Let's Talk TPS
November 20, 2024
The Origins of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in our country. After all, who can argue with food, football and family?
President Lincoln first declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. Perhaps the most famous painting on the subject, “The First Thanksgiving”, was created by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris. His 1912 painting (pictured here) illustrates a version of the 1621 celebration between the Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Wampanoag, a Native American tribe who taught the Pilgrims how to survive. Historians agree that the cordial setting in this picture, as well as other 19th and 20th century accounts, are likely not accurate, and that includes what they are wearing!
Fortunately, we now celebrate Thanksgiving less for its origin story, and more for how it brings together family and friends, for the delicious food on our table, and for the efforts of thousands in providing food and shelter to those in need.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Yours in Education,
Michael Ben-David J.D./M.Ed.
Superintendent of Schools
THS National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
At Monday night's meeting, the Tenafly Board of Education celebrated high school seniors, Miranda Cheng, Ryan Jang, Adam Liakhovitski, Luke Oh, Seiichiro Takayama and Monet Wright, who have been named Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Among the nation’s highest scorers on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
Principal Morrison and the Board also recognized this year's recipients of the National Hispanic, National African American, and First Generation (new for this year) Recognition Program Awards:
National Hispanic Recognition Program - grade 12 except where noted: Andres Aldeco, Sophia dos Santos, Tomas Fabbroni, Elena Goiria Gesteira, Javier Klein, Alexander Klein, and Maria Merklen Pimenta De Medeiros (grade 11)
National African American Recognition Program - grade 12 students, Joshua Beaver, Dmitri Jefferson and O'Shea Liles; and
First Generation Recognition Program - grade 12 students, Gain Lim and Adar Serok.
Congrats to these very bright students! For more information on these awards, including a list of Commended Students, you can view the district's press release HERE.
AMC Math Contest
THS recently hosted the AMC 10/12 for nearly 50 middle and high school students. The American Mathematics Contest (AMC) is one of the first in a series of exams used to challenge bright students, grades 12 and below, on a path towards choosing the team that will represent the United States at the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). High scoring AMC 10 and AMC 12 students are invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The results are coming out this week...stay tuned!!
Children’s Product Safety Awareness Month
Rumors - THS Play November 21-23
Tenafly High School Theatrical Productions will be presenting Neil Simon's Rumors on November 21, 22, 23 ( 7.30 pm) at THS.
Rumors is about four couples who are at the Hamptons estate of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. It's a hilarious farce that gets more insane as the play progresses. The show stars Raphaella Bamonte, Clara Pimenta, Sophia Endick, Erica Ruiz, Annabelle Denniston, Sara Hau, Guy Persitz, Wren Ophir, Reece Holden, and Ian Fleischer.
Tickets are $10 at the door, $5 for teachers, and can be reserved online at www.thstheater.org
Don’t miss this chance to enjoy a hilarious show while supporting our talented students!
