On Friday, our 5th Grade students showcased dances from all over the world. This included Tinikling, which is from the Philippines. They even let Mrs. Smith, Mr. Leffert, and me try it out!

This week, we gained a new ZT Falcon, Mr. Leffert. Mr. Leffert will be here a few days a week to support our students in any way they need. He is a retired JCPS administrator, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and a true caring heart for our students. 

Dear ZT Families,

I think we may make it a full 5 days this week! Fingers crossed!

Registering For Next Year: If you are a parent of a child in grades K-4, please come in or call the school to make your selection for your child's enrollment for next year. 

We are also staying open until 5:30 this Thursday, February 5, for you to come by. We have access to translators for this process. 

The elementary schools in the Ballard Cluster are all happy to have you tour the school. Their contact information is below. 

It is very important that every family fill out a form as soon as possible. This is a process that must be done on paper; it is not possible on a computer. 

Comprehensive School Survey: Please fill out the Comprehensive School Survey. I will get the results of the school leadership portion and use the information to grow as an instructional leader. Additionally, you are still in the JCPS district, and they will use the information about district feedback to make future decisions. The link to fill it out is here. Or, scan the QR code below.

Currently, only 15% of our families have filled it out. If we can get 80% of our families to complete the survey, we will have ice cream for the students!

Family Conferences: If your teacher hasn't done so yet, conference sign-ups will go home this week. Please look for this communication. 

Finally, there are a ton of great things happening at ZT. Check out all of the great pictures from our 1st Graders, our 5th Graders, Robotics, Basketball, and STLP Teams!

As always, if you need anything, please call.

Thank you,

Analese Cravens,

Principal

Below is the information from the schools that are in the Ballard Cluster that were shared at the family night. Norton and Portland are also available. At this time, I do not have a digital copy of their information. If I get it, I will add it. 

All schools within the cluster said they would happily set up a tour and talk with families about their school. 

*Please note, if the information below has a past date on it, that is ok. The schools are all still happy to have you come and tour. Just call them directly to sign up. Chancey is having an open house this Wednesday evening, too. That information is below. 

Attention Fifth Grade Parents: If your child is going to Kammerer Middle School, they are hosting a Family Literacy Night on Thursday, February 19th 5:30-7:00pm. Please use this link to sign up. 

We are hosting a FREE Student Vaccine Clinic at Zachary Taylor Elementary – March 18, 2026          

Available vaccines include:

Routine childhood immunizations, COVID-19, Influenza, and HPV

Consent Required:  To participate, a signed vaccine consent form is required. Consent packets have been sent home-      please check your child's backpack. If you need a new one, please call the office and one will be placed in your child's backpack.

"The lighthouse has but one mission: to protect the journey of the traveler." -Steve Pemberton

Every week in the staff newsletter, we celebrate teachers and staff who are doing amazing work. We call them Lighthouse Leaders because they protect our students by ensuring their educational journey is filled with rigorous work in a caring environment that will allow them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

This week's lighthouse leader is Mrs. Pierce!

The fifth-grade students have had a different experience for special area this year. We implemented a Unit Program. This allows all 5th graders to experience a variety of enrichment activities and do so at a deeper level. At the end of every unit, there is a culminating project. Mrs. Pierce often uses these culminating experiences as a showcase of learning that includes our families. This is beneficial for multiple reasons. It gives your child experience performing in front of an audience. It also helps sustain a strong relationship with our families. Mrs. Pierce often includes her own mom, Mrs. Schnurr, in these lessons too. Mrs. Schnurr was a PE teacher herself for many years. She was even Mr. Talley's teacher when he was in elementary school!

Thank you, Mrs. Pierce, for providing the positive life experiences for our Falcons and for sharing your family with our Falcons.  This increases the sense of belonging for both our families and our students! 

The 5th-grade students in the Multicultural Dance Unit had a great showcase on Friday.

They taught us about traditional folk dances from the Philippines, Germany, Mexico, and the United States!

After explaining each dance, the students demonstrated them for us, too!

First-grade students are expected to be able to order numbers within 100 from least to greatest. Check out how well these guys did! Teamwork makes the dreamwork!

Our Sphero Hero Team advanced to the  STLP State Championship! It will be held on April 24, in Lexington! Let's cheer them on!

Here is the presentation they submitted: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG92_404V4/C2eJXzR_3IolX-wRaR98QA/watch?utm_content=DAG92_404V4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h6177e1061e

Our students submitted the following Creative Digital Arts (CDA) projects for the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) Regional competition. Stay tuned for an update on which projects will advance to the State competition in April!

Category: Kentucky Travel: KY Shops Local: The Tuftest Taylor

KenLeon and Blake: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iPUBoXsxnqhHDKpmi7eYP3liIHlKUoSt/view?usp=sharing

Category: 3D Design

JaeLynn: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG7HcqqD9o/h5pzV39SMw3bbOrt77s4YQ/watch?utm_content=DAG7HcqqD9o&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h5e633d7597

Category: Minecraft- Hometown of the Future

Minecraft Team:  https://www.canva.com/design/DAG-gyCu8tg/IJ34WtsMj4oOCs9Y8CI-Cg/watch?utm_content=DAG-gyCu8tg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=ha602bda505

Coach Epperson and the ZT Falcons are improving each game! This week, they were able to prevent the other team from scoring for over 10 minutes, and they scored 15 points! That is a season high!

• February 13: Friendship Parties
• February 16: No School/Teacher Inservice
• February 17: No School/Family Teacher Conference Day.
• February 21: ZT Basketball Game
• March 2-March 6: Read Across America Week & Book Fair
• March 18: Vaccination Clinic (Details are above.)

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 Here for 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 our website.

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 MySchoolBucks so 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