TuES News Family Newsletter
September 1, 2023
A Message From The Principal
Good Day Tuscarora,
What a wonderful start we had...the past 8 days have had many firsts. Our kindergarteners spent last week coming into their classroom in a staggered start model and then ALL arrived on Monday this week. Our prekindergarten students did the same earlier this week - and by Wednesday, all of Tuscarora was in the building every day, ready for an amazing school year! This is important as the best learning comes from our classroom teachers every day.
Attendance matters to us at Tuscarora. Aside from our participation in the Battle of Ballenger Creek Attendance Challenge with Ballenger Creek, Carroll Manor, and Orchard Grove Elementary Schools, being at school everyday is the BEST way for our students to learn and apply grade level content. Our teachers and staff look forward to making each day a wonderful learning experience. Our hope is our families will partner with us to be at school everyday on time and ready to learn. We also hope you will talk about school in the evening and spend time reading together.
Tuesday evening we will have our first Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting of the school year at 6:30 PM. I hope our parents and guardians will come out to learn more about our wonderful PTA. Additionally, I will spend some time sharing about the new FCPS Code of Conduct and what that means for us at Tuscarora Elementary School.
The week of September 11 is our School Safety Week at Tuscarora. Our school will engage in several safety drills throughout the week. Please see the specific information in this newsletter so you may support your student(s) not only this week but throughout the school year.
Finally, a reminder of the Crestwood Area Redistricting Community Meeting scheduled at Tuscarora High School on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:00PM. This is public meeting regarding the redistricting of the Crestwood Area and IT DOES AFFECT TUSCARORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL boundaries. There is information below, as well as information that will be shared Wednesday evening at 6:00PM at Tuscarora High School.
Have a lovely holiday weekend, we will see everyone on Tuesday, September 5 as doors open at 8:30 AM for our students.
Carrie Zimmerman
Crestwood Area Redistricting Community Meeting September 6 - FCPS to hold Public Meetings Regarding Redistricting
The Crestwood area redistricting study takes advantage of additional seats being added to Crestwood Middle as part of a renovation project scheduled for completion for the 2024-25 school year. This will balance enrollments across Crestwood, Ballenger Creek, Gov. Thomas Johnson, Monocacy, and West Frederick middle schools. The study also considers changes to elementary and high school attendance boundaries within the same middle school feeder patterns to limit split feeders wherever possible.
In May, the superintendent's recommendation was presented to the Board. The community will have the opportunity to share feedback at several meetings throughout the community and at a Board of Education of Frederick County forum in November.
Attendance boundary changes that are approved through this study will go into effect in August 2024 when the Crestwood Middle addition is complete.
Community Engagement Calendar:
All meetings are open to all school communities who are included in the redistricting study area.
Sign language or English language interpreting services can be provided. More information is available online.
FCPS understands the significant impact redistricting can have on school communities, families, and students. Families have requested consideration of additional options and community meetings for comment. This led the Board to revise the redistricting study schedule.
Schedules meetings:
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6: Community meeting at Tuscarora High School
6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7: Community meeting at Frederick High School
6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11: Community meeting at Gov. Thomas Johnson High
6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1: Board of Education Public Hearing, Board Room, 191 S. East St.
A note on the Public Hearing: The timing of the meeting was moved up by a week to give the public more time to provide feedback.
More information about the Crestwood Area Redistricting Study is available online. We will provide additional updates.
For additional information, please contact the FCPS Facilities Planning Department at CrestwoodRedistricting@FCPS.org.
Return Summer Library Books
We hope you child enjoyed bring ten books home over the summer. This is a gentle reminder that the ten books your child checked out are now due back. Please contact either Ms. Gray or Mrs. Houghton is you have a question about your child's library books.
TuES Family Handbook 2023 - 2024
The Tuscarora Family Handbook houses all information Tuscarora. We encourage parents to review the handbook prior to the start of the school year. Additionally, 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.
FCPS Student 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.
Transportation - Walkers, Bus Riders & Car Riders
In order to get your student(s) to and from school each day, we need to know what this will look like. Be sure to take a moment at Open House to confirm both how your student(s) arrives at school and how they depart from school on a regular basis.
A walker is a student who walks on/off school property to/from their home or care provider.
A car rider is a student who arrives/departs from a vehicle that enters/exits the school through the car rider line.
A bus rider is a student who arrives/departs using FCPS transportation and the Tuscarora bus loop.
Please visit the TuES Family Handbook for additional specifics to our arrival/departure times, procedures and how to make a change if needed.
2023 - 2024 School Meals
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Breakfast - Free to all at Tuscarora; breakfast delivered to the classroom to eat each morning.
Lunch - $2.65
Guardians of our Tuscarora students can register for a an account at https://www.linqconnect.com/ to either start a meal application in order to qualify for free or reduced-price meals or to add money to the student account.
There are NO processing fees this school year to add money to a meal account.
Families may also send their student(s) with cash or a check to school so the food servicer cashier may add money to their meal account. Tuscarora's Cafeteria Manager will be available during Open House to add funds to student accounts.
Notices and/or invoices may be sent through out the school year from the Cafeteria as needed.
Free or Reduced-Price Meals at Tucarora
All students at Tuscarora are provided an opportunity for a free breakfast in the classroom each school day. School breakfast is delivered to classrooms to include a drink, milk, main dish, and fruit side. This is available for students from 8:30 - 8:55; no outside food may be consumed during this breakfast time.
For lunch, visit the new FCPS Food Service online parent portal at www.linqconnect.com and click on Start Meal Application. Parameters to qualify for free or reduced-price meals can be found here. Some families will receive an email or letter stating they do not have to fill out an application because they have already been qualified or directly certified by Maryland State because they are receiving other government assistance. If you are not sure if you qualify or have already been approved, please call the Food and Nutrition Services office at 301-644-5061.
Students who were approved for free or reduced-price meals last school year (2022 - 2023) have a 30-day grace period during which they continue to receive free meals. Thursday, October 5th is the 30th day of the new 2023-2024 school year. Meal benefits from 2022-2023 will expire on Friday, October 6th. Any student who has not applied for and been approved for free or reduced-price meals or has not been directly certified by Maryland State by October 5th will be charged for meals starting October 6th.
School Cash 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.
Tuscarora Parent Teacher Association
As you come back to school, you will see our PTA present. Be sure to join our PTA this school year. Our first PTA meeting will be Tuesday, September 5 at 6:30 PM.
Code of Conduct Parent Presentation
At the September PTA Meeting, Tuesday, September 5, Tuscarora Elementary School principal, Carrie Zimmerman, will share with the community more about the new FCPS Code of Conduct. Check out the Code of Conduct prior to the meeting.
Tuscarora Elementary School Back To School Night
On Wednesday, September 13, our staff welcomes parents and guardians in to learn more about our educational programming at each grade level. Classroom teachers will share in their classrooms to parents and guardians about the curriculum, day to day operations, and successes of the class. There will be two sessions for families with multiple classrooms; 6:00 - 6:25 and 6:30 - 6:55.
Student Firearm Possession
“It is unlawful for students to possess or use any weapon on school property. Students who have or use a weapon on school property will be suspended from school, and the police will be notified of the incident. A weapon is any object designed to harm another physically or an object which is used in a way that can physically harm another. This school is committed to providing each of you with a safe environment, and we will do all we can to carry out that responsibility including, if necessary, conducting searches of student lockers.”