Principal's Message 4/4/21

Principals Message from Sunday, April 4, 2021
Posted on 04/04/2021
Taft Eagle News

Dear Taft Families,

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

On behalf of our outstanding educators, incredible support staff, and our administrative team, I am thrilled to share with you the details of our planning for the classroom reopening on April 12th. I am equally proud of the work our team has done to maintain a robust online option for families who have chosen that option. No matter the model, we are determined to help each and every student finish the academic year feeling strong and excited about their future.

We recognize the weeks ahead will be both exciting and challenging. Despite all our planning over the past year, there will be surprises no one anticipated, and we will need the goodwill and support of everyone to get through these challenges together. Most of all, we recognize students may be facing complex emotions, as they prepare to re-engage with friends they have not seen in months. Counselors have been specially trained to help students cope, and they will have plenty of tools to help students work through their feelings and learn to love school again.

Week of April 5-9

 As a reminder, all students will spend this week, from April 5-9,  preparing for the end of the school year. We have modified the schedule, only for this week, to allow students, parents, and staff the time they need to become comfortable with a new structure and atmosphere of learning.

 

This week, the school day will include 240 instructional minutes with 120 minutes of live instruction and 120 minutes of independent assignments. Teachers may choose to offer additional minutes of live instruction based on curriculum and student instructional needs.  With that being said, we hope you and your family will take time to prepare for a safe classroom reopening.

 

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. Learning labs will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday. 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.

 

Week of April 12 through June

 

We will be operating on a 4 day schedule for in-person learning on campus and online through the end of the school year. For Monday through Thursday of each week, your student will follow this schedule. Again, this schedule applies to students who will be on campus, as well as those who will be learning from home.

 

 

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.  

 

Tutoring at Taft

Tutoring will be available at Taft via Zoom on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The tutoring will be conducted by Kearny High School students and supervised by District staff.

 

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 6, 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 6th 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 6th 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 6th 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 6th 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 look forward to ending our school year on a strong note.  No matter what instructional model our students participate in, we remain committed to our academic and socio-emotional success.

Thank you and go Eagles!

 


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