Eureka
Heights Elementary School second graders recently took a field trip to the
Trenton Theater.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL celebrates good behavior
Reinforcing
positive behaviors is a key part of the Taylor School District action plan. Eureka
Heights Elementary School recently held at “PBIS Day” for January including a “Principal’s
Pizza Party” for "All Green, All Month" pupils.
Also
included in these photographs are the PBIS store and PBIS assembly.
Good
behavior pays off.
EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL holds brainstorm gathering
Eureka
Heights Elementary School recently held a “Brainstormers” writing assembly.
Here are several photographs from the gathering.
MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL children create MLK College
Mrs.
Brindle's fourth-grade pupils at Myers Elementary School pose with the “Martin
Luther King Jr. College” they created together to honor Dr. King.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY completes STEM unit on Architecture and Design
Mrs.
O'Connor's Math class at the Sixth Grade Academy completed a STEM
unit on Architecture and Design.
Students
designed their own homes on drafting boards using T-squares, rulers and
triangles. Next they drew a blueprint to scale and finished by actually
constructing a model home.
The
finished products were outstanding and some student even went a step further
and added personal touches.
RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL offers plenty of watch dogs
On
February 3 Randall Elementary School invited the fathers and other positive
male role models for a “Donuts with Dads Night.” There were 51 “dads” in attendance
for coffee, donuts, juice and some special time with their students.
Instead
of the usual - watch the video – the dads and grandpas played board games with
their children. A night with your kids makes a great moment. The school
provided the dads with an opportunity to spend quality time with their
children.
Watch
D.O.G.S. is a national program and Randall has been participating for a few
years. “Dads” who wanted to join our program were able to sign the calendar
when they wanted to come into our school.
The
school had approximately 20 dads sign up to be a Randall Watch Dog and the
staff looks forward to having them in the building. The Mustangs are always
happy to see them!
If
you are a Randall father figure and want to join the Watch D.O.G.S., contact
the school 313-295-5812.
You
can also go to their website to receive more information. http://www.fathers.com/watchdogs/
TOMMIE SAYLOR: We are too often our own enemies
“Every
successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community
of persons working together.”
Paul
Ryan
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
Whatever
happened to the sense of community? The idea of united we stand?
Why is it that when something happens (often due to no fault of our own) and we
handle the incident exactly according to policy and protocol with the utmost
professionalism, instead of the community rallying around our efforts, we get
attacked?
Instead
of giving us a call and asking, “What can I do to help?” some people call the
media in hopes of playing a game known as “gotcha.” I just don’t understand the
allure of making our own look bad in the eyes of the greater community. Why
should we devalue ourselves within the Downriver neighborhood? Why lend
credence to old prejudices.
I
guess people just don’t understand that it is not a school, or a district; it
is their school and their district. A school is not just part of the
community. In the eyes of their children, it is the community. By harming
a school’s or a district’s reputation, they are harming their own kids. By
attacking, they are attacking their own children.
I
don’t understand why the people can’t or won’t trust in our
professionalism. If you go to a doctor, you trust that he or she knows
what they are doing. You place your life in your doctor’s hands. You go
to an attorney, dentist, tax preparer, etc. and trust that they know what they
are doing.
Yet
educators, who have as much and sometimes more formal training than those
listed above, are sometimes treated as if they are without trust? After
all, our motives are pure and our honor is clean. We don’t serve to get paid,
we get paid because we serve.
I
suppose that this is a question without answer, and all that we can do is drive
on doing as much good for as many people as we can.
Even
though we may be loathed by some, loved by few and dismissed by too many, we
will silently continue to push our students forward to a greater
tomorrow. Only through the efforts of those in the classroom will our
country find salvation, and our society redemption.
How
and where will you lead them. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence
by design.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL singers tear up the competition
On
January 30, a group of students from Mr. Martin's chorus at West Middle
School traveled to Monroe Middle School to participate in the MSVMA Vocal Solo
and Ensemble Festival.
They
each performed folk, art and foreign language songs they had memorized and
practiced, along with their accompanist, Tracey King from The King School of
Music in Taylor. Each performer received comments and a short clinic from a
singing teacher as part of their experience.
Myra,
Adria, Alisha, Katelyn, Amelia, Connor and the trio of Sara, Kaytlyn and Jaci
each received a "Good" rating, while Courtney's performance was rated
"Excellent."
Elizabeth
gave an extraordinary performance, rating 30 of 30 possible points, for an
"Excellent with Superior Distinction" rating.
The
Cardinal Singers, the 34-voice top choir at West also performed in three mini-groups
so each individual singer had to show their ability to lead. They were
rated "good" and "excellent" and learned lots of techniques
they can apply to their upcoming performance at district choral festival.
The
staff is proud of these singers and of all their hard work!
KINYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL family comes to aid of staff member
Late
last year, one of our Kinyon Elementary School’s own, Ms. L., was diagnosed with
MS. She uses a walking cart to aid her, but working in two buildings lugging a
single cart is difficult.
The
Kinyon Student Council sponsored a "Hat Day" to purchase a new cart for our amazing
librarian. The morning of “Hat Day,” a Kinyon family stepped forward and
donated a cart!
Kinyon
ROCKS!
SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY students look for 'perfect 16'
The
students at the Sixth Grade Academy are excited about Black History Month.
Mrs.
Hill, the library paraprofessional, is running a contest to see how many of the
“Famous Black Americans” can be identified by students. Many students are
coming and using the library before school to do research so they can correctly
name who is on each poster.
The
students who get all 16 names correct will be entered in a drawing for one of
the two gift certificates available for the next Scholastic Book Fair in
May.
HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL kicks of Black History Month
Hoover
Middle School students kicked off their celebration of Black History Month with
a community service drive to collect water for the residents for Flint.
Enrichment
Class activities include participation in Kroger's "I Can Make History
Contest”; the Jackie Robinson "Overcoming Barriers" essay contest;
games and other activities. Hoover’s theme this year is “Remembering the
Past, Changing the Future.”
It
appears on the banner and on t-shirts, bracelets and suckers that are selling
briskly school-wide!
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL classes discuss Native American experiences
On
February 1, Chief Ted Roll of the Wyandotte Indians, along with two of his
associates, spoke to social studies classes at West Middle School.
They
discussed the Native American experience, past and present. They explained how
the Downnriver area was their homeland before many were displaced to Canada,
Ohio, Kansas and Oklahoma.
This
marked a very dark period in U.S. history, because the American government issued
the policy of “assimilate or annihilate” these indigenous people. Many children
were taken from their families to be educated in the ways of the “white man.”
Fortunately
today Native American are free to celebrate their culture. There are about 1,300
Native Americans who belong to the Wyandotte Tribe. Their strong
voice and educational policies continue to enlighten everyone about their past
struggles and present victories.
HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL youngsters happy to be wrong!
Mrs.
Madden's kindergarten friends have never been so happy to be wrong!
Last
week these Holland Elementary School pupils predicted that “Punxsutawney Phil”
would see his shadow on Groundhog Day, February 2. They were very happy to hear
that he didn't see it, and that spring would come early (outside recess!). They
enjoyed learning all about of the tradition and the fun it can bring.