September 7, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are off to a fantastic start to the new school year! It has been wonderful to see our students enter the
building with smiles, excitement, and enthusiasm as they reconnected with friends and teachers.
To kick off the year, we held student assemblies for our middle and high school students, where we
discussed a variety of important topics. We highlighted the numerous opportunities available this year,
reviewed school expectations, and went over the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) to ensure that every
student feels safe and supported. Additionally, we covered expectations around cell phones and electronic
devices, as well as encouraged participation in extracurricular activities, including one of the 45 sporting
events we offer.

In the classroom, students engaged in a variety of team-building activities, allowing them to get to know
their peers and teachers better. Some of these activities gave students the opportunity to share their
interests, express how they learn best, reflect on their summer experiences, and share their hobbies and
goals for the school year, along with the steps they plan to take to achieve them. Students listed the grades
they intend to earn and, at the middle school level, they participated in scavenger hunts to further build
camaraderie and a sense of community.

Throughout the week, both teachers and administrators emphasized to students the importance of
establishing good habits early on—making the most of study halls, arriving at class and school on time,
and being responsible for completing assignments. For those upper class students who drive to school, we
reminded them not to include other students in their vehicles.

Finally, students were informed of exciting upcoming events, such as college trips and college planning
opportunities, to help our students prepare for their futures. The middle school students were informed of
the dates of the Boundless Adventure trip. Permission slips will come home shortly for these events.
We are looking forward to a successful year filled with growth, learning, and memorable experiences.
Thank you for your continued support!

General Announcements:

THS Student Spotlight:
Congratulations to Tuckahoe High School Chorus members Senior Emily Sperbeck, Senior Miles Rivera,
and Sophomore Ari Chahine for being accepted into the Area All-State Chorus. Congratulations also to
Santiago Ortega-Brown, who was selected as an alternate for the Mixed Area All-State Chorus. These
students worked closely with Ms. Reidy to learn and perfect vocal solos, which they performed and had
adjudicated at the NYSSMA Festival last spring. Their selection for this honor is based on the performance
and scores they achieved. They will perform alongside other elite singers from Westchester County at New
Rochelle High School in November.

THS Named NYSPHSAA School of Distinction:
Tuckahoe High School has been named a School of Distinction by the NYS Public High School Athletic
Association for the 2023-2024 school year! This marks the second consecutive year—and only the second
time in our school's history—that we have received this prestigious honor. Achieving this status means that
every varsity team at THS qualified for and earned the scholar-athlete team award during their respective
sports seasons. To attain this recognition, the average GPA of the top 75% of each team’s roster must be
90% or higher. This achievement is shared by only 114 schools across New York State and just 8 schools
in Section 1.Congratulations to our students, parents, coaches, teachers, staff, and administrators for this
remarkable accomplishment! It highlights the true essence of being a student-athlete.

Tuckahoe High School Senior Parent Guidance Night:
We are excited to invite you to our Senior Parent Guidance Night on Tuesday, September 10th. This
invaluable event is designed to guide families through one of the most pivotal times in a student's
academic journey—the transition from high school to college or career. The evening will provide you with
essential information about the college application process, post-graduation planning, and the key steps
your senior should be taking throughout the year to ensure a smooth and successful path forward.
Our primary goal is to empower you with the knowledge and resources necessary to support your child
during this exciting, yet often overwhelming, time. We will delve into crucial topics such as college
admissions timelines, financial aid opportunities, standardized testing, and various career exploration
options. In addition to these important discussions, we will highlight critical deadlines to keep your family on
track and will be available to answer any questions you may have.

To further enhance the evening, we are thrilled to have Christina Labella, Director of Undergraduate
Admissions at Manhattanville University, join us to provide insider insights from the perspective of a college
admissions officer. Her expertise will offer a valuable glimpse into what colleges are looking for and how
you can help your student stand out.

This event is designed to ensure that both parents and students feel confident, informed, and fully
prepared for the next chapter after high school. We look forward to seeing you there and working together
to make this a successful and fulfilling year for your senior!

Tuckahoe High School Back to School Night:
As a reminder, Tuckahoe High School will hold its annual Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September
12th. The evening will begin with a brief welcome from the principal, Mr. Rodney Arthur, at 6:30 p.m. in the
auditorium. At approximately 6:45 p.m., you will report to your scholar’s first-period class and follow their
schedule through period eight. We will be following the Day #1 cycle for the evening.

You will spend 10 minutes in each class, where teachers will provide an overview of the course curriculum,
class expectations, methods of communication with students and families, and the grading practices for the
course.

Early next week, your child will bring home a schedule of their schedule for you to review and bring on
September 12th.

TMS Community Read Initiative - Wishtree by Katherine Applegate:
We are excited to share the culmination of Tuckahoe Middle School’s community read of Katherine
Applegate’s Wishtree. As part of their summer reading project, students have already read the book, and
on Wednesday, October 2, they will participate in a meaningful celebration of the key ideas from the
novel: acceptance, kindness, the power of words, community, and overcoming adversity.

On this day, students will be grouped with peers from different grade levels to engage in discussions about
these important themes. They will also share a meaningful quote from the novel, which they selected
during their summer reading. To further connect with the book’s message, students will write out a wish to
be hung on our very own Tuckahoe community wishing tree. This wish could be an academic or personal
goal, a dream for themselves or others, or simply a hope for the future.

Through this activity, we aim to create a sense of shared experience and build a stronger middle school
community as we begin the school year.

We sincerely thank you for your ongoing support of the community read initiative and hope you had the
chance to read the book with your child. We also want to express our deep appreciation to the PTA for
sponsoring this initiative by providing each middle school student with a copy of the book.

TMHS Club Fair:
The annual TMHS Club Fair is scheduled for Monday, September 16th. The event is designed to
introduce middle and high school students to the wide range of extracurricular opportunities available at
our school, showcase the variety of clubs and activities that students can participate in, helping them
discover new interests, develop leadership skills, and form meaningful connections with their peers and
teachers outside the classroom.

We encourage all students to attend the Club Fair and take advantage of the opportunity to explore the
diverse offerings we have available.

Tuckahoe Middle School Back to School Night (Time Change):
As a reminder, Tuckahoe High School will hold its annual Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September
19th. The evening will begin with a brief welcome from the principal, Mr. Rodney Arthur, at 6:45 p.m. in the
auditorium. At approximately 7:00 p.m., you will report to your scholar’s first-period class and follow their
schedule through period eight. We will be following the Day #1 cycle for the evening.

You will spend 10 minutes in each class, where teachers will provide an overview of the course curriculum,
class expectations, methods of communication with students and families, and the grading practices for the
course.

Early next week, your child will bring home a schedule of their schedule for you to review and bring on
September 19th.

Update From the School Counseling Department:
THS Senior Class College Trip to Boston (Update):
The highly anticipated college trip to Boston is quickly approaching, and excitement is building! This trip
offers our scholars an exceptional opportunity to explore some of the nation’s top-tier colleges and
experience a firsthand glimpse of college life. With every spot filled, the trip is completely sold out, and we
are eager for our students to make the most of this enriching experience.

We have an exciting itinerary lined up. On October 1st, we will kick off with a tour of Boston College at
2:00 PM, followed by a memorable dinner at Fire and Ice Restaurant in the evening. The next day,
October 2nd, students will begin with a 10:00 AM tour of Boston University, enjoy lunch at the historic
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and then head to a 3:00 PM tour of Northeastern University.

This trip promises to inspire and motivate our scholars as they begin to imagine their own futures in higher
education. Be on the lookout next week for a Google Form regarding rooming requests. We look forward to
an unforgettable experience in Boston!

THS Junior Class College Trip to Fordham University:
We are excited to offer our 11th grade students an exceptional opportunity to visit Fordham University on
Wednesday, October 23th! This visit will provide a firsthand look at college life and help students start
envisioning their future academic journey. Exploring a university campus allows students to experience the
environment, interact with current students and faculty, and gain valuable insights into what a college
experience could be like.

Please note, this trip has a limited capacity of 30 students and spots will be filled on a first come, first serve
basis. There is no cost for students to participate. To secure your child’s place, please return the
permission slip by Monday, September 23rd.

We encourage you to take advantage of this chance for your child to explore their future educational
possibilities. Here’s the link to the permission slip.

TMHS Message from Mrs. Melissa Iamonico, Library Media Specialist:
Did you know September is National Library Card Sign Up Month? Now is the time to make sure you have
a library card and that it has not expired! Visit our friends at the Tuckahoe Public Library or the Eastchester
Public Library and be on the lookout for a library card sign up event in the school library. Any questions?
See Ms. I.!

TMHS Message from Mrs. Jane Devereux, School Nurse:
It’s wonderful to see all your children back at school! As a reminder, please ensure that you have submitted
a current health form (dated September 23rd or later) for your student entering 7th, 9th, or 11th grade. The
form can be submitted in hard copy or by email. If your child has any new allergies, medications, or health
conditions that may require attention during school (e.g., asthma, diabetes, severe migraines, etc.), please
contact me as soon as possible to ensure we have up-to-date information and necessary supplies. I can be
reached at 914.337.5376 ext. 1236 or devereuxj@tuckahoeschools.org. Health forms and information can
be found athttps://www.tuckahoeschools.org/school_nurse_information

PTA Announcements
SAVE THE DATE: Family Photo Shoot Fundraiser, Saturday, October 19th and Saturday, October 26
More details to follow!

Spirit Wear Sales:
PTA will be selling Spirit Wear at Tuckahoe High School Back to School Nights! Back to School Nights will
be: Thursday, September 12th at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. for Tuckahoe
Middle School Back to School Night.

Family Photo Shoot:
The PTA is pleased to offer family photo shoots again this year! It is a great way to preserve family
memories and support the PTA. The sessions will take place at the Nature Preserve (near Cottle) and are
scheduled for October 19th and October 26th. Details will be forthcoming.

New families to Tuckahoe THS or TMS:
If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for the PTA Buddy Program, where you will be matched with a
parent/guardian from an existing family, who you can call upon with any questions throughout the school
year. If you would like to be paired with an existing parent/guardian, please register here. (And if you are
an existing family who would like to be a new family's buddy, sign up to volunteer here.)
For all the latest PTA News and Event Information, please be sure to visit http://tuckahoepta.com/
regularly!

Important Dates:
Here is a list of important dates:
Tuesday, September 9th - Senior Parent Guidance Night at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 12th - THS Back-To-School Night at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, September 16th - TMHS Club Fair
Thursday, September 19th - TMS Back-To-School Night at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 20th - THS Last Day to Drop Add/Drop Courses
Monday, September 23rd - Grade 11 Trip to 9/11 Mobile Museum
Monday, September 23rd - TMHS Spirit Week
Thursday, September 26 - Homecoming Weekend
Tuesday, October 1st - Overnight College Trip to Boston
Tuesday, October 8th - TMHS Hope and Harmony Concert
Friday, October 11th - Quarter 1 Progress Report Available

Sincerely,

R. Arthur S. DeBellis A. Colasuonno

• Weekly Letter 9-7-24