3/18/2025 Letter to the Community

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March 18, 2025

Dear TUFSD Families and Staff,

I can hardly believe we’re already halfway through March. In just the past week, we’ve had so many wonderful events, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone whose dedication helped make them a success.

Our STEAM Night was an evening of discovery and innovation. Students showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills through interactive stations in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Thank you to everyone who helped organize this inspiring night of learning and exploration.

Bravo to the cast, crew, and everyone behind the scenes who made Mamma Mia! the highlight of the season. Our students delivered outstanding performances, demonstrating their hard work and talent on stage.

Finally, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was a fantastic celebration of community spirit. It was wonderful to see so many students, staff, and families come together to represent our district with pride. Thank you to everyone who participated and showed their support along the parade route.

These events have once again highlighted the strength and spirit of our community. Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools. We look forward to more opportunities to come together in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raymond Sanchez

We invite you to join us for an upcoming webinar on March 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. to hear the latest updates on our district’s facilities projects. We will provide important information on the Washington Irving field project and Morse School as we continue our work to enhance our schools for our students and community.

📅 Date: March 18, 2025

🕕 Time: 6 p.m.

🔗 Link will be posted on tufsd.org

🎥Recordings of past webinars & presentations: tufsd.org/facilities

This will be an opportunity to learn more about our progress. Your engagement and feedback are invaluable as we move forward.

🧦💙 In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, students and staff can show their support by rocking their most unique and colorful socks! 🎉✨

Join us for an important parent presentation: "Talking to Your Teen About Difficult Topics." Hosted by Mrs. Donahue (Student Assistance Counselor) and Mrs. Estrella-Gaspar (SHHS Social Worker), this session will cover communication strategies, mental health, substance abuse prevention, and more.

📅 Wednesday, March 26
🕡 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
📍 High School Library

Translation services will be available. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights on supporting your teen!

Last Saturday, the Board of Education held its annual Budget Workshop to continue discussions on the 2025-2026 proposed budget. The meeting provided an opportunity to review key financial considerations and address priorities. We encourage you to visit our website for more information.

As we prepare for the reopening of Tappan Hill School next year, our district has been carefully studying school start times to ensure they align with and support our new grade configurations. Our key transportation priority remains ensuring that students can travel to and from school safely and efficiently.

Balancing factors such as ride times, school start and end times, and equitable service for all families creates a complex set of challenges. After thorough analysis, we are prepared to present at the upcoming Board of Education meeting on March 20, 2025 an overview of a proposed transportation solution for the 2025-26 school year.

A team of District educators will soon be presenting recommendations for literacy programming at the April Board of Education meeting. Their recommendations will help guide decisions on enhancing literacy instruction and supporting student learning.

We are thrilled to announce that our middle school has been awarded a prestigious grant to advance ocean literacy in our classrooms! This incredible opportunity, funded by The Prada Group and managed by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), officially connects us to the Tri-State Blue Schools Network, a part of the larger USA Blue Schools Network.

Through this grant, students in our Marine Biology Club are leading a hands-on project to explore and document local marine life. Their work includes creating an online database featuring fauna identified from the Hudson River at Kingsland Point, as well as producing a beautifully illustrated booklet to be shared with our community—complete with student-created artwork!

We are especially excited to earn our Blue School Certification at the end of this two-year journey. Deborah McCarl, 7th grade science teacher, and Becky Collins, 6th grade science teacher, applied for and are implementing this grant and bringing this incredible opportunity to our students.

Stay tuned for updates as our students dive into this amazing marine science adventure!

A special thank you to our Board of Education for representing our district in Sunday's St. Patrick’s Day parade!

Big thanks to our amazing band for their incredible performance in the St. Patrick’s Day parade!

STEAM Night was a fantastic evening filled with hands-on learning, innovation, and exploration! Students engaged in exciting activities that sparked curiosity and creativity at every turn.

"Coding was my favorite station," said fourth grader Miles F. "I wouldn't change this event for anything. It was awesome."

A special thank you to the Horsemen PTA for providing passport photos and delicious snacks to keep our young innovators energized. We appreciate your support in making this event a success!

This past weekend, the SHHS theater came alive with the sounds of Mamma Mia! as our talented students took the stage for three incredible performances. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for their hard work and dedication in bringing this production to life!

A huge thank you to the directors, staff, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the show a success. Your support made all the difference! 👏

Our 6th-grade students are putting their engineering skills to the test with the 2025 Science Buddies Engineering Challenge: Rocket Catcher! Under the expert guidance of Library Media Specialist Joan Mullin, they are designing and building rocket-catching devices to safely land a falling rocket without crashing. 🚀✨

Kendal on Hudson’s Environmental Fair in February showcased the Morse Eco Club’s efforts in sustainable gardening, with an engaging introduction about their work. The young Wasteless Horseman then took center stage, impressing everyone with their composting knowledge, celebrating their trash-reduction success, and getting the crowd moving with the lively Sort-it-Out dance!

Get ready for an exciting literary showdown! Inspired by the NCAA March Madness, Washington Irving’s Tournament of Books brings 16 teacher-selected titles into a thrilling bracket-style competition. Over the course of the month, students will read, discuss, and vote to determine WI’s Book of the Year!

For the first 16 days, a new book will be introduced daily. On alternate school days, students will vote for their favorites, with each round narrowing the field from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8, then the Final 4, and ultimately, to the Championship. The winning book will be crowned on April 3!

Which book will take the title? Let the tournament begin! 📖🔥

Learn more here: W.I. Tournament of Books

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s limited-edition spirit wear features a special design created by 9th grader Elizabeth Trejo, the winner of our Spirit Wear Design Contest!

We are so proud of Elizabeth and excited to showcase her creativity. Horsemen PTA spirit wear featuring her winning design is now available for purchase!Join us in celebrating her achievement and showing your school spirit.

🛍️ Shop now: https://spirithero.com/collections/sleepy-hollow-horsemen-spring-flash-sale-2025

📅 Order Deadline: April 1, 2025

Please join us for Bandemonium! on Wednesday 3/19 at 7 p.m. in the HS gymnasium. The program will feature all our band students grades 5-12 and the "World Premiere" of a new piece, "Cumbiamatic" by Jorge Vargas.

This concert is made possible thanks to the generous support of the HorsemanPTA and the Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Boosters.

Hope to see you there!

Join us in celebrating the Wasteless Horsemen Initiative, recognized as a New York State School Boards Association Champion of Change! The honor will be accepted at the Board of Education meeting on March 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Office. Don't miss this moment of recognition for sustainability efforts in our schools!

Join us in celebrating a week of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion at TUFSD! Each day brings a fun theme and a special challenge to spread positivity. 🌟

Let’s make this week full of kindness, connection, and school spirit!

The Horsemen PTA is organizing a movie night exclusively for middle school students on Friday, March 28. Students received a Google Form to vote on the movie. Details to follow.

🎶🎺 The 2025 Sleepy Hollow Jazz Festival is coming! 🎷🎤

Join us Friday, April 4th for a day full of incredible jazz! 🎶✨ During the school day, talented student musicians from Westchester, Putnam, and Orange County will perform for esteemed adjudicators. Then, in the evening, enjoy a must-see concert featuring select student groups and the Jazz Fest Vocal Jazz Ensemble, led by renowned vocalist Dylan Pramuk! 🎤🎵

Mark your calendars—it's going to be a fantastic day of music and celebration! 🎶🎉

🗓️ Save the date! The Latino Parent Leadership Institute will hold its first annual conference for parents completely in Spanish. You won’t want to miss it! Join us for workshops, a delicious lunch, resources from community partners, and a special guest speaker.

🗓️ Saturday, April 26th

⏰10 AM to 1:30 PM

📍SHHS

The Tarrytowns School Foundation is raffling off a set of reserved gala seats. $25 for one chance, $100 for 5 chances. The drawing will take place on March 7 and they will contact the winner directly.

For more information visit: https://www.tarrytownschoolsfoundation.org/springbenefit2025.html

To purchase tickets visit: Spring Gala Tickets

Join the Safe Streets for All project team for a public meeting on Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Tarrytown Senior Center (240 West Main Street, Tarrytown, NY). This is the first of two in-person meetings aimed at improving traffic safety in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. All ages are welcome, and refreshments will be provided. RSVP at https://bit.ly/ss4a320 and learn more at www.tarrytownny.gov/SafeStreets.

Join us for Community Day at The Pocantico Center on May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! This FREE event features hands-on art, STEAM, and garden activities, face painting, and more, in collaboration with local partners. Don't miss the interactive puppet performance by Arm-of-the-Sea at 2:00 p.m. and your last chance to view Sketching Light: Chagall’s Windows for Union Church in the DR Center gallery.

Enjoy complimentary food from Abeetz Pizza Truck and Jimmy’s Soft Serve.

📍 Location: 200 Lake Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591
🔗 Register & learn more: pocantico.org/events
📧 Contact: pocanticoprograms@rbf.org

🏐🔥 Ready, set, SERVE! Our Spring Co-Ed Volleyball Clinic kicks off on May 14 in the S.H.H.S. gym! Open to 6th-8th graders of all skill levels—come learn the game, boost agility, sharpen strategy, and most of all, have FUN! 🙌💪

📅 Starts May 14
📍 S.H.H.S. Gym
🎯 Grades 6-8 | All skill levels welcome

Don’t miss out—let’s hit the court! 🚀🏐

Register here: Tarrytown Parks and Recreation

The Tarrytown Music Hall Academy presents Disney’s Aladdin Jr.—a special opportunity for native Spanish speakers and dual-language students (Grades 4-12) to perform in Spanish! 🌟

🗓 Auditions: Video due by March 30, 2025 or audition in person on April 3, 2025

🎤 Rehearsals & Performances: May 4 – June 14, 2025
📍 Location: The Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street, Tarrytown, NY

Join an incredible team featuring Broadway professionals:
🎬 Director: Evy Ortiz (West Side Story)
💃 Choreographer: Lauren Ciardullo (Aladdin on Broadway)
🎼 Musical Director: Daniel Gutiérrez (On Your Feet)

📲 Free for eligible students! Scan the QR code or visit tarrytownmusichall.org/academy-programs/theater-arts/ for more info! 🎶✨

Join the 3rd Annual Pickleball Round Robin Fundraiser on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Sleepy Hollow High School! 🏓

This exciting event supports Kids' Club of Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow and features divisions for beginners, youth (10-13 & 13-17), intermediate, and advanced players.

💰 $60 per player
🎉 Teachers save $20 with code TUFSD20
🎾 Kids save $35 with code TUFSDKID35

Sign up as an individual and enjoy double round-robin play by skill level.

📍 Register now at HUDSONPICKLE.COM or call 917-941-6531.

Join the Tarrytown Summer Arts Camp Team!

Applications are open for 2025 counselor positions—both paid and volunteer opportunities available! Gain leadership experience, community service hours, and be part of an exciting arts program. Positions are available in Multi-Arts, Architecture, Clay, and Creative Writing at various locations.

Apply now at www.TarrytownArtsCamp.com

The Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown Youth Leadership Police Academy aims to provide a supportive and educational environment where our youth can develop essential life skills that will serve them well into adulthood. We believe that by investing in our young community members today, we are contributing to a brighter and more prosperous future for Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown.

This summer, we are organizing three sessions of the youth academy, scheduled to take place from August 4 to August 8, August 11 to August 15, and August 18 to August 22.

To discuss this opportunity further or to answer any questions you may have, please feel free to contact me directly via email at Sbencosme@sleepyhollowny.org. Thank you for considering our request, and we look forward to the possibility of partnering with you to make the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown Youth Leadership Police Academy a success.

🛍️🌿 Join Us at the TASH Indoor Farmers Market, now through April 26!! 🌿🛍️

📅 Every Saturday | 🕘 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
📍 John Paulding School

Stop by for fresh produce, local goods, and community vibes—all indoors! 🍎🥖✨ See you there!

To view past copies of the newsletters, please visit the Superintendent's Page.

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