Tuscan School PTA

But WHY should you join the PTA?

11/2/2018

Thank you to the 190 families who have joined the PTA so far this year!
We’re just 30 memberships shy of last year’s enrollment, and we’d love to beat that. Please help us reach that goal! For those who haven’t joined yet, read these answers to some frequently asked questions and complete the easy online membership form here.

PTA Meeting on October 29th, 9:15am

10/29/2018

Come join us for our October PTA Meeting!

Monday October 29th @ 9:15am
Tuscan Auditorium

Topics on the Agenda:
October Events
Read-A-Thon
PTA Budget
Thanksgiving Food Drive
& much more

Special Education 2018-2019 Back-to-School Night

10/18/2018

Special Education 2018-2019 Back-to-School Night – Thursday, October 18, 2018, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, Columbia High School Auditorium

The traditional event is being planned to allow for the interaction between parents and members of the child study team.

The evening schedule (UPDATED) includes:

7:00 Opening/Introductions
7:15 Keynote Speaker: JGerard Costa, Ph.D. Director and Professor, ECELE Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health
8:00 Q&A
Refreshments

Contact Information:
Department of Special Services E-mail Address: specialed@somsd.k12.nj.us

This event is open to everyone who has questions regarding Special Services, your child does not need to already utilize district special services (IEPs or 504s).

Change the World One Lunch at a Time!

10/17/2018

On Wednesday, October 17, Tuscan students can donate what they'd normally spend on lunch to Table to Table, a NJ-based organization that rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it to hungry kids and families.

Look for more information (and lunch bags) in your child's backpack!

Tuscan Show Skit Director Informational Meeting, October 10th, 7:30 pm

10/10/2018

Our first information and interest meeting for returning and new directors will be:
Wednesday, October 10
7:30-8:30pm
25 Tuscan Road
Home of Tuscan Show Directors - Natalie Moore & Bard Goodrich

The theme for this year is...

Tuscan Presents:
The American Soundtrack
An exploration of American musical genres in the recorded era

BOE Candidates Debate, October 10

10/10/2018

The Board of Education Candidates debate will be held Wednesday, October 10, 7:30pm at the Board Administration Building, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood.

The debate will be recorded via Facebook Live on the Village Green Facebook page.

The event is hosted by the Presidents' Council and the League of Women Voters of Maplewood & South Orange.

Book Fair, Oct 8-10

10/8/2018

Our annual Book Fair is almost upon us! Save the dates, Monday, October 8th, through Wednesday, October 10th. Students will visit the fair with their classrooms, and should plan to bring cash with them on their assigned day (TBD).

Family Night will be Tuesday, October 9th, from 5:30-8:00pm in the Tuscan Auditorium. Look out for a signup genius to help out during the day, or on Family Night.

Note: The company we previously used was bought by Scholastic, so things will be a bit different this year!

2018-19 Parenting Center Speaker Series

10/3/2018

The Parenting Center offers a free lecture series to everyone in the district.

Check out the calendar below for the 2018-19 school year.

PTA September Meeting Minutes

10/3/2018

Thank you to all those that attended our first PTA Meeting of the year.
We had a great turnout. If you didn't make it you can download our meeting minutes (pdf) or view them below.

Our next meeting is Monday, October 29th @ 9:15am. Hope to see you there.

Reading Raiser Begins Oct 2

10/2/2018

Tuscan Elementary will be running a 2018 Reading Raiser from Oct 2 to Nov 2, 2018.

A Reading-Raiser is like a jog-a-thon, except your child will be reading books instead of running laps, and earning pledges based on how much they read. Everything is tracked online, which makes inviting sponsors and logging reading much easier!

Here are two videos that explain how to participate in the Reading-Raiser:
- How to authorize your child's Reading-Raiser account
- How to become a sponsor and invite more sponsors

Your child will receive a private online account at https://fund.whooosreading.org/ where he/she will log reading. Parent and student instructions on how to use the website have been sent home. Your child will not be able to invite any sponsors without your authorization. View instructions on how to use your parent account online.

IMPORTANT: Whooo's Reading works best if you use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox or Safari.

Unlike other fundraisers where we keep only 40-60% of each donation, our school keeps 85% of each donation using this program. We are really excited to promote reading and help our school raise the necessary money for our ongoing needs.

Thank you so much for your support!

TV Turnoff Time! Sign Up by Oct 12

10/1/2018

It is once again time to sign up for TV Turnoff!

Last year, over 400 Tuscan students successfully completed the TV Turnoff challenge! Students from kindergarten to fifth grade challenged themselves to explore their interests such as reading, learning a musical instrument, keeping a journal, participating in sports, writing, or drawing instead of watching TV.Studies have shown that students who watch ten hours or less of television a week perform better in school.

TV Turnoff will officially start on Monday, October 1, 2018. The deadline to sign up for TV Turnoff is Friday, October 12th.

Sign up for TV Turnoff online. Please complete one form per child.
Please note that TV Turnoff sign up is online only.

Tuscan Spirit Day on Friday the 28th!

9/28/2018

The last Friday of every month is Tuscan Spirit Day. This Friday come to school showing your Tuscan Spirit.

Wear your Tuscan gear or clothes that are Blue or Yellow.
It is also Field Day so it will be great to see those Tuscan colors out on the field.

If you don't have any Tuscan gear and would like to buy some a booth will be at Back-to-School Night or you can order Tuscan gear online.

Field Day Postponed Until Spring

9/28/2018

Due to poor field conditions and more rain in forecast Field Day will be rescheduled in the Spring. Date to be confirmed.

Special Education Back-to-School Night, Oct. 18

9/25/2018

Special Education 2018-2019 Back-to-School Night will be held Thursday, October 18, 2018, 7:00pm – 9:00pm in the Columbia High School Auditorium.

The traditional event is being planned to allow for the interaction between parents and members of the child study team. The evening schedule includes:

Opening/Introductions
Keynote Speaker: Jenifer Fox – Author - “Your Child’s Strengths”
Discussion
Refreshments

Contact Information:
Department of Special Services E-mail Address: specialed@somsd.k12.nj.us

This event is open to everyone who has questions regarding Special Services, your child does not need to already utilize district special services (IEPs or 504s).

SEPAC Meetings Begin Sept. 25

9/25/2018

The first SEPAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) meeting for 2018-2019 is Tuesday, 9/25/18. This is a General Support Meeting and will include voting for New Executive Board. All SEPAC meetings take place 7:30-9PM in the Central Office District Meeting Room, unless otherwise specified (525 Academy St).

SEPAC is an advocacy group focused on policies, programs, and practices within the South Orange/Maplewood School District. Families and caregivers of student(s) with learning needs or students eligible for or receiving services under an IEP or 504 plan are encouraged to attend SEPAC Meetings.

This year, the community has one special education parent group as the Special Education PTO has merged with SEPAC. SEPAC provides parents with tools and information to work collaboratively with the school district and to be more effective advocates for their children with special educational needs. Our meetings consist of featured conversations/ presentations as well as support, resource sharing, and the ability to connect with other members of the special education community. Meetings with featured topics are our attempt to get those with similar concerns in the same room at the same time but all are always welcome!

See full schedule below.
Questions? Website: sepacsoma.org Email: sepacsoma@gmail.com

First PTA Meeting This Monday!

9/24/2018

Come join us for our first PTA Meeting of the year!
Meet our PTA Board & learn more what the PTA does for the Tuscan Community.

Monday (Sept 24th) @ 7:30pm
Tuscan Library

Topics on the Agenda:
September Events
October Read-A-Thon
Book Fair
PTA Budget
Membership
& much more

School Picture Days - Sept 20th and 21st

9/21/2018

Picture Days are quickly approaching, on Sept 20th and 21st, 2018.

By now, you should have already received your order forms in your child's backpack. If paying by cash or a check, order forms can be returned in your child's homework folder and are due back by picture day. Every student will be photographed regardless of picture order so that no child will be left out.

Pre-order is available online. The password is Tuscan19.
Please note: If you are pre-ordering your photos, you MUST submit payment no later than September 18th.

Every student will be photographed as long as they are present on Picture Day. If we do not receive a payment, a proof will be delivered, and the parents can then choose to order if they wish.

Make up and retakes are scheduled for November 19th, 2018.
Picture day volunteers still needed.

Ice Cream Social, Sept. 21

9/21/2018

It's Ice Cream Social time again! Please join us to celebrate the start of the year, see old friends, meet new friends and enjoy a bowl of ice cream!

When: Friday, September 21, 6-8 pm
Where: Tuscan Lawn
What: Ice cream ($2/bowl)

*Nut and dairy free options will be available
*Rain date: September 28

We need volunteers to make it a success. Please sign up to collect money, scoop ice cream, and help with set up or clean up.

Class Coordinator Volunteer Opportunity

9/18/2018

If you are interested in being the Class Coordinator for your child's class, please sign up to volunteer. Class Coordinators act as the liaison between the teacher and the parents/guardians throughout the year. The time commitment is approximately 4 hours per month.

We need two Class Coordinators per class. If more than two people sign up, we will draw names to randomly choose the Class Coordinators. Deadline for sign up is Tuesday 9/18.

There will be a Class Coordinator Orientation Meeting at the PTA meeting on Monday 9/24.

If you have any questions, please contact Carla Morreale, carlamorr@gmail.com.

Volunteer Sign Up

Support the PTA? The No Frills Fundraiser Makes it Easy

9/14/2018

The PTA is a vital part of your child's education and can't function without your support! The PTA fills important budgetary gaps in your child's education and pays for items such as Handwriting Without Tears workbooks for all Kindergarteners, air conditioning for the classrooms, busses for field trips, and new books for the library. The list goes on and on.

The No Frills Fundraiser makes it easy to donate. There's nothing to buy or sell. Your donation is tax-deductible and 100% of the proceeds go directly to our school.

DONATE

Help your school! Join the PTA!

9/8/2018

Why join the Tuscan PTA? Your annual membership supports the many programs and activities we fund, such as recess supplies, Field Day, the vegetable garden, and such requests from teachers as new Chromebooks and iPads or new Handwriting Without Tears workbooks for the kindergartners.

Your support is not only financial. Our membership numbers help us receive benefits from the state and national PTAs, and we are grateful for your involvement in any number of big or small volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
All of it helps!

Please reach out to Membership Co-chairs Kelly Lombardi and Cary Midland for more information on PTA membership (tuscanptamembership@gmail.com).

We can't wait to get started! Sign up now.

Special Needs Friendly Pool Pizza Party, Sept. 6

9/6/2018

SOMA SEPAC and the Maplewood Recreation Department invites Maplewood and South Orange residents to the annual Special Needs Friendly Pool Pizza Party.

FREE of charge!
Maplewood Swimming Pool
187 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood, NJ, 07040
Date: Thursday September 6th, 2018
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Sign up online using RecDesk.

Note that you will need to add members to your profile.
To find the “2018 Special Ed. PTO Pool Pizza Party” you will need to view
Programs > All

Adult School Orchestra registration

8/31/2018

Don’t miss this chance for your young musician to make music with their peers in an encouraging, inclusive and inspiring environment, led by talented and engaging instructors who have deep experience working with children. Designed to augment the school music instruction, our orchestras allow young musicians to develop their musical talent, experience being part of an ensemble, learn about music theory, grow friendships with other young musicians, and perform at our twice-yearly concerts. Orchestras meet one evening a week at Columbia High School. Register online at the SOMAS website.

New Generation Orchestra: beginning strings, Grades K-5.
Varsity Orchestra: intermediate strings and winds, Grades 6-9.

Reduced fees are available for all students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Contact Karen Thomas, co-manager of the orchestras, at karenelise@verizon.net with any questions about New Generation or Varsity Orchestras or or contact SOMAS at schoolinfo@somadultschool.org for registration information.

2017-18 yearbooks can still be ordered!

8/28/2018

Do you regret not buying a yearbook? Forgot or missed the chance? Looks better than you thought it would? ;) You can still order a yearbook online, you just have to pay for shipping to your home. And you do NOT need to customize, your child will still get a beautiful book!

Back to School Night, Sept. 26