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. 

Tuscan Show Registration is OPEN!

1/10/2022 9:17 am

Tuscan Show 2022: Jersey Strong

A celebration of the arts and culture of our great Garden State!

Registration is open TODAY Monday January 10 and closes Friday January 15.

Sign Up here! 

A few important notes: 

• Please review the rehearsal dates, eligible grades and skit choices with your child.
• At registration, each child may select a 1st and 2nd choice (please select both; skits are NOT first come first serve, lotteries are expected to be held for ALL skits).  
• Art crew (grades 3-5) and technical/backstage crew (grades 4-5) is also an available choice.
• The Tuscan Show is open to all Tuscan students in grades 1-5.  
• Questions? Email tuscanshow@gmail.com
• Still not sure? Check out Mrs. Donatelli’s class’ persuasive essay!

Welcome Back(ish)!

1/2/2022 8:54 pm

Hoping everyone had a great break and that you’re feeling refreshed and ready to take on the second half of the school year. If Omicron stayed out of your household, may it never find its way in. If it did, at least it’s over! Sending healthy thoughts across the Tuscan population for the start of 2022!

Going virtual

REMINDER: NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY January 3rd. And then we're virtual this week due to the rapid spread of COVID. Learning will be conducted through CANVAS, but find more information here about what to expect. During this week, grab-and-go lunches will be available for pick-up at Columbia High School (CHS), Seth Boyden Elementary School and South Orange Middle School for any District student from 10:30 am to 1:30pm. 

Get tested

While at-home tests have recently been hard to come by, SOMSD is offering access to testing on January 4, 6 and 7 at the BOE building on 525 Academy Street in Maplewood. Find out more here. 

A few reminders heading into the Holiday Break

12/21/2021 2:04 pm

Well, that’s it. So long 2021. What a year we’ve all had. We’ve navigated through difficult times and celebrated the positive ones. And so, from the PTA, we wish you all a restful, healthy winter break full of laughter, love, and looong sleeps.

But before we go, a few reminders: 

LOST & FOUND

A hanging rack and box will be outside by the front entrance of the school in the mornings and afternoons this week for you or your child(ren) to come and identify lost items. 

WEDNESDAY 12/22 IS SPIRIT DAY!

Wear your favorite Tuscan gear! And don't forget the new online store is now updated with the new merch, so check it out! The PTA has given Ms. Buggy spirit wear in various sizes to provide to the children she works with so everyone can participate. We’d like to give a BIG thank you to Spirit Wear Queens, Erica Galea and Laura Carney for ALL their hard work.

THURSDAY 12/23 IS PAJAMA DAY... AND A 4 HR DAY

Your child(ren) can roll out of bed and head on over to school. Just don't forget to pack a big snack because there's no lunch, dismissal at 12:45pm

STAY SAFE & HEALTHY TIGERS, WE'LL SEE YOU IN 2022!