5/29/26

🚨This afternoon we held our final ALICE drill of the year. The staff and students did a tremendous job of making real time decisions and either evacuating or locking down and barricading. Staff were aware the drill was taking place and spent the week reminding students of the protocols.  As always, I am thankful for the support of the Princeton Police and Fire Departments, who were there to support the drill.   

🎵Music concert reminder from Mrs. LeMay (I will also send this message on Monday to remind families!):

A reminder that our end of year elementary music shows will be held Friday, June 5th. Grades K-2 will be held in the gymnasium at 9:30 am and grades 3-4 will be held in the cafeteria at 1:30. Grades K-2 will be performing a show entitled “Just Sing!”. 3rd graders will be putting on a bucket drumming performance, and 4th graders will be putting on a recorder performance. All students are encouraged to dress nicely. If you plan on dismissing your child after the show please ****. Families are welcome to come watch!” 

👟Field Day is coming on June 12th!  Please, please, please help make the day a successful one and volunteer! You can sign up here!  The Student Council has planned a fun spirit week for the week of 6/8, ending with class colors on field day. Check out the flyers in the Electronic Blue Folder. 

📖A message from the library: 

It's time to return school library books!  All library books are due by Friday, June 5th.  This week, we will be sending out notices of overdue books on student accounts.  If your child has overdue books, you have options!

1. Return the book. (Preferred)

2. Send your student to the library with the replacement fee listed on their slip or purchase a new copy of the book and return with your child’s name on a note.

Please contact the school with any questions.  All students with a clear library account will receive a resin duck!

✬A message from Nurse Karina:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

TPS will be conducting the annual Postural Screening for grades 5-8 during gym classes the week of 6/1-6/5. If a make-up day is required on any screening day, the postural screening will be held in gym class the following week. 

The purpose of this screening is to detect early signs of possible spinal problems in children. It is not a diagnostic service but a program to identify young people who should have a further medical evaluation. If your child has any unusual findings, a notice will be sent home asking you to bring your child to a physician as a precaution. If nothing unusual is found, you will not be contacted.

Preparation: Students may wear a two-piece swimsuit or halter top/sports bra underneath their regular clothing on the day of the screening. This type of clothing permits more accurate observation of the back. 

Opt-Out of the Screening Program: If you wish to exclude your child from the postural screening, please provide documentation that your child was screened by their physician and email the nurse asking for your child to be opted out of the screening at karina_abbascia@wrsd.net

👍From the PTA:

Hello from the TPS PTA! 

We can’t believe May is coming to an end! It’s been a busy month and we’re excited to share what we’ve been up to thanks to the support of our families & community:

Celebrating:

• Teacher Appreciation Week (5/18 - 5/22): We had an incredible week celebrating our teachers and staff! The theme was Inside Out and we celebrated big! If you’re not already following our TPS PTA Facebook, join us and check out photos from each day:

• Monday - Joy: A breakfast spread provided by TPS families - thank you to all those who donated!

• Tuesday - Calm: Relaxation pouches filled with tea, biscotti, lavender sprigs & more. And sorbets to help fight the heat!

• Wednesday - Grow: Teachers were gifted potted zinnias and plant cuttings. 

• Thursday - Gratitude: Handwritten notes from the students, gift cards for each teacher, and a delicious lunch spread.

• Friday - Celebration: Coffee deliveries for all staff thanks to our amazing sponsor Jackson Effie Coffee Cabin! Mrs. Difonso also hosted a homemade pie & cake bar in the afternoon with incredible homemade treats!

• Student Council - Recess Equipment: The PTA was delighted to support the request from the Student Council to purchase middle school recess equipment. Shoutout to Amelia Oles for attending the May PTA meeting and presenting on how the equipment was being utilized and taken care of.

As we head into the homestretch of the school year, here’s what’s coming up:

• Field Day (6/12): The PTA is excited to support this year’s field day - by renting or purchasing inflatables, tie-dye kits, bubbles, craft supplies, and more! 

• Kindergarten Orientation (6/17): We’re looking forward to welcoming a new batch of Warriors next fall! The PTA will host a welcome table on 6/17 during Kindergarten orientation. 

• Fall Fundraiser Planning: A new fall fundraiser is underway. Want to get involved in early planning? Reach out here. 

PTA Meetings

• We hosted our final PTA meeting on 5/27 - thank you to all who attended! 

• We look forward to coming back together in September to kick off the new school year.

PTA Elections

• We’d like to welcome back our PTA Board for the 2026-2027 School Year: 

• President: Athena Bierfeldt

• Vice Presidents: Courtney Acuto, Laura Fink, Janna Millette

• Secretary: Erica Saccoccio

• Treasurer: Tarin Patrikis 

As always, we’d love to hear from you. Have ideas or questions? Please reach out: tpsprincetonpta@gmail.com.  Together, we can make a meaningful difference for our school community. Thank you for your support! -The TPS PTA Board

Have a great weekend!

                                                                

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (6/1) - C Day
• Tuesday (6/2) - D Day
• Senior/Graduate Walk 
• Wednesday (6/3) - E Day
• 3rd Grade Field Trip to Plimoth Patuxet
• Thursday (6/4) - F Day
• 6th Grade Field Trip to Christa McAuliffe Center
• Friday (6/5) - A Day
• k-2 Music Concert @ 9:30
• 3/4 Music Concert @ 1:30 

5/22/26

💗I'd like to thank the PTA for organizing such an amazing Staff Appreciation Week. We surely felt the love and appreciation!  Thank you, too, to all of the families who contributed so many delicious treats! 
We have an incredible staff here at TPS, but we also have an incredible community! We are so lucky and so appreciative!

😃This was a busy, but fun week! We finally finished MCAS! Wooohoooo! On Monday, fourth grade traveled to Tower Hill Botanical Garden - what a gorgeous week to be out learning about plants and their life cycle! Sixth graders held their Ancient Egypt Museum on Wednesday displaying their projects of artifacts and knowledge about Ancient Egyptian times.  It was incredibly impressive!  Over the last few weeks, the third graders have been watching the life cycle of a caterpillar/butterfly and  released their Painted Ladies into the Pollinator Garden! It
was such an exciting moment to watch all 18 take flight!  And today, first and second grade traveled to Davis Farmland where they spent this beautiful day learning about the farm, meeting baby animals and living their best lives!  SO much fun was had this week!

🌟News from the TPS STEAM Committee: Good news, TPS families! If you are looking to order your STEAM Night 2026 t-shirt, we were able to extend our ordering deadline to Monday, 5/25/26. Please see the flier in the Electronic Blue Folder for the ordering link! Thank you very much for your support! 

🤖Ms. Stander is already organizing Lego League for the fall!  See the message below
and the flyer in the Electronic Blue Folder!

The FIRST Lego League Challenge program is being run for students entering grades 5th through 8th this coming fall. It introduces kids to STEM using Legos and Lego robotics. The program focuses on creativity, fun and teamwork. Each year there is a theme. This year's theme is BIOGLOW, which focuses on ecosystems and biodiversity. The program is multi-faceted and has three main components: the Robot Challenge, the Innovation Project and demonstration of FIRST Core values.

In the FIRST Lego League Challenge program the kids will

• Build and program Lego Spike Prime robots to complete autonomous missions.
• Select a real world problem related to the yearly theme, do research on it, design a solution to the problem, prototype the solution and create a presentation. 
• At the end of the program they will attend a local tournament, where they will present the research project and compete with other teams on the robot missions. 

Below is a great video that shows a sampling of the robots, projects and core values of the program. 

First Lego League Introduction Video!

The program is not just about building and programming robots although it is a significant part. The team benefits when the members have a diverse set of skills and interests. The project component draws heavily on being creative and artistic. Teamwork relies on good communication and leadership. The team needs a variety of talents to be successful. 

The program runs two days a week from after school to 5:00 starting the first week in September to mid December. The program cost is a $160 which includes registration, tournament fees, tee shirts, project materials, incentive prizes and snacks. If this poses a financial hardship let me know, the fee can be waived or reduced. 

Jennifer Stander will be coaching the Lego League teams. She is an Electrical Engineer working in the field of Robotics and also an Adjunct Professor at WPI teaching electrical and computer design courses. To help the students reach their goals, it is important to have additional volunteers to help at the meetings. If you are interested in registering your child for the program and/or volunteering, feel free to email Jennifer at legofirst@js.mxpark.com. 

Team selection will be done starting at the end of June, if your child wishes to be considered for the team please let her know by June 14th.

Have a great long weekend!

                                                                

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (5/25) - Memorial Day/No School
• Tuesday (5/26) - E Day
• K Field Trip
• Wednesday (5/27) - F Day
• PTA Meeting @ 6:00 (TPS Library or Zoom)
• Thursday (5/28) - A Day
• Friday (5/29) - B Day
• Talent Show @ 6:00 

 

5/15/26

I'd like to congratulate our 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders, as well as Mrs. Brais and Mrs. LeMay on their concert on Wednesday evening!  I was so impressed to see our Warriors step up to play solos and accompany the chorus! What talent! It's always so great to see our Warriors in their element sharing what they have learned and what they love! 

Eighth graders and girl scouts, Cheyenne and Annie, would like your help!

We need your support to fill the new food pantry in the First Congregational church of Princeton. You can help us by sending in donations! The collection box is in the front lobby and we will be taking donations until the 5th of June. We appreciate your support!

From Ms. Nowd and the STEAM Classroom: 

Kindergarten and 1st grade are learning about the needs of living things. This  week we took a nature walk to the gardens around school and found living things in our
natural environment. Ask your little warrior about the needs of plants and animals and what happens when their needs aren't met. 

The second graders have been learning about the properties of matter. We did an experiment to find out what materials make the best conductors and insulators. With this information they are creating prototypes that can keep an ice pop frozen for about 30 minutes.   

📆There are so many events coming up in the weeks ahead! Be sure to check out this list of "Save the Dates" on this doc, which is also in the Electronic Blue Folder!

Have a great weekend!

                                                                

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (5/18) - F Day
• 4th grade field trip
• School Council Meeting @ 3:15
• Tuesday (5/19) - A Day
• 8th Grade Civics MCAS
• Wednesday (5/20) - B Day
• 8th Grade Civics MCAS
• Thursday (5/21) - C Day
• Friday (5/22) - D Day
• 1st & 2nd grade field trip
• Wear your TPS gear or red/white/black!

 

5/8/26

😇This week was a busy one with MCAS and the special Mother's Day celebrations in grades one and three! It was so heartwarming to hear the poems and readings our Warriors wrote about their Moms and caregivers!  It was even more special that their special family members could visit TPS and be a part of their day!  

🎵Just a reminder that the band/chorus concert is 6:30 on 5/13 at WRHS! I am looking forward to it - they've been working so hard! More information is in the Electronic Blue Folder. 

👉Just a reminder that the Princeton Town Meeting is on 5/12 at 6:30 at TPS. 

🖍The Cradles to Crayons drive was a huge success.  Taryn, our Project 351 Ambassador, would like to thank you for your generous donations!  The clothing and shoes you donated will help so many families!  

🪴A Message from the STEAM Committee & Mrs. Chapalonis: 

Thank you to all TPS students who participated and shared their creative flair for this year's STEAM Night 2026 t-shirt design contest, featuring our theme of "summer camp"! It was a tough decision, but we were able to choose a winning design! Please see the attached flier (in the Electronic Blue Folder) for ordering information if you'd like to purchase some STEAM Night 2026 "swag"! Orders will be accepted until Thursday, May 21st, 2026. Thank you for your support towards this annual event and we look forward to welcoming families to our Annual STEAM Night on Thursday, June 11th from 5:00-7:00p.m. Thank you! 

🕮A note from Jessie Trowbridge and the TPS Library: 

The TPS Library is grateful to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for awarding a grant to support purchasing new books for the collection! This grant allowed us to purchase 35 new books, all focused on developing social and emotional growth and connections for young readers. Kids can’t wait to get their hands on these books!

📆There are so many events coming up in the weeks ahead! Be sure to check out this list of "Save the Dates" on this doc, which is also in the Electronic Blue Folder!

⭐Don't forget that Monday is an early release day! Dismissal begins at 11:55!

💗Wishing all of the moms, grandmothers and caregivers a very Happy Mother's Day!

                                                                                                                                                 

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (5/11) - A Day
• Early Release @ 11:55
• Tuesday (5/12) - B Day
• Grades 5 & 8 STE MCAS
• Princeton Town Meeting @ 6:30
• Wednesday (5/13) - C Day
• Grades 5 & 8 STE MCAS
• Band/Chorus Concert @ 6:30
• Thursday (5/14) - D Day
• Friday (5/15) - E Day
• Wear your TPS gear or red/white/black!

5/1/26

🐎Today was Derby Day in the middle school!  Seventh grade students were selected to represent their homerooms as jockeys and raced around the big field while the rest of the middle school cheered them on!  Students in grades 6-8 spent math class working on data and probability problems related to the race.  Students and staff even dressed for the occasion - it was a lot of fun!

🎒May snuck on me and with it...thoughts of next fall. We will be starting the placement process in the elementary school soon. As is the district policy and best practice, we solicit information from parents in the process. Please remember that we are not always able to honor requests, as our goal is to develop balanced classrooms and we have limited rooms to place kids. This year, we are accepting feedback on the placement process through this form. We will close the form on May 8th. 

😀I have a favor to ask of you!  If you have a friend/neighbor/relative with a child who will be attending TPS for kindergarten, do me a favor and ask if they've registered yet!  Kindergarten registration is open and we are eagerly awaiting all registrations! 

🎵Mrs. LeMay has shared this folder for students in grades k-4 to practice for the big show coming up!  Check it out!

👀Please check the Electronic Blue Folder for new flyers for summer programs, the bike rodeo and more!  I also added May's specials calendar!

🎨From the Wachusett Art Academy (see the flyer in the Electronic Blue Folder): 

Dear Parents and Families,

We are excited to welcome your children back to the Wachusett Summer Art Academy! We are looking forward to another fun and creative summer filled with exciting opportunities for our young artists.

We are pleased to announce this year’s course offerings:

• (Grades 1-3) Faux Stained Glass and Mosaics

• (Grade 2-5) Up-Cycled Fashion Design

• (Grades 4-7) Interior Design and Architecture

• (Grades 6-9) Digital Design

Attached you will find a flyer with course descriptions, as well as a Google Form to register electronically.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, Brittany Kodys, Director of the Wachusett Summer Art Academy.

We look forward to a wonderful summer of creativity and learning!

Sincerely,
Brittany Kodys
Director, Wachusett Summer Art Academy

                                                                

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (5/4) - B Day
• Tuesday (5/5) - C Day
• Grades 3-8 Math MCAS
• Track Meet at Tahanto - 3:30
• Wednesday (5/6) - D Day
• Grades 3-8 Math MCAS
• Thursday (5/7) - E Day
• Friday (5/8) - F Day
• Wear Green Day for Mental Health Awareness Month!

4/17/26

🌞Happy Vacation TPS Families! It was a fun-filled week this week between Earth Day Clean Up, Earth Day, the first track meet and Spirit Week!  Let's not forget about the amazing weather - what a treat! 

💭The District has partnered with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission to understand the district's strengths and opportunities. We are aiming for 100% parent response rates to the survey so we can get as much information as possible to help us improve the district. Please take this survey and share your thoughts/experiences of the district. The survey will be left open through April 30th.

🍃A message from the STEAM Committee (check the Electronic Blue Folder for the design form): 

TPS Families- it's the time of year again where we are diligently planning our Annual TPS STEAM Night! We are looking forward to welcoming families to celebrate all things STEAM on Thursday, June 11th between 5:00-7:00p.m. As part of our annual tradition, we are seeking out the assistance of our TPS students to help design a logo for this year's event. Your student is invited to create an original design to help represent this year's theme of "Summer Camp". Directions are included on the t-shirt contest paperwork and submissions will be accepted until Tuesday, April 28th, 2026. Be on the lookout for future information regarding our STEAM Night merch in the coming weeks! Thank you so much for your support and we look forward to your student's submissions! 

👍Be sure to check out the Electronic Blue Folder for summer opportunities! We receive so many things to share and I am constantly updating it!

🌄Trails Update:  There is a team of WPI students who are working on the trails on the TPS grounds. The team would really appreciate your feedback  about the trails on THIS GOOGLE FORM.

A message from the PTA:

Hello from the TPS PTA! 

We had a very busy April and are excited to share what we’ve been up to thanks to the support of our families & community:

Celebrating:

• Community Reading Day (3/27): 19 community members joined us for a morning of reading and celebration. The event was fantastic and enjoyed by all. Check out the TPS Instagram for photos from the event!

• Craft Night (4/16): We had a fun and festive craft night in the TPS Library. Guided by Mrs. Leftwich, whose grandchildren attend TPS. Members of the PTA and attendees of the event made fabric garlands, which will be on offer at next year’s Holiday Shop. 

• Glow Dance (4/10): The TPS gym was hopping! We had a fantastic turnout of students and their grown ups for a night of dance and special activities. Special thanks to DJ Milheezy for providing the tunes!

• A Special Visit (4/10): Senator Durant visited the 8th grade for a special civics lesson. They learned more about how our government works and were able to ask questions to get real-time insights. 

• Spring Mini Grant Cycle: We had a tremendous amount of interest in our spring mini grant! The committee was delighted to approve all 15 requests! Items will begin arriving in classrooms in early May. 

As we head into the homestretch of the school year, here’s what’s coming up:

• Teacher Appreciation Week: May 18th - May 22th. Want to help? Email us to sign up!

• Fall Fundraiser Planning: A new fall fundraiser is underway. Want to get involved in early planning? Reach out here. 

Upcoming Meetings: TPS Library & via Zoom

• May: Wednesday, 5/27 at 6PM - Final meeting of the ‘25-’26 school year

• PTA elections will take place at this meeting. If you are interested in running for a Board position, please reach out to: tpsprincetonpta@gmail.com.  Together, we can make a meaningful difference for our school community. Thank you for your support!

                                                                

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (4/27) - C Day
• Tuesday (4/28) - D Day
• Wednesday (4/29) - E Day
• Track & Field Meet @ Littleton 3:30
• Thursday (4/30) - F Day
• Friday (5/1) - A Day
• TPS Spirit Day - Wear your TPS spirit wear or red/white/black!

4/10/26

🏴Today the middle school had the opportunity to meet with Senator Peter Durant.  Senator Durant was unable to attend Community Reading Day, but was able to stop by TPS today to talk to the middle schoolers about his role as Senator, make connections to what they are learning in Civics, and answer their questions.  It's always a cool experience to hear from a speaker like Senator Durant and to get an "insider" perspective on the day to day job of a local elected official.  The middle schoolers asked some great questions! Thank you to the PTA for helping to coordinate his visit!

A note from Mrs. LeMay for k-4 families: As you may have heard from your children, they have been working on performances in music class in preparation for our big end of year show! Grades K-2 will be putting on the show "Just Sing!", 3rd graders will be putting on a bucket drumming performance, and 4th graders will be holding their annual recorder concert. Both performances will be held in the TPS gymnasium Friday, June 5th: K-2 at 9:30 and 3-4 at 1:30. Families are encouraged to attend! Packets will be going home with your children next week with more details. Please reach out to Mrs. LeMay with any questions at brenda_lemay@wrsd.net! 

📅As promised, I have compiled the list of "Save the Date" events for the remainder of the school year.  I will add this to the Electronic Blue Folder and will update this list as things get scheduled and will continue to reference it over the course of the next 10 weeks.  Please note that events could change based on weather or for a variety of other reasons - but at least you have an idea of what is happening for the rest of the year! You can also check out the TPS calendar for event dates and information.  Here is a snapshot of the list for you to see here as well. 

4/16  PTA Meeting @ TPS - 6:00PM

4/20-4/24 April Vacation

5/5 & 5/6  Grades 3-8 Math MCAS

5/11 Early Release@ 11:55AM

5/12 & 5/13 Grades 5 & 8 STE MCAS

5/13 Middle School Music (Band & Chorus) Concert @ WRHS - 6:30PM

5/19 & 5/20 Grade 8 Civics MCAS

5/25 Memorial Day - No School

5/27 PTA Meeting @ TPS - 6:00PM

6/5 Music Performance Grades k-2 - 9:30AM

6/5 Music Performance Grades 3-4 - 1:30PM

6/11 STEAM Night  - 5:00-7:00PM

6/12 Field Day!

6/15 Kindergarten’s Last Day (it will change if there is another snow day)

6/16 8th Grade Graduation @ WRHS - 5:30  (it will be moved if there’s another snow day)

6/17 8th Grade Dance/Celebration - 5:30-8:00 (it will be moved if there’s another snow day)

6/19 Junteenth - No School

6/23 Last Day of School Grades 1-12 @ 11:55 AM (unless there is another snow day)

🌞The Student Council planned a Spirit Week for us for next week! Personally, I cannot wait for Adam Sandler day!

💬An update (and an invite) from the PTA!

The PTA invites you to Create & Connect with us on Thursday, April 16th at 6PM. Adults are invited to join the PTA in the TPS Library for craft night! Crafts will be guided by Mrs. Leftwich, whose grandchildren attend TPS. She graciously provides handmade goods for our Holiday Shop each year.

Drop in to craft, enjoy a snack, and say hello. Our monthly PTA meeting will follow for those who would like to stay. All are welcome!

🚑From the Nurse's Office: 

Dear 7th Grade Families,

During the week of April 27th, as required by state law, TPS is conducting a screening program related to the use of alcohol, marijuana, and other substances. The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) process will screen all 7th graders. All screenings will be conducted confidentially by our school nurse in private one-on-one sessions. We will utilize the CRAFFT screening tool, the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts. The goal of this program is to let the students know that we are available to reinforce healthy decisions and to assist them in obtaining support if needed for substance use-related problems.

If you would like to opt your student out of the screening, please fill out the form in this link and send it to the school nurse before 4/28/2026. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Karina at (978)464-5507 or email at Karina_Abbascia@wrsd.net. 

🌄Trails Update:  There is a team of WPI students who are working on the trails on the TPS grounds. Please read their message below. 

\Our team is a group of four undergraduate students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) completing a community-based research project through the Worcester Community Project Center. The team consists of Evonne Pham, Isaac DeMartino, Delia Jasper, and Joseph Aiello, and the project is advised by Laura Roberts. As part of this project, we are working with the Princeton Open Space Committee and local stakeholders to evaluate the existing Thomas Prince School trail system and develop recommendations for improving accessibility. Our work focuses on assessing trail conditions, researching trail material, and proposing improvements to make the trails more accessible. We are looking for data from those in the TPS community to inform our recommendations going forward. If you have questions, you may reach out to us at gr-d26.accessibletrails@wpi.edu or our faculty advisor Laura Roberts at lroberts@wpi.edu. 

They will be popping in to talk with 8th graders during their Library/MyCap class  to discuss and ask questions about the trails project, to talk about their roles in the project and their future careers. If you are a parent of an 8th grader and would like your child to not participate in this conversations/visit, please reach out to me via email.  

The team would really appreciate your feedback  about the trails on THIS GOOGLE FORM.

                                                                 

Electronic Blue Folder

Looking Ahead:

• Monday (4/13) - D Day
• Cozy Day
• Tuesday (4/14) - E Day
• ELA MCAS  Make Ups
• Spring Sports Day
• Wednesday (4/15) - F Day
• Monochrome Day
• Thursday (4/16) - A Day
• Dress like Adam Sandler Day
• Friday (4/17) - B Day
• Blue or Green Day
• Earth Day Clean Up