Tuscan Tidings

At Tuscan School the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. The following drop off, pick up, and parking guidelines are designed to increase student safety at Tuscan School.

As posted on the Tuscan PTA website.

Important Traffic Safety for Drop Off and Pick Up - PLEASE READ (even if you think you already know)

Tuscan has always encouraged families to walk to school, however we do understand that there are situations where driving to school may be necessary. In those situations, safety for our children (and crossing guards!) is our number one concern. Please read through our Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures and study the map, even if you are a long time Tuscan Family. It seems that some families are not aware that Tuscan has a safe, designated vehicle drop off location for students in Grades 3- 5 only. It's located just beyond the staff/teacher parking lot. Please see attached map.

• Tuscan Families are encouraged to walk from home OR park on the side streets and walk to school.
• There is always plenty of parking on Girard, Prospect, Bowdoin, and Yale.
• There is no parking on Harvard between Valley and Prospect during Drop Off / Pick Up times. Please observe the posted signs.
• The vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone is ONLY for Grades 3-5. Families with K-2 children MUST walk children to the blacktop.
• The vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone is just beyond the teacher parking lot. Please note the GREEN Zone on the attached map.
• Please do not idle in the vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone, even during inclement weather.
• Harvard Avenue is a ONE WAY traffic flow during Drop Off / Pick Up. You MUST continue to Valley Street if you are utilizing the vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone. K-Turns and U-turns are NOT allowed during these times.
• Tuscan Road is NOT a vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone. Osborne Terrace is NOT a vehicle Drop Off / Pick Up Zone.
• Please follow the directions of the Crossing Guards and DO NOT block any Crosswalks with your vehicles.
• The barriers are in place for everyone's safety. Please DO NOT move, block, or drive around the barriers.

Additional information can be found below:

We strongly recommend that you walk your child to and from school.

• If feasible and as often as possible, please walk to Tuscan School or park a few blocks away from the school.
• Plan a safe walking route to cross intersections under the direction of a Crossing Guard.
• Crossing Guards are on duty at the following corners: Harvard and Osborne, Harvard and Prospect, Prospect and Tuscan, and Tuscan and Valley.
• If your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader walks to Tuscan without adult supervision, please discuss the safest route to Tuscan.

Tuscan Road & The Bridge

• Children should not cross Tuscan Road unsupervised.

If you drive, please take a route that allows you to follow the established school arrival/dismissal traffic pattern around Tuscan School that may be in effect on school days as follows:

8:00 am to 9:00 am

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm on 4-hour days when applicable

2:45 pm to 3:45 pm

• Harvard Avenue may be blocked off with barricades at Valley Street preventing east bound traffic (uphill) on Harvard Ave
• Osborne Terrace will be blocked off with barricades at Girard Place preventing north bound traffic towards Harvard Ave
• All children should exit vehicles onto a sidewalk, never into the street. Allowing children to exit vehicles into traffic to cross the street, especially between stopped or parked cars is illegal and extremely unsafe.
• There is No Parking permitted in the designated fire zone in front of Tuscan School only charter buses, police, fire, or school district vehicles are permitted to stop directly in front of the school.
• There is No Parking in the space directly in front of the bridge. Please do not park or idle in this area to ensure access to the sidewalk ramp.

The Drop Off Zone is designated for students in Grades 3 – 5 only.

Students in Grades K- 2 must not be dropped off at the Drop Off Zone. K-2 students must be escorted directly to their teacher at the designated morning line up location or to the front door of Tuscan upon late arrival.

• Please arrive to the Drop Off Zone with your 3rd – 5th Grader ready to exit the car.
• Children must never exit vehicles into the street.
• In order for traffic to flow quickly and efficiently, drivers should not park in the Drop Off Zone or exit vehicles.

Please know that we appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Tuscan’s children.

We are looking forward to the start of a wonderful school year at Tuscan!

In partnership,

Malikah Tamar Majeed, Tuscan School Principal

Thursday, September 12th, 2024

4-Hour School Day/Early Dismissal at 12:53 pm

&

Back to School Night at Tuscan

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Back-to-School Night is an opportunity for teachers to provide valuable information about the curriculum and suggestions for establishing routines at the beginning of the school year that will be essential for successful student learning throughout the school year.

Classroom Presentations

6:30 pm – 7:15 pm

Grades 1, 3 & 5

&

Specialists

(Art, Library, Music, PE, Spanish)

7:15 pm – 8:00 pm

Grades K, 2 & 4

&

Specialists

(Art, Library, Music, PE, Spanish)

Please remember to visit the Tuscan PTA website at https://tuscanpta.membershiptoolkit.com. From there you will be able to opt-in to Tuscan PTA weekly newsletter, volunteer for events, purchase spirit wear and receive important communications.

To enhance your child’s Tuscan experience, we are fortunate to have a supportive, actively involved and generous parent community. The Tuscan PTA works closely with the school to provide enriching experiences for Tuscan children and families.

We hope all parents will become a member of the PTA. If cost is prohibiting your participation, please reach out confidentially to Social Worker Ms. Lillman (alillman@somsd.k12.nj.us) or Principal Ms. Majeed (mmajeed@somsd.k12.nj.us).

Ms. Colleen Thaler

At this time, it is certainly understandable for parents to be curious about their child’s teacher assignment(s).

The Information Technology Department plans to email information regarding Parent Portal access as soon as possible.

If you have any issues with the parent portal, please review the information found here or email parentportalhelp@somsd.k12.nj.us.

PowerSchool Addresses

PowerSchool links will be accessible under Quick Links on the district website.

Having access to the parent portal allows you to view important information regarding your child.

• View daily attendance records.
• View marking period grades.
• View printable report cards and progress reports.
• View school welcome letters (elementary schools).
• View schedules (secondary schools).
• View student Google account information (new students).
• View locker information (High School)
• Make changes to contact information.
• Review and acknowledge forms and documents.

If parents have any issues with the parent portal, please review the information found here or email parentportalhelp@somsd.k12.nj.us.

Opt-In For Text Messages

In order to participate in the text messaging service, you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages to your phone, even if you received text messages this year. You must do this whether you have a child in the school system or belong to a community organization that wants to keep up-to-date with our alerts.

To learn more about signing up for SMS text messaging visit: website: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/headlines/district-news/2019/12/16/sms-text-message-communications-from-the-district/

REMINDER! Update Contact Information for All Parties Via School Messenger:

In order to communicate with you through School Messenger, it is important that we have the most up-to-date contact information available for all parties.

• Parents/Guardianss, if you have not yet completed the annual online parent portal forms, we are requesting you do so as soon as possible. More information for parents is found here.
• All staff members are asked to communicate any telephone number changes to the Human Resources department using the “Change staff contact information” form found on the Human Resources website.

The district web page for Chromebooks (click here) has been updated for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Items that have been updated or are new include:

• The publication of a Chromebook Technology Handbook for families to review.
• Information regarding policies for acceptable use and care of district devices.
• Instructions on how families complete the district's device agreement form.
• General information on the upcoming launch of the district's Chromebook Insurance Information.
• Cost of repairs for broken Chromebooks that students may be charged.
• General Information regarding Chromebook Carts for students in grades K - 1 and the 1:1 program for students in grades 2 - 12.

The Information Technology Department will be sending out a general communication to families highlighting the Chromebook Technology Handbook, District Chromebook Insurance Information, and the requirement for families to electronically sign the device agreement form.

Shortly after the start of school, the Information Technology Department will also share information regarding the district's launch of the GoGuardian Parent Application. This app will allow parents to block websites and monitor their student's browsing history on district Chromebooks at home. The Information Technology Department will provide more information on this application closer to launch.

As per Board policy the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" information is to be disseminated annually to all school staff, students, and parents.

The "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" is presented to assist students, staff, and parents/guardians to understand the expectations for acceptable conduct while in school or attending school-sponsored activities, on school grounds, and while on the way to and from school.

All students are expected to follow the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct". K-12 Principals will review core principles and key components of the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" with their staff. In developmentally appropriate ways, beginning on the first day of school of each school year and frequently throughout the year, teachers will create and cultivate a community of learners based on the importance of kindness and respect.

We ask families to do the same with their children. It is the collective responsibility of students, staff, and parents/guardians to ensure that the expectations set forth in the "Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct" are practiced and reinforced in our school on a daily basis.

Click the link to view the 2023-2024 SY Guide to Positive School Culture, Climate, & Code of Conduct

While we appreciate the companionship pets can provide, it is important to note some individuals may have allergies or fears related to animals. To ensure the comfort of everyone, we must maintain a pet-free environment. Therefore, we kindly request everyone's cooperation in adhering to

District Policy 7490 – Animals on School Property.

This policy is designed to promote the well-being and safety of our students, staff, and visitors. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

South Orange Maplewood School District

SOMSD Withdrawals/Transfer Out of School District

If your child will be attending a private school or if your family will be moving out of the District at any time within the school year, you must officially withdraw your child(ren) from the District.

Please email Ms. Bethea via TuscanASAP@somsd.k12.nj.us for assistance with the withdrawal process and to make arrangements to have your children’s academic and health records forwarded to your new school.

If you are in possession of a District issued Chromebook, arrangements will be made for the safe return of the device. Please advise us of the need to return the device during the withdrawal process.

• September 5: First Day of School!
• September 12: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal/ Back to School Night
• October 3-4: Rosh Hashanah - District Closed
• October 22: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal/ PD Staff
• November 5: Election Day (Schools Closed for Students) PD Staff
• November 7-8: NJEA Convention - District Closed
• November 27: Tuscan 12:53 pm Dismissal
  
• November 28-29: Thanksgiving Recess - District Closed

The School District of South Orange and Maplewood

Email: ROARforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: www.somsd.k12.nj.us/tuscan/
Location: 25 Harvard Avenue, Maplewood, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-378-5221