• November 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
• December 19 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Wild Mountain
• December 23-January 3 - No School - Winter Break

• A generous family in our school community has offered a dollar for dollar match in the remaining few days of our fundraiser!
• Every dollar you donate to our school will be matched as we strive towards our $12,000 goal.

• The cost of food- everything- keeps going up, and the holidays are always expensive.
• We're fortunate to live in a generous community. If you're struggling to provide your family with whatever holiday your family celebrates, please reach out directly to Mr. Riebe: 651-213-2101, or you can email at jriebe@isd2144.org. There is help available and your privacy will be respected.

As in years past, you will find a Christmas tree waiting to be filled in the school foyer. Our hope is to fill the branches with new mittens/gloves, hats, scarves, and socks. We will also collect non-perishable food items and donations of money. The items will be donated to Family Pathways and will be distributed to those in need in our local area. If you choose to participate, please send these items to school starting Tuesday, November 26th. The last collection day will be Friday, December 13th. Checks should be made payable to Family Pathways. Please help us warm the hearts and hands of children in need.

Happy holidays to you and your family!

• We're almost there! Just a few more days to reach our goal of $12,000! Help us fund another year of student events, classroom supply upgrades, reading programs, and so much more! With our generous match, your dollar goes twice as far so please consider making a donation:

• GoFundMe Link: https://GoFund.Me/14efd5e2
• Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/TFPFE
• Checks: made out to TFPFE, sent to Taylors Falls Elementary

• We've got spirit (wear), yes we do! We've got new items and plenty of old favorites--perfect presents for the holidays! And these gifts keep on giving: our local supplier, Goldstar Printworks, gives a percentage back to our school for every item ordered! Click here to view our complete collection for kids and adults! Order by December 6th for delivery before the winter break!

• Your opinion counts! We need your feedback on our Readers Are Winners program as we prepare for this year's event. Complete our survey and let us know what you think!
• Join us for TFPFE Day at Jake's On The Lakes! Let your server know right away that you're supporting Taylors Falls Elementary and Jake's will give 10% of your food order back to our school! Delicious food, gorgeous setting, AND a good cause?! See you at Jake's!
• The TFPFE will be at the Taylors Falls Lighting Festival next Friday! We'll be selling milk, cookies, and spirit blankets while hanging out with Santa Claus--come say hi!

November Events

• November 25th: TFPFE Day at Jake's On The Lakes
• November 26th: No-Fuss Fundraiser Celebration Day!
• November 29th: Taylors Falls Lighting Festival

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

• Thank you to everyone who has helped us raise money for our No-Fuss Fundraiser!
• The kids have earned a pajama and stuffed animal day. On November 26th they will be able to wear pajamas to school and bring a stuffed animal that will fit in a backpack (no giant stuffed animals please).

• 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.

• Monday, Nov 25th - Friday, Nov 29th - No ECFE Classes (Preschool + Parents has Class Monday)
• Nov 27th - Nov 29th - No Little Wildcats Preschool/Preschool + Parents / Thanksgiving Break
• Friday, Dec 13th - Last Day of ECFE Classes before Winter Break
• Wednesday, Dec 18th - Last Day of Preschool + Parents before Winter Break
• Friday, Dec 20th - Last Day of Little Wildcats Preschool before Winter Break
• Dec 23rd - Jan 3rd - Winter Break

Welcoming children birth to 3 years old. Come and engage in purposeful and interactive play with your children in this class of movers and shakers. Parents and children stay together while enjoying regular classroom activities along with movement areas, art, and story time. Parents and children will participate in an interactive circle time with singing and movement activities before heading home.

Registration will stay open as new families are always welcome to join!

Join Princess Belle in her rare Christmas dress for an enchanting afternoon! 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!

Beginner Clinic (K - Gr 2): This class is intended for those beginning in the sport and interested to learn more about it.

2nd graders with a year or more experience should register for the Advanced course or email BNelson@isd2144.org for guidance.

Advanced Clinic (Gr 2 - Gr 6): This is for wrestlers looking to compete in tournaments and ready to perfect learned techniques. 2nd graders who have at least one year of experience can register for this class, otherwise they should register for the K-2 class. Wrestling at the youth level incorporates many different training methods including tumbling and relays to work on agility. This clinic uses a systematic progression of wrestling moves that are appropriate for each age level.

Participants will improve their basics skills like shooting, dribbling and passing while having fun playing games.

Dec 3rd, 4th, & 5th - 17th,18th, &19th

Lakeside - Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00pm

Primary School - Wednesdays 3:40-4:40pm

Primary School (Preschool) - Wednesdays 4:40-5:20pm

Taylors Falls - Thursdays from 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

Miracle at Big Rock is an enchanting holiday event hosted at Big Rock Creek in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. It offers a winter wonderland experience, featuring over a mile of light displays, themed activities, and festive attractions. Visitors can enjoy more than just holiday lights—there are food trucks, holiday vendors, sledding, fireworks, s'mores stations, and even private visits with Santa Claus. A unique "Visit the Moon" photo area is also part of the festivities, adding to the magical atmosphere​. Miracle at Big Rock has offered December 8th for our schools, "The Wildcats” to join them in making Christmas memories free of charge for students.

You can learn more at www.miracleatbigrock.com

• 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