This morning I went to the A/V room, which is a holdover space from the old K-12 school. It's a small closet within another closet, and it was formerly used as a band practice room for the TF Blue Jays. I stepped over a few old carts, dodged a box of toilet paper, and fumbled through my 138 master keys until I finally found the correct key. I went to the room so I could cue up some festive music to play over the PA speakers in the hallways when the kids arrived at school.

This decades long tradition is something I only do once per year the day before Winter Break. The system we have is a 45 year old setup involving (but not limited to) a cassette tape player, a Five CD disc changer, and it requires me to program an ancient corded telephone in order for it to work. Needless to say, the system isn't intuitive and I only do this once per year, so I have the directions permanently stationed right by the phone.

I rolled up my sleeves, powered everything up, and focused my attention on the instructions. But I couldn't read them. While I'm happy to inform you that I'm literate, the font was too small for me to read the text. I had to go back to my office to fetch my newly acquired reading glasses so I could read the instructions. Yes, I now need reading glasses.

Maybe your milestones from 2024 are positive, like that your child has learned to read independently, they can tie their shoes without help, or they can now reach the snack cabinet without a chair. Or perhaps, like me, you received a stark reminder that you're another year older. Regardless of your milestones, I thank you for choosing our school and being a part of Taylors Falls Elementary. Thank you for affording us the tremendous responsibility of being involved in the life of your child.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for the privilege of serving as your child's principal.

Jason Riebe

TF Principal

• December 20 - All School Sing-Along 2:30 p.m.
• December 23 - January 3 - No School - Winter Break

• Parents and guests are invited to join us for our traditional holiday all school sing along today at 2:30 p.m.
• Here's what you can expect:
• Parents can check in at the front table.
• Guests who are not parents should check in at the office and have a driver's license ready.
• All guests are invited to sit in the bleachers; students will be seated on the gym floor.
• We will dismiss students from the gym first, then guests will be dismissed.
• If you plan to give your child a ride home from school that day, please sign them out at the front table when you sign yourself in. Then go to their classroom to pick them up after dismissal.

• Celebrate the season with us at Jake's On The Lakes this Monday, December 23rd! Tell your server you're there to support Taylors Falls Elementary and they'll donate 10% of your pre-tax food order back to our school!

• We've got a few blankets left for local delivery before Christmas! Contact us tfpfe@isd2144.org to place an order. $25 gives the gift of warmth and Wildcat spirit!

• A huge THANK YOU to all who have supported the TFPFE in 2024! Big or small, your involvement has made things more educational, more accessible, and more fun for the students, staff, and families of Taylors Falls students. We couldn't have done it without you!

January Events

• January TFPFE Meeting: Monday, January 13th
• Paraprofessional Appreciation Week: January 20th-24th
• Conference Dinners: January 28th and 30th

Are you on our email list? Send us a message at tfpfe@isd2144.org to be added. No SPAM, we promise!

• There's a good chance of some measurable snow next week!
• When there is snow, students need to have snow pants and boots. Students who are not adequately dressed must stay on the blacktop

• Please see the following excerpt from our student handbook:

• Students play outdoors during most school days throughout the year. The decision whether to play outdoors will be made by school staff, considering the following factors: temperature or wind chill (below -5º F), and precipitation. Whether cold or hot, it’s important that children are dressed for the weather. Students should wear hats, mittens or gloves, snow pants, boots, and a jacket in the winter. Students who are not dressed appropriately for the weather, particularly in the winter, may need to spend recess indoors and a parent will be contacted with a reminder to send adequate clothing for the weather.

Please click here to sign your child up for our Food4Kids Backpack Program.

• Dec 23rd - Jan 3rd - Winter Break
• Jan 9th - Early Childhood Screening (By Appt Only)
• Jan 13th - Winter Family Fun Night @ Primary School 6:00-7:30pm
• Jan 20th - No School: Staff Development
• Thurs Jan 30th & Fri Jan 31st - No Little Wildcats Preschool or ECFE
• Thurs Jan 30th & Fri Jan 31st - Early Childhood Screening (By Appt Only)

Join us to help your son or daughter learn to be active and confident! On Wednesdays now in the gymnastics room at the Wildcat Community Center, Active and Confident class encourages parents of two to three year old's to participate and learn various skills. Your toddler will love this class! In this class children will learn new skills and abilities of the body! They will become more confident, develop coordination, flexibility, balance and more! They will have fun learning from playing games, running, jumping, climbing and let’s have fun!

Join Princess Belle in her rare Christmas dress for an enchanting afternoon on Saturday Dec. 21 from 1:00-3:30pm! Your little princess(es) will have the chance to meet and take photos with princess Belle, create a craft, enjoy a light snack, and participate in a Christmas story-time and singalong with Belle!

This will be an open-house type setting where you can come and go at any time during the event! Please note: Belle will be doing story-time and singalong at approximately 2:15pm.

Princess dresses are encouraged!

Registration Closes Friday Dec20th @ 4pm

Tumble Tots ( age 1-3 yr): Focus on large muscle development for young children. Activities will seek to build strength, coordination & flexibility while learning basic gymnastics skills.

Tumble Cats ( age 3-5 yr): This class focuses on tumbling, balance and coordination. Activities will be used to teach fundamental gymnastics skills

Beginner 1 & 2 ( K - 3rd gr): This class is for the gymnast that is relatively new to the sport. The emphasis will be on tumbling, building strength, and developing balance on the beam.

Intermediate (K - 8th gr): Focus on improving form, building strength and working on more advanced skills like walkovers, round-offs and back handsprings.

Advanced (K - 8th gr): Focus on improving form, strength and conditioning, and working on more advanced skills like walkovers, aerials, and back handsprings

Embark on a captivating journey into nature with our certified naturalist-led after-school program! Students will get involved in the wonders of the natural world, discovering the secrets of tree identification, the art of seed harvesting and preservation. This curriculum evolves with the changing seasons, ensuring fresh experiences and discoveries with each passing month

Be sure to dress in weather-appropriate clothing and footwear, as we'll venture outdoors to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty and splendor of nature.

Taylors Falls: Mondays 3:30 - 5:00pm

Chisago Lakes Teams in grades 2-6 are being formed to compete in the Forest Lake Basketball League. This league will focus on improving basic skills such as dribbling with both hands, shooting, passing, game positions and offensive/defensive techniques. Register for the grade the participant is entering in the fall. Games will be played at Forest Lake Area Middle School (FLAMS), game times are at 6:15pm or 7:15 pm. Games are played beginning in late January, and go through February. This is intended for kids that are not in Traveling Basketball.

In addition to the one game night, the participant will have potentially one practice a week at a school located within the Chisago Lakes district. Practices will be planned and communicated by the volunteer coach after the coaches meeting. All players will receive a t-shirt if registered by the deadline, so please indicate size when registering.

Link to Register: https://lakesarearec.sportngin.com/register/form/182435184

Games will be on the following nights;

• Boys - Tuesday
• Girls - Thursday

• Student Handbook
• Morning Drop Off Procedures
• Afternoon Pick Up Procedures
• CL School Calendar
• Stop and Think Room Information for Families

Mr. Riebe is in his twelfth year as principal at TFE. Prior to having his dream job as TFE Principal, he served as a middle school associate principal, special education administrator, special education teacher, school psychologist, and special education paraprofessional. He has been working in public education for over 20 years. He received his master's and education specialist degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

Mr. Riebe lives with his wife of twenty years and four children (all of whom attend/ed TF Elementary) in Taylors Falls. On a weekend, you'll find him doing pretty much anything outside: Fishing with the kids, hiking, hunting, camping, or tinkering with a new woodworking project in the garage. He's an avid Boundary Waters explorer, North Shore adventurer, ardent angler, and is fond of weekend experiments on his smoker.

Fun facts about Mr. Riebe

• His right eye is two different colors. This is called heterochromia!
• The only food he can't (and won't) eat is green peppers.
• In college, he worked in orphanages in Mexico and the Republic of Trinidad.
• He and his wife once hiked in the Andes Mountains in Peru for 6 days.
  
• He loves birds!

Email: jriebe@isd2144.org
Location: 648 West Street, Taylors Falls, MN, USA
Phone: 651-213-2101