Taylor School District Supt. Diane Allen helps Gleaners Family Food Bank serve families at Myers Elementary School every first Thursday in the month. Gleaners delivers fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, juice and non-perishable items.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Supt. Allen helps Gleaners distribute at Myers Elementary School
Taylor School District Supt. Diane Allen helps Gleaners Family Food Bank serve families at Myers Elementary School every first Thursday in the month. Gleaners delivers fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, juice and non-perishable items.
West Chorus is ready to 'thrill' their audiences!
The West Middle School Chorus is busy preparing for its spring concert series -- and learning a medley of songs by none other than the late Michael Jackson!
Not content to just sing, the chorus is learning the iconic "Thriller" dance to perform during the concert series. Meeting after school on Thursdays, students are using the "Thrill The World" series of YouTube videos to learn the dance step by step.
You can see them perform the Michael Jackson medley, as well as music from Les Miserables, Little Shop of Horrors and Betsy, as well as a variety of popular songs on Thursday, May 9, at the Ford Senior Center.
Performances will also take place Saturday, Mary 18, at the Heritage Park Relay for Life and at West Middle School on the evening of May 21.
Robert J. West Middle School is located at 10575 William St., Taylor, MI 48180. Receive more information about the chorus' performances by calling (313) 295-5783.
"Frindle" takes over Randall Elementary School
Randall Elementary School loves to celebrate March is Reading Month and this year, the school is collectively reading "Frindle" by author Andrew Clements.
"Frindle" is a 1996 children's novel that marked Clements' first book. It was illustrated by Brian Selznick. Clements' got the idea for the book when he thought, "What would happen if a kid started using a new words, and the other kids really liked it, but his teacher didn't?"
That led directly to the fifth-grade character, Nick Allen, who is unhappy with his English teacher, Mrs. Granger, and ends up creating a new name for the pen: frindle. Classmates love the name and every child in the school starts using it. Mrs. Granger resists, because using frindle disrespects the word, pen. Eventually, Mrs. Granger forces all the children to stay after school, upsetting parents and even bus drivers ...
An epilogue in the book shows Nick as an adult in his new house. Frindle has become a common part of the language. A businessman friend of Nick's father bought the rights to the word and made Nick a very rich man. Mrs. Granger sends him a new copy of the dictionary, recently updated including the word "frindle." She includes a letter, explaining that she intentionally stood against the word to make it more popular.
Nick sends her back a gift: A gold pen. On it, it says, "This object belongs to Lorelei Granger and she may call it any name she chooses to."
Randall pupils are enjoying their school-wide reading assignment. A school book exchange is coming.
Mrs. Szwed's fifth-grade class took time to recreate a scene from "Frindle" (photo above).
Holland hosts literacy night!
Holland Elementary School hosted a Family Literacy Night on Thursday.
Children and parents participated in fun literacy-related activities including a word game walk, "make and take" book marks, marshmallow Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat hats (to eat), book title scrambles and other entertaining events.
Every family added a line to create a great story that we read together at the end of the evening. Each child won a book and every family received a Dr. Seuss book.
The event was scheduled as part of March is National Reading Month, which is being celebrated across the Taylor School District.
Items for this blog at submitted by employees across the Taylor School District. Comments are welcome. To comment on or make contributions to this blog, just email Karl Ziomek at karlziomek11@gmail.com.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
PRINCIPAL'S FRIDAY UPDATE: I sought out find violations and, instead, found compliance and pride
By Tommie Saylor
Truman High School Principal
“Sometimes the best thing to do, is nothing.”
(Colleen Newvine,Tactical Patience)
Last week I seriously contemplated writing a grand speech placing an all-new spin on a very old and familiar subject. I was prepared to once again remind everyone that we were embarking on a new trimester, which meant that we were being given a magnificent opportunity to recommit
ourselves to the principles that have contributed to our success.
I was going to organize my thoughts in such a way that when I called for a greater focus on Hall Sweep procedures, Hall Pass Procedures, and ID card checks. I would inspire everyone to extreme levels of fidelity…
But, as I began to “smith” the words, I quickly became weary. I seemed to be saying the same old thing in the same old way; and if I was becoming mind numbed by my own words, I could only imagine how you, my audience, would feel reading the same old thing for the nth time….
So, last week I did not offer a Principal’s Friday Update, deciding to just sit back and observe, to see what happens (the old science teacher in me coming out)….
What did I observe? I walked the halls several times this week looking for students out and about between classes, and for the most part, found none. One day I made a point of counting students in the halls and as I approached the first student I spotted I was able to observe an ID cardproperly displayed and a red bathroom pass in the student’s hand.
I passed by the student saying nothing because all was as it should be, and looked for my next “victim." It did not take me long to find another student also wearing their ID card and holding a designated hall pass,I believe one for the Wellness Center.
At this point I was determined to find someone, anyone out of compliance, passing another student, then another, then another all with ID cards and passes. Giving up, I returned to the office with a smile on my face. Policies were being followed. Not totally convinced, I checked the Hall Sweep listand discovered that an all-time low number of students being swept into ISS between classes and/or sent to ISS for no ID cards.
I made several trips to the cafeterias during lunch only to find the lunch ladies and paraprofessionals checking for ID cards, students seated with no more than eight students per table, students entering from one direction and no one being allowed to leave without a pass or prearrangements.
Simply, all was well.
Thinking, “no, this can’t be," I visited several classrooms actively looking for infractions, students not wearing IDcards, teachers allowing students to leave without giving them the proper pass, dress code violations, and I found nothing. With the exception of a few more students than I would like in the halls just after the first period tardy bells rings (not really our fault, some students just simply come to school late), the halls were clear, students were wearing their ID cards, students had their hall passes when found in the halls, the dress code was followed, and the new lunch procedures were implemented.
I can not begin to express the pride I feel in the Truman staff.Without a word from me, you took it upon yourself to attack our newly founded ideals and enforced them with vigor! It makes my heart warm to know that I do not have to worry about the Truman staff, you will “take care of business” even with my absence. I declare that you are indeed the best, most positive, team oriented staff in the district.
But what makes me flush with emotion, is knowing that no matter what, you “have each other’s back”, that you “have my back."
This level of commitment to each other, this level of reverence, this level of trust binds us together in a single minded dedication to our students. United we can overcome any obstacle, traverse through any adversity and deliver to our students the best educational experience possible.
Remember, their future is in our hands. Improving one week at a time.
Truman High School Principal
“Sometimes the best thing to do, is nothing.”
(Colleen Newvine,Tactical Patience)
Last week I seriously contemplated writing a grand speech placing an all-new spin on a very old and familiar subject. I was prepared to once again remind everyone that we were embarking on a new trimester, which meant that we were being given a magnificent opportunity to recommit
ourselves to the principles that have contributed to our success.
I was going to organize my thoughts in such a way that when I called for a greater focus on Hall Sweep procedures, Hall Pass Procedures, and ID card checks. I would inspire everyone to extreme levels of fidelity…
But, as I began to “smith” the words, I quickly became weary. I seemed to be saying the same old thing in the same old way; and if I was becoming mind numbed by my own words, I could only imagine how you, my audience, would feel reading the same old thing for the nth time….
So, last week I did not offer a Principal’s Friday Update, deciding to just sit back and observe, to see what happens (the old science teacher in me coming out)….
What did I observe? I walked the halls several times this week looking for students out and about between classes, and for the most part, found none. One day I made a point of counting students in the halls and as I approached the first student I spotted I was able to observe an ID cardproperly displayed and a red bathroom pass in the student’s hand.
I passed by the student saying nothing because all was as it should be, and looked for my next “victim." It did not take me long to find another student also wearing their ID card and holding a designated hall pass,I believe one for the Wellness Center.
At this point I was determined to find someone, anyone out of compliance, passing another student, then another, then another all with ID cards and passes. Giving up, I returned to the office with a smile on my face. Policies were being followed. Not totally convinced, I checked the Hall Sweep listand discovered that an all-time low number of students being swept into ISS between classes and/or sent to ISS for no ID cards.
I made several trips to the cafeterias during lunch only to find the lunch ladies and paraprofessionals checking for ID cards, students seated with no more than eight students per table, students entering from one direction and no one being allowed to leave without a pass or prearrangements.
Simply, all was well.
Thinking, “no, this can’t be," I visited several classrooms actively looking for infractions, students not wearing IDcards, teachers allowing students to leave without giving them the proper pass, dress code violations, and I found nothing. With the exception of a few more students than I would like in the halls just after the first period tardy bells rings (not really our fault, some students just simply come to school late), the halls were clear, students were wearing their ID cards, students had their hall passes when found in the halls, the dress code was followed, and the new lunch procedures were implemented.
I can not begin to express the pride I feel in the Truman staff.Without a word from me, you took it upon yourself to attack our newly founded ideals and enforced them with vigor! It makes my heart warm to know that I do not have to worry about the Truman staff, you will “take care of business” even with my absence. I declare that you are indeed the best, most positive, team oriented staff in the district.
But what makes me flush with emotion, is knowing that no matter what, you “have each other’s back”, that you “have my back."
This level of commitment to each other, this level of reverence, this level of trust binds us together in a single minded dedication to our students. United we can overcome any obstacle, traverse through any adversity and deliver to our students the best educational experience possible.
Remember, their future is in our hands. Improving one week at a time.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Putting dad to work during Reading Month
Mrs. Scarpace's first-grade class at Holland Elementary School, like so many others in Taylor, has been celebrating March is Reading Month.
One of the things the pupils are doing in the class is inviting guest readers, including staff and parents, to participate.
Aaron Baum, a pupil in the class, invited his dad Jeff to read "The Lion King."
Jeff coaches basketball at Kennedy High School and is also a substitute teacher in the district. Aaron was proud to have his classmates listen to his father read the popular children's book.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
'Literacy and Language Luau' scheduled for April 17
The "Literacy and Language Luau" is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, at Kennedy High School. It is a can't-miss event for parents and friends of the Taylor School District.
Every year the Title 1 Parenting Facilitators in the system put on a large-scale family project. It marks and opportunity for students and families to come together and learn about the community and services available to them, as well as learn about the positive things going on in the Taylor School District. Local agencies are also involved and set up tables to highlight their own organization's work in the area of literacy.
The luau will feature face painting, Ronald McDonald, free popcorn, balloon animals, prizes and giveaways, a photo booth, games, a free bagged dinner and student performances. Parents can purchase books for children from the Scholastic Book Fair.
Doors are open between 4:30-7:30 p.m. Exhibits and activities run from 4:30 to 7:15 p.m. Family workshop sessions are scheduled at 5:30 and 6:15 (and are closed when full).
Workshop topics include:
There is also a Title 1 parent meeting and door prizes to be drawn at 7:15 p.m.
Every year the Title 1 Parenting Facilitators in the system put on a large-scale family project. It marks and opportunity for students and families to come together and learn about the community and services available to them, as well as learn about the positive things going on in the Taylor School District. Local agencies are also involved and set up tables to highlight their own organization's work in the area of literacy.
The luau will feature face painting, Ronald McDonald, free popcorn, balloon animals, prizes and giveaways, a photo booth, games, a free bagged dinner and student performances. Parents can purchase books for children from the Scholastic Book Fair.
Doors are open between 4:30-7:30 p.m. Exhibits and activities run from 4:30 to 7:15 p.m. Family workshop sessions are scheduled at 5:30 and 6:15 (and are closed when full).
Workshop topics include:
- Journaling your life
- Storyteller Ivory Williams
- Reading with your child by Dr. Mary Bigler (you can purchase books that evening)
- Learn to make balloon animals
- Create a project with Home Depot
There is also a Title 1 parent meeting and door prizes to be drawn at 7:15 p.m.
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