Viking Newsletter

Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Monday, November 25, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teachers. I will also be available to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you there!

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude and appreciation for each of you. To our teachers, you inspire our students every day and make a difference in ways that words cannot fully capture. To our students, your curiosity, resilience, and hard work remind us why our roles are so important. And to our community, your support, partnership, and trust are the foundation of our school’s success. I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with delicious food, cherished time with family, and well-deserved relaxation.

This Viking of the Week is an amazing 5th Grader. Sarah Alsouqi has the best manners and is always positive and polite whenever I see her. Mrs. Frank, who nominated her, sees the same thing. Here are the wonderful things she said about her. Sarah is helpful to those around her. She is compassionate and patient and a good friend to everyone. Sarah loves science and is a part of STEM club. She is also in choir and is in band. Keep up the amazing work Sarah.

The Lady Vikings 7th grade basketball team captured the Regional Championship this week by defeating Grant Park and Ford Heights. They now play for the Sectional Championship on 12/4 at 6:30 at Taft. The Lady Vikings go in with a record of 17 wins and 2 losses. They play Cissna Park who have a record of 20 wins and 1 loss. Please come out and help us pack the gym for our girls on 12/4. The 8th grade teams begin regional play tomorrow in Ford Heights. Good luck ladies.

The boys team played Washington this week. The 7th grade team lost a close game but the 8th grade team came away with the win. They both currently have records of 2 wins and 2 losses. Their next game is 12/3 at Monge.

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The Taft Choir will be performing at Christmas in the Square on November 30, 2024 at 2:30 PM. Please come out and support our choir on what we are sure will be a wonderful performance.

Pneumonia seems to be spreading around our school. Below is valuable information about this kind of infection…

Please see the November look-ahead calendar.

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

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.

  
  

Did you know that every time you shop on Walmart.com, you can round up your change and donate it to TAFT FOUNDATION? Learn how small acts can lead to big impact at #WalmartSparkGood by using this link https://www.walmart.com/nonprofits/e52a139c-c723-4715-bf4d-27802d3cccbb/profile or by hitting the button below.

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.

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