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   Summer Child Care and  enrichment for Grades 1-8. Download the Summer Fun 2008   brochure CLICK HERE >>



 


 

 

Paula Montesi, Principal
Lori Fafard, Assistant Principal



Welcome to Earl D. Taft Elementary School...
 

Taft School 2007-2008 MCAS Schedule... CLICK HERE >>


Principal's Message:

I am pleased to introduce myself as the Taft School Principal. This is my second year as principal, but have been on staff for over 30 years. Taft School is a sprawling one storied elementary school. The school has 34 classrooms Grades 1-4 with an enrollment of 650 students from diverse backgrounds. It is the mission of the school to help students: communicate effectively, think analytically, and act responsibly. My staff works hard to make Taft School a great place to be.

First, to help children communicate effectively, our school implemented a literacy initiative in the 2004-2005 school year with balanced literacy instruction. In our third year, we will continue to make reading and writing by children, with children part of our weekly lessons in ELA. Teachers will model using shared reading and writing, students will practice during independent reading and writing, and teachers will work with small groups of children during guided reading and writing. For more information about Balanced Literacy please use this link http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/teachstrat/balanced.htm . We currently use the DRA as an assessment piece along with the SRI, a normed-referenced computer generated individual reading test. Writing as reading and writing are inextricably linked. The school also has a certified library media specialist to help align our library resources with the literacy initiative.

Secondly, to help children think analytically, the school in its second year of using the Scott-Foresman Addison-Wesley Mathematics Program, which is aligned with Massachusetts frameworks. Follow this link for a document showing that correlation: http://www.k12pearson.com/statepage/images/MASFAWcorrelation.pdf . The teachers will be looking at the frameworks to complete curriculum mapping as well as creating common assessments for Grades 1-4. Our goal is to identify students at risk, to teach to obtain mastery, and to achieve success.

Thirdly, to help students behave responsibly, the Open Circle program is being used in many of our classrooms. By the end of the year all teachers will be trained as well as several support staff and specialists. Open Circle helps all participants to work together to resolve conflicts in a curriculum that addresses social and emotional learning. It is our hope that the children will internalize their understanding of Open Circle’s message and use them outside of the circle. Information about Open Circle can be found at www.open-circle.org .

In addition, we believe that all students learn best with their peers. To that end, we utilize an inclusion model for students with disabilities where the major part of educational services will be delivered within the general classroom. We have a staff of 4 special education teachers and 13 paraprofessionals that offer support to students to access the general curriculum. In addition, we have a staff of 4 Title I reading specialists who work alongside the classroom teachers to plan lessons, instruct small group lessons, and help improve student achievement based on individual needs.

Finally, the school will also continue to have enrichment programs in the visual and performing arts. Our third and fourth grade chorus meets weekly throughout the school year and performs at concerts and school assemblies.

Our students are active, engaged learners and we welcome you to our school.

Sincerely,

Paula Montesi
Principal
                   

16 Granite Street
Uxbridge, MA 01569
Phone: 508-278-8643 / Fax:  508-278-8646
 

 
For quick access to important info on Taft Elementary School, click on a link below:  
This Month at Taft
07-08 Taft Calendar
Taft Student Handbook
Taft Staff Directory
Bus Schedule
Transportation Form
Taft Lunch Menu
Taft PTO Website
Tiger Tales Newsletter
Read and print important information about the Uxbridge Public Schools (.pdf):
District Strategic Plan
UPS District Technology Plan
07-08 School Calendar
Building Use and Access Form
School Choice Info

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