
GPPSS Update

Quiz Bowl at South & North
Both Grosse Pointe South and Grosse Pointe North competed in the 2025 NAQT Michigan Class A State Championship in Ann Arbor, showcasing incredible talent, teamwork, and academic excellence. South secured an impressive 2nd place overall for the second year in a row—congratulations to Josh K., who earned individual state champion honors for the second consecutive year!
North’s Quiz Bowl Team had a fantastic showing as well, finishing 4th overall out of 24 top teams.
Every team member scored—and even Power scored—during the tournament, highlighting the team's depth and unity. Congratulations to Junior James J., and seniors Maggie D., Jack M., Jack R., and Tejas S.-D. for their strong performance!
A special shoutout to Jack M., who was named a First Team All-State member, ranking 5th out of 131 competitors in the preliminary rounds. Jack also made North history by breaking the all-time scoring and Power records—a remarkable achievement!
Way to go, Norsemen and Blue Devils—we’re proud of your accomplishments!
Student Teachers at Maire
The Maire community extends a heartfelt thank you to our amazing student teachers, Eva Jones (University of Michigan-Dearborn) and Katie Fisher (Oakland University, “Grow Your Own” master’s grant program through GPPSS), for their dedication, energy, and the genuine care they brought to our classrooms this year. Their passion for teaching and their connection with our Maire Bears left a lasting impact, and we are proud to have been part of the beginning of their educational journeys. We wish them the very best as they take the next steps in their careers—two incredible teachers ready for hire!
Pictured: Eva Jones (left) and Katie Fisher (right). Once a Maire Bear, always a Maire Bear!
German Day at North & South
We’re thrilled to announce that both North and South students had an outstanding showing at the 41st annual German Day at the University of Michigan, competing against 23 other schools and bringing home impressive awards! At North, congratulations to the following students for their creativity and language skills:
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German I Music – 3rd Place: Laila A. & Laila K.
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Speaking – 1st Place: Sophia Z.
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Speaking – 3rd Place: Nathan W.
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German II Reading – 1st Place: Russel W.
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Speaking – 1st Place: Andrew G.
Special recognition goes to Vincent M. and Liam M. for their brave participation in the Spelling Bee, and to all students for creating amazing artwork reflecting German culture.
Over at South, Jonah B. won 1st place in Level 4 Speaking and Jamesetta T. took 2nd place in Level 2 Speaking—Frau Petrilli is very proud of you both. We’re incredibly proud of all our students—Danke und weiter so!
Honoring Military Child Day at Richard
On Friday, April 11th, Richard proudly celebrated Military Child Day! Students read a special book and created purple bracelets to show support and appreciation for military children and the unique sacrifices they make. It was a meaningful way to recognize their strength, resilience, and important role in our community.
ArtFest at South
Mark your calendars for the 2025 ArtFest at Grosse Pointe South, happening April 23–26! Come celebrate the creativity and talent of our student artists during this special annual event.
Show Hours:
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Wednesday–Friday: 8 AM – 3:30 PM & 5 PM – 8 PM
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Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM
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Judges Night: Tuesday, April 22 | 7 – 9 PM
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Awards Ceremony: Friday, April 25 | 7 PM
Don’t miss this incredible showcase of artistic expression!
WILLOW Club at North
On Tuesday, North’s WILLOW Club visited 4th graders at Monteith, Mason, and Ferry Elementary Schools to deliver an engaging and impactful presentation. The program included 40 minutes of skits, a PowerPoint, plenty of laughs, and a Q&A session to wrap things up. Students explored important topics like texting, bullying, social media, good sportsmanship, and making respectful decisions. The goal? To get our future Norsemen excited about the journey to middle school—and eventually, Grosse Pointe North! As you can see, fun and inspiration were in full supply.
Destination Imagination at Defer & Pierce
On April 5th, 33 students from Defer and Pierce competed at the Destination Imagination State Tournament at Albion College. They showcased creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving—and had a blast trading pins and cheering on fellow teams!
Grosse Pointe earned 3 First Place, 2 Second Place, a Fourth Place, and a Rising Stars trophy. Three teams also took 1st in Instant Challenge, and two Pierce teams are advancing to Global Finals in Kansas City this May!
Congrats to all teams and best of luck at Globals!
Pierce’s Cozy Readers Club Visits Coreander’s Bookshoppe
On Tuesday, March 15, the Pierce Cozy Readers Club enjoyed a special field trip to Coreander’s Bookshoppe! This lunchtime club meets weekly in the library for quiet, cozy reading—and this outing was the perfect extension of their love for books. Students walked to the bookshop, received a scoop of ice cream, and enjoyed a discount on their purchases. Whether it was the staff chaperones, the Coreander employees, or our amazing middle schoolers, everyone left with smiles. It was a heartwarming day of community connection and literacy—and plans are already in the works for next year’s visit!
Athletics
Volley for Anie
Join Grosse Pointe North Volleyball, the Driscoll Family, Lizzy Rewalt, and friends for a special charity volleyball game honoring Stefanie “Anie” Lynn Driscoll, a beloved GPN alumna. Anie was a talented athlete, gifted musician, and passionate chef with a heart for animals. Despite facing a rare illness in high school, she remained a beacon of positivity and strength. She passed away on February 7, 2025, at the age of 35. This event brings the community together to celebrate her life and legacy. Donations and raffle prizes are welcome—please contact Chelsea Brozo at chelseabrozo20@gmail.com to contribute.
Powderpuff at North
North’s football stadium was buzzing with energy Wednesday evening as the Seniors and Juniors faced off in the annual Powderpuff Football Game! With school spirit, teamwork, and plenty of laughs, it was a night to remember. A huge thanks to the staff who helped make it all happen—Norsemen made memories to last a lifetime.
Blue Devil Digest
Click here to see the latest athletic news from South.
North and South Choirs Shine at State Festival
We’re thrilled to announce that Grosse Pointe North and Grosse Pointe South choirs had incredibly successful weekends at their respective competitions!
At North, all of our soloists received Division 1 or Division 2 ratings and performed beautifully. We’re proud to share that both Valhalla and Counterpointe choirs were nominated for All-State—only five choirs from the entire event are nominated, and we are anxiously awaiting the results! Keeley R. received a perfect score in both the performance and sight-reading categories. The best news of all is that Evangeline J. received a perfect performance score and has been selected as an All-State Soloist—one of only 13 soloists chosen from thousands across the state! Congratulations to all the soloists:
Evangeline J. Keeley R., Anna N., Lauren K., Eden V., Kai H., Annie C., Grace W., Addison G., Addison L., Emma R., McKenzie W., Claire S. Amanda W., Marie I. Olivia S., Olivia S., William M., Wesley R., Silas W., Tejas S., Peter M. If you see any of these students today, make sure to congratulate them!
At South, the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) State Solo & Ensemble Festival at Lake Orion High School was also a huge success! 12 events received 1st division ratings for their superior performances, including soloists Victoria P. (freshman), William H. (freshman), Oscar D. (sophomore), Violet K., Gabriella K. and Zachary N. (juniors), and the duet of Anthony K. and Zachary N.. The South Singers and Pointe Singers Treble Ensemble were also selected for consideration to perform at the MSVMA All-State Festival in early May! Huge congratulations to Carolyn Gross and the entire South choir program for their exceptional achievements.
Way to go, North and South choirs—your hard work, dedication, and talent are truly inspiring!
Drama at South
Attention Theater Lovers! Ticket sales are now open to The Little Mermaid presented by the Grosse Pointe South Drama Department.
Show Details:
The Little Mermaid is a stage musical, based on the much beloved Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. The musical follows a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find true love. The musical is full of humor and creativity, making it the perfect experience for all ages.
Who:
All are Welcome. Tickets are on sale for the general public.
Where:
The Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center at Grosse Pointe North High School, 707 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
When:
Thursday, April 24, 2025 @ 7:00 pm
Friday, April 25, 2025 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 26, 2025 @ 1:00 pm AND 7:00 pm
How Do I Get In On The Fun?:
Tickets may be purchased through the following link. Tickets will also be available prior to each show.
CTE
Inside the TV Studio
Click here to see the latest news from the TV Production program.
Join us for a summer filled with fun activities for every interest—sports, arts, STEM, and more! Our camps offer something for everyone, in a safe and engaging environment.
Register today at gpschools.org/summer!
Off & Out of Sight Reminder
All secondary students are to have access to a technology learning device. The GPPSS BYOD Handbook supports the district's strategic plan for student learning and growth. Students use their technology learning device to access Schoology -- the GPPSS's Learning Management System.
Additionally, cell phones are OFF AND OUT OF SIGHT all day for middle school, and during class time for high school students. If students need to be reached during the school day, please continue to contact the main office.
Middle school students may use their phones before the first school bell and after the final school bell. High school students may use their phone during passing time and at lunch, as well as before and after school.
Meeting Summary
On Monday, April 14th, the Board of Education held a regular meeting where they approved the following:
- Regular Meeting Minutes for March 31, 2025
- Closed Session Meeting Minutes for March 31, 2025
- Revision of Policy 3.26 - Compliance with Michigan Sex Education Statute
- Revision of Policy 4.11 - Reinstatement Policy Following Permanent Expulsion
- Plante Moran Contract
- Budget Revision - GAAA #1
- STEAAM Foundation AI Camp Grant
- Hiring Dr. Sara Delgado as Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
- Hiring Ms. Cindy Parravano as Grosse Pointe South High School Principal
On Monday, April 28th, the agenda action items will be:
- Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes for April 14, 2025
- Approval of GPFPE Spring Grants
- Approval of Ehresman Architectural Contract for Trombly Window Replacement
- Approval of Ehresman Architectural Contract for Grosse Pointe N and S Chiller Replacement
- Approval of Revision of Policy 8.09 - Advertising; Distribution of Posting of Information
You may review each item on the Board of Education agenda by visiting the district calendar and clicking the date of the meeting, then clicking the agenda, then each hyperlinked action item.
Please watch the district calendar on the website for the latest information on board and committee meetings. Upcoming BOE meetings now include:
- BOE Regular Meeting, Monday, April 28, 2025, 7:00 pm, Brownell MPR
- Facilities Meeting, Monday, May 5, 2025, 5:30 pm, North Library
- Policies Meeting, Monday, May 5, 2025, 6:30 pm, Central Office Board Room
- BOE Regular Meeting, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 7:00 pm, Brownell MPR
- Bond Advisory Council Meeting, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 6:00pm, North Library
Upcoming Events
April 18- No School, Good Friday
April 21- No School, PD Day
April 24 through April 26- South presents The Little Mermaid
May 5 through May 9- Educator Appreciation Week