"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11."

—President Obama in a 2011 radio address

PACK THE PTA MEETING!

Please join us for our first PTA Meeting on Tuesday, September 26^th @ 7:00 pm. We will be joined by Arlington School Board member Mary Kadera. Mary is Taylor’s Board Liaison for the 2023-24 School Year and is coming to talk about the Board’s recently proposed middle school boundary changes as well as the county’s plan on school building renovations. 

It is very important that as many parents as possible attend this meeting!!

If you would like to ask Mary a question or provide a comment before the meeting please do so here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q5IjFNat7it0eSRWYnm6GmBL4L6-6crEXqa4_1qZhcY/edit

HAPPENING AT TAYLOR

NEW: TAYLOR PTA MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARY COMMITTEE

The PTA Board has voted to establish a temporary working committee to focus on advocating on behalf of the Taylor community with respect to APS proposed middle school boundary changes. 

If you are interested in participating on this committee, please send a note to PTA President, Jane Wishneff at president@taylorpta.org.  

STEAM at Home

THE TAYLOR ACORN PROJECT

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) needs your help to continue producing quality seedlings for Virginia landowners. Collect and donate acorns to VDOF this fall! Taylor's favorite Scientist in the Classroom Dr. A (Aizenman) has brought this project to our attention and even created a very informative PowerPoint to share with families.



DO: View the PowerPoint to learn global warming and the VDOF Acorn Project.

DO: Check out the VDOF information site with further details. Learn about types of acorns needed.

DO: Start identifying and collecting acorns but don't forget to follow VDOF instructions - don't mix nuts, place in a paper bag labeled with type and location, store in a cool, dry place.

DO: Drop your labeled acorns in the bin to the left of the Taylor front door. We will get your acorns to VDOF.

DO: Have fun!

Calling all Student Artists - Explore the Arts, and Express Yourself!

Taylor is proud to be participating in the National PTA Reflections program this year and supports our school’s long-standing commitment to arts education. The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

This year’s theme is I am Hopeful Because

How to Participate:

• Review the Participation Guidelines (you do not need to submit the guideline form back; just your student entry form)
• Get to creating!
• Submit your entry before 11/29/2023. Approximately 2 weeks prior to the deadline, a small bin will be located in the lobby for students to drop off their original work, and student entry form. 

All documents can be found here.

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

REGISTRATION FOR GIRLS ON THE RUN IS OPEN!



Ms. Ross and her team are looking forward to another fun and rewarding Girls on the Run (GOTR) season this fall! Girls in grade 3-5 are eligible to participate. Registration information can be found here: https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/FALL2023PROGRAM?sid=1dcf88ec65cb4b3b9c14fffa6466ae4f.

KidsGiving is back! 

KidsGiving is a program designed to teach students the importance of philanthropy and volunteering in our community through our partnerships with local non-profit organizations right here in Arlington. All Taylor students are invited and encouraged to sign up for KidsGiving and participate in the monthly activities. See our flyer for details. Register your student to become a KidsGiving member by filling out the form at this link: tinyurl.com/TaylorKidsGiving2023 Want to learn more? Contact Taylor KidsGiving Coordinators Mary Sanders and Maria Baer: kidsgiving@taylorpta.org

Science Olympiad is back!

It’s time for the Fall 2023 Science Olympiad competition season! Science Olympiad is an exciting, parent/guardian-run extracurricular extension to Taylor’s STEAM focus.

 This Fall 2023 season will consist of 6 weeks of weekly Taylor parent/guardian-run Learning/Practice Sessions, followed by a state-wide Competition Day in Arlington hosted by the Virginia Science Olympiad organization.

 Cost per student: $50 (covers team t-shirt, supplies, safety glasses/goggles, and competition registration fee); scholarships are available for those who could benefit from that help.

 Sign up now! Registration opens Tuesday September 5th at 9pm. Registration closes Tuesday September 12th at 9pm, or after 26 students register. Link: https://forms.gle/ixqhtCBCXE8qVsYo9

 Please email any questions to scienceolympiad@taylorpta.org or text 801-425-4371.

 - Co-Chairs/Coaches: Sean Richardson, Mary Kim, Erin Douglas, Pam Mangat-Dhaliwal, Hugette Sun, and Lala Faiz

Sign up for Taylor Listserv

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

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE

WANTED: INTERIOR DESIGNERS!

With the renovation being completed at Taylor, we are now looking to decorate the new office spaces. If you have an eye for interior design and are willing to volunteer your services, please reach out to Meredith Melnick: meredith.melnick2@apsva.us.  

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.

Contacting Taylor – Parent FAQ

Q. My child will be absent from school, how should I let the Taylor office know?

A. You can report absences through ParentVue, send an email to taylor.attendance@apsva.us or call the attendance hotline at 703-228-8965. Please also let us know if they will be late arriving at school in the morning for an appointment.

Q. How do I report a single-day change in dismissal for my child?

A. Parents should now use the dismissal change Google doc to submit daily changes to their child’s dismissal instructions. The deadline for submitting dismissal changes is 3:00 pm each day.The link can also be found at www.Taylor.apsva.us.

Q. What if I need to make a long-term change to my child’s regular dismissal instructions?

A. For changes to dismissal that affect their regular dismissal instructions, send an email to taylor.attendance@apsva.us and the front office will notify the teacher.  

Q. Who should I contact if my child will be picked up early from school?

A. Send an email to your child’s teacher to let them know you’ll be getting your student out of class early and let them know whether you anticipate your child returning back to class that day. 

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. 

Please check the Taylor PTA website for more information!