Viking Newsletter
Jim Calabrese, Superintendent, Taft SD 90
October 6, 2024
Viking of the Week
This week’s Viking of the Week is extra special because he has two teachers who nominated him! Mrs. Dyer and Mrs. Hennet have fabulous things to say about their student, first-grader, Liam Conroi.
We are so proud of Liam and how hard he's been working this school year! Liam comes to school every day with a smile on his face and he's happy to be at school! He looks forward to learning new things and is always eager to please the adults who work with him. Liam's strength is asking questions when he doesn't understand something or needs clarification. He demonstrates the 3 R's of being a Taft Viking, making him an excellent choice for our Viking of the Week!! When Liam is not in school he enjoys going to the park, listening to music, time on his iPad, and anything to do with Spiderman! He currently participates in the children's program at his church and soon will be getting back into Taekwondo. Great job, Liam!
Curriculum Update
Mrs. Fulkerson and her fifth and seventh graders are working hard in their English Language Arts class! Here is what they will be working on this week.
In fifth grade ELA, we will begin working on Module 2 Week 3 of our Into Reading textbook. This module is called "What a Story!" and examines how different genres can express stories differently. Week 3 focuses on poetry, so we will be reading different types of poems. We will learn about poetry elements such as rhyming patterns, figurative language, rhythm, symbolism, and themes. We will also be working on our weekly grammar skills and practicing them throughout the week.
In seventh grade ELA, we will be wrapping up our Narrative Writing unit. The students will be writing their own narrative story and adding dialogue and titles to their draft. We will end with a peer review and an editing session with time to share our stories. We will also be working on our weekly vocabulary and grammar skills for the week and practicing them throughout the week.
Fall Picture Day - October 8, 2024
Look Ahead Calendar
Please see the October look-ahead calendar. We have updated this calendar to include the Honor's Assembly on October 25th. Invitations for the assembly will be going out soon.
Sports Update
The Lady Vikings Basketball team had three games this week. The 7th grade team won all 3 beating Lukancic, Union and Richland. The 8th grade team beat Lukancic and Union, but lost by 1 to Richland. The girls have 3 games this week as well. They play at home Monday against Laraway, at home Wednesday against Dirksen and at Monge on Thursday. Come out and support your Vikings. Good luck girls.
Boys basketball tryouts are October 21st after school for all 5th through 8th grade students.
Trunk or Treat/Family Dance Party
Please join the Taft PTA and BETA Club for our annual Trunk or Treat which for the first time will include a Family Dance Party. Please see the picture below for more information.
Open Positions at Taft
Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures
Staff will be outside each morning beginning at 8:10 AM - 8:20 AM to supervise students prior to them entering the building at 8:20 AM. Before 8:10 AM, there will not be any supervision for students so we ask that parents please do not drop off your students before that. There is no parking in the drop-off lanes on 16th and 17th Streets. Parents who wish to park or wait with their children are expected to use the spaces on Washington Street. The drop-off lanes on 16th and 17th Streets are designed for parents to drive up and drop students off and proceed forward. Parents should simply wait in line until they get close to the school and then drop off students. Jumping the line to save a few seconds is dangerous and breaks down the process for everyone and will take longer in the end.
School ends at 3:15 PM and pick-up time generally follows the same procedures except parents will typically begin lining up prior to school letting out. During pickup time it is acceptable for parents to wait in their cars for their students however parents should not park, and leave their cars in the pickup lane unattended. As the line moves we ask that parents pull as far forward as possible to ensure the traffic flows and to allow more students to enter their cars. Please note that with the upgraded curves on the 16th Street side that there is a change in the traffic pattern.
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade - Line up on the back playground each morning and enter through Door 4. Teachers will come out and get them from their lines. First and second-grade students will be dismissed out the playground doors each day. Kindergarten will be dismissed from Door 2 nearest to the kindergarten classroom. All students in kindergarten through 2nd grade must be picked up by a parent or sibling and checked out with their teachers to ensure our youngest students are safely picked up.
3rd & 4th Grade - Line up and dismissed from Door 7 on 17th Street
5th - 8th Grade - Line up and dismissed from Door 2 on 16th Street
Health Examinations
All students entering early childhood-including speech services, kindergarten, and 6th grade are required to have a current physical examination completed on the approved Illinois Department of Public Health Form.. A sports physical does not meet the requirement. The parent portion on the upper backside of the form must be completed and signed. Required physical exam with updated immunizations must be turned in by October 15,2023 to avoid exclusion from school.
Preschool
Complete Preschool Physical Examination
No additional immunization requirement if up-to-date.
Kindergarten
Complete Kindergarten Physical Examination and all required immunizations including:
Two doses of MMR Vaccine
Four doses of Polio Vaccine
Four doses of DPT/DTaP Vaccine
Three doses of Hepatitis B
Two doses of Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox)
Complete Kindergarten Eye Examination - Must be turned in prior to October 15 of the current school year.
Complete Kindergarten Dental Examination - Must be turned in prior to May 15 of the current school year.
6th Grade
Complete 6th grade Physical Examination and all required immunizations including:
One dose of Tdap Vaccine
One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (meningitis) after the 11th birthday
Two doses of Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox)
Three doses of Hepatitis B at the required intervals
Complete 6th grade Dental Examination - Must be turned in prior to May 15 of the current school year.
Students entering an Illinois school from out of state or out of the country for the first time at any grade level must also provide the physical exam form. The exam must be completed no earlier than a year (365 days) prior to the start of attendance at an Illinois school.
Round-up your Change at Walmart to Benefit Taft Foundation
StopIT
Stop it is an online program that students can use to report bullying or any unsafe behavior while remaining anonymous. These reports come through to the Superintendent, Principal, and Social Worker via text so we can address the situation right away. This provides the student with an opportunity to share their concerns if they feel they cannot speak immediately to an adult.
We continue to teach our students to advocate for themselves in situations where they feel they can speak to a situation on their own. The students are reminded there are different approaches to stop bullying or unsafe situations outside of reporting things anonymously. Students are encouraged to share concerns with friends, staff, and family to learn to advocate for themselves. However, we understand that there are some situations where students may feel safer reporting discreetly.
If you have any questions regarding the Stop It program, please contact Mrs. Thompson or Mr. Calabrese.
Taft School District 90
Email: j.calabrese@taftsd90.org
Website: www.taft90.org
Location: 1605 South Washington Street, Lockport, IL, USA
Phone: (815)838-0434
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taft.vikings
Twitter: @jjcalabrese