CHOPPING BLOCK: Restaurant is now open for business Thursdays and Fridays

The Chopping Block restaurant is now open for business!

The Chopping Block is part of the Taylor Career Center and is open from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Thursdays and Fridays. 

Thursday's special is lasagna with tossed salad and garlic bread for $5. For the same price on Friday, you can get tuna fish salad on a croissant with potato salad for the same price.

The restaurant offers great food at good prices. You get a free meal on your birthday. Seniors can receive complimentary coffee or tea. Daily breakfast specials are offered (except on breakfast bar days).

Click out the complete Chopping Block menu by clicking here.

PRESCHOOL STAFF: TSD workers train in CPR and first aid

The Taylor School District preschool staff recently participated in on their annual CPR and first aid training recently.

The staff is required to train as part of daycare licensing rules.

The training was done by Gary Gough of Concord EMS.

TAYLOR PARK ELEMENTARY: New Kindles fire up the reading program!

Taylor Parks Elementary School has a new way of looking at things.

Pupils at Taylor Parks are now reading books – not hardcover books but “e-books.”  Each classroom now has Kindle Fires available to give students a new way of reading their favorite stories.  

Books can be downloaded to the Kindle by either finding one of the many sites that offer free e-book downloads or students can visit their community library via the Internet and "borrow" a book from the huge selection that is offered.  

To say the students and staff are excited is an understatement!

BLAIR MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Veteran educator takes over principal's role

Many times, the kickoff of any new school year involves new faces in old places. That adage doesn’t really apply to Laura Tetreault – she’s new to the principal’s role at Blair Moody Elementary School, but hardly new to the environment.

After all, she’s been a teacher at Blair Moody since 1997. With former Principal Michelle Tocco’s move over to the same post at Hoover Middle School this year, for students in the building – and plenty of alumni and parents – Tetreault’s title has changed from popular teacher to popular choice.

For the new principal, the promotion is somewhat of a dream come true.

“I have the good fortune to take over a building in which I have had a say in almost every area,” she said. “The most important thing I needed to put into place was to ensure the staff that we continue the progress we have started in our behavior management program, response to intervention and professional learning and community commitment.”

A married mother of three grown children – and proud grandmother of one – Tetreault enjoys reading, gardening and traveling in her free time.

Her professional goal has been focused on building a team of educators, parents and students where failure is not an option. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Central Michigan University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood from the University of Michigan and Associate of Arts from Schoolcraft College.

She wants parents to know that Taylor educators exist for them and their children. As a school, Blair Moody wants parents to become involved in all aspects of the school. “I also want them to know that they are always welcome and we need them,” she said.

And her management style?

“I want to give teachers complete freedom in how they deliver their instruction, but ask that they know what content is critical,” she said. “I am tough on adherence to content expectations by grade level. As far as students  are concerned, they know all my decisions are based on two things: That they are safe and successful.”

Those types of philosophies made for an outstanding teacher, and will likely make for an outstanding principal at Blair Moody, as well.

MELISSA SKOPCZYNSKI: Hello to Mr. Rudolph; leadership training; marathon walks; student count day; college fair; MDE visits -- and that's not even mentioning Homecoming week!

By Melissa Skopczynski

Truman High School Principal

This Cougar Connection is going to focus on the highlights of the week:

Mr. Rudolph – A big welcome to Mr. Rudolph, our new assistant principal, who comes to us from Lincoln High School. We are glad to have you here and are happy you are now part of the Truman Family.

Youth Leadership Training – Last Tuesday our student climate team participated in Youth Leadership Training.  It was a great experience for all.  They will be sharing what they learned with other students throughout the year!

CSH Marathon Walk – Last Monday concluded our first monthly marathon walk competition to encourage staff wellness.  Many of our staff members were overachievers and completed many more miles than the 26.2 that make up a marathon.  All participants were entered into a drawing to receive a prime parking spot for the month. This month’s winner was Mr. Rowe, who donated his spot to the highest bidder for a donation to the Penrickton Center for the Blind. The parking spot when to Mrs. Woloszyk. Great job by Mr. Rowe.

Student Count Day – A  big thanks to Mrs. Green, Becki and the entire staff for a smooth and accurate student count day was week.  Please continue to take accurate attendance and track those students who have not shown up yet!

College Fair – A huge shout out to Mr. Abraham and the entire counseling department for putting on an awesome College Fair!!  It was well attended not only Truman students, but many other students from the surrounding area. It was great to see parents and students so excited about exploring their options.

MDE Visit – Last week we had a unannounced visit from Mrs. Gloria Chapman, who is our redesign monitor from the Michigan Department of Education. She had nothing but positive things to say about the school, the staff and the students. In fact I think the words she used were that we were "the shining star" of the area. This is all thanks to those who work so hard to make Truman successful.

I will end this blog with a few reminders.

As you know this is Homecoming Week.  Given all of the distractions, please limit passes to one person per pass and for emergency purposes only.

In addition, teachers should be out in the hall between classes to help monitor student behavior.  If teachers and staff have time, plan on attending the homecoming festivities. Students love to see staff members outside of the classroom setting and it really goes a long way in helping to build those relationships that help improve student achievement in the classroom.  

As always, thank you for all you do!  

Remember: This is your team, this is my team, this is our team. Together, we are making a difference.

Have a great week.

MEAP TESTING: Get your children ready to perform well on the tests!

Michigan Educational Assessment Program testing is starting this week for grades three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine. The MEAP is a standardized test used in all Michigan public schools, first given in 1970.

In third, fourth and fifth grades, the pupils are given tests in mathematics and reading. In fifth through eighth grades, children are tested in math, science and reading. Sixth graders are tested in reading, math and social studies. Students in the ninth grade are tested only in social studies.

The MEAP is not just a fill-in-the-bubble test. It includes multiple-choice questions and short and long essays. Scoring is given in levels, rather than percentages, and ranked in categories like proficient, novice and not yet novice.

In Taylor, the MEAP reading tests will be given tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 8) and Wednesday (Oct. 9) in reading for third through eighth graders. Sessions 1 of writing tests will be given Thursday (Oct. 10) in fourth and seventh grades.

The testing will continue on Oct. 15-16. Math testing will be given to grades three through eight on Oct. 15. Session 2 of writing for grades four and seven will be given on Oct. 16, while fifth and eighth graders will be tested that same day in science and grades six and nine will be tested that same day in social studies.

There are plenty of ways to prepare your child to perform at his or her best. Make sure your child gets enough sleep. Children of this ages need about 10 hours of sleep a night. Make sure that your child is well rested on all school days – and especially the day of a test.

Children who are tired are less able to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of a test.

In addition, give your child a well-rounded diet. A healthy body leads to a healthy, active mind. Please feed your child a good breakfast. The Taylor School District provides breakfast (which may be reduced or free). Make sure your child is not hungry. High protein meals are recommended.

Testing goes on ALL DAY! Get your child to school on time each day. Avoid scheduling medical, dental or other appointments on MEAP testing days.  Research shows students do better when tested with their class than in a make-up session.

Students who are late to school on test dates will not be admitted into the tests.

For more on the MEAP, click here to go directly to the Michigan Department of Education website.

TOMMIE SAYLOR: Stay the course with vigilance!

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

-- Vince Lombardi

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School Principal

I’m going to let you in on a secret. It’s a secret that is as old as time, and has been sought after by millions. A secret that is simple, basic, easy to understand and employ, but very hard for most to grasp and make happen. A secret that those who have found success in life know and understand well, and those who are still looking for success can’t seem to find.  

This secret is vigilance and fidelity. In any endeavor, if one develops a reasonable plan based on the best data that can be found, based in fact and reality, and then implements the plan with fidelity and “stays the course” with vigilance, your goals will be achieved, success will be found.

Though this seems simple, the challenge is in staying the course.  

It is too easy to get off course and allow the multitude of distractions to push you off the path you have planned for yourself. Others will tempt you, discourage you and even actively work against you for motivations that can’t be explained nor understood.  

But through it all, if you keep your eye on the prize and not the price. If you stay the course, remain vigilant and work your plan with fidelity, you will succeed.

This is why I say to you today, remain vigilant in regards to the hall sweeps and ID cards this year at Kennedy High School. Work our initiatives such as Academic ISS and monthly parental contacts (which I hope everyone is doing and recording) with fidelity.

The success of Kennedy High School will be determined by our ability to successfully implement these and other such programs that we hold dear. Simply, if we pay attention to the small details, the big picture will take care of itself.

Remember, their future is in our hands. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence by design.