TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Devonte's a Bulldog!

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Students learn about democracy

History comes alive in Mr. Hamilton's fourth-grade class at McDowell Elementary School!

The students have been learning core Democratic values in Social Studies.

They have been focusing on keys to a strong Democracy and the Constitution. Small groups have been assigned a particular core Democratic value and have been presented with the task of performing a skit to display the value they were assigned.

This was fun way to learn about Truth, Common Good, Equality, Diversity and more!

BLAIR MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Wild (literally) about books

"Wild About Books" combined students’ love of animals with non-fictional reading at Blair Moody Elementary School.

Students and parents enjoyed both, and had the chance to see and touch some very interesting animals!

KINYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Thanks to Rep. Geiss

Ms. Polidori's third-grade class at Kinyon Elementary School received Michigan Literature from State Representative Douglas Geiss. 

Thank you, Representative Geiss, for your generous donation.

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Drills help make school safer

McDowell Elementary School took part in a fire drill and a tornado drill this week and went over how to stay safe at school with all of the students.

These drills let students know just what to do in the event of severe weather and other danger. Reinforcing positive and prompt action by students and staff will make the building a safety school!

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Cousin Luigi makes a visit

Mr. Tomassion's fifth-grade class at McDowell Elementary School had a special visitor that created a yummy chocolate fluff treat.

It was none other than Mr. Tomasison's alias, "Cousin Luigi!"

Everyone wanted to get a picture with Luigi!

HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Pictures of Open House

Here are some images from the recent Hoover Middle School Open House.

HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Art work is highlighted

Students are doing some awesome work in Mrs. Meier's art classes at Hoover Middle School.

CAREER CENTER: Grant funds brand new printer

Good news for Mrs. Ampezzan’s students in the PAES Lab at the Career Center.

A project to Donorschoose.org for a 3D printer was accepted and it was fully funded.  It was a $2,400 project that was going to expire in a few days. 

GoogleDetroit funded more than 280 projects at a cost of $240,000, including this one in the Taylor Schools. 

MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Class celebrates the Constitution

At Myers Elementary School, Mrs. Schulte's class celebrated Constitution Day with red, white and blue hats and patriotic buttons. 

The class also created its own Constitution, which included studying and reciting the Preamble to the Constitution.

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Everyone enjoys fun thanks to grant

There is fun in the sun at McDowell Elementary School, thanks to a Healthy Kids’ grant.

Even our hardest workers need a break sometimes and those in and around the school are still enjoying playground equipment supplied to us through a "Healthy Kids" grant.

Recess is fun!

TOMMIE SAYLOR: Jakob Muntz puts a fallen competitor above himself in remarkable act of unselfishness

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

-- Albert Einstein

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School

Jakob Muntz, senior captain of the cross-country team, was out running last week as he has done dozens of times before. For three years Jakob has represented Kennedy High School on the cross-country team, and in this, his final season in high school, Jakob has not only risen to the height of team captain, he has also honed his skills to the point where he now flirts with the prospects of having the honor of representing Kennedy at the regional level. 

Being able to represent one’s school at a regional meet often only comes along once in a cross-country student’s career, if and only if they qualify … if they are good enough. Only after they have proven that they are among the absolute best do they receive a chance.

Last week Jakob was running on what is arguably one of the most difficult courses in the Downriver area, as reported by Coach Amber McNew, a devout runner herself.  According to the coach, The Willow Metro Park course is uphill most of the way, the ground in uneven and difficult to negotiate. It is a course filled with rocks a d gravel – simply just not friendly. 

Yet through all of this, Jakob was well on his way to posting one of his best times ever, a 20-minute 5K run.  Jakob was staring not only his best time ever square in the face, he was also in the midst of launching himself into regional competition for the first time ever. 

With all of this on Jakob’s mind and within sight of the finish line, he suddenly stopped.

Ms. McNew, who was following the competitors and now stood at the finish line, could not believe her eyes. 

What in God’s name was Jakob doing?

Then she saw it.

Ms. McNew witnessed the most amazing act of self-sacrifice by a Kennedy student in current memory.  Jakob stopped because he saw another competitor from another team become weak in the knees, waver and fall to the ground. 

Without a second thought, and as others continued to run past, Jakob stopped, threw his fellow runner over his shoulder and continued to the finish line.

After crossing the finish line, Jakob placed his comrade on the ground at the feet of the student’s parents, where he laid passed out for several minutes.  Jakob, who just gave up his best time ever, who just lost his one and only shot at regional competition, who will now never know the joy of representing his school at that level.

He walked away without a word spoken or a second thought given.

Jakob is a hero. He deserves a medal for his actions and recognition for his sacrifice. He is the kind of student that we are proud to say is a Kennedy Eagle! 

Jakob is a success story, the epitome of what we are trying to achieve through public education. He’s the personification of good parenting, good teaching and good sportsmanship. May we never forget to take the time to celebrate such selfless acts of kindness.

What starts here, changes the world. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence by design.

KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL: Students praised for unselfish, heroic efforts

Staff and teachers around Kennedy High School are singing the praises about a couple of student/heroes in their midst.

Recently, Darin Thompson was first on the scene to aid a senior citizen who had fallen and hit his head on the curb at a local fast food parking lot.  Thompson used his cadet training to stabilize the man until an ambulance reached the scene.

Meanwhile, another Kennedy student (also see Tommie Saylor’s column this week), Jakob Muntz stepped to the front of the class with a unique offering of unselfishness during an athletic competition last week.

As Kennedy ran in a cross country meet against nine other schools, Muntz was on track to running his personal best at about a 20-minute 5K time -- no easy feat at the hilly Willow Metropark.

Bug about 300 yards from the finish line, Muntz slowed down. When he became more visible closer to the finish line, everyone saw that Jakob was carrying another runner from Wyandotte to the finish line. The other runner had passed out, according to people on the scene. The fallen runner also had about 50 pounds on Muntz.

Not only did Jakob help the runner get to his parents for medical help, he also gave up a potentially regional-qualifying race time in order to help an opponent he didn't even know.

Hats off to Thompson and Muntz for their heroic ways!

TAYLOR PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Scene from the open house

TAYLOR PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Classes focus on the Consitution

MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: It's time for reading buddies!

The kindergarten students in Mrs. Wild's class at Myers Elementary School are teaming up with the third graders in Mrs. Youngs' class to read. 

Every Thursday afternoon the third graders and kindergarteners meet to read and discuss stories.  Recently both classes met their reading buddies for the first time. 

It was a huge success!

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Constitution Day celebrated

McDowell Elementary School recently celebrated Constitution Day.

The school enjoyed an American History lesson in all classes.

This is what was learned:

• The Constitution is the most important document in the United States
• It establishes the American government and its position as a democracy
• The Constitution also lays out our freedoms as Americans
• The U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787, and it has been the basis of other democracies around the world
• The Constitution is also known as a "living document" because it grows and changes as America and its people grow and change.

It made everyone proud to be Americans and live in the United States!

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Time to put the names with the faces

Smiles and giggles were heard as McDowell Elementary School students brought their parents and families in to meet their teachers and show off what they had been working on recently.

Staff was equally excited to put names to faces. The teachers are always actively trying to get to know our students and their families and were glad to have this time to meet and greet.