Taconic Hills Central School District

The Taconic Hills Little League is hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser!⚾️🥞🥎 When? Saturday, June 22 from 8AM-11AM Where? Copake Memorial Park, 305 Mountain View Rd Copake NY 12516 Cost? Adults $10 Donation, Kids 12 & Under $5 Donation Checks should be made out to Taconic Hills Little League. Any questions or interest in buying tickets should contact Ryan Proper at rproper7@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting our little league athletes!

Attention all Elementary Students! The Elementary PTO is hosting a "Principal for a Day" raffle! 🍎✏️ There will be 2 lucky winners: one from grades PK-3 to shadow Principal Backlund, and another from grades 4-6 to shadow Principal D'Amico. Tickets are $1 each or 15 tickets for $10. They can be purchased online here: https://neartail.com/sm/T8ZmYCN-f , or by cash or check from Mrs. Flores in the library. The winners will be drawn on June 12, and they will become Principals for a Day on June 14th! Contact taconichillspto@gmail.com with any questions. Good Luck!

The 2024-25 District Wide School Safety Plan is available for review and public comment. There is a 30 day public comment period. Please complete this google form with any questions or comments: https://forms.gle/a9BZDgNuUh6gjo4t7 View the plan here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L5bozGaV8lIAsL_3fM9D1M8r7OkIGRUY/view

You're Invited!🧬🧪🦠 The Science Research Program is hosting their 18th Annual Symposium on Tuesday, May 28 at 7PM in the Performing Arts Center. Science Research students will be sharing their research work through posters and speaker presentations. 2018 Taconic Hills Graduate Grace Howard will be the Keynote Speaker at this event. Light refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!

A huge congratulations to our faculty members that received tenure at last night's Board of Education Meeting! 🧡🥳 Congratulations to: - Brianna Beebe, Math Teacher - Jennifer Berry, School Counselor - Veronica Burley, School Psychologist - Suzanne Kukon, Elementary Teacher Also pictured are: - Lynnette Brunger, Superintendent of Schools - Bonnie Torchia, Board of Education President - Dr. Jennifer Eraca, Director of Pupil Personnel Services - Laura Backlund, Grades PK-3 Principal

AQUATIC & FITNESS CENTER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2024 HOURS Friday, May 24: CLOSED Saturday, May 25: OPEN 9AM-1:45PM Sunday, May 26: CLOSED Monday, May 27: CLOSED Regular Hours will resume on Tuesday, May 28. Thank you!

Please see the 2024-2025 District Budget Vote & School Board Election results below. Thank you to all who voted!

The 2024-2025 District Budget Vote & School Board Member Election is from 12PM - 9PM in our Veterans Community Room, located in the High School (left entrance of building). Come out and vote, your vote matters! The Elementary Learning Fair celebration is from 4:30PM-6:30PM in the Elementary Library for all Elementary families! Come view the outstanding projects, and enjoy some ice cream! The National Honor Society is hosting a bake sale from 12PM-5PM outside of the Veterans Community Room. There are delicious baked goods from brownies to cookies to small pound cakes. They are raising money for NHS activities next year!

Congratulations to this week's Titan Strong winners!!

year! 🥳 https://www.taconichills.k12.ny.us/page/honor-roll

Dear Parents/Guardians: Please note that Monday, June 24th will now be a half day for students PreK-8.

Dear Taconic Hills Families & Community: Spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) eggs are hatching, and small caterpillars are all around. These caterpillars are barely noticeable right now, and are covered in tiny hairs. By July, these caterpillars will be a few inches long, and by the end of the summer will turn into the moths that we saw everywhere last year as well. The tiny hairs on these caterpillars carry histamines that can cause an itchy, red rash. Usually, the rash goes away on its own within a day or two, but people with a severe sensitivity may need to use a cortisone cream to ease their symptoms. The New York State Education Department Guidelines for Medication management in Schools states that medication cannot be administered to students without a doctor’s prescription. While this prevents our nursing staff from administering cortisone cream to most students with these rashes, they have been providing vaseline and lotion to students who visit with severe symptoms. Under amendments to the State Education law Section 409-K and Social Services Law Section 390-G, no school or day care center can apply pesticides to any playgrounds, turf, or athletic fields. While we are unable to suppress the insects, our recesses, PE classes, athletics practices, and before & after school program have been vigilant about encouraging students to check themselves for these little creatures when coming back inside. Thank you for working with us to ensure our students safety and comfort during these past & upcoming weeks of the insect’s life cycle. More information regarding the spongy moth, including their life cycle and manual removal can be found here: https://cals.cornell.edu/.../whats-bugging-you/spongy-moth View the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Fact Sheet on spongy moths here: https://ccedutchess.org/resources/spongy-moth-factsheet Lynnette Brunger Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Smith Director of Facilities II

Dear Taconic Hills Families & Community: Spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) eggs are hatching, and small caterpillars are all around. These caterpillars are barely noticeable right now, and are covered in tiny hairs. By July, these caterpillars will be a few inches long, and by the end of the summer will turn into the moths that we saw everywhere last year as well. The tiny hairs on these caterpillars carry histamines that can cause an itchy, red rash. Usually, the rash goes away on its own within a day or two, but people with a severe sensitivity may need to use a cortisone cream to ease their symptoms. The New York State Education Department Guidelines for Medication management in Schools states that medication cannot be administered to students without a doctor’s prescription. While this prevents our nursing staff from administering cortisone cream to most students with these rashes, they have been providing Vaseline and lotion to students who visit with severe symptoms. Under amendments to the State Education law Section 409-K and Social Services Law Section 390-G, no school or day care center can apply pesticides to any playgrounds, turf, or athletic fields. While we are unable to suppress the insects, our recesses, PE classes, athletics practices, and before & after school program have been vigilant about encouraging students to check themselves for these little creatures when coming back inside. Thank you for working with us to ensure our students safety and comfort during these past & upcoming weeks of the insect’s life cycle. More information regarding the spongy moth, including their life cycle and manual removal can be found here: https://cals.cornell.edu/.../whats-bugging-you/spongy-moth View the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Fact Sheet on spongy moths here: https://ccedutchess.org/resources/spongy-moth-factsheet Lynnette Brunger Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Smith Director of Facilities II

Attention Parents/Guardians: The 5:15PM buses have been cancelled today, May 3, 2024 due to a driver shortage. Students who do not have a ride home or drive at that time should dismiss at regular time of 2:35PM since there are no 4PM buses on Fridays. Thank you for your continued understanding.

The May 2024 Budget Edition of the Titan Herald will be sent to mailboxes within in the upcoming weeks! View the PDF here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1on6gPFv7lqNIRihwAb_oOv8x7CpL_REC/view?usp=sharing

Taconic Hills Central School District's annual public hearing on the proposed school budget will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30PM in the Board of Education Room. At the hearing, school officials will present details of 2024-2025 school budget. This meeting will also be livestreamed via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkDAT0oSGhbW--1NZikMf1A Budget information is posted on our website at https://www.taconichills.k12.ny.us/page/2024-25-budget

We are hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive this Friday, May 3 from 8AM-3PM. Sign up here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time?dt=WB:PL:DR:PM

Attention Parents/Guardians: 5:15PM buses are cancelled for today, April 30, 2024. Sports practices are still on, but athletes will need to be picked up by parents, drive home, or take the 4PM bus home. Thank you for your understanding.

Congratulations to this week's Titan Strong Certificate Winners!

Starting today through May 3, the Elementary school is doing a can drive collection for local food banks. All non-perishable foods can be placed on the collection table outside of the Elementary Art Room. One can could make a difference!🥫🧡