On Monday, September 23, we were very fortunate to have child advocate and best-selling children’s author, Trudy Ludwig share her books, research, and words of wisdom with the Tuscan community.  Since 2002, Ms. Ludwig has been writing books that provide children with insights and strategies to deal with bullying behavior.  And not just the classic case of bullying that involves physical aggression, but verbal aggression, and relational aggression (using relationships to manipulate or harm others).  According to Ms. Ludwig, research indicates that relational aggression is much more of a concern to children and teenagers than the physical kind.  Ms. Ludwig’s mission is to give children mental tools to deal with bullying behavior in safe and

On September 18th Principal Ms. Majeed and PE Teacher Ms. Sullivan sent a message home regarding Field Day/Spirit Day and Back to School Night using School Messenger, the school's contact system.
In addition to re-posting this information here on their behalf, this notice serves as a check to see if your contact information on file at the school is reaching you at the proper phone numbers and emails.

If you have one or more children at Tuscan and did not receive an email and phone call please contact Mrs. Tolelo in the Main Office 973-378-5221 or mtoledo@somsd.k12.nj.us to update your contact information.  If you have more than one child at Tuscan you should have recieved just one phone call and one email.

A brief recap of the message: 
Ms. Majeed is looking forward to seeing adults at Back to School Night on Thursday and she expressed gratitude for the involvment of parents and guardians in the Tuscan community.   (copies of BTS notices on our Flyers page)  

PE Teacher Ms. Sullivan's reminder: 
Friday September 20th is Field Day and Spirit Day.  Students should 

• Wear Tuscan shirts or blue/yellow
  
• Apply sunscreen at home, bring a water bottle with child's name on it
  
• Wear sneakers

Students in grades 1-3 will be taken by bus to Field Day to arrive on time for activities.  Thank you in advance to all parents and guardians who are volunteering time for Field Day and she looks forward to seeing you there!

On September 23, children’s advocate and best-selling author, Trudy Ludwig will visit Tuscan School to present to students in kindergarten through 5th grade and at our evening PTA Meeting. This author visit is sponsored by the PTA in partnership with Mrs. Baltin and Principal Majeed.  
To pre-order books for author signings, please complete this form, include a check made payable to Tuscan School PTA and have your student return it to the school librarian, Mrs. Baltin. Feel free to visit the author’s website, www.trudyludwig.com, for a description of each book. Since there will be a limited number of each title on the day of the presentation, orders will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Should we run out of copies, additional books will be ordered as soon as possible through Words bookstore, (also signed by the author). 
Ms. Ludwig is our featured speaker at our first PTA Meeting the evening of September 23rd as part of Mrs. Baltin's ROAR Book in a Bag program - reminder that babysitting will be available onsite through the YMCA for adults to attend.  Find the information here for childcare.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.  ~Oscar Wilde   

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to the 2013/2014 Tuscan school year.  Teachers and staff, we’re glad your back!  Returning students and families, welcome back!  New students and parents, welcome to our Tuscan family!

I hope to see all of you, old friends and new, at the FIRST DAY COFFEE tomorrow morning, Sept. 9th, after drop-off in the Tuscan Cafeteria.  Meet other parents, swap first-day stories, pick our brains for Tuscan and PTA info, and sign up to help at Tuscan.

2013/2014 promises to be an exciting year.  We anticipate visits 

Special project taking place on Friday
Two documents were sent by Ms. Majeed via School Messenger and are posted by the PTA on her behalf:

This Friday photographers will be at Tuscan School to capture images to be used for First Lady Michelle Obama's http://www.letsmove.gov/active-schools program.   It is an honor that Tuscan was chosen to represent the nation as any school in any town!
 
Two documents have been sent home electronically:

1. a letter explaining the project can be found here
2. an authorization form for image use can be found here

 Ms. Majeed would like to share that although Tuscan shirts are usually encouraged any day of the year and students & staff often wear Tuscan shirts on Fridays, please save your Tuscan wear for Monday and Tuesday of next week and wear "regular" or "not Tuscan" shirts for this Friday.   
(the 5th Grade dresses nicely for their Moving On ceremony on Monday the 24th).
 
Any families that are able to print and send in a signed release for photo use please do so! Additional copies will be available at school.
 
Please contact Ms. Majeed at the office or Ms. Lo Bianco if you have any questions about this exciting project and honor!

Friday June 14th is our last School Spirit Day - theme is Red, White and Blue for Flag Day.
Kindergarten parents will soon see the result of the white t-shirts they sent in to school. Students, staff and parents visiting for class events on Friday are all encouraged to show their colors!

Yearbook orders are being taken until Friday June 14th. 
Books are $15.00 each.
Each 5th grader recieves a yearbook courtesy of the PTA at their Yearbook Signing party on the last day of school.
Can't sign up online? A signup sheet will be in the front office.
Find the form here

Hydrate in Tuscan Tiger style with SIGG water bottles with the Tuscan logo, with or without customization.   http://www.tuscanpta.org/water-bottle-orders-2013.html

Contact Spirit Wear Chair Elizabeth Keegan with questions 

Our Tuscan Fair was a bright spot on Saturday despite a few rain drops.   Thanks to Liz Perlman and Amy Halperin and their veritable army of volunteers who make the "flash mob" of a fair such a success.   Family fun for the smallest to the oldest - face painting, carnival games, a clown show, sassy and funny musical chairs, cake walk prizes, relay races, a scavenger hunt, crafts, BBQ food and snacks, DJ and dancing, bouncy house, "Tubs of Fun" ride, prize booth, spirit wear -- so many volunteers show up at 8:30 am to set up the fun and by 4:00pm not a trace is behind except the photos.    Thank you for the staff who came out to enjoy the day and to our custodians for working with us to get the school yard back to business.  

For May 17th the Green Route Start Time has been updated to 8:20am.  Please note the change.  Thank you!

A third route has been added to the Walking School Bus!
Thank you to all for embracing this effort - we are delighted to be expanding!
New Route is the Green Route lead by Kelly Villanueva.
Blue Route is Candice Davenport and Yellow Route is Cami Zelevansky.
Find information on how to join the WSB here and the PDF with the new route here.
Bus stop times are available from the route coordinators and the Green route will start on May 17th.