TMS Connect
Welcome Back
Welcome Back
I am so excited to welcome you back into the school! I have missed all of our students so much!
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your support as we work to make the best educational experience for your students while following all of the recommendations given to us. There have been so many parents that have reached out to show your gratitude and support. Words cannot expressed how that support positively affects our staff!
Below you will find a lot of information about how our school will be running when we open up. This plan is a snapshot of how we are planning to reopen TMS at the time of publication. This could change and I will communicate those changes at the earliest availability.
Athletics
TMS Parent Q & A
Both meetings will be held virtually on Zoom on Tuesday, August 4. One will be at 2:00pm. The evening one will be at 7:00pm.
Changes at TMS due to COVID-19
- Masks will be worn per Gov. Holcomb's executive order.
- Students will be in assigned seats in all of their classes and lunch. This is to help with contract tracing.
- Visitors to the building will be limited to approved access only.
- Students will not change clothes to participate in PE. PE locker rooms will not be used. The course content will be adjusted.
- Students may be asked to assist in sanitizing their desks and used items with an eco-friendly cleaner. Here is a brochure on the cleaner we are using.
- Drinking fountains will not be in use. Students are encouraged to bring a CLEAR water bottle to be filled from the water bottle fillers.
- Hallways will be one way.
- Hand sanitizer will be widely available throughout the building.
Virtual Option
Students enrolled in the TMS Virtual School are eligible to participate in extra curricular activities.
If you feel this is a better option for your family, please chose the virtual option while enrolling your student in Harmony. If you have completed your enrollment and would like to switch, please contact Melissa Kikta (mkikta@tcsc.k12.in.us) or Craig Leach (cleach@tcsc.k12.in.us) about changing the status of your enrollment.
Masks
It is suggested that each student have two reusable masks. Students will be given one reusable mask by the school. A lanyard will also be provided to attach to the mask to assist students in keeping track of their masks.
Please see this publication from the Indiana Department of Education on tips for using face coverings with students.
Lunch Changes
Students will be eating lunch in the cafeteria and the team teaching room. This will allow us to increase our social distancing when students can't wear their masks. Students will be assigned to seats. We have also removed the microwaves.
PE Locker Rooms
Library Use
Students enrolled in our virtual program are still able to check out books! Please see our website for a link to our library catalog. These books can be requested through email. We will pull those books and arrange a time for them to be picked up.
Meet the Teacher
Car Rider Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
- Students will be allowed in the building at 7:40 am.
- At this time, the car rider procedures are the same as last year. (This may be adjusted if we have a large number of students arriving with this option.
- Details of these procedures can be found here.
Dismissal
- Car riding and walking students will be dismissed at 3:05 pm.
- Students will be encouraged to walk along the side walk to their vehicles instead of waiting for the vehicle at the door.
Picking Up/Dropping Off a TMS Student
- Please pull up to the curb out front of the middle school office.
- Call the front office at 765-675-7521 and give them your name and the name of the student you are picking up.
- The office staff will check for the name to be listed in Harmony.
- If you are approved to pick up the student, they will be sent out to you.
Dropping Off
- Students who are being dropped off at the school should be dropped off at the middle school office entrance. An adult does not need to accompany a student into the building for drop off.
Dropping Off Items
Contacting the Middle School
Principal - Melissa Kikta mkikta@tcsc.k12.in.us
Asst. Principal/Athletic Director - Craig Leach cleach@tcsc.k12.in.us
Enrollment/Main Office Secretary - Laurie Crawford lcraford@tcsc.k12.in.us
Athletic Secretary - Linda Whitesell lwhitesell@tcsc.k12.in.us
Treasurer/Book Fees - Dawn Moody dmoody@tcsc.k12.in.us
Scheduling - Lynn Calloway lcalloway@tcsc.k12.in.us
TMS ROCKS/My Closet - Gena Shultz gshultz@tcsc.k12.in.us
School phone number is 765-675-7521
Box Tops for Education (Repeat from last year)
The 6th grade team collects BoxTops to help support grade level activities such as field trips! Collecting BoxTops just got a whole lost easier also! You can scan receipts and qualifying items automatically submit to our account! No more cutting tiny squares! Please watch the video about scanning for BoxTops. When downloading the app, be certain to choose Tipton Middle School.
Dress Code (Repeat from last year)
Tops:
Students must wear sleeves. If a shirt has a sleeve, it is good. Shirts must cover the torso.
Bottoms:
Items of clothing that cover the lower half of the body must cover all skin from waist to mid-thigh. This includes shorts, skirts, and pants with holes. Students are allowed to layer clothing to ensure the skin is properly covered.
My Closet (Repeat from last year)
Raptor Visitor Management System (Repeat from last year)
In case you missed it from our August Newsletter:
The safety of our students is one of our top priorities. Raptor Visitor Management System is our new way of monitoring who is coming in and out of the school. When you enter any of our school buildings, you will be asked for a government issued ID. Every visitor will be scanned and checked against national databases and our internal checks. Before admittance into the building each visitor will be given a time sensitive sticker. We ask that you wear this sticker throughout your stay with us. I am aware that this is an additional step before entering the school. I appreciate your assistance in keeping all students safe!
EventLink (Repeat from last year)
In case you missed it from our 2019 Newsletters:
Eventlink is our new calendar system. These are calendars that we will use to communicate with the community about what is happening in our school. The athletic office has been utilizing this system for some time. The corporation felt that it was necessary for all calendars to be in one place. Please sign up for an account and add the calendars you would like to follow. If you need any assistance with this stop by the office! Please see this link for steps to sign up and add calendars.
How to create an account on a computer.
Important Dates
8/7 First Day of School
--/-- School Pictures (TBA)
9/7 Labor Day (No School)
9/8 School Board Meeting
9/14 eLearning
10/9 End of the First 9 - weeks
10/12 School Board Meeting
10/21-23 Fall Break
Tipton Middle School
Email: mkikta@tcsc.k12.in.us
Website: www.tcsc.k12.in.us/o/tms
Location: 817 South Main Street, Tipton, IN, USA
Phone: (765) 675-7521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TiptonMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @TiptonMiddle