Tuesday, December 23, 2025

12/23/25

 Happy Vacation TPS Families!  Today's Wrap-Up is short! 

📦We had a blast this afternoon gathering as an entire school in the gym for the "Stack Attack Challenge". There were 9 teams of staff and students who had one minute to build the highest tower of cardboard boxes as possible. It sounds easy, but it wasn't! LOL.  Students used their Tommy Tickets to enter the raffle to participate.  It was a lot of fun.  Thank you to the families who helped us out with boxes!  

💰I wanted to make you aware that last week we had a shopper use some play money at the Holiday Shop. Unfortunately, it was not caught at the register. It's a teachable moment for us all and an opportunity to talk to your kids about money and finances! 


📅The January Family Calendar (with specials days) has been uploaded in the Electronic Blue Folder!

🎊Wishing you and yours a very Happy Holiday & Happy New Year! Enjoy the time spent with family and friends in the days ahead.  I'll look forward to seeing everyone in 2026 (on January 5th)!


                                                                



Looking Ahead:

  • Friday (1/2) Friday - NO SCHOOL
  • Monday (1/5) - A Day
  • Tuesday (1/6) - B Day
    • Girls Basketball Home Game @ 3:30
    • Boys Basketball Home Game @ 4:30
  • Wednesday (1/7) - C Day
  • Thursday (1/8) - D Day
    • Girls Basketball Home Game @ 3:30
    • Boys Basketball Home Game @ 4:30
  • Friday (1/9) - E Day
    • TPS Spirit Day (Wear your TPS Gear or red/black/white)



Friday, December 19, 2025

12/19/25

💖I'd like to thank the PTA and volunteers for an amazing week at the Holiday Shop.  I loved seeing all grade levels shopping for their loved ones and picking out just the right gifts.  I am sure the holidays will be filled with the smiles provided by your Warrior's thoughtfulness!  It was a lot of work to organize and set up the shop and the PTA deserves a HUGE thank you! 

The PTA does so much for TPS! My goal in the new year is to share with families just what they do!  I will share details on the recent Mini-Grant Recipients and how our Warriors benefit from their generosity and involvement in our school.  New members and meeting attendees are encouraged! Check out the TPS calendar online to find out when the next meeting takes place!  Your input and presence is really appreciated!


🏀This week, our boys and girls basketball teams opened their seasons against Central Tree Middle School and Mountview Middle School.  The competition was tough, but I could not have been prouder of all of the Warriors out on the court!   On Monday 12/22, we host Luther Burbank for our home opener. I'd love to pack the stands with fans and spirit for our teams! The boys play at 3:30 and the girls play at 4:30.  I know they'd love your support!  If your child in grades 5-8 is staying after for the game, please update School Dismissal Manager as "Basketball Game Spectator". Students in grades k-4 will need to attend with an adult. 

📁Do you know what the Electronic Blue Folder is? It occurred to me that we have many new families at TPS who might not know what it is or where to find it!  The Electronic Blue Folder is a digital "take home folder" that contains important information and recent notices from the school, local organizations, PTA and so on.  This electronic folder takes the place of sending home many paper copies of notices.  The link to the folder can be found at the bottom of every one of my weekly wrap-ups. 

📆Mark your calendars!  The middle school band and chorus concert will be held on February 3rd at WRHS. The graphic to the right has more information, however a larger version can also be found in the Electronic Blue Folder! These musicians and their teachers have been working hard - it's bound to be a great performance!

🎒During recent eighth grade visits to Wachusett Regional High School, students had the opportunity to explore some of the opportunities available to them as future Mountaineers. Wachusett offers a wide range of pathway options designed to help students discover interests, build skills, and prepare for college and career success.

These pathways align closely with MyCAP, helping students make intentional connections between their interests, coursework, and long term goals. From business and health sciences to engineering, computer science, education, the arts, and more, Wachusett provides flexible options that support both exploration and deeper specialization over time.

We encourage families to review this Pathways overview together and use it as a conversation starter about high school planning, future aspirations, and the many opportunities available within Wachusett. Check out the flyer in the Electronic Blue Folder!

Have a great weekend!


                                                                



Looking Ahead:

  • Monday (12/22) - E Day 
    • Cozy Day (Wear your favorite seasonal PJs!)
    • Boys Basketball Home Opener @ 3:30
    • Girls Basketball Home Opener @ 4:30
  • Tuesday (12/23) - F Day
    • Feelin' Festive Day (Wear something festive!)
    • PBIS Assembly for students and staff at 2:00
  • Wednesday 12/24 - Sunday 1/4 - Winter Break (Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!)
  • Monday (1/5) - A Day
  • Tuesday (1/6) - B Day
    • Girls Basketball Home Game @ 3:30
    • Boys Basketball Home Game @ 4:30
  • Wednesday (1/7) - C Day
  • Thursday (1/8) - D Day
    • Girls Basketball Home Game @ 3:30
    • Boys Basketball Home Game @ 4:30
  • Friday (1/9) - E Day
    • TPS Spirit Day (Wear your TPS Gear or red/black/white)


Friday, December 12, 2025

12/12/25

🛒Next week is the PTA's Holiday Shop!  Check out the schedule to see when your child will be shopping!  Please also check the Electronic Blue Folder for the flyer pictured below and a shopping budget list attached! Thank you to the PTA for organizing this! 

Also, please join them at their meeting on 12/15 at 6:00! We'll be setting up for the shop immediately following! 


😂On Tuesday we celebrated the 67th day of school with a "Six Seven" spirit day!  Some students and staff came to school in full six seven spirit! It was fun to see!  Students also participated in a fun six seven activity.  While the immensely popular phrase is so silly, we all enjoyed embracing it and having fun with the kids! 


🏥Nurse Karina had her baby over Thanksgiving break!  Congratulations Nurse Karina!  Lavinia Hand will be our substitute nurse until Karina returns in March.  We are so thankful to have someone covering our office who has been a consistent sub and has a great understanding of TPS and students!  Should you need to reach out to her, her email address is lavinia_hand@wrsd.net !

🧥The Lost and Found is full! Please stop by and check out the many items on the racks or ask your child to check!  I plan on donating items over vacation. 

🏀From WRHS: The Wachusett Girls' Basketball will be unveiling their 2024-2025 Championship Banner at our girls' basketball game vs. Leominster on Friday, January 9. Game time is 6:00 pm, and we will unveil the banner just prior to tip-off.  We are hoping for a packed gym to help our girls' celebrate this tremendous achievement! It will also be "Middle School Night"! Any student dressed in either Wachusett gear or their Middle School gear that comes to the game with a paid adult will receive free admission to the game! Check out the flyer in the Electronic Blue Folder for more details!

📦I am in search of large cardboard boxes for a TPS-wide assembly challenge. If you have any you'd like to part, let me know (bethanne_difonso@wrsd.net)!  It's a busy season for packages, so I thought perhaps I'd ask!

🕯 Happy first night of Hannukah (on Sunday) for our TPS Families who celebrate!

Have a wonderful weekend!

                                                                



Looking Ahead:

  • Monday (12/15) - F Day
    • PTA Meeting @ 6:00 w/ Holiday Shop set up to follow
  • Tuesday (12/16)  - A Day
    • Holiday Shop
    • 8th grade trip to WRHS
    • Boys (4:30) and Girls (3:30) Basketball Games @ Central Tree 
  • Wednesday (12/17) -  B Day
    • Holiday Shop
  • Thursday (12/18) - C day
    • Holiday Shop
    • Boys (4:30) and Girls (3:30) Basketball Games @ Mountview 
  • Friday (12/19) - D Day
    • TPS Spirit Day - Wear your TPS gear or red and black!
  • Monday (12/22) - Cozy Day (Wear your favorite seasonal PJs!)
  • Tuesday (12/23) - Feelin' Festive Day (Wear something festive!)

Friday, December 5, 2025

12/5/25

🚓The ALICE drill went well today! Students and staff did a great job!  This was our first drill of the year.  Due to the outside conditions we practiced barricading and locking down.   As the weather changes, we'll practice evacuating too.  Thank you to the PPD and the PFD for their support on these drills!

🎨The deadline for Square 1 Art has been extended until Monday!  Order by end of day TODAY to guarantee holiday delivery! 

                                                         

⭐Don't forget that Monday 12/8 is a half day for teacher professional development. Dismissal begins at 11:55.

📆Day 67 of school is now 12/9! We will make 12/9  our six seven spirit day! 

✅Report Cards for students in kindergarten through grade five go live this afternoon.  You should have received an email from the District regarding how to view the report card.  A PDF will be emailed to you, but you can also view it online (not the app) at https://wrsd.powerschool.com. Information on the report card (and how to interpret standard based grades) can be found in the Electronic Blue Folder!

🥼An update from the STEAM Classroom & Ms. Nowd!

Last week, to go along with our Structure and Function module, the kindergarten students started building houses made from a material from the book TheThree Little Pigs. The Big Bad Wolf is scheduled to stop by soon to help test out their structures! 

The 4th and 5th graders are exploring the senses as part of our module on the brain. This week we tested out our sense of touch and smell using mystery bags and scent packets. Do you think you could guess what you're feeling or smelling without being able to actually see it? They did a pretty impressive job!

🚪In case you missed my recent message about after school building access.  Due to staffing changes in the Extended Day, after school building access hours will be limited.  If your child is in a program (that is not extended day)/on a team which takes place after school, you will have to wait outside for your child to be released/dismissed.  Moving forward, the individual/coach in charge of the various after school programs/teams will be sure to communicate/reiterate this change to the families of their enrolled students. 

Have a great weekend!

                                                                



Looking Ahead: 

  • Monday (12/8) - A Day
    • Half Day/Early Release @ 11:55
  • Tuesday (12/9)  - B Day
    • Six Seven Spirit Day
  • Wednesday (12/10) - C Day
  • Thursday (12/11) - D day
  • Friday (12/12) - E Day

12/23/25

 Happy Vacation TPS Families!  Today's Wrap-Up is short!  📦We had a blast this afternoon gathering as an entire school in the gym for t...