Students who raised the most money as part of our annual Magazine Drive enjoyed a trip to Lincoln Financial Field on Tuesday, November 30. Thank you to everyone who participated in this annual fundraiser to support student activities at Tamanend!

Winter Concert Preview Assembly--Friday, December 3 (during school day)

Winter Concert #1--Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00 PM (details regarding performing groups below)

Winter Dance--Friday, December 10 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Parent Council Meeting--Thursday, December 16 at 9:00 AM

Winter Concert #2--Thursday, December 16 at 7:00 PM (details regarding performing groups below)

Monday, 12/6

• 7th Grade girls basketball vs. Tohickon (Home; 3:15)
• 8th Grade girls basketball @ Tohickon (Away; 3:15); bus leaves at 2:15

Tuesday, 12/7

• No Contests

Wednesday, 12/8

• 7th Grade girls basketball @ Unami (Away; 3:15); bus leaves at 2:15

Thursday, 12/9

• 8th Grade girls basketball vs. Holicong (Home; 3:15)

Friday, 12/10

• No Contests

The Boomerang Youth Recognition Award is a district wide program which recognizes and honors youth in our community for exemplifying and living by the chosen asset for each month of the school year.

For the month of November, the asset was cultural competence— Recognizing a young person who has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds. All nominees will be celebrated Wednesday during Advisory with a special treat. Now we would like to highlight our building winner, 7th grade student, Dipti Malathker.

Dipti is respectful of all teachers and peers. She not only contributes to the classroom academically, but also shares her cultural competency to elevate group conversation. When her class watched a video to explain Diwali, a classmate respectfully asked why we were off for one day when many people celebrate the holiday for five days. Dipti chose to share a very thoughtful response, that the first day "is the most auspicious day" of the Diwali celebration. By sharing her cultural competence with our class, everyone benefitted from her knowledge and experience. Dipti is willing to share personal stories with others to help them better understand her culture. Most importantly she is a dedicated, caring, and accepting individual who will talk to anyone and accepts them as they are.

Congratulations to Dipti and all of the following nominees: Brett Barrett, Melina Bougioukas, Zachary Cao, Abhi Chintapalli, Araiza Del Toro Amaya, Annalisse DeSandre, Mahnsimran Dhankhar, Layla Gentile, Angelia Huynh, Jordan Kalnin, Conor Kelly, Kriti Malathker, Lane McLaughlin, Sheilianys Mercado Gonzalez, Daniel Nodirov, Pranav Pradeep, Shreyas Raju, Nathan Zeigler

We have seen an increase in cracked laptop screens. Here are a few tips to help you properly take care of your laptop:

· Use your laptop bag when carrying your laptop in school and outside of school.

· If you have a small crack on your screen, please take it to the Library to get it fixed as soon as possible. Many times, students do not have small cracks repaired as soon as they occur. This sometimes results in the screen shattering completely.

· Please note that intentional laptop damage will result in potential disciplinary consequences and a bill for the repairs.

During the holidays, many of us give gifts to important people in our lives. Instead of getting somebody some thing and in the true spirit of the holiday season, we hope you will consider making a donation in someone's name to the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund. For those new to Tamanend, the KADMF is a tremendous organization that has become a large part of the Tamanend community. The fund provides assistance---that insurance does not cover---to families who have children who are seriously ill. During tough economic times, organizations such as this are even more critically important. Over the last 21 years, Tamanend has raised more than $518,700 for the fund, and we look forward to adding to that total as we approach our 22nd KADMF Basketball Shootout on Feb. 26th.

These cards are available in the guidance office for you to “purchase”. All you will need to do is submit your donation (checks can be made out to “KADMF”), and you will get an “in lieu of” card and an envelope. In addition to the card stating that a donation to KADMF was made in their name, there will be space for you to personalize the card and write a message if you wish. There are a variety of cards, and they were all designed by our Tamanend students. We have had tremendous success with these holiday cards over the last 12 years, raising over $11,900 for the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund.

Reading Olympics is a celebration of reading that encourages participants to read an amazing variety of young adult literature. This year's reading list includes classics as well as some brand-new titles - the expectation is that each participant will read AT LEAST five titles from the list.

Reading Olympic Book List

The Middle School Reading Olympics competition will be held VIRTUALLY during the month of April. Our first Reading Olympics Informational meeting will be held on Wednesday December 8th, during Tiger’s i. Please check in with your Advisory teacher before coming to the Library. To register to join our team, please complete this Form by the end of the school day on Friday, December 17th. We will be using the REMIND text messaging system to keep in touch for meetings and other important reminders. Please text 81010 with the class code @4632eh to join our Reading Olympics Remind group. Please go to your Library Canvas Course to access more information for Reading Olympics!

Join us for the Tamanend Parent Book Club. This year, we will be reading The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans (2017) by Josh Shipp which may be purchased on a variety of websites or in bookstores. The book describes the optimal mindsets, conditions, and strategies that help teenagers succeed. This book club will follow a "no-pressure" format in which the facilitator will present a summary of the reading and open the floor for discussion. In addition, we will briefly cover items from our monthly Parent Council meeting for parents who are not able to make these meetings. We will share resources and ideas with the goal of helping the entire Tamanend parent community navigate the challenges and joys of raising adolescents. Parents are welcome to join the group at any time. It is not necessary to read all of the chapters to participate. Please email Dr. Brian Caughie at bcaughie@cbsd.org if you are interested in participating in all or some of the meetings so that we may prepare. Click here for further information.

Dear 9th Grade Parents:

The Tamanend Middle School yearbook advisors have opened a website to upload 9th grade baby pictures for the 2021-2022 yearbook. We are inviting you to include a photo memento in your child’s yearbook that he or she will have as a special reminder in their last year at Tamanend. Submitting your child’s baby picture is a great way to honor your child in the yearbook at this special time in his or her life. The cost is $5. If you would like to participate in this optional addition, please make sure that you follow the steps found on this page of our website.

**We will NOT be accepting photos that need to be uploaded. All uploading must be done on your own to the site mentioned below. Please only upload one (1) picture per child.

It’s a great time to order your child’s 2021-2022 Tamanend Yearbook! If you order online prior to January 31, 2022 the cost of the full-color, hardback yearbook is on sale for $35 (plus tax). This is also the deadline if you’d like to add any additional personalization to your child’s yearbook. The price of the yearbook will increase to $40 (plus tax) from February 1st- April 30th. After this date, we unfortunately cannot guarantee your child will be able to purchase a yearbook at the end of the year. Please click the link here to take you to Jostens online ordering page. No preorders will be accepted in school – all orders must be done through Jostens. If you have any questions, please email Kristen Gerth at kgerth@cbsd.org.

The Tamanend Music Department is excited to present two winter concerts this year! We would love to have family and friends attend the following performances!

Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00 PM:

9th Grade Orchestra

Gold'n'Blues

7th Grade Orchestra

7th Grade Band

8th Grade Chorus

8th Grade Orchestra

9th Grade Band

Thursday, December 16 at 7:00 PM:

String Ensemble

Chieftain Chorus

8th Grade Band

7th Grade Chorus

Symphonic Swing Ensemble

9th Grade Chorus

Here are our expectations for appropriate behavior on busses. You can read more about SWPBIS here.

Recently, our students have spent a lot of time in Advisory talking about what they’re thankful for and how to make positive ripples that can affect many others. Over the next couple of weeks, Advisory groups will be paired up and working together to gather donations. Then, they will brainstorm ideas and create cards. Tamanend has been running this Gift Giving idea for a few years now. Be sure to talk to your kids about what they’re doing in Advisory!

Did you know that the Doylestown YMCA offers free memberships for 7th Graders? Click here to read all about this great opportunity.

Currently, the Technology and Innovation Department blocks Microsoft Office 365 logins to Outlook, OneDrive, ClassLink, and Canvas from foreign countries. This aids in protecting our CBSD user accounts and organization from malicious computer attacks from outside of the United States.

Students who travel cannot assume their devices will work once they leave the United States. For student out-of-country access requests, please know that access to technology for vacations will not be approved at this time.

As parents, we have had to consider the impact of the last 18 month on our children. Steven Mintz, an historian at the University of Texas at Austin and author of “Huck’s Raft: A History of American Childhood,” believes that traumatic events can leave “invisible scars” that might shape the character of a generation. However, recent studies have indicated that this might take the form of being more focused about the future such as their place in the world and a stronger commitment to social issues. Although we may see a cautious approach from our children, they may also be energized and optimistic about what lies ahead. Students may find themselves exploring new career paths and ready to take action. This is where we may see the resiliency and empathy that many young people have when faced with struggles. Losing time in the past year can be seen as a negative but also as an opportunity to appreciate what is ahead. Take a moment and ask your daughter or son what the future looks like. Can they connect their thoughts to the career education activities they are working on this school year in Smart Futures and Naviance?

For comments or questions, please contact Ginny Barrett at vbarrett@cbsd.org.

In April 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service extended the program that will provide for free meals for all students, regardless of income, for the 2021-22 school year. This has been made possible by nationwide waivers that provide for free meals for all students through June 2022.

All menus are available to be viewed online up to 2 weeks in advance by visiting cbsd.nutrislice.com.

Students are entitled to one complete reimbursable breakfast per day and one complete reimbursable lunch per day. Any second entrée or a la carte snack item will be charged to the students’ lunch account. We encourage all families to put money on their students account through MySchoolBucks.com as there will be no cash transactions this year to serve the students as safely and swiftly as possible.

We are thrilled to continue to safely serve students delicious, fresh, and nutritious meals at no charge, and we are equally excited to re-introduce our favorite programs to deliver fun, exciting, and tasty experiences to students throughout the coming year.

Please note: If your child has participated in the free and reduced meal program in the past, we encourage you to apply again as participation allows for eligibility in other programs. You can find the application here: Food Services / Free & Reduced Lunch Application (cbsd.org)

Any Central Bucks family who may need a little extra food assistance is welcome to join us on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month at Barclay Elementary School. Our drive-up food distributions run from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. We generally have free dry goods, fresh produce, milk, eggs, and bread, and often have some frozen meat and poultry. At each event we pass out an average of 12,000-15,000 pounds of food.

The CB Farmers Market started in 2019 as a monthly market that distributed free produce. At the start of the pandemic, we recognized a significant need in our community, with many families needing food assistance for the first time in their lives. As our operations grew, so did our network of amazing individuals and community organizations—all of whom are committed to addressing food insecurity in the Central Bucks School District. By our estimates, 1,500 CB children may experience temporary or chronic food insecurity—a statistic which should not exist in a community with our resources.

Our completely volunteer-run and managed organization was founded on two beliefs: 1) During times of need, which we all experience in one form or another, we should be able to count on the compassion and support of our neighbors; and 2) Our community’s collective commitment to our children is a bond much stronger than all of the other forces that might otherwise divide us.

If you are experiencing a financial hardship, please know that the staff members listed below can help you and your family. We can provide assistance with food, clothing, field trips, student fees, internet access, and other issues. Please don't hesitate to contact us:

Brian Caughie, Principal bcaughie@cbsd.org

Kyle Dudley, Assistant Principal kdudley@cbsd.org

Lauren Myrtetus, Certified School Nurse lmyrtetus@cbsd.org

Jeff Klein, Guidance Counselor jklein@cbsd.org

Mandy Cammann, Guidance Counselor mcammann@cbsd.org

As a reminder, at this time, students, staff, and visitors must wear masks inside Tamanend. Any mask exemption forms must be submitted to the Main Office in order for a student to be considered mask exempt. Students who are not on the mask exemption list will be reminded that they are required and expected to wear a mask throughout the school day, except when participating in certain activities as outlined in the CBSD Health & Safety plan. Please have a conversation with your student regarding your family's decision related to masking. Thank you!

All Central Bucks School District Volunteers play a vital role in supporting the staff, students, sports programs and other activities of our schools.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! We are excited to introduce our NEW contactless application and paperwork submission process to our CBSD volunteers. You can now upload your clearances online through our Volunteer Tracker portal. Please click App Garden- Volunteer Tracker to sign-up and review the clearance requirements. Sign-up is required for both New and Returning Volunteers! The Volunteer Tracker will allow you to sign-up for volunteer opportunities specific to your building and/or classroom of choice. You will receive communication via email to update you on the latest upcoming event(s), clearance expiration, and to review your participation level. Clearances and Background Checks are valid for five (5) years. Click here for required documentation and further information.

It's simple to drop off an item for your child! All you need to do is drop the item in the correct grade-level blue bin in the Lobby of our school. Please make sure your child's name is on the item.

If you bring your child in late to school, please follow this process:

• ring bell to come in to Lobby
• write note
• send student in to Main Office—parents don’t need to come in the Main Office

The Central Bucks School District will be changing the way in which absences are reported, beginning on the first day of school, August 30, 2021. The following items are some key points to be aware of.

• Parents and guardians will be able to submit absence requests via the Parent Portal. Parents can request a full day absence, early dismissal, or late arrival.
• Absence requests will be reviewed by school attendance staff and approved or denied.
• Requests made using the parent portal will also serve as the excuse for the absence. Parents will not be required to submit an excuse either electronic or written.
• Parents and guardians can also still call the school to report an absence, but emails will no longer be accepted.

In addition, when a student is absent from school, but the school did not receive communication from the parent or guardian, the following communication will be sent:

• A text message will be sent midmorning notifying the parent or guardian of the absence
• An email will also be sent at the end of the school day reminding the parent or guardian that the student was marked absent.

Information regarding how to use the Parent Portal to report an absence can be found here.

You may report your child's absence in any of the following ways:

• Through Parent Portal
• Phone (Attendance hotline): 267-893-2920

Here is a list of ways Tamanend communicates with students, families, and the community:

• Tamanend website: includes important information, resources, calendar of school events, and daily announcements
• Calendar of school events (posted on our website)
• Good Morning Tamanend daily announcements (emailed to parents* and students each morning, scrolling on TV screens during school day and posted on our website) *parents should email Mrs. Donna Kirkpatrick at dkirkpatrick@cbsd.org if they would like to have the daily announcements emailed to them directly
• TV show (weekly, during Advisory period)
• Email blasts from Tamanend administration regarding important news, new procedures, and reminders
• Parent Portal: student information, grades, and attendance
• Tamanend Connections newsletter: useful information, important reminders, and school highlights emailed weekly during school year and posted on Tamanend website
• Twitter: @CBTamanendMS highlights of activities, events, and daily life at Tamanend
• CBSD app: highlights of activities, events, and daily life in Central Bucks
  

If parent(s)/guardian(s) wish to receive the daily announcements via email blast, they should email Mrs. Donna Kirkpatrick. Daily announcements are always posted under the "Daily Announcements" Section of the Tamanend website for those who do not wish to receive the daily email.