Say Thanks with the Achieve Foundation

5/30/2022 9:01 pm

As the end of the school year approaches, don't forget to thank your Tuscan Tiger’s teachers and other staff members who have helped them navigate this year of transition back to in-person learning. Achieve makes it easy to show our dedicated teachers, administrators and support staff how much we value them and all they do for our students and our community.

For a donation of $10/tribute, Achieve will send a Tribute card on your behalf to the recipient(s) of your choice, and new this year – you can send five or more tributes for a flat rate of $50. Just fill out the form found here and we do the rest. Plus your donation to Achieve helps fund next year's educator grants and further our mission of supporting students, families and educators by addressing inequities, inspiring innovation and fostering community. Order yours today!

Teacher and Staff Gifting Time!

5/30/2022 8:50 pm

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.

Free Summer Programming for 3rd-5th Graders

5/22/2022 9:48 pm

Did you know that Tuscan has a summer program for current 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders? It’s taught by Tuscan Teachers and it’s free!

Held July 5-29 at Maplewood Middle School (8:30am - 12:30pm), content will include social-emotional learning, movement classes, art classes, coding classes, and science projects! And academic lessons will review and strengthen reading, writing, and math skills.  Plus, there will be some acceleration math content for 5th graders!

Sign up here by Friday, May 27.

Any questions?  Reach out to Jennifer Thomas,  Tuscan Lead Teacher jthomas@somsd.k12.nj.us

Save the Dates

5/22/2022 9:47 pm

Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Kindergarten Orientation

5/22/2022 9:42 pm

Memorial Day Parade Tradition: We NEED YOU

5/22/2022 9:35 pm

Our Tuscan parade leader is graduating with her 5th grader and we need a new Tiger Guardian in Charge! 

When? Monday, May 30 at 8:30am

Where? Meet in the parking lot on West Parker to march through town and down Baker to Valley and Town Hall.  

What? 

• Identify someone with a convertible, a driver, a Tuscan Tiger suit wearer (usually a 5th grader).

• Publicize the event so we actually have a group to march!

• Show up on the day of the event with Tiger tails to pin on, blue and gold pom-poms, and posters, which will be provided to you!

Interested?! Please email TuscanPTAPres@gmail.com

Get your Tuscan Tigers’ walkin’ shoes ready

5/15/2022 9:34 pm

The first-ever Tuscan Walk-A-Thon will take place on Thursday, June 2, 9:30am-12:00pm, and boy are we excited! Kids will hit the pavement, and enjoy some fresh air while raising money!

To make this a success, we need your help. Please take a few minutes to register your Tuscan Tiger here and start asking friends and family to make pledges. This Walk-A-Thon is a vital way for us to raise funds to help the PTA continue to offer important events and initiatives - like assemblies and book fairs - to the entire Tuscan community.

There will be a live DJ, giveaways, and refreshments. Two grades will walk at a time (for approximately 30 minutes). Parents are encouraged to volunteer. We are looking forward to a fun morning.

Look out for fliers in backpacks (if you did not spot one already) and an email from your class coordinators with more details. Rain date is June 9.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Tuscan parent-owned businesses: CKO, Little Apple Arts, The Kate Elliot Team, General Co-operative Store, Oh! Canary, and Stephane Wrembel.

Questions? Email amacwhannell2@gmail.com

That's a Wrap!

5/15/2022 9:21 pm

Congratulations to everyone on a super, spectacular, sensational show! The singing and dancing was only made better by the wonderful fourth and fifth-grade hosts.

And we learned a thing or two about New Jersey. Like, who the hell knew that Lou Gehrig AND Babe Ruth played in South Orange?! Mind. Blown.

Thank you again to Katie Rickard and Missy Wahlers for your tireless enthusiasm, creativity, and amazing energy and to Amy Merlino Coey for all your behind the scenes work!

To everyone involved in the show and to the parent skit directors - we appreciate all of you! And that’s what so great about New Jersey!

The 2022 Tuscan Show is FINALLY here!!!

5/12/2022 9:06 pm

Very important message about the upcoming PTA meeting

5/8/2022 2:42 pm

Our next PTA meeting is on Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30 pm via this Zoom link.

This is a very important meeting because we’ll be officially electing our Nominating Committee! The Nomm Comm as we like to call it is parents who are looking for volunteers to fill next year’s open positions! This year’s Nomm Comm is: Whitney Swain, Donny Levit, Amy Bhattacharyya and Wen Zhu. 

Also, we want to know! Are you interested in PTA leadership? We need:

• A new VP (who usually steps in to be the President the following year)
• A new Treasurer. 
• Committee members and chairs to help with next year’s fundraising, yearbook, membership, teacher appreciation, class coordinator leader and more. 

The election for next year’s Executive Board will be in our June meeting. 

Feel like you missed out on the minutes from our March meeting? Those are here.