Below are the links to the morning announcements for May 6th - May 10th . Links will go live each morning at 6am.

Monday, May 6th : https://youtu.be/KMtYVvTXFSc

Tuesday, May 7th : https://youtu.be/eP8gpgx52Fo

Wednesday, May 8th : https://youtu.be/ZELI4J3JhZk

Thursday, May 9th : https://youtu.be/29hakCiyy1U

Friday, May 10th : https://youtu.be/-y42WZ23A0I

Our Teachers Make the Whole School Shimmer!

Please join the PTO in celebrating our amazing staff.

Monday, May 6th - "Are You Ready For It?"

Bring your teacher their favorite supply.

Tuesday, May 7th - "It's Me, Hi!"

Write a note or draw a picture for your teacher

Wednesday, May 8th - "We Feel the Lavender Haze"

Bring you teacher flowers or a plant.

Thursday, May 9th - "Shake It Off!"

Bring your teacher their favorite snack or beverage.

Friday, May 10th - "Our Teachers Never Go Out of Style"

Wear your teacher's favorite color

The PTO will provide breakfast and coffee on Monday and lunch on Wednesday. If you would like to make a monetary donation you can Venmo @tylertomcatspto or send in cash in an envelope address to the PTO.

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Jennifer Perilla, Principal of Tyler Elementary School, has been honored as the Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Principal of the Year!

Mrs. Perilla’s unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership, and commitment to fostering a nurturing educational environment have made a profound impact on our school community. Her tireless efforts have inspired both students and staff alike. Congratulations Mrs. Perilla!

Tomcats Got Talent Virtual Talent Show is back! We would love for our students to share their talents! Play a sport? Enjoy telling jokes? Taught your dog a new trick? Know a cool dance? The sky is the limit!

Participating students will upload a video up to 5 minutes in length to a FlipGrid. The public talent show FlipGrid will be sent out to all families and students on Friday, May 24. If your student would like to participate, please fill out the application link below together by Friday, May 10 at 3:30pm. Once the application is submitted and approved, you will receive an email from Mrs. Jacobs containing the FlipGrid code. Please reach out to Mrs. Jacobs jacobsmn@pwcs.edu with any questions.

https://forms.office.com/r/EsrvJg0J0h

We will be administering the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) to students in grades K-3 from May 6th - May 17th. This assessment measures a child’s knowledge of several important literacy fundamentals: phonological awareness, concept of word, knowledge of letter sounds and spelling. PALS provides a direct means of matching literacy instruction to specific literacy needs and provides a means of identifying those children who are relatively behind in their acquisition of these fundamental literacy skills and are at risk of reading difficulties. Teachers use the results to more effectively plan their instruction to meet the needs of their class. All teachers rely on the assistance of parents to support learning. You can support your child on this assessment by encouraging your child to do his or her best. You can also ensure that your child has enough sleep the evening before the test is given and has eaten a proper meal the morning of the testing. Please feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions.

Please join us in supporting Mental Health Awareness by participating in our dress up days and activities during spirit week!

Monday, May 13 - Wear Yellow and "Make Someone Smile Monday"

Tuesday, May 14 - Students dress like teachers and staff dress like students "Take Action Tuesday"

Wednesday, May 15 - Pajama Day "Wellness Wednesday"

Thursday, May 16 - Hat Day "Thankful Thursday"

Friday, May 17 - Wear Green "Fun Friday"
______________________________
Fast Facts
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 20 U.S. adults experience a serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6–17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–14
People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population
High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
1 in 5 young people report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health.
Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.

https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/summer_school/summer_enrichment_programs

Current Grade Level(s): 2-8

Description: Join us for a two-week immersive visual art experience. During this program, students will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of techniques with both two-and three-dimensional art media. An art exhibit for students and families serves as our culminating event. Participants will need to attend both weeks of the program.

Dates and Location:

July 15-26, 2024
Pennington Traditional School or Porter Traditional School

Hours: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Tuition: $250 for Prince William County Public School students

Tuition payments should be made through Student Quick Pay.

Transportation: Transportation service is provided. Bus stops will be different from the regular school year bus stops. No special bus stops will be established for individual students.

Bus stop locations will be communicated in June. Please see the Summer Program Transportation webpage.

Questions? Please contact Jasmine Hawkins at hawkinsjr@pwcs.edu.

Current chronic absenteeism rates per grade level are below. Schools must be below 15% in order to be accredited by the state.

KG: 23.29%

1st: 12.2%

2nd: 11.11%

3rd: 11.76%

4th: 8.70%

5th: 5.00%

Total: 11.76%

Children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade. Students who cannot read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school.

If you would like to volunteer as a Watch DOG, please visit https://tyleres.pwcs.edu/for_parents/watch_dogs.

Parenting in 2024 is challenging, especially with the significant increase in social media and ability for students to interact online. We are seeing more students using social media at younger and younger ages and often without supervision or even awareness of their parent/guardian. In a recent polling of KG, 2nd, and 4th grade students, below is the percent of students who self-identified using the apps listed below (they were not provided the names of any apps).

Total KG Students: 66

Youtube: 44/66 66.6%

Tiktok: 20/66 30.3%

Snapchat: 19/66 28.7%

Instagram: 22/66 33.3%

Total 2nd Grade Students: 79

YouTube: 68/79 86%

Tiktok: 35/79 44.3%

Snapchat: 28/79 35.4%

Instagram: 23/79 29.1%

Facebook: 15/79 18.9%

Discord: 23/79 29.1%

Total 4th Grade Students: 90

YouTube: 78/90 86.6%

Tiktok: 34/90 37.7%

Snapchat: 37/90 41.4%

Instagram: 20/90 22.2%

Facebook: 13/90 14.4%

Discord: 31/90 34.4%

Below are some helpful resources so parents/guardians can put parental controls in place and learn more about how to safely monitor their child's online behavior. Thank you to Mr. Miller for putting these valuable resources into one place.

Digital Safety Resources for Parents

Our Super Tyler Tomcats Robotics Team is seeking a business sponsor to join us for the 2024-2025 season. Our team consists of passionate young engineers, programmers, and problem-solvers, that explore the exciting world of robotics and compete in First Lego League (FLL) events. Our team embodies the spirit of Gracious Professionalism and wholeheartedly supports the FLL Core Values. If you have a business or know of a business that might be interested in sponsoring our team we would love to connect. Please email Mr. Miller at millerjm3@pwcs.edu for more information. Many have also requested if they can make a donation to the team, so we have made that option available on the student quickpay website. The link can be found below or by scanning the QR code on the picture. Donations will go directly to supplies like team shirts, Lego pieces, innovation project materials, and other items needed for competitions.
https://www.studentquickpay.com/pwcs/MyAccount/Main.aspx

• Did you know that PWCS has a Spanish Facebook page? Follow @PWCSespanol on Facebook for the latest PWCS news in Spanish.

• ¿Sabías que PWCS tiene una página de Facebook es español? Sigue a @PWCSespanol en Facebook para conocer las ultimas noticias de PWCS en español.

Registration for the full-day summer camp provided by School Age Child Care and AlphaBEST Education opens on April 22. This opportunity is open to currently enrolled PWCS students in grades K-5.

Registration:

Summer Camp Locations:

Our 2nd graders loved their field trip in the fall to learn basic swimming and water safety skills. Below are two opportunities put on by the PWCS Aquatics Center.

Please note the following dates for SOLs in the Spring. This year, as a division, all reading and math SOLs will be given over two days.

3rd Grade Test Dates:
Tuesday, April 23rd Reading Day 1
Wednesday, April 24th Reading Day 2
Wednesday, May 1st Math Day 1
Thursday, May 2nd Math Day 2


4th Grade Test Dates
Thursday, April 25th Reading Day 1
Friday, April 26th Reading Day 2
Monday, May 6th VA Studies
Thursday, May 9th Math Day 1
Friday, May 10th Math Day 2


5th Grade Test Dates
Tuesday, April 2nd Integrated Reading/Writing
Monday, April 29th Reading Day 1
Tuesday, April 30th Reading Day 2
Friday, May 3rd Science
Tuesday, May 7th Math Day 1
Wednesday, May 8th Math Day 2


Make-ups for Absent Students – May 13th – May 17th
Expediated Retakes – May 20th – May 24th

Tyler Elementary Yard Signs for 5th grade students are available to order now! Signs are $17.49 and come individually packaged with a stake.

Click the link to order yours! If you have questions about your sign, please email sales@orionpros.com or call (703)396-8811. https://orionpros.com/shop/ols/products/tyler-elementary

Coming Soon- The Pre-Game Experience!
On May 30th, Bull Run Middle School will host 5th Grade Tyler Students during the school day for this transition event from 10-11:30 am. Bus transporation is provided.

Visit https://www.pwcs.edu/parents/family_engagement_series/index to register.

Date: Tuesday, May 7, 6-7 p.m. (Virtual)
Session: Paying for College – Early Planning
Target Audience: For students in kindergarten – 8th grade and families
Description: Join us on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, for a session where students and families will explore various financial preparation options. An overview of the Virginia 529 program will be provided, offering insights into college savings.



Date: Wednesday, May 8, 6-7 p.m. (Virtual)
Session: Practical Strategies for Reducing Stress and Increasing Success
Target Audience: For students in kindergarten – 12th grade and families
Description: Join us on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, for a session that will focus on recognizing five domains that may contribute to wellness. Learn to take advantage of routine, make simple constructive changes to your student’s environment, identify strategies to enhance social and family life, and identify warning signs and resources for educational and mental health support.



Date: Thursday, May 9, 6-7 p.m. (Virtual)
Session: Responsible Decision-Making
Target Audience: For students in kindergarten – 12th grade and families
Description: Join us on Thursday, May 9, 2024, for a session that will help you recognize how critical thinking skills are useful in and outside of the school setting. Learn ways to teach children and others through parts of a problem.

Would you or anyone you know be willing to speak to our students about your career? If so, please sign up to be a career day presenter!

When: Friday, May 17 8:45am-12:30pm

What Should I Prepare? A quick 5-10minute overview of your career, what a typical day looks like, and any education needed for the field. Allow 5-10 minutes for questions from the students.

What Should I Bring? Props or items for students to view or examine.

Career Clusters we’d like represented
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction
Arts, A/V Tech, and Communications
Business Management and Administration
Education and Training
Energy
Finance
Government and Public Administration
Health Science
Hospitality and Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Manufacturing
Marketing
STEM
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics


If you or anyone you know is interested please contact Mrs. Jacobs at jacobsmn@pwcs.edu by Friday, March 29

Accidents happen, whether it’s a bathroom accident, a spill in the cafeteria or maybe a slip in wet grass/mud at recess. The school clinic needs any gently used or new spare clothes for students to borrow when an accident occurs. Items most in need are listed below.
- Sweatpants: Boys & Girls – All sizes
- Leggings: All sizes
- Unopened packs of underwear: Boys and Girls - All sizes

When your child uses clothes from the clinic, please wash and return them to the school for other students to borrow. Underwear does not need to be returned; we don’t reuse them.

If you do not want your child to borrow clothes from the school, please provide a full, season appropriate change of clothing in their backpack. This includes undergarments, socks, shirt and pants. Place items in a large Ziploc bag with your student’s name clearly marked on it. This spare set will be kept in your student’s cubby, classroom restroom, or in their backpack for the remainder of the school year.

At Tyler, we offer a visitor table for visitors to enjoy lunch with their student. Unfortunately, due to limited space, students cannot bring classmates to join them. Please note that we also offer an optional allergy table for our students who have a life-threatening allergy. When space is tight, visitors should not be sitting at the allergy table due to the risk of cross contamination of allergens (ex. some fast food restaurants fry their food in peanut oil). Depending on the day, we may have more visitors than the available space can accommodate. We apologize if this occurs and thank you for your patience in advance.

*As a reminder, all visitors must have a government-issued photo ID. Digital copies cannot be accepted.

When PWCS calls a Code Orange, synchronous, live instruction will be provided to students using Zoom. Teachers will email families directly with the day’s schedule which will include hyperlinks for each Zoom. Schedules can also be found on the teacher’s Canvas page. Note that employees are teleworking during normal work hours and will respond to emails.

Tyler Staff Directory

General PWCS Code Orange Information

Resources for Families

Navigating a virtual learning day can seem difficult because there are many devices and ways to connect digitally. The Code Orange YouTube playlist, (and linked videos below), are designed to help make things easier for our Tyler families. You can watch the entire playlist of videos, or jump right to the video that you need by clicking the links below. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Link to the Entire Code Orange and Virtual Learning Playlist of Videos

Code Orange and Zoom "How To" with a School Issued iPad (K-2)

Code Orange and Zoom "How To" with a School Issued Laptop (3-5)

Code Orange and Zoom "How To" with a Personal Tablet or Phone

Code Orange and Zoom "How To" for Any Student Using a Personal Laptop or PC

How To Authenticate A Zoom Account

Veterans Virtual Guitar Workshops

Musicians of all skill levels are invited to participate in a 10-week series of virtual lessons.

These workshops are open and free to Veterans, Service members, military family members, and military caregivers.

Click the link ☝️ to register.

Songwriting Series for Military Kids

This four-week virtual series is designed for military kids where they will learn songwriting skills in a virtual, collaborative environment.

Click the link ☝️ to register.

We are seeing an increase in the number of students who are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year). When possible, please be sure to plan vacations and trips during regularly scheduled school breaks. Below are links to this year's school calendar as well as next year's calendar for planning purposes.

2023-2024 Student Calendar

2024-2025 Student Calendar

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance

Please use this new online form instead of sending an email to the front office staff or teacher. Using the form ensures that the school has all the information we need, instead of it possibly getting lost in emails. Make sure to fill out all the needed information. Click here to go to the new form:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=bZqwF-SVHk2F4xzg1N5_wT6O6RBRn_FLjLMFAwYIiqRURTRMUjhOODlINzU5OVkxUVBHTUhUTTRPMy4u

Tyler is excited to welcome our visitors and volunteers! Please, don't forget that all visitors and volunteers must present a photo ID and be checked into our RAPTOR system upon arrival. Please note that digital IDs cannot be accepted. Remember, we try our best to keep our children safe!

PWCS staff members utilize School Status as the primary way to communicate with families. You will see this image at the bottom of email communications. We are learning that these messages may be going to 'junk mail' for many of our families. Please check your 'junk mail' folder for these message. Additionally, we are able to make phone calls using School Status which will appear to come from a new phone number (area code may be 804). Thank you for your patience as we familiarize ourselves with this new system.

Top Dog Coordinator: Drew Blincoe
Contact: tylerwatchdogs@gmail.com

What is Watch D.O.G.S.?: Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures volunteer to serve at least one day a year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or other administrator.

To volunteer: Online sign-up calendar

To learn more about the program: visit https://dadsofgreatstudents.com//

PWCS is committed to ensuring safe and welcoming environments for students and staff. If a safety concern or crisis occurs in or near our schools, PWCS uses standard terms to communicate with families. Watch this video to become familiar with the terms.

Download the MYSCHOOLBUCKS app and get convenient access to meal balances, purchases, and make payments right from your phone. You will be able to view your student's meal purchases and current account balance at a glance.

Meal Prices for 2023-24

Students

• Breakfast – $1.60
• Elementary school lunch – $2.60

Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meal

Applications for free and reduced-price meals can be accessed using the links below.

• Free and Reduced Price Meals Online Application
• Solicitud en Línea para Comidas Gratuitas y a Precio

PWCS offers breakfast and lunch. Menus are posted on School Meals information

You can subscribe to receive monthly emails with school menus.

PWCS school menus can also be viewed using the The Web Menus by Isite Software mobile app available through the App Store and Google Play.

We want every student to feel celebrated on their special day. As a regular part of our morning announcements, birthdays are announced. Students are invited to come to the office for their birthday pencil. This has become a popular tradition at Tyler that we look forward to continuing. We understand that families may also want to do something special for their child's birthday.

Open Special Day Certificate for more information on student birthday celebrations.

*Birthday party invitations are NOT permitted to be passed out at school. Thank you for helping us to keep the focus on learning.

Special Day Certificate (Word)

We are so excited to announce that our spirit wear items are now for sale! We have added many new items including pajama pants, a zip-up hoodie and a shoe charm!

The site will be open year round and all items will be delivered directly to the school. You can purchase your items directly from the Home Sweet Home Creations

Please see attached flyer:

site.https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:21fccb26-1112-4c5e-b22a-9737bc543c59

The PTO is excited to announce that Discount Cards are now for sale! We have partnered with 13 local businesses to offer year round discounts for our Tomcats and friends. Flyers will come home in Wednesday Folders. Please see the attached link for more information:

Discount Card

Tyler Webpage

Tyler Facebook Page

Tyler Twitter Page

Tyler YouTube Channel