Principal - Patrick Comey

Dear TMS Community,

Here at Tenafly Middle School, we pride ourselves on empowering our students to take educational risks. We foster a safe space wherein our students can thrive. The Tenafly Public Schools are guided by one simple mission - advance student growth and learning. At TMS, we strive to balance a rigorous curriculum with social-emotional learning that converges to support the whole child during a critical point of development. Middle School is a time for students to develop a stronger sense of self while exploring various academic and extracurricular outlets.

Our existing systems, procedures, and programs have consistently intended to support the young scholars of Tenafly. Our staff has always supported an intentional approach to education. This year will be no different. We will continue to approach our work through a reflective lens, seeking to maximize our impact on student growth and achievement. Why are we using technology to complete a task? Why are we completing a worksheet for math homework? Why are we learning about supply and demand in social studies? Questions like these drive our work and support both student performance and character development.

Having served this community for six years now, I am excited about the opportunity to return to TMS in the fall with my team. We have exceptional staff, supportive community members, and extraordinary students. It is an honor and privilege to support the bridge of our school community. TMS is where we transform kids into young adults. I remain committed to partnering with you all to support your child’s journey, wherever that path may lead.

Ms. Paz, Ms. Slane, and I are eager to see what the new year brings. As you hear/read every time that I communicate with you, you know that my tagline is “as always, it’s a great day to be a tiger!” I want to expand the purpose of that this year. What does it mean to be a tiger? At TMS, I want to define that in a few short phrases: be respectful, be responsible, be a tiger. By respecting yourself and others and being responsible for yourself and your space, you can demonstrate the essential qualities of what it means to be a tiger. These basic expectations will continue to support a learning environment that looks and feels safe for our students.

Again, I am looking forward to an exciting year with all of you. We will have some bumps on the road, of course, but we will work together to support each other. TMS will remain under various stages of renovation and construction through an ongoing effort of the referendum to improve our facilities. I ask for your grace in that area. Things might not always look perfect, but our intention is pure: to support your students as they continue their educational journey at TPS. Thank you and, as always, it’s a great day to be a tiger!

-Patrick Comey, Principal