Viking Newsletter

Fourth grader Adrian D. from Mrs. Kelly's class is a familiar name when it comes to Viking of the Week! He has been nominated every year, and it's easy to see why. Adrian consistently

demonstrates what it means to be a Viking through his positive attitude, kindness, and the way he treats those around him. We are so proud to recognize him once again! Mrs. Kelly says Adrian is a great Viking! He works hard on all his assignments, contributes greatly to our class discussions, and is a great classmate to everyone. I am so proud to have Adrian in 4th grade this year. One of his favorite activities at school is playing soccer with friends during recess. In class and out, he enjoys math the most.

Outside of school, Adrian is very busy. He plays soccer for Soccershots. Each week he practices hard for his games on the weekend. He also participates in Ju-jitsu and kickboxing. He finds time to take lessons for piano and ukulele. He also likes to play the drums. Keep it up Adrian; we are so proud of you!

The Lady Vikings played Elwood, Rockdale and Fairmont this week. The 7th and 8th grade both won all 3 games. Great work ladies. The girls play Richland this week at home on Thursday at 4:15. Good luck girls.

The boys start their regular season this week with 3 games. They play Richland at home tomorrow at 4:15, Laraway at home on Friday at 4:15 and at LTHS against Fairmont on Saturday at 10:00. The game against Laraway on Friday is a special Veteran's day game. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Money raised will go to the local VFW. Come out and support your Vikings and Veterans. Good luck boys.

We are excited to kick off another season of TPAA (Taft Parent Athletic Association) basketball! TPAA provides our 3rd–6th grade students with an opportunity to learn the game, develop their skills, build teamwork, and experience the excitement of being part of a team. Beyond the wins and losses, it's all about sportsmanship, hard work, friendships, and representing Taft with Viking Pride! We are looking forward to a fun season and can't wait to cheer on our Vikings! Go Vikings!

6th grade Vikings won their first game 46-7 and started the season with a strong win, setting a season record at 1-0.

3rd Grade (King) - In their first game against Richland, they won 8-1. Points were put up by Kamryn, Russell, and Desmond (x2). Both 3rd grade teams will play in the Hornet Hoopla Tournament at Kelvin Grove this weekend. Let's go Vikings!

3rd Grade (Howard) - Lost their first game against Richland; however, we are so proud of their determination! Keep working hard, focusing at practice, and most importantly, believe in yourself & your teammates. We got this! Go Vikings!

This week the BETA Club will be collecting loose change for a great cause. All change, along with the tickets sales from Friday's home basketball game will be donated to the Lockport VFW.

The BETA Club is also hosting a food drive to create holiday meals for some of our Taft families over the Thanksgiving holiday. Please check out the flyers below for more information

The flyer provides a quick overview of what is and is not permitted within the City of Lockport, including age restrictions and operating requirements for Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes, electric scooters, and electric dirt bikes. We hope getting this information directly to parents will help clarify some of the rules and encourage safe and responsible riding.

Per Illinois Senate Bill 2427, Taft Grade School requires that all student cell phones and personal electronic devices remain off and stored in the student's assigned locker (5-8th grade)/backpack (K-4th grade) for the entire instructional day.

Bell-to-Bell Expectations

• Students must turn off all cell phones, smartwatches capable of communication, and other personal electronic devices before entering the school building.

• Devices must be stored in the student's locker (Grades 5-8) or in a backpack (K-4) upon arrival and must remain there until the dismissal bell.

• Students may not carry, use, or access personal electronic devices during the school day, including passing periods, lunch, recess, study halls, or restroom breaks, unless specifically authorized by school administration as required by law.

• Students are responsible for ensuring their devices are powered off and securely stored.

For further information, please see our student handbook on our Taft website (under the Parents tab, then Resources)

We know that a new cell phone policy is a slight change, but we truly believe it will be a great change for our students, our classrooms, and our entire school community! Our goal is simple: more learning, more connection, and fewer distractions. As a reminder, all of our classrooms have phones in them and we routinely allow students to call home throughout the day so we do not anticipate this changing very much for our daily operations.

Morning Arrival (8:10 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.)

• Beginning at 8:10 a.m., all students should be dropped off at either:

• Door 2 (16th Street Drop-Off Lane), or

• Door 7 (17th Street Drop-Off Lane).

• Upon entering the building, all students will report directly to the auditorium, where they will remain under staff supervision until dismissed to their classrooms at 8:20 a.m.

Morning Arrival After 8:20 a.m.

Students arriving after 8:20 a.m. should enter through Door 2 or Door 7 and proceed directly to their classrooms.

Students arriving after 8:30 should enter through the main entrance and check in with the office.

LASEC Classrooms

Students enrolled in LASEC classrooms should be dropped off and picked up at the main entrance located at the front of the building.

Afternoon Dismissal

• Kindergarten students are dismissed from Door 2 near the kindergarten classroom.

• 1st and 2nd Grade students are dismissed from Door 4, near the playground.

• K-2 Students must be picked up by a parent, guardian, or designated older sibling and checked out with their teacher.

• 3rd and 4th Grade students are dismissed from Door 7 (17th Street).

• 5th through 8th Grade students are dismissed from Door 2 (16th Street).

• LASEC classrooms are dismissed from the main entrance.

Students entering Early Childhood, Kindergarten, and Grade 6, or who are entering an Illinois school from out of state or out of the country at any grade level, must provide proof of physical examination with current immunizations on the Illinois-approved form

• The exam must be completed no earlier than a year (365 days) prior to the student’s first day of attendance and must be turned in by October 15, 2025 to avoid exclusion from school.

• If transferring from an in-state school, please be sure the health exam from the required grade level is handed in.

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.

  
  

Teachers and Administration have been addressing social media challenges. We cannot do this alone and need support from home. We understand that social media is a significant part of their social world. While platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can be fun and engaging, they also come with risks that require careful attention and guidance.

Here are some tips to help keep your child safe online:

1. Open Communication
   Talk openly with your child about their online activities. Ask which platforms they use, who they interact with, and what they post. Creating a judgment-free space encourages them to share concerns or ask for help if needed.

2. Address Negative Posting or Commenting
   Talk to your child about the impact of posting or commenting on content in a way that isn’t nice. Explain how words can hurt, even online, and encourage them to pause and think about how their comments might affect others. Reinforce that being kind and respectful online reflects positively on their character.

3. Privacy Settings
   Help your child enable privacy settings on their accounts to limit who can see their posts and send messages. Regularly review these settings as platforms often update their features.

4. Recognize Red Flags
   Teach your child to identify and report inappropriate behavior, such as cyberbullying or messages from strangers. Let them know it’s okay to block someone who makes them uncomfortable.

5. Lead by Example
   Model healthy social media habits. Be mindful of your own online behavior, and show your child how to use social media responsibly.

Junior high is a time of growth and discovery, and social media can play a positive role when used thoughtfully. By working together, we can help ensure our students stay safe while enjoying the benefits of technology.

If you have any questions or would like additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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