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FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. March 24, 2011 — Steppingstone School was honored for their over ten years of service to the Friends of the Rouge River. Friends of the Rouge is the organization that created the Rouge River Water Testing program. Many area schools in the river’s watershed have volunteered to take and analyze water samples from the Rouge.

This year, Friends of the Rouge recognized the schools that have volunteered for many years. Steppingstone was presented with a 10 Year Recognition Award. The school has actually been participating in the twice-a-year sample collection and analysis program for over 14 years; however, since the awards were distributed in 10-year increments, Steppingstone received the 10 Year Award.

Additionally, Steppingstone fourth grader, Lindsay Bock (Farmington Hills), was awarded first place in the t-shirt design contest held for Friends of the Rouge River. All the schools and volunteers in the State of Michigan will be ordering and wearing these on the spring testing day, May 4. Steppingstone also had an honorable mention in the t-shirt design contest: eighth grader Jamal Nichols (Southfield).

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education believes that every child deserves a satisfying and challenging learning experience; in order to receive this, gifted children need a different program. Steppingstone is an elementary and middle day school (Young Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children.

Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children. After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer programming, and a unique physical fitness program that includes fencing and instructional swimming.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. March 17, 2011 — Steppingstone School’s Odyssey of the Mind team entered their first-ever competition on March 5 at North Lothrop High School and scored a first place win in the Region 5, Division II, Classics Problem. There were two parts to the event. First, they took part in a "spontaneous" problem-solving event. Second was a presentation of their long-term problem, "Le Tour Guide." Preparations for this began after school in October and included several days on weekends leading up to the event. Winning this competition affords them the opportunity to move on and compete with teams from all regions of Michigan at the state level on Saturday, April 16 in Grand Rapids at Davenport University.

Members of the team included:

• Allison Epshteyn (Commerce), age 13
• Pranav Gopalakrishnan (Farmington Hills), age 13
• Evan Houdek (West Bloomfield), age 14
• Sarah Johnson (Bloomfield Hills), age 11
• Milan Shah (Novi), age 12
• Meli Wood (Farmington Hills), age 12

The official coach was Maureen Dailey (Sarah). The other dedicated coaches were Nancy Warkentin-Houdek (Evan) and Bhaghavathi Kalyani (Pranav). Our two volunteer judges were Kanagpar Padinjaruveetil (Pranav) and Doug Hansford (Sarah). They spent two additional Saturdays in coach's training sessions prior to this competition.

The cheering section consisted of classmates, siblings, parents, teacher Keiko Morse and Head of School Kiyo Morse. All teams traded treat bags filled with candy and small toys. All participants and spectators were thrilled to watch the team perform and accept their ribbons.

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education believes that every child deserves a satisfying and challenging learning experience; in order to receive this, gifted children need a different program. Steppingstone is an elementary and middle day school (Young Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children.

Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children. After nearly 30 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages,

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. February 17, 2011 — Thoughtfully considering the gifted school’s future took center stage for a five-hour session of over 20 members that included trustees, faculty, and parents on Saturday, January 22. After opening statements from Head of School Kiyo Morse (Northville) and Board President Rich Niemisto (Farmington Hills), the enthusiastic participants were divided into five rotating groups by Rich Houdek (West Bloomfield), the board’s second vice-president. The five sections offered suggestions on the following topics:

1. Marketing and Recruitment (Tom Herbst, Troy)
2. Public Relations and Partnerships (Reef Morse, Northville)
3. Advancement, Development, and Fund-Raising (Teresa Clark, Ann Arbor)
4. Facilities, Building, and Grounds (Donna Coffin, Canton)
5. Programs and Curriculum Enhancement (Keiko Morse, Plymouth)

Each group has submitted its bullet points that will be summarized and developed into a final strategic plan statement that will map out direction for the school’s next three to five years. Members of all constituencies are eagerly awaiting the final report and ready for the work ahead.

Several members of the planning session indicated that it was among the best such session in which they had participated.

This document is also a required portion of Steppingstone’s regular seven-year process for maintaining accreditation by ISACS (Independent School Association of the Central States).

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education believes that every child deserves a satisfying and challenging learning experience; in order to receive this, gifted children need a different program. Steppingstone is an elementary and middle day school (Young Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children.

Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children. After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer programming, and a unique physical fitness program that includes fencing and instructional swimming.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. December 9, 2010 - With the sun shining to signify its bright future, Steppingstone School marked the official opening of their new campus on Friday, December 3, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Mary Engelman, Executive Director of the Greater Farmington Area Chamber, held the ribbon while Head of School, Mrs. Kiyo Morse, cut the ribbon in the recently named Son Room near the library. Farmington Hills Mayor, Jerry Ellis, spoke a few words acknowledging the value of Steppingstone in the community, and Mrs. Morse thanked everyone who came to celebrate this "official" grand opening.

Among the guests were Farmington Hills City Manager, Steve Brock, and Economic Development Director, Teri Arbenowske, as well as several other city officials and many local business owners and professionals. John and Roda McAuliffe, parents of Steppingstone's first enrolled student, Patrick McAuliffe, all of whom reside in Canton, Michigan, were also in attendance. Members of the Board circulated with the many guests along with staff to answer questions about the repurposing project and plans for the future.

Additionally, Steppingstone acknowledged Trustee Yong Son and general contractor, Sonny Son of Mich Construction, an Ypsilanti-based company, for their generous donation of time and services. Mrs. Morse recognized the Sons for the untold hours of time they devoted toward the selection, purchase, and repurposing of the school within budget and for making the summer move-in deadline possible. While enjoying a light lunch, guests were able to tour the classrooms and discuss the educational program with students, parents, and faculty.

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education believes that every child deserves a satisfying and challenging learning experience; in order to receive this, gifted children need a different program. Steppingstone is an elementary and middle day school (Young Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children.

Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children. After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer programming, and a unique physical fitness program that includes fencing and instructional swimming.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. September 16, 2010 — The Honorable Jeanne Stempien (Northville) was one of the guests who was treated to a learning-experience Asian dinner, compliments of her husband, attorney Greg Stempien, who was the successful bidder for the seven-course meal at the 17th Annual Benefit Auction for Steppingstone School for Gifted Education. The dinner is offered annually by Steppingstone faculty and board members. “What an excellent meal and experience – start to finish,” enthused Judge Stempien. All attendees enjoyed instruction in the authentic preparation of the wide array of Japanese and South Korean cuisine that was presented.

The menu included maki-sushi, inari-geishki, bulgogi, warm saki, seaweed soup, red bean ice cream, and green tea were served. Head of School, Kiyo Morse (Northville), prepared the seaweed soup and sushi ingredients. Former chef and pilot, Toshi Adair (Southfield) provided lessons in preparation and selection of ingredients not merely for flavor but also for color and artistic design.

Long time trustee, Yong Son (Ypsilanti) prepared the plates of ingredients for bulgogi. Mrs. Son and her husband, “Sonny,” who is a building contractor, donated their services for the purchase and renovation of the recently acquired Holiday Chevrolet at 30250 Grand River. By working through the spring and summer, they ensured the re-purposing from dealership to school in time for the first day of classes on Tuesday, September 7.

“Our school is unique and our students do best when challenged. We see the continued repurposing of this building as a unique and challenging project as well,” Morse emphasized. “We are looking forward to the opportunities for “green” design this new location offers. As new students are accepted into Steppingstone's program, we expect to deliver the same enriched, accelerated, and individualized educational program that has been so successful since 1981.”

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education is an elementary and middle day school (Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children. Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children. After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer education, and a unique physical fitness program that includes fencing and instructional swimming.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. August 30, 2010 — Steppingstone School recently welcomed four new members to its Board of Trustees. The board is composed of twelve volunteers who are elected and appointed to three-year terms. The new members are: Nikki Allen, Fran Eldis, Don Gaines, and Kim Howard.

Antanette (Nikki) P. Allen (Southfield) worked in corporate America for 15 years as a Production Operator, after which she decided to make the transition and become an entrepreneur. She currently has two businesses – a telecommunications company and a commercial cleaning company. She is a member of the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce, and a mother of three.

Frances E. Eldis (Redford) attended Wayne State University (WSU) and received her B.S. in Special Education and an M.A. in Liberal Arts with a specialty in Speech-Language Pathology. She taught in the Detroit Public Schools for eight years. Next, she attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for post-M.A. graduate classes for learning disabilities and language pathology. Eldis received her PhD in Audiology from WSU. She served as Director of the Marie Carls Communication Disorders Center at Children's Hospital of Michigan from 1971 to 1978 and is currently a part-time faculty member of WSU’s Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences.

Donald R. Gaines (Farmington Hills) attended Wayne State University (WSU) where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He was a part-time instructor at WSU at the undergrad and graduate level for 10 years. After serving as chief engineer at several firms, he started and operated his own manufacturing business. He holds numerous US and foreign patents, among them, the world's first automatic night light. Now retired, he enjoys volunteering for church activities and teaching science to elementary school students.

Kimberly M. Howard (West Bloomfield) received her B.A. from Oakland University and has over 20 years experience in event planning and 10 years in fundraising. She is the Manager of Partnerships for Habitat for Humanity, Oakland County. She is a volunteer/mentor with the Rhonda Walker Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Kensington Community Church Reach Team, and also serves on the Board of The Dream Team, Michigan Chapter.

Other members of the board are: Nancy J. Furman (North Port, FL), Richard G. Houdek (West Bloomfield), Lev M. Mondrusov and Dr. Olga A. Mondrusova (Farmington Hills), Richard W. Niemisto (Farmington Hills), Yong Hwa Son (Ypsilanti), Irene L. Wojchihosky and Jerry J. Wojchihosky (South Lyon).

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education is an elementary and middle day school (Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children. Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children. After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer education, and physical fitness.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. July 21, 2010 — An independent school association awarded full membership status to Steppingstone School for Gifted Education. Kiyo Morse, head of school, reported, "This was a very rigorous process, and we are very pleased that our school has been fully accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)."

The nationally recognized ISACS school accreditation process involves a repeating seven-year cycle of required activities and written reports that covers all aspects of each school’s operation. These reports are assembled into a self-study document that is reviewed by an on-site visiting team of ISACS teachers and administrators seeking congruence between the written reports and their findings during a three and one-half day observation. An extensive written report is issued by the visiting team.

Morse added, “I was very proud of our faculty, staff, trustees, and parents for the work that went into gaining approval and achieving accreditation from this third party assessment team of professionals."

ISACS is a membership organization of 230 independent schools from 13 states of the Midwest region. The purpose of ISACS is to promote the development of strong learning communities characterized by high achievements, social responsibility, and independence of governance, programs, and policies. This goal is achieved through a rigorous accreditation process, targeted professional development programs, and focused support services.

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education is an elementary and middle day school (Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children. Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children.

After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer education, and physical fitness.

Steppingstone will be moving to a new location in Farmington Hills this fall – the former Holiday Chevrolet dealership at 30250 Grand River in the fall. "Our school is unique and our students do best when challenged. We see the repurposing of this building as a unique and challenging project to integrate into their learning," Morse emphasized.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI. June 21, 2010 — Students at Steppingstone School for Gifted Education surprised even their Head of School when seventy-eight percent of the test-takers qualified for the Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS). Thirty students in grades three through eight scored in the 95th percentile or higher on the nationally normed IOWA Test of Basic Skills.

Some elementary schools with hundreds of students would be pleased to have twenty-one students qualify for NUMATS, but Steppingstone has only 30 students in third through eighth grade and a total of 52 students school-wide, which makes this feat even more remarkable. The remaining six students who did not qualify were only one to six percentile points short of qualifying.

"I am not aware of any school performing at this level," said Tom Herbst, former Head of School of Kensington Academy and current Assistant Head of School at Steppingstone. "Last year approximately fifty percent of our students qualified, so this represents a fifty percent improvement."

Head of School Kiyo Morse attributed this dramatic increase to the curriculum. "Many of the students were new to our program last year, and they were learning the ropes," Morse said. "But, this year, they are seasoned veterans and are making use of the skills we've taught them."

Steppingstone's teaching system, called the Akaba method, provides individualized education for every student. "We challenge each student at their academic level," Morse said. "That means that a student who is socially a fourth grader could be taking seventh grade math and doing college level reading." Equally important is that Steppingstone students, who are all gifted, socialize with students who are like themselves."

"It's not unusual for a first grader and eighth grader to carry on a discussion of some substance where each contributes," Morse added. "It's the environment of appropriate academic challenge, staff teamwork, and appreciation of each other's abilities that allows our students to perform at their best. I'm really proud of our students and staff for what they have achieved."

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education is an elementary and middle day school (Kindergarten – Grade 8) with a full academic and enrichment curriculum dedicated to addressing the unique and individual needs facing many gifted children. Steppingstone was founded in 1981 by the current head of school, Kiyo A. Morse, to help a group of families who urgently needed an educational program for their gifted children.

After more than 25 years of development, the curriculum provides integrated in-depth studies and enrichment as well as problem solving and critical thinking skills. Supplementing the basic curriculum, the school also offers fine arts, foreign languages, discovery science, computer education, and physical fitness.

Kiyo A. Morse, Head of School since 1981, holds BS and MS degrees in population genetics and immunology from the University of California. Her experience as a research scientist at the University of California and with the Swiss National Red Cross in Bern provided her with the expertise to serve as a science mentor for gifted students in the Plymouth-Canton Schools. She served for three years on the steering committee of the Plymouth-Canton Association for the Academically Talented (PCAAT).

In daily interaction with hundreds of students, Morse has gained deep insight into how gifted children think about themselves and their world. In addition to all the responsibilities of daily and long-term school operations, she attends a wide variety of seminars and workshops on gifted education, nationally as well as locally. She is particularly interested in the social and emotional aspects of total child development.

Torrance, Calif. – March 27, 2009 – Toyota and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) awarded Farmington Hills’ Steppingstone School for Gifted Education teacher Philip Morse a $10,000 Toyota TAPESTRY grant for excellence and innovation in science education. Morse was honored for his outstanding science project on March 20 at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans, La.

Morse’s grant money will go toward the acquisition and maintenance of electronic resonance equipment, data analysis software and laboratory space and materials to create a functional working lab. This facility will provide a place for students to conduct hands-on experiments as they study biochemistry and biophysics.

"Supporting excellent teachers who can excite and energize their students is a great way to make an impact on future generations," said Michael Rouse, Toyota’s vice president of philanthropy and community affairs. "TAPESTRY's reach over the past 19 years has allowed countless numbers of students to be inspired by the possibilities of science education."

Morse has been teaching for 33 years, 25 of those as a university professor in the area of physical biochemistry. He has worked at Steppingstone School for the past eight years.

Sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and administered by NSTA, Toyota TAPESTRY is the largest annual K-12 science teacher grant program in the United States. Award-winning projects are selected from three critical areas for today’s youth: environmental science, physical science, and science applications that promote literacy. Fifty grants of up to $10,000 are awarded each year, along with a minimum of 20 grants of up to $2,500 each. In total, Toyota awarded $550,000 in grants to 82 teachers in 2009. More than $8.5 million has been awarded to 1,064 teams of teachers throughout the program’s 19-year history.

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs over 36,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $17 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $464 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.

For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit www.toyota.com/community.

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes more than 58,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.