Dear Secondary School Families:
Welcome Autumn! The final week of September is typically when we can really start to see signs of leaves turning and temperature cooling. On the topic of change, it’s been a while since we have been able to start a school year without any restrictions for our guests. When you visit or call the Secondary School, it is likely that your first interaction will be with one of the members of our front office staff.
- Ms. Laurie Dahl serves as the High School Administrative Assistant. She is in her 4th year with the district and 16th year working in a school. In her free time she is an avid camper and talented quilter. Her contact information is ldahl@brunswickcsd.org, phone ext. 2402.
- Ms. Andrea Lammerts is in her 5th year and is the Middle School Administrative Assistant and Secretary for the Athletic Director. She is also the Attendance Clerk for the Secondary School. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with family and her two dogs - Bella and Lilly Mae. Her contact information is alammerts@brunswickcsd.org, phone ext. 2406.
- Ms. Courtney McKeon is the Counseling Center Secretary and serves at our front desk. Ms. McKeon is in her second year with us and has two children who attend Tamarac - her son Sam is in 4th and a daughter Molly is in 8th grade. Our Secondary School office staff team is excited to work with our students and their families this year!
Calendar Update: 6th Grade Families - please note that on Friday, November 18th, 6th grade will be dismissed with K-5. This will be a half day for all K-6 students. Bussing will be provided.
PSAT: We will be offering the PSAT on Wednesday, October 12. The PSAT serves as a preparatory exam for the SAT and as the test of entry for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. It is optional but all juniors (and sophomores who have completed or are currently enrolled in Algebra 2) are eligible to take the exam. Students must register in advance in the counseling center by October 5. A fee of $18.00 is required at the time of registration. Please bring the exact cash amount or a check made payable to Brunswick Central School District. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s counselor.
RPI STEP Leadership Club: Tamarac Secondary is one of three local schools working in partnership with RPI to provide direct support for success. The RPI STEP Leadership Club will provide social and emotional learning, life skills and tools for resilience, enrichment and academic support, to prepare students to enter and be successful in college. RPI interns and student mentors will alternate between the middle and high school each Wednesday from 2:15-3:15pm. If interested, please reach out to your child’s counselor to see if they are eligible to participate in this great program.
School Pictures: Adirondack School Portraits will be here on Tuesday, October 11 for the middle school and Wednesday, October 12 for the high school Brochures with package options will be coming home with your child later this month. You can also order and pay for your photos online by visiting www.adirondackschoolportraits.com and use the school code 69TAMHSX22. Completed paper forms should be handed directly to the photographer with payment.
Armed Services Letter: Please see the attached letter regarding parental rights and military recruiting.
Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment: Steve LeBlanc, Rensselaer County Fire Safety Coordinator will be speaking with high school students on October 14 about what it means to volunteer in the community, the benefits of volunteering, potential future job opportunities, etc.. The presentations will coincide with The Battalion 2 Fire Depts. hoosting Fire Prevention Day at the Elementary School.
HVCC Regional College Fair: September 29 from 6:30- 8:00. Check out the attached flyer and extensive list of schools that will be attending! https://drive.google.com/file/d/19yPeLhPmeT8XVUSeSOjxAloIRvXWYC4J/view?usp=sharing
Financial Aid Night: 6:00 pm on Monday, October 3: A representative from RPI’s office of financial aid will host a virtual presentation for students and families. The rep will answer questions about the FAFSA and CSS profile. Juniors and seniors are invited to participate.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1soe1IT4mWoq5Z5JHV0trJ1vvGvplxJba/view?usp=sharing
Grades 7-12 Open House: The Secondary School’s Open House will be in-person on October 5 from 5:30-7:35pm. Parents/guardians may attend with their child. Attached is the schedule for both the middle and high school presentation. We are looking forward to a great turnout!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q3MxOWkUCHY_c3_-HzMtmQmoLCG_nIxlfBIIiIcmAwA/edit?usp=sharing
College Caravan: We had a really nice turnout of students and colleges on Wednesday morning. Thank you to our counseling center for another successful event!
Scholastic Book Fair: Tamarac Secondary School Library is having a Scholastic Book Fair. There are two ways to shop!
In-person:The Book Fair will be in the middle school library from October 3rd - October 7th. It will be open during lunch and study hall for browsing.
Open House: The bookfair will also be open for families during Open House on the evening of October 5th. Visit the library as a family to check out some books. Students can bring cash, credit card or check (made out to Brunswick CSD).
Scholastic is now offering a new, cash-free payment option called eWallet, making it easier for kids to buy books! This is a secure, cash-free way to shop the fair. Simply create a free account, pre-authorize a spending limit, and have funds immediately available. https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/ewallet.html. You can also shop online - all orders ship home and book-only orders over $25 ship free. Every purchase benefits our school and helps develop a love of reading! Visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/tamaracmiddleschool1.
Sincerely,
Ken Rizzo
Secondary School Principal