Editor's note: This essay is written by Mill Creek and Fabyan Elementary physical education teacher  Rick Belval. The Mill Creek PTO Committee, "Mill Creek in Motion" and I are teaming up for our first annual after-school "Tchoukball Tournament" this week at Mill Creek Elementary School. More than 75 Mill Creek students are competing in a four-day, round robin, non-elimination contest that is scoring or point driven. Not familiar with Tchoukball? Pronounced "Chuke-ball," this sport was conceived by a Swiss biologist some 40 years ago, though its value is just being realized in the world of …

Wednesday, Feb. 23, was a very special day at Mill Creek School. At MCS, we are committed to ensuring that our students have the opportunity to truly engage in this world, and in this regard we are dedicated to helping them develop a more global perspective. During Who is Your Neighbor Day our students and staff took part in a variety of activities that were designed to support this goal. Throughout the day, all staff and students worked together to learn a little bit more about how our fellow global citizens live their lives. It is our belief that by living and working through dialogue we …

It may be freezing outside, but it is a burst of warmth inside Fabyan. The building is filled with great, creative minds at work. An example of this is in third grade with student’s describing the different senses. All of the student work was amazing, so I thought I would share several with you: Cold is freezing blue.It tastes like a cold blueberry ice cream.It smells like a blowing blizzard and reminds me of a cold ice hockey rink.It sounds like hard wind.Cold makes me feel like ice. By Kaden V. Mischievous is sour green.It tastes like sweet apples.It smells like chewy peanut butter. It …

Editor's note: This "A Note from the Principal" essay originally appeared in GMS North News and is republished here courtesy of Geneva Middle School North Principal Larry Bidlack. Congratulations GMS North students! I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of some of our students and staff related to the WordMasters Challenge! A team of students representing Geneva Middle School North recently won highest honors in the WordMasters Challenge—a national language arts competition entered by approximately 220,000 students annually, which consists of three separate …

I was speaking with a parent recently whose child is part of the Mill Creek School community, and we found ourselves in a discussion about progress reports and parent/teacher conferences. This mom, let's call her Jane, had some really interesting stories and documents to share about her son, his teachers over the years, and their relationships. I have to say that our conversation was illuminating. To cut to the chase, this young man has always been something of the active sort. You know the type; teachers have called him busy and excitable. They've said that he can't sit still, and he has …