Current 5th graders and 6th graders interested in applying for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program for next year can discover first hand the exciting classes and activities the program offers:

IB OPEN HOUSE

Mon., Oct. 28

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. & 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sessions 

Tuckahoe Middle School

Applications for the IB Program are available as of Wed., Sept. 18 through your current school’s Counseling Team (private school students must pick up an application from TMS).

See the full timeline of important dates for informational sessions and application deadlines: 2019-2020 IB Time Line

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

 

• Read the latest issue of Parent Highlights 9.8.19.  

 

• Stay “In-the-Know @ Tuckahoe” with tips for a great start to the 2019/20 school year.

 

An important community conversation is happening just down the road at the Henrico County Tuckahoe Library on Mon., Sept 23, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Join a “Complete Streets” Open House, hosted by PlanRVA to share info and get community input on how to make our streets safer for everyone, including kids who walk or bike.

The new parent pick-up and drop-off traffic pattern works well, but only when everyone follows the rules:

• Drop off students no earlier than 8:05 a.m., because Ridge Elementary parents are use that entrance to drop off their children. 

• TMS students should not access the campus before 8:05 a.m. 

• Do not make left turns on to Three Chopt Road when leaving campus.

• When in the parent line-up, do not drop off your student until you reach the front of the school.  

Mark your calendars for our annual “Back-to-School Nights”:

• 6th-Grade: Tues., Sept. 17 

• 7th & 8th Grades: Tues., Sept. 24  

Both evenings begin with a PTA Meeting, at 6:30 p.m., in the Gym, followed by a walk-through of student schedules, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Your child(ren) will bring home their schedules and room assignments in advance to give you “walking directions” for your campus visit.

Tryouts for afterschool sports and cheerleading teams are underway! Find the latest news, tryout schedules and more about athletics at the following blog by Coach Thompson.

All students who try out for a middle school sport for the 2019-20 school year must have the following completed forms on file in the main office. Participation forms must be completely filled in and properly signed, attesting that the student has been examined and found to be physically fit for athletic competition and that his/her parents consent to participation. The forms are also available, in hard copy, in the school’s main office.

• Athletics Regulations Form
• Student Activities Contract
• Middle School Athletic Participation Form
• Student Athlete Concussion Policy
• Athletic Emergency Card (turned in to the Head Coach on the first day of tryouts)

HCPS Student Activities & Athletics information and forms

Parents: Pick your athlete no later than 5:30 p.m. in the following, designated locations:

• Football & Girls Tennis – New Bus Loop
• Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, and Cheerleading – Front Parking Lot

This is an important message for families of students who use bus transportation:

First day of school is almost here! Our drivers have been working hard to rehearse their routes and make sure Sept. 3 is the beginning of a great week. With that in mind, we ask for your patience next week as some buses may experience delays. Here’s why, along with answers to some other frequently asked questions.

What can I expect during the first week of school?

Thousands of Kindergarten and preschool students are riding a school bus for the very first time. We take extra care with these students, such as requiring authorized adults to show ID in order to get them off the bus in the afternoon. Afternoon delays are inevitable as parents become accustomed to our process, and as our drivers meet many of these families for the first time. In limited instances, bus delays may become very lengthy on the first couple of days, but those delays should quickly shorten as everyone gets used to the new routine.

We also realize that the first week of school can often be filled with emotional moments and “must get” photo opportunities. Sometimes this will result in buses being behind schedule.

Where can I find bus information?

Bus stop information is now available on our website as well as through Rycor Online Forms and PowerSchool. We recommend students be at their morning bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Please review bus stop safety procedures and follow the direction of bus drivers.

Will you let me know if the bus is running 10-15 minutes late?

Pupil Transportation staff makes every effort to notify parents of significantly late buses through School Messenger text messages. For more information on our automated communication methods, click here to visit the Communications and Community Engagement page 

What if I need to call someone in the Transportation department?

If you would like to speak to someone in our Transportation department, you can do that too by calling one of our zone offices. Henrico is a big county that is served by several different transportation zones. To find the zone office that is responsible for your student’s school, click here.

How do I make a formal request regarding my student’s transportation?

Transportation staff receives hundreds of written requests from parents in September. Parents should complete the “School Bus Request Form,” also linked on the web page.  Priority will be placed on assigning new or recently moved students. Requests for changes to bus stop locations will be addressed as a lower priority.

Here’s to a great 2019-20 school year!

Josh Davis
Director, Pupil Transportation

What is Anonymous Alerts?

The Anonymous Alerts safety and anti-bullying reporting system helps combat negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressure are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome.

The system allows for one-way or two-way anonymous encrypted communication between those submitting reports (students, parents or community members) and school division administration and staff members. System users have the option to remain anonymous or reveal their identity when submitting a report.

How does it work?

To use the new app, students, parents or others simply visit the Henrico County Public Schools website and click on the “Anonymous Alerts” button or the text link to submit a report expressing a concern. Anonymous Alerts apps can be downloaded directly from the Apple, Google Play or Chrome stores.

Users enter Henrico Schools’ Anonymous Alerts activation code – Henrico – and select the school to which the message should go. Informational posters explaining how to use the system will be displayed in HCPS schools and offices.

To send reports from the internet, go to: https://report.anonymousalerts.com/henrico.

To send a report from your phone:

• Download the free Anonymous Alerts app from the Apple Store, Google Play store or Chrome store.
• Launch the app and enter the activation code, Henrico.
• Send important reports to school officials.
• If desired, add a screenshot, photo or video about the incident.

As we finalize our 3-year, $30-million campus renovation, TMS celebrates another major landmark: our 60th year! Students and staff will enjoy a host of celebratory activities in our 2019/20 school year to mark both occasions in grande style.

Learn more about the exciting things our school community has to celebrate in Ann Greene’s “Principal’s Message” for the new school year.

Add books to your summer fun with the following suggested and required titles:

• HCPS Reading List

• IB-SummerReading-8th-2019
• IB-7-Summer Reading- 2019
• IB-SummerReading-6th-2019