HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL students enjoy their iPads

Mrs. Scarpace's first-graders at Holland Elementary School are having plenty of fun with their iPads these days!

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL hosts reading strategies with WSU officials

McDowell Elementary School has been hosting meetings about new reading strategies with other educators across the district.

Wayne State University is partnering with the district for the second year to use a Title II grant from the state that focuses on the reading and writing workshop models for instruction, supporting the use of the current district curricular materials for literacy instruction.

McDowell staff feels very lucky to have such wonderful presenters come to our district.

Thank you, Wayne State!

MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL third-graders study George Washington Carver

Mrs. Blair's third-grade class at McDowell Elementary School recently studied an inspirational American, George Washington Carver.

They did a timeline of his life and found out these facts:

• Occupation: Scientist and educator
• Born: January 1864 in Diamond Grove, Missouri into slavery
• Died: January 5, 1943 in Tuskegee, Alabama
• Best known for: Discovering many ways to use the peanut

TVLA: Graduating seniors have busy months ahead

The Taylor Virtual Learning Academy has been busy since the holiday break planning new and exciting events for its graduating seniors.

Mentor Angela Underwood has spearheaded the school’s first field trip to both University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford College. The visits will take place on March 2 with tours and Q & A sessions at both campuses. Students will be gaining information about financial aid, admissions, scholarships, grants and other resources provided by both institutions. 

Also, Underwood is preparing TVLA’s annual Community Resource Awareness Day on February 24. 

Mary Kapp, from the Michigan State Police, will be coming to TVLA to do her presentation on human trafficking and current drug trends. Kapp works with TVLA’s community partners and will inform students of the real life dangers of human trafficking and the effects of current street drugs.

Lavern Robinson will be in attendance from the Department of Human Services to help students and describe programs offered by DHS.

In addition, Miss Lynette will have a table set up from Michigan Works. She will be providing students with resources and programs that Michigan Works offer to students after high school. 

HOLLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: ALS challenge raises $1,700

Students from Ms. Danaj’s, Mrs. Scarpace’s and Mrs. Madden's class at Holland Elementary School participated recently in an "ice bucket" (marshmallow) challenge.  

Ms Danaj spearheaded the event that raised approximately $1,700 for ALS research.  

Joining the students were Mayor Rick Sollars, Superintendent Diane Allen, Assistant Superintendent Teresa Winnie, esteemed guests from Home Depot and Masco, along with other state officials and school board members.

It was a great job, Holland students.

If you would like to help, please visit the goFundMe account set up by Ms. Danaj.

Togo to the account, click here.

TOMMIE SAYLOR: We never lose hope at Kennedy

“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”

Jonas Salk

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School Principal

In today’s highly technological society, we have grown accustomed to measuring the value of an item, an institution, even a people, by a number. 

In today’s digital age, we try very hard to qualify everything, not by the whole, but by the part.  The value of something or someone can be assigned a number, a digital representation of worth.  Our students, who have grown up in this world, understand the importance of numerical representation. As such, they come to believe these numbers represent their worth. For the most part, these numbers seldom change.

As an educational institution, Kennedy High School defies the numbers. We do not give homage to the numeric representation of a person’s worth, of an institution’s value. 

At Kennedy we do more than just increase student’s numbers (GPA, test scores, earning potential), we give students something that cannot be measured or quantified by a cardinal point.  We give hope.

We teach our students how to bypass the fear of the unknown, maneuver around the fear, and how to dream.  We reveal to our students the potential they possess, and fill them with the confidence required to pursue their dreams in a world crowded with pessimism. 

We don’t give them the delusion that it will be easy. We let them know that chasing dreams is hard; but it is the pursuit that gives their dreams value, and makes their acquisition all the more sweeter.

It has been said, “That hope springs eternal.” Thus it cannot be measured by standardized tests or college exams. It can only be seen in the eyes of our students and in the tears shed at graduation. 

A test can’t conviction and willingness to do whatever it takes to make dreams come true. Hope can be found in the student laughter that fills our halls and the carefree exuberance students display each and every day. 

Hope has become part of our culture, and each student knows that with just a little bit of effort, Kennedy High School will set them before the path of success.

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

FOOD DRIVE: Don't forget campaign at elementary schools