April 10, 2026

Dear Cottle Families,

As we wrap up the week of April 6–10, 2026, we are excited to officially be in the month of April and enjoying the gradual arrival of spring. The warmer weather feels just around the corner, and it has been wonderful to see the trees beginning to bud—an encouraging sign that spring has truly arrived. As we move through this season of renewal and growth, our students continue to stay engaged in meaningful learning experiences and school-wide activities that reflect the energy and optimism of this time of year.

Parent-Teacher Conferences were held yesterday and today, providing a valuable opportunity for meaningful collaboration between families and teachers. Our Cottle Cubs continue to demonstrate strong effort and consistent growth in their academic progress, and we are proud of the hard work they are putting forth each day. These conferences serve as an important time to connect with your child’s teacher, celebrate successes, and discuss strategies to further support your child’s academic journey and continued growth. If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Kilgallen

Each year, the New York State Education Department requires students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 to participate in the English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessments, as well as the Grade 5 Science assessment.

This year, the testing schedule is as follows:

• English Language Arts (Grades 3–5): Tuesday, April 14, 2026 and Wednesday, April 15, 2026
• Mathematics (Grades 3–5): Tuesday, May 5, 2026 and Wednesday, May 6, 2026
• Grade 5 Science: Thursday, May 14, 2026

All assessments will be administered in a fully computer-based format, and students will complete their exams using their Chromebooks. These assessments provide valuable information about your child’s academic progress, and we encourage all students to put forth their best effort. The ELA and Mathematics exams will include both multiple-choice and constructed response questions.

To ensure a smooth testing experience, it is essential that students bring their Chromebooks to school fully charged on each testing day.

We are often asked how families can best support their children during this time. Please know that the skills assessed are part of our daily instruction. Families can help by “setting the stage” for a positive testing experience. We recommend that students:

• Get a good night’s sleep before each exam
• Prepare the night before by organizing necessary items (e.g., eyeglasses, lunch, Chromebook)
• Set an alarm to allow for a calm, unhurried morning
• Eat a healthy, energizing breakfast
• Approach testing with a positive and confident mindset
• Arrive at school on time, as each testing day is a full day of instruction

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students feel confident, prepared, and ready to do their best.

We had our first Annual Local Authors visit this week. I had the pleasure of collaborating with Cottle parent and educator Dr.Deirdre Callahan in introducing three outstanding local authors—each a TUFSD parent—to our Cottle students.

 Katie Petruzziello, author of the Mighty Mila series, and mother of Luca (5th), Mila (4th) and Sofia (1st), presented to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, all of whom had prior knowledge of deafness and hearing loss due to Katie’s work with Building Bridges - another wonderful PTA program.

Taylor Ham, author of Mira’s Magical Mind, and mother of Avery (6th) and Charli (2nd), presented her book about neurodiversity to our youngest audience - Pre-K, K and 1st graders.

Donna Sirabella, author of Roberta Wigglesworth, and mother of Lucas (6th), presented her story of family and perseverance to our 2nd graders.

A sincere thank you to our authors for generously donating multiple copies of their books to Cottle classroom teachers and the Cottle Library. Their time, thoughtfulness, and contributions are truly appreciated. Special thanks as well to Deirdre for providing coffee and muffins—your kindness added to the warmth of the event.

I hope to see you on May 6 at 6:00 PM at Jack’s Bar and Restaurant for a meaningful evening with Tuckahoe SEPTA: “Raise a Glass, Raise a Grant.” This event is all about supporting the dedicated teachers who go above and beyond every day—especially those working with special education students. Meeting the wide range of learning styles and needs in special education classrooms often requires additional tools, adaptive materials, and innovative approaches that aren’t always covered by standard budgets. Teacher grants help bridge that gap, giving educators the flexibility to provide more personalized and effective support for their students.

By expanding access to grants, we can help create more inclusive, engaging learning environments where every student has the opportunity to grow and succeed.

Your support directly impacts the students who need it most. Come raise a glass with us and help invest in our teachers, our classrooms, and our community.

PTA EVENTS AT A GLANCE 

• 4/10 (Fri), Yankees Game Ticket Deadline
• 4/17 (Fri), Spring Social
• 4/18 (Sat), Earth Day Celebration
• 4/20 (Mon), PTA Executive Board Application Deadline
• 4/23 (Thu), Parent Workshop: College Financial Planning from K-12

PTA EVENT DETAILS 

Yankees Game Join us as the Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, May 3 at 1:35pm.  Your ticket includes a Yankees backpack and a $15 voucher for concessions. A portion of each ticket is donated back to the PTA. Purchase your tickets today!

Spring Social We invite you to join us Friday, April 18 for an evening of fun as we come together to support our schools and raise funds for the many programs and enrichment opportunities that benefit students throughout the district. This special event will include great food, drinks, music, and exciting raffle and auction items — all in support of our amazing school community. Purchase tickets here .

Earth Day Celebration Tuckahoe's district-wide Earth Day Celebration will be held at Cottle on Saturday, April 18th, from 12 PM to 3 PM! Fun, hands-on activities and on-site demos from local organizations. Please set aside your gently used clothing donations for drop off at Cottle on 4/17 and 4/18 for the free thrift shop. See the link for more details!

Join the PTA Executive Board If you are a parent, grandparent or guardian looking to volunteer your time to plan fun and educational events, partnering with school staff and exposing our children to the amazing world around them, then you are a perfect match for the TUFSD PTA Executive Board! *The deadline to apply is now April 20th*. Complete this Google form to sign up.  More information can be found here. 

Parent Workshop: College Financial Planning from K-12 Please join us on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM in the TM/THS Library for an in-person meeting. We’ll be hosting Glenn Kasses, CPP, who will give an exciting and informative talk on helpful tips for college planning and saving.Glenn is in lead product management for Financial Planning Platforms at Morgan Stanley and is a Certified Financial Planner with more than 15 years of experience in financial services.

Sincerely,

Peter Kilgallen

Dates to Remember 

4/14 and 4/15- NYS Computer-Based E.L.A. Assessment 

4/17- PTA Spring Social 

4/20- B.O.E. Meeting

4/27-5/1- Spring Boutique

Varsity Dinner Journal Ad - Business 1.pdf  TAC Spring Store - Flag Promotion 26.pdf  SEPTA Raise a Glass Raise a Grant.pdf