Next week is Red Ribbon Week! During the week of October 28 - November 1, we encourage our students to show their school spirit and dress up according to the flier posted! Students will be learning about the importance of living a drug free life. Stay posted about the Halloween festivities planned on October 31!
Staff Spotlight: Miss Taryn, 4th grade teacher
Hello!
My name is Taryn Esquibel-Collins (Miss Taryn to the kids). I am the 4th grade teacher this year at Elk Hills. Although it is my first official year as a teacher here, some of the kids may know me as the long-term sub for the 7th grade class last year. I was born and raised in Bakersfield and I lived in Santa Barbara for 4 years while I attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. Some of my favorite hobbies include crocheting, reading, and playing instruments (I play the flute, piano, the acoustic guitar, and the ukulele). I have a 3 year old husky/malamute mix that is very energetic and social and whom I love very much. I appreciate Elk Hills’ small community and the welcoming environment that has made me feel a part of their family. My hopes for this year are that the kids and I will grow together, learn together, and have lots of fun together. I am looking forward to seeing where this year goes, and I can’t wait to see what amazing adventures we have!
Pumpkin Patch Learning Trip! It's that time of year and our TK-1st grades will be visiting the Cherry Acres Pumpkin Patch! Please see the post below for more information!
Each month, every student who has a 97% rate or higher, is entered into the monthly drawing. Congratulations to our attendance winner for the month of August! We are proud of you!
We did it again! 98% attendance today! KEEP IT UP! Let's see if we can get a 100% attendance tomorrow! You guys are AWESOME! GO ELKS!
L.I.T. Pumpkin Opportunity Drawing: Themes Released! Please see the flier posted below! Be on the lookout for ticket sheets and fliers coming home in the next day or two. Tickets are $1 each. Tickets and money need to be returned to Mrs. J in the Reading Room (room 10) by October 30th. Please be sure to fill out the ticket with all necessary information so you can be contacted in the event you win a pumpkin!
We just want to give a big shout out to all the parents, guardians, and students who have been working so hard to help us maintain such amazing attendance so far this school year! Today we have another day of 98% attendance!
So far this month we've had three days of 98% attendance, three days of 97% attendance, two days of 96% attendance, two days of 95% attendance, and one day of 93% attendance. Mondays and Fridays are our lowest attendance days; please keep in mind that Mondays are when students learn new concepts and Fridays are when they are assessed on those concepts. Let's keep this momentum going all year! We are so proud of all your efforts! GO ELKS!
Don't forget!: Elk Hills School District's annual Trunk or Treat event will be held on Halloween morning: Thursday, October 31st, 2024. Set up begins at 8:30 AM, Trunk or Treat begins at 9:00 AM, and will be followed by a student vote for best trunk and a costume contest! If you'd like to have a trunk, or have general questions regarding this event, please contact Mrs. Cassandra at 661-765-7431 x 111 or camcgowan@elkhills.org, you will need to provide your own individually sealed candy, please plan to have enough for 180 children. We look forward to seeing all the awesome trunks and fun costumes! *You do not have to decorate a trunk, if you would just like to stand at your car and pass out candy, that is OK too!
Join us on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 in the Elk Hills cafeteria to discuss and plan for upcoming events, fundraisers, and more!
Our Literacy Intervention Team will be selling book-themed pumpkins again this year, only it won't be an auction: this year we will be sending home tickets for sale for $1.00 each! This will give more people the chance to win one of these amazing pumpkins! Each class picked a theme based on a book and the class will design and create a pumpkin to be given away to a ticket puchaser after our Trunk or Treat event on Halloween morning. You do not need to be present to win, so please be sure to fill the ticket out in full so we can contact you in the event you win! A flier with the pumpkin themes and a sheet with eight tickets will be sent home tomorrow, so be on the lookout! The money raised from this goes directly to the Literacy Intervention Team for things like their annual Book Tasting Event and incentives for students who make progress in their reading and spelling skills.
Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Watts, Instructional Intervention Aide
I’m currently a Literacy and Math aide. I’m in my second year working at the Elk Hills School District. Graduated Taft College with an associates degree in Direct Support Education and Disabilities Services and am currently enrolled at GWU working towards my bachelors degree. During my first year [I worked] as a Kindergarten Aide and special needs aide, I especially love helping kids have that “Aha!” moment. It’s very cool when a student gets what they are working on and has a full understanding of what they are studying. It’s very satisfying to help students get better with their skills!
My hobbies are gardening, cooking and going to concerts (love music).
Born in Taft, moved to Washington state when I was four years old. Spent many summers in Taft. Moved back in 1994. Love to travel all over the country, mostly the west coast. I’ve got 3 dogs and 5 cats. I live with my husband and youngest child. I have 3 adult children and 4 granddaughters.
The Small Schools League Annual Volleyball Tournament will be held on Friday, October 11th, 2024 from 9:30 AM-1:30 PM at Maricopa Unified School District. Come on out and support our Elks! There will be a snack bar with lots of goodies, cash preferred.
We have 98% attendance today! That's amazing! Great job to everyone, let's keep up the amazing attendance!
Join us on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 in the Elk Hills cafeteria to discuss and plan for upcoming events, fundraisers, and more!
Picture Day is coming on tomorrow, October 9!
You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTRR89TW. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day.
For every one day a student misses it takes about three days to make up what they missed that day. Mondays are typically when new lessons are taught, and many times Fridays are when they are assessed on those lessons. While we know assessments aren't always fun, they are crucial for teachers to understand how deeply students grasp the concepts being taught and if they need to revisit the topic or not. Fridays are also when many fun activties take place in the classroom. Plus, we miss them when they are not here!
Elk Hills School District's annual Trunk or Treat event will be held on Halloween morning: Thursday, October 31st, 2024. Set up begins at 8:30 AM, Trunk or Treat begins at 9:00 AM, and will be followed by a student vote for best trunk and a costume contest! If you'd like to have a trunk, or have general questions regarding this event, please contact Mrs. Cassandra at 661-765-7431 x 111 or camcgowan@elkhills.org, you will need to provide your own individually sealed candy, please plan to have enough for 180 children. We look forward to seeing all the awesome trunks and fun costumes! *You do not have to decorate a trunk, if you would just like to stand at your car and pass out candy, that is OK too!
Staff Spotlight: Mr. Lester, 3rd grade teacher
William Lester was born and raised in Kern County from immigrant parents. I am the eldest of three siblings. Our parents always encouraged us to do well in school. All three of us are college graduates and thus, I’ve become a life-long learner. I currently teach third grade at Elk Hills and I'm new to Elk Hills but I'm not new to teaching third grade. In my more adventurous college days, I and some of my college friends jumped onto a freight train and rode it from Colton to Bakersfield. I encourage all my students to be adventurous and become life-long learners to be able to reach and find their full potential in life.
At Elk Hills we provide many incentives to students for coming to school on a regular basis, one incentive is our 100% for 20 Pizza Party. When a class reaches 20 days of 100% attendance they recieve a pizza party! The 20 days do not have to be consecutive, and once they reach it, they start over and they can keep earning pizza parties throughout the school year! Today marked our first pizza parties of the year and we would like to congratulate 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grades on their amazing attendance! Keep up the good work everyone! We look forward to awarding the rest of the grades when they hit their 20 day mark!
The Small Schools League Annual Volleyball Tournament will be held on Friday, October 11th, 2024 from 9:30 AM-1:30 PM at Maricopa Unified School District. Come on out and support our Elks! There will be a snack bar with lots of goodies, cash preferred.
