August 20, 2025

Greetings, Tuckahoe Family!

I hope this correspondence finds you well rested and enjoying quality family time. My first weeks in Tuckahoe have been spent meeting outstanding individuals, each with a unique warmth and smile. Our discussions have consistently described a healthy, supportive school community.

The sun will soon begin to set on another summer and usher in the 2025-26 academic year. This time is characterized by enthusiasm and exhilaration, and it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to a fresh, rewarding adventure at Tuckahoe Middle/High School. I apologize for the lengthy correspondence, but there is a lot of pertinent information to share.

Here are some important dates to note as we start the year:

~8/20 - 8/22, Senior Portraits

~8/25, Varsity/JV Sports Begin

~8/26, Locker Set Up- Students will be provided a lock for their hall locker

            -8th Grade, 9-10 AM

            -7th Grade, 10-11 AM

            -12th Grade, 11-12 PM

            -10th & 11th Grade, 12-1 PM

~8/28, 6th Grade & New TMS Student Orientation/Locker Set Up, 9-11AM

~8/28, 9th Grade & New THS Student Orientation/Locker Set Up, 12-2 PM

~9/4, *Classes Officially Begin*

~9/8, Modified Sports Begin

~9/9, Senior Parent Night, 6:30 PM, Auditorium

~9/10, TMS Back to School Night, 6:30 PM

~9/17, THS Back to School Night, 6:30 PM

Although schedules are active in the portal, please be sure to access the most updated schedule, teacher and room assignments after Labor Day. This will provide the least confusion and disruption to the start of classes. Although school counselors are not immediately available to correct possible scheduling conflicts, please email your concerns along with the Add/Drop form to counselors accordingly:

            ~HS students- Ms. Perillo (perilloj@tuckahoeschools.org)

                                                                      or

                        Mr. Treglia (tregliap@tuckahoe schools.org)

            ~MS students- Ms. DiFrancesco (difrancd@tuckahoeschools.org)

Please note that students new to the MS/HS will have schedules and parent portal instructions disseminated at the respective 6th Grade/Freshman/New Student Orientations on August 28.

In an effort to focus on positive mental health and the importance of family, we will be instituting Tiger Family Twilight (TFT). One Monday per month will be designated as an opportunity to plan family activities. There will be NO HOMEWORK assigned on these days to allocate time for students, parents and staff to engage in family-oriented interests, such as dinner together, game/movie night, ice cream extravaganza, etc. The first TFT is September 15, but please access the event calendar on the respective web pages for all dates. This calendar will continue to be updated and edited daily, so please utilize this trusted resource for the most current details.

Another new element to the 2025-26 academic year is the internet-enabled device ban instituted in New York by Governor Hochul. The bell-to-bell ban of all internet-enabled devices, such as smartphones and smartwatches, aims to increase student engagement and academic focus while enhancing social skills and interactions. Please expect a separate letter with new protocol to be disseminated shortly. Administration will be discussing the changes with students during our grade level meetings to ensure a smooth transition to new protocols. To support students in this venture, we will provide students with locks, which will be distributed during the respective locker set up times and can be secured to their lockers. We look forward to partnering with you to ensure a nurturing school climate. Consistent and timely correspondence with the school community will aim to share updates and keep parents current of school event notices and changes.

NYS has also enacted a universal free meals program for all public school students for 2025-26, intended to improve student health and enhance academic performance. For complete details, please see the district’s informational video HERE. The program affords all students one free breakfast and lunch per day. If students are still hungry beyond those portions, they may purchase additional items using their My School Bucks account.

To begin the school year successfully, we kindly request the following forms be filled out and submitted to the Main Office by the due date listed. All forms can be found on the respective middle school and high school web pages under the Parent Resources tab.

 

Form	Students	Due Date
Emergency Contact	All	9/4/25
Google Chromebook Agreement	All	9/5/25
Student Responsible Use Policy	All	9/5/25
Photo Permission (only for opt outs)	All (only for opt outs)	9/5/25
Military Recruitment Opt Out	Juniors & Seniors	9/5/25

The following important documents can also be found on the website under the Parent Resources tab/Important Announcements heading and are ready for your review.

~Model Notification of Rights under FERPA for Schools

~Student Handbooks

~Code of Conduct, Extracurricular Activities Eligibility, and Attendance Policy

~Health Screenings and Immunization

~Free and Reduced Lunch and My School Bucks

As we embark on this exciting new journey, please consider supporting the wonderful parent organizations that champion a wealth of student and teacher events and initiatives. You will see them on many occasions, and your participation and assistance are greatly appreciated.

PTA- Ms. Susan Wuornos, President

SEPTA- Ms. Alexandra Campana, President

Athletic Council- Ms. Beth Silvestri

Please enjoy the remaining days of summer. I am excited to be a part of the Tuckahoe school community and look forward to collaborating for an inspiring and memorable Tiger experience.

In pursuit of excellence,

Christopher T. Fiore

Christopher T. Fiore, Principal