Saturday, November 19, 2016

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Baseball star signs with Oakland U


Truman High School senior baseball player Beau Keathley recently signed a letter of intent to attend Oakland University.

He will be receiving 25-perent of his tuition, room and board, and books in scholarships monies.


Keep up the good work and good luck this spring in your final baseball season at Truman High School!

FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR and staff are honored



At the November 14 meeting of the Taylor Board of Education, the Taylor School District recognized Food Service Director Susan McCausland, the head cooks from all 12 schools and a few other food service employees for a job well done.

The final 2015-2016 audit showed that the Taylor Food Service department not only operated in the black all year, but they were able to contribute over $250,000 back to the general fund.

Keep up the good work, and thank you for what you do for our students on a daily basis!


EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL nurse is honored

At the November 14 meeting of the Board of Education, the district recognized Eureka Heights Elementary School Nurse Michelle McCallister.

She was honored for her hard work helping Principal Stacie Hall support students who have special medical needs. Thank you for what you do for our students on a daily basis!


MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL pupils learn about reptiles

Recently at Myers Elementary School, students were treated to a presentation about reptiles and amphibians by Oakwoods Metropark Nature Center staff.

The Oakwoods staff talked to different classes about the differences between reptiles and amphibians, and shared information about the adaptations that help them survive in Michigan.


Students learned about how energy in animals’ food can be used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth (which is one of the fifth-grade Science Standards).

BLAIR MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL students celebrate PBIS with Home Depot

Blair Moody Elementary School students in Mrs. Tevepaugh’s and Ms. Harig's third-grade classes had a wonderful PBIS celebration, thanks to the Home Depot on Telegraph Road.

Home Depot donated several building kits to the school.


A special shout out goes to Phyllis Miracle for making it all possible and a great time was had by parents, students and staff. Thank you Home Depot and good work everyone!

HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL pupils look for a 300-game

Holland Elementary School students spent the last two weeks polishing their underhand roll while bowling during Physical Education classes.

Bowling equipment is provided each year by Skore Lanes in Taylor. Each year Skore drops off equipment and also provides each child coupon books so students can practice their skills at school, and then take it to the bowling alley!


Great job students, and thank you to Skore Lanes!

REINDEER DAYS scheduled for the Petting Farm

Get ready for Reindeer Days at the Heritage Park Petting Farm. They will be held on December 10 and 11.

The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is $5 per person (cash only). No preregistration is necessary. Stop by and say hello to Santa's Reindeer, take photos, have a snack and do some crafts.

For more information, call (734) 374-5946.


SANTA'S MAGIC FOREST opens at noon on Saturday, November 26

Santa's Magic Forest, sponsored by the volunteers of the Downriver Fish & Loaves Food Pantry, opens November 26 in the Activities Building, Heritage Park. Downriver's premier Christmas display, features 23 scenes and inspire and delight children and adults. 

Doors open at noon on November 26 and the display remains open until 8 p.m. that day. Tickets are (cash only) $3 general admission (free for children under 3). A picture with Santa is $8.

For other days and times, click on the events portion of the City of Taylor’s website at www.cityoftaylor.com.

The Taylor Winter Festival will kick off the opening of the Magic Forest with a parade at 4 p.m. sponsored by Masco, Taylor Ford, Realty Transition LLC and Michigan CAT, along with 100.3 WNIC.

The parade will travel to the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion, where Santa will officially arrive and be presented the Key to the City by Mayor Rick Sollars. Entertainment, music and food and refreshments will be featured, capped by the official lighting of the City of Taylor's Christmas tree in the Sheridan Center, followed by a fireworks display in the park.

Carriage rides through Heritage Park will be offered.

A special feature of the Taylor Winter Festival will be a special "Fill a Truck with Toys." The City will have a featured Taylor Ford truck on display at the Sheridan Center. Visitors are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate to needy children. The City will distribute the toys during the holiday season. (There will also be a drop off site at City Hall, near the Goddard Road entrance.)

After the fireworks display, Santa and his elves will then lead the group to Santa's Magic Forest in the Activities Building.


THANKSGIVING BRUNCH? Annual event at Lakes of Taylor is accepting reservations

Families of Taylor School District children should call now to reserve a seat for Taylor's annual Thanksgiving Day Buffet at The Lake House Grille at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course. The brunch is the largest of its kind in the community.

The buffet will be open from noon until 3 p.m. on November 24. Adults and seniors are $19.99 each and children under 10 are $9.99.

Reservations are required. Please call (734) 287-9001.


Highlights of the menu include ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean and sweet potato casseroles and the Lake House Grille's world famous dessert display.


OVERVIEW OF Taylor Winter Festival


The City of Taylor is preparing for the 2016 Taylor Winter Festival on Saturday, November 26. It plans to be bigger and better than ever before! Included will be a bigger and better parade, Winterfest activities, official tree lighting and much more … capped off by a fireworks display. The event is free.

The celebration, which kicks off the opening of Santa’s Magic Forest at the Heritage Park Activities Building, will begin with the Taylor Ford Parade at 4 p.m. The parade will begin at City Hall (23555 Goddard) and march to Pardee and then Heritage Park. 

The Masco Winterfest Activities will then kick off inside the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion, followed by the Realty Transition Official Tree Lighting Ceremony including Mayor Rick Sollars handing off the official key to the City to Santa Claus.

The Taylor Chevrolet Winterfest Fireworks display will cap off the evening.

“We got a good start last year, and our goal is to make this a better event every year,” Mayor Sollars said. “We are looking forward to a bigger parade and, thanks to our sponsors and staff, more and more fun events. I’m really looking forward to the fireworks display.”


The 40-unit parade, paced by the marching bands from Truman and Summit high schools, should be plenty of fun. Look for seasonal characters, cheerleaders, businesses, groups and organizations, elected officials and plenty of floats. (See tentative parade lineup at end of story.)

Look for the following members of the Miss Downriver pageant:
  • Miss Downriver 2016 Shelby McPherson
  • Miss Downriver's Outstanding Teen 2016 Jenna Belian 
  • Heart of Miss Downriver Alyssa Patrias 
  • Miss Downriver's Pre-teen Princess 2016 Layla Pavlick 
  • Miss Downriver's Little Princess 2016 Lauryn Chasnis 
  • Miss Downriver's Tiny Princess 2016 Paityn Gruesbeck


Viewing of the parade should be good from anywhere on Goddard and Pardee, with ideal locations (including parking) at the Taylor Recreation Center and in front of the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion in Heritage Park, where viewers can line the berm and get a very good look at the parade.

Once inside the Sheridan Center, the Masco Winterfest Activities will take over. Look for photos with season characters, a photo booth, carolers and bands, live ice carving, raffles, snacks and hot cocoa and carriage rides.

A “Fill the F-350” Toy Drive will be ongoing in the pavilion, and attendees are encouraged to bring boxed, unwrapped toys (ideally for 12-and-unders) to donate. Toys for toy drive can also be dropped off at City Hall through December 16. The toys will be distributed by the City of Taylor in partnership with Taylor School Support Staff.

WNIC 100.3’s Chris Edwards will be onsite. The Realty Transition Official Tree Lighting will start with a ceremony at 6 p.m. including Mayor Sollars, Santa Claus and officials from Downriver Fish & Loaves Food Pantry, which runs Santa’s Magic Forest. The tree lighting will take place at approximately 6:15. 

The Taylor Chevrolet Winterfest Fireworks will be displayed at approximately 6:30.

After the fireworks display, the City encourages attendees to visit Santa’s Magic Forest next door at the Activities Building, along with the Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens’ annual tree lighting later that evening. 

Santa's Magic Forest is the largest fundraiser for the Downriver Fish & Loaves Food Pantry, and is Downriver's premier Christmas display featuring 23 scenes to inspire and delight children and adults. Tickets are (cash only) $3 general admission (free for children under 3). A picture with Santa is $8.

Other sponsors and donors to the 2016 Taylor Summer Festival include DTE Energy, Michigan CAT. Shwedel Dental, Tim Hortons, Texas Roadhouse and Panera Bread. 





EARLY PEAK at the Taylor Winter Festival Parade lineup

The City of Taylor is preparing for the 2016 Taylor Winter Festival on Saturday, November 26. It plans to be bigger and better than ever before! Included will be a bigger and better parade, Winterfest activities, official tree lighting and much more … capped off by a fireworks display. The event is free. Many school groups are included, and here is an early peek at the parade lineup.

Included in the lineup thus far at the Truman High School Band and cheerleaders, Kinyon Elementary School cheer team, Taylor Dance, Truman DECA, West Middle School Cheerleaders, Girl Scouts, Taylor South Little League, Kennedy High School and Taylor Junior Football, among others.


TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Holiday bazaar scheduled December 3


RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL features 'white table'

On November 11, Mrs. Cahalan's and Mrs. Mitroka's third-grade classes at Randall Elementary School celebrated Veterans Day with a remembrance of all the those who served our country.

Mrs. Mitroka's son is a wounded warrior from the 173rd Airbourne Bridgade, Cpl. Joshua Mitroka.

A few years ago after reading the book, “America's White Table.” by Margot Theis Raven, Mrs. Mitroka mentioned it to her son who at the time was in the military. He said when he was in Italy he saw a table set up in the mess hall just like in the book.

This is a tradition where the white table is set across America in mess halls and at military events for almost 30 years. The tradition goes on in the Randall School third-grade classes where every year Mrs. Cahalan reads the book as Mrs. Mitroka sets up the table.


The White Table is a tradition to the outside civilian world originating during the time of the Vietnam War as a symbol for and remembrance to service members held prisoner of war or missing in action. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit. 





RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Election activities are front and center



Early in November, Mrs. Holstein's first-grade class at Randall Elementary School was involved with many election activities. They read three stories, graphed their favorite president and voted in a "mock" booth for the real president of the United States.


RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL students experience iPad learning

The first graders in Mrs. Holstein's class at Randall Elemenary School learned a new application on iPads. They were taught how to use the camera. Mr. Keunelis helped the first graders have a great experience on the iPad!










KINYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL class visited by the pizza man!



Kinyon Elementary School kindergarteners filled up their marble jar and earned a pizza party with a special visit from the Caesarman himself. Yummmmm!

KINYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: More photos from fire department visit

Taylor Firefighters Rick and Bill brought the fire truck to Kinyon Elementary School recently. Here are more kindergarten photos from the event.








Thursday, November 17, 2016

KINYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL visited by firefighters



Taylor Firefighters Rick and Bill brought the fire truck to Kinyon Elementary School recently. All of the kindergartens were able to learn about it and even have a seat in the drivers' seat. It was awesome!






WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL lectured by Holocaust survivor


On Monday, November 14, Martin Lowenberg spoke to West Middle School students about his experience in Nazi, Germany.

Mr. Lowenberg is a Holocaust survivor. Unfortunately his father, mother and twin brothers perished in the concentration camps that were prevalent throughout Europe during World War II.  He told of his experiences, including being brutalized by a German teacher, living through the “Night of Broken Glass,” and surviving the concentration camps.
    
In the camps his head was shaved and all comforts were removed. Food consisted of watery soup made with potato skins. Bunkhouses of over 250 men had no mattresses, blankets or pillows. They worked from morning until night or until they dropped and were exterminated.
    

Amazingly, Mr. Lowenberg survived and eventually immigrated to the United States. His strong message – to get a good education and be kind to one another – resonated with students. Mr. Lowenberg’s visit was a memorable experience. Hopefully, the students will keep his lessons of love and acceptance in their hearts and spirit to share with the world, as Mr. Lowenberg has experienced.


CAREER CENTER: TNT Robotics Trophy Case_version 2.0


Here is a picture of the newly decorated trophy case located near the entrance of the Career Center. This trophy case was redesigned and lined with bright aluminum diamond plate. The diamond plate and the TnT logo were all cut using the revamped CNC plasma-cutting machine.

The CNC plasma-cutting machine was retrofit with all new controls, motors and software at a cost of $36,000. The funds to allow this upgrade of a 17-year-old machine were provided by a grant written by Jaqueline Lancina, the principal at the Taylor Career & Technical Center.


The abilities of the new CNC machine are endless and will be utilized by welding and fabrication students, as well as the TnT 280 robotics team.