6/4/2024 Letter to the Community

Para leer en español, haga clic en el botón "Traducir (Translate)" arriba.

June 4, 2024

Dear TUFSD Families and Staff,

This past week our scholars showcased their capabilities as they hit the stage during the Sleepy Hollow High School talent show and the high school and middle school orchestra performances. They also flexed their athletic abilities by taking part in various events.

Last week, the sophomore class hosted a wonderful event where students took the stage to display their talents. The show was full of performances that captivated the audience. Also hitting the stage were the high school and middle school orchestras as they displayed their talents in amazing performances.

Some of our Washington Irving students ran a 5k for Girls on the Run. These young scholars showed what determination and community spirit is all about. We would also like to congratulate our student-athletes who have been named NSCA Strength & Conditioning Athletes of the Year.

As always thank you all for your continued support of the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns and for your help in “Building a Better Tomorrow” for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raymond Sanchez

The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns DISTRICT-WIDE SAFETY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN is an important document that is revised by a committee and adopted by our Board of Education. In accordance with the Commissioner's Regulations 155.17 (c) (3) and New York State Education Law §2801-a. the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Board of Education will hold a Public Hearing on the DISTRICT-WIDE SAFETY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN at its Regular Meeting on July 11, 2024 at 7:00 PM , at 200 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. The Plan has been posted as of May 21, 2024 for a 30-day comment period and is available on the Districtwide website: https://www.tufsd.org/our-district/safety-security

The public can send comments about the proposed 2024-2025 DISTRICT-WIDE SAFETY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN by sending an email to District Clerk Nelly Valentin (NValentin@tufsd.org)

It is expected that the Board of Education will adopt the Plan subsequent to the Public Hearing at the July 11, 2024 Board of Education meeting to be held at Administration Building .

Mental Health Awareness month may be over, but we still have one more challenge to share! Thank you to everyone who has been participating!

Think about everything you have to do this weekend. Maybe it’s chores or errands. Preparing for a class? Or creating a shopping list? Create a checklist of all your tasks this weekend and put it in a place that you will easily see. Your fridge? On your mirror? On your desk?

Writing down tasks can help reduce overwhelming feelings and help you prioritize. Checking off items as you complete them can help you feel good about yourself, promoting mental health!

Join Peabody Preserve for music, poetry, art and Mini Nature Center grand opening on June 6 at 5 p.m.

A community stroll will begin at the Morse playground on Beekman and will be led by Superintendent Dr. Sanchez through Sleepy Hollow, arriving at the Peabody outdoor classroom.

Join us for the last Saturday Academy of the year! Indulge in some self-care and wellness as you connect with community partners for resources and engage in interactive family activities. Our guest chefs for this month will be The Children's Food Lab, and Mrs. Gail Kreiger, Supervisor of Secondary Special Education. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday with your family on the Godwin field at Washington Irving, from 9-11am, weather permitting. Otherwise, we'll see you inside!

Sleepy Hollow District Jazz Showcase - Monday 6/10, Pierson Park at 6 p.m.

Come join the Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Department for our Jazz In The Park District Jazz Showcase. This concert will be held in Pierson Park on the evening of June 10th at 6:00pm. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket and enjoy an evening of great performances by our district's instrumental Jazz groups! This concert is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

In the event of rain, this concert will be moved to the High School Auditorium.

Join the Middle School Bike Bus on June 18 and let's ride together with the Sleepy Hollow Police Department! Pick-up times are between 7:30 - 8:15 AM, per the schedule below. There are bike racks available in front of SHMS, but please bring your own lock.

• A - Hunter Avenue @ Bellwood Avenue 7:30AM
• B - Palmer Avenue @ Bellwood Avenue 7:35AM
• C - Pierson Avenue @Bellwood Avenue 7:40AM
• D - Fire Dept. 28 Beekman Avenue 7:55AM
• E - Patriots Park at North Washington Street @ College Avenue 8:00AM
• (Proceed to North Broadway, to Sleepy Hollow Middle School)
• All times are approximate due to traffic flow.

We are very excited for this event as it offers a fun way for the Police Department to engage with our students. Our bicycle unit, along with motorcycle units, will lead the Bike Bus to Sleepy Hollow Middle School.

The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Board of Education voted last week in favor of changing the instructional start and dismissal times of two schools in the district, beginning the 2024-2025 school year.

Starting in the new school year Winfield L. Morse School (Morse) and Washington Irving Intermediate School (W.I.) will shift the beginning of their day in an effort to enhance the educational experience for all students in Public Schools of the Tarrytowns.

Read more: The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Approves New Start/Dismissal Time

We/I had so much fun being part of the Pocantico Center's annual Community Day at the DR Center last Saturday! Sunshine, smiling faces, good vibes, and a warm community spirit!

Nearly 300 people throughout the day, who were clearly filled with joy in experiencing the creativity, artistry, and sense of community and partnership that your participation helped to create.

Sleepy Hollow High School is set to host the Sleepy Hollow Music Technology Showcase on Tuesday, June 11 in the Kusel Auditorium Stage. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature original music by student creators in grades seven through 12. Attendees will enjoy live performances and will feature a keynote address by Sleepy Hollow 2021 graduate Jack Taylor.

Read more: Sleepy Hollow’s Second Annual Music Technology Showcase

Eco Club members have been busy caring for the garden beds, discovering and inspecting garden bugs, and building homes for nature creatures and fairies all by the front steps of the Morse campus. Recently, an Eco Club member brought butterflies he raised at home to release them with Eco Club members around the Morse school gardens. The children were mesmerized watching the butterflies being released and this event provided an opportunity to discuss the butterfly's life cycle and its beneficial role as a pollinator insect. Also, the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation shared a seed ball activity with the children to bring home. They used native pollinator seeds, dirt and clay to make the seed balls. The children discussed the meaning and benefits of native plants and were eager to bring them home.

As the Eco Club season slowly comes to an end, the children will continue observing and caring for the gardens and possibly harvest some of the edible plants in the beds to create a meal. They will also continue learning about insects and their role and effects in our environment as the children have shown great interest in this area!

It was a once in a lifetime experience, as Sleepy Hollow Middle Schoolers boarded a bus with their peers and headed to Washington D.C. for their eighth-grade trip. There was tasty food, sightseeing adventures, and a whole lot of fun.

Read more: Sleepy Hollow Eighth Graders Return from Washington D.C.

Please join us for our 2nd Annual Sleepy Hollow Music Technology Showcase on Tuesday, June 11th, which will be running concurrently with our Senior Art Show exhibition!

The Music Technology Showcase is a concert designed to feature the work and creativity of some of the outstanding composers, producers, and songwriters in grades 7-12. This event was made possible through generous support from the Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns.

This year's showcase is being presented in collaboration with the art department. Students in digital art classes have been creating visualizations to accompany the music composed for this event. We also invite you to come experience the works of our talented art students which will be on display as part of the Senior Art Show.

The Senior Art Show exhibition will begin at 6:15 p.m., and the Music Technology Showcase Concert will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Take School supply shopping off your summer list--The Horsemen PTA has partnered again with School Toolbox for school supplies that ship right to home. Go to www.schooltoolbox.com and search your child's school for 2024-2025 school year to see the current school supply lists.

When: Open for orders now through August.

How: Search your child’s school and pick their grade for the 2024/25 school year
You can add and delete items to the box, so purchase only what you need.

Why: Not only does ordering your school supplies benefit our schools, but School Toolbox donates one meal to starving children through FMSC for every box that is purchased.

At the previous Board of Education meeting, we entered into an agreement with Westchester County and a company called BusPatrol to install cameras on our buses to monitor illegal and unsafe passing of our buses when they are stopped to drop off or pick up children. This comes at no cost to District taxpayers. We are permitted to do so by New York State's "Stop Arm Law."

The Friends of Peabody Preserve Outdoor Classroom (PPOC) are thrilled to once again welcome the community to the Outdoor Classroom for weekend events and programs. Please join up using these links:

• PPOC Spring Programs 2024
  
• Programas de Primavera 2024 de PPOC

Presenting our Portrait of a Learner! Our vision encompasses vital skills and dispositions that we want all learners to develop:

• Key Skills: Communication • Executive functioning • Creativity • Critical thinking
• Key Dispositions: Curiosity • Perseverance • Socio-cultural competence • Civic mindedness

Beyond academics, we're committed to equipping students with skills for success in a changing world. Read more in our recent message about our Portrait of a Learner.

Register now for PNW BOCES Internet Safety for Parents Presentation on June 13, 2024, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Don't miss out on essential tips to keep your kids safe online!

Register Here: Internet Safety for Parents

Don't miss the return of the Foundation's beloved Horsemen Color Run! Only $15 for student runners and $25 for adults. Saturday, June 15th. All funds raised support our schools!

Mermaids? Yes, you read that right! Join the fun this summer at the inaugural Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival on July 20 at Kingsland Point Park. In partnership with Riverkeeper and Rivertowns SUP & Yoga, this event that celebrates the Hudson and promotes river access is part of the Village's 150th anniversary celebration. There will be a costume parade on land and water followed by a party in the park with food trucks, bounce houses, and say hello to a real river mermaid named Ali Luminescent. For
more details, visit: https://www.hudsonrivermermaids.com/

This summer, we're partnering with G.O.O.D for Girls to bring a free financial literacy summer program to middle and high school girls from August 12-16. Register here if interested!

For food support visit one of our local food pantries.

Check out past editions of Dr. Sanchez's newsletter on our Superintendent page.

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here to receive regular updates.
Please note that parents are automatically enrolled.