ENROLL IN TAYLOR SCHOOLS and get a new iPad!

 If you reside in the Taylor School District boundaries but attend another school (parochial, charter, etc.), here's a way to get a new iPad!

Enroll in the TSD by Sept. 3, 2014 ... and you're in!

Think about it ... 

FREE PRESCHOOL: Just call the Taylor School District

The Taylor School District is offering free preschool!

Families who reside in The Taylor School District attendance area and have a child who is or will be 4 years old by December 1, 2014 should call 313-295-8362 to set up an appointment.

The program offers certified teachers, reading readiness, learning through play, field trips, music and movement, writing, math exploration, art and creativity.

ALERT: Special trash pick up scheduled for flood-related items on Saturday, August 16

The City of Taylor has scheduled a FREE special trash pickup for flood-related items on Saturday, August 16, Mayor Rick Sollars announced Tuesday afternoon.

This is for flood-related trash only. 

Residents interested in this special pick-up MUST register through the City Hall Customer Service Center by noon on Friday. Only residents who register before noon on Friday, August 15, will be able to participate in this pick up. Residents who encountered flooding problems should register by calling (734) 287-6550, or they can register in person at the Customer Service desk in City Hall.

So far, the City has received between 50 and 100 calls from residents whose homes were hit by flooding on Monday, August 11. 

Midwest Sanitation will begin its special pick-ups at 8 a.m. and will likely be done by noon. Residents should have their items placed at the curb by that time, if not before. All pick-ups will be assigned based on the registered calls and walk-ins to City Hall only.

Executive Robert Ficano has declared a state of emergency in Wayne County due to the unusually heavy rainfall.

Given the continuing storms that are due to hit the area through about 9 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, August 12), take heed of the following:

• Residents should stay away from under passes in general
• Monroe Street underpass at I-94 remains flooded
• Eureka Road underpass at I-75 remains flooded
• Tonight's scheduled "Park It!" free family fun night at Heritage Park has been postponed. 

 Reviewing Monday's storm, take note of the following:

• Total event rainfall - 4.4 inches over approximately 10 hours
• High 4 Hours (4 to 8 p.m.)- 3.77 inches (which is over the 100-year storm event threshold)
• High 2 Hours (6-8 p.m.) - 2.19 inches (over the 10-year storm event threshold)
• High Hour (6-7 p.m.) - 1.24 inches (under the 10-year threshold)
• High 30 minutes (6:23-6:53 p.m.)- 0.79 inches (just under a 10-year event threshold)

TAYLOR VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY: Where every student has a front row seat!

The goal of TVLA is to provide students with a solid education through an alternative delivery method. Time and place take on a new meaning when students have the flexibility to complete assignments at any time of the day and from any location. While our delivery method may be flexible, our curriculum is solidly aligned with the rigorous Michigan Merit Curriculum and is facilitated by highly qualified, certified instructors.

Students take classes online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to earn their high school diploma while gaining valuable technology skills. Students who attend TVLA enroll as full-time students. Full-time students take all of the classes at TVLA and can earn a diploma from the Taylor School District when they complete all Michigan Merit Curriculum high school graduation requirements.

Instruction is delivered at no cost to the student through a blended program of online courses and the classroom. The online courses are research based, pedagogically robust, engaging,

media rich and highly interactive.

If you have questions, call (313) 295-5757 ext.12815

• Mentor/Online Facilitator Face-to-Face Consultations
• No Cost to Student
• Taylor School District diploma
• Guidance Counseling Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Available
• School Social Work Services Available

DISTRICT-WIDE: Register before school begins

New residents, relocating residents, kindergarteners, parochial students or public school academy students returning to the Taylor School District must register for the 2014-15 school year.

New or returning students to the Taylor School District must pre-register at the Pupil Accounting Office at 9551 Westlake (in the board annex) between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. throughout the summer.

The following items are needed to complete registration:

• TWO current documents in your name of the 12 listed here to prove residency: Mortgage, rental receipt, lease (must have landlord’s name, address and phone number), bill of sale for place of residence, auto registration, driver’s license or voter registration, water, phone, gas or electric bill (or deposit receipt), or social services papers with address.
• Court placed documents, if applicable. Birth certificate.
• Immunization record. Copy of most recent physical.
• If you have questions, call Pupil Accounting Office at (313) 295-5742
• Please note: The Pupil Accounting Office will be open Wednesday, August 27th, Thursday, August 28 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, September 2, Wednesday, September 3 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TAYLOR TEEN CENTER: Wraps up 18th annual academy

The Taylor Teen Center wrapped up its 18th annual Taylor Summer Arts & Prevention Academy on August 1.

The program for grades 6th-9th was held at the Sixth Grade Academy, where participants learned about the areas of drama, dance, music and art.

The six-week program led to a final Showcase held at Truman’s Little Theater. At the Showcase, participants showed off the skills they learned by performing drama skits, dance performances, and displaying their art for family and friends.

This year each grade group performed a ballet and hip-hop dance, and performed skits from “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe” and “The Hobbit”.

In art, the participants made paper mache animals and characters, as well as foil squares.

On the field trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts, each participant made a clay pinch pot. Other field trips included the Village Theater in Canton, Heritage Park in Canton, and MJR Theatres to see “Earth to Echo.”

Watch for Summer Arts flyers next year to join in on the fun.

TAYLOR READING CORPS: Mentoring group supports Taylor School District

Recognizing the need for regular, weekly tutoring to improve reading and comprehension for some of our students, several Taylor community leaders, residents, the Taylor Board of Education and district staff members support the year Taylor Reading Corps.

The mission of the TRC is to recruit, train, and sustain a network of volunteer workers for weekly reading/tutoring sessions with students in grades Pre K-3.

The goal of the TRC is to improve educational outcomes for students in grades Pre K-3 by increasing identified students’ reading ability to grade level or above.

We need your help. If you or your organization would like to contribute funds and/ or time to this worthwhile project, please contact TRC at 313-769-6730.