9/12/25

Happy Friday TPS Families!  As you know, it was our first full five day week! Everyone survived and left this afternoon with a smile on their face!  

📸Just a reminder to check out Instagram (@tpswarriors) for photos and updates from the classrooms!There are always so many amazing things happening day in and out in our classrooms.  Plus, there are some pretty adorable moments captured as well! 

🍎Open House is this week!  Like last year, parents and students are invited to come visit classrooms and meet their teachers.  Please refer to the schedule below to know when your child's teacher will be available in their classrooms.  This year we have a special addition of Bren Bataclan, the amazing artist who painted our cafeteria mural (thanks PTA!)! Bren will also be presenting to students and their families in the cafeteria for two half hour presentations! We are so grateful to the PTA for bringing Bren back to TPS and giving families a chance to meet and engage with Bren and his art! 

Here is the Open House Schedule: 

• Kindergarten - 5:00-6:00

• 1st Grade - 5:30-6:30

• 2nd Grade - 5:30-6:30

• 3rd Grade - 5:00-6:00

• 4th Grade - 6:00-7:00

• 5th Grade - 6:00-7:00

• 6th/7th/8th - 5:45-6:15 presentation in the cafe

• 6th/7th/8th - 6:15-6:45 visit rooms

• Specials - 5:45-6:45

• Special Education - 5:45-6:45

• Bren Bataclan's presentations in the cafe: 5:00-5:30 & 6:30-7:00

Library Lovers Wanted!  Want to get involved as a volunteer at TPS and help foster a love of reading? Join our crew of Library Volunteers!  Email jessie.trowbridge@gmail.com  to learn more! 

⭐I just wanted to let you know that Mr. Cormier is out on a medical leave (he is okay).  Cheryl Burgoyne is in subbing for him.  For the time being, please reach out to Cheryl (cheryl_burgoyne@wrsd.net) if you have questions/concerns and she will be able to help you!  

➤Check out the Electronic Blue Folder for Scouts updates! And mark your calendars for Touch a Truck on 9/27 sponsored by the Princeton Police!

 

I hope you have a great weekend and we'll look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

                                                                  

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead: 

• Monday (9/15) - A Day
• Bren Bataclan Assembly
• Tuesday (9/16)  - B Day
• Wednesday (9/17) - C Day
• Thursday (9/18) - D Day
• Open House 5:00-7:00 (see schedule above)
• Friday (9/19) - E Day 

Mark your calendars (details to come):

• 10/29 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/30 Afternoon Parent/Teacher Conferences

9/5/25

I hope you all had a great long weekend!  Week two here at school was a great one! 

🚑I wanted to let you know that this afternoon I had to call an ambulance.  Students in the extended day program and cross country team may have seen the police and EMT/paramedic presence.  Please know that everyone is okay. 

😃I'd love to take the opportunity this week to share a little bit about our new special, STEAM!  I'm sure you are all aware that this is a new position at TPS (and also in the district).  STEAM, which stands for Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math, is now part of your child's specials rotation (in addition to music, PE, art and library). Miss Nowd is our new STEAM teacher! Project Lead the Way or PLTW will be thecurriulum used in her classes.   All of our Warriors will be working on STEAM skills, making real world connections, and learning to work collaboratively through problem solving and engineering lessons and activities. You can check out pltw.org  to gain a deeper understanding of all that it entails!  I have already seen such amazing student engagement and excitement in the STEAM lab classroom over the course of these last seven school days! Be sure to ask your Warrior about STEAM!

⭐The TPS PTA is looking for volunteers/members! If you are interested in being on the board or helping out in some way, please reach out to Athena Bierfeldt at athenabierfeldt@gmail.com.  

⮚Parents, if you are interested in serving on the TPS School Council, please reach out to me at bethanne_difonso@wrsd.net! 

💬Mrs. Califano, our ML teacher, wanted to make sure our TPS families were aware of the District's Department of ELE's website for resources and information! 

📅I added a September calendar to the Electronic Blue Folder with the specials rotation days and important TPS events!  

Have a great weekend!

                                                                  

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead: 

• Monday (9/8) - B Day
• Tuesday (9/9)  - C Day
• Wednesday (9/10) - D Day
• Thursday (9/11) - E Day
• Friday (9/12) - F Day 

Mark your calendars (details to come):

• 9/18 Open House!
• 10/29 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/30 Afternoon Parent/Teacher Conferences

Welcome Back!

Even though it was a short week, it was a great one! The building was full of energy and excitement! I really enjoyed seeing everyone, catching up and hearing about all of the summer adventures! The classrooms were bustling with the hum of student voices building community and relationships with their teachers and classmates!  As I visit classrooms, I try to capture moments of learning to share with families.  I post these photos on our TPS Instagram @tpswarriors. Be sure to follow us to check out all of the amazing things our Warriors are doing day in and day out here at TPS! 

 Have you seen our new sign out front?!  A very special thank you to the Brent Fisk and his Scouts for doing an amazing job making and painting the sign, as well as cleaning up the landscaping around it! It came out amazing and I couldn't be more proud of their efforts! Thank you, too, to the TPS PTA for initiating this project and for supporting it! 

😊Maybe you missed all of the excitement out front on the first day of school! Some very lucky Warriors and their friends rode to school in VIP style with the Princeton Fire Department and the Princeton Police Department!  I can never say enough how very grateful I am to these departments who are so involved in our school. Our students and staff are so lucky to have them. 

⭐I wanted to update you on changes to special education and 504 Plans.  Mr. Okie, our Assistant Principal, will be in charge of 504 Plans this year.  While we work through the hiring process for our Team Chair position, Mr. Okie and I will be working together to chair meetings.  Please reach out to both of us or your child's case manager with any IEP related questions.

👋I'd like to take a second to reintroduce myself to our new TPS families!  This year marks my 25th year in education, twenty one years spent in the classroom teaching and three years in administration! For the last two and a half years, I have been the Assistant Principal here at TPS! I took over as the Interim Principal last March. Not only do I work in the district, but I grew up and reside here as well! I am the proud Mom of two boys, who keep my husband and I very busy with activities and school events of their own.  I am very excited to be the Interim Principal here at TPS and truly look forward to the amazing year ahead!

👟LAST CALL!!!!  Fall sport registrations close this weekend!  Please use the links below to sign up your student!  

• TPS Cross Country (Boys & Girls)  - Grades 5-8
• Girls Soccer (playing for/at Chocksett) - Grades 6-8

👀Be sure to check out the Electronic Blue Folder linked below for weekly flyers and information from the community! This week, I have included information and events with the Cub Scouts!  Also be sure to check out the "Looking Ahead" section below too.  I have listed some future dates for you to keep in mind!

📸 Mark your calendar!  Picture day is 9/4!

➤Don't forget there is no school tomorrow! I wish you a wonderful four day weekend and I will look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday!

                                                            

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead: 

• Friday (8/29) - No School (Professional Development)
• Monday (9/1) - No School (Labor Day)
• Tuesday (9/2)  - D Day
• Wednesday (9/3) - E Day
• Thursday (9/4) - F Day
• Picture Day!
• Friday (9/5) - A Day 

Mark your calendars (details to come):

• 9/18 Open House!
• 10/29 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/30 Afternoon Parent/Teacher Conferences

It's Almost Time!

😎Can you believe it's almost the first day of school? Man, this summer has flown by.  I sure hope that you have found the time to relax, enjoy the warm (often hot) weather, maybe take some trips or go on adventures, and have some fun in the sun! 

🍎The first day of school is August 26th for grades one through twelve. Our newest Warriors, kindergarten, will start on August 27th!  Just in case you don't have a copy of the WRSD calendar for 2025-2026, here it is!  Teacher assignments should be posted on August 19th in Powerschool. Bus information was posted on August 12th in Powerschool.  Please reach out to Mr. Cormier or myself if you are not able to find this information. 

🎒For our new TPS families, school drop off begins at 8:05 on the side of the building near the flag pole. Students arriving before 8:15 will have the choice to hang out in the cafeteria or visit the library.  School officially begins at 8:25.  Any arrivals after that time are marked as tardy. Parents will have to enter the building to sign their students in at the main office.  School dismissal begins at 2:55. Parents who are picking up will join the line of cars on the side of the building near the flag pole! 

🚌Kindergarten Families: On August 26th from 9:30-10:15, we invite you to come meet your teacher and see the classroom! Caregivers and kindergarten students may come (we will gather in the cafeteria), and walk together to the kindergarten classrooms. Once there, teachers will have a quick scavenger hunt to complete together, and then students can access table toys while the teachers go over a few last-minute things for the school year! Afterward, students are invited to go outside and enjoy the playground with their new friends. We ask that all families head to their cars by 10:15 so the playground can be used for recess.

🍔 School breakfast and lunch are free again this year!

🖍A reminder that school supplies are being purchased for your student(s) by the district! That means no trips to Staples, Target, or Walmart for school supplies are needed next week!  Students will receive their materials the first week of school.

🛝Popsicles on the Playground, organized by the TPS PTA, has been scheduled for Wednesday 8/20 3:30-5:30 on the TPS Playground!  This is a great opportunity for students to see their friends/classmates and enjoy a refreshing treat! I look forward to seeing everyone! Thank you PTA!

➤ I know many of you have reached out about extended day.  The website still needs to be updated, but the information is the same. Services are available Monday-Friday beginning the first day of school and ending on the second to last day of school from 2:55 -5:30pm.  All students must be registered prior to using this service.  The program is closed on all school holidays, professional full and half days, snow days, and vacation weeks.  When picking up your child(ren), you must sign them out in the main lobby. The cost is a flat rate of $15/student per day.  There is no partial billing.  There is a non-refundable yearly registration fee of $25 per family. Please fill out this form to enroll your student(s).  

👟Fall sport offerings have been posted!  Please use the links below to sign up your middle school student! Please note that only students in grades 6-8 can participate. 

TPS Cross Country (Boys & Girls) 

Girls Soccer (playing for/at Chocksett)

 District-Wide 7th & 8th Grade Football

 A note regarding football:  

* This is for grades 7 & 8 only.  Participants will provide a copy of a current physical exam which will be reviewed by the WRHS Nurse and WRHS Athletic Trainer.  Paper copies of physicals will be forwarded to your individual school once school starts.

* Registration will be open until September 8th

*All necessary equipment will be provided.

*Upcoming Football Dates: 

Aug. 19 - Equipment Issue at WRHS 6 PM - practice to follow until 7:45 PM

Aug. 20 - Practice at WRHS 6 - 7:45

Aug. 21 - Practice at WRHS 6 - 7:45

Aug. 26 - Practice at WRHS 6- 7:45

Aug. 27 - Practice at WRHS 6 - 7:45

Aug 28 - Practice at WRHS 6 - 7:45

⭐We have had a very busy summer here! It has been a busy summer of hiring, but I am excited to introduce the newest members of our TPS Staff! As you may have heard, Danielle Shaveet has left TPS to join the curriculum team at Central Office! I know I speak for all of us when I say TPS will not be the same without her. However, I know she will be an amazing addition to their team!  In addition to Danielle taking on a new role, Christina Kristoff will now be the MTSS Interventionist for TPS and Naquag. I'm excited to see the impact Christina's work will have on our first and second graders! 

Annnnnd now, let me introduce you to....

Welcome to John Okie, our new Interim Assistant Principal! John joins us with years of admin experience, most recently in Cambridge!

Welcome to Nicole Walker, our new Middle School Science Teacher!  Nicole has been both a STEAM and Science teacher, most recently in the Quaboag district!

Welcome to Amanda Nichols, our new .4 special education teacher! Amanda will be working primarily with 6th grade and supporting the 1st grade caseload. Amanda has extensive special ed experience, most recently in Gardner. 

Welcome to Robin Awad, our new third grade teacher!  Robin's recent teaching experience was in Charlton as a long term sub for third grade, as well as previously in Southbridge as a third grade teacher. 

Welcome to Jillian Nowd, our STEAM teacher! Jillian comes to us from Sterling, where she worked with special education students and developed a love for hands-on learning. 

📣I'd like to give a huge shout out to our TPS Custodial Staff, Mr. Westerlind, Mr. Padilla and Mr. Hall,  who have worked so very hard this summer to make our building look beautiful!  It is no easy feat, and this summer's high temps made it even more challenging!  TPS looks amazing and we are so thankful! 

😁I look forward to seeing all of our TPS Warriors on August 26th & 27th!  School in the summer without the hum of students learning and laughter in the hallways is a lonely place! Enjoy the next week!

Looking Ahead: 

• Wednesday (8/20) Popsicles on the Playground 3:30-5:30
• Monday (8/25) Still Summer Vacation!
• Tuesday (8/26) First Day of School!
• A Day
• Kindergarten Orientation 9:30-10:15
• Wednesday (8/27) Kindergarten's First Day of School!
• B Day
• Thursday (8/28) C Day
• Friday (8/29)  NO SCHOOL - PD Day

Summer: Loading...

🌟Don't forget the last day of school is Monday!  Dismissal begins at 11:55! There is no breakfast or lunch served on Monday and snacks/water will not be for sale!

👏It was a fantastic last full week of school!  On Tuesday we celebrated the graduation of the 8th grade.   We also celebrated with a dance at Harrington Farm last night!  This week's 8th grade events have truly been bittersweet. Today's parade throughout the building was certainly emotional for all, as these Warriors have walked our halls since kindergarten!  We wish them all the best as they move on to high school! 

🥰I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support over the course of the last few months as I transitioned into this interim role.  I have truly appreciated the dialogue, the connections, and the opportunity to work with this great TPS community in a different role! I am hoping you saw the email from central office that I will remain as the TPS Interim Principal for next year.  I am so excited! 

💭In education we often find ourselves stepping back and reflecting on our practice. We would really welcome your input and feedback on your child's experience here at TPS.  Please fill out this parent survey by June 20th.  The  link is here!

✐Next year, the schools within the WRSD will not be asking parents to purchase school supplies for their students. This will save you a trip to Walmart, Target or Staples in August!  

✅Just a reminder that class placement will be posted to Powerschool in late August.  Around that same time you will receive information about your child's bus stop and pick up/drop off time.  Middle schoolers will find their schedules posted around this same time as well.  While I'm sharing news about summer, your child can access Clever through July 31st!

😀Moving forward, we are excited about the new positions (STEAM teacher and MTSS Interventionist) and staff we will welcome to TPS over the summer.  I will be sure to keep you all updated! Next year our middle school set-up will look a little different. I'm excited to share that the sixth grade team will be joining the seventh and eighth grade teachers to form one middle school team!  This means that students in grades 6-8 will all be on the same schedule, just like in a typical middle school!  Sixth graders will now have the opportunity to have three teachers next year, which will help in the transition the following year to five teachers.  Some seventh and eighth grade students will possibly have the current sixth grade teachers for classes too.  We are very excited about this change and the experiences it will offer for our middle school students and staff! 

🖳The Wachusett SEPAC is looking for families of students with IEPs or 504 Plans to help them better understanding family experiences accross the district.  The would appreciate the opportunity for every family to have a voice in shaping how they advocate and collaborate moving forward.  Here is the link to their anonymous survey. 

🦋Lisa's Pollinator Garden (in the back of TPS) is looking for some students and their families to adopt the garden for a week over the summer and help out with watering! If you are interested, check out the sign up here! 

➣Check out the following info/flyers in the Electronic Blue Folder:

• A flyer on the Annual Summer Community Camp out
• Princeton Recreation's movie under the stars on 6/20 

😎I want to wish you all a wonderful summer, full of memory making fun and family time!  Keep an eye out in your inbox for a message from me in August!  

                                                                  

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead: 

• Monday (6/16) B Day - Dismissal at 11:55!
• SUMMER VACATION!!!!!!!!!!

A Fun-Filled Week!

➤Today we held an ALICE drill.  The staff and students did an amazing job. A special thanks to the PPD for the support and being here as we ran the drill!

 🌞Field Day was amazing on Wednesday!  While it was a hot day, it was still jam-packed with fun.  From the bouncy house, to face painting, to karaoke, to relay races and more, there were smiles abounding. A big shout out to Mrs. McDonald who worked hard to organize it all!  Thank you to the parent volunteers who made the day a success, the PTA for your donations, the Viking Challenge team for the inflatables, the PPD for taking the time out of their schedules to be part of our day, Lisa's Pollinator Garden volunteers, and to Mr. Oles who graciously donated water and ice! It takes a village and for everyone's contribution, I am grateful.  More photos and videos can be see on the TPS Instagram. 

👏I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to the amazing STEAM Committee who organized a STEAM-filled year for our TPS Warriors, culminating with an awesome night last night!  It was great to see so many families in the building, checking out STEAM projects, looking at student artwork (thanks Mrs. Finkler), and engaging with members of our Princeton community.  We are so fortunate to live in a town where the community organizations are so excited and willing to be apart of TPS in so many ways!  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  

🎓On Monday we welcomed some former TPS Warriors who are graduating from high school! Students from WRHS, St. John's and Monty Tech paraded the halls of TPS celebrated by cheers and applause from current TPS students and staff.  It was surely a special moment for everyone! 

👉Message from the School Nurse:

With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, here are some reminders from the Health Office:

• All medications must be picked up by an adult at the end of the school year. If possible, please let me know if you will be coming prior to picking up the medication(s) so that I can have everything prepared.

• All medication orders must be renewed each school year. New Medication orders and medication should be brought in the day before or on the first day of school. Students are not allowed to transport medications to school with the exception of EpiPens or rescue inhalers that a student carries in their backpack.  Nurses must be notified of any self-carry medications. Medication order forms can be downloaded off the school website using the Health Services tab.

• ALL medications administered at school must have a physician's order and parent permission. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications. Please see the medication policy on the school website.        

• All students must be fully immunized by the first day of school.  The only exceptions are written documentation from a doctor for medical exemptions or a written document stating that due to religious beliefs your child has not been vaccinated. The exemption forms must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. 

• Students entering the 4th grade and 7th grade must have an updated physical and immunization record on file in the health office.  Please send these updated documents in as soon as they become available to you.

Please call or e-mail the school nurse with any questions or concerns at 978-464-5507 or karina_abbascia@wrsd.net

📗Check out this message from the TPS Library! 

It's been an amazing year in the TPS Library!  Thank you to all of our volunteers, teachers, community organizations, and administrators who have made the Library the exciting place it is!  As a reminder, all library books are now due, and every child who returns all of their books gets a duck!

Want to support the Library even more?  Help us clear our Wish List!  Check out our Amazon Wish List here:  https://tinyurl.com/yjtsae23 If you are purchasing a book to clear your child's account, please make sure you put their name in the "note" section at checkout."

👟Don't forget to check out the Summer Striders (a summer running program) flyer in the Electronic Blue Folder! 

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

                                                                

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead: 

• Monday (6/9) A Day
• Tuesday (6/10) B Day
• In-coming Kindergarten Orientation @ 9:00
• 8th Grade Graduation @ 6:00
• Wednesday (6/11) C Day
• Thursday (6/12) D Day
• 8th Grade Dance at Harrington Farm 
• Friday (6/13)  A Day
• 5th Grade Kinex Challenge
• 8th Grade Field Trip to 6 Flags

Bravo TPS Warriors!

🌟I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Brais and Mrs. LeMay for an awesome day of music today.  I absolutely love seeing our students perform and demonstrate their strengths and passions for music.  I don't know about you, but my face hurts from smiling. It was a great day - even if a wasp visit changed the plans just a bit this afternoon.  Bravo TPS Warriors!  I'll be uploading pictures and videos on the TPS Instagram later today. 

👕Another reminder that Field Day is coming on June 4th! Are you interested in helping out?  Please check out the Volunteer Sign Up Link! Can you sense the desperation? LOL

👉A reminder to TPS families that you are all cordially invited to attend our Annual STEAM Night, happening next Thursday, June 5th, from 5:30-7:30p.m. Come "swim" the halls of TPS and check out all of the STEAM activities we've been working on throughout our school year! Be sure to check out the delicious food trucks that will be joining us, as well as the many community organizers, too! Lastly, be sure to check out the raffle baskets in the gymnasium, offering a variety of themed baskets! Some include riding to school on a fire truck on the last day of school, riding with Cruiser and Officer Holly to school on the first day of school next year, Dollars around the District, A Day at the Beach and more! All money raised from the raffle baskets help fund STEAM activities throughout the year, including STEAM grants, supplies for our school-wide "Stop and STEAM" activities throughout the year, and all things STEAM at TPS! Ticket purchases for the raffles are cash only.

😊Next week we will hold our last spirit week. This time around we are holding days to celebrate ourselves and what makes us unique!  Check out the days below and/or the flyer in the Electronic Blue Folder. Grade level colors are as follows: 

K- Yellow 

1- Red

2- Navy/Dark Blue

3- Green

4- Pink 

5- Light Blue

6- Orange

7- White

8- Black

🍴Mrs. Preston in the cafeteria has asked me to share the alternate meals for June, as there are some changes to the menu as the use up their inventory.

Alternate Meals:

June 2nd-Bagel Meal

June 3rd - Rib-B-Que sandwich

June 4th- Chicken Patty on Bun

June 5th - Burger/Cheeseburger on Bun

June 5th- Cereal Meal

June 9th- Bagel Meal

June 10th- Pizza

June 11th- Grilled Cheese sandwich

June 12th- Corn Dog

June 13th- Cereal Meal

No Breakfast or Lunch will be served the last day of school June 16th

Have a great weekend!

                                                            

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead: 

• Monday (6/2) D Day
• Rainbow Day
• Graduates/Senior Walk 
• Tuesday (6/3) A Day
• Superhero Day
• 6th Grade Field Trip to the Christa McAuliffe Center
• 8th Grade Civics Fair @ 2:00 
• Wednesday (6/4) B Day
• Color Wars spirit day
• Field Day!
• Thursday (6/5) C Day
• Crazy Sock Day
• STEAM Night! 5:30-7:30
• Friday (6/6)  D Day
• "Me Day"
• 2nd Grade Field Trip to Davis Farmland
• Coach Larry's Retirement Celebration @ 4:00
• Saturday (6/7) Track State Championship