Viking Newsletter
Jim Calabrese, Superintendent, Taft SD 90
October 27, 2024
1:45 PM Dismissal - Thursday, October 31, 2024 - Teacher Early Release Time
Message from Mrs. Thompson
I have a few heartfelt thank yous to share. First, a big thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and caregivers who were able to attend our 1st quarter awards ceremony. Your constant support at home makes a real difference in the classroom, and we appreciate it!
We also had an amazing time at our Trunk or Treat and Monster Mash dance on Friday night. A huge thank you to the PTA and BETA Club for organizing and executing such a fun family event! The costumes, games, and prizes were fantastic.
Thursday we will have a 1:45 dismissal and our Halloween festivities will begin after lunch. Elementary students (K-4th Grade) will have their classroom parties, and our all-school parade will begin at 1:15. We will be sending home a note this week regarding Thursday’s events.
Red Ribbon Week
This week is Red Ribbon Week. Students will learn how to keep their bodies healthy by making good choices regarding food, drugs, and alcohol. We’ll also be celebrating by having a spirit week, starting with wearing red to kick it off. Check out the flyer below for more details on the rest of the week's activities.
Viking of the Week
One of the coolest things about Coach Howard’s job is getting to teach all of our Taft students. One of the toughest parts, however, is choosing just one student to be the Viking of the Week. But this time, there was no question—he nominated 7th grader Ronan Frushour. Here is what he said about him.
Ronan is a well-rounded student. He is a hard worker, a great friend, and a great role model. He is always kind to those around him. Ronan loves sports, and when he is not in school you can find him on the baseball field, or the basketball and volleyball courts playing for our Taft teams. He also loves to play football. It is a pleasure teaching and coaching Ronan. Keep up the great work!
Curriculum Update
We are back in Third Grade this week, but this time in Ms . Jones’s class. They will certainly be busy! Here is what they will be learning. We are continuing to work in Module 4, Stories on Stage. We will be watching a video The Traveling Trio and reading the play Gigi and the Wishing Ring. The reading skills we are concentrating on are Elements of Drama and Theme. We are also working on vowel diphthongs ow and ou. In Writing, we are finishing writing a Descriptive Narrative. Students were to choose a place that is special to them and describe it so that the reader can visualize where they are describing.
In Math, we have learned our Multiplication facts 0-9 and we will continue to practice. Next, we will start working on using our multiplication facts by finding unknown numbers, using the distributive property, and finding multiplication patterns in tables.
In Social Studies we are learning about Colonial Times. We are finding out what they ate, what they wore, jobs they had, and schooling and how different it was then compared to now. Once we are finished, students will be able to experience the Colonial Times when we go on a field trip to Naper Settlement and go back in time.
Sports Update
Yoga Club
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.
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