Friday, September 23, 2002
Good afternoon, Taylor families.
This week it was clear that students are settling into classroom communities. As I visit classrooms students are engaged in community building circles, math and reading groups to meet their learning needs and demonstrating positive choices throughout our school.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
- School Spirit Day: As we prepare for Homecoming weekend, we will have a Ranger Pride spirit day on Friday, September 30th. Please wear your Spencerport or Taylor gear and show off that blue and gold!
- Superintendent’s Conference Day- No School for students: There will be no school for students UPK – grade 12 on Friday, October 7.
- Indigenous Peoples Day: There will be no school for students on Monday, October 10th.
- Open House: We will hold our annual Open House on Thursday, October 13. Please stop by to say hello anytime from 6:00 pm – 7:30pm.
- Fall Book Fair: We are thankful that to have our Taylor book fair back in action! Be on the lookout for more information about when your student’s class will be visiting, but the fair will also be open during Open House!
Taylor’s Building Plan: As you may know, each of our schools has a shared decision-making team referred to as the Building Planning Team, comprised of faculty, staff, administration and a parent representative. Each year, we develop and implement a plan that outlines initiatives and action steps that guide our work over the course of the year. Below are highlights of the work ahead:
- Focus on welcoming and affirming environment (relationships)
- Focusing on intentional greetings (students, staff and parents)
- Welcoming back visitors and volunteers
- Scheduling staff gatherings to promote a sense of community in the building
- Creating school-wide and community experiences in support of building connections
- Expanding upon cultural awareness
- Focus on the student experience (real world)
- Enhancing awareness relative to individual family circumstances
- Implementation of social-emotional learning time
- Monitoring and supporting tiered student behaviors
- Reinforcing positive student recognition (shout outs, positive office referrals, VIBees)
- Focus on academic excellence (rigor)
- Reinvigorate school wide enrichment experiences
- Focusing on best instructional strategies to individualize instruction (blended learning with small group instruction)
- Utilizing our half-days to analyze data in support of tier instruction and interventions
- Learning walks to staff as a means of supporting professional learning
- Expanding upon instructional practices in literacy and math
- Building school and community awareness of the Every Student Succeeds Act accountability measures
As shared in Ms. Swann’s update last week, I would like to invite you to a Parent and Community Engagement Event on the Impacts of Social Media. This will be held on the evening of October 3rd. Max Stossel will lead an important discussion on how social media is impacting students and what can be done to improve focus and diminish distraction in your homes and learning environments. The event will be held in our high school performing arts center, and the time will be communicated once confirmed. Until then, please save the date.
Sincerely,
Telcie Pincelli