Tamanend Connections
Tamanend Together!
June 10, 2022
Have a Great Summer, Tamanend!
Summer is a time to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate. Best wishes to all of our Tamanend families for a wonderful summer. This is our last edition of Tamanend Connections for the school year. We will send a "Welcome Back" newsletter on Friday, August 5 with important details about next year. Our first regular newsletter for the 2022-2023 school year will be sent out on Friday, August 26. We will hold an open house on Friday, August 19 (details and times to be communicated via email blast and on our website.) We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, August 29, ready for a year filled with learning and growth!
CALENDAR ITEMS TO NOTE
Last Day of School/Early Dismissal--Friday, June 10 (students dismissed at 10:45)
Report Card Grades Posted--Wednesday, June 15 at 8:00 AM
TAMANEND ATHLETICS
INFORMATION:
- Tamanend’s registration for Fall sports will open on July 1st. All registrations must be done on Family ID.
- PIAA physicals for next school year must be dated after June 1, 2022. Please be sure you are using the UPDATED version which can be found HERE. Don’t wait until the end of the summer to see your pediatrician as appointments are often difficult to get at that time.
- Details can be found on Tamanend’s athletics web site, and please continue to monitor the Athletics section of the newsletter for additional information about Fall sports.
- If you and would like to receive immediate updates on game schedules, cancellations, etc., visit Tamanend Athletics web page and become a “fan” to get alerts for your child’s team.
FROM CB SOUTH:
- Please continue to check South’s Athletics web page for updates on registering for Fall sports.
TAMANEND EVENTS
Tamanend Spirit Week for Last Week of School
Please Check Our Lost and Found
TAMANEND FEATURES
Expiration of Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch
In anticipation of this, we wish to remind families of the following:
- Eligible families are strongly encouraged to apply for free and reduced lunches. Families may apply through an online application that is safe, secure, and private. Visit cbsd.org/freeandreduced for details. All children in households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are eligible for free meals. If you have questions about your family’s eligibility, please send email to Renee Ziccardi at rziccardi@cbsd.org or contact your school nurse.
- When the waiver expires, students may again purchase lunch, a la carte items, or snacks through their MySchoolBucks account. Now is a good time to log on, bring your child’s account up to date if money is owed, and update expired payment information. Review frequently asked questions about school lunch accounts on our website. Your child will not be able to utilize their account to purchase a la carte items or snacks if it is past due. If you have questions about your child’s account, or if you believe the balance information is inaccurate, please contact Renee Ziccardi at rziccardi@cbsd.org.
EARN YOUR STRIPES--TAMANEND'S SCHOOL-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SYSTEM
Tamanend Middle School empowers students to grow academically, socially and emotionally. Students, staff, and families work collaboratively to model the acronym ROAR.
Respect yourself, others, and property.
Own your behaviors.
Act appropriately.
Remember Kindness.
We believe that a caring, positive school culture and learning environment foster respectful, thoughtful, appropriate, and kind citizens.
In order to operationalize our mission, Tamanend utilizes a school-wide positive behavioral intervention and support plan (SWPBIS). This plan helps us establish a social culture in which students expect and support appropriate behavior from one another— creating school environments that are socially predictable, consistent, safe, and positive. This helps to reduce problem behaviors that lead to office discipline referrals and suspensions, and to change perceptions of school safety.
QUOTES AROUND TAMANEND
UPCOMING DISTRICT & COMMUNITY EVENTS
Reminder--MBIT Summer Career Exploration Courses
Reminder--Doylestown YMCA Offers Free Memberships for 7th Graders
Did you know that the Doylestown YMCA offers free memberships for 7th Graders? Click here to read all about this great opportunity.
FROM OUR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Reminder--Please Properly Take Care of Your Laptop
We have seen an increase in cracked laptop screens. Here are a few tips to help you properly take care of your laptop:
· Use your laptop bag when carrying your laptop in school and outside of school.
· If you have a small crack on your screen, please take it to the Library to get it fixed as soon as possible. Many times, students do not have small cracks repaired as soon as they occur. This sometimes results in the screen shattering completely.
· Please note that intentional laptop damage will result in potential disciplinary consequences and a bill for the repairs.
Reminder--Student Technology Security Outside of the U.S.
Currently, the Technology and Innovation Department blocks Microsoft Office 365 logins to Outlook, OneDrive, ClassLink, and Canvas from foreign countries. This aids in protecting our CBSD user accounts and organization from malicious computer attacks from outside of the United States.
Students who travel cannot assume their devices will work once they leave the United States. For student out-of-country access requests, please know that access to technology for vacations will not be approved at this time.
FROM OUR GUIDANCE OFFICE
Reminder--Mental Health Resources
Sparks--Career Exploaration
Below is a Sparks newsletter article we sent out almost two years ago. The topic is still very relevant. Please take the time to watch with your children for some interesting and needed discussion.
In today’s world we are all trying to know what is best for our children but it is difficult to see what lies ahead for them. The Sparks video below gives some economic insight into the past, present and future. Please share your reactions to this video with you children for their own understanding of future possibilities.
Success in the new economy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs6nQpVI164
For comments or questions, please contact Ginny Barrett at vbarrett@cbsd.org.
Student Assistance Program (SAP)
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) has been established in schools throughout Pennsylvania with the cooperative support of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Health and Welfare. SAP programs provide schools with the means to identify, refer, and support students who are exhibiting behavioral, academic, or attendance issues that put them at risk. Every secondary school in Central Bucks has a team of dedicated school personnel who are trained to assist students, faculty and family members in identifying problems that impact the student’s ability to function in school. The team can also offer students and their families resources to assist them in alleviating these problems. Click here to read the latest edition of the SAP newsletter.
Student Assistance Program Newsletter
FROM OUR HEALTH OFFICE
FROM OUR CAFETERIA
RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE
Help with Resources
If you are experiencing a financial hardship, please know that the staff members listed below can help you and your family. We can provide assistance with food, clothing, field trips, student fees, internet access, and other issues. Please don't hesitate to contact us:
Brian Caughie, Principal bcaughie@cbsd.org
Kyle Dudley, Assistant Principal kdudley@cbsd.org
Lauren Myrtetus, Certified School Nurse lmyrtetus@cbsd.org
Jeff Klein, Guidance Counselor jklein@cbsd.org
Mandy Cammann, Guidance Counselor mcammann@cbsd.org
Housing Information
HELPFUL REMINDERS ABOUT TAMANEND PROCEDURES
Reminder--Volunteering at Tamanend
All Central Bucks School District Volunteers play a vital role in supporting the staff, students, sports programs and other activities of our schools.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! We are excited to introduce our NEW contactless application and paperwork submission process to our CBSD volunteers. You can now upload your clearances online through our Volunteer Tracker portal. Please click App Garden- Volunteer Tracker to sign-up and review the clearance requirements. Sign-up is required for both New and Returning Volunteers! The Volunteer Tracker will allow you to sign-up for volunteer opportunities specific to your building and/or classroom of choice. You will receive communication via email to update you on the latest upcoming event(s), clearance expiration, and to review your participation level. Clearances and Background Checks are valid for five (5) years. Click here for required documentation and further information.
Reminder--Morning Car Line
When the weather is poor (heavy rain, low temperatures, etc.), more and more parents/guardians choose to drive their children to school. A reminder that students are expected to be in their 1st Period classes by 7:30 AM. If a child is late to school because of CBSD transportation, their tardiness will be excused. If a student is late to school because of car trouble, over-sleeping, or they are in the car drop-off line, their tardiness is unexcused. Typically, there are few cars in the drop off line from when the doors open at 7:10 until about 7:20. After 7:20, the line begins to get very long.
If you drive your child to school and the weather is poor, please consider leaving home earlier so that your child arrives to class on time.
Thanks for your assistance!
A Reminder About Medications in School
A reminder that students are not permitted to carry medication and/or self-administer medication. Per the medication policy, “All medication, both prescription and non-prescription must be kept in the school health office. Medication will be administered to student during school hours only when such medication is required and accompanied by a doctor’s order” (CBSD Medication Dispensing Form medication policy). “With parent permission, acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be administered according to the manufacturer’s suggested dosage. Administration of specific non-prescription medications is available to all students under the guidelines of the district’s chief medical director. These medications include cough drops, throat spray, antacid tablets, and antibiotic ointment. Parents may grant permission when student information is updated via the parent portal during the summer months. Students who have medications of any kind in their possession (purses, lunch boxes, school bags, etc.) may be considered in violation of the school drug and alcohol policy. However, with a doctor’s order, students requiring emergency medication (EpiPen, for example) may be permitted to carry and self-administer the medication” (2021-2022 CBSD Family Handbook).
Regarding field trips and medication:
“A nurse is not available for field trips. If a parent requests medication to be administered during the trip, this should be noted on the field trip permission form. Parents must package medications at home and hand deliver them in a sealed envelope to the teacher. The child will self-administer the medication under teacher supervision” (2021-2022 CBSD Family Handbook). Epi-pens and inhalers should be brought from home for field trips as long as the appropriate doctor’s order/competency check is on file.
Please contact Mrs. Lauren Myrtetus, Certified School Nurse, Tamanend Middle School with any questions at lmyrtetus@cbsd.org or 267-893-2915.
Reminder--Dropping Off Items For Your Child
It's simple to drop off an item for your child! All you need to do is drop the item in the correct grade-level blue bin in the Lobby of our school. Please make sure your child's name is on the item.
Reminder--If You Bring Your Child To School After 7:30
If you bring your child in late to school, please follow this process:
- ring bell to come in to Lobby
- write note
- send student in to Main Office—parents don’t need to come in the Main Office
Reminder--New CBSD Student Absence Reporting System
The Central Bucks School District will be changing the way in which absences are reported, beginning on the first day of school, August 30, 2021. The following items are some key points to be aware of.
- Parents and guardians will be able to submit absence requests via the Parent Portal. Parents can request a full day absence, early dismissal, or late arrival.
- Absence requests will be reviewed by school attendance staff and approved or denied.
- Requests made using the parent portal will also serve as the excuse for the absence. Parents will not be required to submit an excuse either electronic or written.
- Parents and guardians can also still call the school to report an absence, but emails will no longer be accepted.
In addition, when a student is absent from school, but the school did not receive communication from the parent or guardian, the following communication will be sent:
- A text message will be sent midmorning notifying the parent or guardian of the absence
- An email will also be sent at the end of the school day reminding the parent or guardian that the student was marked absent.
Information regarding how to use the Parent Portal to report an absence can be found here.
Reminder--Communicating Absences
You may report your child's absence in any of the following ways:
- Through Parent Portal
- Phone (Attendance hotline): 267-893-2920
Reminder--Parent Drop-Off/Pick-Up & Parking Lot Safety
If parents/guardians decide to drive students to school, please plan enough travel time to allow for safety and congestion on Stuckert Road and in our school parking lot. The speed limit in our lot is 15 mph.
Below is a map of how the student drop-off works in our parking lot. Drop off should only happen along the sidewalk at the Athletics Entrance as indicated by the red dot on the map. For your safety and the safety of our students, please follow these directions and do not drop your student off on Stuckert Road, the Visitor's Parking area, or in the middle of the Main Parking Area.
When dropping off your child, please remember that YOU SHOULD ONLY MAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN INTO/OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. Please stay to the right of the parking lot, along the sidewalk, all the way up to the Cafeteria/Gym Entrance. Pull up as far as you can when the cars in front of you clear, and let your child out there.
When picking up your child, please remember that YOU SHOULD ONLY MAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. The line of traffic will extend back toward the baseball field (Kelly Rd.). Please stay in the line of traffic and continue moving up as the car(s) in front of you move up. If we follow this procedure, all cars we be gone by 2:40.
Para nuestras familias hispanohablantes...
¡Bienvenidos a Tamanend! Yo soy Brian Caughie, Director de Tamanend Middle School. Soy hispanohablante. Pasé mucho de mi vida en España. Estoy aquí para apoyarles a todos los estudiantes y familias en Tamanend. Favor de llamarme or escribirme (en inglés o en español) si Ud. tiene cualquier duda o pregunta.
Correo electrónico: bcaughie@cbsd.org
Oficina: (267) 893-2900
STAYING CONNECTED WITH TAMANEND
Ways to Stay Connected with Tamanend
Here is a list of ways Tamanend communicates with students, families, and the community:
- Tamanend website: includes important information, resources, calendar of school events, and daily announcements
- Calendar of school events (posted on our website)
- Good Morning Tamanend daily announcements (emailed to parents* and students each morning, scrolling on TV screens during school day and posted on our website) *parents should email Mrs. Donna Kirkpatrick at dkirkpatrick@cbsd.org if they would like to have the daily announcements emailed to them directly
- TV show (weekly, during Advisory period)
- Email blasts from Tamanend administration regarding important news, new procedures, and reminders
- Parent Portal: student information, grades, and attendance
- Tamanend Connections newsletter: useful information, important reminders, and school highlights emailed weekly during school year and posted on Tamanend website
- Twitter: @CBTamanendMS highlights of activities, events, and daily life at Tamanend
- CBSD app: highlights of activities, events, and daily life in Central Bucks
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Can Sign Up for Email Blast of Tamanend Daily Announcements
If parent(s)/guardian(s) wish to receive the daily announcements via email blast, they should email Mrs. Donna Kirkpatrick. Daily announcements are always posted under the "Daily Announcements" Section of the Tamanend website for those who do not wish to receive the daily email.