Tyngsborough High School
March 31, 2023
What's Happening
Grade 10 students completed ELA MCAS testing this week. The math MCAS exam will take place in May. Bari Atiq and Brett Cavanaugh attended Student Government Day at the Massachusetts State House. They had the opportunity to tour the building, meet state representatives and attend a speech by Governor Healey.
Earlier this week 27 students in the Class of 2023 were invited to the Academic Excellence Ceremony which will take place in May. This event recognizes members of the graduating class that have obtained a GPA of 3.75 or higher during their high school career.
MIAA student-athlete ambassadors and spring sports captains attended the school committee meeting on Tuesday. They spoke of leadership and team building activities they have participated in this year and what they are looking forward to for during the upcoming season.
Thursday night school counselors hosted a College Admissions Seminar for grade 11 parents. Click here to view the presentation.
For the latest news and announcements follow Tyngsborough High School on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.#tpsprepares
Important Dates
04/12: Early Release
04/17 - 04/21: April Break
Congratulations to the March Students of the Month
Spring Art Show
Updated Fencing and Parking Plan
Effective April 24th, we will be entering into the second phase of the Fencing and Parking Plan of the Tyngsborough Middle School Building Project. This phase will not affect the traffic pattern at the middle and high school. The front entrance to the middle school will be opened but handicap accessibility will continue to be through the rear entrance to the building.
High School students who have driven to school will access available parking spots in the lots in front of both schools as the small lot off Norris Rd will be closed. We currently have plenty of spaces available for all students with parking passes. Please see the attached photo highlighting available parking in blue.
School Counseling
SAT Exam
Grade 11 Students looking to register for the SAT's can visit: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat to sign-up for local testing centers for upcoming test dates in May and June.
Scholarship Applications
Members in the Class of 2023 should check Naviance and Student Services for available scholarship applications. Please reach out to your school counselor if you have any questions.
College Representative Visits
College Reps are visiting THS at various times through the end of the school year. 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.
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.
Phase 2 MassHealth Redetermination
Starting April 1, 2023, MassHealth will begin the eligibility redetermination process, renewing all 2.3M members over the following 12 months. This will generally be the first-time members are at risk of losing their coverage since February 2020. In preparation for this effort, MassHealth has increased staffing significantly to handle a greater volume of calls and applications, improved our systems to automatically renew as many members' coverage as possible, and is working in close collaboration with health plans, providers, and other stakeholders. Even with this preparation, we understand that this may be difficult for members. We’re asking for your support as part of our outreach strategy.
MassHealth is sharing the Phase 2 Redeterminations Outreach Toolkit for you and your partners to help educate members and make sure they are prepared and know how to complete their renewal. This toolkit includes key messages as well as downloadable flyers, posters, and other materials in 9 languages. This toolkit also includes materials for specific populations, such as children and families, members experiencing homelessness, or members with disabilities. We are also excited to share the MassHealth Renewal Help Guide, a new resource for individuals who interact with members.
You can learn more about the upcoming redeterminations process at mass.gov/masshealthrenew.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Tyngsborough's public health nurse is holding an upcoming free training. The Youth Mental Health First Aid training teaches adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents from ages 12-18. See attached flyer.
Update From the THS Health Office
Mandated Vaccines & Physical Exams- In accordance with MA Code of Regulations 105 CMR 200.00, prior to entering Grade 11, all students must provide a copy of a current physical (signed by an MD and dated within one year) and proof of immunization according to the Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements 2022-2023. All students entering Grade 11 will also need to submit documentation of Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MenACWY (brand names Menveo or Menactra) for school entry. The booster dose of MenACWY must be received on or after the students 16th birthday. One or more doses of MenACWY vaccine are acceptable, as long as one dose was received on or after 16 years of age. Students who are not 16 when they enter Grade 11 will need to provide documentation of booster dose once they turn 16.
This means all current 10th grade students must turn in a physical to the Health Office with proof of the required immunizations before the first day of 11th grade.
It is best practice to send in a copy of your child’s current PE after each well visit or immunization. My contact information is listed below.
WELLNESS UPDATE- We are happy to report student illnesses appear to be on the decline. Following is the TPS General Illness Protocols for school attendance for guidance when your child is not feeling well:
To provide the healthiest possible environment at school, children should not be sent to school when symptoms of illness are present:
Temperature 100 degrees or above within past 24 hours
Vomiting or diarrhea within past 24 hours
Excessive coughing and nasal discharge
Suspected infection of eye, ears, nose, throat, skin, scalp
Severe abdominal pain or headache
Suspected communicable disease (including, but not limited to: strep throat, conjunctivitis, impetigo, chicken pox, whooping cough, COVID-19, Influenza, scabies, and scarlet fever). Please notify the school nurse if your child contracts any communicable disease.
Suspected fractures or any severe or disabling injury until under physician care
Questionable need for sutures
Head injury until under physician care
Antibiotic therapy started less than 24 hours before returning to school
Immunizations which are not up to date
*** Students may also be dismissed or excluded from school for any of the above***
Students should remain home for 24 hours after a fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medication such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin).
Students should also be symptom free of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
Students receiving antibiotics for a contagious condition such as strep throat, conjunctivitis, etc. must stay out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy has been completed.
School absences or dismissals for medical appointments are excused with documentation from a doctor upon return to school.
The current Covid guidelines for K-12 students can be found here. Please note that we are no longer conducting Covid testing in the school setting. The Tyngsborough Board of Health has provided the schools with test kits that we can give out at no cost to any family that would like them. Please contact the school nurse via email if you would like free covid testing kits. On January 11, 2023 the FDA extended the expiration date of iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests by an additional 3 months. iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests may be used for up to 15 months from the date of manufacture.
If your child tests positive for Covid-19 we are asking families to contact their child’s primary care provider to advise them of the positive Covid test and obtain guidance on return to school dates. It would also be our recommendation to request a medical excuse note from your child’s provider as well. A note from the doctor is not required to return to school, however it will suffice for a medical excuse for the absences.
Additionally, please keep the health office notified of any changes in your child’s health status to include diagnosis of communicable illness, fractures, sprains, concussions, new diagnosis, newly prescribed or changes in medication, upcoming surgery, etc.
MANDATED HEALTH SCREENINGS
Grade 10: Vision, Hearing and Height & Weight Screenings is almost completed.
Grade 9: Postural Screening for scoliosis is almost completed.
If your child is screened during their well visit, you may wish to send in a copy of the exam to the Health Office so we may update your child’s records. Additionally, if you choose to refuse to have your child screened in school, a written parental note is required along with proof that your child has been evaluated by a physician for each screening refused.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the health and well being of your child, please contact me at the number below.
Debbie Donohoe BSN, RN, NCSN
Phone: 978-649-7571 (option 2)
Fax: (978) 649-1877
Email: debbie.donohoe@tyngsboroughps.org
Athletics
Spring Sports are underway and athletic user fees are due by Monday, April 3. Information about user fees can be found on THS Athletics.
Congratulations to Bryce Goulet, Gianna Donato, Carly DiMento and Cadence Serrano for being named first team Lowell Sun All-Stars. Also congratulations to the many others that were named to the second team and honorable mention.
If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Pitts in the athletic office at kelly.pitts@tyngsboroughps.org or 978-649-4210.
Tyngsborough High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Class of 2023 End of Year Events
Thursday, May 25th: Senior Awards Night 7pm (Kelleher Gymnasium)
Friday, June 2nd: Graduation 7:00pm (Pierce Field)
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