Do longer school days make for better grades?

     Data is supporting longer school days improve students grades, test scores and well being. Are you on board with this? This Channel One news report gives a thumbs up to schools using the model and added federal funds. Would you support the model in the  two-minute report below?

http://www.channelone.com/your-turn/clock-watchers/

Religious absense school attendance bill

Religious absense school attendance bill

by Josh Marshall

Posted: 03.16.2013 at 9:51 AM

LANSING -- A Democratic Michigan lawmaker wants to ensure that students are not penalized for missing school to observe a religious holiday. Democratic Rep. Kate Segal of Battle Creek recently introduced a bill that would prohibit public school officials from counting days students take off to observe religious holidays against them when handing out perfect attendance or other awards. Segal said in a statement that if children make up their missed work they should not have to choose "between observing their faith and boosting their academic resume." Her office says that while students are often given an excused absence for missing school for a religious holiday, they may be disqualified from receiving a perfect attendance award as a result.

http://www.minbcnews.com/news/photos.aspx?id=872870#.UUSy6r_XEy4

Local Church tutoring program helps improve school climate

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      Most schools want to build partnerships with both businesses and community groups that want to help improve the lives of young people. When Kensington Community Church approached the Pontiac School District about helping the students at Will Rogers Elementary on Pontiac's north side, they wanted to help students by tutoring students. What the volunteers found out was they could help make connections with the students well beyond the classroom. 

      
      
      1. 1. 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xLFkxP6Ltk&list=HL1363383932&feature=mh_lolz

         

 http://youtu.be/1xLFkxP6Ltk

Paleo Joe wows students with dinosaur artifacts at assembly

     Growing up, I think many students have a natural curiosity to learn about dinosaurs. This curiosity is enhanced when they can see a program that combines real artifacts, a connection to learning by using puppets and student participation and an interesting speaker. Paleo Joe is a former teacher turned paleontologist and has turned his love of dinosaurs into a fun second career helping students of all ages make a connection to science. His program at Mill Springs Elementary in Highland combines everything from fossils and illustrations to even fossilized dino poo. Joe has traveled the state for 19+ years and plays both elementary and middle schools and libraries. His dinosaur CSI program is geared toward adults. The kids loved it and hopefully you will love this Oakland Press video story. 

  http://youtu.be/tQ9mZXd-1uk

http://www.paleojoe.com/default.asp?iId=JDGLH

Science superstars compete at Intel Fair

     Teachers who believe this generation of students can change the world can look toward the Intel Science Fair. Students are being taught by excellent teachers are synergizing their own research with others to provide projects that are advancing the field. The kicker is many are still in both middle and high school. In the Channel One story below, the projects are amazing and if you believe you have students that can compete in next years fair, an application is below. 

http://www.channelone.com/news/science_bowl/

http://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=310

The Destination Imagination Regional

     Destination Imagination held their regionals last Saturday and teams from through out southeastern Michigan were there. Teams really practiced hard and one team from Troy was just super with the presentation of the hard work and creativity. A video story and an additional interview with Betsy Grossnickle are below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TajotL5LbMc

Betsy Grossnickle Interview

http://youtu.be/A-UFyZBEaGc

Destination Imagination Regionals Show Student Creativity

DI Regionals Show off Students Creativity. The video story is below on an extremely talented and hardworking team from the Troy School District.

http://chic.syndicaster.tv/files/edit?ids=4857020&mt_id=3