OTS Updates 2023-24

From the Desk of Dr. Mitchell

September 29, 2023

Dear Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),

Please know that this newsletter and previous newsletters will be archived on this website.  Please click the tab at the top of the page called Archived Letters. 

This week our Board of Education approved a series of clubs for our OTS students.  Please click here or the link below to register your child for clubs.  Please note that the Homework Helper/Tutoring club is a drop-in club.  A student does not need to come weekly to be a member.  They come when they need help in a class, with homework, or a project.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPfSdg3RzgBFG9MrstDdgZZ2QrHmeerdvm9z04QwDbt45_HA/viewform

Please visit the Clubs at OTS page to see and learn more.

We have updated our website to include some more information on sports.  Click here to access our OTS sports page.  Below this letter, I will post this link permanently so you can always access OTS sports information from OTS Updates!

This week our Board of Education also approved Caroline Wernicki to be the Library Clerk at OTS for four days and one day at TES.  We are very excited to have this former OTS student working with us.  Caroline will allow us to maximize the use of our library/media center.  Teachers will now be able to use this space for research, taking out books, and other unique learning opportunities.   Caroline will be assisting students and teachers with using this space.  

Please know that at OTS we take the social and emotional well-being of our students very seriously. We have our Advisory program where students have a teacher Advisor to help them navigate the challenging times students may have in middle school.  It also is a time for building relationships through play, check-ins, discussions, games, and various contests.  Students at OTS also have the opportunity to seek out guidance from our School Counselor Mary Cutri-French and our School Social Worker Sara Femiano.  In the end, I am very thankful for the caring community of teachers and staff we have here at OTS that are committed to helping our students grow into the people we want them to become academically, socially, and emotionally.  

Lastly, this week we elected our Student Government who will be serving our school and community in various ways.  

President - Cooper Puppe

Vice President - Deanna Pentz

Secretary - Emily Scala

Treasurer - Julliette Glommeau

Thanks to all the students who ran for office and did not get elected.  It takes courage to put one's self out there.  We also selected our 8th grade Peer Leaders this week who will be helping out OTS students through tutoring services and other endeavors.  Providing middle schoolers opportunities to lead is one of the most important things we value in this community and can be expressed in countless other ways beyond just Student Government and Peer Leaders.

Have a nice weekend!!

Dr. Mitchell

OTS UPCOMING EVENTs/Reminders

October 2-5 Week of Respect

October 4 8th Grade Parent Meeting (10am and 6pm)

October 6 Picture Day (forms being sent home October 3)

October 9 School Closed for Students

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One of the ways Mrs. Cutri-French, the school counselor, connects with our students is through "Guidance Lunches".   These are one time, small group lunches organized by homerooms which are casual, low-key "getting to know each other" experiences for every student.   Students may talk about their school year, outside activities, offer opinions, explore objects in the guidance office or even play a game of (magnetic) darts!

A few students may initially be reluctant to participate, typically 1)  because they don't want to be away from the social scene in the cafeteria, 2) because they won’t be with their best friends or 3) because it is unfamiliar. 

Most students, though, come away telling others that it was fun!  We encourage you to help your child push through any initial discomfort because of the overall benefits they get when they are comfortable accessing this school resource. If you have any questions, or want to discuss this further,  feel free to call Mrs. Cutri-French at (908) 439-2010 ext 4230.  

The New Jersey Department of Education has opened the application process for the 2023-2024 Governor's Educator of the Year Program.  Please take some time to nominate a teacher and/or educational services professional that has made an impact on your family or the school.

A selection committee will select one teacher and one educational services professional from Tewksbury Elementary School and one teacher and one educational services professional from Old Turnpike School.

Please see the link below for the  nomination form.

Nomination Form

To nominate a teacher and/or an educational services professional, please complete the nomination form and return it to the building Principal by November 8, 2023.

Our school management software program is called Realtime. The data contained in Realtime is used as the preferred method of communication for mass emails from the district, text messages, and voice messages. This information is used for emergency situations like weather delays, school closing, etc. Please keep this information updated. You will be requested to review and update your contact information and to whom and how you want information sent. 

Please know you cannot access your child’s schedule without having completed all necessary forms.  If you are having trouble accessing the portal, please contact our front office;  dkrowl@tewksburyschools.org

Please note that E&R  will once again be wrapped around lunch and NOT at the end of the day.

Dress Code

I want parents to be aware of our updated Board of Education policy 5511.  Please review the following examples of unacceptable attire with your children and cooperate with our staff in helping enforce this policy. Parents may be contacted to make the required changes for dress code violations:

1. Clothing that is too revealing;

2. Clothing that may damage school property including, but not limited to, cleats, shoes, or boots that leave black marks;

3. Clothing that may be unsafe such as flip-flops, thong sandals, untied sneakers or boots, un-strapped straps or suspenders;

4. Clothing that has designs, wording, or patches that are offensive, including, but not limited to, alcohol/drug advertising and obscenities or sayings that are offensive to certain groups;

5. Clothing that is too short;

6. For health and safety reasons, students are to refrain from marking on themselves or each other with pens, pencils, etc.; and

7. Jewelry must be removed prior to entering the gymnasium for physical education class. This includes earrings, stud earrings, watches, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and anything else that the teacher feels could be considered a potential safety hazard.

Students will not be getting changed for Physical Education (PE) and should wear comfortable clothes they can run around in as well as sneakers on the days they have PE. PE is three days a week for each student at OTS.

You will receive an email in the near future with your child’s bus assignment from the district’s transportation coordinator, Bob Hoffman (bhoffmanjr@tewksburyschools.org)

Student buses will arrive at the front of the school and students will enter through the front doors.  Teachers will be there to guide new students to their Advisory/Homeroom the first week of school.

Dismissal will be at 2:30pm and students taking the bus will go to their lockers and leave the school to their assigned bus.

If you choose to drive your child to school, please use the diagram below.  Parents need to remain in their cars. Students can be dropped off no earlier than 7:15 AM and must be in their Advisory/homeroom by 7:35 AM. Students arriving after 7:40 AM may be marked tardy. 

Below is a diagram for Procedures for Drop-off.

Parents who are picking up their students by car will arrive by 2:25pm. Please write your child’s first and last name in large print and legibly on a paper plate or card stock piece of paper. 

If you are going to pick up your child early from school, please inform the office by an email to Dee Krowl dkrowl@tewksburyschools.org or a call to Dee Krowl at 908-439-2010 ext. 4221. Below is a diagram for Procedures for Pick Up.

All students taking home devices must purchase insurance. The cost of insurance for your child’s Chromebook for the year is $25.  Please bring a check made out to Tewksbury Township Board of Education or TTBOE.  For more information about the insurance policy, please click here.

For the 2023-2024 school year, homework will not be assigned to students during the following dates and no assessment will be given on the day they return to school

• Rosh Hashanah (September 15 through September 17)

• Yom Kippur (September 22 through September 25)

• Thanksgiving Recess (November 22 through November 26)

• Winter Recess (December 22 through January 1)

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 12 through January 15)

• Presidents’ Day weekend (February 16 through February 19)

• Spring Recess (March 28 through April 5)

• Memorial Day Weekend (May 24 through May 28)

Every OTS student will have a locker this year. We expect students to keep their lockers locked with their own lock or a school  provided lock. 

Students should not leave any food or water overnight in their lockers.

We will have important school information and the school activities calendar updated regularly on the OTS school website. Please visit this site often. We also have an OTS Updates website which will also provide regular information and updates. Lastly, we will share announcements and highlights on our school Twitter feed.  Please follow Old Turnpike School (@OTS_Principal), as well as our district (@TewksburySchool) to stay on top of daily and/or weekly highlights!  Here is the link to the website with the embedded OTS Twitter feed: Link to OTS Website

Click on the document above to learn how to help!

As a reminder, Tewksbury Township Schools uses our Virtual Backpack to share things happening in and around our community.  Click here to see what's going on!