Dear Tobin Families,
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year...or as I said to the teachers this week, “Happy New Year!” September is such an exciting time within a school building. Staff and students are buzzing about what they did over the summer, and it is always amazing to watch old friends reconnect and new relationships begin. The hallways are always full of smiles, and there is a certain energy in the school that you can only feel by taking a step back to observe the children and teachers in action. This is definitely my favorite time of year!
It is also amazing to look around the building at this time of year----the shiny floors, the neat cubbies and organized supplies. This summer, Tobin was the home to five summer programs. The building was filled with teachers, camp counselors and children, but our custodians have worked tirelessly to make sure the building is ready for your children. When you visit, you may notice that the cafeteria was repainted, six student bathrooms were repainted and two student bathrooms were re-tiled. We also had key card readers installed on three doors in an effort to help keep our school safe.
During the summer, we also had some new staff members join our community:
- Alissa Sullivan - Children’s House Paraprofessional
- Sandra Wodkowska - Children’s House Paraprofessional
- Eileen Gagnon - Math Coach
- Bridget Kelley - Building Substitute
- Jessica Lounsbury - Cub’s Corner Paraprofessional
- Clara Preciado - Cub’s Corner Paraprofessional
- Chelsea Mello - Extended Term Substitute, Occupational Therapist
- Lecompte Jean Joseph - Technology Support Technician
Please watch for their “Staff Spotlight” in our school newsletter, the Tobin Weekly. This is sent via email by our fantastic Family Liaison, Mary Frawley.
This summer, we have also had two staff members change roles within our community. Stefanie Gambino-Carter, our former building substitute, is now an Upper Elementary Teacher and Joey Huber is no longer a School Operations Manager. Joey Huber is now the Assistant Principal of Tobin Montessori!
Everyone in our school community is excited to start another year together, and this enthusiasm could definitely be felt at our first staff meeting! Please be on the look-out for an email with a link to my new “Principal’s Blog” that will give you an inside look at our first staff meeting.
In preparation for the first day of school, here are some important reminders:
- The district mailed home the annual booklet of required forms. Please be sure to complete these forms and bring them to school on the first day of school.
- School doors open at 7:15AM, and breakfast is available in the cafeteria at this time.
- Classroom doors open at 7:40AM, children may enter their classrooms and prepare for their day. Please do not enter the classroom before 7:40AM.
- Morning Announcements begin at 7:55AM. Students will be marked tardy after 7:55AM.
- If you would like to walk your child into the school building and you are driving, please leave enough time to find parking. You may not park in the circle in front of the school to drop off. This space is reserved for bus parking and live drop off only.
- Student dismissal is at 1:55PM. Bus students will be escorted to their bus and pick-up students will wait on the ramp for their parent/guardian. You may not park in the circle in front of the school to drop off. This space is reserved for bus parking.
Also, don’t forget to check out the Tobin School calendar. There is a new feature that allows you to stay up to date by syncing with the Tobin Google Calendar. I hope to see everyone on Wednesday, September 7th, at the Ice Cream Social, 5 - 6PM.
I am looking forward to another outstanding school year at Tobin Montessori!
Kindly,
Jaime