Dear Tenakill Families,
Welcome to September! As we settle into the new school year, I want to take a moment to share some updates and highlights from our middle school community. The energy and excitement around the school are truly inspiring, and it’s wonderful to see our students engaged and eager to learn.
Back-to-School Night
The students and faculty join me in inviting you to our Back-to-School Night Program, to be held on Wednesday, September 18th for grades 5 and 6 and Wednesday, September 25th for grades 7 and 8. The program will begin promptly at 7:00PM with an Orientation Assembly in the auditorium. Classroom visits will commence immediately following the assembly.
Prior to the evening of your child’s back to school night, they will be coming home with a copy of their schedule that will be helpful during your visit. Please review the schedule with your child to ensure a better understanding of the activities for the evening. If you have further questions, please phone the main office at 201-768-1332.
This evening is a great opportunity for you to meet your child’s teachers, learn about the curriculum, and hear more about the exciting events and activities planned for the year. Because of the importance of this evening, we ask that only adults attend. Supervision for children will not be provided for this event.
We are looking forward to meeting with you and to working together this school year.
Extracurricular Activities
Our extracurricular programs are in full swing! Whether your child is interested in sports, music, drama, or clubs, there is something for everyone. Participating in these activities is a great way for students to make new friends, develop new skills, and feel more connected to the school community. Please encourage your child to get involved! Please be sure to check out the information in this newsletter regarding clubs and activities at TMS.
Academic Reminders
As we progress through the semester and trimester, I’d like to remind everyone of the importance of consistent study habits and staying on top of assignments. We encourage you to maintain communication with your child’s teacher about supports and programs available.
2024-2025 Grading Periods
Semester 1: 9/5/24-1/24/25
Semester 2: 1/27/25-6/18/25
Trimester 1: 9/5/24-12/4/24
Trimester 2: 12/5/24-3/17/25
Trimester 3: 3/18/25-6/18/25
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make this school year a successful and rewarding experience for all of our students. If you have any questions, concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at cipollinic@nvnet.org.
Wishing you all a wonderful September!
Warm regards,
Christi Cipollini
Principal
We are looking forward to launching One School, One Book at the end of the month. The goal of this program is to foster a love of reading among students, teachers, families, and the entire school community. Below please find an optional reading schedule, overview of activities, along with information about the text.
Novel: Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
Summary: We step right into the lives of these neighborhood kids as they head home from school one day. Ten sets of characters, ten blocks, ten stories. With each chapter, a short story in and of itself, the reader walks along the sidewalk, learning about the lives of the unforgettable characters from Latimer Middle School. Jason Reynolds honors the humor, poetry, and kindness found in this age group that is too often characterized as angst-ridden and irritable. By meshing funny scenes with poignant ones, he captures the complexity of the middle school experience. Everyone’s story is different, everyone has a story to tell, and everyone’s story is more complicated than it first appears. By weaving together the individual threads of the stories, Reynolds shows us that we are all interconnected. That the unseen burdens carried by others are really shared by the community. That there is so much more to know about each person we encounter on our way home from school. Your students will love hanging out with Canton, Say-So, Kenzie, Simeon, Fatima, Bit, Bryson, Jasmine, and the rest of the kids as they burst through the door at the end of the day.
Our sports program is for students in grades 6-8. Please be sure to check the athletics page on the school website. Students who completed sports forms and are eligible for try-outs should listen to morning announcements regarding try-out dates and interest meetings. Our coaches for our fall sports are listed below. Should you have any questions regarding the athletics program at TMS, please contact Mr. Wowkun at (wowkunm@nvnet.org or (201) 768-1332, ext. 4222).
Cross Country Coach: Mike Wowkun
Boys Volleyball Coach: Kevin Hernandez
Girls Volleyball Coach: Matt Vassallo
Soccer Coach: Scott Lewis
The mission of Tenakill Middle School, in partnership with families and the community, is to develop intellectually curious, life-long learners who possess strong character and values and the skills necessary to be responsible and productive world citizens.
This school you, we will be launching the Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) to collaborate, gather feedback, and engage with families in connection to district and school goals.
Prior to each meeting, PAC members will receive an email with the topic of discussion, and reminders about the date, time and location.
The PAC will consist of 10-15 parents/guardians across grade levels. Parents selected will be notified via email, along with the dates. There will be four meetings, some at 6:30pm and some at 9:30am. Participating parents are encouraged to attend all four sessions so that their input can be heard. Opportunities for new families to join the PAC will occur each year.
Thank you for your interest and support of TMS!
The interest form will be open until September 30, 2024 at 8:00am.
