Recess is about more than just play. It’s a chance to learn, practice, encourage one another, and sometimes discover a new skill.

For Mitchell Elementary 3rd- and 4th-graders, the Yo-Yo Zone is a favorite spot to practice the skills they’ve been building since the school’s NED assembly. NED stands for “Never give up, Encourage others, Do your best,” and students are putting that mindset into action as they learn the power of “yet” whether they’re mastering a yo-yo trick or tackling something new in the classroom.

The biggest academic challenge in 4th grade is, as I say, “the training wheels are coming off in 4th grade.” The jump is big, and the supports start to fall off. However, all the students are able to rise to the challenge and become more independent learners. The social aspect doesn’t change much; these kids still very much act like kids. They really start to learn how to handle disagreements in social situations on their own, which is a big skill to learn. 

The Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) has selected Scarlett Middle School to receive a donation of musical instruments through Morgan Wallen’s 2026 Tour Give Back Program. The program supports youth sports and music, and while on tour, Morgan often gives back to communities that have welcomed him. He performed at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on July 24 and 25.

School librarian Christina Nielsen is in her second year at Abbot and brings a decade of classroom-teaching experience to her role. Before becoming a librarian, she taught at Pittsfield Elementary and taught middle school in Canton.

The light drizzle and generally drab weather yesterday afternoon didn’t stop the excitement as the Dicken community celebrated the topping off ceremony for their new school.

This ceremony marks the placing of the last, top beam on the new school. Current students signed this beam so they will be a part of the new school for generations of students to come.