TuES News Family Newsletter
October 27th, 2023
Message From The Principal
Happy Friday Tuscarora,
The past two weeks have not been typical as four day weeks for our students while staff engage in professional learning opportunities and finalize marking period one reports. It is hard to believe but the first marking period has come to a close. This is a great time to revisit goals and practices you may have established at the start of the school year to LEVEL UP in many ways. In our house, we have seen a slip in being ready to go in the morning, slowly leaving just a pinch later each day. We have committed to returning to the first day of school routines of having backpacks ready by the door we exit in the morning, prepacking those items for lunch that do not require refrigeration, and picking out clothing the night before. My four children don't always enjoy sharing their report cards with their principal mom because I ask questions...I hope you will as well. Here are some questions I ask my children when we look over their report card:
- How did you earn this grade in ______?
- How will you continue to do this well or better in the next marking period?
- Is there anything I need to ask your teacher that would help you in __________ class?
- What do you hope to achieve this marking period?
- How can I help you at home be successful at school?
On Wednesday, November 1, we shall know if the trophy will remain at Tuscarora or head to one of our feeder schools. We remain hopeful, but our daily attendance was not as high as it had been in September overall. We look forward to sharing with our whole community next week how October finished...keep coming every day on time, it matters for our students academic success.
Have a lovely weekend,
Carrie Zimmerman
Tuscarora Does Not Celebrate Halloween
As a reminder, Halloween is not one of the two celebrations that classes recognize during the school year. Tuscarora has designated Valentine's Day and an End-Of Year celebration as our two celebrations.
School Meals 2023 - 2024
For students who were in the 2022-2023 FCPS meal program the window for reapplication for this school year is closing. Please reapply as soon as possible. Applications are accepted at www.fcps.org on the new FCPS Food Service online parent portal at www.linqconnect.com and click on Start Meal Application.
FCPS Augmentative Communication & Technology Team Parent Sessions
ACTT will be offering virtual training for all parents who are interested during LUNCH. The topics will include:
· Features within communication apps such as TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life and TD Snap Motor Plan
· Features within Read & Write, a UDL extension offered to all FCPS students.
Click the following link:
https://bit.ly/PL4Parents to register
SchoolCash Online
Frederick County Public Schools employs the use of SchoolCash Online to provide an easy and safe way to pay for student school fees throughout the school year.
Families can establish their SchoolCash Online account at https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com/. Families who have used SchoolCash Online can sign in to continue to view and manage payments for their student(s) here as well.
SchoolCash Online may be used to pay for classroom activities, events and/or field trips. Classroom teachers will provide specific information regarding additional funds requests and how families may submit payment for these throughout the school year.
Arrival & Dismissal at Tuscarora
ARRIVAL:
Tuscarora opens doors for arrival at 8:30AM. There are no staff on duty prior to 8:30AM. Our buses remain loaded in the bus loop until our bell rings at 8:30AM for students to enter the school building. Students who walk should arrive no earlier than 8:30AM. Students who arrive in a vehicle should remain in the vehicle with their adult until staff open doors at 8:30AM.
While staff may be entering the building prior to the start of school, there are no staff responsible for students prior to 8:30AM at Tuscarora; staff begin their day at 8:30AM when our doors open for arrival. Our goal is for students to be safe; please have your student(s) remain in your vehicle until 8:30AM, walkers should arrive no earlier than 8:30AM, and our bus drivers will continue to hold students on their bus until 8:30AM.
DISMISSAL:
Our dismissal is at 3:30PM. ALL students must leave school property and connect with their after school setting. NO STUDENTS may return to Tuscarora Elementary School until after 4:00PM.
Students who are walkers are to exit the walker corral with their guardians as kindergarteners; all other walkers exit onto the blacktop and are to proceed to their afterschool location. We ask guardians who have older siblings connecting with their student(s) to remind the older sibling that they should connect and head to the after school location.
Parent Teacher Association Meeting Tuesday, November 7 at 6:30PM
Our November PTA meeting will be held in the media center on Tuesday, November 7 starting at 6:30. We do hope you will join us to learn more about what our PTA is doing in the coming weeks including restaurant nights, movie night and Thanksgiving Food Drive. Still not a member? You are welcome to join us and learn more. Remember your level of involvement is up to you, but all the events we put on rely on your membership dues! We can't be successful without you.
Tuscarora Elementary School 2023 - 2024 Yearbook Cover Contest
CALLING ALL ARTISTS!
We are inviting students in ALL grade levels to show their school spirit by designing the front cover of the 2023/2024 yearbook!
Please use the link below for more information.
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Ray at shannon.ray@fcps.org
2023 - 2024 FCPS Code of Conduct
This year, FCPS is pleased to expand our work to ensure all students have safe and supportive school environments. This begins with consistent system wide expectations that encourage positive behavior. To achieve this outcome, we have created a systemwide FCPS Student Code of Conduct. The goal of this document is to ensure all students, staff, and families have a clear understanding of our commitment, how we will respond when challenges arise, and how our support is clear and consistent across all schools. Please review our expectations as we begin the school year in this one-sheeter.
FCPS Citizens Advisory Council
The Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) serves as a conduit to the Board of Education for public concerns, advice, and information. An email, CAC@fcps.org, has been established for community members, parents/guardians, students, and staff who wish to share concerns, topics of interest, and/or issues with the CAC. Topics raised in these communications will be discussed by the Council and then relayed to Board leadership.
Crestwood Area Redistricting Study Options Public Hearing Wednesday, November 1, 2023
6:00 p.m. - Board Room
191 S. East Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Public Comment Procedures for Public Hearing:The Board of Education views public comment as an opportunity to hear concerns from the public, with the understanding and expectation that it is not considered a question-and-answer platform with Board members. Consequently, the Board will not provide a response to public comment presented during the public hearing, although it may follow-up with the individual as may be appropriate.
The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) seeks public feedback on the Crestwood Area Redistricting Study Options presented to the community, including the Superintendent's initial recommendation and the three alternatives developed after community feedback on the original recommendation.
Allocated Public Comment Time:
In order to have an orderly presentation of comments by the public and to maximize the opportunity for public comment, students, individuals and organization representatives shall be limited to three (3) minutes for their public comment.
Same-Day/Walk-In Registration: For those persons wishing to speak, the Board will provide the opportunity to sign up in person for public comment thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. There will not be an opportunity to pre-register for public comment for this public hearing.
The Tuscarora Family Handbook houses all information Tuscarora. We encourage parents to review the handbook prior to the start of the school year. There are many helpful items in here that will quickly answer questions. For instance, the handbook shares that we do not celebrate birthdays at school or hand out invitations. Also, volunteering/chaperoning field trips require mandatory FCPS training that takes at minimum 48 hours to move through the approval process in our visitor management system; if this is not completed in time, you will be turned away. Volunteers can do this now and it lasts all school year. Throughout the school year, as updates are made, we will share the update, again referencing the handbook. Keep this link handy throughout the school year.