February 2016 TAPTEAL TIMES 509.967.6350 (Main Office) 509.967.6351 (Attendance) Newsletter Chat with Principal Pratt Dear Tapteal Family: So far, 2016 has been a busy year. Your students are busy developing and practicing new skills while my staff is busy preparing engaging learning opportunities for your children. I enjoy the opportunity to visit classrooms and see powerful teaching and learning taking place each and every day. This winter has brought some interesting weather and February could bring more cold and snowy days. Make sure you tune in to local radio and TV stations for the most updated reports on school closures and delays. You can also find this information on the RSD website. Please remember to drive slowly and safely when visiting Tapteal, especially during difficult weather conditions. Thank you for your help in ensuring the safety of our students. We have many fun activities coming up in February. Our Tapteal moms and grandmas are invited to attend our “Goodies with Grandmas and Moms” event on Thursday, February 11th. Our McTeacher Night is also just around the corner on Tuesday, February 16th. Watch for details from the PTA in your child’s Friday Folder. School counselor’s week is February 8-12. Please take time to let Kim Tran know just how much you appreciate all he does for our students and their families. He is an amazing student advocate! President’s day will be observed on Monday, February 15th, so there will be no school on this day. Enjoy a long weekend! Calendar of Events Goodies with Grandma’s & Mom February 11th, 7:45 a.m. Stick & Stone Pizza Fundraiser February 9th, all day PTA Meeting February 11th, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Tapteal Library McTeacher’s Night February 16th, 5:30 p.m. (McDonald’s on corner of GWay & Williams, Richland) Class Pictures February 19th Rollarena Skate Night February 23rd, 6:30-8:30 p.m. It is wonderful to see many of you volunteering in our classrooms and attending school events and activities. The partnership between parents and our school is essential in helping children through their educational journey. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Rhonda Pratt, Principal 1 February 2016 PTA Officers President: Tasha Scott tinker4601@gmail.com Vice President: Katie Gannon 76.kgannon@gmail.com Secretary: Collette Bickford collettebickford@gmail.com Treasurer: Jessica Maxfield jessicamaxfield@gmail.com PTA Chair Positions We are still in need of volunteers for several chair positions If you're interested, please contact Tasha Scott at tinker4601@gmail.com Follow Tapteal PTA on Facebook If you are a FaceBook user, we invite you to follow Tapteal PTA on Facebook at Tapteal Elementary PTA. Thanks! Counselor’s Corner Hello Tapteal Families, Even though it is only February, it is never too early to begin preparing for our end of the year assessment, the "Smart Balanced Assessment" (also known as the "SBAC") as well as continuing school success in general! Here are some school success tips that I would like to encourage you to try at home: 1) Establish a consistent bedtime that allows a minimum of 8 hours of sleep. 2) Make sure your student has breakfast every day. 3) Help your student set up a specific homework space. 4) Make sure your student practices math facts and reads a minimum of 20 minutes per night. While this isn't a complete list of ways to help your student succeed, beginning with these four strategies will be a great start to your student's success! You are always welcome to contact your student's classroom teacher or myself. If you have any issues with contacting your student's teacher, please call me via the Tapteal front office. Go Hawks! Kim Tran School Counselor "The only way to have a friend is to be one" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ Kindergarten Registration 2016-2017 Kindergarten registration for 2016-17 school year will begin on March 1st. Parents can stop by the school office to get an enrollment packet between 9:00am -3:00pm Monday - Friday. When the completed packet is returned to the school a birth certificate and proof of address will also be required. Papa John’s Pizza Don’t forget to get your pizza from Papa John’s all year long! Order online using the promo code TAPTEAL & you will receive 15% off your order, plus Tapteal will receive 15% of your purchase!! Available at all four locations across the TriCities. 2 February 2016 ROLLARENA NIGHTS Enjoy a night out at the roller rink. We have two more skate parties this year. Tuesday, February 23rd Wednesday, March 23rd Time: 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Remember the class with the top attendance at the skate night wins a slice of pizza and pop. A class can only win one time during the school year, BUT you still need to come out in force because you can still be a winner. The class with the best total attendance for the whole year will win the grand prize of a free year end skate party. So grab a classmate and bring your Teacher (they skate for free) and join us for some fun. We have had good attendance from classes in all grades so everyone has a chance here. Book Fair Batter up! It’s Baseball Season! Greater Richland Little League Registration is now open. Please go to www.grll.org to register: Boys and Girls ages 5-12 Tryouts are in March and League play is April thru May. Monday, February 29th - Friday, March 4th Book Fair Family Night When: Friday, March 4th Time: TBD Watch your child’s Friday folder for more information. Make your own pizza! Please join us Tuesday, February 9th, ALL DAY, for the STICK+STONE fundraiser. Bring your family, order your pizza, and tell them you are from Tapteal Elementary School. Tapteal PTA will receive 15% of your order! Yummy food & a great family atmosphere. Located at 3027 Duportail St., Richland (across the street from HAPO) 3 February 2016 Richland School District News Emergency training All Richland School District principals, assistant principals, and administrative assistants recently attended emergency protocol training at Benton County Emergency Services. Local police led the sessions focusing on the response tactics needed if an armed intruder came on campus during lunch time. “These trainings are part of the District’s ongoing efforts to help our school administrators be as prepared as possible for a worst case scenario,” noted Superintendent Rick Schulte. In addition, Richland and West Richland fire and police visit RSD schools regularly. These visits foster positive relationships between staff, students and the emergency responders, and gives them familiarity with each building. Bond issue update In February 2013, Richland School District residents approved a $98 million bond issue to improve education facilities. Here is an update: • Construction of the new middle school in West Richland will begin in late February. • Construction of the new Marcus Whitman Elementary School is on schedule to be completed this August. Public invited to review social studies materials Richland School District parents and community members are invited to review instructional materials being proposed for social studies courses. The materials will be available at the Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Department, located at 415-C Wright Avenue. • Middle school - February 22 to 26, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm • High school and Advanced Placement - February 29 to March 4, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Reviewers will have the opportunity to give written feedback. If you have questions, please contact Jolene Frisbie at 967-6080. Follow the District on Facebook If you’re a Facebook user, we invite you to keep up to date with the Richland School District on Facebook….. www.facebook.com/richlandschools Newsletter information If you have any items you would like to add to the newsletter or if you have ideas for the newsletter, please email Kim Welling at kimberlysuewelling@gmail.com. 4