W. H. Taft has a number of very unique programs that enhance both the academic, social, and behavioral performance of students, staff, and parents.

Kindergarten large and small classes: With the use of Title 1 funding, W. H. Taft screens kindergarten students prior to the start of school and then places those students who need extra time and support into two smaller classrooms that have one half the number of students in the large classroom.

Fifth/Sixth Grade “School within a School Middle School” Model: W. H. Taft has incorporated a 5th/6th grade model that prepares students in transitioning to the junior high school setting. Students have one homeroom teacher but transition from classroom to classroom for instruction in writing, mathematics, science, physical education, and music. This model places emphasis on creating opportunities for students to be involved in advanced classes both at Taft and at the junior high, on teaching students organizational skills, and on individual/group project based learning.

Awareness & Career Exploration (ACE): This program’s primary focus is to expose students in 4th – 6th grade to the wide range of careers available to them and to teach them the steps to move forward with their education after high school. The opportunities that will be available include: researching careers on a career information system (eCIS), listening to professional presentations in the classroom and at lunch, and visiting middle and high schools, technical training centers, and post secondary colleges and universities. As the culminating activity, all sixth grade students will participate in a job shadowing experience in a field that is of interest to them.

Power of Education (POE): Sixth grade advanced students participate in authentic and meaningful projects which enhance their ability to think critically, work together as a team, and create a variety of “real world” projects which they share with students, staff, and parents. Currently they are involved with a project that requires them to work with and learn about our newly purchased video technology equipment, mentor their classmates on how to operate and create videos, and make presentations to parents, students, and staff. They have recently completed an internet safety unit which included designing lessons and making presentations on the harmful aspects of the internet. . The next project will be to create “virtue” based games to share with students and staff.

Smart Kids: Students in 5th and 6th grade work together to create informative SMARTBoard presentations. Their latest project was to “pay it forward” by hosting a canned food drive. Prior to the drive the students made presentations to the students and staff at Taft to make them aware of world hunger, food consumption, and wastage. As a school the students were able to give the Idaho Food Bank 186 pounds of food. Kindergarten through fourth grade teachers have collaborated with the Smart Kids by providing them with a particular content objective. The students research, create, and deliver presentations to individual classrooms.

Virtues Project: Sixth grade students are “in the movies!” They are acting, filming, editing, and producing videos that teach the “Virtue of the Month.” These virtues include respect, responsibility, honesty, and kindness. This type of authentic learning offers students the opportunity to gain vital knowledge in a specific field of technology, as well as, the opportunity to make presentations to a “real” audience for their final production.

Tiger Pride Leadership Diversity Summer Camp: W. H. Taft has held a summer camp for the past two years. The purpose of the camp is to foster and enhance critical and interdependent thinking, social awareness, problem solving, and communication/listening skills to a diverse group of students. Students “pay it forward” by creating projects which emphasize team building, project planning/implementation, and presentation skills.

Saturday Family Learning Academy: Volunteers from the community provide two and one half hours of instruction in phonics, reading, writing, and grammar to adult refugees on Saturday morning. The children of the families are also provided art, drama, and physical activity while their parents are learning English.

ASSET Program: This is a program that “hires” students for meaningful job assignments (i.e. working in the lunchroom, creating student birthday cards, recycling trash, helping with safety patrol, etc.). The idea behind this program is to give students a sense of responsibility, build relationships, motivate positive behavior, increase self-esteem, and establish a sense of community. W. H. Taft was the first school in the Treasure Valley to implement this program eight years ago. Currently several elementary schools in the Treasure Valley have adopted this program. For more information contact our counselor at 854-6180.

Self Manager Program: This program is designed to encourage and reward fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students who reflect positive self-managing skills. It is designed to encourage students to strive to reach their full potential in all areas of behavior, academic, and socialization interaction. Students who are successful in managing themselves appropriately by treating others with respect, staying focused on assignments, setting goals that are attainable, and consistently making positive behavioral choices are candidates for self-managers. The ultimate goal of the program is for students to manage themselves appropriately in all facets of their lives. For more information contact our counselor at 854-6180.

Mentoring Program: Our school-based adult mentoring program consists of 45 to 50 members of our community who are paired with individual students. The program, which began in l998, gives students a chance to develop a positive relationship with an adult. The mentors, who meet with their students a minimum of twice a month, provide emotional guidance and a sense of continuity and stability. Through successful mentoring, constructive friendships are borne, in which students learn to trust and value their mentor. Meanwhile, students learn to develop essential social skills, recognize their own strengths, and grow in confidence. For more information contact our counselor at 854-6180.