Tyngsborough Elementary School
5/21/20 Update
Good Afternoon TES,
Each and every week, I'm in awe of what is happening during these challenging times. I'm so incredibly proud and inspired of our school community. Our students, staff, and families continue to give their ALL! Thank you for your continuous support, feedback, and hard work!
This week was particularly emotional for our staff that came in to back up student belongings and closeout their rooms for the school year. It was a whirlwind of emotions to witness. To see the March 12, 2020 messages still up on the boards, snowflakes, and winter poems still hanging just as we left them that Thursday.
Ms. Marcello, TES Speech Pathologist eloquently shared what we are all feeling.
"I have a “rule” that I can’t cry at work. I don’t remember when or why I decided that this was imperative to my career. I have been in meetings in which I’ve heard horror stories about children’s lives. I’ve have been in sessions with students when they have had a breakthrough, when they have have had a “light bulb” moment, and when they have accomplished a goal. I’ve had conversations with students in which they have disclosed disturbing information that haunts me. I’ve been criticized and yelled at by advocates, lawyers, and parents. I’ve had students tell me they love me. I’ve listened as coworkers poured out their emotions, highlighted their successes, revealed their challenges, and shared their deeply personal information. I have done the same. I have had family members face significant health concerns that impacted my emotional state. I have been moved by the smiles, laughter, innocence, and antics of elementary school children. Yet, I refuse to cry at work. Until last Friday. I went to school to get materials. As I began to go up the stairs of my deserted school, I unexpectedly cried. It looked so vastly different. It was empty; railings covered in plastic because they’re painting, no cute posters drawn by children adorned the walls. When I emerged and saw the empty hallway, I was forlorn. How many times had I been “stuck” there in a mass of students? Kids sleepy-eyed, yelling, gossiping, laughing, high-fiving, dancing, worrying, talking, pushing, singing, living, being. The empty hallway was a grim reminder that I didn’t need. When I entered my office, I wept once more. This is my place at my beloved school. It is an extension of my home. This is the case not only just for me, but all of my colleagues, whether they have an office, a room, a gym, a lab, a library, a space. Work is our second home. We are all so unique. We all bring everything we are to work. I packed up my materials and loaded them in my car. I left our school and I saw a sign. A literal sign! So simplistic, and yet so meaningful. “We miss you.” Yes, we do. We miss the shiny floors, and the sometimes messy bookshelves. We miss the excitement on Field Day, and the trepidation of the first day of school for some kids. We miss Kindergarten students in tutus, and 5th graders doing Tik Tok dances. We miss running to the copier because we need to provide work. We miss having meetings in real life. We miss chatting at lunch with our colleagues. We miss the place we have chosen to devote ourselves to. We miss the place that we’ve decided is “our place”. We miss it all. Our students are still our priority. Regardless of the pandemic or any other circumstances, we are here. In our hearts, we are still here."
Student Belonging Pick-Up Procedure
This week, the teachers and staff will be returning to the building to pack student belongings and prepare the classrooms for summer maintenance. During this time, remote learning will continue as it has, but you may notice that responses to your emails will be delayed as staff is working away from their computers to close-out their classrooms. If there are any changes to your child’s regular Google Meet schedule, information will be communicated directly from your child’s teacher.
From Tuesday, May 26th - Friday, May 29th, we will be inviting families to come to school to pick up student belongings.
We ask that you display a card on the passenger side window with your child/children name, grade(s) and teacher(s) name (i.e. Cavanaugh, Kerry; Grade 1, Wall). Runners will be stationed at the parent drop off loop (See image below) to distribute belongings. This is a “drive through” process. We ask that you remain in your car so social distancing guidelines and safety protocols are followed. Please pop your trunk or open your tailgate and the runner will place the bagged items in the trunk.
Should you have any questions, please contact me directly. Thank you for your cooperation. (SEE DETAILED PICTURES BELOW)
Happy Birthday TES Friends!
2020-21 Transportation
Dear Parent / Guardian:
Each year we update student transportation information for the purposes of planning bus routes for the upcoming school year. For some students, there may be changes that the administration will need to know about in order to properly schedule bus routes.
For example, if the student:
- attended kindergarten last year and will be moving into first grade
- plans to start riding with a parent/sibling/neighbor next school year
- plans to start driving their own car next school year
- has moved/will be moving to a different Tyngsborough address before next school year
If this is the case for your child(ren), please fill out the Transportation Update Form for 2020-2021 located at the link below. If changes are necessary for multiple children, you will need to make a separate submission for each child.
If your child(ren)'s transportation method to and from school is not changing from this year to next year, then you do not need to fill out the form and no further action is needed.
Students who will be changing buildings from TES to TMS, or from TMS to THS do not need to fill out the form unless they have a change in transportation needs as outlined above.
Transportation Update Form for the 2020-2021 school year
Thank you for your attention to this notice. If you have additional transportation questions, please email transportation@tyngsboroughps.org.
Best,
Dr. Flanagan
MA WIC Nutrition Program
The Department of Public Health is sharing the following information on access to WIC services and food for our families with young children.
The MA Department of Public Health's Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program is informing our health and community partners that WIC services are available by phone. ALL WIC Programs are able to provide all services by phone to align with social distancing efforts. Our website will be kept up-to-date as well. Contact local WIC programs with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition or shopping. Even if local program offices are not open, they are responding to phone calls and providing services from remote locations. WIC is committed to providing families with continued support now and in the days ahead.
WIC welcomes families at any time. Check out WIC's eligibility page to see how to families can apply online for WIC services. Parents, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children under the age of five years who are in their care.
Call WIC at 1-800-942-1007 or 617-721-6601weekdays Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm. If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number, and staff will respond the same business day or email a Local WIC Program directly with any questions. Download the list: WIC Local Program Email Addresses.
Please consider supporting our amazing community groups.
http://www.tyngsboroughpto.org/
http://www.tyngsboroughps.org/pages/Tyngsborough/Departments/Special_Education/sepac
The Tyngsborough Public Schools does not discriminate against students, parents, employees or the general public on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age.
Tyngsborough Elementary School
Email: kerry.cavanaugh@tyngsboroughps.org
Website: https://tes.tyngsboroughps.org/
Location: 205 Westford Road, Tyngsborough, MA, USA
Phone: 978-649-1990
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TyngsboroughElementarySchool/
Twitter: @TyngsElementary