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Principal’s Message
Good evening and hope you had a great week! As we head into the weekend, we wanted to give you a heads up about potential weather impacts for the start of next week.
As you are likely aware, a significant snowstorm is forecasted for Sunday into Monday, which may affect school operations next week. Please stay tuned to ParentSquare for updates from Superintendent Ljungberg this weekend regarding any school cancellations or delays.
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PTO Winter Wonderland - What a Night!
Speaking of winter, the Taft PTO hosted an incredible Winter Wonderland event last night, and it was absolutely amazing! Students and their families had a blast exploring all the fun activities throughout the building.
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Important Parking and Safety Reminder: Taft Lot Reserved for Preschool Only
As a reminder, only vehicles displaying orange Preschool parking placards may park in the Taft lot during drop-off and pickup times. Preschool families should still use the drop-off loop whenever possible and only park in the lot when there is a special circumstance.
K-3 families must park at the McCloskey lot or on Granite Street during both morning drop-off and afternoon pickup, not in the Taft lot, unless you have a handicapped placard. K-3 students being dropped off should use the doors by the basketball court.
Vehicles should NEVER drive near or around the bus loop while buses are loading. We have observed cars drifting dangerously close to buses during dismissal. This creates an extremely unsafe situation for our students and bus drivers. Stay completely clear of the bus loading area at all times.
This parking arrangement helps us manage traffic flow safely and ensures our neighbors' driveways remain accessible. As we've shared before, blocking driveways has prevented community members from receiving important deliveries, including Meals on Wheels. Police continue to monitor the area. Thank you for following these parking guidelines and keeping our students safe!
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PBIS Assemblies - Celebrating Our Students!
Yesterday we held our PBIS assemblies to celebrate students who are living out Tuffy's ROARS: Respect, Ownership, Active Ally, Responsibility, and Safety.
Each grade level honored our Students of the Month, and Officer Deveau and Kash joined us to present Kash's Kids Certificates and Patches - a special recognition for students who have demonstrated growth in social-emotional learning. Students loved getting that special one-on-one time with Kash!These assemblies are important opportunities to recognize our students' positive choices and reinforce the expectations that help make Taft a safe, welcoming place for everyone.Congratulations to all our award recipients - you're showing what it means to be a Taft Tiger!
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Parent Workshop: The Cell Phone Dilemma - February 2nd
The Taft and Whitin PTOs, in partnership with Superintendent Ljungberg, are offering a virtual parent workshop on a topic many families are navigating: cell phones and our children.
The Cell Phone Dilemma
When: Sunday, February 2nd, 6:00-7:15 PM
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Presenter: Greg West, M.Ed. (retired Health Ed teacher, 30+ years experience)
Description: As early as second grade, students are arriving at school with cell phones - devices that increase access to the online world while also being a source of distraction, social conflict, and misinformation. This workshop will examine options for controlling cell phone use at home and in schools, as well as the addictive behaviors associated with cell phone use. The presenter will also share a handout on setting parental controls.
Registration is required: Please Register here ASAP.
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Acts of Kindness Week - February 9-13
We're excited to announce that Taft will be celebrating Acts of Kindness Week the week of February 9-13! This school-wide initiative will help our students learn about compassion, service, and making a positive difference in our community.
Each grade level will participate in age-appropriate kindness activities:
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Preschool: Collecting donations for Pawfect Life Rescue (local dog rescue)
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Kindergarten & First Grade: Collecting food items for the Uxbridge Backpack Program
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Second & Third Grade: Creating kindness cards for residents at Lydia Taft Nursing Home
School-Wide Chain of Kindness: Throughout the week, staff will catch students performing acts of kindness. Each act will be added to a colorful paper chain that will be displayed in our school, creating a visual representation of all the kindness happening at Taft!
More detailed information about specific donation items and how your family can participate will be coming from your child's teacher and through ParentSquare in the coming weeks. We're looking forward to showing our students how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in our community!
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Main Office Email and Early Dismissal Reminders
As a reminder, for general office inquiries, please use our main office email: TaftMainOffice@uxbridge.k12.ma.us. This ensures your message is seen promptly by whoever is covering the office.
Important: This email is not for emergencies or time-sensitive matters. If you need to reach the main office immediately, please call 508-278-8643.
Early Dismissal Policy: Please note that early dismissals are not permitted after 2:30 PM, as the entire building has begun preparing for dismissal at that time. If your child needs to leave early, please arrange for pickup before 2:30 PM.
Thank you for your cooperation!____________________
Setting Your Child Up for Success: Attendance and Reading at Home
Two of the most powerful things you can do to support your child's academic success are surprisingly simple: ensure consistent school attendance and read together at home.
Attendance Matters: Every school day builds on the previous one. When students miss school, they miss direct instruction, classroom discussions, and the collaborative learning that happens with their peers. Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically, build strong relationships with teachers and classmates, and develop the responsibility and routine that will serve them throughout their lives.
Reading at Home Makes a Difference: Just 10-15 minutes of reading together each night has a profound impact on your child's literacy development, vocabulary growth, and love of learning. Whether you're reading to your child, listening to them read, or discussing books together, this time strengthens their skills and shows them that reading is valued in your family.
These two habits—showing up every day and reading together regularly—are foundational to your child's success at Taft and beyond. Please try to make them a priority in your family's routine!
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Have a great weekend!
Mr. L, Mrs. Cataldo, and Mrs. Newhall |
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| PTO News |
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PTO Update:
Planning for the Taft Student Art Show has begun! Donations of the following are needed - clean empty water bottles, cardboard boxes of any size, brown paper bags, bubble wrap. Donations may be sent in with students or dropped off at the school for Mrs. Steel in the Art Room.Staff Wishlists
The PTO has put together Amazon Wishlists for our Taft staff! If you'd like to brighten a teacher or staff member's day, check out the attached lists and consider purchasing an item. Every contribution helps support our classrooms and shows our appreciation for the incredible work our staff does every day.
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Volunteer Opportunities: The Taft Parent Teacher Organization is always looking for help. If you have interest in joining the PTO, please email us at taftpto@uxbridge.k12.ma.us.
All volunteers need an active CORI and fingerprints on file with the school.
PTO Information: Stay up-to-date on PTO information and additional resources by visiting: https://campsite.bio/taftpto
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| School Procedures |
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Taft Arrival Options Note: Only parents with a Preschool placard are allowed to park in the Taft Parking Lot at arrival. If you are dropping off your student at Taft you must park on Oak Street or at the McCloskey lot (62 Capron Street, Uxbridge, MA).
1. School Bus
2. Drop-off via the Taft lot drop-off loop (8:25-8:35am)
Approach Taft on Granite Street from the direction of Whitin Intermediate School Enter the loop with a right-hand turn only Exit the parking lot with a right-hand turn onto Granite Street For detailed instructions, please watch our informational video on Drop-Off Loop procedures. The Taft drop-off loop is far slower than utilizing the McCloskey lot option below, especially when Preschool is in session. Please expect delays The drop off loop will close no later than 8:40am. If your student does not make it in before 8:40am, they will be marked late.
3. Drop-off at the Outdoor Basketball Courts via Door 16 (K & 1st) or Door 15 (2nd & 3rd)
Park at McCloskey School (62 Capron Street, Uxbridge, MA) Walk your student down the path to Taft's side doors Doors are open 8:25-8:35 AM daily This option is much faster than waiting in the drop-off loop.
Taft Dismissal Options
Note: Only parents with a Preschool placard are allowed to use the Taft Parking Lot at dismissal. If you are dismissing from Taft you must park on Oak Street or at the McCloskey lot (62 Capron Street, Uxbridge, MA).
1. School Bus
2. Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Family Dismissal from Assigned Exit Doors
Parents / Guardians must park at the McCloskey Parking Lot (62 Capron Street, Uxbridge, MA) or on Oak Street for this option -
Parents / Guardians using this option should arrive at their assigned door between 2:50 - 3:00 p.m.
Door #16: K-3 Students with last names beginning with A-F Door #15: K-3 Students with last names beginning with G-L Door #14: K-3 Students with last names beginning with M-Z
3. Preschool Pick-up
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Door #9: All Preschool students are picked-up from the cafeteria doors. Each class is now assigned a specific time. Please remain no longer than 5 minutes so the next wave of parents can arrive for pickup.
- 2:45 p.m.- Ms. Doucette & Ms. Mazzola
- 2:55 p.m.- Ms. Churchill & Ms. Manzov
- 3:05 p.m.- Ms. Collins & Ms. Russell
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Door #5: Families with both Preschool and K-3 students can sign up to pick up their K-3 student at Door 5 (by the cafeteria). Please call the main office to see if you qualify for Door 5 pick-up.
Preschool families must display their Preschool Placard on their mirror. With their preschool Placard, they can access the Taft Parking lot by the cafeteria door or park on Oak Street near the park. There will be no road access in the bus loop from 2:30-3:15 pm as buses are lining up and loading.
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Early Dismissals If for some reason you need to dismiss your student early, you must do so before 2:30pm for safety reasons. After 2:30pm we will are prepping the whole school for dismissal and attempting to coordinate approximately 550 students. If you are changing your student's typical dismissal you must let us know in the following ways
1. Physical Note to Teacher (no emails please)
2. Phone Call to the Main Office
Please call 508-278-8643 to let us know if you did not turn in a teacher note and need to change your dismissal type. Emails to the teacher can be missed as teachers are teaching and not frequently checking their email.
School Nurse Procedures As we begin the school year, we would like to remind all families of the importance of keeping our school community healthy and safe. In order to minimize the spread of illness and ensure that all students are ready to learn, please review the following guidelines carefully:
Keeping Sick Children at Home
- Children who are experiencing fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or any symptoms of contagious illness must remain at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication. Please refer to the student handbook for more information.
- Students who appear unwell during the school day may be dismissed home at the discretion of the school nurse.
- Keeping children home when they are sick helps protect other students and staff from unnecessary exposure.
Medication at School
- If your child requires medication during the school day, you must first contact the school nurse to set up an appointment prior to bringing the medication to school.
- All medications must be delivered directly to the nurse by a parent or guardian—students are not permitted to carry or deliver their own medications.
- Medications must be accompanied by:
- A physician's written order
- A completed parent/guardian authorization form
- Medications will not be accepted or administered without these required documents.
Cough Drops and Over-the-Counter Medications
- Cough drops are not permitted at Taft Early Learning Center due to the increased risk of choking in young children, possible allergic reactions, and restrictions around over-the-counter medications in school.
- Instead, the school nurse may provide salt-water gargles or other safe comfort measures at their discretion.
Your cooperation with these health and safety policies is greatly appreciated. Together, we can maintain a safe learning environment for all students. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school health office directly.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students healthy and ready to learn.Preschool Tuition Payments
Preschool tuition information can be found at the Preschool Website. Payments can also be made from the Preschool Website.
Food Services Procedures
Every day, students can have access to 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch. Individual Milks must be purchased. If a student wants to buy a milk by itself, each milk will cost $0.65. Families should ensure funds are available in their student's MySchoolBucks account. Families can set up these accounts here: MySchoolBucks.com. Breakfast for adult staff members is $3.25 (plus tax) and lunch for adult staff members is $6.00 (plus tax). Food service questions can be directed to our School Nutrition Director, Alison Weir: aweir@uxbridge.k12.ma.us
Technology
Directions to set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal can be found here. This is needed to view your students report card
Half-Day Info
Through out the year we will have half-days for students. Most of these are so that teachers can attend professional development in the afternoon. These dates are all posted on the District Calendar. Dismissal times for half-days are as follows:
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Upcoming Events
Friday, 1/30/26
- Spirit Day: Wear Black & Orange
Important Links
Opt Outs
Resources for Families
Social Media
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