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Originally delivered on 8/25/2024 1:01 pm

SUBJECT: Welcome Back Bulldogs!

T/E Middle School

Aug 25th Newsletter

Cycle Day 1
Monday Aug. 26, 2024
Welcome back, Bulldogs!

We hope you had an amazing summer and are ready for an incredible 2024-25 school year! 

In this edition of the Blast:

  • Holidays at a glance
  • PTO Meetings
  • Join the PTO
  • Fall Sports
  • Chorus
  • Important Reminder from Nurse
  • Welcoming Committee meeting
  • Tips for navigating TEMS
  • Community News

Summer holidays may be over, but as parents, the planning never stops! If you're already eyeing those upcoming no-school days, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick peek at this school year's holidays and half-days. For starters, there is no school Labor Day, Monday Sep. 2nd.

As of now, June 12th, 2025, is the last day of school, and it’s a half-day. But keep in mind, this could change if we get snow days or any unexpected days off. 

PTO Meetings

All parents and teachers are welcome and encouraged to attend the monthly TEMS PTO meetings held at the school. TEMS Principal, Dr. Anthony DiLella, attends each meeting and shares valuable insights about the school. Meetings typically take place on the third Thursday of every month, except in December and June. 

Please mark your calendar with the PTO meeting dates for this academic year.

9/19/2410/17/2411/21/241/16/25
2/20/253/20/254/10/255/15/25

 If you happen to miss a meeting, the minutes from the previous month will be available on the TEMS PTO website after they’ve been approved at the following meeting.

Join the TEMS PTO!

We are always looking for parent volunteers to help with various PTO events throughout the year. Please visit our website for volunteering opportunities and if you can help please don't forget to complete the Volunteer Form online. For more information on volunteering and any clearances needed please check the volunteers guidelines. 

We will have some opportunities coming up soon, so definitely watch this space and the TEMS PTO website for updates. Your continued support is much appreciated! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at temspto@gmail.com

7th and 8th Grade Fall Sports

TEMS offers athletic programs that support the athletic and social development of our students. These programs are open to all 7th and 8th graders in accordance with PIAA guidelines. For more details, please visit the TEMS athletics page: https://www.tesd.net/Page/2394.

Fall sports start in September. Paperwork for any 7th and 8th grade students wanting to participate in a fall sport at TEMS is now available on the Powerschool Parent Portal. Athletics / Participation paperwork and injury information (tesd.net)

Chorus

For students signed up for chorus, please remember that practice will begin theweek of September 3rd. The 7th and 8th-grade chorus will meet on Thursday mornings, the 5th-grade chorus on Tuesday mornings, and the 6th-grade chorus on Friday mornings. For more details, please refer to the email from Mrs. Gyza that you should have received on Friday. 

Important reminders from the nurses!

-Please complete the Emergency Medical card under forms in Power School for EACH of your students

-For grade 6: Physical exams within one year are required per PA School Health Code. Please submit in Power School under forms- Physical Exam if possible or email to coaryl@tesd.net.

-For grade 7: students MUST submit documentation of MCV or Tdap PRIOR to the first day of school or risk exclusion. This is per state requirements. This can be done under forms- Proof of Immunization on Power School or emailed to coaryl@tesd.net.

-Additionally, students in 7th grade must have a dental exam within one year. Please download this information to Power School under Dental Exam or email to lallym@tesd.net.

-ALL medications, both daily & emergency, must be accompanied by doctor’s orders written after July 1, 2023, per PA School Health Code.

-Please email coaryl@tesd.net with any questions specifically pertaining to your student & their health needs.

Welcoming Committee Meeting

If you're new to the district, we warmly invite you to join the TEMS Welcoming Committee on Friday, September 6th, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Johnson Park in Berwyn. There’s no formal agenda—feel free to drop by at any time and stay as long as you like! This is a great chance to meet experienced district parents and connect with other new families. We are here to help answer your questions and ease your transition to the school and this community.

For any questions or to rsvp please email Karen at karenzamperini@gmail.com.

Tips for navigating TEMS

Stay in the loop!

Keep a lookout for this weekly highlights TEMS PTO Blast sent every Sunday afternoon. Checking Schoology and TEMS website are other ways you can be in the loop on what’s happening at TEMS.

Schoology
Kids use Schoology every day to see/submit their assignments, access electronic course materials, and get day-to-day announcements. Both you and your kids can sign up for notifications. There is also a Schoology App that both kids and parents can use!

TE Bulletin

The link to the district bulletin page is always included at the bottom as 'TE Bulletin' in Quick Links.


School Food Service

If you are not packing lunch visit the School Food Service webpage for breakfast/lunch options. Here is the lunch menu for August. Please note that School Food Service page link is always available, at the bottom of the Sunday newsletter, under quick links.

Follow this LINK to setup your online SchoolCafe account if you don't have one. 

Dropping off something to school

If you need to go to school to drop off anything your child forgot, then please keep the following in mind.

Dropped off items are to be left on the table in the secure vestibule. Always label items you are dropping, with your students grade and full name. 

Dropped off lunch is taken to cafeteria at 11 am so please make every effort to drop it off before 11 am. Also, remind your student that if they ever forget their lunch to look in the cafeteria at lunchtime. Remember that the cafeteria always has several options to order if ever needed. 


Attendance

Attendance is taken in homeroom which is at 8:27 am. End of last period is at 3:10 pm on full days and 12:17 pm on half days.

All attendance communication goes through the attendance email at temattendance@tesd.net. Please email if your student will be late to school from an appointment, is leaving early due to an appointment, or is absent due to illness, appointment, or family emergency. 

Here are the guidelines on this given by the school.

Early pickup

There will be days when you have to pickup your child early either for an appointment or an emergency. Please email temattendance@tesd.net and ask your child to stop by the office to pick up an early dismissal pass. If you send in a handwritten note, have your child drop it off in the office in the morning and they will get an early dismissal slip. Remind your child that once they have the dismissal slip they should come to the main office per given time. When you arrive for pickup, park your car in a parking spot and enter the secure vestibule by ringing the bell. Your child will be brought out to you at the requested time. 

Remember to account for Conestoga High School traffic if you are planning on picking up your child close to end of school day.

Late drop-off

If your child will be late, please send an email to the attendance office at (temattendance@tesd.net) stating what time they will arrive and the reason they will be late. On arrival students should ring the bell to be buzzed in and go to the main office to receive hall pass.

Excused Absence

If you are traveling with your student and they will not be attending school for one or more days, please complete the Request for Excused Absence for Educational Travel and submit it to temattendance@tesd.net.  


Traffic Flow

Here are some reminders from school administration. 

For families driving their student to school: There will be traffic delays so plan accordingly. Remember homeroom begins at 8:27 a.m. Please DO NOT block ‘the box’ on Conestoga Road when entering and leaving the TEMS parking lot. All car traffic should enter the main one-way parking lot at the second left and follow all instructions by the security guard. Kindly pull up all the way in the drop off line in the parking lot. Please do not drive through the bus circle at any time! 

Don't forget to watchout for student walkers crossing through the parking lot!

For students riding the bus to school: Be prepared for delays for the first few weeks. Please be patient and kind to your bus driver as they navigate new routes. Call transportation at 610-240-1680 if you have any concerns or questions regarding buses.

Upcoming Events
Monday, August 26
First day of school for grades 1-12
Monday, September 2
No School
Friday, September 6
4:30p Welcoming Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 10
8:30a TEMS- Health Screenings
Wednesday, September 11
8:30a TEMS- Health Screenings
Friday, September 13
5:30p TEMS- PTO "Break the Ice" Social
Thursday, September 19
9:30a TEMS- PTO Meeting
7:00p TEMS- Gr. 7/8 Curriculum Night
Community News

Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships are offerring local residents the opportunity to responsibly recycle obsolete electronics on Saturday, September 21th, 2024. Registration is required. Please click on this link for more details and to register :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/electronics-recycling-day-anything-with-a-plug-tickets-948966463237?aff=oddtdtcreator

Disclaimer: TEMS PTO is not responsible for the activities or events of outside organizations. Local community organizations that primarily serve TEMS students may submit a request to have information posted in the Community Links section of the PTO Blast by sending an email to temspto@gmail.com.

Quick Links
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