Saturday, March 5, 2016

HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL's most recent surprise reader is Mayor Sollars

Surprise readers are a part of everyday life in Mrs. Danaj's second-grade class at Holland Elementary School. Pupils try to guess the identity of the upcoming speaker, but while they might get close, they seldom hit the mark.

Friday, they received a special visit from an old friend, Mayor Rick Sollars. Mayor Sollars has often been invited to the class, and every time, it's been a lot of fun. This was no different, although reading "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss is one difficult, tongue-twisting time.

"That book is tough," Mrs. Danaj admitted as the mayor read to the class. Afterwards, the mayor admitted that "it would have been great to have one practice reading" before the official one had to be done.

The pupils had a good time, as did the mayor. The students in the class would like to see the mayor return, but only if they continue to study well and pay action to their teacher ... that's the deal!































TOMMIE SAYLOR: Are we up for the challenge?

“If not us, who?  If not now, when?”
John F. Kennedy

By Tommie Saylor
Kennedy High School Principal

As others run away, heroes rush in.  As most are frozen with indecision, the greatest act decisively.  As people look for someone to champion their cause, the brave advocate for us all.

Far too often we sit around complaining about this or that, and wondering if someone will come along and fix the problem. We often don’t realize that the “someone” who can, should and must fix the problem is you. 

We are the heroes we have been waiting for and the time to fix our problems is now. I’m not saying it will be easy. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. I understand that change is hard and many hard decisions lay before us, but as our forefathers have done is the past, we need to come together and face our issues with a steeled resolve and singularity of purpose. 

No longer can we afford to fight amongst ourselves. No longer can we afford the old rivalries and pettiness that has held us back. Our world no longer has room for trivial jealousies and universal suspicions.  Either we embrace the change, learn to work together and rush headlong into the darkness as one … or we will most definitely wither separately.

So the choice is yours. Either we can “bury our heads in the sand” and continue to conduct business as usual hoping our problems will just go away, or we can take on the challenge of change and create a new, stronger and leaner district designed to withstand the ages. 


How and where will you lead them. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence by design.

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL celebrates reading month by tying in favorites

"Favorites!"

That's what it’s all about this month at McDowell Elementary School. For "March is Reading Month," students are having activities that tie favorite books with educational activities.

The first event was a graphing exercise for the whole school. Everyone wore favorite colors and a giant line graph was posted in the hall. McDowell's favorite color was blue and the least favorite was orange.

Everyone had fun and Ms. Hutchison distributed “Skittles” and crayons to everyone who participated. Here are photographs of students that wore the most of their color in front to the graph.


Learning like this, really is fun.






MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL jumps past fundraising goal for heart association

Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart are national education and fundraising events sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE).

These events engage elementary and middle school students with jumping rope or playing basketball while empowering them to improve their own health and help other kids with heart-health issues.  And both programs are great ways to satisfy the physical education standards as determined by SHAPE America.

McDowell Elementary School participated in "Jump Rope for Heart."

Jump Rope For Heart Helps Students Grow! Here are a few things our student's learned while having a great time organized by Mr. Brown and Mr. Moore.
  • Kids learned the value of community service and became empowered to contribute to their community's welfare.
  • Children joined together in helping other kids with special hearts.
  • Students learned how to develop heart-healthy habits while being physically active.
  • Participants learned jump rope skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
  • Students helped our school earn gift certificates for free P.E. equipment!


The school raised $1,971, which went way past the goal of $1,000. The class that raised the most money was our fourth grade of Mr. Hamilton. They will get to have the heart banner for their classroom for the rest of the year.





MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PBiS headliners turn into rock stars

 Myers Elementary School has a PBiS celebration every month.  It is a the celebration for all students that stayed on “Green and Yellow” for the entire month of February in grades kindergarten through second grade.  Their reward was “Bubble Gum and Board Games.”  They were ROCK STARS!!!








EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Good behavior pays off


 Good behavior pays dividends, and that's what pupils learned recently at Eureka Heights Elementary School. For good behavior in February, students had a chance to have some fun as part of the monthly PBiS program, which rewards children for good behavior. Here are photos from the kindergarten-to-second grade and third-to-fifth grade dances.












EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL pupils do their research

Here are some photographs of Eureka Heights Elementary School second-graders working on their research projects. Anyone for all A's?