As temperatures begin to drop, please make sure students are coming to school dressed appropriately for the colder weather.
A few reminders:
- Students should wear appropriate footwear, such as sneakers, boots, or other secure shoes. Slippers and shoes that easily slip off, do not stay securely on the foot, or create a tripping hazard are not appropriate for school.
- Coats, sweatshirts, hats, and gloves are encouraged for outdoor activities.
- Blankets and blanket-like coverings are not permitted. Students should dress in appropriate layers to stay warm throughout the school day.
Additionally, all student clothing and footwear must comply with the District's Code of Conduct. Clothing must provide appropriate coverage and may not display messages or images advertising illegal activities or prohibited substances. Hoods may be worn but must remain down while inside school buildings.
We appreciate your attention to these expectations as we move into the colder months.
We are excited to announce a new Work-Based Learning Program partnership with Deep Roots Farm, a local company investing in our students and their futures!
Through this partnership, Taconic Hills students will have opportunities to gain valuable, hands-on work experience, develop career-ready skills, and explore career pathways connected to their interests.
We are especially proud to partner with a local business just minutes from our District! We look forward to building on this collaboration and exploring additional opportunities, including remote agricultural work experiences that could bring even more hands-on learning directly to our campus.
Is your business interested in partnering with Taconic Hills? Scan the QR code or visit the link below to complete our Business Interest Form and learn more about how you can get involved: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxoLg9AJ0mA3yRX2WOWFK7Y0QRlDZ8dz8Np-iAjpMdIzD1lA/viewform?pli=1
Contact Amy Genito, WBL Program Coordinator, at AGenito@taconichills.k12.ny.us with any questions.
Together, we build tomorrow. 💼💗
Congratulations to our winning classes! We hope you enjoyed your well-deserved celebration. Thank you to all of our students who participated and helped recognize the amazing people who keep our Titans safe on the road each day! 🚌🧡
Reminder: The District will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. In addition, we invite our Veterans to attend our annual breakfast (7:30AM) and/or assemblies (8:30AM for Jr/Sr High, 9:30AM for Elementary).
We look forward to honoring and celebrating the Veterans in our community. Thank you for your service! ❤️🤍💙
This experience provided our students with a broader perspective on FFA and the agricultural industry at the national level, and created lasting memories with friends. These students will be sharing highlights from their trip during the November Board of Education meeting.
A special thank you to Mrs. Banyard and Ms. Serna for accompanying our students and helping make this experience possible! 🌾🐮❤️
Veterans Day Assemblies, Last Day to Register for Youth Basketball, We Are Hiring, Transportation Updates, and more!
Check out the Friday Folder for the week of November 2-6, 2026 here: https://www.taconichills.k12.ny.us/page/friday-folder
The Friday Folder is a weekly link to our website highlighting upcoming events, important information, and district celebrations.
To stay up to date with the most current news & events, follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
Performances at the TH Lyle G. Hamm Performing Arts Center will be held on Friday, November 13th at 7:00PM and Saturday, November 14th at 2:00PM (matinee). Admission is free! We invite our school community, families, and friends to come enjoy the show!
Our students will also take the stage at Shakespeare & Company’s 38th Annual Fall Festival of Shakespeare on Sunday, November 22nd at 1:15PM. Tickets for this performance can be purchased here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/shakeandco/production/1294102?performanceId=11880379
Our cast and crew have been working hard since the beginning of the school year to bring this production to life. "They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps."
We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our emergency responders for their assistance with this drill. The school has resumed normal operations.
We recently celebrated National School Bus Safety Week, an opportunity to recognize and thank our dedicated Transportation Department staff. For many students, their bus driver is the first person they see from our district each morning and the last person they see before returning home. Our drivers, monitors, mechanics, and transportation staff play an important role in keeping our students safe and starting and ending their school days on a positive note.
As we move through the school year, I also want to share a few transportation updates and highlight some of the work underway to strengthen student safety, transportation services, and communication with families.
Transportation Updates
• Bus Routes and Staffing: Like many districts, we continue to experience a shortage of qualified bus drivers. This, along with occasional mechanical issues and road construction, has required adjustments to some bus routes and schedules. We recognize the inconvenience these changes can cause families and appreciate your patience as we work to provide safe, consistent, and reliable transportation.
• New Transportation Provider: Our contracted transportation provider has transitioned to First Student. Families should not notice any changes as a result of this transition. The same drivers will continue serving our students, and the District transportation office will remain at its current location.
• Improved Communication: We are working to improve how we communicate bus route information and delays, with the goal of providing families with more timely, possible real-time information when changes occur.
Keeping Student Safety a Priority
In addition to our daily transportation operations, we have incorporated age-appropriate bus safety instruction and practice into the school day. This includes:
• PreK and Kindergarten students are learning and practicing how to properly buckle their seat belts.
• Review of emergency bus evacuation procedures occurred for grades PK-6.
• Our 7-12 graders had the opportunity to learn more about electric buses and safety features.
• Bus safety expectations and responsible rider behavior have been discussed with all students.
Your Voice Matters to Us
We appreciate the families who have reached out to share questions, concerns, and suggestions. Your voices help us identify things we may not have considered, better understand your experiences, and find ways to improve. While we may not always be able to make every requested change, we value your input and carefully consider it as we make decisions.
We also recognize that reliable transportation and timely communication are important to your family's daily routine. Our Transportation Department continues to work hard, often taking on additional responsibilities to ensure students get to and from school safely.
Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and partnership as we make improvements that benefit our students, strengthen safety, and enhance communication with families. Our commitment remains the same: safe, dependable transportation for every student, every day.
Sincerely,
Lynnette Brunger, Superintendent of Schools
Bobbie-Jo Mato, Transportation Supervisor
We had an unexpected visitor on campus this afternoon. At approximately 1:00 PM, a black bear was spotted roaming campus by the Veteran park & tennis courts. Once spotted, gym classes and any other students who were outside were immediately brought indoors, and a brief lockout was initiated.
We think he was just looking to join a science class and expand his knowledge. Unfortunately, when we politely declined his request to come inside, he made sure to let us know exactly how he felt about it, and left us something special to remember him by....
All students and staff are safe, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation during our unexpected wildlife encounter.
Just another Monday on Taconic Hills' rural campus! 🤣
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, November 3rd due to a Superintendent's Conference Day.
Thank you!
We are excited to bring back our Stories Across Generations program for the 2026–2027 school year! This year's program will run from December 1, 2026, through May 13, 2027, with a special end-of-year luncheon for all participating students and volunteers!
Through this program, students in grades 2–6 will be paired with a school volunteer to enjoy reading together during their lunch period. It's a wonderful opportunity for students to strengthen their reading skills, build meaningful connections with caring members of our school community, and discover the joy of sharing a good story!
If you are a parent or a teacher of and are interested in having your grade 2-6 student participate in this program, please sign them up here as soon as possible: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuH7FHUpFsS_vBp77waTLz95_S_V9XkZepLXZ6UTDVbbyaDw/viewform
Community members who are interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Erin Brady at EBrady@taconichills.k12.ny.us to begin the volunteer approval process.
We look forward to another wonderful year of bringing generations together through the love of reading!
Algebra I review sessions will be held with Mrs. Beebe in S294 after school on the following dates:
- November 12
- December 2, 9, & 15
- January 6, 13, &19
The Regents Exam will be on January 27.
Earth and Space Science Reviews will be held with Mr. Fuller in S173 after school on the following dates:
- November 10, 12, 17, & 19
- December 1, 2, 3, 9, 15, 17, & 22
- January 5, 6, 7, 12, 19, 21, & 25*
*Please note that transportation home will NOT be available following the January 25 review session. Students should make alternate arrangements.
The Regents Exam will be on January 26.
Students must sign up with Mrs. Beebe or Mr. Fuller in advance to attend review sessions.
Additional information about the Regents exams will be communicated directly to students as the exam dates approach.
We encourage all students taking these exams to take advantage of these review opportunities!
The November Lunch Menu has arrived!
There's a lot of yummy meals to "gobble" up!
This month's menu features:
🧀Meatloaf Mac n Cheese
🦃Oven Roasted Turkey Dinner
🥘Buffalo Chicken Dip
View the whole menu here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SxJl3KADGqc_s0U6S4hLmFIMJAaBxM1Z/view?usp=drive_link
Happy Halloween!
November Lunch Menu, TH Trap Team Benefit on Sunday, Stories Across Generations Program, Regents Review Sessions, and much much more!
Check out the Friday Folder for the week of October 26-30, 2026 here: https://www.taconichills.k12.ny.us/page/friday-folder
The Friday Folder is a weekly link to our website highlighting upcoming events, important information, and district celebrations.
To stay up to date with the most current news & events, follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
Couldn't make the annual Elementary Halloween Parade?
Watch it here! https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1M2GfyakU5/
🎃👻🦇
Attention TH Juniors & Seniors! There's still time to explore your college options with SUNY's Free Application Weeks!
Through November 2, 2026, students can apply to up to FIVE SUNY campuses with NO application fee!
With each application normally costing $50, you could save up to $250!
How to Apply:
ApplySUNY: Add up to five SUNY campuses to your application list, complete your application, and proceed to the payment page. Your first five application fees should automatically show as $0.
Common App: Add each SUNY campus under the My Colleges tab. Look for the question asking if you'd like SUNY to pay your application fee during Free Application Week, and select Yes for up to five SUNY schools. Be sure not to request a general fee waiver on your main Common App profile for this promotion.
Ready to get started? Visit www.suny.edu/apply to explore your options and submit your applications before the promotion ends next Monday!
Don't miss this limited-time opportunity to take the next step toward your future! 🧡🎓