Principal's Message 4/11/21

Principal's Message from Sunday, April 11, 2021
Posted on 04/11/2021
Taft Eagle News

Dear Taft Families,

This is Principal Garcia-Rubio with our Sunday update.   We hope everyone had a restful weekend.

Term 4 Begins Tomorrow-4/12/21

Term 4 will begin on Monday, April 12, 2021.  Students will return to periods 4, 5, and 6--the classes they originally began  at the end of January 2021.  Questions regarding schedules or schedule changes may be directed to Mrs. Sanchez, our counselor at [email protected].  A list of Term 4 Class codes is included in this communication via email.

In-Person Learning Tomorrow

All students reporting for in-person learning must check-in at one of the 3 identified gates on Gramercy Drive. A map is attached to this communication.  There will be many signs letting our students know where to go.

Click here for Taft Campus Map

ASB Video

To help prepare our students who are reporting tomorrow, our ASB students created a video.  Here is the link: Click here for ASB Video  We hope you enjoy our students’ creativity!

ENTRY

The two main gates on Gramercy Drive will be for 7th and 8th Students. These will be divided by alphabetical order.  There is a third gate on Gramercy Drive that is for 6th Graders only.  It is the most western gate (closest to the cafeteria and West Parking Lot).  Our West parking lot is currently under construction, so please plan accordingly.  

Students should bring the following items:

1. A completed Daily Symptom Check Form (if possible to download and print)

Click here for a PDF of the Daily Symptom Checker

2. Backpacks and learning materials

3. A refillable water bottle 

4. A small snack (if needed)

 

As a reminder, all staff and students must wear face coverings on campus.

At our check-in stations, we will have:

  1. Extra face masks
  2. Blank Daily Symptom Check Paper Forms for students who need them
  3. Clean pencils
  4. Hand Sanitizer and handwashing stations close by
  5. Copies of schedules for Term 4 with a copy of our map on the back of the schedule
  6. A thermometer to screen students who complete the Daily Symptom Check Form on campus.

 

 To create a staggered entry, our gates will open at 8:30 a.m. Upon entry, students must go to their respective dot spot in the waiting areas.  Our lunch court is under construction so the 7th and 8th Grade students will wait in designated dot spots by teacher and classroom in the south asphalt blacktop closest to the 500 buildings.  6th graders will have a similar set up within their 6th grade village area between the 200 and 300 buildings.

Required Forms for In-Person Learning

There are 2 required forms:

1. Taft Family Acknowledgment Opt In Form (one form needed)

2. Daily Symptom Check Form (one needed every day a student reports on campus)

We will send home a paper copy of the Taft In-Person Opt-In Family Acknowledgement on Monday, April 12, 2021.  We ask that students return them on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Click here to the Taft Family Opt-In Form. Thank you to our families who were able to open and return this form.  We had much difficulty sharing this form and we appreciate your understanding.

Daily Exit

Our school day will end at 1:00 p.m. and students will exit through the same gates on Gramercy.  A grab-and-go lunch will be provided to all students free of charge.  All students must exit the campus at this time unless they are enrolled in our Prime Time Program. Our Prime Time program will not have any morning supervision available for the remainder of this year.  They will offer a modified program Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. that will align with the school hours. For information, please contact Mr. Kevin at [email protected].

Friday Schedule

As a reminder, Fridays will be an online check-in from 9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. for all students.  This week we will begin with period 4.  Students will have asynchronous or independent work to complete  on Fridays.   

 

 

ONLINE STUDENTS

For our students who are remaining online, we ask that they continue to log in to their teachers' online platforms.  

 

TERM 4 GOOGLE CLASSROOM CODES

A new list of codes is attached to this communication:

Click here for Term 4 Google Classroom Codes

 

GRADING PERIOD FOR TERM 3

Term 3 ended this Friday, April 9, 2021.  Grades will be available on PowerSchool on Friday, April 16, 2021.   

 

10 Things to Prepare for a Return to In-Person Learning

1. Have an age-appropriate conversation with your student about why your family chose the hybrid model or the online option. Students may have friends who made a different decision, and it is important for students to understand every choice deserves to be respected.

2. Practice proper hygiene. Remind students to thoroughly wash their hands for enough time to kill all germs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends scrubbing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. 

3. Practice wearing a mask. Masks will be required when students return to campus, and they are still recommended every time you leave the house. Students should practice covering both their nose and mouth with a snug but comfortable mask.

4. Review the rules on physical distancing. As much as friends may wish to greet each other warmly on campus next week, everyone must keep a respectful distance between themselves and other students. Remind your students about these rules for everyone’s safety.

5. Help your student prepare for the new school lunch program. For the remainder of the school year, meals will be provided to all students at no cost but students will not be able to sit together to eat unless they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance. Explain this to your students and practice a few times to make them feel comfortable.

6. Confirm your transportation plans with the school staff. Busses will be running modified schedules and routes, so review your plans to get to school on time.

7. Take time to learn the new entry points for school and the rules on lining up by the gate. These rules are in place to minimize the chance of Covid-19 coming onto campus from the surrounding community.

8. Check in with your students to measure their emotional health. Returning to the classroom after a year can be as emotionally difficult as starting school all over again for the first time. Counselors will be available to help, but you can make things easier by talking with your students about their feelings.

9. Remember to share your plans with the school staff. Starting on April 12, additional after school programs will be available, and we will have an on campus learning lab for students who wish to come to school on Fridays when the campus is otherwise closed. After school programs will run through 4:00 p.m. from Monday through Thursday.  If you would like your student to participate in either the after school program or the learning lab, please let our staff know.

10. Talk to your teacher. Think of April 12 as the start of a whole new experience for your student. Remember to share with your teacher how your student has been coping during the past year. Share your goals for your student for the remainder of the school year.

Other Announcements:

Because we need all our available staff to check-in students at the front gates on Gramercy Drive, our front office will be closed in the mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Walk-in support is available from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon.  Thank you for your understanding as we open up our school for in-person learning. 

English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)

Our next ELAC meeting will be on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. We will use Zoom code 858 935 2650.  The meeting will be in both Spanish and English. All are welcome to attend.  

PIQE

We are pleased to announce that the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) will begin an online experience for our parents and families beginning this Tuesday, April 13, 2021.  PIQE believes in empowering our parents and families to begin planning for a successful college preparation now that our students are in middle school.  We encourage all of our parents and families to attend this powerful experience.  There are morning and afternoon sessions on Zoom and this opportunity will be hosted in both English and Spanish. The Zoom codes are all included in this communication.

CLICK HERE FOR PIQE Flyer

 English AM

 PIQE at Taft MS – English Orientation AM

Tuesday, April 13th 9:15AM – 10:30AM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89670637945?pwd=bUVubEQ5dHRPc0NzcXp1K0lFdjFwQT09

Meeting ID: 896 7063 7945

Passcode: PIQE

 

Spanish AM

PIQE at Taft MS – Spanish Orientation AM

Tuesday, April 13th 9:15AM – 10:30AM

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89610944930?pwd=VDFmbkZNdDNwYm55d1gwbUhzYSt0Zz09

 

Meeting ID: 896 1094 4930

Passcode: PIQE

 

English PM

PIQE at Taft MS – English Orientation PM

Tuesday, April 13th 6:00PM – 7:15PM

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81563034816?pwd=Uk9DZURlZUNPNUFnWnJVdkdhUURlZz09

 

Meeting ID: 815 6303 4816

Passcode: PIQE

 

Spanish PM

PIQE at Taft MS – Spanish Orientation PM

Tuesday, April 13th 6:00PM – 7:15PM

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83282340369?pwd=VnFHRUdyQ3NLM2FWR1ZCd0NjVllSQT09

 

Meeting ID: 832 8234 0369

Passcode: PIQE

 

 

 

 

On behalf of the Taft Community, we thank you for your patience during this experience.  We are looking forward to finishing strong. Thank you and go Eagles!


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