Tiger Tracks

The end of the first trimester midterm is quickly approaching on Friday, October 2nd! As a quick reminder of our reporting system, students in grades K–3 are evaluated using standards-based grading to track specific developmental milestones, while students in grades 4 and 5 receive traditional letter grades. Teachers will be finalizing these academic check-ins soon, and midterm progress reports will be sent home with students on Thursday, October 8th. Please take time to review these reports with your child to celebrate their growth and set goals for the rest of the trimester!

As flu season approaches, we want to help families navigate when to keep students home and when it’s safe to send them back to school. Please keep your child home if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher, vomiting, or other significant symptoms, and ensure they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning. Practicing small daily habits—like frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and getting plenty of rest—makes a big difference in keeping our school community healthy. Please check out the attached guides below for detailed illness guidelines and healthy habits tips!

The Elks Hoop Shoot free-throw contest for boys and girls ages 8–13 will take place on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 PM at Sports of All Sorts in Florence. Please note that this community event is sponsored by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is not an activity of the Kenton County School District.

To ensure all students arrive home safely and without delay, clear communication is essential. If your child has a change in their standard dismissal, please send a written note with them in the morning or notify the office before 2:00 PM.

We cannot accommodate last-minute requests after 2:00 PM, as our end-of-day dismissal process begins promptly. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!

WIN Time is a daily, dedicated block where every student receives personalized instruction tailored to their individual needs. Students participate in small groups for math and reading, focusing on enrichment, skill-building, or targeted intervention:

• Academic Interventions: Tier II and Tier III groups work with our interventionists, Mrs. Pike and Mrs. Miller.

• Social-Emotional Support: Designated intervention groups work with Mr. Nick and Mr. Chow, complementing our school-wide SEL classes.

• Notification & Resources: Parents of students receiving tiered interventions should check blue folders for notification letters sent home. For more details on our support structure, please review the KCSD MTSS Brochure.

Join TME Dojo!

In accordance with Kentucky state law (KRS 158.165) and our SBDM policy, TME enforces a "no personal devices" policy from entry to exit during school hours. Personal devices—including cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and AirPods—must remain turned off and kept in backpacks from arrival through dismissal to minimize distractions and keep the focus on learning. Exceptions (such as medical needs or IEP accommodations) must be approved by school administrators. Thank you for helping us maintain a distraction-free learning environment!

Have supplies or forgotten items that need to get to classrooms?

Just drop them off in the main office lobby area. Label with child's name and classroom teacher and we will deliver for you as to not interrupt instruction.

Absences:

If your child is absent from school, please call 859-356-2566 to let us know. Please also send in a written parent note or a doctor's note when the student returns to school. You can also email amanda.mangan@kenton.kyschools.us

Birthday Treats:

In order to ensure the safety of our students, it is permissible to only bring individually prepackaged, store-bought, healthy snacks to school to celebrate events such as birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. Taylor Mill offers a peanut-free zone in the café, as well in some classrooms due to food allergies. If you bring things that do not meet these guidelines, they will come back home. Please reach out to the teacher as to how many and the day you would like to send them in.

Visitors to School:

During the school year, volunteers will be welcomed in the school to work with students with prior background checks completed and by invitation of the classroom teacher/PTA. We do not allow parent visitors for lunch with students due to room in the cafeteria, student confidentiality, and safety of our students.

You can check your volunteer approval status with the secretaries in the main office.

We are excited to continue in the 2026-2027 school year in the CEP program. This opportunity provides every student in the district breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Providing this program enhances the positive learning experience for every student! Students will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application.

ALL KCSD families still need to fill out the Household Income Form, regardless of income status. This form impacts additional programs and departments in our district. Only one form per family needs to be submitted.

For more information or questions about this program, please visit www.kenton.kyschools.us/cep or e-mail the KCSD Director of Student Nutrition Jenny Notton at jennifer.notton@kenton.kyschools.us.

Click here see the Taylor Mill Breakfast & Lunch Menus.

Here at Taylor Mill Elementary, our Family Resource Center is dedicated to supporting our students and their families so every child can thrive and succeed! Created through the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA), the FRC helps connect families with essential resources and community support.

Services We Offer:

• Basic Needs: School supplies, food, clothing, and hygiene items

• Referrals & Connections: Support for medical, vision, dental, mental health, and social services

• Early Childhood Services: Assistance with daycare and preschool connections

• Family Engagement: Fun family events, literacy nights, and All Pro Dad programs

• Additional Support: Attendance/truancy guidance, emergency financial assistance, and holiday help

We are here to help! If you ever need support or have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out:

• Coordinator: Mandy Munich, Family Resource Coordinator

• Phone: 859-356-2566

• Email: amanda.munich@kenton.kyschools.us

• Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

How to Track Your Bus

Keep track of your student's bus location in real time using the KCSD Bus Finder Web App:

1. Access the App: Open any browser on your smartphone or tablet and go to kcsd.parentportal.trackstar.app.

2. Log In: Enter the generic password kcsdtrans and tap Login.

3. Find Your Bus: Enter your student's 3-digit bus number. (Note: For 2-digit buses, add a leading zero—e.g., enter bus 12 as 012).

Tips for Best Use:

• Bookmark the Link: Save the URL to your home screen or browser bookmarks for quick access.

• Manual Refresh Required: The map is not a live stream. You must manually refresh your browser page to see updated movements.

• 2-Minute Signal Delay: Location data refreshes every two minutes, so factor this buffer into your estimated arrival times.

Bus Behavior & Safety Expectations

Riding the bus is a privilege dependent on complying with Kenton County School District guidelines and Kentucky administrative regulations (702 KAR 5:030). These rules apply at bus stops, on buses, and on school property.

Parent & Guardian Acknowledgment (Required)

• Kentucky state law requires every student and at least one parent/guardian to acknowledge in writing the receipt and agreement of this transportation safety policy within 7 days of the student's first day of school.

• Failure to submit written acknowledgment may result in the revocation of bus privileges until received.

• Parents/guardians are expected to interact respectfully with Transportation staff in accordance with state law (KRS 511.020 / KRS 508.078).

General Bus Rules

• Bus Stops & Timing: Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes before scheduled pick-up time. Always cross in front of the bus, waiting for the driver to signal that it is safe.

• Seating & Passes: Drivers may assign seats and limit bulky items that block aisles. Students may not ride a different bus without a signed pass from a school official.

• Electronic Devices: Allowed only if volume is kept low and no disturbance is caused. Cell phone calls, picture taking, and video recording are strictly prohibited.

• Prohibited Items & Actions: Eating, drinking, using tobacco, throwing objects, or leaning out windows are not permitted. Animals are prohibited (except registered service animals).

• Respect & Restitution: Students must obey the driver promptly, remain seated, and respect property. Parents/guardians may be held financially responsible for intentional damage caused by a student.

Disciplinary Procedures

• Immediate Removal: A driver may remove a student from the bus immediately if a situation poses physical harm or makes driving unsafe.

• Suspension of Privileges: School principals are authorized to suspend bus riding privileges for rule violations in consultation with the Transportation Department. Oral and written notices will be provided to parents/guardians.

• Parent Responsibility: If bus privileges are suspended, parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation to and from school. Suspended students may not transfer to another bus. (Federal/state mandate procedures will be followed for students with disabilities.)

At Taylor Mill Elementary, maintaining a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment is our top priority. We encourage all families to review the Kenton County School District Code of Conduct with their child to ensure everyone understands our shared expectations for student behavior, rights, and responsibilities for the school year.

You can access and review the complete document here:

👉 KCSD Board Approved Code of Conduct

Looking for reliable before or after school care for your student? AlphaBEST Education provides on-site care right here at Taylor Mill Elementary! AlphaBEST offers a fun, safe, and engaging environment with hands-on learning, STEM activities, fitness, healthy snacks, and dedicated homework time to start and end your child's school day.

For details on program hours, tuition, and registration, please visit:

👉 AlphaBEST Kenton County Program & Registration

Stay ahead of key dates, holidays, breaks, and early release days for the upcoming school year! Having the district calendar handy helps ensure your family can plan ahead for all school closures and events.

View or download the full calendar here:

👉 2026–2027 Kenton County School District Calendar

Email: lucas.patterson@kenton.kyschools.us
Website: https://taylormill.kenton.kyschools.us/
Location: 5907 Taylor Mill Road, Covington, KY, USA
Phone: 859-356-2566
Facebook: facebook.com/TaylorMillElementary