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Tonganoxie Recreation Commission summer kickoff is Saturday

By Shawn Linenberger - | May 31, 2016

The school year has concluded, but there are many activities scheduled for the summer break months.

Tonganoxie Recreation Commission will have its annual summer kickoff party 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Chieftain Park.

Folks can visit the park for free hot dogs and drinks, as well as other activities.

The children’s bike decorating contest starts at 5:30 p.m. with a lap around Chieftain Trail. Youths should bring their decorated bikes to celebration. Prizes will be awarded for some of the more creative bikes.

The annual Wall of Fame ceremony will get started about 6 p.m.

This event recognition started in 2007 to honor citizens and organizations in the Tonganoxie community who have been extraordinary in their service and dedication to the recreation program. This year’s honorees will be Ernie and Kathy Morrow.

The final activity at the party will be the annual Silly Critter Pet Show, which TRC co-sponsors with Wizard of Paws.

Categories include cutest, best dressed, best trick and fluffliest. People are welcome to show off their favorite pets and critters at the free event.

For more about the free event, and to register for the pet show, go to tongierec.org.

TES Fitness Club this month

The Tonganoxie Elementary School Fitness Club started May 23 at the TES gymnasium.

The TRC program is designed to keep youths in grades 3-6 active in the summer.

Fee is $30 for youths living within USD 464 and $36 for those with outside residences.

TES physical education instructor Brandon Parker leads the class for students entering grades 3-6 in the 2016-17 school year.

The class meets Mondays and Thursdays at the TES gymnasium, with youths in grades 3-4 starting at 10 a.m. and children in grades 5-6 starting at 11 a.m.

Class runs through June 23.

Free lunch program offered again

Tonganoxie Middle School once again is offering free summer meals for all children and teens ages 1-18. The program, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture is funding, started May 23 and will run through July 22 (closed July 4). The Summer Lunch Crew serves lunch 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Adult meals are available for $3.45.

To learn more, or to find a summer meal program while traveling, go to tong464.org/Departments/SummerMealProgram.

TES Book Buggy starting up

The Tonganoxie Elementary School Book Buggy will be making the rounds again this summer.

Books will be available to youths in the area. They are encouraged to pick out books and bring them back once read before picking out new books, though not required.

The schedule for the Wednesday Book Buggy tours are 9 a.m. at Tonganoxie Water Park through July 6, 10:15 a.m. at Tonganoxie neighborhoods and 11:30 a.m. at TMS during the summer lunch program. Those stops will be available through July 20.

Locations and times are subject to change. An all-district message will be sent weekly to update information.

Studies have shown that children who do not read during the summer experience a loss of

reading level. By the time students enter middle school, they can be as much as two years behind students who read during the summer months.

TES reading recovery staff members Chris Coulter, Reann French and Janet Falk created the TES Book Buggy a few years ago.

For more information about the program, contact any of them at TES at 913-416-1480.