Originally delivered on 6/12/2022 12:26 pm

SUBJECT: Tuscan PTA Newsletter 6/12

How cool was the skateboarding?! The ollies, grinds, kickflips, shuvits and general coolness had K and first graders looking on in awe. Thank you to Tuscan parent Meredith Brehm for organizing such a fun and awesome event for our Tigers. Now they all want to be the next Tony Hawk or Leticia Bufoni.

Second grade winner

Our own Jack Levit came in third place out of all second graders in Essex County in the annual Essex County Education Association's essay contest. Jack finished the sentence “I look forward to going to school because…” (see pic to the left) and will be awarded with a gift card and honored at a ceremony at the Turtle Back Zoo in late June/Early July. Jack is in Ms Duarte’s class.

Check out Jack's full submission on the Tuscan PTA website. 

It's rainbow time!

All, it is time to start planning for our annual last-day-of-school-rainbow photo! We are short on space this year, but not on creativity. 

Please start preparing for your child/children to wear the color for their grade that day, Friday, 6/24. Any shade of the color is fine!

  • Feel free to email us at tuscanschoolpta@gmail.com if you need a shirt in your child's color.

  • If you have a shirt to lend or gift, let us know!

Color assignments (your child should wear the color to match their current grade this year):

Kindergarteners: purple

First graders: blue

Second graders: green

Third graders: yellow

Fourth graders: orange

Fifth graders: red - NOTE: all 5th graders will be given a red shirt on Thursday, 6/23 as a gift to celebrate their moving up. 

Let us know if you have questions! Thank you to Tuscan parents and photographers extraordinaire, Mason Levinson and Tracy Sham for taking the photos. 

Coalition on safety and policing

Wondering about the safety of our community? Tomorrow the Community Coalition on Race is hosting a webinar at 7:30pm to talk about it. Speakers include:

  • Maplewood Community Board on Policing Co-Chair Ayoola Akinnuoye

  • South Orange Police Collaborative Chair Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad

  • South Orange Police Chief Ernesto Morillo

  • Maplewood Police Chief James DeVaul

  • Dr Alexis Karteron

  • Dr. Sara Wakefield


You must register in advance. Register here to attend.

YouthNet and your rising sixth Grader

Do you have a current fifth Grader in After Care and are wondering what to do about next year? Look no further! YouthNet has an Extended Enrichment Program! Located at both MMS and SOMS, the program runs from 2:45-6pm. An excellent option for working caregivers, YouthNet programs provide a safe, familiar environment involving both creativity and learning after school.  Students arrive after school, have a snack, participate in Youthnet Clubs (offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring), activities or open gym, and have homework help and tutoring provided by middle school teachers. There are three,four or five day options. Visit here for more information and to register! 

Last message about PTA Meeting (we swear)

Please come to our last PTA meeting of the school year and the election of next year’s officers on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30 pm via Zoom or dial in to 646-876-9923, Meeting ID: 848 8571 8747, Passcode: 817553. Watch your email for a separate announcement about the slate!


We are still looking for:

  • Vice President

  • SEPAC representative

  • Membership chairs

  • Yearbook editor

  • Fundraising

  • Picture day co-chair

  • Teacher appreciation committee

  • 5th grade committee (to organize special events for 5th graders next year)


Wondering what we talked about last time? The minutes from our May 17 meeting are here.


School Supply Boxes are back for next school year!

The PTA is partnering with a new school supply vendor, Bright SchoolKitz® to provide supply kits to match your teacher’s supply list for the 2022-23 school year. Thank you to our wonderful teachers for already putting together the supply lists! Order now and eliminate the back-to-school shopping hassle. Kits are filled with brand names (Crayola, Elmer's, etc.) and quality products that are competitively priced with local and large retailers. Hurry! The earlier you order, the lower the price! 

  • Use this link to order your supplies.

  • All kits ordered before 6/24, the last day of school, are discounted, though they will be available to order through early October. Kits ordered by families will be shipped to your home.

    • NOTE: Kits will be provided by the Tuscan PTA to all Tuscan students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. We will make arrangements with Ms. Buggy to get kits to the children before school starts. Questions about this process? Please contact Ms. Buggy. 


  • Questions? Contact info@schoolkitz.com or 1-844-937-5489.

Teacher and Staff Gifting Time!

At the end of each school year, we organize gifts for all our amazing teachers and staff. Please watch for your class coordinators to send a note soon about gifting for your classroom teachers. In addition, the PTA board centrally collects to provide gifts for our ‘specials’ teachers (art, P.E., music, library and Spanish) and staff (including the front office, nurse,admins, academic interventionists, social workers, lunch aides, custodians and crossing guards,etc.) Click here by Friday, June 17 to contribute specifically to the specials teachers and staff gifts.

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