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Tomahawk Talk
Week of October 7, 2024
![Tomahawk Talk Week of October 7, 2024](https://cdn.smore.com/u/9868/af154f6c8e30fe5285fa7ddea2ad626a.jpg)
Upcoming Dates
Monday, October 7th:
- Smencil Sales During Lunches ✏️ 💰
- 7:00 PM: BCS BOE Meeting
Wednesday, October 9th:
- Student Data Review Meetings (i-Ready Reports Go Home)
- Smencil Sales During Lunches ✏️ 💰
Thursday, October 10th:
- Reptile Man Assembly (5th Grade)
- Mountaineer Popcorn Fundraiser Starts
- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM: BCS Job Fair @ 1453 Winchester Avenue
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Parent/Teacher Conferences (by appointment only)
- Kona Ice Fundraiser!
Friday, October 11th:
- Speech & Language Hearings for Certain Students
Monday, October 14th:
- PL Day: No School for Students
Tuesday, October 15th:
- 2-Hour Delay for Students (Arrival begins @ 10:15 AM)
October Reminders:
Staff Change: Front Office
Starting Monday, October 7th, there will be a new face in Tomahawk's front office! We are excited to welcome Mrs. Teresa Walling to our staff. She will serve as the enrollment secretary and will work alongside Mrs. Kline and Mrs. Kercheval. If you have questions regarding student records, or enrollment, she will be your contact. Mrs. Walling joins us from Pikeside Learning Center where she has served as the secretary for the last several years. Please welcome her when you get a chance! 🙂
Mrs. Kline is now the contact for attendance. If you have questions regarding your chid's attendance record, or need to submit a note, she will be the one to assist. She is also still responsible for handling fundraisers and other financial responsibilities at Tomahawk.
Join Our Team! Berkeley County Schools Job Fair
Are you passionate about education and making a difference in your community? Berkeley County Schools is hosting a Job Fair to fill various positions. Whether you're interested in working directly with students or supporting our schools behind the scenes, we invite you to explore these exciting opportunities:
Available Positions:
Substitute Teacher
Instructional Aide
Custodian
Secretary
Cook
Bus Driver
Job Fair Details:
Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: 1453 Winchester Ave, Martinsburg
Meet with our hiring team, learn about our schools, and discover how you can contribute to the education and growth of our students. We look forward to meeting you!
Mark your calendars for October 10th and join our team!
Parent/Teacher Conferences & Kona Ice
During Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 10th, we will have Kona Ice available for purchase! A portion of the proceeds will directly impact Tomahawk Intermediate School. We appreciate your support!
Trick or Treat @ TIS on Oct. 25th
Donations of Candy Needed
Please do not forget to send in donations of bagged, mixed candy! We appreciate all support in order to make this event a success for our students!
PTO Membership Drive
Smencil Sales
Starting Monday, September 30th, we will sell Smencils for $2.00 each during student lunches. We currently have Hallowween Smencils and Soda Shop Smencils for sale. They will be available for purchase each Monday and Wednesday for the entire month of October (or until inventory runs out). All proceeds will benefit our student reward days at Tomahawk!
Speech & Language Screenings
Speech-language and hearing screenings will be conducted beginning Fri., 10/11 for students missing this information in the state computer system. If you do not wish for your child to participate in these screenings, please call the school at (304) 754-3171 or email our SLP, Lynn Olsen (lolsen@k12.wv.us).
Cook Center Resources for Parents
Berkeley County Schools is excited to partner with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their Mental Health and Wellness Resource Center: ParentGuidance.org. This is a family support library for all families that provides any adult and caretaker in the district with a trusted place to go for qualified answers to the toughest parenting and childcare challenges from the premier therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists in their respective specialties, who offer compassionate, anonymous, and supportive guidance for you and your children.
This FREE resource offers over 50 courses in English and Spanish created and given by licensed clinicians addressing topics like: Anxiety, Depression, Self-Harm, Bullying, Social Media, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss etc.
Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance!
Counseling News (from Mrs. Boyd and Ms. Thomas)
We try our best to serve the menus we post; however, sometimes circumstances beyond our control require us to make last minute menu changes.
Breakfast
Lunch
Student Reward Day
Dates for eligibility criteria: September 16 - October 15. Students who do not earn the reward will have a regular day of school in a classroom.
Bus Transportation
As a reminder, transportation updates are posted to the BCS Transportation Dashboard: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/transportation-dashboard
In the event that a bus is canceled, we encourage parents/caregivers to transport student(s) to and from school. If you are unable to transport your student to school, please contact our main office at (304) 754-3171. Absences will be marked excused if due to a cancelled bus route.
BCS Absence Note Form
Please complete this form https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/page/absencenote if your child is absent from school. This form is for all parent notes, and also for medical appointments. Please upload the doctor's note for all medical appointments during school hours, or when a child is out of sick due to illness.
Student Expectations
Minors:
*Classroom-managed behaviors. Teachers will provide verbal warnings, redirect students, remind them of expectations, re-teach behaviors, and inform parents of minor incidents. Consequences may include: loss of recess time, lunch detention, loss of privileges, referral to school counselor, etc. Repeated violations of minor behaviors will become major offenses (habitual violation of school rules).
Examples of minor behaviors:
• yelling out
• out of seat
• inattentive behavior
• interrupting instruction
• minor disrespect
• talking during instruction
• minor peer to peer conflict
• name calling (non-Title IX)
• inappropriate language
• invading personal space
• touching another student WITHOUT intent to harm
• rough play
• refusing to open a book, complete an assignment, work with another student, work in a group, take a test, or do any other class – or school-related activity not listed herein.
Majors:
*Administrator-managed behaviors. Possible consequences include: in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, lunch detention, loss of privileges, referral to school counselor, etc.
Examples of major behaviors:
• Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation: A student will not bully/intimidate/harass another student. According to W. Va. Code §18-2C-2, “harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional gesture, or any intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, communication, transmission or threat that:
• A reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a student, damaging a student’s property, placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person, and/or placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property;
• Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or emotionally abusive educational environment for a student; or
• Disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school.
• Disrespectful Conduct Toward Peers or Staff: done with intent to harm and/or repetitive. Note: repetitive behavior may be defined as bullying. Major disrespect includes: screaming, throwing items (chair, desk, sharp object, etc. with intent to hit peer or staff), or profane language indecent act/gesture.
•False Fire Alarm: setting-off the fire alarm knowingly and willingly without cause.
• Habitual Violation of School Rules: evidence of previous interventions; minimum of 2 prior parent conferences (phone or in-person). Student’s behavior is consistently impeding on the learning of others.
• Physical Fight with Intent: Engaging in a physical altercation using blows with intent to harm or overpower another person or persons.
• Possession/Use of Weapon: As defined in WV Code §61-7-2, a “dangerous weapon” means any device intended to cause injury or bodily harm, any device used in a threatening manner that could cause injury or bodily harm, or any device that is primarily used for self-protection. Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, blackjack, gravity knife, knife, knifelike implement, switchblade knife, nunchaku, metallic or false knuckles, pistol, or revolver. A dangerous weapon may also include the use of a legitimate tool, instrument, or equipment as a weapon including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, compasses, or combs, with the intent to harm another.
• Sexual Misconduct: Exposing oneself publicly and indecently, displaying or transmitting any drawing or photograph of a sexual nature, or committing an indecent act of a sexual nature on school property, or on a school bus, or at a school sponsored event.
• Technology Misuse: Violating WV Code 126CSR41, WVDE Policy 2460, Educational Purpose and Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources, Technologies and the Internet.
• Threat to a Student or Staff Member: Severely disruptive, imminently dangerous, illegal, and/or aggressive behaviors are willfully committed and are known to be illegal and/or harmful to people and/or property. The inappropriate behaviors include, but are not limited to: verbal, written, electronic and/or illustrative communications intended to offend and/or humiliate.
• Use/Possession of Tobacco Product: usage or possession of tobacco products on school property (cigarettes, vapes, jewels, chewing tobacco, etc.).
• Vandalism: • done with intent and/or cannot be easily cleaned or repaired.
Staff Contact Information
If you need to contact us, please call the office at 304. 754.3171 or email the following personnel:
- Dr. Ematrudo, Principal: kematrudo@k12.wv.us
- Mr. Robison, Assistant Principal: matthew.robison@k12.wv.us
- Mrs. Brandy Pulse, School Nurse: brandy.pulse@k12.wv.us
- Mrs. Kline, Attendance Secretary: ekline@k12.wv.us
- Mrs. Kercheval, Afternoon Secretary: kimberly.kercheval@k12.wv.us
- Mrs. Walling, Enrollment Secretary: twalling@k12.wv.us
- Mrs. Boyd, School Counselor: megan.boyd@k12.wv.us
- Ms. Thomas, School Counselor: katlyn.thomas@k12.wv.us