TPS Principal's Page

It was nice just to get back into the building this week. For a while, I was getting flashbacks to THE ice storm from years back. I'm so sorry that so many of you were without power. It was really sweet though to hear students come in on our abbreviated Wednesday sharing stories of their week. Many smiled while they talked about pulling out board games, snuggling by the fireplace, or even some family generator adventures. While outages are scary, they can also remind us of simpler times and give us a moment to unplug and just be together. All that being said, thank goodness it didn't take long to get the power back up!  In a similar vein, its difficult to roll out an electronic notification system while folks are without power. Now that everyone is back up and running, please take the time to login to SDM and set preferences. This supports all families and will be the primary communication venue for transportation changes, early dismissals, absences, and late arrivals. Once you...

As we focus on our dismissal process incorporating School Dismissal Manager, it seems like a good time to remind folks about a few procedures that have been getting loose. In the morning and in the afternoon, please don't pull up to the front doors until staff come out and wave you on. We need to leave this space available in the event emergency personnel need to get it. There is a fire lane there. Also, if you are bringing your students in after 8:25, please walk them in and sign them in. This includes times when you may have dismissed them for an appointment and are returning them. Thanks for helping us keep our systems running like clockwork! A note from Mrs. DiFonso: The new TPS Lego League is up and running!  I am so excited about the response and interest in the program!  Our coach and instructor, Jennifer Stander, has settled in nicely and has made the TPS STEAM Lab her new home!  I've had the opportunity to poke my head into a few of the sessions and the inge...

Our 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Dolat, has organized a building wide reading challenge this year. Our reading challenge is a great opportunity to expand horizons and broaden our knowledge. It allows students to delve into new worlds and explore different perspectives through the written word. Whether already an avid reader or an emerging one, this challenge is open to everyone. Participation can help improve reading skills, increase vocabulary, and stimulate minds. It can also be a fun and social activity, as they can discuss the books read with others as well. The reading challenge is a great way to enrich their lives through literature. You can learn more about the challenge and see staff recommendations here .  The state has recently released additional supports for student mental health. A Behavioral Health Help Line that people can call or text is 833-773-2445. This resource is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. The helpline can help individua...

I hope you all had an enjoyable break. The students sure seemed to. I'm happy to report they seemed to return mostly happy and mostly healthy! I'm happy to say that our absent list has dropped by a third in the new year which definitely starts us out on a happier and healthier new year!  In the new year, we brought back one old tradition. The return of bus buddies! One of the joys of being in a K-8 school is that our older students are able to interact with and support our younger ones. Bus buddies are a great example of this. We have several 8th grade volunteers who walk down to Kindergarten and 1st grade at the end of the day and help to make sure these young students make their way onto the bus. It's fun to watch the little ones follow eagerly behind our tallest students in admiration. It is a fun way to keep the community spirit up and it's great to see our 8th graders giving back.  Another opportunity afforded us this new year was the ability to join in our neighbo...