The holiday season at TMS provides wonderful opportunities to “gift” books:

* Gather up your gently used books and any new ones to donate to the Henrico Christmas Mother. Simply bring them to the TMS Library by Wed., Nov. 29. We’ll make  sure to get them into the hands of excited new readers!

* Join us with the entire family at our TMS-Barnes & Noble Book Fair, at the Libbie Mill Store, on Sat., Dec. 1, to pick out bookish gifts for everyone on your list. You can also select classroom contributions to make to your Patriot’s classrooms by perusing teacher “wish lists” posted at the store.

Keep up with day-to-day events at TMS.

Also, take a look at this week’s Parent Highlights 11.18.18.

• Sat., Dec. 1 – PTA/Barnes & Noble Book Fair (Libbie Mill Store) 
• Mon., Dec. 3 – Winter Band Concert
• Wed., Dec. 5 – Winter Orchestra Concert
• Mon., Dec. 17 – Winter Chorus Concert

With our school renovations, our incoming and outgoing traffic patterns on Three Chopt Road have changed. This involves parking areas, as well as student drop-off and pick-up. See the following info under our “Resources” page for details.

For 8th Grade Patriots focused on a special interest–such as engineering, computer tech, arts & humanities, and more–Henrico offers a comprehensive lineup of specialty centers.By the middle of the month, 8^th graders will receive details about applying for one of these centers, housed at area high schools. The application process starts Nov. 19.

TMS proudly honored military veterans from all branches of ourarmed forces in special Veterans Day assemblies last week. Special thanks to our military guests and their families, our PTA and our student musicians, who contributed their voices, instruments and patriotic tunes to the celebrations.  

Boys Basketball and Wrestling practice continues this holiday week.

Keep up with all sports news on Coach Thompson’s Athletic Blog on the TMS website.

Important Note: Parents, please pick up all athletes participating on winter teams no later than 5:30 p.m. in front of the school only.

Public schools countrywide celebrated “Red Ribbon Week” (Oct. 23 – 31)  to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. Throughout the event, TMS Principal, Ann Greene, sent the following short videos to parents to share with their school-aged children. The videos highlight the dangers and destruction of drugs, including a list of questions families can use for family conversations about this critical topic.

VIDEO 1:

As you view “Hidden In Plain Sight,” with your children, discuss the following questions: 

• Do you know what our family’s rules are about the use of alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs not prescribed for you, and other drugs?
• Have you seen any of the things that were shown in the video?
• Have you seen or heard of other items that are used for drugs, but were not shown in the video?

VIDEO 2:

“Prescription Painkillers Use & Abuse,” highlights the misuse and addiction of prescription drugs. As you view it with your children, consider these questions:

• Why is it dangerous to take medications that are not prescribed for you?
• How do you feel about someone your age using prescription drugs not prescribed to them or abusing those prescribed to them by a doctor?

VIDEO 3:

“Recovery Behind Bars,” highlights the treatment available to inmates who are imprisoned as a result of drug addiction:

• How easy do you think it is to become addicted to drugs? Do you believe people who try drugs plan to become addicted?
• What can be the consequences of using drugs and becoming addicted?

VIDEO 4: 

“Safe Pill Disposal” highlights the importance of safely disposing of prescription medications.  Please watch this video and compare your disposal methods with what the experts recommend.

• Why is it important to dispose of medication we no longer need?
• Do we have any medication in the house that we should dispose of?
• How can we better secure the medications we have in the house?

VIDEO 5:

“Treatment for Addiction” highlights the resources that are available for those who are struggling with substance abuse:

• Is it okay to ask for help? Why do you think it might be difficult for someone to ask for help?
• If a friend were using or abusing alcohol, marijuana, or prescription drugs not prescribed to them, what support might you point them towards?
• Let’s create a plan and identify people you could call if you were ever in the situation where you needed help.

In 1988, the National Family Partnership (NFP) sponsored the country’s first “Red Ribbon” celebration. Parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. Today, the red ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.  

Go Patriots!  Patriot Press

Henrico, Va. Oct. 1, 2018 – The REB Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership provide a tangible, public way to recognize an outstanding principal at a Henrico County school. The Community Foundation’s yearly awards identify, recognize and support leadership excellence in the Richmond area. Honorees receive an unrestricted $7,500 cash grant, and $7,500 to be used for school initiatives. Eligible are principals from public schools in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties and the city of Richmond. Nominees should have served in their current positions for at least three years.

To find out more and download a nomination form, go to tcfrichmond.org/Grantseekers/Awards/REB-Awards-for-Distinguished Educational-Leadership.

Who: The Community Foundation invites nominations from students, parents, colleagues, school personnel and administrators and the community at large. Nominations should take the form of a completed nomination form, downloaded from the foundation’s website, a one- to two-page typeset letter describing the nominee’s distinguished educational leadership. It can be accompanied by up to three one-page letters of support. Principals may not nominate themselves.

When: Nominations must be mailed or hand-delivered, and must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 8. Emailed or faxed nominations are not accepted.

Where: Please mail nominations to:

REB Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership

The Community Foundation

Attn: Stacey Keeley, Donor Engagement Officer

7501
Boulders View Drive, Suite 110

Richmond, Va. 23225

For questions regarding nominations, please contact Tracie Weston, director of HCPS’ Department of Professional Learning and Leadership, at 804-652-3840. More information is also available at tcfrichmond.org.

Award recipients will be announced in March 2019.

During our tornado-related “shelter in place” in Henrico and surrounding county schools on Mon., Sept. 17, Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) provided parents with updates via text, e-mail, the HCPS website, and social media. In addition, TMS Principal Ann Greene sent out school-specific emails.

Learn more about HCPS procedures for sending and receiving messages during planned and emergency events, link here.

If you need to update your contact info, please contact TMS.  

Patriot Parents can link to Schoology–our online assignment and document-sharing platform for all student classes. Find details about how to make that connection via laptop/desktop and smartphone. Also, learn how to set up email and/or text alerts when your child’s teachers post important messages.

Also, parents now view student grades in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.