Taylor Elementary

📚✨ Have you come to our Scholastic Book Fair yet? Today and tomorrow are the final days! Come to the library from 3:30-5:00 PM on April 23 and 24! It's BOGO - Buy One Get One free and there is a fantastic selection of books! Each classroom teacher picked some books for their wish list. If you are interested in purchasing a book for your student's classroom, look at the red baskets when you first walk in the library. ❤ 📖 #ScholasticBookFair #BookFair #ReadingIsFun

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! The term covers a wide array of job titles including Taylor Elementary School’s office manager and assistants. Their responsibilities at Taylor include, but are not limited to, office management, phone calls, clerical work, communication, student registration, record maintenance, ordering supplies, and much, much more. Our main office is led by the amazing Katy Gamble, she has been an office manager for 14 years, 6 of those at Taylor. She literally takes care of everything at Taylor Elementary (payroll, student registration and withdrawals, yearbooks, scheduling, supplies, etc.). As a general chaos wrangler at work, she loves to go home and do quiet and peaceful activities like completing jigsaw puzzles and going fishing. She has five children and six grandchildren. Nikki Beckstrand has been an office assistant at Taylor for six years. She loves working here and helping the school administration and teachers with various projects. One of her main roles is monitoring student attendance and helping students, volunteers, and visitors check in and out of the building. Nikki loves the outdoors and was a collegiate runner for Weber State University in cross country and track and field. Melissa Stoneman has been at Taylor for 5 years, the last three working in the office. She assists in the office anyway that she can, but her main role in the office is the health clerk so she is the first stop for all those playground injuries and ailing students. She has been teaching ballet for over 26 years, and she can’t imagine not having dance in her life. She loves to dance, exercise, cook, listen to audio books and podcasts, and doing the laundry. Her family are her favorite people in the world. #AdminProfessionalsDay #AdministrativeProfessionalsDay #DavisSchoolDistrict

For Military Spirit Week, today was "Hats Off to Our Military!" Students were encouraged to wear hats to school today. Upcoming: Wednesday (wear red), Thursday (wear camo), and Friday (wear purple). #MilitaryFamilies #PurpleUp #PurpleStarSchool

This week is our Military Spirit Week, celebrating the Month of the Military Child! We invite everyone to participate by wearing something special each day that will celebrate our military students and families. Monday - Wear clothes with stars and/or stripes. Tuesday - Wear your favorite hat to school. Wednesday - Wear red to remember those who are serving in the United States military. Thursday - Wear camouflage clothes. Friday - Purple Up! Wear purple (the color of the military child) or a school spirit shirt. #MilitaryFamilies #PurpleUp #PurpleStarSchool

🚍💛 Today we celebrate our amazing bus drivers on School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Thank you for safely bringing our students to school, making field trips memorable, and returning students to their homes. Our bus drivers are always wearing a smile for each and every mile! 💛🚍 #BusDriverAppreciation #ThankYouDrivers

Did you know that Taylor Elementary is one of 46 schools in Utah designated as a Purple Star School? The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) serves as the national advocate for Purple Star Schools, a program aimed at supporting military-connected children. This program helps schools address the unique educational and social-emotional challenges these children encounter. Taylor Elementary recognizes the military-connected children at our school. We appreciate them. We support them. We are thankful for the sacrifices made by these children and their families. Please take a look at the list of resources and contact information for our Military Support Team available on our school website. https://taylor.davis.k12.ut.us/o/taes/page/purple-star-military-families (Taylor Website > Menu > Parent Resources > Purple Star – Military Families) 💜 #MilitaryFamilies #PurpleUp #PurpleStarSchool #DavisSchoolDistrict

At Taylor Elementary School, we have three Essential Elements classrooms (K-1, 2-4, 5-6) that supports students with severe intellectual and adaptive functioning challenges. We are grateful for the Aides that help in these classrooms! Mary Jane Page recently resigned from Taylor to move out of state, but we are appreciative of all that she has done over the last couple years. The students and staff were sad to see her go but are excited about her new adventures. A fun fact about Mary Jane is that she has performed in the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl twice with the University of Utah. Shannon Page has been at Taylor for 2 years. She loves the atmosphere at the school. She says, “everyone is so kind and it is a great place to work!” In her spare time, she loves to help with costumes for local theatre productions. Betty Rodgers has been working in special education classes for 22 years. She says that she loves it, and she is happy to be at Taylor Elementary. Bethany Tripp is new to Taylor this school year. She loves that everyone here is inclusive and willing to help others. A fun fact about Bethany is that she collects clowns, and she loves to cosplay.

At Taylor Elementary School, we have three Essential Elements classrooms (K-1, 2-4, 5-6) that supports students with severe intellectual and adaptive functioning challenges. We are grateful for the Aides that help in these classrooms! Brooklynn Butler is new to Taylor this school year. Some fun facts about her is that she has a sparkling personality and cool tattoos, and she loves pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. She has an acrostic poem (capital letters spell out TAYLOR): Terrific, Amazing school. Yay, taylor! Lovely school, Only school for me. Really, so great! Chandra Evans has been an EE aide for 4 years; 2 years at Taylor. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in special education and will be finished this spring! Maegan Evans says that “our staff and students are the absolute BEST!” This is her second year at Taylor, and she loves it. Deb Ferrin has worked with special education classes for many years. She loves being at Taylor and we love having her!

At Taylor Elementary School, we have three Essential Elements classrooms (K-1, 2-4, 5-6) that supports students with severe intellectual and adaptive functioning challenges. We are grateful for the Aides that help in these classrooms! Kyle Keyes loves Taylor Elementary; he says, “we have amazing students at our school who are so fun and, inclusive, and great with our EE students.” Kyle plays basketball, soccer, ice and roller hockey. He loves to sing, dance, play card and board games, and act in plays (he has been in 15 and leading in 3). He is number 7 of 11 kids and has a brother who is deaf and blind. Jamie Malley has been at Taylor for 4 years, but just the last two in EE. She says that Taylor “truly is one of the best places to work. The kids and adults are amazing people.” Some interesting facts about Jamie are that she never really liked cartoons (even as a kid), she is a good storyteller, she loves the beach, hates hiking, and she loves to play with playdough. Stacie Monson has been working in special education classrooms for three years. She says that “Taylor is an amazing school filled with the best students, employees, and co-workers!” Megan Nelson is new to Taylor this school year. She says, “I am so impressed with the students that go out of their way to include everyone. Everyone at Taylor is so kind!”

📚✨ It's almost here! The Scholastic Book Fair runs from April 21-24, 3:30-5:00 PM in the library! It's BOGO - Buy One Get One free! Bring your kids to explore new adventures in reading. Every purchase supports our school! ❤️ What books are on your must-read list? 📖 #ScholasticBookFair #BookFair #ReadingIsFun

At Taylor Elementary School, we have three Essential Elements classrooms led by these three amazing teachers. Along with their aides and the special education team, these teachers teach and advocate for the students in their classrooms. The Essential Elements program supports students with severe intellectual and adaptive functioning challenges who perform below age expectations, requiring ongoing assistance into adulthood. These students follow Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals that demand intensive, direct instruction and behavioral interventions. They may engage in general education settings as outlined in their IEP, while the curriculum aligns with the Davis Essential Skills and Knowledge (DESK) Standards, using tiered instruction, discrete trial teaching, and task analysis, with assessments through alternative state and district testing. Cori Heileson teaches the 5th and 6th grade EE class. This is her third year at Taylor and loves working here. “We have the best students! I have an amazing team to work with at Taylor Elementary!” Cori loves playing tennis, camping, fuzzy blankets, and curling up with a good book. Abby Larsen teaches the Kindergarten and 1st grade EE class. This is her first year at Taylor, but her 8th as an EE teacher. She appreciates all the students at the school for being so welcoming and supportive of the students in her class and the other EE classes. Cristi Church teaches the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th EE class. She is new to EE at Taylor this school year but worked here years ago as a preschool teacher. Cristi is a die-hard University of Utah fan and alumna. She loves everything outdoors – camping, hiking, water skiing, and snow skiing! We are grateful for our Essential Elements teachers!

Last week, our fifth-grade students participated in the enriching Junior Achievement BizTown program, which merges in-class learning with a dynamic, hands-on experience in a simulated town. This allows students to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor, helping them connect academic concepts to real-world applications. Following their participation, students gained insights into their roles as citizens, workers, and consumers, while developing essential money management skills and a foundational understanding of economics and civic responsibility. This experience not only enhances their knowledge of basic business practices but also fosters the soft skills necessary for future workplace success. #JABizTown #FutureLeaders #DavisSchoolDistrict

Happy National Assistant Principal Week! Mr. Reid is one-in-a-million! We are grateful for all that he does at Taylor Elementary School to better our students, staff, and school climate. He has worked in school administration for 7 years; this is his first at Taylor. He says, "Taylor Elementary has amazing teachers and students. I have been blown away by their kindness and compassion towards me and towards others. All of our teachers really care about the students." As the administrative intern, Mr. Reid has a multitude of responsibilities. He supports our principal in school-wide projects and initiatives, oversees many aspects of the day-to-day functions at the school, and is a chair or member of many committees to help with decision-making, budgets, and student enrichment and progress. Mr. Reid loves spending time with his family. He has been married for 16 years and has three daughters. Their family loves to play board games and video games together. We are grateful for Mr. Reid and his dedication to Taylor Elementary School!  #APWeek #NAESP #DavisSchoolDistrict #AdministrativeIntern

It’s National School Librarian Day! We are grateful for Taylor Elementary School’s librarian, Kristy Tall! This day is to recognize the professionals who keep the school library in working order, with books inventoried and cataloged, and students developing a love for reading. School librarians are dedicated to enhancing students’ literacy skills and fostering a love for reading. In the library, students develop research abilities and critical thinking to solve problems effectively. Ultimately, Ms. Tall and the library enrich learning experiences through literacy and collaboration, preparing students for future success. Ms. Tall has been at Taylor Elementary School for 22 years and we appreciate everything she does for us! She says that her favorite place to be is in the mountains where it is peaceful and quiet. She loves to be outside in nature, riding bicycles, and reading. Her favorite quote is (which is absolutely perfect for Ms. Tall is from Peter Golkin. "My two favorite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library." #NationalSchoolLibrarianDay #SchoolLibrarianDay #ReadEveryday

Happy spring break! We hope that you have a safe and enjoyable break. Enjoy the sunshine! We will see you again on Monday, April 7!

We are grateful for Ms. Johnson! This is Krista Johnson’s first year as the music teacher at Taylor Elementary. She teaches the students all about music through instruments, learning about music from around the world, and how music is an integral and wonderful part of our lives. Music education is important as it promotes creativity, self-expression, and cultural awareness. Through music, students generate ideas, perform, and respond to musical works, developing teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional skills. Engaging with music allows students to explore concepts and refine techniques, enriching their education and preparing them for future creative pursuits. Ms. Johnson also does an amazing job leading our school choir. She loves working with the students and staff at Taylor Elementary. She said, “I have felt so welcome and enjoy working with each student on a weekly basis!” Some fun facts about her are that she loves Target and you can regularly see her wandering the aisles. She is nearly finished getting her second degree, this one in Elementary Education.

Cheltsy Drake has a few roles at Taylor Elementary School, she teaches the Computer Science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) class, she is our tutor for ESL (English as a Second Language) working one-on-one with some of our multilingual language learning students, and she helps in the lunchroom. She has been working at Taylor Elementary for almost four years. While she has many roles, her main role is teaching computer science classes. Elementary computer science classes build essential digital skills for K-5 students. They emphasize efficient input, responsible device use, and understanding diverse user needs. Students collaborate, solve problems, and create relevant artifacts, fostering an inclusive computing culture that prepares them to confidently navigate the digital world. Ms. Drake says that “working at Taylor Elementary has truly been the best! Most days, it doesn't even feel like a job! I look forward to coming in everyday because I'm surrounded by happy, caring and appreciative people. The positive energy, support, and joy make everyday a good one. I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing team!” She loves the outdoors and the indoors: gardening, camping, playing video games, reading, and watching TV. Her favorite pastimes are listening to music and going to concerts. We love having Ms. Drake at Taylor Elementary!

This is Rachel Hales’ second year as the art teacher at Taylor Elementary. She loves to help students try new things and see the world in a new way using art, imagination, and self-expression. Visual arts are essential in the elementary classroom, providing students with creative engagement and emotional expression. Through creating and responding to visual art, students explore their identities and appreciate diverse perspectives. Integrating visual arts into the curriculum supports holistic development, encouraging exploration and connection with the world. Along with art, one of Ms. Hales’ favorite things at Taylor is to help run the annual kickball tournament for the upper grades. We are grateful for Ms. Hales!

Wendy Harms is our PE (Physical Education) teacher. This is her 18th year at Taylor Elementary School, her children attended here in the past. She loves to read, puzzle, hike, and do anything outdoors. She has a goal to visit all the US National Parks. As our PE teacher, she excels in teaching students about physical health and movement activities, helping them develop motor skills and understand the importance of fitness for physical activity. Through her classes, students enhance their cooperative skills and personal behavior while recognizing the value of physical activity for wellness and social interactions. We are grateful for Ms. Harms!

Spring Break is around the corner! There is no school on Monday, March 31 through Friday, April 4. Be safe and do something fun!