Parent & Student Handbook, 2013-2014 - Tandem Friends School

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Regular Publications
Tandem Friends produces the Friday Letter every week while school is in session. Containing weekly updates on
scheduling, sports events, classroom activities, trips and general information, the Friday Letter will be emailed as an
E­Notice and linked to portal pages on the website. Many busy parents regard the Friday Letter as a vital Tandem
informational “keep­in­touch.” Submissions to the Friday Letter must arrive by Thursday afternoon to Kim Dukes.
A seasonal Athletics Newsletter provides end­of­season information for each sports season, and important news
about the upcoming season. This newsletter is also sent as an E­Notice.
Social Media Sites
Tandem Friends uses social media to keep the community connected and informed.
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The Tandem Friends School organizational Facebook page posts news about current activities and upcoming
events.
Tandem alums can get Facebook updates via the Tandem Friends School Alumni Facebook page and a
Tandem Trackdown page.
Tandem maintains a LinkedIn site called Tandem Friends School Alumni for community members interested
in networking.
Videos and other digital media may be posted to our YouTube site, TandemFriendsMovies.
Two Twitter accounts (BadgerBuzz for sports, TandemFriends for Head of School) provide information feeds
to subscribers.
Many photos of school activities are posted to a password­protected school Shutterfly site, where parents can
order them. A portion of the purchase price is returned to the school.
Live links to Tandem’s social media sites are provided on the website.
Messages and Phone Calls
Parents who need to contact their children or leave a message for them can contact the Front Office at 296­1303,
extension 0. In case of an emergency, students will be contacted immediately.
Although teachers are not readily available for phone calls during school hours, they will return calls as soon as
possible. Parents may leave a message on a teacher’s voicemail, or contact a teacher by e­mail. Check the website’s
Faculty & Staff Directory to find a teacher’s phone extension and email address.
Parent‐Teacher‐Advisor Conferences
Scheduled after first­quarter comments and grades, parent­teacher conferences enable parents and teachers to
discuss student academic performance as well as address any other questions or concerns. The Middle School also
schedules parent­teacher conferences in late February.
When the time comes to schedule meetings with teachers, an E­Notice announcement will be sent out explaining how
to sign up for conferences online via the Parent Portal. Those who do not wish to use the online signup feature can
contact the school to have their conferences set up. Conference slots fill up quickly, so prompt attention to signup is
encouraged.
When parents wish to meet directly with a teacher or advisor at any other time, they may do so by making
arrangements directly with that teacher. Parents who wish to meet with two or more teachers, coaches, etc., should
make arrangements through their child’s Academic Advisor. On occasion, the Academic Advisor will contact parents
"Kindness and Wisdom, with Kindness Always First"