Congratulations to this week's Titan Strong Certificate winners!

The CASEL’S SEL framework was used as the inspiration for the Titan Strong Certificates. The focus is on Self- Awareness, Self- Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making. Students and staff who exhibit behaviors from this framework receive a Titan Strong Certificate.

There are new winners every week!

Grades 4, 5, and 6

• In fourth grade ELA, the students are working on paragraph writing. During Social Studies, the students are learning about the revolutionary war and the events leading up to it.

• The fifth graders are reading Esperanza Rising in ELA. In Social Studies, the students continue to learn about the survival of early people. The fifth graders are beginning to write their D.A.R.E. essays in preparation for D.A.R.E. Graduation.

• This week, the sixth grade classes finished their unit on Rome in Social Studies. They will begin their unit on Middle Ages in two weeks. In English, the students are finishing their books and are working on their own argumentative essay. A few classes started new group books. The classes are circling back to different topics to work more on for next year in Math. Next week, the sixth graders will be taking their NWEA end of year testing. Please make sure your child's laptop is charged each day.

Upcoming Events

• Running Club: May 21, 23, 28, 30 and June 4 with a track meet on June 6 (track meet rain date of June 13)

• School Closed May 24 & May 27 for Memorial Day

• Flag Day Assembly June 14

• School Closed June 19 for Juneteenth

• Sixth Grade Moving Up Ceremony June 24 at 9am

Library Events

• Author Jack Gantos will be visiting our school on May 30th.

Important Information

• Learning fair invitation

• students need to have sneakers for PE everyday.

• There are still a few yearbooks left. They are $25, cash or check. First come, first serve!

After School Activities

• Homework Club: Monday-Thursday

• Drama Club every Monday

• 4th Grade Art Club: 6/10

• 5th & 6th Grade Student Council: 6/17

• 4th Grade Harvest Club: 6/5

• 4th Grade Student Council: 6/13

• Animal Club: 6/13

• Harvest Club: 6/10

• AV Club: every 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month

Students of the Month for 5th & 6th Grade

• This month's students will be displayed at the end of the month

The Annual District Budget Vote & Election is next Tuesday, May 21 from 12PM to 9PM in the Veterans Community Room.

Click here to view more information on what you'll be voting on.

YOUR VOTE MATTERS!

Reminder: There will be no school on Friday, May 24 or Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day.

Have a safe & enjoyable break!

Dear Parents/Guardians:

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

This will make June 24, 25, and 26 half days for students Grades PreK-8.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The JCK Foundation is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and providing resources for our community. This session will focus on strategies for supporting our students' emotional well-being and navigating challenges that may arise during their academic journey.

As partners in your child's education, your participation and insights are invaluable. We believe that by working together, we can create a supportive and nurturing environment that helps every student thrive.

Please mark your calendars for June 3rd at 6:00 PM and join us for this important discussion. This event will take place in the Junior Senior High Library.  

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our students' success.

Best regards,

Lisa Cardillo, Cathleen Goodwin, and Darby Dellea

7-12 Principal, 9-12 Assistant Principal, and 7-8 Assistant Principal 

Dear Elementary Parents/Guardians:

The June Elementary PTO meeting has been moved from Thursday, 6/6 to Wednesday, 6/5.

Thank you for your continued support!

Congratulations to our honor roll recipients for the 3rd quarter of the 2023-2024 school year!

Click here to view the list of recipients

The National Honor Society is hosting a Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, May 18.

It costs $5 to sign up, and it is a 2v2 style tournament.

Registration begins at 8:30am, and the tournament begins at 9am

For more information, please contact Jen Jamieson at jjamieson@taconichills.k12.ny.us

Mental Health / Spirit Prevention Week is May 13-17, 2024.

• Monday, May 13 is Mellow Monday: Getting 8 hours of sleep helps reduce stress and improve your mood! Wear your comfortable clothes today!

• Tuesday, May 14 is Tie Dye Tuesday: Wear tie-dye or colorful clothes today to represent the many emotions we feel!

• Wednesday, May 15 is on Workout Wednesday: Staying active helps us feel good! Wear your favorite exercise clothes or sports team gear today!

• Thursday, May 16 is Throwback Thursday: Dress as your favorite decade!

• Friday, May 17 is Green Friday: Wear green today to support Mental Health Awareness!

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

The Spring Budget edition of the Titan Herald Newsletter will be coming to mailboxes in the upcoming weeks!

Click here to view the PDF.

You're invited to our Elementary Learning Fair!

Be sure to join us for a fun filled night of learning! In addition to viewing some amazing projects, you will have many opportunities to participate in some fantastic activities with your children while having some yummy treats!

Our art, music, technology, and STREAM teachers will be here, ready to guide you in some awesome experiments and projects!

Come make a rainstick, poptart, bookmark, or create and build a structure from recyclable materials. Check out the Titan Voyager as well!

This year there will also be a Magic Show! The show will begin at 5:30PM. There are so many exciting things to see and do on May 21!

Come and Join Cub Scout Pack 2130!

Adventure is Calling
- Our 2023-24 plans include camping, hiking, Pinewood Derby, marching in parades, community service, and so much more! These are activities that develop skills and create friendships for a lifetime!

Who Can Join?
- Boys & Girls Grades Kindergarten through 5th

Don't Miss the Fun!
- For more information, please contact bsapack2130@gmail.com

Girl Scouts Troop 1038 is looking for 7th-10th Graders to join their troop!

Learn more at girlscoutsneny.org

We are seeking the following:
- Substitute Food Service Worker ($15.80/hr)
- Substitute Bus Drivers ($22/hr)
- Substitute Bus Attendants ($15.80/hr)
- Substitute Teachers ($135-$145/day)

Click here to complete the application, and send to Eileen Olson at eolson@taconichills.k12.ny.us

Visit our Community & Parent Resources page for information regarding mental health, local food pantries, Columbia Opportunities' Headstart Program, and more.

Emergency Mental Health Service
8 a.m. - 10 p.m. 7 days a week
518-943-5555
- On-site face-to face mental health assessments
- Referrals to available services
- Follow-up from psychiatric hospitalizations
- Wellness calls when someone is concerned
- Phone assessments
- Consultations

https://www.mhacg.org/mcat-team

Taconic Hills Elementary PTO
The Taconic Hills Elementary PTO is back up and running, plus we have a new Facebook page. Please follow this new page to see all of the ideas and fun activities we have planned for your children. We would also love for you to join us. We meet the 1st Thursday of every month at 2:50pm in E146, and would love to see you there and hear any ideas that you might have. Zoom links will be posted closer to meeting times. Contact us at taconichillspto@gmail.com

SchoolTool App

Download and set up the SchoolTool App on your phone or tablet

Athletic Calendar

Check out the schedule for upcoming sporting events.