How Can 600 Tuscan Students Get Mrs. Obama's Attention?

Tuscan School recently celebrated ten years of TV Turnoff, a cost-effective program that encourages students to engage in active learning, to limit “screen time,” and to increase their physical activity. It’s been ten years of supporting families in their efforts to create a home environment conducive to academic success.

Former Tuscan School Librarian Janie Van Oss came up with the idea for the year-long program in 2001. During the first year of TV Turnoff, 44 hardy souls finished at either the gold, silver or bronze levels. The South Orange-Maplewood elementary school librarians recognized the value of the program, and, eight years ago, the Ultimate TV Turnoff went district-wide and has been firmly established in the culture of the South Orange-Maplewood School District.

We are so proud of our students, of their efforts and their accomplishments that we want First Lady Michelle Obama to know about it and commend them for it.

The question is, “How do we get Mrs. Obama's attention?"

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well then, what about a video? We have sent Mrs. Obama a wonderful video featuring some of our Tuscan students and families inviting her to come celebrate Tuscan’s tenth year anniversary of TV Turnoff. 

We invited the First Lady to come to Tuscan School, knowing full well that her hectic schedule would most likely preclude her from attending our end of the year celebration. Nonetheless, we sent an email invitation (with a direct link to video), an invitation by express mail with DVD, an email to Senator Lautenberg and a letter and DVD to Representative Pascrell (soliciting their help in contacting the White House). We have received an email reply from the First Lady’s scheduling office stating that she would not be available to come to Tuscan, but encouraging us to “continue to work with those close to you to strengthen your community and our country.”

But we are persistent.

We're still hoping to get the First Lady here to celebrate our groundbreaking program in the new school year. You can help us by posting this link and/or the video on your Facebook page, emailing it to friends, tweeting it, whatever. Help us get Mrs. Obama to Tuscan School!

Here is a link to the video, http://vimeo.com/23179207.

Can we get the First Lady to visit Tuscan School?

Yes, we can!

Roberta Baltin is a media specialist librarian at Tuscan Elementary School in Maplewood, NJ.