Hello TSMS Families! We hope you have already or are all prepped and ready to participate in this year's Presidential Election. If you haven't already, go out and cast your vote! Every voice matters and every voice should count! Here's the down low on all things TSMS this month.
Calendar
NOVEMBER 8 • ELECTION DAY, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Today, Tuesday, November 8, there is no school for students. Teachers will be in attendance for professional development. Please remember to take the time to vote and make your voice heard. With one of the most important elections in our history, every voice needs to be counted! Also, it's great for our children to see their parents and guardians participating in the democratic process. If you can, take them into the voting booth with you!
NOVEMBER 9 AND 10 • 6TH GRADE TO RAMAPO
On Wednesday and Thursday, November 9 and 10, our 6th grade will be making a trip to Camp Ramapo for an overnight. There they will participate in community building activities with their teachers to build relationships and supplement our advisory curriculum in social and emotional learning. Students who are attending the trip should get to school by 7:30 am and head straight to the cafeteria. Here is a packing list to help you sort out what you need to bring for the trip.
NOVEMBER 11 • VETERAN'S DAY
On Friday, November 11, NYC Public Schools will be closed in observance of Veteran's Day. Enjoy the long weekend.
NOVEMBER 14 • PTA/SLT MEETINGS
Homework, The Balance Between Help and Independence
Please join us for a discussion between parents/guardians and TSMS teachers on finding the right balance between supporting our kids with their homework and giving them the independence they need to get the job done.
When: Monday, November 14, 6:00pm, Room 314.
We will discuss Homework strategies from 6-6:45pm and then proceed with the PTA meeting until 7:30. Snacks, coffee and donuts will be served!
NOVEMBER 16 • EARLY DISMISSAL
Wednesday, November 16 will be our next Early Dismissal Day for professional development. Students will be dismissed at 12 p.m. or 12:55 p.m. after a bag lunch depending on how you filled out the form. If you would like your child to stay until our regular 2:35 dismissal, please e-mail or call Shirley at 347-563-5303.
NOVEMBER 17 AND 18 • 6TH GRADE TO SPACE
On Thursday (Diversity and Balance) and Friday (Insight and Empathy), November 17 and 18, 6th grade will head to the New York City Center for Space Science Education to explore space! They will do some activities supplementing their work in science with experimental design and flight. They will also have the opportunity to experience a simulation of launching into space and the work astronauts have to do while there.
NOVEMBER 18 • MODULE 1 ENDS
Friday, November 18, marks the end of Module 1. Take the next week and a half to check in on your child's JumpRope. There is still time to hand in assignments and make up work. Have your child check in with their teachers about how they can ensure the best outcome for their first mastery report of the 2016-2017 school year. Report cards will be mailed home December 2. If you do not receive yours, please reach out to Frances Quezada via e-mail or phone at 212-995-1430, ext. 3511.
NOVEMBER 24 AND 25 • NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING RECESS
On Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, all NYC DOE public schools will be closed for Thanksgiving recess. Take the time and spend it with family. Looking for a conversation starter? Have everyone who is around your dinner table or home reflect on what they are thankful for and why.
NOVEMBER 30 • 7TH GRADE TO THE THEATRE
Attention parents of current 7th grade Theatre Arts students: Permission slips for our November 30 trip to see Broadway sensation Kinky Boots have gone home. We need them back signed by Thursday, November 10 to secure your child's ticket for this Tony Award winning show! Please contact Bryce at bcahn@tsmsonline.org with any questions.
Highlights and such...
DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A ROOF FARM?
Did you know that over 30 lbs of sweet potatoes were harvested on the roof of our school building this past month? This amazing yield started out as a class project, making slips out of sweet potatoes. Slips are small vines that grow out of sweet potatoes when you place them in water and under light for a few weeks. Those little vines were then planted into raised beds in June. By mid-October, excited students got to literally dig for treasure, as they uncovered clusters of tubers in all shapes and sizes.
Sitting on top of our building is a 2,400 sq foot educational farm shared by TSMS, The Earth School and PS 64 known as The Fifth Street Farm Project. Its Board of Directors, Steering Committee and volunteers are all parents whose kids attend (or graduated from) one of the three schools. Fifth Street Farm also partners with several Afterschool groups: Green Apple Kids, Boys and Girls Arts Express, PS 64 and The Sixth Street Community Center. Our crops in 2016 also included: strawberries, peas, beans, lettuce, chard, kale, cabbage, collards, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, corn, and a variety of culinary herbs and flowers. Several TSMS teachers have been utilizing the roof farm for advisory meetings as well, since the open air space with skyline views is a perfect setting for discussion and community building.
On November 16, 2016, immediately following the TSMS Parent-Staff Coffee Hour (8:00- 9:00am), we invite all TSMS parents to have a tour of the Fifth Street Farm, sample some of the herbs, and take a few cuttings home to season your holiday table.
Any questions? Want to find out how to get involved with the Fifth Street Farm? Email: Frances Anderson - fanderson@5thstreetfarm.org
EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL
On October 27th, all 6th grade homerooms watched the movie, Like Stars on Earth, and then engaged in a deep discussion about how it is important to celebrate diversity of learning in our community. Feel free to ask your student about this important film!
BOOK JACKET DESIGN IN GRADE 6
Last Friday, 6th grade teams Insight and Empathy learned all about book jacket design from Katherine Glass' mom, Joann Hill, Senior Art Director at Hyperion Books. She generously donated many new titles to our classroom library.
FROM THE SPEECH ROOM
At a recent professional development, the presenter took a moment to discuss the importance of the teacher- student relationships and its impact on learning. Subconsciously, we always think about our relationships with our students. However, after having the opportunity to learn about the positive correlation between student growth and how much they like, trust, respect and/ or care about their teachers, we know it is an important idea to think about consciously.
In speech, we have the daunting task to motivate students to engage in another academic period in replacement of a beloved enrichment. We do our best to organize our schedules around student and teacher preferences, but it is still an arduous task. I remember struggling to get a student to attend his speech session, and I finally took a moment to find out why he wouldn't come. He revealed I was taking him from Dance. One of the only classes he actually was successful at and loved. I apologized. Our relationship was restored and he has never missed another speech class.
That experience taught me to spend more time learning about our students socially and emotionally before tackling academics. We simply start each session with the question, "How are you?" Initially, students are often taken a back because they may not be asked this question very often. During the academic portion of the session, we often check if a new strategy is useful to the student and modify the lesson if necessary. At the end of the session, we always try to end on a high note with a game or a student preferred activity.
We ask all parents and teachers to let us know how we can further build relationships with our students. We would love to begin/continue a discussion on the power of relationships.
NEW VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
Parents there are new 2016 Vaccination Requirements for your child. Students at the age of 11 must receive the Tdap booster Vaccination entering into 6th grade. All students entering 7th grade are required to receive the MenACWY Vaccination. Please see link below.
If your child's immunization is not complete by December 9th, your child can not return to school without proper Doctor's documentation stating that your child has received the required vaccinations.
Please send your child's completed immunization record to Frances Quezada, via email fquezada@tsmsonline.org, via fax 212-979-1341, or in person in Room 335.
WHAT IS... JAZZZZZZ? ASK THE 7TH GRADE!
7th Graders had the amazing opportunity to go to Jazz at Lincoln Center. Here are some pictures captured of their experience.
COLLECT YOUR BOX TOPS
Keep collecting your box tops and get them to Frances Quezada in Room 335.