The Tohickon Golden Eagle
June 2018
THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE
Dear Tohickon Families,
The 2017-2018 School Year will be ending on Monday, June 18th, which is a half day for students. The month of May was packed with events, including International Food Day, Relay for Life, Sixth Grade Student Orientation, Keystone Exams, the Dorney Park Trip and our musical concerts. During the first few weeks of June, we will be having several year-end events including the Freshman Dance, final exams in Math, Science and World Language, "Move Up Day" for our ninth grade students and closing ceremonies on June 15th.
The Freshman Dance will be taking place on Friday, June 8th. This dance is exclusively for Tohickon Ninth Grade Students and is always the premier event for our Freshman. Typically the attendance is close to 100%, as this is an event that our ninth grade students do not want to miss. Traditionally, the dance is held in the Tohickon Cafeteria and patio area. It is always convenient if the weather cooperates, with the patio being fully utilized. The Freshman Dance is a fun, memorable occasion for our students as they celebrate their years at Tohickon.
Freshman "Move Up Day" will take place on Tuesday, June 5th. Ninth grade students will board buses in the morning to East and West High Schools and spend a few hours at each location meeting teachers, administrators and students. They will have an opportunity to hear some important facts about their high school and spend some time getting to know what the buildings are all about. The goal on this day is to help students feel comfortable and excited about their high school years.
The final exams will take place on June 7th (World Language), 8th (Science) and 12th (Math). Though finals will be offered in most classes, there may be some exceptions depending on the grade level and course. Students taking the finals are encouraged to be well rested on the days of their exams. Students taking finals should utilize their resource periods in the coming days to meet with their teachers in order to review any items they are unsure of.
The Tohickon Closing Ceremonies will take place on Friday, June 15th. Traditionally, this event takes place during the day and is attended by our eighth and ninth students. The event is usually about two and a half hours, ending with a slide/video presentation. This is a special ceremony for our students and teachers. It's an opportunity for our teachers to share some unique things about our students and a time for our students to reflect on the school year.
As we look forward to next year, we have a number of exciting things to look forward to including new laptop computers for our seventh and eighth grade students. The next newsletter, and first of the 2018-2019 School Year, will be sent out at the beginning of August. This will include several important items and dates such as schedule pick up information and key details for the 2018-2019 opening.
In closing, on behalf of the Tohickon Staff and Administration, I would like to thank our parents and all of those in our community that have supported us throughout the year. I also want to thank all of our ninth grade students for three great years at Tohickon. I wish them the best as they move on to CB East and CB West. I hope you and your families have a safe and restful summer. Please take these months to enjoy time with family and friends. I look forward to seeing you in September!
Sincerely,
Kevin Marton, Principal
JUNE EVENTS
There are several upcoming events that students and parents should be aware of. The events for the month of June are as follows:
June 4-7
- Tohickon Book Fair
June 5
- Freshman "Move Up Day"
June 7
- World Language Final Exams
June 8
- Science Final Exams
- Freshman Dance 7:30 - 10:00 PM
June 9
- Ron LaMar Scholarship Concert at CB West
June 12
- Math Final Exams
June 15
- Half Day for Students - 10:45 AM Dismissal
- Closing Ceremonies
June 18
- Last Day of School
- Half Day for Students - 10:45 AM Dismissal
- Yearbook Distribution
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR PARENT COUNCIL!!!
Once again, our Parent Council organized three amazing days for our teachers. The first day was a breakfast, the next was devoted to snacks, and the third was our incredible luncheon. Words cannot express how appreciative the administration and staff is for the efforts that our parents put into organizing these events! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kindness, thoughtfulness and overwhelming support that you display to us daily!!!
RELAY FOR LIFE GOES ON IN RAINY WEATHER
Relay for Life had another very successful year, regardless of the weather. The event was shortened on May 19th due to heavy rain, but it did not dampen the spirits of its participants, as they still arrived in droves between the hours of 8 AM and 2 PM.
Mr. Senavaitis and the Relay Committee made the decision earlier in the week. prior to the 19th, to limit the hours of the event due to the dire weather outlook. Regardless, the organization of the event was stellar, as participants arrived and departed smoothly.
This is a unique year, as it will be Mr. Senavaitis' last as the Relay Coordinator. Mr. Senavaitis has been the coordinator for the last fifteen years and we are very thankful for all of his efforts in helping to make this event what it is today!
Thank you to the Relay Committee, The American Cancer Society, parents, students, staff and all of the community members involved in this year's event!!!
TOHICKON STUDENTS SHINE AT SPRING CONCERTS
The Tohickon Spring Concerts were held on May 1st (Choral) and May 14th (Instrumental). These concerts were excellent!!! Thank you to all of our students for putting in the effort in making these concerts the best they can be! A special thanks to Ms. Repper (Orchestra Director), Ms. McGahey (Band Director) and Mr. Dengler (Choral Director) for putting together these fantastic events!!!
Mrs. Furfari Receives District Apple Award for Iron Chef
Mrs. Susan Furfari, a Family and Consumer Science Teacher at Tohickon Middle School, is the 2017-2018 Apple Nominee. Several years ago, Mrs. Furfari decided to develop an after-school event titled “Iron Chef.” The name “Iron Chef” was taken from the series “Iron Chef America,” where chefs would compete against each other in a one-hour cooking competition. Using this idea, Mrs. Furfari developed a competition at Tohickon where students would work together with volunteer staff members to develop the ultimate culinary creation.
The “Iron Chef” event typically takes place after school during the months of March and April. Shortly after dismissal, students and participating staff members proceed to the FCS room to begin preparations. The recipes are usually brought in by the students. The participants work diligently for about an hour organizing and combining ingredients, making any necessary adjustments prior to cooking. Once completed, the culinary delight is brought before three or four judges, who ultimately select a winner. The judges, who are staff members, evaluate aspects such as taste and appearance.
The “Iron Chef Program” at Tohickon has greatly benefited the Family and Consumer Science Program at Tohickon. In addition to providing positive publicity for the department, students involved have established strong connections with Mrs. Furfari and the teachers that have dedicated their time outside of normal school hours. These students seem to really enjoy seeing their teachers outside of their normal work environment. Lastly, and most importantly, everyone has fun.
Mrs. Furfari is a staff member that takes a tremendous amount of pride in Tohickon. Her thoughtfulness and effort is greatly appreciated by both the staff and the administration. Throughout the process of developing this program, it was obvious that Mrs. Furfari had the students in mind. We look forward to working with Mrs. Furfari in finding ways to enhance the “Iron Chef Program” as well as other creative ideas that she may have moving forward.
TOHICKON STUDENTS PUT ON A GREAT SHOW IN THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
We are, once again, very proud of our Tohickon Band Students and their presentation in this year's Memorial Day Parade. Ms. McGahey and our students, after weeks of rehearsal, marched in the Doylestown Memorial Day Parade on a rainy, damp day. They had a fantastic time and, as always, represented our school well!!!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR
All school supplies for the 2018-2019 School Year will be posted on the Tohickon website shortly after the current school year ends. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office at 267-893-3300.
Tohickon Students Present at the CB Technology Showcase
Mrs. Good’s 7th grade PEN students completed a “Shelf Talker” project for the library earlier this year and three of her students attended the CB Technology Showcase on the evening of May 10th to explain their project to attendees. The students were required to read a self-selected novel and then, using the program Audacity, they had to create book summaries that included music, sound effects, and narration with a favorite quote. The QR codes were made and hung from the Tohickon Library shelves. Students can use their phones and the QR codes to listen to book talks as a tool to identify books they might like to read. Student presenters Mila A., Camille F. and Tessie S. attended the showcase along with their teacher, Amy Good and librarian, Bridget Fox.
TOHICKON BOOK FAIR
Tohickon’s Book Fair runs Monday, June 4 through Thursday, June 7. Students visit the book fair with their English teachers and there is also time during resource and before school to purchase books. Brand new titles, old favorites, and the district summer reading books will be available for purchase. Tohickon’s teachers create a culture of reading and it isn’t surprising that so many of our students read a tremendous number of books each year. The top ten readers in Tohickon will be given a $10 certificate to be spent at the book fair. Those students are: Katherine W., Daniel B., Delia M., Maxine S., Julia B., Rose D., Olivia D., Sophie S., Jordyn M., and Amelia A.. Combined they read 1167 books this school year.
TOHICKON STUDENTS PLANT TREE TO BRING AWARENESS TO PAPER WASTE
Tohickon Middle School’s April Advisory Lesson was to research and create something that shows people’s impact on the environment. The lesson was supposed to be completed for Earth Day, but Mrs. Fox’s 8th graders: Trevor, Bridget, Laina, Kaleigh, Ella, Cooper, Gleb, Allen, Bella, Dillon, Maddy G., Sean, Conor, Carlos, Devyn, Kurt, Abby, Ryan, and Maddie Y., took a little bit longer because they chose to build a paper-mâché creature out of the wasted paper found by the school’s printers. The creature’s outer layer is made up of student essays. They also researched how much paper we use as a school each year and other statistics about paper waste and the benefits of trees. In addition, they covered the library’s windows with recycled paper that said, “Print Once Save a Tree.” As a culmination of the lesson they just planted a Paperbark Maple tree in front of the library in honor of all the trees felled due to our school’s paper needs. They named the tree Jeff.
Important Reminders
Late Arrival to School and Participation in After School Activities
In order to take part in any after-school event (including dances), students must attend school for at least half of the day. At the middle/high school levels, students need to report to school by 10:30 AM.
Water Bottles are Allowed at Tohickon
Water bottles are allowed at Tohickon! It is important for our students to be hydrated at all times, especially during the warmer months.
ATHLETICS UPDATE
The 2018 Spring Sports Season has come to a close. We are thankful to all of our players and coaches for a special season!
Throughout the 2018-2019 School Year, we will be listing the coaches and their contact information here for each season. Coaches will be expected to set up a means in which they can communicate with their players once the season has started (i.e. Remind, Team Snap; etc.). Athletic information will continue to be placed on the daily announcements and shared daily with students as we enter the 2018-2019 School Year. As of the date of this newsletter, the current contact information for FALL coaches is as follows:
Fall Coaches and Contact Information
Football (Varsity and Junior Varsity) - Positions are not yet filled.
Boys' Soccer
Grade 9 - Matt Powell (mpowell@cbsd.org)
Grade 8 - Chris Gay (cgay@cbsd.org)
Grade 7 - Travis Forney (tforney@cbsd.org)
Girls' Soccer
Grade 9 - Melinda Fuller (mfuller@cbsd.org)
Field Hockey
Grade 8 - Alison Bongiorno (abongiorno@cbsd.org)
Grade 7 - Jen Reese (jereese@cbsd.org)
Boys' Tennis
Jarred Levenson (jlevenson@cbsd.org)
Girls' Tennis
Casey Gendron (cgendron@cbsd.org)
Cheerleading - Position is not yet filled.
MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE NURSE’S OFFICE
Health Action Plans for next school year were recently sent home for the 2018-2019 school year. These were sent to parents/guardians of students with chronic health conditions that may require medication while in school. If you received an action plan, please have it completed and returned prior to the start of the new school year. If your child is moving on to high school, please forward them to the appropriate school and to the Attention of the School Nurse. ALL medication requires a Medication Dispensing Form completed and signed by your physician and signed by you.
Incoming 7th graders are required to have a Pennsylvania mandated dental exam. Please forward the completed dental exam form to the nurse’s office. The exam may be any date after September 1, 2017.
7th graders are required to have a Tdap and meningitis vaccination PRIOR to the first day of school on September 4, 2018. There will be a 5-day grace period and your child will be excluded on September 11, 2018 if he/she is non-compliant. Please check the parent portal to see if you are missing any of the required immunizations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the health office @ 267-893-3315. We hope you have a safe, happy and healthy summer!
FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
Guidance Updates – June 2018
PSSA & Keystone Algebra 1
The results of the Grade 7 and Grade 8 PSSA testing and the Algebra 1 Keystone testing should arrive sometime this summer. Parent reports will be distributed at back to school nights in September.
Moving/Withdrawing?
Will your son or daughter be withdrawing from Tohickon or transferring to another Central Bucks school? If yes, please inform the guidance office before the end of the school year so that school and health records can be forwarded to their new school.
Mark your calendars for:
OPEN HOUSE
August 24*
8:00 AM -- 2:00 PM
Schedules will be available on the Parent Portal on 8/24/18 at 8AM
Come tour the building, visit your classrooms and practice opening your locker
Bring a copy of your schedule. Locker information is on the schedule.
Request a copy of your schedule in the office if unable to print.
Visit www.cbsd.org/tohickon for more information in August
*Students are welcome to tour the school the following week with parental supervision if you are unable to visit on August 24.
**Course Failure/Summer School Placement**
A reminder to 8th grade parents: According to School Board Policy #215, “Students shall be promoted from grade 8 to grade 9 if they have passed all of the one-credit courses.” Students in eighth grade who fail any one-credit course must repeat the course(s) during the summer. According to the policy, students failing Spanish 1, Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B will be able to repeat the class in their ninth grade year.
2018 Central Bucks Summer School remedial courses will only be available in an online format, through Educere, an online provider. There are no Summer School courses available for initial or enrichment credit, with the exception of Health/PE. Students who wish to take Health/PE in summer school (for either remedial or initial credit) will attend a course taught by a CB instructor, held at Jamison Elementary School. Please follow the directions and links below to register for all Summer School courses.
HEALTH/PE
Location: Jamison Elementary School, 2090 Land Road, Jamison, PA 18929
PE60 Summer PE/Health 60 hours ½ credit
July 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, and 26 8:00 AM-1:00 PM Course fee $250
PE30A Summer PE/Health 30 hours ¼ credit
July 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, and 17 8:00 AM-1:00 PM Course fee $125
PE30B Summer PE/Health 30 hours ¼ credit
July 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, and 26 8:00 AM-1:00 PM Course fee $125
You can register and pay for this course using www.MyPaymentsPlus.com. First, if you don’t already have one, set up a free MPP account. Enter your student’s name (you will need his/her Student ID number). Then, select “Extended Learning Program,” select “Summer PE/Health,” and select the specific PE/Health class you want. Enter payment information to complete your registration.
REMEDIAL SUMMER SCHOOL COURSES
Students remediating courses in English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language must register online at www.educere.net.
CLICK HERE for a list of all available CB Summer School courses.
Students may register online from June 1 through Friday, June 29, 2018.
Courses must be completed within 60 days, or by Monday, August 6, 2018.
Fee for 1.0 credit course: $195.00.
You may click on the name of the course to see a course description, and to add the course to your Shopping Cart for purchase.
When registering, you must enter the course number and the Tohickon School Code: X7T5FQBN
Tohickon students must also select Mr. Kyle Dudley as the primary contact person from the drop-down menu. This will provide Tohickon with students’ grades and progress information.
Once registered, students will receive a start-up email from Educere with log-in information and other instructions.
Please contact your child’s Guidance Counselor with any questions or concerns.
Tohickon Middle School
Email: kmarton@cbsd.org
Website: cbsd.org
Location: 5051 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA
Phone: 267-893-3300