TPS District Newsletter
Tewksbury Public Schools
November 2023
Message from the Superintendent
Dear TPS Community,
Today, November 17th concludes this year’s annual American Education week. It’s an annual observance week that honors students, educators, and parents in their collective efforts to provide a quality public education for every student.
Next week we will observe the Thanksgiving holiday and a nice short break from school. In doing so, this holiday invites us to think about what we are all grateful for in our lives and reflect on those positive aspects even amidst the challenges we may face. It allows us to gather with family and friends to appreciate not only the Thanksgiving meal, but also the simple joys that often go unnoticed in the hustle of daily life. Many participate in the dinner table tradition of sharing what we are most thankful and grateful for.
Mother Theresa said, "Do small things with great love." Sharing with family, friends and colleagues why we are grateful for them, whether at the dinner table or in the hallways of our schools, is an easy and small but powerful way to spread happiness.
So, as the holiday approaches, my heart swells with gratitude for the remarkable teachers, staff, and administrators who have both enriched my life and have contributed to our collective journey in educating our students. I am compelled to express my heartfelt appreciation to each one of you. Your commitment to nurturing the minds of our students is the cornerstone of our success.
I am profoundly grateful for our incredible students. Their curiosity, resilience, and eagerness to learn inspires all of us daily. A special thanks also goes to our TPS families and the greater community who provide the crucial foundation for our students' growth and success. This Thanksgiving, let us reflect on the invaluable contributions each one of you makes to our educational family. Thank you.
With sincere gratitude,
Brenda Theriault-Regan
Don't miss TMHS Production of High School Musical on November 17, 18 and 19! Please click the button above for times and ticket information.
Tewksbury vs. Wilmington Thanksgiving Day Football Game
This year the football game will take place at Wilmington High School at 10:00am. Tickets will be available to purchase during lunches at TMHS on Monday (11/20) and Tuesday (11/21). Tickets will also be available at the Ticket Booth at Doucette Stadium on Tuesday, November 21st from 6-8:00pm during the Power Puff Game. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults if purchased in advanced. All tickets on GameDay will be $10.
PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT regarding K-4 Standards Based Report Cards
We are excited to be moving forward with our K-4 Standards Based Report Card Implementation. Thank you to those families who were able to attend our Parent Presentation on October 26. We appreciate your engagement and support. In case you missed it, we have created a Standards Based Report Card link on our website where you can find helpful information, including an annotated Parent Presentation, the Parent Presentation slides and an FAQ document. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Assistant Superintendent, Lori McDermott (lmcdermott@tewksbury.k12.ma.us) if you have any questions. The first report card for students in grades 1-4 will become available on December 15. The report card will be sent as an attachment in Aspen.
Lexia Core5 and PowerUp
Lexia Core5 and PowerUp have arrived at CES, Ryan and Wynn Schools! Lexia is a science of reading based literacy platform that enables at-risk, on-level and advanced students to work at their own pace by having an engaging and motivating online experience. To learn more about Lexia, click HERE.
The next Preschool screening will be held on January 26, 2024 at the Heath Brook Elementary School from 10:30-12:00. Click the button above for more information.
Coming Soon: Kindergarten Registration
We are delighted to announce that kindergarten registrations for the Tewksbury Public Schools will be open from January 16, 2024 through April 26, 2024. To streamline the process families are required to complete online registration paperwork and upload necessary documents, including: Child's birth certificate, current mortgage statement / lease, current utility bill, updated physical and immunization record for the child and parent's photo identification (current driver's license). All this information is mandatory for all families, even if you have previously registered another child. During the registration appointment, you will have the opportunity to select a kindergarten screening appointment date, which will be in May. To provide essential information and guidance, an informational video will be available on our website and local cable access channel starting January 2, 2023. On this date, families can also begin scheduling virtual kindergarten registration appointments, unless an in-person meeting is requested. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring a smooth registration process for your child's exciting educational journey with Tewksbury Public Schools.
NEW Updates from Special Education
It's Here: The DESE NEW IEP & Workshops
In our previous newsletter, we discussed the release of the new DESE IEP forms to districts statewide. As a result, 19 faculty members, including case managers, special education teachers, and administrators, are attending Allan Blume's workshop series on the New IEP, which Valley Collaborative sponsors. This 15-hour workshop will be spread over October, November, February, and March of this school year and will guide special education leaders in implementing the new DESE IEP forms. Furthermore, we will provide professional development on the DESE IEP forms to our special education faculty and staff in the upcoming school year, and the dates will be announced soon. We are planning workshop sessions for our parents and caregivers and scheduling a week-long training series in June 2024. We will share our activity timeline in next month's newsletter.
Just Speechy!
Our speech and language pathologist team will attend the 2023 ASHA Convention at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from November 16th to 18th, 2023. The ASHA Convention is an inclusive educational event for speech, language, and hearing professionals. The event provides valuable opportunities for our staff to stay up-to-date with the latest research and expand their knowledge, clinical practice, skills, and techniques. They can also discover new products and resources and build relationships with colleagues.
Our BCBAs Rock!
In October, our BCBAs attended the 44th Annual BABAT Conference! The event was made even more special as the District’s BCBAs created a “poster” that was accepted and presented at the conference. The event provided our BCBAs with the opportunity to make new connections within our Massachusetts-based community, learn the latest from experts in the field, and empower themselves by learning new tools and strategies they can carry over here in Tewksbury. They attended specialty workshops, participated in an open BABAT Board meeting, and explored the exhibit hall (where their poster was displayed). Our BCBAs returned feeling refreshed, recharged, and re-energized to spark growth for the students and faculty they support.
TIER 2 Let's Know! Intervention Study with Dr. Tiffany Hogan & Associates
Dr. Tiffany Hogan, a Harvard faculty member and Director of the SAiL Literacy Lab, has invited the District to participate in a study aimed at helping first-grade students at risk of falling behind in language and reading comprehension. The funded study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will test the effectiveness of small-group interventions. Two schools, Loella F. Dewing and Heath Brook, have agreed to participate, with their principals, Mrs. Alexis Bosworth and Mrs. Terry Gerrish, leading the way. Over 150 consent forms were provided to families, and over thirty have already been signed and returned. Once all consents are received, the children will be assessed to determine eligibility for participating in the study. Next month’s newsletter will provide an update on the process and timeline. What an exciting opportunity for Tewksbury! We are grateful to Mrs. Bosworth and Mrs. Gerrish for their willingness to offer this study to their students and families.
Robotics Competition at TMHS
Robotics Enthusiasts,
We're excited to share the fantastic news and express our heartfelt gratitude to Scott Morris, the TMHS Robotics Coach, and his dedicated team for their incredible support and collaboration in making the recent robotics competition a resounding success.
A Spectacular Day of Robotics Competition
On October 16, we had the privilege of hosting a thrilling robotics competition, a joint effort between TMHS Robotics Club and Billerica. The event was a remarkable showcase of talent, innovation, and teamwork, featuring 32 robotics teams and over 300 enthusiastic students.
Rave Reviews and Impressive Facilities
We are pleased to report that the event received nothing but high praise from the participating teams. They were particularly impressed with the outstanding facilities provided by TMHS. Abundant parking, easy load in/out access, spacious pit areas, and the presence of esteemed guests, including representatives from six colleges, PTC, iRobot, Boston Dynamics' SPOT robot, and even three Battlebot teams, made this event an unforgettable experience.
A Stellar Team Effort
We'd like to extend our appreciation to the remarkable team at TMHS, who were instrumental in ensuring the event's success. Their dedication and commitment to accommodating all our requirements, along with their efficiency in set-up and clean-up, played a significant role in making the event seamless.
Special Thanks to Jason and Stephen
Jason and Stephen from the IT Department deserve special recognition for their invaluable assistance in providing unique networking connections. This support enabled us to run the event smoothly, broadcast live streams, and offer real-time feedback to the participating teams in the pit area.
Looking Ahead to 2024
The success of this year's event has filled us with optimism, and we're already looking forward to planning next year's competition in the spring of 2024. There's no doubt that with the passion and dedication of our robotics community, we'll continue to raise the bar for future events.
Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Scott Morris, the TMHS Robotics Coach, and the entire team at TMHS for their outstanding contribution to our robotics community.
Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments in the world of robotics. We can't wait to see what the future holds!
TPS is looking for daily substitute teachers and daily substitute classroom aides for every grade level K-12. The daily substitute pay rate has been increased to:
- $110.00 daily rate for substitute classroom aides (this is a 6-hour 20 minute day)
- $150.00 daily rate for substitute teachers (this is a 7-hour day)
For more information, please click the button above and scroll down for links to the Substitute Application, CORI form and information on Fingerprinting.
Please click the button above for more information.
Athletics and After-School Clubs: Sign-Up through Community Pass
All students should sign-up for Athletics and/or Clubs through Community Pass. Community Pass will automatically adjust fees for Family maximum amounts. If you have any questions, please contact your child's school.
Tewksbury Public Schools
Website: https://www.tewksbury.k12.ma.us/
Location: 139 Pleasant Street, Tewksbury, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 640-7800