Be An Upstander!

Most individuals are not victims of bullying or the bully. Most individuals are the bystanders who witness it. Often times, bystanders know what they observe is wrong, they are upset by it, but they don't have the tools to handle it. 

We want to empower our students to be UPSTANDERS, not bystanders. Bystanders have the potential to make a positive difference in a bullying situation by becoming an upstander. An upstander is someone who sees what happens and intervenes, interrupts, or speaks up to stop the bullying.

Below are some tips to help a bystander to bullying become and UPSTANDER. Review these with your children. Help them plan out how to use one or more of these strategies. Have them practice it with you. If they are prepared and prepped, they will have more confidence to become an UPSTANDER when witnessing a bullying situation. 

1. Question the bullying behavior. Simple things like changing the subject or questioning the behavior can shift the focus.

2. Use humor to say something funny and redirect the conversation.

3. There is strength in numbers too! Bystanders can intervene as a group to show there are several people who don’t agree with the bullying.

4. Walk with the person who is the target of bullying to help diffuse potential bullying interactions.

5. Reach out privately to check in with the person who was bullied to let them know you do not agree with it and that you care. It makes a difference.

When bystanders become upstanders it not only helps the targets of bullying, but shows other bystanders how to take action to prevent or address bullying.

For further information please visit https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/bystanders-to-bullying 

* Other items in the newsletter below include a fun family night this week and our bookfair is underway. Also there is information about the Showcase of Schools this Saturday, Red Ribbon Week and a November family night. 

And Finally, to honor our staff who are Breast Cancer survivors and warriors, this Wednesday we are having WIG OUT WEDNESDAY! Everyone is invited to wear a wig on Wednesday to honor everyone who has been impacted by this disease. We will have pictures in next week's newsletter!

As always, if you need anything, please reach out.

Mrs. Cravens, EdS.

502-485-8336

analese.cravens@jefferson.kyschools.us

It's going to be the BEST WEEK EVER in the ZT library! We have a great family night this Wednesday too!

We are thrilled to host our first Family Bedtime Story Night this Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Pajamas and book pets (plushies) are encouraged but not required. The Book Fair will be open for shopping during that time. If you would like to participate in the family book swap, bring a gently used book to swap with other families. We hope to see you there! 

Pumpkins for the Storybook Pumpkin contest are due on Monday. Here is the flyer in case you missed it.

Book Fair Shopping Days (Book Fair flyer)

Monday: 5th-Grade Library Special Area class, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Greenfield, and Mrs. Schneider

Tuesday: 5th-grade Music Special Area class, Mr. Epperson, Mrs. Proulx, Mrs. Ginder, Ms. Lamon

Wednesday: 5th-grade PE Special Area class, Ms. Pontrich, Mrs. Boone, Mrs. Hagan, Ms. Streich, and everyone at Family Night 

Thursday: any student with cash or eWallet funds 

Friday: any student with cash or eWallet funds until 11:20

If you want to set up an eWallet account so your student doesn't have to carry money to school for the Book Fair, follow this link: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/zacharytaylorelemschool

THIS SATURDAY! If you have a 4th or 5th grade student, please consider going to the Showcase of Schools. You will be able to meet with representatives from the many great middle schools. This will help you in your selection process.

CHECK IT OUT | Not sure what options are available within your network? Digital versions of the Choices Books are now available online for all school levels IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. It is linked here.  Want to plan a school tour? The Prospective Student Tours and Open House Schedules are also now available: https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/choices-guide

Ms. Lamon - Aminda Masengu

Ms. Greenfield - Summer Brooks

Ms. Pontrich - Gracieux Makanga

Mrs. Schneider - Mouhamadou Diouf

Ms. Streich - Brigitte Bukuru

Mrs. Proulx - Avontae Williams

Mrs. T. Campbell - Elijah Britt

Mrs. Pierce - Landon Diebold

Mr. Berry - Ahmed Hamada

Ms. Radeker - Mohammed Alrabeih

Mr. Epperson - Amiyah Morgan

Mrs. Thompson - Landon Diebold

Mrs. Hagan - Kaitlyn Gonzalez Mendez

Mrs. Pierce - James David

Ms. Radeker - Mia De La Cruz

Mrs. Boone - Winner Moyo

Mrs. Ginder - Jonathon Ortiz Pablo

K-2 Star Student Interviews: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lrhOwt_DkL7ruCW1rQThn_W3H8xGbLcM/view?usp=sharing

3-5 Star Student Interviews: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sAGWPsMfW5M7-BiEom2_8ogdzxZOXwbv/view?usp=sharing

• October 20 - October 24 Book Fair Week

• October 22 - Book Fair Family Night

• October 25 - Showcase of Schools

• October 26 - Trunk Or Treat in ZT Parking Lot. Thank you to The Gathering for putting this on in our parking lot!

• October 27-31 - Red Ribbon Week

• October 31 - Fall Party Day (Your teacher will send home information about what their class is doing.)

• November 3 - No School For Students
• November 24 - Picture Retake Day
• November 26-28 - No School Thanksgiving Break

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYIE80tpexTo81pDUECZZ_8BIp7MXJ8ephMEZyNJX0we1ZlA/viewform

As we are settling into this new school year, students are getting back into routines and what it means to be back at school everyday!

With that being said, sometimes our students can be going through some challenging times and we aren't always aware of that. This year we are implementing a Student Support Services request form. It is a google form you can fill out if you would like your child to be seen by the Mental Health Practitioner or School Counselor for a check-in or if you would like for your child to receive more counseling services.

Please fill out the google form linked above, and Mrs. Harris the MHP or Mr. Talley the school counselor, will make sure to get to your child in a timely manner to make sure there are not any next steps that may need to happen.

HB 240 is a Kentucky law focused on early reading intervention and proficiency. It outlines required supports for students in kindergarten through third grade who need additional help in reading and provides guidance for kindergarten and first-grade retention. 
Click Herefor information about HB 240

To get started, download the Edulog Parent Portal Lite app from the Apple or Android store.

After downloading the app, you’ll be asked to enter a registration code. Use district registration code:98295545. This code is specific to JCPS buses.

Go to the DISTRICT tab, tap the plus sign (+) in the top right to add the district code. When the code is accepted, you will see the district name and the number of buses you are following (initially zero).

Next, tap on the slide button to activate one or more buses. Tap on My Buses in the Main Menu below. You can scroll to each bus by swiping the vehicle box. Tap on the plus sign (+) to add an Alert Zone. Enter an address or move the map, name the alert zone, add a time frame, adjust the radius with the slide button, then hit Save. Once your vehicles have been added and alert zones created, they will be listed on the Home screen.

To access your Inbox, tap the envelope icon on the Home screen, where you can view Messages and Notifications.

You can view the location of a bus by tapping that particular bus in the MY BUSES tab.

Notifications are sent immediately when a GPS ping from your bus occurs within the notification zone. The school bus sends regular GPS pings to the app database in the cloud every 15-20 seconds. As with all technology, disruptions can occur. A lag can be produced if there is a disruption in cellular service or the GPS unit on the bus is disconnected. Make sure to monitor the app for bus movement before the expected bus time.

You can view the instructions in Spanish and learn more about the app at ourwebsite.

Below are our behavior expectations for all bus riders, this includes when riding on field trips. This information is also in the ZT Student Handbook and the JCPS Behavior Handbook that went home at the start of the year.

Expectations for Students Riding The Bus

B - Be Responsible For Your Behavior. Obey the driver’s instructions. The driver of a school bus is in complete charge of their passengers. • Eating, drinking, and smoking are not permitted on the school bus. • Keep the bus clean. Do not throw trash on the floor. Do not mark or deface the bus. Seat covers must not be damaged in any manner. Anyone caught damaging the equipment will be subject to consequences and/or to making restitution. • Pets and animals are not allowed on the bus at any time.

U - Use Respect. The driver has the authority to assign seats. • Use your inside voice. • Do not wave or shout to pedestrians or occupants or other vehicles. Do not throw objects out of the bus windows. • Know that using profanity and making obscene gestures on the school bus are prohibited. • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. • Do not fight or scuffle on the bus or create any loud disturbances. • Refrain from talking to the driver, except in an emergency.

S - Stay Safe. Be seated immediately, and remain seated while the bus is in motion. If a seat is not available, hold onto the back of a seat. • Keep your head, hands, and feet inside the bus. • Students may not stand in the stairwell while the bus is in motion. • Books and backpacks should remain in your lap and not be placed in the aisle way. Instruments and large objects will be allowed on the bus only if they can be held on the lap. • Do not tamper with the emergency door, fire extinguisher, or other equipment on the bus.

Progressive Discipline

As bus referrals accumulate for students', the consequences will be more severe. Please remember, if your child is suspended from riding the bus, they are still required to be at school.

*If a child misses school due to a bus suspension, the absence is considered unexcused for most students. Guardians of students with exceptions are conferenced with on an individual basis.

o 3rd referral gets a 1 day bus suspension.

o 4th gets a 2 day bus suspension.

o 5th gets a 3 day bus suspension and parents/guardians must have a conference with school administrators.

o 6th gets a 4 day bus suspension.

o 7th gets a 5 day bus suspension.

o 8th and up gets 6 days or more of a bus suspension and parents/guardians must have a conference with school administrators. *Please see note below.

*These are on a case by case basis, and according to behavior guidance from JCPS, suspensions can go up to 20 days in length. This is also noted in the JCPS student behavior handbook that went home with every child at the start of the year.

In the morning, car rider line closes at 7:20. This is to allow our building to be secured in a timely manner. If your child arrives after 7:20, they need to enter, WITH AN ADULT, at the front door. Any child arriving after 7:30 must be signed in by the adult and is considered tardy. These are recorded into the state data base. Kentucky has a state law regarding absences and tardies. excessive tardies will add up to an absence. More information on the attendance law is below.

Car Rider Line Protocol

Keeping your child safe is our number 1 priority. Therefore we have the following rules in place in the car rider line.

1. Do not pass a car in the car rider line unless a school staff member signals you to do so.

2. Do not have your child exit the car until they are next to the sidewalk.

3. Do not get out of the car to assist your child in getting in or out of the car, wait for assistance. We have adults and a student safety patrol that will do this. When adults get out of the car, it slows the line down and creates an unsafe situation.

4. AM Car Rider Line closes at 7:20 and PL Car Rider Line closes at 2:25. If you are arriving outside of those times, please come to the front door with your child. Remember, students must come in with an adult.

Please don't forget the back to school paperwork for parents. All students received a folder with paper copies of the forms and a QR code to fill them out electronically. Either way is fine. To fill them out online, please go to the PARENT PLACE link below. Forms need to be completed for EVERY child in the household that attends a JCPS school. It will require you to create an account.

Remember, if you are having a hard time filling these out online, please reach out to the school an paper copies can be sent home. https://apps.jefferson.kyschools.us/ParentAccount

While school meals are provided at no cost, parents may still want to set up on online account.

JCPS Nutrition Services partners with MySchoolBucksso parents can pay for à la carte items or extra entrees by using a credit or debit card. Parents may also monitor transactions and set up convenient email reminders when funds are running low.

HB 611 | This one started in August of 2024. It is very important so I included it for this year too. The Kentucky General Assembly passed HB 611, aimed at addressing student attendance. This legislation mandates that students throughout Kentucky who accumulate 15 or more unexcused absences be referred to their local County Attorney's office. The goal of HB 611 is to reduce unexcused absences, promote consistent attendance, and ensure students receive the support they need to stay engaged in school. To comply with the new law, JCPS began the mandatory referral process to the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office (JCAO) in October.

Below are things specific to Zachary Taylor that you can do to ensure you are doing everything you can to mitigate unexcused absences. Please call the office if you have questions or need support.

If your child is absent, please have them bring in a note explaining why when they return. Students can have up to 10 notes from parents excusing absences.

1. If they are absent or late due to a doctor's appointment, get a note from the office. Students can have unlimited doctor's notes.

2. If there is an extenuating circumstance, please reach out to the school and explain what is happening. The principal is able to excuse some absences based on the information we receive. Communication is key!

3. Avoid tardies! These can accumulate and turn into an absence.

House Bill 208 l This law bans student cell phone use in schools for the 2025-2026 school year, with districts determining the specific enforcement of the rule. This statewide ban aims to address distractions and improve the learning environment, as mandated by the legislation passed during the 2025 session.

What it means for students at ZT: No student is permitted to have their phone at any point during the school day. It must be in their backpack or in the office safe. It is not to be on their body or coat pocket. If you have questions, please ask.

We love celebrating student birthdays and the students love the treats.

Please remember that these treats are shared with students at their lunch time. The purpose for this is to protect instructional time.

It may seem like a 20 minute break from instruction at the end of the day to sing Happy Birthday and eat treats would not be much to miss. However, in a class with 24 students, that 20 minute period can multiply to 480 minutes...8 hours! That is more than one day of school.

If you want to know your child's lunch time, please call the office and we will tell you.

Thank you very much for your understanding with this matter.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4298/JCPS/4115244/Equal_Opportunity_Policy_Ad.pdf