Show Us Your Smiles (Outdoors)!

2/27/2022 4:06 pm

Starting Monday, February 28th, masks will no longer be required in an outdoor setting. That means, drop off and pick up can be mask free, and when the kiddos go outside, they no longer have to wear a mask. More information can be found here.

Celebrating Black History Month: Lewis Howard Latimer

2/21/2022 7:21 pm

As some of you may have seen on the Tuscan Families Facebook page , Joanne Charles, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion VP, will be highlighting the contributions of African Americans in American History.

Below is the latest post:

Lewis Howard Latimer was born on September 8, 1948, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Lewis, at the age of 15 years old, lied and said he was 16 years and enlisted in the United States Navy during the Civil War. Lewis, after serving in the Navy, he received an honorable discharge and began employment as an office boy at a patent law firm. While working at the patent law firm, Lewis taught himself mechanical drawing and drafting. Because of his talent, he was promoted from being an office boy to a draftsman. Lewis worked with Alexander Graham Bell and helped patent the telephone. He also worked with Thomas Edison, and because of Lewis’s knowledge of incandescent lighting, he played an intricate part in designing the lightbulb. In the late 1800’s, Lewis published a book, Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. Lewis continued his work with patents and later passed away on December 11, 1928. 

100th Day of School

2/21/2022 7:21 am

The 100th day of the 2021-22 school year is this Tuesday... and on 2/22/22! That's gotta be good luck right?!

There are some big school-wide initiatives taking place and each and every class will have special projects to complete. 

The annual Tuscan food drive, organized by Mrs. Sinclair, will also launch on Tuesday 2/22 and run until 3/3. Each grade is being asked to donate the following items: 

Important Upcoming Events

2/13/2022 9:41 pm

Tigers - Take note: there are a LOT of important upcoming events. These have been added to the Tuscan PTA calendar (don't forget to sync it with your calendar if you haven't already), but here's a quick list just in case:

Tuesday 2/15 - A busy, busy day.

• Tuscan Spirit Day: If you need new gear, T-shirts, sweatshirts (in youth and adult sizes!), pop-its, and magnets are available online.
• Registration opens for the Spring Beyond the Bell after school enrichment session at 7am! Check out a description of all the class offerings here and don't forget to bookmark the registration site here. 
• SOMA Shares will be distributing winter coats for anyone who needs them at no cost. Students or their adults can pick up the coats from 8:15am - 9am in two locations on the Tuscan property: the front entrance and the side entrance by the teacher's parking lot. For questions about giving or receiving coats, email somashareseveryday@gmail.com.
• Tickets for the CHS stage performance of Newsies will go on sale at 9am. Shows are March 11-12 & 18-19 at 7:30pm, and March 13 & 20 at 2:00pm. Tickets can be bought here. Can’t make it? There will be an option to view a recorded show after the live show dates, with streaming dates still to be determined.

Wednesday 2/16 

• SEPAC SOMA will hold a virtual panel discussion at 7:30pm alongside the Schools Committee of the Community Coalition on Race on Black Family Voices and Special Education in SOMSD. Interested? It’s open to everyone. Find out how to sign up for its newsletter and to get updates here.

Monday 2/21

• School closed for President's Day

Wednesday 2/23

• Registration for the 2022/23 Kindergarten class opens. All information about registering your child can be found here.

Tuscan Spirit Day - Tuesday, February 15th

2/10/2022 3:17 pm

Show off your school spirit next Tuesday 2/15! Wear blue and yellow or your Tiger best. Need new spirit wear? Visit our online store here . 

Last chance to purchase at the Tuscan (Virtual) Book Fair!

2/3/2022 10:53 pm

The Tuscan Book Fair is in its final week, running until Sunday February 6. Here is a link to the e-fair. Families will also have an opportunity to purchase books for our teachers’ wish lists, which you can access here. If you purchase any books for teachers, please be sure to mark the wish list accordingly. In addition to buying great books, your support will earn the PTA “Scholastic Bucks” – which we can use to buy even more books for our classrooms and the Tuscan library.

Tuscan Profiles: A Beautiful Friendship

2/2/2022 4:40 pm

It's been a minute since our last profile but this one is extra special... it features one of our current students! In this month's profile, we meet fourth grader, Lila Brehm, and former Tuscan parent, Tina Kelley. We learn about their friendship and what a successful mentorship can lead to. Read on here.

SOMA Spring Recreation Baseball

1/30/2022 5:01 pm

Have a budding young back catcher? Or an aspiring shortstop? Registration is now open for South-Orange Maplewood Spring Recreation Baseball. The program welcomes all children ages 5 through 15 (as of April 30, 2022), living in South Orange and Maplewood. No prior experience is needed! Visit the South Orange Recreation website to register your player online, now through January 31 here.

Claire Sinclair, Tuscan's Own Published Author!

1/23/2022 3:29 pm

Volunteers Needed!

1/16/2022 6:50 pm

With the frigid temps, let's think ahead to warmer days and Tuscan events to look forward to in the Spring like the Tuscan Walk-A-Thon and the Tuscan Fair! 

The Tuscan Walk-A-Thon is still in very early planning stages for a LOT more details to come. 

And yes, the Tuscan Fair is baaaaackkkkk! There are probably many of you who have never experienced this awesome event (it's been paused due to the pandemic) but it. is. EPIC. Think old school outdoor fair with sand art, games, a ride or two and the chance for kids to win tickets and trade them in for prizes. 

We NEED volunteers to make these events happen! If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please get in touch TuscanPTAPres@gmail.com.