Families of incoming 6th graders and rising 7th and 8th grade Patriots will fill the TMS Gym for our Annual Elective Fair on Tues., Jan. 22, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. to learn more about core course offerings and electives for the 2019-20 school year. Visit tables with helpful info from teachers and students about special courses in the arts and sciences, tech ed, computer science, teen life and more. Enrollment for these courses begins soon.

Also, bring your wallet to buy your favorite TMS spirit wear on display and for purchase at the fair.

For rising high-schoolers, here are important dates:

• Freeman High School Curriculum Fair & Open House / Thurs., Jan. 24 / 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. / Freeman Cafeteria

(AP Panel discussion at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium)

• Tucker High School Elective Fair / Feb. 9 / 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. / Cafe 2

Writing Benchmark Tests, which began last week, will continue the week of Jan. 29, in other core areas, on an exam schedule.

See the following important details:

• Benchmark Schedule.
• Benchmark Testing Letter to Parents 

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

Read the latest Parent Highlights 1.20.19

Try out for our TMS Gymnastics Team to showcase your special skills! Tryouts start Tues., Jan. 22, after school. See Mrs. Wright for details.

As our campus renovation progresses, students soon will move from our Learning Cottages, and our administrators and staff from Washington Hall will move into those spaces.

The Library will close Jan. 8 and reopen in February, with limited services, in LC11. Read details of in the Parent Highlights 1.6.19.

The safety of our students and staff at TMS is very important to us.  In order to maintain a safe environment, we will continue to practice our emergency and crisis response plans throughout the school year with drills at various times of the school day.

Review the HCPS “Crisis Preparedness: Parents and School Emergencies Handbook,” which will help you understand the safety drills we practice.  Contact Katie Moorman, our Administrator for Safety, with any campus safety concerns.

Also, review details about student drop-off and pick-up, as well as incoming and outgoing traffic patterns on Three Chopt, to help ensure the road safety of our students.

All 8th graders applying to an HCPS Specialty Center must complete and submit their applications by Fri., Jan. 11. This includes all the projects submitted online.

Areas of study include engineering, computer tech, arts & humanities, education, leadership, and more.

Parents/guardians play an important role in the application process, as do teachers who provide recommendations. Make sure your student is keeping up with deadlines to ensure a successful application process.

Warm thanks to all of the students and their families who joined us at our PTA-hosted, Barnes & Noble Book Fair, at the Libbie Mill Store, over the weekend! Plus, special appreciation to PTA Parent, Kate Gardner and her team for planning, organizing and manning the entire event.

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.