MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

As you may know, our theme for October is compassion, one of many core values woven into the fiber of who we are at Tuxedo Park School. Within our warm, welcoming community, we support many different strengths, needs, and interests while teaching students to be kind, to show sympathy towards others. With this compassionate approach, our students feel recognized; they feel safe to take risks, encouraging one another to share their diverse perspectives and intellectual curiosities. Our mission statement declares we "celebrate each student," and we embrace the responsibility to abide by this truth.

With compassion at our core, we believe in building a learning community for our students that is grounded in meaningful, interpersonal connections with classmates and teachers. We extend this belief and custom to all students, no matter the year in which they join us.

With that in mind, I want to share a letter from the family of a 2018 graduate.

"Discovering TPS was life-changing for our son and our family. We come from long public school lineages, and the small, independent school concept was quite foreign to us. But one day, our son Alex came home from his large, frenetic public middle school and said: "Mom, Dad … I need to go to a smaller school." Thankfully, a friend recommended TPS.

Alex loves to learn and is a dedicated student, but he began losing his close connection with learning in public middle school. The large class sizes and anxiety-provoking din were not right for him.

Tuxedo Park School was very right.

There is a unique and transformative magic to TPS. We felt it immediately. From the quietly confident way students came to the door of each classroom to welcome us on our visit, to Mrs. McManus giving Alex his own tour and jumping right into discussions of how he likes to learn and how she could help, we knew we'd struck gold.

In his brief two years at TPS, Alex blossomed academically and personally. He had been losing his close connection with learning and needed a change. TPS's small class sizes, mature learning environment, community-based on social kindness, and the amazing extracurriculars (especially Mr. Donaldson's incredible trip to Africa) changed his life.

Case in point … Alex loves science and loves to ask challenging questions about everything science. In his public middle school, he complained that his teacher's regular response to his queries was "Not now, Alex." In a class of almost 30 kids, she didn't have time for questions. Not one to be daunted, Alex continued to ask lots of science questions at TPS. But instead of receiving a brush off, Alex received the Upper School Science Award … and was lauded by Mrs. Bryk for asking so many questions.

That's what learning should be about. For us, that's what TPS is about. Thank you."

We are so fortunate to have met Kathy and Dave Slomin, and it was a joy serving Alex throughout his upper school years. In my time as the head of school at TPS, I have heard many similar stories from our families whose children have benefited from the academic, emotional, and social experiences in our great school.

As we prepare our students for secondary school, college, and life, we are committed to providing a curriculum that encourages citizenship through acts of compassion, social justice, peace, environmental stewardship, inclusion, and kindness toward others. We believe this will provide our students with leadership qualities that will help them go out and serve society.

"Love and Compassion are Necessities." –the Dali Lama

Todd Stansbery

Head of School

MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE HEAD FOR ACADEMICS

Tuxedo Park School takes pride in developing the whole child, paying attention not just to academic success, but the components necessary to achieve that success with a healthy body and mindset. Various studies have proven different positive effects on brain function when children engage in high-volume exercise. Findings include improved long-term retention and improved executive functioning, which impacts student learning and success. Physical activity has been proven to result in better attention, increased on-task behaviors and improved academic performance. 

Physical Education
In an effort to ensure we design a well-rounded curriculum, we purposefully schedule physical activity throughout each student's school day. Preschool through fifth-grade students partake in physical education class 3-4 times a week. During these sessions they learn how their muscles function by way of isolating exercises, then how multiple muscles work together to form big movements such as jumping, running and pushups. Our teachers discuss health and the importance of a balanced lifestyle. They learn to cooperate with one another through a variety of games and are introduced to different sports in order to support students in discovering their interests. They spend this time developing self-control, self-awareness, and self-confidence.

Recess
All students attend recess for 30 minutes each day. During this time, we give students the freedom to creatively engage in physical activity and exploration with their peers through unstructured play, which researcher Sergio Pellis claims "plays a critical role in regulating emotions, making plans and solving problems."

Athletics
Starting in sixth grade, and through ninth, students are required to participate in team athletics. Offerings include a wide variety of sports, such as, but not limited to: tennis, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, yoga, basketball, squash, and lacrosse. Students not only get an hour of intense physical activity, but our coaches also embed the importance of sportsmanship, team building, compromise, support and working towards a common goal.

Wellness

More than just physical activity, this year we are redesigning our wellness program. While we will maintain aspects of the traditional health course that has been in place for decades, it is important to adjust to changing times and our new generation of youth.  Studies are showing children are feeling more stress and anxiety, and don't have the strategies to cope with those emotions.  Our wellness program will teach students how to self-assess their emotional state and they will learn skills such as goal-setting, organization, prioritization and meditation, to manage those sentiments.  The curriculum will also coach students on how to engage in healthy relationships, building communication habits that sustain those relationships.

Academic rigor and achievement are important, but it is not sustainable without students of strong mind and body. Current research conveys the importance of physical and emotional wellbeing on brain development, self-control, and cognitive function. It is our job to provide an environment and wholistic education that incorporates all imperative qualities to develop confident and successful citizens.

Serena Mueller

Associate Head of School for Academics

SERVICE AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Students from the greater Tuxedo community came together this week for a service project to help provide healthy food options to local children. 

Tuxedo Park School eighth- and ninth-graders met-up with George F. Baker High School eighth-grade students at the George Grant Mason School to unload, sort and store donated food items. 

The food items were donated by Tuxedo Park School families during September. In the joint effort, Baker and TPS students unloaded and neatly stocked the shelves of the elementary school pantry.

"Our students jumped at the opportunity to join forces with Baker High School students," said service program coordinator Kate Vignola, who also is a TPS French teacher. "The whole school gets behind this food drive because they know how important it is that children to come to school on Monday focused on learning, not hunger."

The Tuxedo School District provides the food items to local families who qualify for the reduced/free lunch program. These food donations provide students with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food they need to get enough to eat on the weekend. 

"It's community based outreach between two schools that we hope to see continue to grow year after year," said Diane Petrosky, former school board member and longtime backpack program volunteer. "It's amazing to see children helping children."

Petrosky expects the donation made by Tuxedo Park School to last into December. She will restock the supply as required by using fund raiser money conducted by other local organizations.

Ninth-grade student Piper Jenkins said: "I feel so fortunate to have the privilege of helping others while at TPS at the same time working with students from Tuxedo and getting to know them."

During the school day on Fridays, eligible students are provide a backpack of food items to last them the weekend. Hence the name, Backpack Program.

PARENTS ASSOCIATION

There's a lot going on this fall and plenty of opportunities to volunteer.  

Be on the look out for Sign-Up Genius links to get involved.

Stock the Fridge

Opportunities to Volunteer

Oct. 12 

PS Harvest Festival

Oct. 31   

Halloween parties

Nov. 14-20 

Book Fair

Nov.16 

Harvest Feast

Nov.18 

Pie baking 

Nov. 20 

Grandparents Day

Nov. 24 

Decorating

Dec. 19 

Holiday breakfasts

Jan. 18  

MS Mystery Night

Feb. 14

Valentine's parties

Feb. 28 & March 1

Musical

March 19

International Lunch

May TBD 

Teacher Appreciation Lunch

May 4  

Benefit set-up

May 23 

Sports Banquet

May 24  

Second-grade parent lunch 

Check out the TPS calendar for more important dates

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLAIRHAME HISTORY TOUR AND DINNER

Join Mr. Stansbery and Mrs. Duffy for the Blairhame History Tour Dinner on Oct.13, 6-8 p.m. at the school. Children will watch a slideshow detailing the construction of the school in 1915, hear anecdotes about the Blair family and the house we now call our school, take a tour of the 'secret school,' enjoy dinner and set out on a scavenger hunt around Blairhame.

This event is a TPS benefit related item, which is now open to all students. The price is $100 and is limited to 20 children. Contact Fiona Duffy.

Please dress for dinner!

GREEN AND GOLD AND PINK

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  TPS faculty and staff will wear pink on Oct. 24 to honor cancer survivors and those fighting breast cancer.  This will help raise awareness about steps we can take to reduce the risk of breast cancer.  One of the best weapons in the fight against this disease is early detection.  Pink serves as a reminder of this.

To broaden our impact and empower students to feel capable of affecting change in their community, we invite them to join us in this effort.  On this day, TPS students are encouraged to replace one of their regular uniform items with something pink.  This small gesture can have a profound impact.  Each pink sweater, shirt, tie, headband, skirt, or sock sends a message -- a message that we care, a message of the importance of early detection, a message of support, a message of the power of young people to be agents of change. 

Help us spread this message as far and wide as we can.  Please join us on the 24th.  All it takes is a little pink!  Pink socks will be available in the TPS store, Bear Necessities, starting on Oct. 17!  Socks will be $5.

Let's help raise awareness! 

GRANDPARENTS DAY

Grandparents Day is Tuesday, Nov. 20 (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving).

This is a very important day for students, and the school encourages
grandparents to attend. If a child does not have a grandparent who can attend, they may invite a relative or friend to come as their "grand
friend." Grandparents gather for breakfast and learn more about TPS by visiting classrooms, enjoying a music concert, and watching students in
action. Classroom activities are planned so that grandparents can work together with the children.

Please email Chris Watts by Oct. 20 with the updated names and addresses of grandparents and ALL addresses of Grand friends as we do not keep their addresses in our database. We will use the same list of grandparents as last year unless Chris hears from you.

Due to space restrictions, parents may only attend the day as event volunteers so please sign up to help, if interested.

GOLF CLASSIC

The 26th TPS Classic was a great success thanks to the enthusiasm and tireless effort of parent chairs, Jodi and Chris Huntington and their myriad of volunteers. From soliciting and gifting donations for the raffle baskets, setting up on the day, playing in the ladies clinic, attending the dinner or sitting on the Hole in One, our parent volunteers fully engaged and ensured a great time for all of our golfers- and a very good day for the tuition assistance program at TPS.

To our sponsors Sonicor, MindCentric, M&T Bank, Cadillac, the Huntington and Decossard families, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for their generosity and commitment to TPS, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!

FALL DECORATING

On a beautiful fall morning a small, but hardy, group of parent volunteers gathered at Blairhame to decorate TPS for the autumn season.

Thank you to Monica Baez, Aime and Kennedy Simeus, Lindsay Quistgaard (Brescia), Valentina and Walter Van Poucke for adding such color and cheeriness to our school- the students and faculty love it!

SPRING BREAK 2019 THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Did you know that Blue Footed Boobies Dance?

This year's spring break trip is nine days.  It includes Ecuador, San Cristobal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz Islands. This is a science based trip, highlights are a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center, a volcano walk, snorkeling, the chance to see and interact with wild life that is not afraid of humans, and a chance to stand on both sides of the equator a once! Contact Megan Sweeney for details.

© 2018 Tuxedo Park School