Turrill Student Council donates to Animal Shelter

Members of the Turrill Elementary Student Council did a little shopping May 18 for provisions they donated to the Lapeer County Animal Shelter.


The students selected the Animal Shelter as the beneficiary of its community service project this year.

Armed with $96 that they earned from fundraisers throughout the year, the students first made a stop at Pet Supplies Plus to buy dog and cat food, kitty litter and a few toys for their new furry friends.

Then it was off to the Animal Shelter to drop off their donations and take a tour of the facility.

Student Council members got a chance to meet some of the dogs and cats that are housed at the shelter. The council got some help from parent volunteers and 5th grade teachers Phyllis VanHorn and Cheryl Roy.

For a look at more photos, please visit the LCS Picasa album at: https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/TurrillStudentCouncilDonatesToAnimalShelter#

Turrill Kids’ Boutique

Turrill Elementary School will host a “Kids’ Boutique” during parent-teacher conferences October 26 and 28.

The “Kids’ Boutique” will be a place to come in and shop for gently-used children’s clothing. Families can stop on the night of their children’s conference and shop for the clothing items their children need. The best part will be that the shopping is FREE!

Here is how the Kids’ Boutique will work: Clean out your closets and donate clean, gently-used children’s clothing. Bring the clothes to Turrill this week (through Friday, October 22).

The school is also looking for a number of parents who would be willing to help sort the clothing and set up on Monday, October 25th and to staff the boutique during conferences. The boutique will be open the night of conferences, October 26 and 28 from 3:15-4:15 pm and again from 5-7:30 pm for Turrill families to shop for items that their children need.

For details or to volunteer, please contact Kids’ Boutique Coordinator Cheryl Smith, Turrill Title 1 Teacher /Interventionist, at 810-667-2418.

Lapeer Police Officer Larry Taylor talks safety to Turrill Elementary students

Students in four classes at Turrill Elementary School are learning about safety from someone who deals with safety issues as part of his job, Lapeer Police Officer Larry Taylor.

Officer Taylor talks to students weekly about various safety areas that directly impact on children.

This week, Officer Taylor talked to the first/second grade split class of Mrs. Hayden, the second grade class of Mr. Mark Estelle, the fourth grade classes of Mrs. Lisa Gonzales and Ms. Aneta Lawrence, about Internet safety.

The officer also handed out copies of his “Police Officer” trading card.

Turrill Elementary School students work together to raise funds for endangered animals

A group of Turrill Elementary School students held fund raisers recently and collected $300 for the American Association of Zoo Keepers for the preservation of endangered animals.

Students in Mrs. Cheryl Roy’s fifth grade class and Mrs. Phyllis Van Horn’s split fifth and sixth grade class held a two-day bake sale, a stuffed animal day and an East/West Day to raise the money.

“I’m proud of all the students for taking an active interest in such an important issue and raising money for it,” said Mrs. Roy.

According to AAZK’s website, the organization “supports the promotion and implementation of zookeeper education and strives to make the general public aware of our concern for all deserving conservation projects and the need for the preservation of our natural resources and the species that depend on those resources.”

Congratulations to Turrill Elementary School Spelling Bee contestants and winners

Congratulations to Turrill Elementary School Spelling Bee winner, Nathan Jasper (left) and runner-up Kane Sweet. Both are 4th grade students.

The competition was hosted in January. To see photos of the entire group go to the photo gallery.

Turrill Elementary hosts Family Dance

Turrill Elementary School hosted their first Family Dance on Friday, February 12 from 6-8 p.m.

Turrill Elementary students learn that math is "Awesome"

The Awesome Math Projects and Skills after-school program at Turrill Elementary School helps students get a jump-start on understanding math problems. Turrill teacher Mrs. Pasek teaches the group of fifth- and sixth-graders, who meet on Thursdays at 3:15 p.m.

Lapeer students honored for achievement in Conservation poster contest

Lapeer East freshman Colin Robertson, who took first place in the 7th to 9th grade division, Turrill first-grader Hannah Hundt, who won in the kindergarten to first grade category and Maple Grove fifth-grader Mason Wnuk, are three of several Lapeer students honored for posters they entered in the 2009 Michigan Conservation District “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” art contest.

Colin, Hannah and Mason’s posters will now move on to Statewide judging. Winners at the State contest will go on to compete nationally.

(Lapeer East photo caption: (Left to right) Payton Holden, Colin Robertson, Ryan Shoults, Julian Hicks, Jennifer Mausolf; and Whitney Lee.)

Student artists were required to us the “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” and design artwork around the subject for the poster.

Lapeer East students recognized for their artwork were Julian Hicks (10th grade, Honorable Mention); Payton Holden (8th grade, Honorable Mention); Whitney Lee (10th grade, Honorable Mention); Jennifer Mausolf (9th grade, Honorable Mention); Colin Robertson (9th grade, First Place); and Ryan Shoults (12th grade, Third Place).

Also honored were six District elementary students. In addition to Hannah Hundt at Turrill, other Turrill students honored were: First-grader Auston Kornacki, Second Place; first-grader Morgan Putnam, Third Place and third-grader Marshall Umsted, Third Place; in addition to Mason Wnuk at Maple Grove, sixth-grader Clay Smith, Second Place, was honored.

Students were judged in grade categories of K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. First place winners received a t-shirt and first, second and third place finishers received ribbons.

Judging was based on the conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality and universal appeal.

Turrill Elementary School family dedicates "Hunter's Field" in memory of Hunter Felton

A new baseball backstop, benches and sign were dedicated Thursday, November 5th, in memory of Hunter Felton, a popular Turrill Elementary School student who passed away in 2007.

The new sign at the baseball diamond at Turrill Elementary School includes a picture of Hunter in his baseball outfit. Baseball was Hunter's passion.

At a presentation before the dedication, Parent Crystal Klebba presented a photo and remembrance album to Hunter's parents from Hunter's classmates. Crystal's son was a friend and classmate of Hunter's.

Local businesses that contributed to the new ball field and dedication ceremony were: Walmart, Kroger, Max’s Doughnuts, Past Tense, and Lapeer Rent All.

Hunter's mother, Sam Felton and Hunter's Dad, Rick Felton, expressed their appreciation for the efforts of many people to make the new baseball field a reality.

Photos: The sign with Hunter's picture and Hunter's parents watching blue and white balloons float into the sky after students released them when a ribbon was cut officially opening the field.

More photos of the dedication can be found on the District's photo gallery.

Lapeer firefighters visit Turrill Elementary bringing a tale of fire safety and escape tips

On Tuesday, November 3rd, several classes of students at Turrill Elementary School had the opportunity to get a fire safety lesson directly from the people who fight them.

In addition to the safety lesson, students had a chance to visit and climb on one of the Lapeer Fire Department's new fire engines.

Science Alive makes a stop at Turrill Elementary School

Science comes to life for kindergarten students in Mrs. Papke's class at Turrill Elementary School on Friday, September 18. Science Alive instructor Mrs. Neill introduced the class to a tortoise, a snake and an armadillo along with a few other animals during the visit.

Turrill summer camp students visit Seven Ponds

Students attending summer camp at Turrill Elementary School got an up close look at nature with a visit to Seven Ponds Nature Center in Dryden on August 20, 2009. To see more photos go to the District photo gallery.

Welcome Principal Jennifer Torok to Turrill Elementary School in the fall

Lapeer Community Schools welcomes Mrs. Jennifer Torok as the new principal at Turrill Elementary School in the fall.

Mrs. Torok comes to Lapeer from Davison Community Schools where her last assignment was as a literacy coach at Hahn Intermediate School.

During her nine-year career at Davison, Mrs. Torok was a literacy coach at the elementary schools, as well as at Hahn and taught gifted and talented students at Central Elementary School and previously taught second grade.

She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan – Flint, earned a master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College and earned a Specialist’s Degree in educational leadership at Oakland University in June 2009.

She was a graduate of Davison High School and currently lives in Davison with her husband, Ron, and two children, Brennyn and Kaylee. The family loves to camp in their travel trailer and attend their children’s sporting events.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with students, parents and staff at Turrill Elementary,” said Mrs. Torok. “The staff has a reputation for hard work and dedication. I feel very privileged to be joining their effort to help students learn and become more successful.”

Turrill Summer Camp celebrates Week III

Some photos of Turrill Summer Camp Week III events are posted on the District photo gallery.

Turrill Elementary School Summer Camp kids enjoy roller skating field trip

Turrill Elementary School Summer Camp kids enjoyed a morning field trip to the Lapeer Skating Center for a little fun and physical education.

The field trip was a reward for all the hard work the students are doing this summer in school.

To see a complete set of photos of the students go to the District photo gallery.

Turrill summer students are "happy" campers

Turrill students have fun at summer camp.

It was a fun day during Turrill Elementary School's summer camp Thursday, July 16th. As a reward to students for good attendance, attitude and behavior there were a variety of fun activities for students to participate in.
Students had the chance to hone football skills with members of the Lapeer West varsity football team, learn how to "paint" on the computer, make clay figurines, how to do one of the latest line dances, make tradable cards and work in Turrill's very lush garden.
Students are given points on a "Effort Passport" and then given a choice of several activities to choose from if they reach a minimum goal that rewards attendance, behavior and academic effort.
Next week the students will have a field trip as a reward, said teacher and summer camp co-director, Mrs. Sara Taylor.

A few more photos can be found on the District's photo gallery.

Free breakfast, lunch program continues through summer

A free weekday breakfast and lunch program for people 18 years old or younger is currently feeding about 160 per day, but there’s room at the table for a lot more, said Scott Smith, Director of Dining Services at Lapeer Community Schools.

For the second consecutive year, the Food Service Department of Lapeer Community Schools is offering free breakfast and free lunches to those 18 years or younger.

The program, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, comes during a particularly rough economic period in the State. The summer started out slowly, but increased considerably with the start of summer school, Smith said.

The free meals are available at Turrill Elementary School, 785 S. Elm Street, or at the City of Lapeer Recreation Center, 880 S. Saginaw Street, to anyone meeting the age requirement. There are no geographic or economic requirements. A young person does not have to be enrolled in any LCS programs to receive the free breakfast or lunch.

Breakfast will be served from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and lunch 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The program began Monday, June 15, and ends Friday, August 28.

Free summer breakfast, lunch program offered for second consecutive year at LCS

For the second consecutive year, the Food Service Department of Lapeer Community Schools will be offering free breakfast and free lunches to all children 18 years old or younger, weekdays through the summer, except for Friday, July 3rd.

The program, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, comes during a particular rough economic period in the State.

The free meals are available at Turrill Elementary School, 785 S. Elm Street, or at the City of Lapeer Recreation Center, 880 S. Saginaw Street, to anyone meeting the age requirement. There are no geographic or economic requirements.

Breakfast will be served from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and lunch 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The program began Monday, June 15, and will end Friday, August 28.

With so many people in need, please help us spread the word of this program in our community.

Turrill Elementary School students enjoy Earth Day learning in story and song

Earth Day in song and story delighted the second and third grade students and the classroom of Mrs. Kyle Rhein at Turrill Elementary School on Wednesday, April 22nd.

Ms. Evie Boss, a musician listed in the Arts and Humanities Touring Program, brought her own musical compositions and displays to the Turrill classrooms.

Turrill teachers, Mrs. Cheryl Roy and Mrs. Liz Foster, attended a fall Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education Conference and saw Ms. Boss, a retired middle school science teacher from Rochester Schools.

“After seeing her enthusiasm at the conference, we decided to bring her to Turrill Elementary to help build on our outdoor education program,” said Mrs. Foster. “For the past six years, the gardens, wood lot reclamation and plantings have been an integral part of our science education for Turrill students.”

Students enjoyed the music and entertaining way of presenting information on animals and the environment at the daylong programs.

Wednesday’s activity was funded in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Humanities Council.

Photos are available on the District’s photo gallery.

Turrill's second-graders make nostalgic journey to Crossroads Village and the Stanley School

Turrill Elementary School second-graders have traveled to Crossroads Village to take a journey back in time to spend a few hours studying as their great grandparents might have studied.

Students dressed in period clothing (see photos of Ms. Luann Roberson's class) and spent three hours studying in the old school house on the grounds of Crossroads Village in Genesee Township near Flint, on Wednesday, April 22.

Students met in class at the Stanley School House at Crossroads Village.

The program is part of the Crossroads Village School Days offering.

To make it even more realistic, many students packed their lunches into an old-fashioned metal bucket, or pail.

All the children had a wonderful and educational time. Previously students in Mrs. Diana Carr's class made the trip.