KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL to host K-6 mother/son dance!

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, May 3

Kennedy High School will be hosting a Mother/Son dance For K-6 students. Dance times are 4- 6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Flyers will be sent out to the all the elementary schools with more details.

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: PJs are welcome addition to annual count day

Wednesday, February 12 was "Pajama Day" at McDowell Elementary School. It was also the day all Taylor schools take a count of their students for the state. 

It's always fun to have a day like this when students can wear comfy slippers, robes and PJ's and get lots of learning done too!

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Grant will support science and math programs

Truman High School has been chosen to receive the ExxonMobil 2013 Educational Alliance $500 grant to support science and math programs.

Mr. Shawn Dunbar of Circle K will be at Truman on Thursday to present the check.  

Look for photos of the event later in the week!

TAYLOR SOUTH LITTLE LEAGUE: Registration scheduled for Feb. 22-23

TAYLOR PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Award is right on 'Target'

Target, in partnership with First Book, has awarded Taylor Parks Elementary School the “Books for School Award,” worth $500 in books for the school’s library.

In addition to the $500 gift, Target generously donated school supplies to Taylor Parks’ classrooms.  

Target’s Southland representatives, Lora, Lish and Jill, presented  the award to Ms. Diane Downie, principal. Pictured in this post with a couple of pupils are (from left) Mrs. Hernandez, student support consultant; Target Associates Lish, Lara and Jill; and Principal Downie.

Target has teamed up with First Book, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to putting new books into the hands of students across the United States.  

In 2008, Target launched “School Library Makeovers” in partnership with First Book. Target has since distributed more than 415,000 new books to children in need at 3,000 schools nationwide. In fall 2010, “Target Read With Me” reaffirmed the company’s commitment to education by distributing 1 million books with First Book and pledging a total of $1 billion to education efforts by 2015.

Education and reading is the heart of a bright future for us all, according to Target and First Books.

UPDATED: EUREKA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Nothing like a party ...

Principal Stacie Hall at Eureka Heights Elementary School sent along a photo of the recent "All Green All January" Party at the school. 

Pizza, drinks, a full room and priceless! At Eureka Heights, the staff has a focus on students' positive behavior. There is a color code system in every room for every child. 

Green signifies the best. 

Every month the students who stayed on green all month are put in a raffle per blass. The winners receive a pizza party with the principal!

TOMMIE SAYLOR: Chicken soup remedies for the dog days of the school year

“Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.”  

-- Karl Barth

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School Principal

I have always said that the most difficult time of the school year is February.

Why? Consider the following …

• It is difficult because the days are short
• Everything is masked is shades of gloom because the weather is awful
• The Michigan Merit Examinations are on the horizon
• Evaluations are in full dose
• Next year’s schedule is being debated
• Tempers are short and moods sour
• We just passed the halfway point in the school year
• And the end is not yet in sight.  

When you add it all up, it is just hard to remain focused and on task and joyous of spirit. So, what is the solution?  

There is none!  This time of the school year is like suffering through a bad cold.  We may be able to address some of the symptoms, but there is no cure; we must just simply endure.

Consider the following educational “chicken soup” remedies. They are inexpensive:

• 1 part routine
• 2 parts adherence to procedures
• A dash of kindness
• A healthy dose of planning
• A casual smile (faking it is OK)
• Lots of understanding
• And an abundance of caring

Be not afraid. In just a few short weeks the weather will improve, the sun will return and the gloom will give way to happier times.

Stay the course and remain vigilant. Together we will make it through this time of melancholy, and emerge from the other side stronger and wiser.

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