TROY School District Volume 3, Issue 2 NEWS FROM THE TH SUPERINTENDENT TSD HOSTS 4 MLK DAY OF SERVICE The Troy School District is losing a passionate advocate for students after longtime Board of Education trustee Paula Fleming resigned January 21. Miss Paula, as she is known, is moving to Arkansas with her family Over 1,000 volunteers packed 250 care boxes for our troops overseas, made hundreds of fleece blankets for hospital patients, Dr. Richard Machesky after almost forty years processed miles of plastic yarn (plarn) to make waterproof mats for the homeless and gave 55 units of blood to the Red Cross. here in Troy. Though we congratulate her on her new adventure, we will certainly miss her compassion and generous spirit and her IT’S TIME FOR CHARITY WEEK & ACTIVIST WEEK! dedicated leadership on the Board for more Troy High’s Activist Athens students have than 19 years. Week, benefitting “Pals for chosen Elli’s House, an Paula Fleming’s impact on our community Pontiac,” is February 3 - 7. organization that combats cannot be overstated. In addition to the TSD All donations will purchase human trafficking by Board, she served on numerous committees Kindles, gift cards, and other providing shelter, mental and initiatives designed to provide supplies for students at Walt health support, and opportunities for young people, including Whitman Elementary School in Pontiac. All education to victims as the recipient of this the Troy Community Coalition and the Troy are invited to after-school activities such as year’s Charity Week activities, February Foundation for Educational Excellence. Mr. THS on Monday, powerpuff volleyball 10 – 14. Exciting fundraising activities When needed, Paula never missed an on Wednesday, a cookie bake-off during include a pancake breakfast, Mr. Athens opportunity to jump in and do her part to Pageant, parent cook-off, restaurant volunteer. lunch on Thursday, and restaurant nights. One short week makes a huge difference nights, ice skating, and more. Redhawks’ to our pals in Pontiac and brings increased goal is $100,000 and encourage students awareness to a school in need, so close and members of the public to purchase a to home. For more information, how to “Charity Passport” or pay to attend each participate or how to contribute, please event. Visit https://athens.troy.k12.mi.us/, contact [email protected] or call click on Quicklinks on the left, and click 248-823-2700. Payschools, or call 248-823-2900. TSD MUSICIANS IMPRESS AT MMC Troy Schools sent many middle and high school musicians to the 15th annual Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, who were featured as follows: • Troy High School Symphonic Band with Brian Nutting and Jake Greenwood Although they are big shoes to fill, we are now looking for a new trustee to fill the vacancy • All-State Middle School Orchestra: Emily Baek, Brian Kim, created by her resignation. If you have a Ashley Park, Benjamin Sheng, and Claire Wu. desire to serve, please visit the TSD website, • All-State Middle School Band: Jonathan Floarea, Brandon www.troy.k12.mi.us for a description of the Mendoza, Sahana Mukund, Matthew Schwiderson, and process and what is needed to apply. All Jay Shyn. applications are due by February 4, and the • All-State High School Orchestra: Lisa Baek, Mitchell Board will appoint a new trustee at a special Chang, Ethan Fang, Vatsal Joshi, Angela Lee, Gary Xu, meeting on February 18. and Katherine Zhao. There is no doubt that Paula will be missed but she would be the first to insist that as far • All-State Honorable Mention: Micah Hermiz, Danielle as the Troy School District is concerned— Leight, Matthew Yemmans and Aditi Kashi. the best is yet to come! • Conference Presenter: Alan MacNair and members of the THS Symphony Orchestra Dr. Richard Machesky • Conference Panel Member: Brian Nutting Superintendent • 2020 ASTA Administrator of the Year: IAE principal Ryan Brinks Troy School District 2 — Troy School District, January 2020 www.troy.k12.mi.us SCHOOL BOARD CORNER You have probably know: First, a merger of the two districts students. We also need to be confident that heard news recently will not result in Troy residents subsidizing a merger will not detract from our strategic about a potential or funding the education of Clawson goal of becoming a world class district. annexation of the students, nor will Clawson kids be bussed There are financial barriers as well. Even Clawson School District to Troy buildings. Clawson taxpayers will if we determine that a merged district will with the Troy District. In continue to fund Clawson students—in fact, provide ongoing operational savings, there October, the Clawson a merger will require a property tax increase are significant one-time transitional costs Board of Education in Clawson in order to equalize per-pupil Karl Schmidt, President associated with this type of merger. We Board of Education indicated a desire to are working with our state legislators to merge with Troy. Since identify additional state funding to cover then, we have received some letters from these transitional costs so the state can concerned citizens about this possible realize long-term savings from the merged change. To keep everyone up to date, we district; nevertheless, this request may not want to share some basic information about gain traction in Lansing. Finally, even if the this matter. Please trust that the merger Troy Board determines a merger would be of these two school districts is in no way a a positive development for Troy, we can “done deal.” In fact, the Troy School District only recommend this course of action by Central Administration team is still in the bringing the option to our voters as a ballot process of completing due diligence on the proposal. Ultimately, the voters in both financial and organizational challenges that Troy and Clawson will decide if this merger would be associated with this change. We funding between the two cities. Next, the comes to pass. anticipate a detailed report from our team at Troy Board will not pursue this merger if we Thank you for your continued patience a Board Workshop in early spring. cannot identify concrete benefits for current and support as we work to discern the best Troy District students as well as Clawson In the meantime, here’s what you should decision for our kids! Festival of Song TWO TROY TEAMS “FOCUS ON THE ROAD” Unites District Choirs Two teams from Troy High were big Just before winter break, Athens High in ‘the big kid choir.’” winners in the Suburban Collection’s School’s auditorium came alive with vocal New this year for high and middle school “Focus on the Road” Distracted Driving music for four straight nights, for the annual choirs is “Vocal Arts Day” in April, where WELL-BEING Contest. This annual contest challenges ONETroy Festival of Song. Each night featured singers will come together to learn some students to create video public safety announcements (PSAs) about the perils of approximately 250 singers from 3 elementary music, get acquainted, bond, and then perform distracted driving. New guidelines pooled (5th grade) choirs, their corresponding middle the songs all in one day, “giving middle school entries from all districts together instead school choir, and one of the high school A kids a taste of what high school choir is all ATTEND TO ATTEND of just awarding winners in every district, Capella clubs. about, and giving high schoolers a chance to so our students had to beat out multiple Highlights included the AHS Hawkapellas mentor and inspire young singers,” concluded teams from a half dozen other districts. singing “Jazzy Carol of the Bells” and “Happy Covian. Stay tuned! Representatives from Suburban surprised our Together” on Wednesday night, and the THS A students with the news and giant checks. Capella Club singing “Mary, Did You Know?” First place winners (sharing $2,500) were and “That’s Christmas To Me” on Thursday seniors John Dannug & Richard Li, whose film night. Elementary and middle school choirs sang a final selection together at the end of each performance called “Dancing on the Rooftop.” “The Festival of Song is always such a great event because it gives the younger kids a chance to see what their hard work and practice can turn into if they stick with choir,” said Troy Director of Choirs Adrienne Covian. “The high school kids really love was titled “Don’t Take a Chance,” and the third seeing the young singers and place winners (sharing $1,000) were seniors remembering when they were that Jennifer Won, Carol Zhang and Shannon Li’s age and how excited they were to whose entry was titled “Make it There Alive.” get to high school so they could be (not pictured: Shannon Li) www.troy.k12.mi.us Troy School District, January 2020 — 3 IASA Satrangi “Seven Colors” The snow outside couldn’t dampen the spirits or the colors inside Athens’ auditorium, as the combined International Academies East, Central and West presented their annual IASA (Indian American Student Association) program, aptly entitled Satrangi, or “Seven Colors.” ENROLL NOW COME EXPERIENCE THE "TROY DIFFERENCE" AND SEE WHAT OUR WORLD CLASS PROGRAM CAN DO FOR YOUR CHILD! Half-Day & Full-Day Options Available Before & After School Care Available South Indian: Lydia Mathews, Venkata Chinmayee Mannava, Leanne Mathews IASA Student Board & Advisors Visit our site for additional information: tsdpreschool.troy.k12.mi.us (248) 823-3000 EXPLORE CREATE CONNECT PRESCHOOLERS RETURN FOR YEAR 2 Over 100 “returning” families have already enrolled for 2020-21 with 200 families attending our Information Night. Families were thrilled with the world class facility, tailored specifically to 3, 4 & 5-year-olds, and had the opportunity to meet teachers and learn more about what sets TSD Preschool apart.