Tappan Thursday Thing - December 5,  2019 

In This Week’s Issue

  • Coming Up Soon

  • Sign Up for Staff and Teacher Luncheon

  • Athletics and Clubs Updates

  • Background Checks for Volunteers

  • “Ask A Psych” Column

  • About the Thursday Thing

COMING UP SOON

December

9

PTSO Meeting 6pm, Tappan Media Center

 

12

Tappan Players- Xanadu Auditions, 5:30pm

 

19

PTSO Staff Luncheon 11am (see sign up below)

 

20

Winter Break Starts at 3:07pm

January

6

Tappan Classes Resume

 

20

MLK Jr Day--No School for Students

 

24

Quarter 2, Semester 1 Ends

SIGN UP FOR TEACHER AND STAFF LUNCHEON DECEMBER 19

The Tappan Staff Luncheon is Thursday, December 19th. This tradition is a great way to show our teachers & staff how much we appreciate them. Please consider contributing an item or two to ensure this special event is a success.

Sign up now to contribute or volunteer your time :

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094BA8AF2A1-thetappan4

ATHLETICS AND CLUB UPDATES

Home basketball games today for 7th and 8th Grade, as the Girls teams play against Forsythe here at Tappan. Due to the home games, 6th Grade will practice from 3:15-4:00. Wrestling has an away match today at Forsythe. 

Tomorrow will be the first home 6th Grade Girls Basketball game here at Tappan from 4:30-6:00 against Scarlett. You can view the whole Season 2 schedule here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zaXIQpAYWSXNW7rIBWhGjNmTcy8YaGAtT8gKq3edrFc/edit?usp=sharing

Sign up for Season 3 is now live. Season 3 includes Boys Basketball and Synchronized Swimming. Students wishing to participate need to sign up ahead of time even if they have already played a sport this year. Please sign up using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/L7RuovV2B4yyxFae7

We have several Youth Large Tappan t-shirts still available for $12. Email Mr. Etz if you would like to purchase one (or a shirt of any size): etz@a2schools.org

Finally, we are looking for lifeguards to work during our pool seasons from January-April. Email Mr. Etz if you would like more information. 

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS

The district is requesting that parent volunteers and chaperones who are assisting with school events like field trips and Fun Nights go through a background check prior to participating. 

If you are planning on volunteering, please complete the form a week prior to the event and provide it to the office for Mrs. Mills to conduct a  background check . Volunteers may also pick up the form in the 1st floor office and return it once completed along with a copy of their driver's license. 

Volunteers need to submit a copy of their driver's license, and indicate at the top of the form what they wish to volunteer for (ie, fieldtrip, fun night, etc). Below is the link to the form.

AAPS Criminal Check for Volunteers.pdf 

ASK A PSYCH COLUMN WITH TAPPAN PSYCHOLOGIST SANDRA WONG

Q:  How do you know if the anxiety your child experiences is normal or something that needs more attention. And if it does need more attention and they hate the idea of talking to a therapist, do you have any other suggestions?

A:  Anxiety and depression in teens have increased significantly in the past few years. Signs to look for to determine whether the anxiety you’re seeing needs more attention include: 

  • Changes in behavior, such as avoidance of activities, school, or social interactions

  • Drop in grades 

  • Trouble sleeping or concentrating

  • Substance use or other risky behaviors

  • Chronic physical complaints, such as fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches.

There is no single cause for the rise in rates of anxiety, but the increase use of screen time, social media, societal pressures to excel, and less structured time for play and experience in failing or conflict are thought to contribute to it. 

What can parents do? 

  • Talk to your teen about potential stressors. What are their thoughts behind some of their fears? If they don’t want to go to school, is it because there’s a test? Are they afraid they will not do well on the test? What do they think will happen if they don’t do well? Are these thoughts rational? 

  • Examine your own explicit and implicit expectations for your teen. While we want them to achieve to their highest potential, are you unknowingly putting undue pressure on them? 

 Read more about teens and anxiety here and here. 

 **

Have a question? Questions can be asked anonymously here. 1-2 questions will be answered each week and appear in the Thursday Thing.

ABOUT THE THURSDAY THING

The weekly Thursday Thing is how the Tappan principal, teachers, and the Tappan Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) communicate important information to the Tappan community.  Please contact Thursday Thing editor, Kellie Carbone at tappanpto@gmail.comwith submissions or questions.  Deadline for submissions is 5:00pm on the Tuesday before the Thursday Thing is sent.