This has been an incredible month of building community as we settled into the school year. I love that fall brings a celebration of change and growth- and we see that at TE with the energy in our hallways, new friendships being formed, and learning in classrooms to complement the changing leaves and cooler temperatures. To those who were able to join us for Open House, the first "We Connect Wednesday" of the year and the first PTO meeting- thank you! We have more on deck for October. Be sure to check the ParentSquare calendar for regular updates and look to TETV News for additional student announcements.

There is a lot of important information in this month's newsletter, including the fall brochure for our first session of afterschool matinee offerings. These are afterschool enrichment opportunities for students to opt in for, We run three six week sessions of matinees throughout the year.

Please click here to reference the school event's calendar that can be found on ParentSquare.

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It is with great enthusiasm that we offer the Timothy Edwards After-School Matinees again this year. Several TEMS staff members have offered to instruct a variety of courses after school. Most of these courses expand on traditional education, as it is our goal to develop children and initiate interests in all areas. The program will begin on October 27th and run for six weeks, ending in early December. The classes will be held from 2:45 - 4:00 p.m. after school once a week.

We’re kicking off our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we need to raise $25,000 to support:

What’s a Move-A-Thon? Each student will get 30 minutes outside during the school day to enjoy music, games, and movement. No pressure, no competition—just pure fun in the sun (or whatever weather we get in CT).

Why $25,000? Because our kids deserve amazing opportunities, and these funds go right back into making that happen. But let’s be real… without your support, field trips, books, and special events can’t happen.

How can you help? Every dollar makes a difference. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online or sent in with your student. Ask family, friends, neighbors—anyone who wants to support our school! 

When making a donation, you’ll be asked to enter your student’s name and homeroom teacher. This ensures your student receives credit, and their homeroom is counted toward a special contest.

The PTO will be surprising three homerooms - One (1) in each grade (6, 7, and 8) with a reward for raising the most donations!

Please note: At checkout, Zeffy will give you the option to add a contribution to support their platform. You can choose any amount or simply select $0.

Let’s show our school spirit, support our students, and SLIME some administrators while we’re at it. TEMS, let’s MOVE!

On Monday, October 7th at 6:30 PM at the South Windsor Community Center, we are hosting a free community event focused on supporting mental health, wellness, and preventing substance abuse. Our featured speaker will be Stephen Hill, founder of Speak Sobriety. Stephen is a young person in recovery, a bestselling author, recovery coach, defense attorney, and a nationally recognized speaker who connects powerfully with parents and youth.

This event is open to the entire South Windsor community. We’d greatly appreciate it if you could share the flyer (attached) with families through your regular parent communication channels.

As we settle into the school year, I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of regular attendance for our middle school students. Consistent participation in school not only helps students grasp the curriculum but also fosters essential social skills and a sense of belonging within the school community. Missing even a few days can impact a student's understanding and progress. Every lesson is a building block for their future learning, and your support in ensuring they are present every day makes a significant difference. I have included a video from South Windsor Youth and Family Services with helpful attendance resources for families.

In an effort to partner with our community, we are working on sending out regular communication to ALL families with information about your child's attendance. The purpose of the regular updates is only to inform families and to ensure that our records are accurate. If our records indicate that your child may be chronically absent or truant then additional supports and communication can be expected. I've included the state definitions of these terms from the TEMS Student Handbook below.

Chronic Absenteeism: A student whose total number of absences at any time, excused or unexcused, during a school year is equal to or greater than ten percent of the total number of days that they have been enrolled is considered to be chronically absent.

Truancy: Any student between the ages of 5 to 18 who has four (4) unexcused absences in one month, or ten (10) unexcused absences in a school year, will be considered truant. When a student is truant, a school administrator shall schedule a meeting with the student’s guardian(s) and appropriate school personnel to review and evaluate the reasons for the student's truancy.

The CHET Dream Big! Competition has returned and will run through November 5, 2025. This Competition is brought to you by the Connecticut State Treasurer’s Office as Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET). Dream Big! is open to all Connecticut students in grades K-12.

This year they will be awarding $350,000 in CHET 529 College Savings Plan – Direct Plan (“CHET 529 Direct Plan”) account contributions to over 250 students in grades K-12. Younger students will be asked to answer a question focusing on their future plans or a time they were inspired to do good, and older students will be asked about an experience or person that has impacted them and how that will influence their future goals.

This year we will be awarding the following in CHET 529 account contributions:

A TEMS student won the grand prize last year! For Official Rules and eligibility, visit chetdreambig.com.