TCS News to Know

We are in the homestretch for the end of the 2023-24 school year! Please take note of some important changes to the schedule for the last week of school next week:

• There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.
• HS/MS Exams start on Tuesday, May 28 and will continue through Friday, May 31.
• School will be a half day for ALL students on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, with an 11:30 am dismissal.
• All electronics (chromebooks, cases, and chargers) must be turned in before the last day of school.

Over the summer, we want all students to have an opportunity to participate in learning experiences, to prevent what is commonly called "summer slide." All students in grades K-5 will receive a Think Stretch summer skills workbook. This includes weekly reading, writing, math, and bonus activities that parents can do with their students. These workbooks will be sent home next week! There is also a parent guide, to help all adults know best how to support this summer learning. Additionally, throughout the summer, students can bring their Think Stretch books into the library during the summer story time to have a weekly check-in or get help! Parents do not need to sign up for this program.

We are also excited to be offering our second year of the Kids Read Now program. Each elementary student will receive a new book, mailed directly to their home every 10-12 days throughout the summer. Each book includes guided discussion questions to help increase family engagement. Parents do not need to sign up for this program.

Finally, we have completed our sign up for Camp Summer School! This month-long program will take place Monday - Thursday during the month of June, with special BLAST field trips planned on Fridays in June. If you did not register for this program and are still interested in this for your child, please contact the elementary office ASAP, as registration closed last Friday.

If your student needs to retake a class to help earn a credit in high school, or be prepared for a more successful transition next year as a middle school student, we are offering online, independent summer credit recovery. Detailed information is listed below. All students need to be registered by Friday, May 31st.

We will once again be holding the elementary music program in the HS gymnasium. Please enter through the HS gym doors. Doors will open at 1:30 pm. If you have a high school or middle school sibling that you would like to join you to watch the program, these students must be signed out in advance at the high school office by a parent. All elementary students will return to their elementary classrooms and be picked up following the usual sign-out or end of day procedures.

This was the first year for the Tekonsha Elementary School Girls on the Run program, and it was a huge success! Thanks to funding from the Calhoun County Girls on the Run program and local anonymous donors, all interested third, fourth, and fifth grade girls were able to participate free of charge. Beginning in March, the girls met weekly with their coaches, Erin Hardy and Pat Shedd, to learn about positive self-esteem, kindness, community service, and healthy lifestyles. Each student was also provided a pair of shorts, t-shirt, socks, and brand new running shoes! One goal at the end of the program was to have all of the girls participate in the county-wide 5K held at Harper Creek HS. Under the direction of the coaches, the girls practiced running to build up their endurance, but also completed some community service projects, including leaving positive affirmations for high school students and making cat quilts to donate to Waid's Cat Rescue!

On Saturday, May 18, eleven of our students competed in the 5K, along with "buddy runners" that included some parents, some friends, and even some HS volunteers, It was an amazing day of fun and accomplishment for all of the participants! We look forward to continuing and growing this program at Tekonsha Schools. If you are interested in making a financial contribution toward Girls on the Run for next year, please contact Mrs. O'Keefe!

Friday, May 17th was the last day of school for the Class of 2024. They finished off their last day with a variety of fun activities! They did one final walk through, wearing their caps and gowns, and even paraded through the elementary building. Parents of the seniors then prepared a special cook-out, they painted the rock, and then they finished off the day with a high school field day, full of fun games and activities! The Class of 2024 will be missed!

After 30 years in education, Mrs. Peggy Hampton is retiring from Tekonsha Community Schools. Her love and kindness toward all students and staff members will be greatly missed, but as a famous anonymous quote reminds us, “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”

Peggy followed her path into education later in life. Her children were all in school when she decided to go back to college and get her degree! She started first taking classes at Kellogg Community College and then transferred to Western Michigan University to earn a teaching certification in the field of special education. She said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher after being inspired by her Grandma Beulah, who was a teacher at Tekonsha Elementary. In fact, for the last number of years, Peggy has had the privilege of teaching in the same classroom that once was her grandmother’s room!

Peggy’s first job was working at Springfield Middle School in 1994, but she got a call from then principal, Mr. Clark, that there was an opening at Tekonsha if she was interested! She joined the Tekonsha staff in 1996, and has been a part of the Tekonsha staff every since! During her years in education, she has worked as a high school resource teacher, middle school resource room teacher, a second grade general education teacher, and an elementary special education teacher. She also spent a few years as the district’s Title I coordinator and special education teacher consultant. Ten years after getting her bachelor’s degree, she also returned to WMU to complete her master’s in learning disabilities.

She shared that what she has enjoyed the most about her years in education are all of the hugs from her students! Then she also shared that it has been a joy to watch students light up when they learn something new, conquer something that has challenged them, and experienced reading with fluency. She also shared that she has loved working at Tekonsha, especially because of the people and the community. “It’s my second home,” she reflected, “I will truly miss it.”

After her retirement at the end of the school year, Peggy is looking forward to spending time with her family, including her mom, her children, and her grandchildren. “I’m not sure what I’ll do with my time yet,” she commented, but then followed up with how nice it will be to see her family whenever the opportunity presents itself!

Tekonsha Community Schools will greatly miss Mrs. Peggy Hampton! We know that there are many current and past students and families that have been touched by her sweet spirit. Please come and join us in celebrating her retirement at a retirement reception on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 3-5 pm in the HS cafeteria!

If you missed the spring band concerts, they are all available on the Tekonsha YouTube channel!

As one year wraps up, it is already time to start thinking about next year! In the high school and middle school, Mrs. Tew has started meeting with students to let them know some of their options to choose from for 2024-25. A couple of changes are that 5th grade will be taking band next year and students in the 7th and 8th grade will have the opportunity to take band five days a week! Our 6th grade will continue to be a self-contained classroom in our MS/HS building with Mrs. Chloe Butler as the teacher, and our 7th - 12th grade students will rotate each our between our MS/HS teachers.

In the elementary, we are excited to announce our line-up for classes and teachers!

• Kindergarten - Mrs. Ashley Hamilton
• 1st Grade - Miss Jamie Veld
• 2nd Grade - Ms. Barb Calhoun
• 3rd Grade - Mrs. Marcy Rader
• 4th Grade - Mrs. Erin Hardy
• 5th Grade - Mrs. Kim Sayles
• Special Education - Mrs. Shari Butler

The window for School of Choice is open NOW. If you know of families looking for a great school to call their home, encourage them to call us to schedule a visit!

(All schedules are subject to change.)

If you are looking to plan for next school year, the 2024-25 calendar has been released! Please click on the picture below to download a copy!

Congratulations to the Tekonsha Elementary TEACHER'S CHOICE Indians of the Week for the week of May 13-17!

• Kindergarten - Great Gains
• 1st Grade - Neighborly
• 3rd Grade - Confident
• 4th / 5th Grade - Persistant

Breakfast and lunch menus for both the elementary and the MS/HS are now available on the website! Click on the links below to access these. Breakfast is available for FREE for all students, and is served in the elementary from 7:50 - 8:30 am (times vary by grade), and in the MS/HS from 7:50 - 8:00 am. Lunch is also available for FREE for all students, served from 11:15 am - 12:20 pm (times vary by grade). In the HS, lunch is served from 10:45 am - 11:11 am and from 11:41 - 12:06 pm for the MS.

• Elementary Menus
• MS/HS Menus

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Website: www.tekonshaschools.org
Location: 245 South Elm Street, Tekonsha, MI, USA
Phone: 517-767-4121
Facebook: facebook.com/TekonshaCommunitySchools