Students in Ms. Barb Calhoun’s second grade class had a yummy lesson last week when after reading the story “Stone Soup” they got to make their own! This story is a classic folk tale that teaches the importance of sharing in whatever way one can and working together for an end result that helps everyone! I’m not sure what was more fun…reading the story, getting to cook the soup, or eating the delicious final product!
Many years ago, a project was started in the community and then picked up by the school, to collect plastic caps that could be turned into a park bench. Hundreds of pounds of caps had been collected and stored, and then COVID happened. Like so many other things, this project got pushed to the back burner, and the bags of caps got buried! This summer, we decided to revive this project and finally get our benches! Working through a program called the ABC Promise, through Green Tree Plastics, non-profit organizations collect recyclable plastic caps to be turned into a park bench.
For each bench, 200 pounds of caps must be collected. Each cap must be inspected to be free of dirt, paper, or metal components. Michele Stuart coordinated the efforts at Tekonsha, and community members helped donate all year long. Ultimately, 620 pounds of bottle caps were delivered on Saturday, April 19 to Green Tree Plastics in Evansville, IN to get three benches!
We hope that these benches are used for many years to come and are a reminder of the ongoing support of our community!
On Friday, April 18, Tekonsha High School seniors had the opportunity to participate in mock interviews. This was offered as part of the Senior Success Path program. Students had the opportunity to practice a professional interview, and they were also provided with valuable feedback and reflections from the interviewers. Special thank you to school board members Brandie Aldrich, Sara Griffith, and Roy Henry and retired teacher Tim Jenkins for holding these interviews with our students!
We have an immediate opening for a driver to help with our evening athletic runs. If you are currently certified, please contact Tekonsha Transportation Director Kohn Sutton at 517-767-4121 ext. 350.
If you are not yet certified, but are interested in becoming certified to either work as a full time driver, a substitute driver, or an evening athletics driver, please contact Superintendent JoEllen O'Keefe at 517-767-4121 ext. 101 for more information.
On Thursday, April 17th, students in Mrs. Marcy Rader's third grade class enjoyed an activity to build each other up. First they brainstormed together nice things to say about each other. Afterwards they taped a blank piece of paper to everyone's back. Each student got a marker and then they had to write a positive character trait about their classmates on their backs. (kind, friendly, smart, etc.) No one knew who wrote what and when everyone was done they all got to sit and read all the nice things others said about them. The class then talked about how that made them feel. Mrs. Rader commented that it it was nice to see how happy it made them!
Chloe Smith
Wyatt Metcalf
Wyatt Metcalf is the son of Jeri Hough-Metcalf. His sisters are Aiyana and Cheyenne. He has attended Tekonsha Schools for nine total years. Wyatt selected Mr. Robert Miller, his CACC instructor, as his most influential teacher. He shared, “He has helped me to get my foot into the door for emergency services and has even helped me to get closer to my dream, joining the Michigan State Police. He is always there when I need him, truly an inspiration.” Wyatt is a Class of 2025 Honor Student and was the 2025 Snowcoming King. During high school, he has been involved in football, wrestling, basketball, baseball, and often served as a line-judge for volleyball! He also serves on the Tekonsha Fire Department. After graduation, Wyatt plans to continue his fire department training while cadeting for Michigan State Police, with plans to attend the MSP Academy. His advice to underclassmen is, “Everyday is a new day to be a better person than yesterday, seize it!”
Bo Begley
Micah Sayles
Looking for summer learning opportunities for your students? Check out this press release from Kellogg Community College:
Kellogg Community College is again offering more than 60 youth day camps for youth ages 5 through 18 this summer. Registration is open now and can be completed entirely online at kellogg.edu/youth.
This year’s schedule includes camps focused on arts and crafts, cooking and food decorating, health care, STEM/science camps and more, including several sports camps led by student athletes from KCC’s award-winning athletics teams.
Also notable are 10 “Day in the Life” career camps for middle school and high school students focused, respectively, on criminal justice; dental hygiene; early childhood and teacher education; electrician; emergency medical services; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; medical assistant; physical therapist assistant; radiography; and welding careers.
A full list of camps by age category along with details including dates, times, fees and links to registration materials can be found at kellogg.edu/youth.
Menus for the Month
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 - 8:25 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 11:00 am - 12:10 pm in the elementary (times vary by grade). In the HS, lunch is served from 10:45 - 11:11 am and from 11:41 - 12:06 pm for the MS.
Tekonsha Community Schools
Website: www.tekonshaschools.org
Location: 245 South Elm Street, Tekonsha, MI, USA
Phone: 517-767-4121
Facebook: facebook.com/TekonshaCommunitySchools