Tenakill Times

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Dear TMS Families,

As we step into February, a month often associated with kindness and connection, our focus at school continues to be on fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening our community. This month, our grade 5 students will be participating in a sense of belonging workshop during the health and PE classes. Students in all grades will be participating in Random Acts of Kindness Week during the week of February 10th, in connection to Random Acts of Kindness Day which will be celebrated nationally on February 17th this year. This is an opportunity for people to come together to make their communities a better place through their thoughtful actions.

Additionally, February brings exciting opportunities for academic growth, extracurricular involvement, and preparation for the spring semester ahead. Please keep an eye out for updates on upcoming events, including opportunities for conferences, February break reminders, and spring sports.

This month, the Closter Shade Tree Commission is sponsoring the Arbor Day Poster Contest. Students at both Tenakill and Hillside are invited to create a poster for submission as part of the contest. Various awards and recognition will be granted. See this linked flier for additional details and the permission slip to participate.

As always, thank you for your continued support in making our school a thriving and inclusive community. Together, we can ensure our students feel inspired to learn, grow, and make a positive difference in the world.

Sincerely,

Christi Cipollini

Hello Tenakill Middle School Community!

My name is Madilyn Palmer, and I am so excited to be joining the team as your new Library Media Specialist. I hold a degree in NJCU and can’t wait to bring my passion for reading, learning, and creativity into the library.

We’ve got a lot of fun things happening here in the Media Center! Be sure to check out our interactive activities like our famous authors' Instagram bulletin board, guessing the staff's favorite books, and our “Case of the Broken Books” detective game. Currently, we’re working on a Rise Against Hunger vision board to inspire us all to make a positive impact.

Looking forward to seeing you in the library and getting to know you all better!

See you soon!

Sincerely,

Ms. Palmer

Many students have been exposed to or have their own accounts on various social media platforms. This month we would like to focus on social media and digital citizenship. Just as students are learning how to navigate social situations in real life, they are also learning how to navigate social situations online. Through CharacterStrong lessons, school wide assemblies, and grade level programming we have conversations throughout the year with students about the importance of staying aware and safe when engaging on social media. This awareness is also important for parents and guardians to have, as they help their students navigate social media. Here are some tips and some links for how to talk to students about social media and where you can learn more about it.

Tips:

1. Start the conversation

• Just like you would check in with your child about school or after school activities, check in with them about their online life. How are they using social media? Who do they talk to? How are other people treating each other on the sites that they use?

2. Be a role model

• Many of us use social media regularly. As adults, we can model a healthy relationship with social media by being open and honest about the way we engage with it. Think about including your child in the conversation about what you post or see others post and how you feel about it.

3. Take breaks

• Finding a balance can be difficult. Help your child recognize when they might need to take a break and help them set limits on their screen time or time spent on certain sites.

Resources:

Common Sense Media: gathers data and publishes articles about the impact of media and tech on kids’ physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.

Common Sense Media

American Academy of Pediatrics: Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health

National Alliance of Mental Illness: Social Media and Your Family | NAMI

We are excited to celebrate Random Act of Kindness Week at Tenakill during the week of February 10-14. This week leads up to Random Act of Kindness (RAK) Day on February 17 – a worldwide celebration of the power of kindness and the ripple effect it can create in the world. While we aim to support making kindness the norm year round, this week allows a focused time of spreading positivity and teaching our students to notice the power and impact of kindness. We encourage you to join in this celebration by helping your child practice small acts of kindness throughout the week, whether at home, school, in the community or by joining with others around the world on February 17 (during our February break) to look for ways to make the world a better place through thoughtful actions. Simple gestures like offering a compliment, helping a friend, or simply listening can make a big difference. To support you, we’ve included some resources with ideas for ways you can incorporate kindness more intentionally as a family this month. Let's work together to create a kinder world, one small act at a time!

Kindness Ideas from RAK Foundation

The Great Kindness Challenge - Family Checklist (checklists also available in Spanish, Mandarin, and French)

Upcoming Dates of Note:

February 3-13, 2025 - Grade 8 High School Scheduling Conferences (at time scheduled in Realtime Parent Portal under Teacher Conference Tab)

February 10-14 - Random Act of Kindness Week at TMS

Once again, our school will be participating in survey data collection using the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey, which was developed, and is administered, by Rutgers University in order to help schools obtain multiple perspectives on aspects of school climate. Collecting data is important for understanding strengths and needs in our school and how it feels to be a member of the school community. The data will be used to make improvements to the school. This survey is anonymous and voluntary. A letter with instructions on how to take the parent and caregivers survey will be emailed. Your voice is important to us and we hope you will participate.

School and district staff will be able to view responses from the survey on a password-protected online platform. Individual responses on the survey are combined for reporting purposes by group. For example, your answers on the survey will be combined with those of other parents. No one will have access to an individual respondent's answers.

Administration of the student survey will take place from 02/03/2024 - 02/14/2024. Information regarding previewing the items, along with student optional participation information was sent to all families via email.

During the week of February 24th, grade 5 students will participate in an engaging, interactive workshop focused on a sense of belonging. Students will participate in the sense of belonging workshop during the PE/Health Classes, and the workshop will be facilitated by Ms. Cipollini, Ms. Earle and Ms. Stabile.This session is designed to promote a sense of belonging and empathy while equipping students with practical tools to prevent and address bullying. Through activities like scenarios, group problem-solving, and personal reflection, students will explore the importance of kindness, inclusion, and creating a supportive school environment. Together, we aim to empower our students to build a community where everyone feels valued and respected.

There’s still time to get involved with extracurricular activities! Several clubs are still accepting new members, offering a great opportunity for your child to explore their interests, develop new skills, and make friends. If your child is interested, they can connect with the club advisor by emailing, visiting in person, or stopping by during the club’s next meeting. Encourage them to take advantage of these exciting opportunities!To view a list of all current TMS clubs, along with their meeting times and advisors, please visit the TMS website. To access all up to date information, there is a link labeled “this year’s club schedules.” At the top of the clubs & activities webpage.

The following clubs are still accepting new members:

• Scripta

• Cougar Chronicles (Writing Club/Newspaper)

• Service Club

• Student Ambassadors

• Kids Helping Kids (Grade 7)

• Tenakill Broadcast Network (TBN)

• Garden Club

• Peer to Peer (grades 5/6) Peer Leadership Interest Form

Thank you to the KPG for coordinating this event!

2/1 – Yearbook & Yearbook Ads Ordering Deadline

2/3-2/13 – Grade 8 Scheduling Conferences with Ms. Earle & NVD Counselor

2/5 – Board of Education meeting @ 7:30 PM

2/17-2/21 – School Closure / President’s Day & Winter Recess

3/4 – Early Dismissal @ 12:25 PM & Afternoon Parent/Teacher Conferences

3/5 – Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences

3/14 – Spring Softball/Baseball Sports Physical Form Due