
North Godwin News
Week of August 14, 2023
Steve Minard, Principal
Kristi Bast, Secretary
Telephone (616) 252-2010 and Fax (616) 252-2011
North Godwin goes BACK TO SCHOOL on Monday, August 21, 2023!
8:15 AM - 3: 15 PM
DROP-OFF PROCEDURE
Earliest drop-off is 8:00 AM in the drop off line, which is located in the parking lot.
Please note that the area painted in yellow in front of the main doors on 34th Street is designated for BUSES ONLY. Do not block buses in the designated bus line.
Parents who are dropping students off at school will do so in the car line beginning at 8:00 AM when our supervisory staff is visible and on duty in the parking lot. Playground supervision begins at 8:00 AM when our playground supervisors come on duty. ALL students report directly to the playground between 8:00 AM and the first bell at 8:15 AM. Students arriving after 8:15 AM must report to the main office for a tardy pass.
PICK-UP PROCEDURE
Parents who are pick up students at the end of the school day will do so in the parking lot car line. This is a quick and easy process, and one that is safest for our students and our staff. The pick-up line begins forming at 3:00 PM. Dashboard signs will be issued to parents and designated family members/friends who are authorized to pick students up at the end of the school day. Dashboard signs should be clearly visible to our parking lot team. The final bell rings at 3:15 PM when our buses depart. Parents and guardians who are picking students up are expected to be timely. School ends at 3:15 PM.
LATE ARRIVALS
Once school begins, learning begins! Students not in their seats when the morning bell rings at 8:15 AM are considered tardy and must obtain a tardy pass from the office. Students who are signed out before dismissal are logged with a leave early. The Kent Intermediate School District defines positive attendance as no more than 10 late arrivals or early departures per school year.
EARLY DEPARTURES
If your student has an appointment or other reason that deems it necessary for you to pick your child up early from school, you must do so before 3:00 PM. In the interest of dismissal safety, parents/guardian arriving after 3:00 PM must be in the car line.
CHANGES TO DAILY DISMISSAL ROUTINE
If you wish to make a last minute change to your student’s dismissal routine, we kindly request that you notify the school office by 2:30 PM, which is 45 minutes before dismissal. This allows our staff adequate time to notify the student, teacher, and bus teams of the change. Thank you for your support and helping to keep our students safe!
BUS TRANSPORTATION
All students who reside within the Godwin Heights Public School district are entitled to bus transportation. Students who reside outside of the district boundaries and attend Godwin Heights under Schools of Choice must provide their own transportation and will be held accountable to the same attendance policies as resident families.
ABSENCES
All absences must be called into the school office at 616-252-2010, or e-mailed to: bast@godwinschools.org. It is acceptable to leave a voicemail regarding an absence. Absences not phoned into the school office will be marked as UNexcused. The Kent Intermediate School District defines positive attendance as no more than 10 excused absences per school year.
ADVANCE NOTICE OF EXTENDED STUDENTS ABSENCES FOR VACATIONS, EMERGENCIES, AND/OR MEDICAL PROCEDURES
If your student will be out of school for 3 or more days in a row due to surgery, travel, or other types of business, please be sure that you complete an ADVANCE NOTICE OF STUDENT ABSENCE form and turn it into the school office before the absence event. If you need a form emailed to you,
please call the school office at 616-252-2010.
RECESS POLICY
ALL students are outdoors every day before school, during lunch recess, and for afternoon recess times UNLESS:
• The temperature is below 16 degrees
• The wind chill is below zero
• It is raining
• There is a severe thunderstorm warning in the area
• There is a medical restriction note on file in the
school office, signed by a physician, that outlines
specific temperature parameters that restrict a
student from outdoor recess due to a medical
condition.
During the winter months, students need winter coats, hats, gloves, snow pants and boots. If you are having any difficulty securing these items for your child, please contact the school office at 616-252-2010 and we will do our best to connect you with resources to obtain these items.
EMERGENCY CLOSURES DUE TO WEATHER
In the event of inclement weather, please be sure to check your text messages, email, and local television channels for updates on closures that reference our school district: GODWIN HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, or visit: www,godwinschools.org
2023-2024 NORTH GODWIN OPEN HOUSE / MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT!
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
North Godwin Elementary
161 34th Street SW
Wyoming, Michigan 49548
2023-2024 BUS INFORMATION
Bus routes/stops for the 2023-2024 school year will be finalized soon. The link to this information is:
https://www.godwinschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1195693&type=d&pREC_ID=1481452
Keep checking back for updates!
Godwin Heights Public Schools' Transportation Department would like to welcome you and your child to an exciting new experience. Transportation is provided to those students that reside within the district boundaries.
Parent responsibilities
- Assure your child arrives at the correct bus stop 5 minutes before the bus arrival time ready to board and not waiting in a vehicle.
- Assure your child reaches the bus stop safely.
- Accept joint responsibility with school authorities for proper conduct of your child while riding the bus.
- Make sure that students are dressed for the weather while waiting at the bus stop.
- Explain to your child that on occasion a bus may take a different route than what they are used to and they should not be upset. They will arrive at their correct bus stop or school.
Proper behavior while riding the bus
- Students will be seated as directed by the driver and may be assigned a seat.
- Students need to be seated quickly upon entering the bus.
- Students are expected to sit three in a seat, when required.
- Students are to remain in their seats while the bus is moving. Switching of seats can only occur with the permission of the driver.
- Students should only bring items aboard the bus that they can hold in their lap.
- Items not allowed in school are not allowed on the bus. This includes skateboards and rollerblades.
- Students are to keep emergency exits clear at all times.
- Students should not use foul or inappropriate language.
- Yelling, loud voices or horseplay is not permitted on the bus.
- Eating or drinking on the bus is not permitted.
- Students should help keep the bus clean by putting all trash in the trash can.
- Students can only get on and off at their designated bus stops.
- Students should remain seated until the bus has stopped at their bus stop.
- Students are not to be talking on their cell phones while riding on the bus.
Bus riding rules
- Students are to follow the directions of the driver or aide.
- Students should keep their body, language, and property to themselves.
- For safety reasons, students need to sit facing forward with their backs against the seat and their legs facing forward.
- Students should use proper classroom behavior on the bus which includes talking in a quiet voice.
- Students are to remain in their seats until they arrive at their bus stop.
Bus stop rules
- For the safety of all students, students are required to be at their designated bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. Students should be ready to load the bus and not waiting in vehicles when the bus arrives.
- Students that are required to cross the road to get on or off the bus shall do so in front of the bus for their safety.
- Students are not allowed to go to another bus stop if they are late for the bus. Parents need to take them to school.
- Students shall be respectful of the surrounding property, such as mailboxes, grass or landscaping at the stop while waiting for the bus and leave the bus stop location clean of any litter.
2023-2024 SUGGESTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Parents and Guardians~
North Godwin Elementary does NOT require you to purchase school supplies for your student/s. We are providing this list of SUGGESTED school supplies by grade level if you wish to provide supplies for your children. These are items that are useful and used regularly in their classrooms.
ALL STUDENTS NEED THE (3) FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL ITEMS:
- Standard size backpack (no wheels)
- Gym shoes
- Appropriate clothing for cooler outdoor weather, such as jackets, coats, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats.
THIRD GRADE SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST
- Folders (2 pocket)
- EXPO dry erase markers
- Colored pencils and markers
- Pencils
- Ear buds/headphones
- Kleenex
- Disinfecting Wipes / Hand sanitizer
FOURTH GRADE SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST
- Kleenex
- Markers and/or Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- Earbuds/headphones for computers
- Disinfecting Wipes / Hand sanitizer
FIFTH GRADE SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST
- Pencils
- Pencil box or case
- Kleenex
- Scissors
- Colored pencils
- Highlighters
- Markers
- Glue sticks
- Erasers
- Disinfecting Wipes / Hand sanitizer
Food Service Information
All GHPS buildings participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Program(CEP). All enrolled students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2023-2024 school year. Your student/s will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.
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BREAKFAST
Each morning at the first bell, students will enter their classrooms from the playground. Breakfast options and milk will be on their desk!
LUNCH
Our North Godwin lunch schedule is as follows:
3rd Grade: 11:00 AM - 11:35 AM
4th Grade: 11:40 AM - 12:15 PM
5th Grade: 12:20 PM - 12:55 PM
Each day there is at least one hot menu item and one cold menu item offered, along with a fruit/salad bar and choice of chocolate or white milk.
Here is a link to our monthly breakfast and lunch menus that will be updated once school starts: https://godwinschools.nutrislice.com/menus-eula
Our Godwin Heights Food Service Department considers it a privilege to be charged with the nutritional care of your student, a responsibility that is taken very seriously. If your child has a food allergy or restriction, please be sure that you have noted it as a health condition in PARENTVUE, or report it to the school office before August 21, 2023 when school starts. Thank you!
Jamie Schumaker - Director of Dining Services
Email: jamie.schumaker@godwinschools.org
Phone: 616.252.2077
2023-2024 STUDENT MEDICATIONS (Rx, Inhalers, Epi-Pens, and Over-the Counter Medications)
ALL student medications must be cleared through the school office with appropriate medical paperwork on file. Parents may not send students to school with prescription or non-prescription medications unless the appropriate paperwork has been submitted to the school office.
Emergency Medications
It is necessary to have the proper Godwin Heights Public Schools paperwork completed for any emergency medication housed at school. Links to the forms that must be completed by a physician and signed by a parent are listed below. All completed forms must be accompanied by an emergency action plan (obtained by a physician), as well as the medication in the original pharmacy packaging with the student name on pharmacy label
Epi-Pens and Asthma Inhalers form: Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers, Epi-pens, or Prescribed Emergency Medication
Daily Rx Medications
In those circumstances where a student must take prescribed medication at lunch during the school day, the following guidelines are to be observed:
- Parents should, with their physician’s counsel, determine whether the medication schedule can be adjusted to avoid administering medication during school hours.
- The Godwin Heights Public Schools "Authorization to Administer Medication and/or Treatment" form must be completed and submitted by a physician and signed by a parent before the student will be allowed to begin taking any medication during school hours.
- Parents will be required to bring the medication to school in the original pharmacy packaging with the student name on the bottle. A two to four week supply of medication is recommended. Medication may not be sent to school in a student’s lunch box, pocket or other means on or about his/her person. Together, the parent and the school office secretary will count the pills and log what is being dropped off. Both the parent and the school representative will sign the log verifying what is being dropped off each time.
- Medication that is brought to the office will be properly secured.
- Parents will be asked to sigh out and pick-up any unused medications. Any unused medication unclaimed by the parent will be destroyed by school personnel in conjunction with our Corewell Health Nurse Liaison when a prescription is no longer to be administered, or at the end of a school year.
Daily RX Authorization form: Administer Medication
Non-Prescription / Over-the-Counter Medications
Non-prescription / Over-the-Counter student medications must be housed in the school office. In the interest of safety for all students are not allowed to self-carry any medications while at school. A parent or guardian must complete the NON-PRESCRIPTION portion of the form below, sign it, and return it to the school office, along with the medication in the original packaging. Examples include: cough drops, Tylenol, Motrin, allergy pills, and the like.
Non Prescription / Over-the-Counter Authorization form: Administer Medication
If you need assistance, please call the school office at 616-252-2010.
Godwin Heights 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
August 21 ~ First Day of School
August 25 ~ No School
September 1 ~ No School
September 4 ~ No School LABOR DAY
September 13 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
September 27 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
October 11 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
October 18 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM -- P/T Conferences
October 19 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM -- P/T Conferences
October 20 ~ 1/2 day of School @ 11:45 AM -- P/T Conferences
October 25 ~ Early Release @ 1:45 PM
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
How to Apply for the Wyoming Parks & Recreation T.E.A.M. 21 After School Program at North Godwin
Who We Are:
TEAM 21 is a collaborative after school and summer program serving over 1,800 students annually in the City of Wyoming. Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools have a collective grant for this program.
What We Do:
We are working to improve the lives of youth and their families in our community. TEAM 21’s mission is to foster academic, social, and emotional growth among students through mentorship and activities, working together with the schools where programming takes place.
Activities:
TEAM 21 is a multi-faceted program that strives to provide enrichment and meet the dynamic needs of the students we serve. The program aims to expose our students to new experiences, broadening their horizons and allowing them to develop and cultivate new interests in many areas, including the following:
- Academic Enrichment
- Arts of All Kinds
- Career Readiness
- Community Service
- Family and Community Events
- Health and Wellness
- Sports & Fitness
- STEM
Staff:
Our staff, who come from a variety of backgrounds and have varying interests, are united by a single mission: to make a positive impact on youth in our community, serving as mentors and caring, consistent adults ready to make a difference in the lives of our students.
To ensure that each student has a high-quality experience in the program, TEAM 21 works to maintain staffing levels of 1 staff member for every 12 students. Staff participate in many on-going professional development trainings, from classroom management techniques and large group management trainings to content area trainings. Our staff participate in a minimum of 16 hours of on-going training each year.
Additionally, TEAM 21 staff undergo a rigorous state and federal background check process prior to their employment.
The first day of T.E.A.M. 21 programming at North Godwin Elementary is slated to be Tuesday, September 5, 2023, which is the day after day. The T.E.A.M. 21 program is held Mondays through Thursdays only (no Friday programing) from 3:15 PM to 6:00 PM. On early release school days, the times differ, but a calendar will be provided to applicants who are accepted.
Space in the program is limited. Precedence is given to student applicants who are most in need of the academic support to meet grade level requirements.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please download an application and return to the North Godwin Elementary school office. Parents will also need to complete an online questionnaire. Links to these items are listed below.
Spanish Application:
Spanish Questionnaire:
https://forms.gle/n2tCLnQA3MamgrKF9
English Application:
English Questionnaire:
https://forms.gle/JPNjEzwbwR3zNESJ6
TEAM 21 is HIRING adult group leaders and Program Coordinators!
If you would like to become a part of the TEAM 21 staff, please visit: https://www.applitrack.com/kent/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=37095&category=Community+Services for current job openings!
North Godwin Elementary School Cell Phone Policy
- All phones/devices are brought on campus at one’s own risk.
- Electronic devices such as cell phones/gaming devices and or apple watches are to be turned off during the school day and must remain in the student’s backpack~ not in clothing pockets or on the person. Place device all the way inside of the backpack so that it is not visible.
- The school is not responsible for lost or stolen devices.
- Phone calls, texting, and videotaping of oneself or others is strictly prohibited at any time during the school day to include classrooms, library, school-yard, cafeteria, common areas or restrooms.
2023-2024 SPECIALS CLASSES
Students will have ART or MUSIC twice each week. Music is twice each week for the first semester, and Art will be twice each week during the second semester.
Students will have Physical Education (P.E.) twice each week, for the entire year.
Students will have Library once each week, for the entire year.
Library is an added specials class at North Godwin for the 2023-2024 school, and we could not be more excited! Our Library special will offer students more opportunities to communicate, collaborate, create, and follow their curiosity. The library program is intended to enrich student experience and support learning happening in the classrooms.
2023-2024 North Godwin Elementary Specials Teaching Staff
Mr. Ed Wierenga, Physical Education (P.E.)
Ms. Dawn Sobleskey, Art
Mrs. Christine Jenkins, Music
Mrs. Hannah Eichhorst, Library
Have you moved since registration for the 2023-2024 school year?
If you have MOVED since registering your student for the 2023-2024 school year, it is VERY IMPORTANT to call the school office and update your address!
RESIDENTS
If your student was a RESIDENT of the Godwin Heights Public School district, but you have since moved out of the district and wish for your student/s to return to Godwin Heights for the 2023-2024 school year, you MUST COMPLETE a SCHOOL OF CHOICE APPLICATION no later than 3:00 PM on Monday, August 21, 2023 in order for your child to continue at Godwin Heights. You will also need to provide (1) new proof of residency.
If you are RESIDENT of the district and MOVED to a different address within the district, you will need to contact the school office and provide (2) new proofs of residency.
SCHOOL OF CHOICE
If you are an established School of Choice family and have moved, you will simply need to notify the school office and provide (1) new proof of residency.
Bus transportation is limited to those students who reside within the Godwin Heights Public Schools district boundaries.
North Godwin Elementary is proud to be a KIDS FOOD BASKET school!
Each school day (unless otherwise noted), your student/s are eligible to take home a FREE sack supper at dismissal. An "opt-out" letter will go home with your student/s during the first week of school. If you do NOT wish for your child to receive a sack supper, you can opt-out. Otherwise, all students will be offered a take home sack supper. No sign up is necessary.
Every Sack Supper contains:
One serving of fruit
One serving of vegetables
One serving of protein
A healthy snack
Please encourage your student/s to be respectful of these sack suppers. They are not meant to be opened on school buses, or improperly discarded on school property or neighboring lawns. Kids Food Basket research estimates that 1.1 million Michigan residents are food insecure. A great community effort goes into funding and operating the non-profit Kids Food Basket program and we expect our students to respect the impact that it makes in the lives of so many families. In partnership with Kids Food Basket, we can ensure that local students have access to healthy, life-affirming food to help them thrive and foster their limitless potential.
A message from Cherry Street Health Services
Godwin Heights Public Schools will again be partnering with Cherry Health to offer dental and vision services for our students during the 2023 -2024 school year. These services will include a dental exam, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride, and sealants if needed as well as a comprehensive dilated eye exam. If glasses are prescribed, they will be ordered and delivered to your school after a discussion with a parent or guardian. This is a wonderful opportunity to have these preventative services completed at school if you do not have a dentist or vision provider or are already a patient with Cherry Health. If you would like these services and are unsure if you registered, please call Cherry Health School Linked Health programs at 616-776-2345.
City of Wyoming's 5-Year Park & Recreation Master Plan
The City of Wyoming Parks & Recreation Department wants to hear from you!
As a school community who uses Wyoming parks often, they are asking for feedback for their 5-Year Park Plan; Recreation Master Plan. You can access the survey by clicking the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WyomingParks
Thank you for helping shape the future of your Wyoming parks and recreation.
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/