North Godwin News
Week of October 30, 2023
Steve Minard, Principal
Kristi Bast, Secretary
Telephone (616) 252-2010 and Fax (616) 252-2011
Classroom Harvest Parties on Tuesday, October 31, 2023
In the interest of diversity, equity, and inclusion, we recognize that not all families celebrate Halloween, and may not feel comfortable with their children participating in Halloween festivities. In addition, the pressure to purchase elaborate costumes is unnecessary and distracts from the learning process. Parents, please do not send students to school in costumes on Halloween. Instead, we will celebrate with fun, fall harvest-themed parties in each classroom during the afternoon that all students will enjoy!
If you wish to help, please connect with your child's classroom teacher to determine if any food or supplies are needed for your student's classroom. Thank you!
Early Dismissal on Wednesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 15, 2023!
There will be an early dismissal for all students on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 and Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Parent pick-up begins at 1:30 PM. Buses depart and the final bells rings at 1:45 PM. Please plan accordingly and arrive on time!
Gym Class with Mr. Wierenga is FUN!
3rd Grade
Miss Barta's classoom
Miguel Lopez Misal
Raheem Abdisalan
Jesus Ramirez-Villarreal
3rd Grade Students
Mrs. Winer's Classroom
North Godwin Welcomes the Cherry Street Health Services "See to Succeed" Vision Team!
See to Succeed Program (STS) is a safety-net vision program that provides comprehensive free eye exams and eyeglasses to those who have failed a school screening, but cannot access optometry services. Each year this high impact program eliminates barriers to learning and academic achievement by helping children to realize their full vision potential, with documented improvements in their academic and behavioral performance.
FEEDING AMERICA MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES
One in every 9 people. At least 261,000 people in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are food insecure—meaning they don't have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity exists for a variety of reasons, and anyone can experience a bout of it. Feeding America West Michigan, believes hunger is unacceptable and that their community has the power to change lives—one meal at a time. That’s why they've assembled a network of partners that they work alongside on their mission to relieve hunger and increase food security in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
Our Godwin Heights Feeding America truck distributions will now be every month on TUESDAYS! Same time, same place, 4:00 pm in front of the high school, just one day later each month. Here is the schedule for the rest of the year:
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
If you have your own bags, please bring them!
Brrr....Autumn Temperatures are Getting Cooler ~ Remember Coats and Sweaters!
Autumn temperatures are getting colder. Please be sure that your student comes to school every day appropriately dressed for outdoor weather. Sweatshirts, light jackets, socks, long-sleeve shirts, and pants.
All students are required to go outside during the school day UNLESS:
- the temperature is below 16 degrees
- the wind chill is below zero
- it is raining
- there is a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for our area
- the student has a physician's note on file for medical exemption from outdoor activity
If you need any assistance with these types of clothing items, please contact our school office at 616-252-2010.
Godwin Heights 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
November 8 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
November 15 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
November 22, 23 & 24 ~ No School THANKSGIVING BREAK
December 13 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
December 22 ~ 1/2 day of school Dismissal at @ 11:45 AM
December 25 - December 29 ~ No School CHRISTMAS BREAK
January 1 - 5 ~ No School CHRISTMAS BREAK
January 8 -- FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER CHRISTMAS BREAK
January 15 ~ No School
January 24 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
January 31 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
February 14 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
February 21 ~ 1/2 day of school -- Dismissal at 11:45 AM for MID-WINTER BREAK
February 22 ~ No School MID WINTER BREAK
February 23 ~ No School MID WINTER BREAK
March 6 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
March 20 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
March 27 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM -- P/T Conferences
March 28 ~ 1/2 day of school -- Dismissal at 11:45 AM -- P/T Conferences
March 29 ~ No School SPRING BREAK
April 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 ~ No School SPRING BREAK
April 17 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
May 1 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
May 22 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
May 24 ~ 1/2 day of school -- Dismissal at 11:45 AM MEMORIAL WEEKEND
May 27 ~ No School -- MEMORIAL DAY
May 31 ~ 1/2 DAY OF SCHOOL -- DISMISSAL AT 11:45 AM -- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Click below!
STRIVE FOR LESS THAN 5 DAYS ABSENT!
The data for students who are chronically absent is clear: Students who miss more than 10 percent of school time, just two days a month, are far less likely to be proficient than their peers who regularly attend school.
Across Kent ISD, approximately 13 percent of students are chronically absent. Like the national studies, the prevalence of chronic absenteeism varies widely from school building to building and district to district but, in virtually every instance, it is greater in buildings and communities serving the economically disadvantaged.
The effects of chronic absenteeism are profound. Kent ISD researcher Sunil Joy found these students are much less likely to become proficient in math or reading. Just one in four are likely to be proficient in math at eighth grade. Worse, low-income students who are chronically absent have just a 10 percent chance of being proficient. Even more startling is the effect on African-American students, with just 3 percent likely to be proficient if they are chronically absent.
While truancy is well known and understood, chronic absenteeism is less familiar, as most absences are excused by parents and, until recently, were rarely challenged by educators. That began to change approximately a decade ago through the work of education researcher Hedy Chang, who is now the executive director of Attendance Works, a national nonprofit seeking to help schools and communities combat chronic absenteeism.
Chang’s research led to the publication in 2008 of “Present, Engaged and Accounted For: The Critical Importance of Addressing Chronic Absence in the Early Grades.” This report revealed that one in 10 kindergarten and first-grade students nationwide miss nearly a month of school each year. In some cities, the rate is as high as one in four elementary students. Research across Kent ISD reveals just 40 percent of chronically absent children in kindergarten through second-grade are proficient on third-grade reading tests.
Our district is working hard to get at this problem. The value of the Strive for Less Than 5 campaign is its uniform message to all children, families and community partners. Attendance is important, and parents and their children should strive for fewer than five absences a year.
Attendance Policy
The normal attendance expectations for any given child in the Kent County Intermediate School District are as follows:
> that a child miss not more than 10 days of Excused Absences for the entire school year,
> that a child have no Unexcused Absences for the entire school year
> that a child have not more than 5 Tardies combined with Leave Early check-outs per semester.
> that a child have no Suspensions for the entire school year.
Godwin Heights Public Schools are held by law to report tardies and absences in excess of the guidelines listed above to the Kent Intermediate School District Office of Truancy and School Attendance-State Law Enforcement Division.
The primary rationale for positive attendance is the strong relationship between student attendance and student achievement. Chronic student absences reduces even the best teacher's ability to provide learning opportunities. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career. A recent study looking at young children found that absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with negative first grade outcomes such as greater absenteeism in subsequent years and lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge.
Poor attendance has serious implications for later outcomes. High school dropouts have been found to exhibit a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates. These differences in absentee rates were observed as early as kindergarten, and students who eventually dropped out of high school missed significantly more days of school in elementary school than their peers who graduated from high school.
North Godwin Elementary
Email: bast@godwinschools.org
Website: www.godwinschools.org
Location: 161 34th Street Southwest, Wyoming, MI, USA
Phone: 616-252-2010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthGodwin/