TPS Families -

With so many things happening in and around our schools, December took me a bit by surprise! I wonder if it did the same for you. With December comes a host of activities, including our annual Tenafly's Got Talent this Friday at 7pm. This year, the talents of our TPS students are joined with the talents of our Cresskill neighbors. Welcome Cresskill students!

As a reminder, our elementary schools will have early dismissal this Thursday and Friday, December 9th and 10th, for parent-teacher conferences. We thank you for mentioning this to your students.

Next week, we welcome back our incredible Madrigals! The annual Madrigal Festival will return on Saturday, December 18th. We are so happy to have them back in our schools and offices, sharing their voices with us for the holiday season.

Looking ahead, our Kindergarten registration begins in January. For those with incoming kindergarteners hoping to get a head start on forms, registration packets are now available on our website. We can't wait to welcome our next group of Tigers!

Finally, Sunday, December 5th was International Volunteer Day, and we would be remiss if we did not send out a special thank you to all of our TPS volunteers. Each and every one of you has made a positive impact on our schools and our students, from helping with our lunch programs to fundraising to field trips. We appreciate each and every one of you! Thank you.

Yours in Education,

Shauna C. DeMarco

Superintendent Tenafly Public Schools

Join us this weekend when the THS Student Organization presents...

Tenafly (and Creskill)'s Got Talent! Our K-12 Tenafly and Cresskill students are sharing their time and talents. Who will take home the $250 grand prize? You decide! Tickets are $20 for adults and can be purchased online or at the door of Tenafly High School. Students are admitted free at the door.

What do balloons, a red carpet, and an evening gown have in common? Why the celebration of our Governor's Educators of the Year! As we wrap up the recognitions of these exceptionally skilled and dedicated classroom teachers and educational services professionals, we thank all of our staff for what they do every day.

Congratulations to Mackay School's Teacher of the Year Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Jordan and Educational Services Professional of the Year paraprofessional Jackie Freiler. Congratulations to Maugham School's Teacher of the Year Fifth Grade Teacher Elizabeth Farrell and Educational Services Professional Media Specialist/Librarian Luiza Herbst. And, congratulations to Stillman Elementary's Teacher of the Year ELL Teacher Grace Yi and Educational Services Professional paraprofessional Helen Lambris. We appreciate you!

The annual Madrigal Festival returns to TPS with our talented group of singers bringing their joyful sound to our schools and community. This year, the Festival will take place on Saturday, December 18th, at 7pm. Tickets, available beginning next week at thstheater.com, are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets will also be available at the door. Please note, that due to COVID precautions, no food will be served. To maintain social distancing, attendees will sit in chairs instead of the traditional table setting. All seating is General Admission and all proceeds go to the annual Madrigal Dinner scholarship. We hope to see you there! For a preview of past performances, visit the THS Performing Arts webpage.

Kindergarteners getting it done and counting to 100! (Click to view!)

As we all move inside during the cold weather and gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays, we remind our students, families, and staff of the importance of filling out the Daily Symptom Tracker as accurately as possible. Made a mistake when filling it out? Don't fret! Retake the survey using the online form found on the TPS website! Received a big red check mark when you completed the tracker? Red means stop - stay home, get well, and help us to maintain as healthy a school district as possible.

Kindergarten registration packets for the 2022-2023 school year are now posted on the TPS website. Forms can be completed now and returned to the registrar during the specified week for each school:

• Mackay: January 18 - 20, 2022
• Maugham: January 25 - 27, 2022
• Smith: February 2 - 4, 2022
• Stillman: February 8 - 10, 2022

Please note that all forms should be completed online and proof of residency must accompany the forms. Questions? Contact the registrar at registrar@tenafly.k12.nj.us.

Small skills that make a big difference - Looking for a simple way to help your elementary school student feel a bit more confident? Consider working on these executive functioning skills at home! Mastering these small skills can make a big difference for your student and the class as teachers gain back valuable class time minutes.

On Sunday, December 12th at 1pm, TDF's Autism Friendly Performances present Little B's Broadway, a virtual theatrical experience for families with children and adults on the autism spectrum. Created by Becca Yuré, Little B's Broadway is the third show starring this much-loved character. This event is free and suitable for all ages. The running time is 45 minutes. Advance registration is required.

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For instructions on how to enter a ticket, visit the TPS website.

Do you have questions or concerns related to your child? Please check the school/teacher websites for helpful information. Not finding what you need? Contact your building principal. They are here to help you and can be reached at:

• Mackay School - byoo@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Maugham School - jferrara@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Smith School - dgeorge@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Stillman School - glander@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Tenafly Middle School - jfabbo@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Tenafly High School - jmorrison@tenafly.k12.nj.us

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