Tuxedo Union Free School District

George Washington Carver was “born ready” for a future in botany and science - a declaration made by a George Grant Mason Elementary first grade student last week when teacher Ms. Matthies asked the class what it meant that Carver was considered “exceptional” in his field.

 Carver’s scientific achievements and inventions were the focus of black history month lesson led by Matthies last Friday. Before highlighting the inventor's botanical developments, Matthies read a brief of biography of the his life, which included his time as a slave. She then detailed how Carver discovered planting peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes could restore nutrients depleted in the soil by cotton crops. A discovery that revolutionized agriculture. 

 With a better understanding of who the scientist was, students relocated to their spots on the rug, where a photo of Carver sat atop a display lined with plastic slots. One by one, our young learners identified the historic figure’s accomplishments and placed them beneath his picture. Ms. Matthies then pulled over a chair containing a can of shaving cream, soap, shampoo and protein powder to emphasize Carver’s groundbreaking work with the peanut as well as showcase some of the 300 peanut based products Carver is responsible for.

 🥜 Building on those developments, the class made their own George Washington Carver forever stamps, featuring their very own peanut craft. Along side their top hat wearing legume, students drew some of the items that can be traced back to Carver’s work.

 So like our first graders, the next time you wash your hands or hair; pause and think about the scientific breakthroughs of George Washington Carver, a true American hero. #BlackHistoryMonth #blackhistorymonth2023 #blackhistory #Blackhistory #GeorgeWashingtonCarver #georgewashingtoncarver #botany #peanuts #peanut #peanuts #peanutproducts

Approaching the George F. Baker High School STEM classroom, your ears are filled with the sounds of a piano medley. Upon entering the room you lay your eyes upon students ticking the ivori… Play-Doh?

 Yep! Ms. Klimowich’s sixth grade class built musical instruments and controls out of modeling clay last week, thanks to the “Makey Makey” invention kit, which teaches students about circuitry, coding and conductive materials. By placing the alligator clips into the clay, electrons “flow through” the Play-Doh and are detected by the Makey Makey kit connected to the student’s Chromebook.

 Makey Makey was born out of a project initiated by two students at MIT Media Lab. Since then, it has been showing in STEM classrooms across the country. #makeymakey #makeymakeykit #makeymakeyfun #makeymakeykits #makeymakeymusic #makeymakeypiano #makeymakeyproject #makeymakeychallenge #stemeducation #stem #stemforkids #stemlearning #stemchallenge #stemactivities

💯 and looking great! Today marks the 100th day of school and it seems several of our George Grant Mason Elementary students aged rather quickly over night! Check out the new "old" looks of Mrs. Rocklin's third grade class. Happy 100 Days!

Please use the following link to view the next Regular Meeting of the TUFSD Board of Education: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yPbsIKlsIU

Jackie Robinson, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois, Althea Gibson and Martin Luther King Jr; some of the influential Black and African American difference makers that our George Grant Mason Elementary third graders have been researching for a Black History Month “quilt.” Students kicked off the project on last week by randomly selecting the person they would be studying and writing about. Our young learners quickly spread out across the room (and hallway), pulling up videos and passages to learn about these important Americans.

 The facts they collected were added on to a worksheet which served as their piece of “fabric” for the quilt. After all the pieces were illustrated and complete, they were “stitched” together and put on display outside the GGM main office. 
On a recent trip through the first floor hallway with their teacher Mrs. Rocklin, students couldn’t wait to show off their addition and share facts about these figures in our nation’s history. They even got to share their project with Superintendent White who happened to be passing by. #blackhistory #BlackHistoryMonth #blackhistorymonth2023 #blackhistoryfacts

Bonding by… bonding. George F. Baker High School students focused on the collaborate pillar of their weekly PACE period on Monday during a schoolwide STEM construction project. Split off by class, and working in groups, the budding architects used graham crackers and frosting as their medium to build a configuration of their choice.

After blueprinting their plans, students spread the frosting out and began bonding the crackers together of their desired design. With the smell of vanilla frosting wafting through the air; graham cracker houses, towers and even tents began popping up in each classroom.

Every Monday, GFB students keep the PACE through ‘Presentations, Activities, Collaborations and Events,’ that allow them to interact and stay informed. PACE aims to enhance educational and social interactions in the school, community and society.

We promise you these are not Super Bowl Sunday leftovers. (Yes, that was a fowl joke.
) Mrs. McGowan’s freshman living environment class dissected chicken wings on Friday morning for a lab on muscle and skeletal systems. Working in groups, students were tasked with pulling the skin back of the wing to identify, and isolate, the tendons, ligaments and cartilage of a chicken.

 “You don’t think about it, but chickens have a very similar bone structure to humans,” remarked George F. Baker High School teacher Mrs. McGowan as she examined her class’ work. “It is often used as an argument to prove the theory of evolution.” As for her scientists in training, they did an egg-ceptional job with the project. #biology #bio #biolab #biolabs #biologylab #biologylabs #biologylab🔬 #biologylaboratory #livingenviornment #livingenviornmentclass #dissectionlab

As the tragic death toll in Turkey and Syria continues to climb, George F. Baker High School students in the Interact Club, Student Council, the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society are reaching out to the community to raise awareness of the dire needs in the region. We must always remember that we are global citizens. Tuxedo has always been a generous community and many of you may have already sent contributions to one of the organizations working in the area. But if you have not, we ask that you please consider a donation in any amount to one of the groups listed below. American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/.../disas.../earthquake-relief.html Doctors Without Borders USA https://rb.gy/7aknet UNICEF https://www.unicefusa.org/?form=donate

Please use the following link to view the meeting notice for the next Regular Meeting of the TUFSD Board of Education: https://5il.co/1p33m

With the wind whipping outside their second floor window, George Grant Mason Elementary second graders built windmills on Friday afternoon. The milk carton masterpieces were the culmination of a lesson on “The Engineering Design Process.” To start, Ms. Blume’s student’s needed to complete the five steps for an engineering design project: “Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Improve.”

 The young engineers split into groups before they grabbed material, threw caution to the wind, and got down to business. With scissors snipping and tape ripping, several styles of windmill blades began sprouting up around Ms. Blume and Ms. Brusseler, who was lending a helping hand in the classroom. While many students opted for popsicle blades, others used straws to pair with tissue paper and tin foil in their creation process. The blades were then carefully installed into a white styrofoam ball, which served as the windmills hub. Then with some help from their teacher, the hub was attached to their milk carton towers.

 Now all they needed was wind! And though the 20 mile an hour wind gusts outside would have been perfect to use for testing; a fan was a far better option than standing outside in 15° (feels like 2°) temperatures.

 Two by two, students took turns putting their windmills in front of a fan being piloted by Ms. Blume. Watching the movement of the blades provided the groups an opportunity to critique their creations and prepare for the fifth step of the process: improve. Taking into consideration the observations made Friday, the “mechanic engineers in waiting” will make updates and changes to their designs in class today. #engineering #engineeringtech #engineeringdesign #engineeringstudent #windmills #windmill #wind #windy #windyday #windyweather

Tuxedo Talk Welcome to the inaugural edition of ‘Tuxedo Talk’, the new TUFSD monthly e-newsletter! I am thrilled to have an additional way to communicate to the families and staff of our great district, while highlighting the amazing things happening in our buildings. Released the first week of the month, ‘Tuxedo Talk’ will serve as a window into the classrooms of George Grant Mason Elementary and George F. Baker High School, where learning is flourishing and our students are exceeding expectations. Each edition of 'Tuxedo Talk' will spotlight members of the student body and staff, look back at the events of the previous month and provide a sneak peak of what's ahead. On behalf of the Board of Education, I welcome you to 'Tuxedo Talk' and hope you will enjoy seeing the many ways our district is getting results. Visit District Updates on the top right corner to view Tuxedo Talk Thank You, Jeff White Superintendent of Schools Tuxedo Union Free School District

📣 Ahem, ahem…. listen up! Today is “World Read Aloud Day,” so grab a book, find an audience and use your voice. 

📚 George Grant Mason students got a head start on #worldreadaloudday with a visit from children’s author Lucy Bermingham; a local resident behind the ‘ Tickety Boo’ series. 

🪶 Yesterday’s event, organized by the Tuxedo PTO, featured three separate read-along events in the school library. GGM Librarian Valeri Mui says she was thrilled students met Mrs. Bermingham, because it “demystifies” the role of the author, especially one from their own community. “It breaks down a barrier and shows that being an author is possible,” says Mui.
 So why the blue boa? Because Tickety Boo is a rare blue cockatoo who loves adventures and using rhyming schemes and clues to help the reader identify creatures they will encounter. Tickety Boo calls it “the animal game!” Students showed how loud they can be as they shouted out the names of animals and mythological creatures, solving Tickety Boo’s riddles.
 Introduced 13 years ago by the union-profit LitWorld, “#WorldReadAloudDay” highlights the importance of sharing stories. Exactly what GGM students will be doing this morning when they gather for their monthly read-aloud and character train lesson. By doing so, they will be united with millions of children across the world taking part in the annual celebration. Mui enjoys reading aloud because “it models reading for pleasure and strengthens our relationships as a community.”

 Along with World Read Aloud Day, Bermingham has another reason to celebrate. Today kicks off Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week, honoring those who introduce our children to the world of storytelling and literature.

To view the agenda for the Tuxedo Union Free School District Special Board of Education Meeting on 2/1/2023, please visit our website, www.tuxedoufsd.org, select "menu" and then select "BoardDocs" under the Board of Education area of the screen.

Please use the following link to view the Special Meeting of the TUFSD Board of Education: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cGM2el5eUU

Please use the following link to view the meeting announcement for a Special Meeting of the Board of Education: https://5il.co/1o3vy

And now this message from Snoop Dogg, “Affirmations are a positive statements that help bust a challenge and overcome….”
 The George Grant Mason Elementary third grade class kicked off the school week with some self motivation powered by the hip-hop star’s new animated series, Doggyland and the "Affirmation Song." 

The track features a call and repeat of 16 positive messages and some dance moves that had Ms. Rocklin’s class on their feet and singing this morning. 

 There is no one better to beat than myself Today is going to be an amazing day My feelings matter I get better every single day I choose to feel happy My family loves me so much! I care about others….. 
While catching their breath, students shared their favorite affirmations with Rocklin and were happy to learn they would be kicking off every school day with a positive mental attitude. #affirmation #affirmations #affirmationsdaily #doggyland #doggylandkids

This widely recognized standardized test is used for college admissions in the United States. 
 ❓What is the SAT? 

 √ Correct!

 No these students are not texting or ignoring Ms. Ortiz by checking their social feeds. The George F. Baker High School 11th graders are studying their SAT vocabulary, Jeopardy style. The game show set up was part of Ortiz’s weekly SAT Prep Course, which is offered to our Juniors for FREE. Every Wednesday and Friday, students have the opportunity to meet up in the GFB library to sharpen their reading, vocabulary, writing, and grammar skills. 

Ortiz, who is certified for english grades 7-12, says she “admires” the students who give up their free period to study for the exam. “We’re having a lot of fun together working through different aspects of the test and getting a closer look of what to expect. I look forward to seeing both their scores and confidence increase!”

 Ortiz also provides what she calls “general SAT advice,” including a review of the point system and test taking techniques. 
Guidance Counselor Christine Oliva feels this is just as important as the material on the SAT noting, “the prep is so beneficial for these students as they prepare for test day.”

 The SAT Prep is available to all juniors every Wednesday and Friday during advisory in the GFB Library.

 #sat #satexam #satexams #satexamprep #SATtest #sattest #sattests #sattesting #sattestday #sattestprep #sattestprepclass #sattestpreparation

Due to the potential for inclement weather and hazardous travel conditions, the Tuxedo Union Free School District will be closed, Wednesday, January 25, 2023 out of an abundance of caution. The Algebra Regents has been rescheduled for Friday, January 27.

*UPDATE* Tuxedo Indoor Soccer gets underway Sunday January 22 in the John P. Mottola Gymnasium. 3rd/4th grade division starts @ 2:00 pm and 5th/6th @ 3:00 pm. Each division will run for an hour. Any questions, email: tuxedo.athletics@tuxedoschools.org

Another book fair….in the books!
 Thank You to the Tuxedo PTO for putting together a successful Winter Book Fair! The annual event serves as an opportunity for students and their teachers to connect through the power of reading.

 So what were the hot items this week? Susan Mitchell, PTO Member and mother of a sixth and seventh grader, said she rang up plenty of Cat Kid and Dog Man books, alongside the Pig the Pug series. Meanwhile, our younger students couldn’t get enough of books that had the added bonus of a toy, doll, stickers or even a replica dinosaur tooth! Another benefit of the book fair, as Mitchell points out, students get to practice their consumer skills. She noted every child was quick to add up their change and count every penny. And those pennies are important when you are looking to buy posters, pencils and bookmarks! 

The Scholastic Book Fair not only builds up personal libraries, but the libraries of our George Grant Mason classrooms. Over the past two days, students and parents purchased books off of their teachers “wishlist,” allowing the entire class to thumb through the pages of a new adventure.

 Happy reading!