Core Notes

Dear TCS Families,

As you may know, October is principal appreciation month. We are so thankful for our principals and all that they do for our schools and our students. I encourage you to send them a note in honor of principal month - the link is listed below. We will print all notes and send them to the principals at the beginning of November.

Also, TCS is in the process of creating the calendar for next school year and is also examining the TCS cellphone policy. We would like your input on both. Please consider taking the survey linked below.

There are some great things going on in the Tuscaloosa City Schools. There's a lot to be proud of. Thank you again for choosing the Tuscaloosa City Schools for your student(s).

Mike Daria

TCS Superintendent

The Tuscaloosa City Schools is in the process of considering options for its calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. The survey linked below will gauge family, student and employee input regarding the calendar for the 2025-26 school year, as well as thoughts on regarding a possible cellphone ban in the Tuscaloosa City Schools. While we do not plan on changing the cellphone policy this school year, we want parent input for possible changes to the policy in the future.

We appreciate your participation. The survey will remain open for two weeks, closing on Nov. 6.

To take our 2025-2026 Calendar and Cellphone Survey, CLICK HERE.

Congrats to the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy Singers from Paul W. Bryant High School! They have been selected as finalists in the Alabama Association of School Board's student entertainment contest for the AASB annual convention in December.

Voting is now OPEN in the entertainment contest. PLEASE VOTE for the Tuscaloosa City Schools so that the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy Singers can go to Montgomery to perform! Voting ends Oct. 30.

How to Vote:

1. Click the link below to view performances and cast your vote!

2. Share with friends and family—let's show these talented students our support!

VOTE HERE: https://binkd.co/cNT0U

STARS Academy and the New Heights Community Resource Center will host a Haunted House for the community on Oct. 29 to benefit the school.

In preparation for the event, students have spent weeks in class crafting their own original stories, creating book covers, recording an audio-book and creating one-of-a-kind scary 3D characters. Now, these eerie inventions will be featured throughout the haunted house for all to see/

We invite the entire community to join us in supporting STARS students and experiencing their frighteningly fun creations on Tuesday, October 29, from 5 pm to 7 pm at New Heights - Stars Academy, 3834 21st St, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Admission is $10, with all proceeds benefiting school programs. There will be community vendors, a photo booth, and activities for all ages. Tickets will be sold at the door the day of the event.

Be sure to celebrate the dedication and hard work of all our school principals this month, recognizing their vital contributions to the success of students, schools and communities!

Do you want to send a thank you to your child's principal? Click the link below and a thank you card will be printed and sent to them at the end of the month! https://survey.k12insight.com/r/principalappreciation

THANK YOU for all that you do, TCS principals!

On Tuesday, the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education received a donation of $2,750 from the Archie & Brownie Hitson Foundation. According to Dr. Amanda Cassity, who presented the check, the donation largely represents donations from members at Calvary Baptist Church. The funds will go toward at-risk students. The Tuscaloosa City Schools greatly appreciates the generosity of the Archie & Brownie Hitson Foundation, Dr. Cassity and Calvary Baptist Church.

Last week, Paul W. Bryant High School held its first-ever International Festival! Families and students put in great effort to create exhibits showcasing their diverse cultures and nationalities. The event featured music, art, and games for everyone to enjoy, but the real highlight was the food—an incredible variety of dishes that were truly #AMAZINGtotheCORE! The atmosphere was vibrant and positive, and the students were thrilled to share their heritage.

Congratulations to the Northridge Lady Jags Volleyball team: the 2024 Class 6A Area 06 Champions!!

Westlawn Middle School students got involved in student organizations as part of the WMS Get on Board Day recently. Watch the video below to learn more.

The Northridge Middle School football team was named the 2024 City-County Football Champions when they won against Hillcrest on Oct. 16! Go Jags!

Interested in starting a charter school in Tuscaloosa? TCS is now a charter authorizer and has released its inaugural request for proposals. CLICK HERE for additional information.

If you see a threat on social media, especially coming from a student or relating to a school, report it. Let law enforcement, school resource officer, a teacher or school administrator know as soon as possible. Reposting doesn't help, but reporting it can. Remember if you see something, SAY SOMETHING! Parents, please speak with your child(ren) about how important it is to report.

Did you know that the curriculum for your child's classes is available online? Alabama's "Parent's Right to Know" law mandates that curriculum must be available to all families for review. These materials are available in Schoology. For more information, CLICK HERE.

How to login:

Login to Schoology

Use your parent/guardian account to login to the Schoology Learning Management platform. If you do not have a parent/guardian account, please contact your student’s school for information and assistance in setting one up.

If you have already registered, you may access Schoology via the Parent Portal, by clicking HERE.

Navigate to Courses

Once you have successfully logged in, navigate to your child's courses (organized by subject and/or grade level) where you will find a “Course Information” folder containing curriculum materials for that course and/or teacher.

BSN Sports has set up online "swag stores" for our schools where any student, faculty or parent can buy school branded gear. This was a desire that was expressed by students during the Superintendent's student advisory meetings at the high schools last school year.

The "swag" on these sites include a variety of price points, brands, and are in men's, women's and children's sizes, plus they have cups and other items as well. On the main page, they also have gear per sport.

There is also branded gear for the elementary and middle schools, too! To see the middle school and elementary options, on the desktop website, once you have clicked on the type of item to browse, you can go to the sidebar where it says "campus" and then select feeder school, where the items will pop up with other school names. Select the school that you want.

Each feeder zone will receive 10% back of all purchases in the form of a store credit/rebate that can be used for future branded purchases by the school(s). So, support your school and show school pride!

Northridge feeder zone store: NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL JAGUARS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Central feeder zone store: CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Bryant feeder zone store: PAUL W BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL STAMPEDE - COTTONDALE, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

It is important to remember that if you or your child see or hear something concerning, please report it to your school's principal. It can be the first step to saving a situation from becoming dangerous. Again, "See Something, Say Something!"