The Talon Times

Samuel Morey Edition

October 23, 2026

Principal's Message

As we settle into the rhythm of autumn, I am thrilled by the energy and growth filling our classrooms every single day. Literacy is our strongest focus right now, and you can see it everywhere from foundational phonics skills to deep reading comprehension and writing. Behind the scenes, our staff are matching this classroom energy with specialized training, updated materials, and targeted intervention planning to ensure every student succeeds.

Here are a few exciting ways reading and learning are taking shape across the school:

Preschool Connections: Families will now see explicit literacy and math spotlights in preschool updates, offering simple weekly skill tips you can practice during bedtime stories, car rides, or dinner conversations.
Grade 3 Reading & Drama: Third graders are diving into their new Bookworms curriculum, reading Owen Foote, and learning to find evidence in text to support their answers. They are also preparing a special drama project connected to Masterpiece and practicing nightly reading to build smooth fluency.
Grades 4 & 5 Skill Building: Older elementary students are practicing multisyllabic word mapping, mastering phonemes, reading repeatedly for fluency, and building stamina through daily independent reading. They are also using organizers like Venn diagrams to write text-based responses while strengthening their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Visual Literacy & Beyond: Learning extends past traditional books! Grades 3 through 5 are participating in the Hood Museum's ArtStart program, where they will visit four times to build visual literacy, evaluate artwork, and express their creativity through critical thinking.

Thank you for your steady partnership and for supporting daily reading at home—your encouragement makes all the difference in building lifelong, confident readers!