Thursday, October 31, 2013

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: The playoffs await at Allen Park Friday night


Truman High School will travel to Allen Park Friday (Nov. 1) during the opening round of the Michigan High School Athletic Association's state football playoffs.

Game time is 7 p.m.

This is the fourth time that Truman and AP have faced off in the past two seasons. Both are members of the Downriver League. The Jags (7-2) upset the Cougars, 21-14, in Week 6 of the season. 

The winner of Friday's district game will take on the winner of the Wyandotte Roosevelt-Ypsilanti Lincoln game in the second round.

For more on the game, click here.

EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Parents join students in the classroom


Check out the scenes from the third-grade parent session on Oct. 30 at Eureka Heights Elementary School.

Parents were invited into the classroom to play games and carve pumpkins with the children.




Wednesday, October 30, 2013

HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Band members take to dressing for success!


A group of band members at Hoover Middle School have started dressing for success! On Wednesdays, that is.

Each Wednesday, the band members dress to the nines. "Formal Wednesdays" were the idea of the students, according to Principal Michelle Tocco. They have done it for several weeks.

Mr. Bergler, the band director, has even joined in the fun -- he's pictured here in the front row with the green shirt and saxophone. 

What, no sunglasses? Only kidding ... 


HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Scarecrow winner announced!


Visitors attending the recent Hoover Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences received an added bonus -- they got to judge some unique work accomplished by enrichment class students in the school.

The students in each enrichment class made a life-size scarecrow, which were displayed during the conferences. Parents visiting the school voted for the winner, which was done by Mr. Arseneau's class (above).







HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Posters celebrated special day

Constitution Day was celebrated in September and one of the ways that Hoover Middle School honored the occasion was by making posters.

Each enrichment class was responsible for creating a poster to represent a particular part of the U.S. Constitution or branch of government and displayed them in the halls of the school.





MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Fifth Third Bank comes to the rescue with winter clothing


For the second straight year, Fifth Third Bank has come to the rescue of Myers Elementary School children in need of winter clothing.

Fifth Third recently donated 40 new coats, hats and gloves to the school. Children in the program were based on referrals from parents and staff.

Bank employees went to Myers on Tuesday (Oct. 22) to personally distribute the winter items. And the children were thankful and excited.

And they will be warm this winter!




Tuesday, October 29, 2013

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Group photographed at Heritage Park



Intrepid community photographer David Gorgon was on hand at Heritage Park recently during Truman High School's Homecoming Weekend. 

Here, he captured Megan Swangim, Dennis Stempien, Sevannah Stempien, Austin Stempien and Olivia Long heading for Homecoming.

Look for more photos in later blog posts and on the Facebook Heritage Park Photo of the Day page by clicking here.

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: McLain twins photographed



Intrepid community photographer David Gorgon was on hand at Heritage Park recently during Truman High School's Homecoming Weekend. 

Here, he captured freshman twins Terrance and Terrell McLain on their way to the Homecoming.

Look for more photos in later blog posts and on the Facebook Heritage Park Photo of the Day page by clicking here.

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Homecoming-related group photograph



Intrepid community photographer David Gorgon was on hand at Heritage Park recently during Truman High School's Homecoming Weekend. 

Here, he captured a group of Truman students.

Look for more photos in later blog posts and on the Facebook Heritage Park Photo of the Day page by clicking here.

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Homecoming photos of Nelson and Bailey



Intrepid community photographer David Gorgon was on hand at Heritage Park recently during Truman High School's Homecoming Weekend. 

Here, he captured Homecoming Princess Kaylee Nelson (left) and Homecoming Queen Kristen Bailey, both seniors.

Look for more photos in later blog posts and on the Facebook Heritage Park Photo of the Day page by clicking here.

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Homecoming photo, Tyler Nunnery



Intrepid community photographer David Gorgon was on hand at Heritage Park recently during Truman High School's Homecoming Weekend. 

Here, he captured Homecoming King Tyler Nunnery. For more on Tyler's unique story, click here.

Look for more photos in later blog posts and on the Facebook Heritage Park Photo of the Day page by clicking here.

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Homecoming photos of Simpson and Cordell


Intrepid community photographer David Gorgon was on hand at Heritage Park recently during Truman High School's Homecoming Weekend. 

Here, he captured seniors Tara Simpson and Sarah Cordell, both members of the Homecoming Court.

Look for more photos in later blog posts and on the Facebook Heritage Park Photo of the Day page by clicking here.

WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Bargerstock is big winner in mural contest!


Josh Bargerstock, a student at West Middle School, was recently named the winner in the Rivers Edge Community Credit Union mural contest.

Josh's drawing was selected as an inspiration for the window mural that the students painted at the Rivers Edge CCU Taylor branch.

By having his drawing chosen, Josh won a $50 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials in Dearborn.

On hand to help paint the mural were (front row, left) Amire Buckens and Andrea Carter and (back row, left) Jacob Sabatini and Josh.

Congrats to Josh and the rest of the group for a job well done!


HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Classes will see Willy Wonka Jr. next week!


Next Wednesday (Nov. 6) seven classes from Holland Elementary School will be going on a field trip to the Village Theater in Canton to see the play, Willy Wonka, Jr.  

Two students from Holland are in this play.  

Kylie Scarpace, a fifth-grader, plays the part of Violet Beauregarde. Violet is a very bratty girl who eventually turns into a blueberry (pictured on the right).

Chloe Scarpace, a second-grader, is in the Kids Chorus and is also an adorable squirrel (pictured on the left).

When asked about the most challenging part of playing Violet, Kylie responded, "Talking with a southern accent. And, she's the complete opposite of me. Violet is rude and snotty, and I am very nice and kind."

The play is based on the popular children's book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” by Roald Dahl.  

All classes have read the book aloud and are ready to compare and contrast the book versus the play.

HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Pride and hot dogs go a long way!


Hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet? Well, we don't know about the pie or the car, but on half-days at Hoover Middle School, the Principal's Pride students sell hot dogs to fund-raise for their trip to Kentucky.

Ms. Henderson and Mr. Hunt helped out and the response was fantastic. 

A little lunch combined with helping out the Pride students goes a long way at Hoover.

MELISSA SKOPCZYNSKI: Busy week at Truman includes conferences, football, senior band night and even a Halloween outing


By Melissa Skopczynski
Truman High School Principal

Welcome to another great week!

We had a few events going on over the weekend so I wanted to wait to put out the Cougar Connection until today.

Last week went by very quickly with our parent conferences and half-days.  I hope everyone enjoyed Friday afternoon off.  It was certainly well deserved.  I enjoyed meeting with parents and getting the opportunity to "show off" Truman High School.

Last Friday night was our final football game of the regular season, a victory over Melvindale, 58-28. It was Senior Night for our band members, who put on a wonderful show. We also have selected a new band director that will be recommended to the Board of Education for approval.   She may even begin as early as today,

Please welcome her to our Truman Family!  I would like to thank Mrs. Winnie, Mr. Winnie and Mr. Bergler for taking their own time out to assist in hiring the right candidate for the position.  I know she will do a wonderful job.

On Saturday evening, Ms. Lundgren and the DECA students put on their annual “Community Safe Halloween Event.”  There was the usual trick or treating, along with face painting and crafts for the kids.  It was well attended and went very well.  Thank you to Mrs. Lundgren and our DECA students for making this event possible for the community.

My Sunday evening was spent at Buffalo Wild Wings with the football team watching the MHSAA Football Playoff Selection show.  It was a great time and the boys were very excited to draw Allen Park as a first round opponent.  

The game will take place this Friday (Nov. 1) at 7 p.m. at Allen Park High School.  

Come on out and support your Cougars.
In honor of our football team making the playoffs their will be a short pep assembly at the end of the day this Friday. More details will follow.

Have a great week!

Remember: This is YOUR team, this is MY team, this is OUR team. TOGETHER we ARE making a difference!



Monday, October 28, 2013

BLAIR MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Last of the photos from the trip to Real Life Farm

Thanks to funding from the Taylor Reading Corps, preschoolers at Blair Moody Elementary School recently took a field trip to the Real Life Farm.

The last of the photos from a recent trip.





BLAIR MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: More photos of the recent trip

Thanks to funding from the Taylor Reading Corps, preschoolers at Blair Moody Elementary School recently took a field trip to the Real Life Farm.

Here are more photos from the trip.









BLAIR MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: More photos from recent trip

Thanks to funding from the Taylor Reading Corps, preschoolers at Blair Moody Elementary School recently took a field trip to the Real Life Farm.

Here are more photos from the trip.