Host Auditions for the Tuscan Show 2020-2021!!
Are you a 5th grader who is interested in auditioning for the Tuscan Show? 
Please fill out this form, taking care to read the information at the top with details.
We can't wait to see you shine!!!  Questions? Email tuscanshow@gmail.com

So You (Think You Might) Want To Be A Director!?
​Join The Tuscan Show's Info Session Monday 11/23 @ 8 pm!!
Are you a parent or guardian who wants to direct in the Tuscan Show? No show or theater experience required! It's an amazing experience whether it's your first or fifth time... Bring your enthusiasm and sprite; Our seasoned directors Katie Rickard, Amy Coey and Emily Harvey-Lee will lead the way!

Monday's Zoom Meeting Starts at 8 pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88036033557?pwd=MWpWTGplY29XdXIvN2RJYVpNTTlQdz09
Meeting ID: 880 3603 3557          Passcode: 781605

One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88036033557#,,,,,,0#,,781605# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,88036033557#,,,,,,0#,,781605# US (Chicago)

The Agenda and attachments for tonight's 7:30 pm meeting is linked here. These are typically posted the Friday before a meeting. 

The link to submit for public speak is here. 

To join the call via computer/tablet, Click Here to access the WebEx, YouTube and SOMAtv streams... If one doesn't work for you... try another! Bookmark this page:
www.somsd.k12.nj.us/board-of-education/board-meetings/ 

In addition, Join By Phone
Telephone Number: 408-418-9388
Meeting ID: 173 246 2346
Meeting PW: 67264320
 
Watch on Public Access Television
·  Channel 35 in Maplewood
·  Channel 19 in South Orange
·  Verizon FiOS Channel 22 in both Maplewood and South Orange.

Saturday November 21 8 - 10 am @ OLS
Our Lady of Sorrows Church
217 Prospect Street in South Orange. Pick Up on 4th Avenue - Drive Through. 
Questions? Call Kate/Eileen at +1 973-763-5454

Saturday November 21 10 - 11 am @ St. Joes
St. Joseph's Church
245 Hilton Avenue in Maplewood
Questions? Call Lynne B. at +1 908-656-1436

Both Pantries are OPEN TO ALL.
Can't attend on Saturday? Check this list for other Essex County Pantry Distros.

Late Wednesday afternoon, all enrolled Tuscan Families should have received an email from Principal Majeed** confirming the distribution of curriculum supplies on Thursday November 12 and Friday November 13 from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm both days.  Available curriculum supplies are for Grades K – 4 only.

Due to the forecast for rain, these curriculum supplies will be available for pick up from the Tuscan Blacktop. This is an update from the map and information sent out on 10/30. When you arrive, please look for Room 119 window signage. To protect yourself and others, face covering and maintaining six feet of social/physical distancing is required between members of your family household and others. Items listed below as "On Order" will not be available for pick up 11/12 and 11/12 unless your child is in an inclusion classroom. For these classrooms, Math in Focus workbooks for grades K - 3 will be provided.  

If you would like to wait to pick up ALL your child(ren)'s materials at once, you will be able to do so. More information about the pick up date for outstanding items (ordered but not yet delivered to SOMSD) will be around 11/18. 

SOMSD CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR HOME
Kindergarten - 2nd Grades
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
 Whiteboard and markers
 Post-it notes
 Journal notebooks
​ Pencils

MATH
 pencils/erasers
 Writing paper 
 Drawing paper 
 SMARTPal and Markers (on order)
 Math workbooks A&B (kindergarten has 4) (on order)
 Inserts for SMARTPals/paper manipulatives (on order)
 2 color counters (on order)
 Dice (on order)

3rd Grade
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
 Whiteboard and markers
 Post-its
 Journal notebooks
 Pencils

MATH
 pencils/erasers 
 Writing paper
 Drawing paper 
 SMARTPal and Markers (on order)
 Math workbooks A&B (on order)
 Inserts for SMARTPals (on order)

4th Grade
MATH
 Whiteboard and markers
 SMARTPal and Markers (on order)
 Math workbooks A&B (on order)
 Inserts for SMARTPals (on order)

Questions about the curriculum supplies pick up schedule?
Please email RoarforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us

**If you are not receiving emails from SchoolMessenger, please contact our school administrators through the ROARforTuscan email address listed above.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to organize the emergency food distribution at Seth Boyden on Saturday, Oct 31, including Tuscan PTA President-Elect Ronni Schwartz, South Orange's Village President Sheena Collum, and Maplewood Township Committee Member Vic De Luca! More than 200 individuals and families received bags of food, dairy, eggs & produce. 

The shelf-stable food was generously donated by Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry. But now OLS needs our help to restock so that they can serve our community for Thanksgiving. 

OLS Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Food Drive will be held Saturday, November 14 from 10 am to 7 pm at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange Curbside on 4th Street. You drive up, and volunteers will take items from your car.

The most needed items... (Please no glass, expired food. XL sizes, or home portioned food)

• Shelf-stable Milk (quart)
• Peanut butter & jelly regular sizes)
• Hot & cold Cereals (no or low sugar)
• Pasta & sauce
• Canned Tuna & Chicken
• Rice (1 lb bags, brown, yellow, white)
• Beans (canned or dried)
• Dried/Canned Fruit (in juice, not syrup)
• Canned Vegetables (no or low salt)
• Mac & Cheese
• Granola Bars, Crackers, and Cookies

Thanksgiving Specialty Items Needed:

• Boxed or bagged stuffing
• Cake Mix + Frosting
• Canned Gravy (cans preferred over glass - cans may dent, but glass will break).

Questions? Contact the OLS Food Pantry via email for more info. 

Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry in collaboration with Elementary School PTAs, has graciously offered to provide an emergency curbside pop-your-trunk food distribution event, Saturday, October 31 from 2pm – 4pm at Seth Boyden Elementary School @ 274 Boyden Avenue in Maplewood (circular driveway). First come, first served basis (limited # available).  Please wear masks and practice social distancing. Walk ups are also welcome.

​Please click here: [https://bit.ly/34K2NG0] for additional information in Spanish and Haitian Creole.

Excited to share more details about the Achieve Foundation Grants received by our very own Amy Popp, along with Clinton librarian Jen Latimer, in support of books and e-books for our Tigers! The Achieve Foundation provides private funds for public education, in support of SOMSD kids in grades K - 12. These are screenshots from Achieve's most recent eNews. You can subscribe, here. 

Tuscan is actively recruiting a new Achieve Foundation School Liaison for this school year. Please reach out to Jess Horan (current PTA president... and technically the current liaison!) to learn more about the role.

There are books ready and waiting for YOU at the Maplewood Libraries, located at 51 Baker Street (Main) and 1688 Springfield Avenue (Hilton). Check out their Kids page for events, e-resources and contact details... and if you're on Facebook, follow them for up-to-the-minute details. 

Thank you to the 50+ attendees at last night's virtual PTA GMM (General Membership Meeting). In addition to updates from Mrs. Majeed and Mr. Bertani, and PTA teacher reps Mrs. Donatelli and Mrs. Lamkin, members voted to approve the 2020 - 2021 budget, and got confirmation that the 2021 Tuscan Show *will* *happen*.

Minutes from the meeting will be published shortly, but important highlights from the budget include increased funding for our specials and special education teams; a comprehensive package of support to cover school supplies, yearbooks, class photos and more for Tigers in need; a return of Tuscan Teacher Grants starting in early 2021.

Lessons learned? We will allocate more time for "open speak" and Q&A at our next meeting. Every voice matters, and we'll build in more time, next time, to honor that.

New to Tuscan or ready to renew your membership? Click through and join today! Unsure if your membership status? Email us.