THE SCHOOL SCOOP

The School Scoop is our monthly digital newsletter that keeps parents and students up to date on everything happening here at Taylor. You will find information on upcoming dates of events/activities, clubs/organizations, athletics and important announcements. You will also get a glimpse inside the classrooms in our building with tons of pictures and videos. Happy reading!

The 2025 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and National Electrical Contractors Association State Powerlifting Championships took place April 4–5 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Taylor Middle School’s very own Shyanne Dean was part of the Lovington team that made history by claiming first place for the fourth year in a row. In a thrilling competition, the team secured a total of 37 points—edging out Portales by just one point to win the State Championship. Congratulations, Shyanne, and the Lady Cat Powerlifting State Champs!

The annual TMS talent show was held on the afternoon of April 24th. Students and staff piled into the gym to enjoy the entertainment of the 12 performances. The brave contestants stood in front of the full gym of their peers and teachers to sing, play or dance.

Thank you to Mrs. Pillado for organizing such an awesome event for TMS staff and students! Great fun was had by all! If you'd like to watch a replay please select the "Talent Show" image to the left.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025TMS Talent Show winners:

Taylor Middle School has now completed the State Tests for this school year. We had a 100% testing rate. Thank you to all of the TMS teachers that administered the Science, ELA, and Math tests. Great job doing your very best, Wildcats!

All ELA and Math teachers are currently administering the iReady End-of-Year Diagnostics. We are expecting to see tons of growth and improvement in our students' data!

Reviews for Semester Tests will be held Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20 in all classes. The Semester Tests will be administered on Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22. It is important for all students to be in school and have their Chromebooks charged on these testing days. According to New Mexico Public Education Department guidelines, all students are expected to take a semester test in each class.

Please see the schedule we will follow below:

The top 15 LiveSchool point earners from each class are awarded Platinum Club status! Students are able to earn LiveSchool points through our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system every day by wearing their ID's, being prepared for class, staying on task, and exhibiting many other positive behaviors. The points can be saved to spend at our store at the end of each 9-weeks grading period.

During World War II, the lives of millions of Americans lay precariously in the hands of a few brilliant scientists who raced to develop the first weapon of mass destruction. Elected officials gave the scientists free rein in the Manhattan Project without understanding the complexities and dangers involved in splitting the atom. TMS 8th grade social studies classes were able to take a field trip to the Western Heritage Museum in Hobbs a couple of weeks ago. The museum's newest exhibit, Prometheus in the Desert: The Manhattan Project and the Dawn of the Nuclear Age was on display for students to learn more about Los Alamos, New Mexico and the secret Manhattan Project developed there to build the atomic bomb. The exhibit features the history and science of the project, an interactive timeline of World War II, and props and costumes from the movie "Oppenheimer."

See the schedule below for our last Band performances that you won't want to miss:

Our 7th Grade Language Arts students in Mrs. Rodriguez's and Mrs. Starkey's classes recently participated in an engaging cross-curricular STEM project, thoughtfully designed to connect with our current novel study, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.

As part of this project, students were challenged to use critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration to transport water from one cup to another using only the materials provided. This hands-on activity not only reinforced key themes from the novel but also encouraged practical problem-solving and teamwork.

We are proud of their enthusiasm and effort in making meaningful connections across disciplines!

Students in the TMS Life Skills classes recently took part in a field trip aimed at strengthening their practical skills. They were challenged to budget a set amount of money, independently place their orders, and demonstrate proper dining etiquette. Following the meal, students received a shopping list and budget to complete a grocery run at Bob's Thriftway, applying their budgeting and decision-making skills to finish the lesson.

Mrs. Garcia's class earned the privilege of visiting Main Event in Lubbock, TX as part of their end-of-year celebration.

TMS is inviting incoming 7th graders and their parents to our campus on Tuesday, May 14th! We began this awesome tradition to ensure that our newest members of Team Taylor feel more confident about coming to school here and get a sneak peek inside the doors of TMS. We will be asking current 7th and 8th grade members of our clubs, sports and other organizations to help us give tours, assist in locker combinations, and answering questions. They are the best advocates for telling underclassmen ways to get involved and find their own niche!

At Taylor, we believe rules are essential for maintaining order and ensuring the safety and well-being of every student, as well as supporting a positive and productive school environment. By following established rules, we can prevent disruptions and create a space where meaningful learning can thrive.

One of our most important areas of focus is our policy regarding cell phones. These devices can be a major source of distraction, pulling students away from academic content and leading to off-task behavior. Beyond academic disruptions, cell phones can also contribute to negative interactions among students, including bullying or conflict that begins through text messages or social media.

To address these concerns, we have implemented a “no cell phone in the classroom” policy. Since its introduction, we’ve observed an increase in student interaction, participation, and overall classroom engagement.

With semester testing approaching, it’s especially important to note that cell phones can compromise the integrity of the testing environment.

As we move into the spring season, we often see an increase in disciplinary issues. We kindly ask for your continued partnership in helping your student finish the semester strong. Please remind them to:

• Stay active and engaged in their classes

• Show respect to teachers, peers, and substitute teachers

• Complete assignments on time

• Protect the learning environment by keeping cell phones and non-academic devices put away

• Prioritize attendance

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students succeed!

Many parents ask, “When is my child sick enough to stay home from school?”

This is not always an easy question to answer! We hope that these tips can help!

A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. We suggest making a plan for childcare ahead of time so you will not be caught without a comforting place for your child to stay if he/she is ill.

Our school guidance states that you should not send your child to school if he/she has:

• Fever in the past 24 hours ***If your child has a fever, please DO NOT medicate your child and send them to school***
• Active vomiting (more than twice in a day) in the past 24 hours
• Diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• Chills
• Cough-A child with deep or uncontrollable coughing belongs at home even without a fever.
• Strep Throat (must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school)
• Bad cold, with a very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night
• Head lice – until your child has been treated according to the nurse or doctor’s instructions

If your child becomes ill at school and the teacher or school nurse feel the child is too sick to benefit from school or is contagious to other children, you will be called to come and take him/her home from school. It is essential that your child’s school has a phone number where you can be contacted during the day and an emergency number in the event you cannot be reached. Please be sure that arrangements can be made to transport your child home from school and that childcare is available in case of illness. If your daytime or emergency phone number changes during the year, please notify your child’s school immediately.

If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse.

Thank you!

We have something for everyone! TMS has many opportunities for students to get involved. It is so important for students to find their place on campus and find friendships with their peers who are interested in similar things. Information on signups and meetings are announced each day on the morning and afternoon announcements. Here are the clubs and organizations students can join:

What a fantastic season our TMS athletes had as they practiced hard and excelled in their performances! They worked diligently to improve their times, distances and places throughout their season! Coaches, athletes and fans were disappointed that they were unable to compete at Wildcat stadium for their home track meet on April 1st due to weather. The teams finished strong at the Hobbs track meet and represented TMS and LMS well! Congratulations to both athletes, Coach De La Cruz, and Coach Dunlap on an outstanding track season!

Morning

8th Grade Students: LHS Pep Assembly as the new Freshman at 9:15 am.

• We will walk to the LHS Gym at 8:45 am.
• Students will walk with their 1st period teacher.
• Once finished, they will walk back and return to regular schedule.
• This event is not open to the public.

7th Grade Students: Awards Assembly at 9:00 am in TMS Gym

• Parents are welcome to attend.
• We will Livestream this event on the TMS YouTube Channel.
• Once finished, we will return to regular schedule.

Lunches will be on regular schedule.

Afternoon

8th Grade Students: Awards Assembly at 1:15 pm in TMS Gym

• Parents are welcome to attend.
• We will Livestream this event on the TMS YouTube Channel.
• Once finished, we will have the 8th grade Walk through the TMS halls.
• They may then be released to parents if they are in attendance.

Reminders:

Monday, May 19 - Tuesday, May 20 - Semester Test Reviews in all classes.

Wednesday, May 21 - Thursday, May 22 - Semester Tests in all classes.

Wednesday, May 21 - Regular School Day (not on Wednesday Schedule!)

Friday, May 23 - Early Release - Last day of School

Taylor Middle School is currently following a 6-period day for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Here are the bell schedules:

Reminder for parents that may need to pick up their student(s) early: In order to ensure that we are able to get your student from class, to their locker, and to the office before the bell rings, the cutoff deadline for early student pick-up will be 2:45 pm on regular school days and 1:30 pm on Wednesdays.

The Lovington Municipal Schools instructional calendar shows school holidays, parent/teacher conferences and early release days throughout the school year. It can be found on the home webpage or by selecting the image to the left.