HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Donation to fund puts you in PJ's

Recently the staff and pupils at Holland Elementary School in Taylor showed their support for the United States Armed Forces by dressing down and making donations to the GI Go Fund. 

The GI Go Fund is a nonprofit organization that assists in finding housing, education, jobs and medical coverage for veterans and enlisted military members.

School staff donated $5 each and could either dress down or wear pajamas. The pupils donated $1 each and were able to wear their PJ's to school.

And who says you have to wear slippers with your PJ's? Abby wore cowboy boots!

The school raised $255 to donate to the fun and had a fun -- and comfortable -- day at Holland.

CAREER CENTER: Students learn the ins and outs of medical assistance

Students have been busy recently in the Taylor Career Center's "medical assisting" class, learning valuable skills that will translate easily into today's job market in the health field.

Students learn skills that be enable them to succeed in either a doctor's office or hospital setting. They practice skills necessary in laboratory settings, often using peers as "patients." 

The class practices skills and are then checked on on competency. They dress the part, wearing scrubs, to present a professional atmosphere. Everyone is encouraged to work as team members.

Some students in these photos are measuring and recording heights and weights.

WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Staff donates to veterans' charities

Never let it be said that West Middle School teachers don't keep tab of important issues.

On Veterans Day, 32 members of the building staff participated in the GI Go Fund. Each member was allowed to wear jeans to work and donated $5 to the fund.

West ended up donating $160 for veterans' charities.

TAYLOR PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Study Buddies program gains momentum

There's nothing like "Study Buddies" at Taylor Parks Elementary School.

Mrs. Ambrosia's kindergarten class and Mrs. Augustyn's fourth-grade class meet once a week for 30 minutes. Their main goal is to increase confidence and fluency in reading. The children also work on math games, holiday projects and communication skills.

Taylor Parks loves its Study Buddies program!

HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: Halloween turns into Hoover Hair and Hat Day!

Halloween at Hoover Middle School involved plenty of crazy hats. Students could donate $1 and wear a crazy hat or hair piece all day. 

Mr. Altesleben even dressed up as Willy Wonka.

KINYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Student Council honors vets through fundraiser

The Student Council at Kinyon Elementary School recently raised money for the Veterans Medical Center in Detroit.

The Student Council sponsored “Hat Day.”  Pupils brought in $1 to wear a hat for the day.  

Veterans from the Taylor VFW came in to receive cards from Kinyon children. The veterans shared some information about the specifics of their service and the pupils were able to thank them for their service with a handshake.

It was very touching, according to Kristi Mentzer, fifth-grade teacher at Kinyon and the sponsor of the Student Council.

HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Winn-Dixie comes alive!

Winn-Dixie is a favorite novel to read in Mrs. Stewart's third-grade classes at Holland Elementary School.  

It is a heartwarming story of Opal, a lonely girl who befriends some interesting characters in her small town and falls in love with a scruffy dog she encounters at the Winn-Dixie. The dog has a mind of his own.

Mrs. Stewart's class was certainly surprised to find that their substitute teacher was Miss Gloria Dump, a character from the book!  

They walked into their classroom to find that it had been transformed into Miss Dump's backyard,  complete with a tree, a picnic lunch and an assortment of friends from the book to share in the festivities.

Otis was there, playing his fiddle for all to enjoy. Sweetie Pie and Opal had fun visiting with the kids and enjoying egg salad sandwiches, sweet pickles, special punch and horehound candies.

The pupils enjoyed having Miss Dump and her friends visit for the day and were excited to share the fun with Mrs. Stewart when she returned to school the next day …