Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to another exciting school year! On behalf of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), I would like to extend a warm welcome to both new and returning families. We hope that you had a restful and enjoyable summer break and are ready to embark on a year filled with learning, growth, and community engagement.

As the PTA President, I am honored to serve alongside a dedicated team of parents, teachers, and staff members who are committed to enhancing the educational experience for our children. Our primary goal is to foster a strong partnership between home and school, ensuring that every child receives the support and resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Throughout the year, the PTA will be organizing a variety of events, fundraisers, and initiatives that aim to enrich the educational journey of our students. These activities not only provide opportunities for families to come together and build lasting connections but also contribute to the overall success of our school community. We encourage you to actively participate in these events and share your ideas and talents with us.

In addition to our events, the PTA will continue to advocate for the needs and interests of our students and families. We believe that open communication and collaboration are essential in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment. Therefore, we invite you to attend our PTA meetings, where you can voice your opinions, ask questions, and stay informed about important school matters.

As we embark on this new school year, let us remember that we are all part of a larger community that shares the common goal of providing our children with the best education possible. Together, we can make a difference and create a positive impact on the lives of our students.

The PTA will have a table in the lobby during Thursday’s Open House. Please stop by to say hello, join the PTA and learn more about getting involved this year!

Once again, welcome back to school! We look forward to working with you and your children throughout the year. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Sincerely,

Jane Wishneff

Taylor PTA President 

HAPPENING AT TAYLOR

Classroom Supplies Donations



Let’s welcome back our teachers and stock the classrooms with helpful supplies for the year! 

We will be collecting donations of the following items during Taylor’s Open House on August 24^th:

• Sanitizing Wipes
• Tissues
• Hand Sanitizer
• Dry Erase Markers and Erasers
• Fund Post It Notes

Please help us in supporting our teachers!

NEW for 2023-2024 - Change in Single-Day Dismissal Protocol

New this year, Taylor will be using a Google Form for you to report single-day dismissal changes. 

Please bookmark this link for quick access. The link to this form can also be found on the Taylor website and in the principal’s weekly email message.

For early pick-ups, plan to pick up your child prior to 3:00 pm.

NEW Entry Changes for Parents and Visitors

With the new design of the entrance to the school, parents will no longer be using the lobby doors. 

All parents will be entering the school through the new door/secure vestibule. The lobby doors will only be used for students entering the school and for all to exit. 

Fall Enrichment Registration



Opens: Friday, September 8 @ 9:00 AM

Closes: Monday, September 18 @ 11:59 PM

We have some exciting classes starting soon! Mark your calendars for Fall Enrichment Registration. Click the Flyer to access the Registration page.

**Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Please indicate your request at the time of registration.

**If approved, financial aid is available for one class per child per session

Taylor Spirit Wear



New school year, new Taylor shirts and water bottles!

We’ll be selling these at the Open House on Thursday! 

Cash preferred!

Sign up for Taylor Listserv

Sign up here to connect with other parents on topics surrounding APS, Taylor curriculum, extracurriculur activities and much more!

Book Donation Drop Off

We have been working hard weeding and updating our classroom libraries. We have about 10 boxes of books that need to be donated to the Arlington Public Library. Please email Meredith Melnick Meredith.melnick2@apsva.us, if you are able to take a load to the library.

Stay engaged with the Taylor PTA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and remember to join the Taylor Facebook group.

COMMUNITY NEWS

APS Middle School Boundary Changes

BACKGROUND

In the latest (June) APS Pre-Capital Improvement Report, the district announced recommendations to adjust middle school boundaries in order to balance enrollment in tandem with relocating the dual-language immersion program. These boundary changes would go into effect starting with 6th graders in the 2025-26 school year. Currently, all Taylor students go to the same neighborhood middle school, Dorothy Hamm.  However, under the recommended boundary changes, roughly two-thirds of the student population would be rezoned to Williamsburg. Of those rezoned students, over 90% live within the current walk zone for Dorothy Hamm, but they would be bused to Williamsburg. The Taylor PTA Board is opposing this recommendation, and many affected parents and community members have expressed concerns about the assumptions behind the proposed changes and their potential impacts. 

Some additional details:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d44b0fb8a79baee744cb61/t/64c9b0172d1a29290482e7e9/1690939415342/Middle+School+Boundary+FAQ_Taylor.pdf - Taylor PTA boundary change FAQs

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2023/06/Pre-CIP-Report-2024-2033-Finalv2.pdf - APS June Pre-CIP Report (see especially Appendix H starting on Page A-106)

https://www.apsva.us/engage/2023-ms-boundaries/ - APS boundary change proposal information, dates, links, FAQs

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/AZ2V3D5FA2B8/$file/B-2.1%20Boundaries.pdf - APS boundary change policies

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2023/04/PlanningUnits_UpdateMap_November2021_.pdf - APS planning unit boundaries as of 2021-22

____________________________

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

• Tuesday 9/26 - School Board work session on middle school boundary changes
• Thursday 10/12 - APS presents official proposal for middle school boundary and immersion program changes to the School Board 
• Thursday 12/14 - School Board votes on middle school boundary and immersion program change proposal 

_______________________

OTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE

• Attend the next APS pre-CIP report information / public input sessions:
• Tuesday 8/22 @ 6pm (Kenmore MS) 
• Tuesday 9/5 @ 6pm (virtual) - planned focus is relocation of the immersion program, but APS has indicated they may discuss the middle school boundary changes as well
• Submit questions or comments to APS via email at engage@apsva.us (deadline to provide feedback on the pre-CIP report is September 15th) 
• Sign the petition to urge APS to reconsider its boundary proposal at www.HammWalkers.org
• [Donaldson Run residents] Join the DRCA Hamm Walkers sub-group at https://drca-group.groups.io/g/HammWalkers/join

·      If you would like to display a yard sign to help information neighborhood stakeholders about the re-zoning recommendations contact Kelly Thorne at Kelly.Thorne@gmail.com. 

• Email our School Board members: 
• Cristina Diaz-Torres (Chair) - cristina.diaztorres@apsva.us
• David Priddy (Vice Chair) - david.priddy@apsva.us
• Reid Goldstein - reid.goldstein@apsva.us
• Mary Kadera (Taylor Liaison 2023-24) -  mary.kadera@apsva.us
• Bethany Zecher Sutton (Hamm Liaison 2023-24) - bethany.zechersutton@apsva.us