A Farewell from Nora, our amazing 2023-23 PTA President

7/10/2023 11:05 am

Like my friend above, we might be a little worn, a little lopsided but still, what an amazing year!

 

It was a year of coming together. There was no ice cream left or vegetable ignored as we brought back old favorites, the Ice Cream Social and the Farmers Market. 

 

The kids dressed up, ate candy, and amazed us with jump-rope talent at the Harvest Festival. 

 

We got to sit again in those little desks for BTSN, watch our kids at Lunch/Recess, and roam the halls for a spectacular Art Show. The Book Fair return was an outrageous success, and our hearts and seats were full at the epic Tuscan Show.  Tuscan Movie Night saw a sea of families having fun together on the new blacktop and who couldn’t smile at the Rainbow or admire that beautiful yearbook?

 

There was no Fall or Spring fundraiser this year, but we helped Covid- & construction-worn classrooms, added new speakers and recess equipment, new outdoor seating, and a sensory walk (on its way). 

 

We helped our families, encouraged reading, invited authors and musicians and went on field trips. We said goodbye to two favorite beloved people and welcomed new eager Tuscan Tigers with their t-shirts from Spirit Wear. We celebrated our teachers, and we did our best!

 

So, who does all this hard work? I am grateful this year that so many offered their time or donated what they could. A simple introvert, I was thrown into a world of amazing people who deserve very special recognition. I couldn’t hide behind a balance sheet, and I couldn’t have survived without you all! Please forgive me if I leave anyone out.

 

To the leadership of our school, Ms. Majeed & Mr. Bertani, thank you for being such wonderful partners and allowing us to enhance the public school experience.

 

To our teachers, thank you for not just teaching but also caring for our children’s whole being, expanding their brains and personalities.

 

To Beth Cosentino & Amanda Harris for advocating fearlessly for our special needs students! There is a very great need here.

 

To Joanne Charles for making sure all our families felt welcome, had a voice, and got involved. We need to continue to build awareness.

 

To Laurie Gates for always making sense of my PTA meetings.

 

To Emma Maksimovic & Lela Moore for those fun and useful newsletters.

 

To Regina Eckert, our MTK guru, for keeping us running smoothly.

 

To Laura Carney & Erica Daglea for their dedication to Spirit Wear and all of our events.

 

To Maddy Shaw & Emily Harvey for all their colorful creativity at Tuscan Show and Tuscan Movie Night.

 

To Katie Bassel for the best-performing Book Fair ever!

 

To Jennifer Padley and Arielle Betlyon for our beautiful Tuscan Yearbook.

 

To Mason Levinson for once again producing an epic Tuscan Rainbow.

 

To Tracy Sham, Emily Feinsod, and Nicole Hawkins for all the great photography this year.

 

To Adrienne MacWhannell, Jessica Perlmeter-Cochrane, Cricket Heinze, Meredith Brehm, Christa Boeke, Allison Zuckerman, and so many more who gave the 5th graders so many wonderful memories.

 

To Michael Callahan for leading the TTs at the Memorial Day parade. So much fun!

 

To Angela Jin and all the class coordinators for helping to get information to families and for organizing so many fun events.

 

To our nominating committee, Jessica Horan Payne, Wen Zhu, and Shareeka Medas, thank you for setting us up with a great board for next year.

 

To Donny Levit, Cary Midland, Kristen LaGrua, Carrie McGee, and Fabiana Glasby for one classy Teacher Appreciation Week and for always being there when I called them!

 

And this brings me to my final four…

 

To Missy Wahlers for producing one outstanding Tuscan Show. It is a huge undertaking! You are fierce!

 

To Katie Rickard for pumping care, confidence, fun, and knowledge into our kids whether on the stage, in the classroom, or on the blacktop. If there was a Spirit award, you would be my recipient.

 

To Mark Slosberg, our Treasurer, we speak the same language, you kept the whole show going and kept me sane with your humor and calm!

 

To Amanda Durett Cercone. You were on fire!!! An amazing VP and organizer. You will be an outstanding PTA President.

 

After four years on the PTA executive board, all I can ask everyone is to please pay attention, be involved, support our school, our teachers, and our fellow families. Raise everyone up together and please give your support generously to our new board next year.

 

Amanda Durett Cercone: President

Jessie Kaye: President-Elect

Douglas Doble: Treasurer

Clifford Rogers: VP Diversity Equity Inclusion

Kyle Andrews: VP Diversity Equity Inclusion

Julie Hamilton: Recording Secretary

Lela Moore: Communications Secretary

 

Thank you all and have a brilliant summer!

Nóra