Tamanend Connections

We had a great first day of school at Tamanend! Enjoy some pictures from the first day!

The Annual Student Information Update for the 2024-2025 school year is now available. New this year upon logging into the Parent Portal, you will directed to complete the Annual Student Information Update before accessing other information such as schedules, assessments, and demographics. To begin, navigate to the menu, select “more” and then “Annual Student Information Update”. For assistance, please contact parentportal@cbsd.org.

First Regular Newsletter for 2024-2025--to be released Friday, September 6

Tamanend Student Picture Day--Wednesday, September 18

7th Grade Back to School Night--Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 PM

Deadline to Complete Annual Student Information Update in Portal--Saturday, September 24 (details above)

8th & 9th Grade Back to School Night--Thursday, September 26 at 7:00 PM

Welcome Back Dance--Friday, September 27 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

7th Grade Dental Form Deadline--October 15 (details below)

• All who registered for Fall sports received an email from Mr. Klein which outlines concussion information, required paperwork, start dates, and other information. Fall coaches’ contact information and start dates can also be found below.
  
• All student-athletes must have completed PIAA physicals uploaded to BigTeams prior to the start of the Fall sports season. Those details are outlined in the email mentioned above. The PIAA physical forms can be found HERE. Additional items are outlined and explained on the Tamanend Athletics web page.
• If you and would like to receive immediate updates on game schedules, cancellations, etc., visit Tamanend Athletics web page and become a “fan” to get alerts for your child’s team.

A breakdown of the sports we offer, by season, may be found below:

7th/8th Gr. Cheerleading

· Coach Kasper (jkasper@cbsd.org)

· Interest meeting on Wednesday, September 4th (3:00-4:00) in the cafeteria

· Tryouts/Practices begin Thursday, September 5th (2:45-4:45); meet in auxiliary gym

7th Gr. Football

· Coach Kollock (wkollock@cbsd.org)

· Practices begin Tuesday, September 3rd (2:45-4:30); meet outside by boys locker room. Bring cleats and water.

8th Gr. Football

· Coach Cape (jcape@cbsd.org)

· Practices begin Tuesday, September 3rd (2:45-4:30); meet outside by boys locker room. Bring cleats and water.

7th Gr. Boys Soccer

· Coach Murphy (sjmurphy@cbsd.org)

· Tryouts Monday, September 9th – Thursday, September 12th (2:45-4:30); meet in Room 337 at 2:45 on Monday, 9/9. Bring shin guards, cleats, and water.

8th Gr. Boys Soccer

· Coach Eisold (peisold@cbsd.org)

· Tryouts Monday, September 9th – Thursday, September 12th (2:45-4:30); meet in Room 337 at 2:45 on Monday, 9/9. Bring shin guards, cleats, and water.

7th 7th Gr. Field Hockey

· Coach Mancini (lmancini@cbsd.org)

· Interest meeting on Wednesday, September 4th at 2:45 in main Gym. 7th grade will practice until 4:15, and 8th will practice until 4:45. Bring stick, mouthguard, shin guards, cleats, and water.

8th Gr. Field Hockey

· Coach Bhaya (dbhaya@cbsd.org)

· Interest meeting on Wednesday, September 4th at 2:45 in main Gym. 7th grade will practice until 4:15, and 8th will practice until 4:45. Bring stick, mouthguard, shin guards, cleats, and water.

7th/8th Gr. Girls Tennis

· Coach Vitacco (mvitacco@cbsd.org)

· Practices begin Monday, September 9th (2:45-4:30); meet in Room 106C. Bring racquet and water.

7th/8th Gr. Co-Ed Volleyball

· Coach Szyszczak (dszyszczak@cbsd.org)

· ALL 8th GRADERS: Tryouts begin Monday, September 9th (2:45-4:30); meet in main gym

· 7th GRADE LAST NAMES A-K: Tryouts begin Monday, September 9th (2:45-4:30); meet in main gym

· 7th GRADE LAST NAMES L-Z: Tryouts begin Tuesday, September 10th (2:45-4:30); meet in main gym

• 9th Graders who are Playing a Fall Sport: If going to a tryout/practice/game directly from school (taking the shuttle) and need to store a bag/equipment, all items are to be put in the classroom where you will be leaving from. For example…on normal days, bags go in 7th period rooms so you can catch the shuttle; on days when leaving early for an away game, such as 6th period, bags go in your 6th period classroom. Student athletes are to pay very close attention for updates from coaches (email, web page, etc.). Tamanend will not make announcements each day for cancellations, schedule adjustments, etc. It is your responsibility to know what your team is doing each day. Also, please be reminded that you are dismissed from class five minutes prior to your bus leaving Tamanend. You may then go to your locker to get your backpack and report to your bus. Please do not take your backpack to your last-period class or request teachers to dismiss you earlier than five minutes before your bus is leaving.
• If any 9th Grade and up Boys’ Basketball players are interested in Boys Basketball this winter, there will be open gyms beginning Tuesday, September 10th. They will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 pm at CB South Gymnasium. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Coach Ditri @ LDITRI@CBSD.ORG. Thank you!
  

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Klein at (jklein@cbsd.org).

Jeff Klein

School Counselor

Athletic Director

Hello 9th Graders,

We would like to inform you about an exciting medical club opportunity at CB South. As 9th Graders, you can join a club called HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America). It is a nationally affiliated medical club that provides opportunities for high school students to explore various areas in the medical field. You will be able to participate in things such as:

• State and National wide competitions in the Spring that include a wide variety of topics

• Hearing guest speakers in the medical field talk about their experience and how they got to where they are
• Fundraisers, blood drives, fun informational club meetings, and more!

Overall, the HOSA club is a great opportunity for any student grades 9-12, to explore the medical field if they are considering or interested in a medical profession. Transportation TO CB South ONLY can be provided via the sports buses. Below, we have a form linked for any 9th graders to fill out if they are interested in joining the club this year, and feel free to visit our Instagram page, @cbsouthhosa as well! If you have any questions, please reach out to any of the 5 officers (emails provided below). We look forward to seeing you!

Interest Forms Link: https://forms.office.com/r/urLfiu8fx9

7th Grade BTSN will be held Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 pm

8th and 9th Grade BTSN will be held Thursday, September 26 at 7:00 pm

Please help former Tamanend student and current CB South student, Gregory Matczak, by supporting his blood drive on September 25.

Tiger's I enrichment activities take place during the i/e period Mondays through Thursdays. The first enrichment activities will be begin mid-September. Participation in Tiger's i enrichment activities is optional. You must be in good academic standing (good grades, all work complete) in order to participate in a Tiger's enrichment activity. If a teacher needs to see for academic purposes during a particular Tiger's i period, you must report to the teacher instead of the enrichment activity. You can find out about upcoming Tiger's i enrichment activities in the following ways:

• Daily announcements posted on Tamanend website
• Tamanend Announcements Canvas course (your teachers will show you how to enroll in this course in early September)
  
• Tamanend Connections newsletter
• Enrichments bulletin board outside of Main Gym

All schools in CBSD will be implementing the Standard Response Protocol developed by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation beginning this school year. The SRP provides a framework for handling various emergency situations in schools by emphasizing the importance of consistent, clear communication across all schools and with law enforcement. Learn more.

The 1-to-1 fee payment system is open for families of students in grades 3-12. There is no fee for families of K-2 students as devices for these grades stay at school. Read more about the plan, the fee amounts, and next steps here. A reminder that the technology fee is required for all 7th Graders and student new to Tamanend.

The Central Bucks School District attendance policy (#204) conforms to the Pennsylvania School Code sections 1326 to 1333 dealing with compulsory school attendance. “Every child of compulsory school age having a legal residence in this Commonwealth… is required to attend a day school in which the subjects and activities prescribed by the standards of the State Board of Education are taught.”

Reporting an Absence from School:

• Parent/guardian must notify Tamanend Attendance of students excuse for absence using the Parent Portal (see below) or by calling (267)893-2920.

Excused Absences and Medically Excused Absences:

Excused Absence (E) is granted for the following reasons: illness, quarantine, death in the family, impassable roads, inclement weather, religious holidays, health care, exceptionally urgent reasons, and family trips. We recommend that you provide the office with a medical note anytime your child is absent and sees a doctor. Absences substantiated with a doctor's notes are considered "Medically Excused". After the 10th absence excused by a parent/guardian, students must submit medical note for all subsequent absences. If a medical note is not provided, the absences is considered Unexcused (U).

Unexcused Absences:

Unexcused Absence (U) may be declared for reasons such as employment, truancy, car trouble, parental neglect, oversleeping, missing the bus, shopping, babysitting, visiting relatives, hunting, fishing, working at home, vacation trips, unauthorized leaving from school, and remaining at home to do school work. In situations where absence is declared unexcused or unlawful, students may be assigned to make up time missed outside regular school hours.

Consequences for Unexcused Absences:

Attendance to school is crucial to academic success. As stated above, parents must provide notice of excused absences as allowable by the PA School Code. If a student does not provide an excusable notice within three days after their absence, the following consequences may be applied:

1. Detention

2. Saturday detention

3. Parents will receive attendance letters which state that continued unlawful absences my result in referral to the magistrate.

4. District Justice will notify parent of truancy hearing date and if found guilty, be subject to fines and penalties prescribed by the School Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Appointments:

• If possible, all appointments should be scheduled outside the school day.
• If an appointment must be scheduled during the school day, parent/guardian must either:
  • send a note in with the student stating the time of pick up and the reason for the early dismissal.
    • The student should submit the note to the main office before homeroom.
  • excuse the student for early dismissal using the Parent Portal.
• At the time of dismissal a parent/guardian must sign their student out in the main office.
• For the absence to be recorded as Medically Excused, a physician's note must be submitted to the front office upon return.

Lateness to School:

• Late students MUST sign in at the Main Office when they arrives to school.
• A note must be provided by the parent/guardian stating the reason for the lateness, or parents must excuse the student using the Parent Portal. Oversleeping, traffic, car trouble, and missing the bus are considered unexcused latenesses to school.
• After three unexcused latenesses to school, students will begin to receive disciplinary consequences.

Vacations/Family Trips, Field Trips, & other Planned Absences:

1. Two weeks before a planned absence, student should pick up a "Request for Approved Absence" form in the Main Office.
2. Parent/guardian should fill out the form. Request for Approved Absence for Family Travel

Missed Work:

• Students are responsible for making up all work missed as a result of excused absences. If students will be out for an extended amount of time (at least 3 full days), parent/guardian should call the student’s school counselor.
• A student is allowed the same number of days to make-up work as the number of days she/he missed for excused absences and lateness. Students are obligated to discuss and arrange plans for make-up work within that time. Failure to do so may result in failing grades on missed assignments.

Auto Caller:

If a student is marked absent, the Tamanend Attendance Auto Caller will contact parents/guardians by phone for notification.

All Tamanend students will receive agenda books on the first day of school. We are making a collective effort to teach students how to properly, effectively, and consistently use an agenda book to keep track of their academic work and organize their time. We will present a lesson on effectively using agenda books on the second day of school during Tiger's i. Teachers will reinforce the importance of agenda books in class. In addition, 7th Graders will we learning organization skills as part of the Study Skills units in InC and Integrated Technology. We will also help students with organization as part of our academic study skills modules in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies classes.

You can find CBSD's policy related to the retaking of assessments (quizzes, tests, assignments, etc.) at the link below--

Assessment and PA Graduation Requirements / Grades 7 - 12 Reassessment Guidelines (cbsd.org)

We received a donation of brand new backpacks. If you would like one for your child, please email one of the following staff members and we will set one aside for you:

Brian Caughie, Principal bcaughie@cbsd.org

Patti Hartz, Secretary phartz@cbsd.org

Andrea Consoletti aconsoletti@cbsd.org

Homework Club provides:

• A safe, quiet, and calm space for students to concentrate.
• A supportive environment where one to one or small group teacher support is available.
• A chance to share knowledge with peers and staff.
• An opportunity to build relationships with peers and staff.
• An opportunity to develop good work habits and a positive attitude towards learning.
• A chance to learn how to prepare for an upcoming assessment and/or project.
• The chance to develop skills involved in becoming an independent learner.
• An opportunity to develop executive functioning skills-time management, organization, and task initiation/completion.
• A snack and a beverage will be provided to any student attending Homework Club

• Grades: 7,8, and 9
  Day: Wednesdays after school
  Time: 2:30 - 4:00 pm
  Location: Room 205

  Club Teacher: Mrs. Marsh (jmarsh@cbsd.org)

Attention musicians! Chieftain Chorus auditions will be held after school on Tuesday 9/10, Wednesday 9/11, and Thursday 9/12. Chieftain Chorus is Tamanend’s largest select singing group, made up of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade singers. Any student in band, orchestra, or chorus class may audition for the group. The audition song is America the Beautiful. To audition, please sign up for a time slot in the chorus room (201). You can find much more information on the Chieftain Chorus Website. If you have any questions, see Mr. Sanchez in room 201 OR email isanchez@cbsd.org

Tamanend Middle School empowers students to grow academically, socially and emotionally. Students, staff, and families work collaboratively to model the acronym ROAR.

Respect yourself, others, and property.

Own your behaviors.

Act appropriately.

Remember Kindness.

We believe that a caring, positive school culture and learning environment foster respectful, thoughtful, appropriate, and kind citizens.

In order to operationalize our mission, Tamanend utilizes a school-wide positive behavioral intervention and support plan (SWPBIS). This plan helps us establish a social culture in which students expect and support appropriate behavior from one another— creating school environments that are socially predictable, consistent, safe, and positive. This helps to reduce problem behaviors that lead to office discipline referrals and suspensions, and to change perceptions of school safety.

You can read more about Earn Your Stripes here.

Kindergarten and New Students:

All new students will need to use the following:

Families can find their username by logging into Parent Portal >

More > Family Information. For support they can contact their

building office, librarian (elementary), or counselor (secondary).

New student passwords are First Initial - Uppercase, last initial -

lowercase, Date of birth - numeric. Example: John Smith born

12/25/2003 = Js122503

All new students will be forced to make a new password their first time

logging in.

Please do NOT reset your entire class or use the same password for

all students.

Microsoft will also prompt the student to answer security questions

for SSPR the first time logging in.

Grades 1-12:

All students in grades 1-12 should use their password from last year. If students forget their password, please have them refer to the instructions at www.cbsd.org/passwordguide.

Follow these steps if you would like to become a parent observer in Canvas.

🐅

A reminder that per Pennsylvania State Immunization Law, all 7th Grade students must be fully immunized by the 5th day of school. Also, there are 2 immunizations required for entry into 7th grade: Meningococcal and Tdap. Immunization records may be sent to our Certified School Nurse, Mrs. Lauren Myrtetus at lmyrtetus@cbsd.org.

A dental examination is required for 7th grade. This form should be sent to our Certified School Nurse, Mrs. Lauren Myrtetus via email (lmyrtetus@cbsd.org) or turned in directly to the Health Office when school begins.

The form can be found here and is due by October 15, 2024.

Please see information below for Pennsylvania Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

CBSD utilizes the online platform MySchoolBucks for school meal payments, making it easy to oversee a child's meal choices and maintain their account balance. It is important that an account is created for every student, regardless of whether they take part in school meals or not. You can access MySchoolBucks to view and/or set up an account for your student(s) here. To set up an account, you will need your child(ren)'s student identification number(s), which can be found in the Parent Portal.

Want to know what’s new in school cafeterias this year? Discover exciting c for the new school year, helpful info for parents, Aramark's creative menu process, and a September limited time offer: the Chicken Katsu Bowl, packed with flavor and served over whole-grain rice! Click here to read the first edition of Aramark's new newsletter for CBSD families.

The application for free and reduced meal pricing for the 2024-25 school year is open. Your child(ren) may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Learn more and apply by visiting the full informational webpage on CBSD.org here. View the informational flyer here. A reminder that families who wish to participate in the Free/Reduced Meal Program must apply each year.

For supervision and safety reasons, students may not be dropped off at school before 7:10 a.m. If you are driving your student to school and arrive before 7:10, please remain in your car with your student until 7:10 a.m.

In the morning only, car riders will use the “bus loop” and ONLY busses and staff members will be allowed to enter the Main entrance. Car riders should pull up as far as possible in the unloading zone, but may drop off their children anywhere along the sidewalk. We will continue to encourage drivers to enter the school property from the Kelly Road side so that they may make a right-hand turn on to the property. For the afternoon, parents picking up their children will utilize the Main entrance and busses will utilize the “bus loop”.

Any discussion of traffic patterns provides a good opportunity to remind everyone in our community about the importance of driving safely around our school. We have many students who walk to and from school. Some of our students must cross Stuckert Road in the mornings and afternoons. Please remember the speed limit on our property and in the school zone on Stuckert Road is 15 miles per hour. Please be mindful of the stop sign on Stuckert Road at the intersection with Herblew Road. Thank you in advance for driving safely and for watching closely for our students who walk to school.

TAMANEND MORNING TRAFFIC PATTERN--

When the weather is poor (heavy rain, low temperatures, etc.), more and more parents/guardians choose to drive their children to school. A reminder that students are expected to be in their 1st Period classes by 7:30 AM. If a child is late to school because of CBSD transportation, their tardiness will be excused. If a student is late to school because of car trouble, over-sleeping, or they are in the car drop-off line, their tardiness is unexcused. Typically, there are few cars in the drop off line from when the doors open at 7:10 until about 7:20. After 7:20, the line begins to get very long.

If you drive your child to school and the weather is poor, please consider leaving home earlier so that your child arrives to class on time.

Thanks for your assistance!

The regular school day is from 7:30--2:30.

7:10: Students may be dropped off at Tamanend.

7:10--7:20*: 7th Graders wait in the Auditorium; 8th Graders wait in the Cafeteria; 9th Graders wait in Main Gym

7:20: Classrooms open to students

7:27: Reminder bell rings

7:30: First period classes begin

*Breakfast is available to students in all grades beginning at 7:10 in the Cafeteria.

2024-2025

It is important that cell phones be turned off and put away during the school day so that students can focus on learning and interacting appropriately with their peers. Cell phones and other electronic communication devices must be turned off and kept out of sight during the hours of 7:30 am and 2:30 pm, including at lunch time and between classes. Students will not be permitted to use their cell phones during the school day, unless instructed by an adult for educational purposes. You can read the entire school district policy by clicking this link: Active Policies - 20 Welden Drive | Doylestown, PA 18901 | Phone 267-893-2000 BoardDocs® Plus and searching for policy #829.1.

We understand that periodically, parents must get important messages to their children. Parents may call the Main Office at 267-293-2900 to relay important information. In addition, students may use the Main Office phone to contact their parents to convey important messages. We greatly appreciate your support of this policy. It is very important that we work together to help students focus on learning and limit distractions and disruptions caused by cell phone use during the academic day.

Students are not permitted to carry their backpacks throughout the day. They are required to use their lockers to house their backpacks, lunches, and other materials. Students will have access to their lockers at designated times throughout the day. Locks are built into our lockers. Students will have the opportunity to practice opening their lockers during our open house on August 23 and on the first day of school.

You may report your child's absence in any of the following ways:

• Phone (Attendance hotline): 267-893-2920
• Written note to be turned in to Main Office
• Through Portal. Click here to learn how to report student absences through Portal.

Students are not required to purchase a CBSD issued physical education uniform; however, students will be required to change into athletic attire and sneakers to participate safely and practice good hygiene. Student attire must adhere to the dress code guidelines presented in the student handbook. CB locks will still be required to purchase to ensure personal items are secured in a locker. Locks are available for purchase on MyPaymentsPlus.

Daily announcements are posted each morning on the Tamanend website. You can access them through the website here. If you prefer to have the daily announcements emailed to you directly each morning, please email Mrs. Patti Hartz at phartz@cbsd.org to be added to the daily announcement email distribution list.

Tamanend is committed to ensuring that every child has a positive experience at our school. We work hard to ensure that we have financial supports in place for families in need. Please be aware that we can help with the following resources:

• Food--pantry with healthy snacks and personal care items available all day outside of Guidance; meals to take home (students and/or parents and guardians can contact Mrs. Consoletti in the Student Services Office; weekend food packages to take home (students and/or parents and guardians can contact Mrs. Consoletti in the Student Services Office.)
• Clothing
• Internet access
• Field trips, school supplies, fees
• Holiday gifts

If your family experiences a financial hardship, please feel free to email one of the staff members below so that we may help:

Brian Caughie (Principal) bcaughie@cbsd.org

Brenda Scheffey(Assistant Principal) bscheffe@cbsd.org

Lauren Myrtetus (Certified School Nurse) lmyrtetus@cbsd.org

Jeff Klein (School Counselor and Athletic Director) jklein@cbsd.org

Mandy Cammann (School Counselor) mcammann@cbsd.org

Andrea Consoletti (Student Services Secretary) aconsoletti@cbsd.org

Please see below for housing information.

Here is a list of ways Tamanend communicates with students, families, and the community:

• Tamanend website: includes important information, resources, calendar of school events, and daily announcements
• Calendar of school events (posted on our website)
• Daily announcements are posted here each morning on the Tamanend website.
  
• TV show (weekly, during Advisory period)
• Email blasts from Tamanend administration regarding important news, new procedures, and reminders
• Parent Portal: student information, grades, and attendance
• Tamanend Connections newsletter: useful information, important reminders, and school highlights emailed weekly during school year and posted on Tamanend website
• Twitter: @CBTamanendMS highlights of activities, events, and daily life at Tamanend
• CBSD app: highlights of activities, events, and daily life in Central Bucks
  

Pennsylvania law requires all persons having direct contact with school children to obtain background checks and clearances. If you are planning on volunteer in in a Central Bucks school during the 2024-2025 school year, you will need to go to Volunteer Required Paperwork, and complete what is needed to be an approved volunteer in our school. Thank you!

¡Bienvenidos a Tamanend! Yo soy Brian Caughie, Director de Tamanend Middle School. Soy hispanohablante. Pasé mucho de mi vida en España. Estoy aquí para apoyarles a todos los estudiantes y familias en Tamanend. Favor de llamarme or escribirme (en inglés o en español) si Ud. tiene cualquier duda o pregunta.

Correo electrónico: bcaughie@cbsd.org

Oficina: (267) 893-2900

Tamanend students make a difference in our community. Share your story about the accomplishments and good work of a Tamanend student with Dr. Caughie at bcaughie@cbsd.org so that he may highlight this good news in an upcoming edition of Tamanend Connections.

Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/25
Location: 1492 Stuckert Road, Warrington, PA
Phone: 267.893.2900