The Tohickon Golden Eagle
August/September 2019
Greetings from Mr. Marton, Tohickon Principal
Dear Tohickon Families,
I hope you are having a fantastic summer!!! The month of August is here and with its arrival comes our first newsletter of the 2019-2020 school year. This newsletter covers the months of August and September. Once the school year begins, I will be sending out a newsletter on the first of the month, beginning in October. The Tohickon Newsletters are designed to provide you with important information about upcoming activities in the month ahead, while reflecting on the key events from the previous month. Therefore, I encourage you to review the newsletter each month so that you are fully informed as it relates to the events at Tohickon Middle School.
During the month of August, there are two key events of which you need to be aware. On August 6, there will be a District-Wide Parent Information Night at CB West, beginning at 7PM, for all CB parents interested in learning more about the 1 to 1 laptop rollout program. Schedules will "go live" on the Portal (Infinite Campus) at 8:00 AM on August 23rd. On August 26, from 8 AM until 2 PM, Tohickon Middle School will be hosting its annual Open House/Schedule Pick Up Day. This is a day filled with excitement, as students pick up their schedules, tour the building, try their lockers and spend time with friends. As you may be aware, Tohickon Middle School is currently undergoing major construction in front of the building, and I am hopeful that this will be completed in time for Schedule Pick-Up Day. However, if construction is not completed by August 26, I will be sure to communicate with you via email to provide instructions on how to enter the building on that day.
The month of September is among the busiest of the year and there are several events of which to be aware. The main events include our Seventh Grade Laptop Distribution Day (September 5), Picture Day (September 18), our first Parent Council Meeting (September 19) and our annual Back-to-School Nights (September 9, 18 and 19). The calendar below will provide you with some further details for these events.
The first day of school for all students is Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Upon arrival, all seventh grade students will report to the auditorium, all eighth grade students will report to the gymnasium and all ninth grade students will report to the cafeteria. Mr. Murtha and I will meet with all of the seventh grade students prior to sending them to their classrooms. The purpose of our meeting will be to welcome our newest students and share some important information about the day. During this meeting, we make every effort to help our students feel comfortable and excited about their middle school experience.
I hope that you enjoy the remaining weeks of summer, spending time with family and friends! As always, the Tohickon Staff is looking forward to the upcoming school year with great excitement and anticipation. The beginning of every school year is a special time and a unique opportunity to help our students feel welcome and at home in a place they will be coming to every day. If you should have any questions as the school year approaches, please feel free to contact the main office at (267)893-3300.
Sincerely,
Kevin Marton, Principal
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
August
- 8/6 - District Wide Parent Orientation for New Laptop Computers at CB West- 7:00 PM
- 8/26 - Schedule Pick-Up and Building Tours 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- 8/26 - Parent Portal Opens AM (Schedules will be available to view on IC)
September
- 9/2 - Labor Day - No School
- 9/3 - First Day of School for ALL Students
- 9/5 – 1:1 Laptop Distribution (7th grade)
- 9/9 - Grade 7 Back-to-School Night 7:00-9:00 PM
- 9/11 – In-School Assembly: Emergency Personnel Recognition
- 9/18 - Picture Day
- 9/18 - Grade 8 Back-to-School Night 7:00-9:00 PM
- 9/19 - Grade 9 Back-to-School Night 7:00-9:00 PM
- 9/19 - Parent Council Meeting (Library) at 9:00 AM
Volunteering at Tohickon
- Dance Chaperones
- Magazine Sale – 2-3 TBD dates from mid-September through mid-October (do not need to volunteer fall all dates)
- Baking for special occasions
- Relay for Life Survivor Lunch (mid-February 2019)
- Classroom Presentations in area of occupation, specialty or hobby
If you are interested, be on the lookout for a SignUpGenius email from Tohickon in September!
Summer Reading Reminder
For more information about this initiative and grade specific suggestions, click here!
While you were gone...
New Tohickon Mural!
Carina Sun will be a junior at CB East (Class of 2021). She plans to attend NYU or Columbia for Graphic Design.
Morgan Bleicher will be a senior at CB East (Class of 2020). She plans to attend TCNJ or PSU for Bio-Medical Engineering.
Construction Projects
Tohickon Welcomes New Staff Members
- Brandon Fox - Tech Ed./ Integrated Tech.
- Addie Sufrin - English
- Christine Vollrath – Math
- Hannah Pak – Orchestra
- Taylor Girardi – Social Studies
- Rebecca Panitch – Art
- Shane Murphy - Special Education
- Patricia McLaughlin - School Psychologist
- Julie Kline - EA
2019-2020 Leaders of Tohickon Middle School
Once the new year begins, please feel free to contact these team members, should you have any questions that pertains to their area of specialization. The team, subject area and specialized leaders are as follows:
2019-2020 Teams and Team Leaders
- Team Infinity 7A (Grade 7) - Mrs. Kelli McMahon (kmcmahon@cbsd.org)
- Team Summit 7B (Grade 7) - Mrs. Jennifer Reese (jereese@cbsd.org)
- Team Odyssey 8A (Grade 8) - Mrs. Andrea Bellavance (abellavance@cbsd.org)
- Team Expedition 8B (Grade 8) - Mr. Zachary Sibel (zsibel@cbsd.org)
- Freshman Team - Mr. Michael Weir (mweir@cbsd.org) & Ms. Alison Lewis (alewis@cbsd.org)
*Please keep in mind that math and world language will continue to be cross-teamed in eighth grade. Students will learn which team they are on when schedules become available on August 26th*
2019-2020 Subject Area Coordinators
- English - Mrs. Amy Fry-Daly (afry@cbsd.org)
- Math - Mrs. Andrea Bellavance (abellavance@cbsd.org)
- Science - Mr. Jarred Levenson (jlevenson@cbsd.org)
- Social Studies - TBD
- Special Education Facilitator - Mrs. Kelly Zagwoski (kzagwoski@cbsd.org)
2019-2020 Specialized Area Leaders
- Director of Athletics – Mr. Ken Hall (khall@cbsd.org)
- Building Technology Coordinator - Mrs. Bridget Fox (brifox@cbsd.org)
- Building Technology Coach - Mr. Matthew Powell (mpowell@cbsd.org)
- Head School Nurse - Mrs. Sheila Kelly (shkelly@cbsd.org)
All Seventh Grade Students to Receive Laptop Computers!
For all students:
As part of the district 1:1 initiative, there is a $50 usage fee per student. This usage fee needs to be paid at prior to or at the start of each year (regardless of grade level) and covers accidental damage and repairs to the laptop. Incidents of intentional abuse or intentional damage are not covered by the usage fee and may result in the full repair cost being billed to the Student and Parent/Guardian. Lost accessories such as power adapters and pens are not covered. On Monday, August 5th, MyPaymentsPlus will open for payment. This payment needs to be made before students can take their laptop home. Starting August 5th, click here to make the payment.
Students will be able to purchase extra accessories. Families who quality for free/reduced lunch will have a $0 fee. If you have an economic hardship, please contact your building principal to discuss payment options.
There will be a District-Wide Parent Information Night on Tuesday, August 6th at CB West @ 7pm (location change from Lenape) for all CB parents interested in learning more about this program. Please know we will post information on our website for those of you that cannot attend in person.
Our current district FAQ can be found here. We will continue to update this throughout the summer. If there is a question that you do not see, please email us at techsupport@cbsd.org. This account is monitored weekly.
Tohickon 2019 Back-to-School Nights
7th Grade, Wednesday, September 9th from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- Seventh Grade Parents will meet in the auditorium at 7:00 PM for a brief 10-15 minute introductory presentation from Mr. Marton and Mr. Murtha. Following the presentation, parents will attend their child's classes.
8th Grade, Wednesday, September 18th from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- Eighth Grade Parents will proceed directly to their child's classes at 7:00 PM.
9th Grade, Thursday, September 19th from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- Ninth Grade Parents will proceed directly to their child's classes at 7:00 PM.
2019-2020 Athletics Info at Tohickon Middle School
Above: Athletic Director Mr. Costello and all 2018-2019 Tohickon student athletes during the May Sports Recognition Assembly. Mr. Costello retired at the end of last school year after many years of serving Tohickon. We're very thankful for everything Mr. Costello did for Tohickon!
Important Information from the Athletic Department
Welcome to Tohickon Athletics! My name is Mr. Hall, and I am the new Athletic Director at Tohickon. We are looking forward to an outstanding year of athletics here at Tohickon Middle School! The following sports will be offered this Fall to 7th and 8th graders at Tohickon Middle School: Football, Cheerleading, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Boys Tennis, Field Hockey and Volleyball. Students that would like to participate in one of these sports must visit the Tohickon Athletics Webpage to find directions on how to register. Volleyball is new this year! It will be coed and run through the Community School. Information on how to sign up for Volleyball can also be found on the Tohickon Athletics Webpage. Please follow the directions carefully and complete the necessary steps for registration. Students cannot participate until the physical is complete and uploaded to FamilyID.
All 9th grade sports will be held at the high schools. Students can register for 9th grade sports by visiting the athletics website of the high school they will be attending:
Any questions about 7th or 8th grade sports can be directed to the Tohickon Athletic Director, Ken Hall. khall@cbsd.org Questions about 9th grade sports can be directed to the high school Athletic Directors.
Middle School Volleyball
CBSD is pleased to announce that we will be starting a co-ed middle school volleyball program this fall, which will be run through our community school. The purpose of this program is to teach the fundamentals of volleyball to our middle school athletes in the hopes that they will be interested in trying out for our high school program. If there is enough interest, our goal would be to make this a “sport” at the middle school level in the future.
This program will be open to boys and girls in 7th and 8th grade at each middle school. Practices will begin on September 16th. Practices will be Monday-Thursday from 3pm-4:30pm. This will be a six-week program.
If interested in signing up for the volleyball program, click here. Registration opens on August 1, 2019, and spots are limited, so please sign up early.
Tohickon Online Store
Community Service Message
We will kick off our community service initiative with a First Responders Recognition Assembly on Wednesday, September 11th. During this assembly, local first responders are recognized for their dedication to our community. In addition, the events of September 11th, 2001 are remembered and reflected upon. At the conclusion of the assembly, the first responders in attendance are presented with gift baskets to take back to their stations to share with their coworkers.
Throughout the first week of school, four gift baskets will be in the main office. Students and staff are encouraged to donate a treat such as packaged snack items, coffee k-cups, gift cards, etc. for the baskets. If you are able to bring in any donations during Schedule Pick-Up Day on August 26th, it would be greatly appreciated!
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR NEW SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Communication
We pride ourselves on communication at Tohickon! There are a number of ways we communicate with our parents. They are as follows:
- Monthly Newsletter - The newsletter typically comes out via email on the first of each month, running from August through June. The newsletter is designed to be informational and substantive. There is always a chronology of upcoming events listed. All present and past Tohickon newsletters can be found on the Tohickon website.
- School Website - The Tohickon website is a great place to find important information. The most recent newsletter and daily announcement links are always located on the front page. All information pertinent to parents and students can be found in the "Parent/Student" section of the website.
- E-Mail Blasts - Email blasts at Tohickon are used when an important message needs to be sent to parents quickly. PLEASE do not delete these messages, as they are most likely very important.
- Twitter - Messages and pictures are sent to the community frequently to highlight unique events happening in school. Follow us on Twitter @CBTohickonMS
- Parent Council Meetings - These are great opportunities to hear what is going on and to provide feedback to Mr. Marton and Mr. Murtha. The Tohickon Administration values your opinion and wants to hear your thoughts on given topics. Parent Council Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month, and meeting dates are as follows: September 19th, October 17th, November 21st, January 16th, February 20th, March 19th, April 16th, May (Teacher Appreciation Activities). All meetings are held in the Tohickon Library. The meetings begin promptly at 9:00 AM and usually conclude between 10:00 and 10:30 AM. There is no meeting in December or June and the May meeting is traditionally reserved for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.
- Teacher Websites/Canvas - All teachers are expected to maintain an updated school website/ Canvas homepage. These sites are useful for finding out what is going on in class, tracking assignments, etc.
- Parent Portal - All grading and assignment information can be accessed using the Parent Portal. If you are having any trouble accessing your child's information, please contact the guidance department at 267-893-3310.
Arrival/Dismissal
Students will begin arriving at Tohickon around 7:10 AM. The buses arrive on the South Side of the building, where the bus lanes are located. Students will enter through the doors on that side. When students arrive, there will be teachers to help guide them to the right location. Car riders should be dropped off along the curb in front of the school. Please use caution when dropping students off next to the curb. Do not allow your child to walk through traffic or parked cars, as this is a very busy time of morning. Following the signs in the parking lot allows us to avoid dangerous situations. All seventh grade students proceed straight down the hallway to the Tohickon Auditorium, when they arrive.
Students generally dismiss at 2:30 PM. However, for the first week, we allow the seventh grade students to depart at 2:25 PM. This gives them a five minute head start to find their bus and seat.
Lockers, Lockers, Lockers...It's All About Lockers
What Do I Need to Know About Lunch?
During the first week of each marking period, 7th and 8th grade students can choose other students with whom they would like to sit (9th grade students can change seats daily). Once they have chosen their seat, they are expected to remain in that seat for the duration of the marking period.
The times for lunches are as follows:
- 7th Grade - 11:21 AM - 11:51 AM
- 8th Grade - 12:14 PM - 12:44 PM
- 9th Grade - 10:28 AM - 10:58 AM
If a student forgets their lunch, a parent may drop off a lunch in the main office. There is a designated table with grade levels listed. The lunch will be brought down to the cafeteria and given to your student during their lunch period.
Attendance
Students will not be allowed to participate in any after-school activities if they are not here before 10:30 AM and/or they do not complete a half a day of school. If a student needs to leave before 2:30 PM, they should bring a note to the front office in the morning. Once a note is provided, they will be given a yellow pass, which allows them to leave their class at the designated time.
How Can I Reach My Child During the School Day?
Guidance Department
Guidance Office: 267-893-3310
- Mrs. Diane Schute (dschute@cbsd.org) will be working with those students with last names from A-Le.
- Mr. Joseph Stryker (jstryker@cbsd.org) will be working with those students with last names from Lf-Z.
How to Make Changes to Student Information
Please note the following procedures for submitting address changes and/or changes to mailing addresses, guardian(s) or other household information. This information is also available on the Central Bucks School District Website - www.cbsd.org.
All student address changes within Central Bucks must be validated at the Central Registration office by appointment only. We cannot make changes at the middle school.
Any changes to the current information we have on file can be changed through the Parent Portal.
Student Change of Address Procedures:
- Download the Change of Student Address Within Central Bucks form or obtain the form from the school your student currently attends.
- Call (267-893-2111) or email (CentralRegistration@cbsd.org) Central Registration for an appointment.
- Complete the form and bring it to your scheduled appointment along with the following REQUIRED documentation:
- Property Deed/Agreement of Sale (follow up with deed) OR Current Lease Agreement
AND one of the following:
- current utility bill
- current tax bill/receipt
- current bank statement.
Change in Household Membership:
All student household membership additions, deletions or changes must be documented on the Household Membership Change form. This would include the following:
- Parent/Guardian changes
- Sibling changes
- Mailing changes.
Student Household Membership Change Procedures
Download the Household Membership Change form or obtain the form from the school your student currently attends. Complete the form and return to your student’s school or mail it to the address below:
Central Bucks School District
Educational Services Center
Central Registration
16 Welden Drive
Doylestown, PA 18901
If you have any questions, please call Central Registration (267-893-2111) or email your questions to CentralRegistration@cbsd.org
Student Emergency & Information Form
Each year, the Central Bucks School District asks our families to fill out a Student Emergency & Information Form. The online form will ask you to confirm and/or update the following:
- Demographic Information
- Emergency Contacts
- Health Information, including permission for emergency care and analgesic administration
- Media Release Preferences
Click here to be directed to your Parent Portal account to complete the form. Thank you for taking the time to update this important information.
CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
CHIP is short for the Children's Health Insurance Program, Pennsylvania's program to provide health insurance to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance.
CHIP is brought to you by leading health insurance companies. You'll have a choice of major insurance companies with networks of physicians, specialists, and care facilities near you. Your kids may even be able to keep visiting the same doctors they see today.
How to Support Tohickon!
GIANT A+ School Rewards Program (Begins September 6th, 2019)
eScrip.com
Amazon.com
Box Tops for Education
1. Go grocery shopping & keep your grocery store receipt.
2. Download the "Box Tops for Education" app in the Apple App store or Google Play store
3. Scan your grocery store receipt using the "Box Tops for Education" App.
4. Enjoy earning cash for Tohickon!
Traditional Box tops are being phased out of production, but you can still send any remaining unexpired clips to Tohickon.
All money raised from this continuous collection will supplement club and activity programs, including volunteer activities. For more information on Box Tops for Education go to www.boxtops4education.com.
Tohickon Middle School
Email: kmarton@cbsd.org
Website: cbsd.org/tohickon
Location: 5051 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-3300
Twitter: @CBTohickonMS