscience

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Lori DeSautels, Ph.D., the founder of the Educational Neuroscience Symposium, will present a webinar for us: Connections over Compliance: Adult Nervous System States through the Lens of Applied Educational Neuroscience. Dr. Lori DeSautels will explore how the adult nervous system can unintentionally escalate or steady a child when we are aware of how we are experiencing the people, places, and conditions around us. Dr. DeSautels will share practices that help us to get out in front of our own behaviors while nourishing our nervous system states as a part of our routines. We will explore our own lens of discipline and how our perceptions impact others.

The live presentation will be provided virtually on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Please register in advance of the virtual presentation below to receive the Zoom link. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

Registration Link: Connections over Compliance: Adult Nervous System states through the lens of Applied Educational Neuroscience

This event is free and open to the public. Parents, guardians and staff members from the entire district are encouraged to attend virtually!

For more information regarding Neshaminy’s Families Connect Series, please visit www.neshaminy.org/familiesconnect or click here.

Neshaminy School District is pleased to offer a new efficient student absence reporting system called SafeArrival.

You can now report your child’s absence in advance of the official start of the school day using any of these three methods:

1. Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The first time you use the app, select SIGN UP to create your account. Select Attendance and then Report an Absence.
2. Use the SafeArrival SchoolMessenger website. The first time you use the website, select SIGN UP to create your account. Select Attendance and then Report an Absence.
3. You can call 1-888-256-5072 to report an absence to the SafeArrival system.

• While we strongly encourage parents and guardians to use SafeArrival, hand-delivered notes and phone calls to the Main Office will still be accepted for absences. Please note that absences called into Main Offices will be marked “unexcused” until a written note is provided.
• Your username and password are the same whether you use the mobile app or the website. You must register your account using the email address on file with Neshaminy. To use the phone reporting option, you must use the phone number on file with Neshaminy. You can verify or modify your contact information by logging into the Home Access Center (HAC). If you do not recall your HAC credentials, please call your schools main office.
• The automated absence reporting systems is available 24/7. If you report on the day of an absence, you must do so by 11:45 pm or contact the main office or attendance office at your child’s school during normal school hours.
• If you do not report an absence ahead of time, the automated notification system will contact you when your child is absent. The system will send messages via email, text (if you have opted to receive text messages), and phone. If you report your child’s absence through SafeArrival or directly to the school in advance, you will NOT receive this notification

Dear Tawanka Families,

As winter settles in, we want to keep everyone informed about our approach to recess during the colder months. At our school, we believe that recess is an important part of the day for both physical activity and socializing. However, as winter weather brings snow, ice, and chilly temperatures, we must sometimes decide whether to go outside or stay indoors.

When Do We Have Indoor Recess?

We have indoor recess when the weather conditions are too extreme for outdoor play. This includes:

• Frigid temperatures: If it’s too cold (our cutoff temperature is 20°F), especially with wind chills that can make the temperature feel even colder. We monitor the air temp and wind chill to make sure we are not sending kids outside if it is too cold.
• Snow and ice: On snowy or icy days, the playground might be slippery, and it may not be safe to go outside.
• Rain: Wet conditions can also make outdoor play uncomfortable and unsafe.

On days like these, students enjoy indoor activities in their classrooms or the pod. We try to keep the energy up with games, reading, art projects, and other activities that help students stay active, engaged, and entertained!

When Do We Have Outdoor Recess?

We try our best to get the kids outside whenever it's safe and comfortable. Students can enjoy the fresh air, run around, and play if conditions are favorable. Here’s when we typically have outdoor recess:

• Above frigid temperatures: If the temperature is above 20°F (about -6°C), it’s usually safe to go outside for a run or play if students are dressed and prepared.

We encourage students to dress warmly, so they can enjoy the outdoors to the fullest. Layered clothing, hats, gloves, and scarves are all great ideas to stay warm...just make sure they are labeled!

How Can You Help?

• Dress for the Weather: Please make sure your child comes to school with proper winter gear, including coats, hats, gloves, and boots.
• Check the Forecast: If there’s a chance of snow or cold temperatures, remind your child to bundle up for both indoor and outdoor fun.
• Prepare for Indoor Fun: Some days may require indoor activities, so don’t forget that recess is just as important inside for physical play, too!

Winter is a magical season with lots of fun possibilities. Whether we’re outside running around or inside building a tower of blocks, recess is a time for kids to stay active, social, and happy.

Stay warm and safe!

With the cold weather here, kindergarten is adjusting to indoor recess by building

3 dimensional structures. They are having fun and learning.

Mrs. Kane's Kindergarten Class wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

Ms. K’s kids are back to work on their iReady in some fancy rocking chairs!

The Second Grade classrooms got together to cheer on the Eagles! Go Team!

C-106 filled up our reward jar and decided to have camping day! Decked out in our smores hats and flannels, we learned from the comfort of our sleeping bags. We also got to “flashlight read” with our fourth grade buddies!

Second grade students in Mrs. Wendling's class are learning about rocks, gravel and sand.

The third graders in Mrs. Tryon's class spent a few days testing the effect of water on different materials. They are investigating why puddles form in some places on the playground and not in others.

Ms. McHugh's fourth grade class created the phases of the moon using Oreos. A delicious time was had by all!

Mrs. Woltemate's class is discovering what sticks to magnets and what doesn't as they go through their magnetism unit. Students are learning what magnets are made of!

Join us for a night of fun and learning! Tawanka will be hosting a SUPER night of family math and reading games. Games will be appropriate and differentiated for grade bands K-2 and 3-4. There will be math and reading games for elementary-aged students and their families, free materials to take home to continue the fun, homework tips, free books for all, snacks, and raffle prizes! Don't miss out!
Wear your favorite sports team gear to be entered to win a raffle prize!
Contact Andrea Gansor (agansor@neshaminy.org) or Beth Smith (bsmith@neshaminy.org) with questions.

Monday, January 13th

Thursday, January 23rd

Dear Tawanka Family,

We are so very grateful for the outpouring of help from all who provided holiday donations for gift cards and food for our children in need. We were able to make forty students’ holiday a little bit happier. Your unwavering support is what makes Tawanka such a wonderful place to work and learn. We are overwhelmed by your generosity!

Thank you for your support!

Tawanka Nurses and Counselors

We have a few cases of head lice in the building. Early intervention and communication between the parents and the nurse are essential in keeping the spread of lice to a minimum. If you suspect your child may have head lice, please notify the nurse immediately.

Indications of head lice infestation are live lice in the hair, itchy scalp and small grayish-white oval eggs (nits) that are attached to the hair shaft close to the scalp. The nits cannot be easily brushed away from the scalp like dry skin or dandruff because they are attached with a “glue-like” substance. The nits will mature in seven to ten days and become a louse. Lice are seen less often than the eggs (nits) because they are so small. Infestation is usually diagnosed from visualization of nits on the warmest part of the scalp, behind the ears and along the nape of the neck.

If you find any evidence of head lice:

• Verify the infestation with your health care provider or school nurse.

• Report the infestation to your school nurse.

• Seek advice from your health care provider concerning treatment, especially regarding the use of pesticides on your child.

• Treat hair as directed, use a metal or plastic comb designed for nit removal to facilitate removal of all lice and nits from your child’s hair.

To help prevent the spread of head lice, we recommend keeping hair pulled back in a braid or bun with hair gel and/ or hairspray. Remind your child not to share jackets, sweaters, hats, hair accessories, brush and combs. Head lice are spread through direct head-to-head contact. Indirectly it is possible to be spread by combs, hats, bed sheets, upholstered furniture/ car seats etc.

If you have any questions regarding head lice or the policy at our school, please call the school nurse at 215-809-6316 or at calexis@neshaminy.org ddisandro@neshaminy.org or kmcclellan@neshaminy.org

It is the policy of Neshaminy School District that any child identified as having head lice must be checked by the school nurse before returning to class after treatment and will be checked periodically thereafter.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation,

Carol Alexis, Debby DiSandro, and Kelsey McClellan

School Nurses

215-809-6316

If your family is in need of financial assistance, we have a few resources to offer that may be able to help.

Feasterville Rotary donates new coats to children who may need them. Please contact a staff member listed below as soon as possible to order your coat.

Free lunch applications, list of Food Pantries, heating assistance, and other community resources are available as well.

We will be contacting clubs and organizations in the area on your behalf to make a truly “Happy Holiday” for your family. Since we do not know how many organizations will respond to our appeal, we cannot guarantee the type or the amount of gifts your children will receive. These donations may be in the form of food, gifts or gift certificates.

Please contact the nurse’s office or our guidance counselors for further information.

Nurse 215-809-6316 calexis@neshaminy.org ddisandro@neshaminy.org

Guidance counselors cdonnelly@neshaminy.org mkovak@neshaminy.org

Any information shared will remain confidential.