Tiger Tales

Oh my goodness! January AND February flew by so fast that I missed getting our newsletter out at the beginning of the month. The second semester is in full swing, and we're rapidly approaching Spring Break (March 17-21). KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION is next week! If you or someone you know has a child that will be 5 years old by August 31st, please join us and register for kindergarten next year. See below for more information.

BIG thanks to our amazing Taft Family Collective (TFC) for the family engagement night at Pojo's. Thanks to their hard work and preparation, we had an incredible 390 people attend! The looks on children's faces, many of which have never been to Pojo's, was truly priceless. It will be one of many fond memories of the year. (Check out some of the photos below, courtesy of Kelsey Swope.)

Another great event is just around the corner. The Scholastic Book Fair is approaching quickly, and I’m thrilled to announce that Scripps Howard Fund has made it possible for every single student at our school to take home 4 books for free! We'll have an assembly next week to announce the big event with students. I sent home a sign-up link via Remind for anyone interested in volunteering to help with check-out.

Finally, be sure to mark your calendars for May 8th from 5:00-7:00 PM. We'll be celebrating our annual Culture Festival. For those of you that have attended in the past, you know how special it is. For those of you new to Taft - you don't want to miss it! It's an evening filled with food, music, art, and dance from all over the world. It's the highlight of the year. 😁

This is just a quick update. We are "hanging on" to our 15% rate of chronic absenteeism, but it will take a big effort from everyone to hold steady. I hope that parents are using the attendance trackers at home. Remember, every absence counts, regardless of whether it is "unexcused, excused, or medical." Bottom line - if students are not in school, the absence counts. We know that our students have better relationships with their peers and teachers, improved learning, and better retention of their learning when they attend every day. Please help us help your child. (If you lost or misplaced the attendance tracker, you can call or email the school if you'd like a current count of your child's absences.)

Heidi Gudmundsen, M.S., LPC

Counselor

Hello Taft Families -

Below are the lessons we focused on for the month of February:

• Kindergarten - We are learning about the tools in our tool box. We will focus on six out of the twelve tools: Breathing tool, Quite Safe Place tool, Garbage Can tool, Listening tool, Personal Space tool, and the Please and Thank you tool. Here is a link to learn more about the Toolbox tools.

• First Grade - We will read the book “Molly Lou Melon”. The students will be asked to think of what tool they can use when someone is being unkind. We will read “Don’t squeal Unless it is a Big Deal”. We will discuss what is a big deal (you need to tell an adult) and what is a squeal (you can handle on your own). We will discuss how we can handle small problems on our own. We will also be learning about the Zones of Regulation and what to do when we are in each of the four zones. The last lesson in February will be about self control.

• Second Grade - We will read the book “Wemberly Worried” and learn ways to take care of ourselves when we are worried. We are going to read the book “Chrysanthemum” which focuses on celebrating our unique selves. We will read the book “Being Frank” and discuss how being honest isn’t always nice. Students will learn if you can’t fix it in 5 seconds it doesn't need to be mentioned. Lastly, we will be reading “Unicorn” from Slumberkinds. This book focuses on building confidence.

• Third Grade -We will continue to look at our sources of strength. We will be talking about the different areas of our brain and how they impact our emotions and our abilities

• Fourth Grade - We will continue to work on our Sources of Strength. We will learn about the Brain Tree and the Regulation Station. We will wrap up the month by discussing what to do if we see a classmate / friend who is feeling down. Students will learn the warning signs for depression and learn they need to reach out to an adult they trust if they are worried about their classmate / friend.

• 5th Grade - We are starting on our safety lessons. This month we will focus on Internet and Social Media safety.

• 6th Grade: We will wrap up our Sources of Strength lessons. Students will learn the warning signs for depression and learn they need to reach out to an adult they trust if they are worried about their classmate / friend. We will discuss ethical decision making. From there we will jump into our safety lessons by discussing Internet safety and gun safety.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me.

Heidi Gudmundsen, MS, LPC

W.H. Taft Elementary School Counselor

208-854-6189

heidi.gudmundsen@boiseschools.org

Boise School District

Pronouns: She, her, hers

www.boiseschools.org/everythingspossible

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Demi Miller

Reading and Math Intervention Specialist

Family Engagement Coordinator

For more information; Taft Family Engagement Plan

Family Engagement Coordinator: demi.miller@boiseschools.org

Loren Bailly

Learning Coach

March Books

Read Across America Month

"Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers"

Jabari Jumps Written by, Gaia Cornwall

Summary: Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board.

In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.

Read Aloud:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Aqq5jnDDg&t=1s

Proudest Blue Written by, Ibtihaj Muhammad Illustrated by, S. K. Ali Hatem Aly

Summary: A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.

Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3rRWzdHv5M&t=51s

The Day You Begin Written by, Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by, Rafael Lopez

Summary: A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCkRtyXq-fg&t=134s

Jenny Hirst

Community Schools Coordinator

Community Schools Update!

This month we celebrated the return of the Robotics Club brought to us through OnRamp BSU. Our upper grade students are learning about coding and programming their Sphero Bolts to accomplish different tasks! Some of the students are learning how to program communication between the Sphero Bolts!

Anastasiya Plata

Mckenzie Winskie

2nd Grade

Third Grade Highlights: "Stories of Strength" Research Project

Our third graders recently wrapped up an inspiring project called "Stories of Strength,"where they explored their family immigration histories. Students worked hard researching their ancestors' journeys, creating detailed poster projects, and practicing their public speaking skills.

To celebrate their learning, we hosted a special event where families were invited to watch student presentations, discover the diverse immigration stories of their classmates, and enjoy a delicious selection of foods from around the world. It was a meaningful experience that honored our shared histories and the strength of our families. We are so proud of our third graders for their hard work and confidence in sharing their stories!

• March 6th Kindergarten Registration 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.
• March 14 End of Third Quarter - Early Release K-6 to work on Report Cards, No School Pre K
• March 17-21 Spring Break - No School Pre K-12
• April 18 No School Pre K-12
• May 15 Last Day of School for Seniors, Early Childhood Special Education Programs and Pre K
• May 16 Early Release K-6 to work on Report Cards
• May 20, 21, 22 Secondary End of Semester Testing - Early Release *7-12
• May 22 Last Day of School - Early Release K-12