Tenakill Times

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Welcome back to school! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer break, filled with fun and family time. As we begin this new academic year, I am thrilled to meet returning TMS families, and warmly welcome those who are joining our school community for the first time. A list of school supplies by grade level can be found here.

Each month, an edition of the Tenakill Times, the new TMS family newsletter will be sent to all families. This newsletter will include important dates and information, so we encourage you to read it in its entirety. The links for all newsletters sent throughout the year, can be found on the school website.

We have some great activities, clubs, and school programming scheduled for this school designed to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among our students. You can subscribe to the district calendar to stay up to date with all school happenings.

We are looking forward to a year full of learning, growth, and new experiences. I am excited to welcome the following new staff members to Tenakill:

• Ms. Sheriza Mohamed- Grade 5 (ELA/SS)
• Ms. Charisse Stabile- Grade 5 (ELA/SS)
• Mr. Joseph Calabria- G&T/Technology
• Ms. Ornit Katzin- Special Education

Ms. Michelle Kuryllo will be joining TMS from Hillside, as a part of the SGLC team. A full list of staff members can be found on the school website.

A special thank you to our custodial and maintenance staff for all of their hard work this summer in preparing the school for our students' return!

We believe that communication between home and school is essential for student success. We encourage you to stay involved in your child's education and to communicate with our teachers and staff. We appreciate your continued support!

Let’s make this school year great; filled with enthusiasm, kindness, and a commitment to excellence! I look forward to seeing all students on September 5th for the first day of school.

Warmly,

Christi Cipollini
Principal, Tenakill Middle School

Schedules will be accessible in the Realtime Parent Portal and the Realtime Student Portal, which opens on August 21st. All necessary forms in surveys and documents must be completed before viewing student schedules. Families will receive an email message when the Portal is fully accessible.

Please note that classroom placement has been given careful consideration, in connection to student needs and courses. Therefore, no request to change teacher assignments will be granted.

Prior to the first day of school, parents are encouraged to log in to Realtime and add two emergency contacts other than the parents or guardians.

Students can be dropped off beginning at 8:05am, as we will be providing supervision starting at that time. Students dropped off before this time will be unsupervised. Students will enter the building at 8:20am, using the grade level entrances (noted above). Students will be considered late at 8:25am. Students arriving after 8:25am must enter the main doors and sign in late in the office.

Returning students and their parents must submit a new laptop agreement form, which will be accessible as one of the surveys in the Realtime Parent Portal. Some parents, whose student had excessive repairs to their device, will need to submit another $30 insurance check or money order made payable to the Closter Board of Education. You will receive an email should you need to submit another check.

Fifth graders and all new students to Tenakill can pick up their chromebooks August 20-22 from 10:00am-1:00pm.

If your child has a broken chromebook or broken chromebook charger, please email Ms. Chow (chowc@nvnet.org), prior to the start of the school year.

Our schedule this year will be based on a two day rotation using letters A and B. This primarily impacts the special area classes, so students should make note of which days they have Gym and Art/Music/Digital Media. Make sure to bookmark the Letter Day Rotation calendar (on District Site) to keep track.

The PAW Prints program is a positive referral system to acknowledge positive student contributions to the school community. The contribution may be through kind words or actions. The PAW prints program will enhance the following:

• Promotion of positive behavior
• Cultivation of a positive school culture
• Strengthening relationships across the school
• Community building through involvement of parents/guardians
• Encouraging social skills )positive referral systems highlight behaviors that demonstrate social and emotional skills such as empathy and teamwork)
• Enhancement of student self-esteem

Teachers and staff will submit a positive referral form and verbally notify the student of their recognition. At the end of each month, all PAW PRINT recipients will receive a certificate to take home, and have the opportunity to have their PAW print displayed in the main hallway.

Welcome back, Tenakill students and families!

Please check the “Health Office” webpage on the Tenakill School website located under the “About Us” tab. Here you will find important information and forms you might need for the school year.

For students requiring medication during the school year please remember that all medication must be dropped off to the office by a parent or guardian in the original container with proper prescription labeling. Please also have the prescribing provider fill out the medication authorization form to accompany any medication. Additionally, asthma action plans and epinephrine action plans, can be found on the website located under “Forms.”

For parents or guardians of students entering eighth, please see the link for an educational factsheet on meningitis located under “Important Information” on the health page.

For parents or guardians of students entering seventh grade, please see the link for information about the causes, symptoms and means of transmission of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including where additional information may be obtained located under “Important Information” on the health page.

For students interested in participating in school sports, please see the updated sports physical information including the physical form, history, physician sign-off sheet and concussion, cardiac, opioid and eye injury information and sign-off sheets.

Reminder completed physicals are due by September 13th in order to try out for Fall sports.

Enjoy the rest of summer break and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Sincerely,

Virginia McHale, RN,CSN

Tenakill School Nurse

School Closed: October 3rd-Rosh Hashanah

Early Dismissal (12:25pm): October 14th