6/3/2025 Letter to the Community

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June 3, 2025

Dear TUFSD Families and Staff,

As we enter the final month of the academic year, there is so much to look forward to. While the weeks ahead will be busy, they will also be filled with special moments, celebrations, and events that reflect the pride and spirit of our school community.

We want to take a moment to congratulate all our students and staff for the hard work and dedication they’ve shown throughout this academic year. It’s been wonderful to see so many individuals recognized for their efforts, both in and out of the classroom.

Let’s enjoy these final weeks together and celebrate all that we’ve accomplished. As always, thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in helping us in “Building a Better Tomorrow” for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raymond Sanchez

Join us for an important virtual Facilities Update session tonight, Tuesday 6/3, at 6:30 p.m.

Learn about the progress and vision for "Building a Better Tomorrow" in our school community.

During our upcoming Facilities sessions, we will focus on the following:

1. Status of all capital projects
2. Overview of the Washington Irving Classroom addition
3. Safety and Staging at Morse
4. Update on Tappan Hill Reopening
5. Answers to questions from the community

Please note that we do not intend to use the time to review transportation questions.

The webinar can be accessed via this link, which is also posted on tufsd.org .

Our district continues to focus on improving our district- and building-communications in collaboration with our Administrative team and Communications Committee. Please take five minutes to complete this survey - your feedback will help guide our ongoing communication enhancements.

We are writing to share that the district is actively exploring the possibility of adding one additional section of Community-Based Organization (CBO)-supported Pre-Kindergarten for the upcoming school year. If approved, this new class would be housed at Tappan Hill School.

Our current provider has advised that they are unable to meet this need, and consistent with NYSED requirements, we intend to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) in order to secure the necessary resources and support. While we are still in the early stages, we wanted to keep you informed of our efforts and our continued commitment to expanding access to early childhood education.

We will continue to keep you updated as this process moves forward and appreciate your patience and support.

The enVision Math program has been used by our elementary teachers for many years. This year we noticed that different editions of the resources were being used across the elementary schools. Before the end of this year, we are making a strong commitment to ensuring elementary teachers have the most up-to-date resources available to help our students reach their full potential in mathematics. Each elementary math teacher will receive a brand-new enVision Teacher Edition kit, complete with manipulatives and other instructional support before the end of the school year.

Please see important information regarding final and Regents exams, along with the exam schedule and special bell schedules.

Thanks to the Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, some of our students got to experience a very special day — stepping into the role of principal!

At the Foundation’s recent gala, one of the most exciting auction prizes was the chance for students to become “Principal for a Day” at JP, Morse, and Washington Irving. The winners took their new roles seriously, shadowing their school leaders and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how things run.

A huge thank you to our amazing principals for welcoming their student counterparts and to the Foundation for making this unforgettable experience possible. The best part? The students all said they could actually see themselves doing this job someday! The future is in great hands.

We are proud to share that all of our Varsity Spring Teams have been recognized with Scholar-Athlete Team Awards by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA)!

This honor is part of NYSPHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete Team Award Program, which celebrates varsity teams that excel both on the field and in the classroom. To qualify, the average GPA of 75% or more of each team’s roster must be 90 or above—a true testament to the dedication and balance our student-athletes demonstrate every day.

Congratulations to our athletes, coaches, and families on this well-deserved recognition for the Spring 2025 season!

This past Saturday, 855 students gathered at the Somers Science Fair — an annual event open exclusively to first-year science research students. Representing Sleepy Hollow High School with enthusiasm and excellence were 33 of our sophomores.

We are proud to share that several of our students received awards for their outstanding research:

Third Place:
Eliza Boozer
Ruby Wild-Arons
Spiros Doupis
Madeline Lynch-Riley
Grace McGovern

Second Place:
Danise Garcia
Rachel Richardson
Maiyumi Marcus-Kanesaka
Meghan McMahon

First Place:
James Dauer
Olivia Miller
Samantha Mendieta

We applaud all of our student participants for their hard work, dedication, and impressive performance at the fair. Congratulations on a job well done!

🕰️ The Archeology Club had an amazing visit from the Historic Hudson Valley Museum!

Thanks to three expert guests, students explored original 18th & 19th century artifacts and documents—including a 1776 map of the Hudson River featuring Tarrytown! 🗺️🔍

They even got to hold real artifacts like:
🔐 18th c. Lock
🔥 Farm Brand
✒️ Inkwell
💊 Medicine Bottle & more!

6th grader Remi summed it up: “We didn’t just get told info—we saw it, heard it, and held it!” 👀👂👐

Big thanks to the Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, Mr. Holland, and Mr. Fried! 🙌

We’re proud to announce two recognitions from the National School Public Relations Association:

• 🎥 Horsemen Pride Video — Award of Excellence for showcasing the spirit and story of our district (Anthony DiNoto and Cara Tomao)
• 📸 Student Photo: Flower Girl — Honorable Mention for outstanding photograph (Cara Tomao)
• 🗓️Annual Calendar - Digital Media Award of Merit (Jeff Braun, in collaboration with Personnel Assistant Tracy Jarrell and Art Teacher Andrea Harrison)

“This pole will stand as a silent witness to our shared values. It reminds every passerby—student, neighbor, visitor—that this is a place where kindness matters, where respect is practiced, where peace is possible”

🌟 Thank you to the Tarrytown Rotary Club for your generosity and partnership in planting this message of hope and unity in our community.

We are proud to announce that our 6th Grade Band earned a Gold rating at NYSSMA Majors, the highest rating awarded by the state adjudicators based on performance standards at their level.

This exceptional achievement is a reflection of the students’ dedication, practice, and teamwork throughout the year. Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved honor!

There’s been some adorable excitement at Morse! Our students recently welcomed a group of fluffy ducklings they helped hatch as part of a hands-on learning experience. Since then, they’ve been lovingly caring for them — feeding, watching, and learning every step of the way. Last week brought a special milestone: the ducklings’ very first swim! It was a joyful moment full of giggles, splashes, and wide-eyed wonder. We’re so proud of our young caretakers and their commitment to learning through care and curiosity. 🐣🦆💛

Join Us for the Peabody Spring Fling & Capture the Flag!

Friday, June 6 | 5:30–8:00 p.m. | Peabody Field

Celebrate the end of the school year with an evening of fun, games, and community at our annual Peabody Spring Fling & Inter-generational Capture the Flag! This festive tradition features activities for all ages, including:

• Capture the Flag – Our beloved annual game where families and friends face off across generations.

• Disc Golf Debut – Get a first look at the exciting Disc Golf Pilot Program coming this fall, with a practice basket and student ambassadors from Sleepy Hollow!

• Seed Bombs & Insect Crafts – Dive into nature crafts, create seed bombs, and help unveil Peabody’s very first Insect Hotel!Light snacks and water will be provided. Keep an eye on Instagram for more updates and surprise activities. Don’t miss this fun-filled celebration!

Light snacks and water will be provided. Keep an eye on Instagram for more updates and surprise activities. Don’t miss this fun-filled celebration!

Please join us in the Sleepy Hollow Auditorium for a wonderful evening of music to benefit the Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Boosters on Sunday, June 8th at 5:00 PM. The Hudson Valley Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band will perform a crowd pleasing program that will be enjoyable for all ages. They will be joined by special guests from the Sleepy Hollow, Croton, and Lakeland high school bands.

This year's special guest narrator is retired News 12 meteorologist, Joe Rao.

Please see the attached flyer for details.

No tickets are necessary. Donations will be accepted at the door to support the Boosters.

🎶 Get Ready for the Sleepy Hollow Music Festival! 🎶

Join us on June 7, 2025 at Kingsland Point Park for an unforgettable day of live music, food trucks, craft vendors, a VIP area, a kids zone, and more! Headlining the festival is Band of Horses, with performances by Jade Bird, Living Colour, Fantastic Cat, Carissa Johnson & The Cure-Alls, and many more talented artists.

🌟 Kids under 12 get in free!
🎟️ Group ticket options available
📍 Learn more and grab your tickets at www.sleepyhollowmusicfestival.com

Brought to you by the Village of Sleepy Hollow — don’t miss out on this incredible community event!

🎭 Tarrytown Music Hall Academy Presents: Disney’s Aladdin JR. – En Español! 🇪🇸

Don’t miss the U.S. premiere of Disney’s Aladdin JR. en Español, brought to life by the talented students of the Tarrytown Music Hall Academy!

✨ Directed by Evy Ortiz (West Side Story National Tour)
✨ Choreographed by Lauryn Ciardullo (Aladdin on Broadway)
✨ Music directed by Daniel Gutiérrez (On Your Feet National Tour)

📅 Showtimes:

• Wednesday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m.

• Saturday, June 14 at 11:00 a.m.

📍 Tarrytown Music Hall – 13 Main Street, Tarrytown, NY

🎟️ Performances are FREE and open to the public!

School Performances (Great for dual-language classes):
📅 Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.

Come experience a magical journey — in Spanish — filled with music, dance, and Broadway-caliber talent!

🧵 Join a Free Community Weaving Workshop at the Pocantico Center!

The Pocantico Center is hosting a Community Weave: Intergenerational Bilingual Art-Making Event—a hands-on, family-friendly activity open to all ages 5 and up. Learn the basics of weaving using upcycled T-shirt yarn and contribute to a collaborative art piece that will be displayed in the community!

📅 Workshop Dates:

• Monday, June 16 | 3:30–5:30 p.m. (includes optional curator-led tour of Picasso tapestries at Kykuit)

• Saturday, June 21 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. or 3:00–4:00 p.m.

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🧑‍🎨 Led by local bilingual arts educator Kersten Harries, this event offers a fun, creative way to connect across generations and cultures.

📍Location: The Pocantico Center, 200 Lake Rd, Tarrytown, NY
📧 Questions? Email: pocanticoprograms@rbf.org

🔗 Register via QR code on the flyer or visit www.pocantico.org

Presented by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Let’s weave something beautiful together!

The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns are seeking reliable, safety-minded individuals to transport students safely to and from school. As a school bus driver, you’ll play a vital role in our community while enjoying a rewarding career.

The Horsemen PTA is asking everyone to link their Decicco's and Sons card to the Horsemen PTA. By doing so the Horsemen PTA will receive money that we can be used to support our schools, just by shopping and swiping your card!

Please see attached flyer for details and make sure to look for Horsemen PTA on the drop-down list.

To view past copies of the newsletters, please visit the Superintendent's Page.

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