Tyngsborough High School
September 23, 2022
What's Happening...
School counselors have started meeting with seniors and held a Senior Seminar during Tiger Talk on Thursday. During this meeting counselors discussed the college application process and shared resources including the 2023 Senior Survival Guide. Senior Parents Information Night is scheduled for Wednesday, 09/28 at 6:30.
Many extra-curricular activities have started or have upcoming meetings scheduled including, E-Sports, Chorus Club, Student Council, Adulting 101, BioBuilders, Chess Club with Strategic Games, DECA, GSA, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Club to name a few. The BioBuilders continue their work on "AliveSCENT" and a full update can be found below.
Theater director Katie Leahy met with interested students on Friday morning to present an overview of the program for the upcoming year. Performances will include a musical, competing in METG, and other events. More information will be shared with students throughout the school year.
In athletics, team captains attended a "Captain's Breakfast" which included activities and discussions on being a team leader, setting a positive example, and communicating with coaches and teammates.
We are once again looking for interested parents to join our School Council for the 2022-2023 school year. The School Council consists of our administrative team, staff members, and parents. We meet 3-4 times during the year. If you are interested in participating, please email jeffrey.ogden@tyngsboroughps.org
For the latest news and announcements follow Tyngsborough High School on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.#tpsprepares
Important Dates
09/28/22 - College Planning Parent Night
10/01/22 - SAT Exam
10/03/22 - 10/08/22 - Homecoming week
10/15/22 - PSAT exam
10/24/22 - National Honor Society Induction
10/27/22 - College Financing Seminar
Congratulations to the September Students of the Month
Nathaniel Marino
Meshwa Patel
June Wholey
BioBuilder Update
Interested in skiing or snowboarding?
The Ski & Snowboard club will again hit the slopes in January with trips to Pats Peak in Henniker, NH. For five Tuesdays, all in January, students take a coach bus from the Norris Rd. complex to Pats Peak. Students return to the Norris Rd. complex at approximately 8 p.m.. Please be aware that students cannot take equipment on the morning bus: equipment must be dropped off. The program can take the first 50 registrants (that register on Pats Peak’s website), which is the limit of how many can fit on the bus.
More details and find out how to register HERE!.
Any more questions, please email kevin.redman@tyngsboroughps.org
School Counseling
College Representative Visits
College Reps began visiting THS this week to meet with seniors and juniors in the Student Services conference room. This is a great opportunity to hear about academic programs, residential life, study abroad opportunities, and professional / social organizations. Students should sign up through their Naviance account and fill out a green College Visit form found on the Student Services self-serve bookcase. Parents/Guardians can view the calendar on the School Counseling website. The visits are scheduled until mid-November.
NEACAC College Fair - Worcester State University
Please save the date! Worcester State University will host a NEACAC college fair on Sunday, October 2, 2022 from 11 am to 1 pm in the Wellness Center, Competition Gymnasium. Over 120 colleges and universities will be in attendance
This event is free and open to the public.
Ample parking is available on-site
Campus tours of Worcester State will be offered
College Planning Parent Night
Wednesday, September 28th 6:30pm in the THS Auditorium
Senior parents are invited to attend a presentation on the College Planning process. School Counselors will review the college application timeline and how to prepare and submit application materials.
Financial Aid Seminar
College Financing Seminar: Parents and students are invited to attend a free seminar on paying for college. The seminar will be held on Thursday, October 27th at 6:30 in the THS auditorium. The seminar is offered through MEFA, the Commonwealth's resource on planning, saving and paying for college. An experienced MEFA representative will provide an overview of the college financing process, including types of financial aid, how to apply, and financing options for your family. Families are encouraged to visit MEFA's website, mefa.org, for tools and resources to assist in this process.
PSAT Registration
PSAT’s will be held at Tyngsborough High School on Saturday, October 15th. This is the only opportunity to take the PSAT’s at THS this school year.
Interested sophomores and juniors can register by paying the $25 fee online at: https://unipaygold.unibank.com/customerinfo.aspx
More information regarding the PSAT’s can be found at: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt
SAT Registration
Seniors interested in taking the SAT’s should register at: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration
SAT Test Dates
Oct 1, 2022 Registration Deadline - Sept 2, 2022
Nov 5, 2022 Registration Deadline - Oct 7, 2022
Dec 3, 2022 Registration Deadline - Nov 3, 2022
Help Wanted Job Board
Student Services maintains a job board website for students looking for a job. Click here to view. On this website, there is a link on how to obtain a youth employment work permit for Massachusetts and New Hampshire jobs.
Community Service Board
For students looking to help the community and/or earn service hours, the Student Services office created a “Tigers Volunteer” website. Summer opportunities available! The community service board is only accessible from students' TPS Google accounts, click here.
Consent or Denial of Consent for Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters (Grade 11 and 12 Students)
Under the federal law, public high schools must give the names, addresses and telephone numbers of students to U.S. military recruiters if the recruiters request the information. However, students or their parents have the right to instruct the school in writing that this information is NOT to be released.
On Thursday September 15, a Google form was sent to Grade 11 and 12 student email accounts (does not apply to Grade 9 and 10 students). We encourage parents and students to discuss this information. If your student does not complete the form by Friday, September 23 the automatic response is to release their contact information.
Message from the THS Health Office
Important Information from the Tyngsborough High School Health Office
I hope everyone is doing well and adjusting to their return to school. I would like to take this opportunity to remind the school community about important health related information.
Tyngsborough Public Schools will no longer be conducting Covid testing or contact tracing in the school setting. We will be following the guidance provided by DESE and MDPH which can be found here. We ask that all families familiarize themselves with the guidance as well as our general illness policy which can be found here. Please contact your child’s primary care provider regarding your child’s health. It is our hope that we can all work together to keep our students healthy and safe.
Please note that DESE continues to require masks in the School Health Offices.
TPS Medication Policy- Our medication policy complies with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Codes and Regulations (105 CMR 210.000) and the recommendations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).
All medications must be kept in the nurse’s office and be overseen by the Registered Nurse in order to keep all students safe. Medications to be administered by the school nurse must have a complete medication order signed by a licensed prescriber as well as signed parental consent.
This applies to all prescription and non-prescription medications.
Life threatening allergies and asthma- Please send in medication with action plans signed by your child’s licensed medical provider and a parent as soon as possible! If you need a new form, they are located on our website, or you can contact the health office for a paper copy to be sent home.
Vaccinations- Prior to entering Grade 11, all students must provide documentation of a current physical examination (signed by an MD and dated within one year) with history of immunization as per Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements 2022-2023. It is best practice to send in this documentation following each physical examination.
Back to school time is the perfect time to be sure your child is up to date with his or her immunizations. Vaccines protect children from communicable diseases and help keep them healthy. Cold and Flu season will be upon us shortly. To help keep your child healthy this school year, please get your child immunized against the flu. Click here for more information about influenza. Information regarding the Covid-19 vaccine can be found here.
Mandated Health Screenings- Vision, hearing, body mass index (height and weight) and postural screening (scoliosis) are required by MDPH and will be performed throughout the school year. The THS nurse will conduct postural screenings for all Grade 9 students and screen all Grade 10 students for vision, hearing and BMI throughout the school year. If you choose to opt-out of your child’s screening, a written note from the parent is required and you must provide documentation that your child has been evaluated by a physician for each screening refused. Mandated screenings will most often be conducted during your student’s Wellness class.
Substance Use Preventative Screening is also mandated for grade 9 students. The Tyngsborough Public Schools utilizes the Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol. This entails a one to one conversation between each student and a school counselor or nurse in an effort to prevent or delay substance use. We use the CRAFFT II screening interview, which is the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in MA. SBIRT does not result in disciplinary action. Instead it focuses on reinforcing healthy decisions and addressing concerning behaviors around substance use with the goal of improving health, safety and success in school. This screening is confidential and will not be shared with any other person without prior written consent of the student, parent or guardian, except in cases of immediate medical emergency or when disclosure is otherwise required by state law. No written record of the results of this verbal screening are kept with information that identifies any individual student. Screening results will not be included in your child's school record. As with any school based screening, you have the option to opt your child out of this screening. Additionally, students may also opt out of the process at any time. If you do not want your child to participate in Substance Use Preventive Screening, notify Michelle Riley RN at: michelle.riley@tyngsboroughps.org no later than November 1st.
Additionally, please keep the health office notified of any changes in your child’s health status to include fractures, sprains, concussions, new diagnosis, etc.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the health and well being of your child please contact me. I look forward to caring for your children this year.
Debbie Donohoe, BSN, RN, NCSN
978-649-7571 (option 2)
Athletics
Fall Athletic User Fees are now due. Please go to the Athletics Page to access the online payment option or you can have your student bring a check made payable to Tyngsborough High School to the athletic office.
Schedules are currently posted here and can also be accessed by visiting the THS Athletics webpage. For questions or additional information please reach out to Athletic Director/Dean Ann Palumbo at ann.palumbo@tyngsboroughps.org
Good luck to all our student-athletes this season!
Upcoming weekend events:
Friday, 09/23
Golf vs Dracut @ Sky Meadow
Field Hockey @ Littleton
Football vs Millbury
Saturday, 09/24
Cross Country @ Ocean State Invitational Warwick, RI
Student Information Form
Each year all students must have an updated Student Information Form submitted through the parent portal. The information form, accessible through the parent portal, is used to collect items such as family information, emergency contact data, and medical permissions. It is crucial that you complete this form as soon as possible. Failure to submit this form will affect your student’s ability to attend field trips, participate in after-school activities, and receive medications from the school nurse.
Student Parking
Parking permits are now on sale. All students that drive to school are required to have a parking permit. Please register online by clicking here and visit the THS website and select “Pay Fees Online.” Permits can also be purchased from the High School main office.
Parking permits will be distributed to students the first week of school.
Tyngsborough Safety Day
Tyngsborough High School
For the latest news and announcements follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #tpsprepares
*The official text is the English version of this communication. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information, refer to the English version of this communication, which is the official version. Please contact Tyngsborough Public Schools if more help is needed.
Email: jeffrey.ogden@tyngsboroughps.org
Website: ths.tyngsboroughps.org
Location: 36 Norris Road, Tyngsborough, MA, USA
Phone: 978-649-7571
Facebook: facebook.com/tyngsboroughps.org
Twitter: @tynghighprin