Bobcat Innovation

November is already half over and Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I hope everybody was able to check out our Perry "Thankful Wall" (see below!!) when they were here for conferences to see all the wonderful things our staff and students are thankful for. I enjoyed seeing all of our families at parent teacher conferences this week. This is such an important time of year for education as parents and teachers have conversations about the progress of students, making sure they're on the right track and working together to tackle any issues that might be hindering their education. If you were unable to make it for conferences, you can always e-mail or call your child's teacher for a quick update!

Mark your Calendars, our 2024 Bobcat Innovation Winter Sing-Along is Wednesday Dec. 18th in the Perry Center Gym from 6:00-7:00 pm. Each of our Elementary classes will be singing 2 songs. Upper school will be singing a song and our advanced band will also be performing. I am looking forward to a HUGE turnout for this event! Hopefully we see everybody there. If you are a virtual student and have interest in participating please reach out to me at zhamilton@gbcs.org.

We have our popcorn sales up and running every Friday at Bobcat Innovation in-person. If you are interested in helping out please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CAAA72DA1FB6-53037548-popcorn

The book fair was a huge success! We hope everybody had the chance to visit during parent teacher conferences. Thank you Mrs. Williams for all your hard work!

Just a reminder, for in-person and hybrid students please make sure you are calling the Perry attendance line at 810-591-6080 if your child is going to be tardy or absent for the day.

Warm regards,

Zach Hamilton, Director of Innovative Programs (Daily oversight of Bobcat Innovation In-Person and Hybrid)

(810) 591-6077

zhamilton@gbcs.org

Kevin Keilitz, Asst. Director of Innovative Programs (Daily oversight of Bobcat Innovation Virtual)

(810) 591-6375

kkeilitz@gbcs.org

November and December

* Wednesday, Nov. 20th - Fall Festival at 5:30, followed by PTO meeting at 6:30 (Perry Cafeteria)

* Wednesday-Friday Nov. 27th-29th - Thanksgiving Break - No School for Students and Staff

* Wednesday-Dec. 18th - Holiday Sing-along - Perry Gym - 6:00-7:00 pm

* Monday Dec. 23rd-Friday January 3rd - Winter Break - No School for Students and Staff

Our Bobcat Innovation elementary students participated in an all school STEAM project. They designed and built houses for their pigs with the goal of building the strongest structures, even though they weren't allowed to choose their materials. Some had straws, some had sticks, and some had bricks (legos!)

The wolf (leaf blower) was able to knock some of them down but not all! Many students thought outside the box by not only building solid structures, but also anchoring them to the ground. The kids not only learned more about engineering, but they practiced the skills of developing their own ideas, communicating them clearly, collaborating, and revising their thinking. What a great experience!

We have our Fall Festival on November 20th at 5:30-6:30 in the Cafeteria at Perry Center. Our November PTO meeting will follow from 6:30-7:30. We look forward to a great turnout for this event. We are also looking for parent volunteers to help at the event so if you are interested in running a station please sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4DABAE28A3FF2-52808271-fall#/

Grand Blanc students and staff LOVE to celebrate birthdays! However, due to ongoing concerns regarding food allergies, medical conditions, dietary restrictions and to align with our Wellness Policy, Grand Blanc Schools no longer allows sugary sweets, including cake and cupcakes, to be shared

in the classroom. Please work with your child’s teacher to determine an alternative way to celebrate your child’s birthday for your child. All GBCS buildings have adopted a healthy snack policy for all classroom snacks.

GBCS Board Policy PO8510

Bobcat Innovation Upper School is looking for volunteer engineers to help guide our 6-8 grade students in a real-world STEAM challenge that involves a motorized vehicle. No training or planning is necessary, there is a tentative plan and resources that can be used. Please reach out to Mr. Vallimont (jvallimo@gbcs.org) if you are interested or if you have questions.

Bobcat Innovation Athletics Website: https://bobcatinnovation.gbcs.org/for-students/pic-athletics

Grand Blanc East Middle School Fall Athletics Newsletter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_r_X39BRlT6_Q_9ysmZlTzGvmSkvTdbQ4ZpdXKmwhKk/edit?usp=sharing

This is an awesome opportunity for any students 11-15 years old that is interested in coding! Sloan Museum is offering a free coding work shop. Here are the details:

• November 2 @ 10 AM
• Free event, geared towards ages 11-15
• Scholars will create a vault to keep their Halloween candy safe and learn coding skills with a Raspberry Pi along the way!
• Sign up today: https://sloanlongway.org/workshops/

Attention 10th grade BVL students: 10th graders interested in attending a 45-minute presentation to learn more about the programs offered at Genesee Career Institute (GCI) for the 2025/2026 school year, please complete the Google form linked below. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, November 20th from approximately 9:00-10:00am at the East campus auditorium.

November 20th GCI Presentation Sign-up Form

Those in attendance will have their attendance arranged for the hour. A representative from GCI will speak about the opportunities that exist at their facilities and provide students with a chance to sign-up to visit GCI in person during the month of February. Applications will be at a later date as well.

10th grade students can apply to attend GCI (Genesee Career Institute) for their junior/senior years. GCI offers a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities. For a complete list of GCI programs check out their website: GCI Programs

Contact Ms. Uhl, BVL counselor, for more information at juhl@gbcs.org.

BVL Seniors! Time to Order Your Cap & Gown

Seniors - It's time to order your graduation cap & gown! Follow the link to the Jostens website to place your order.

· Jostens provides cap & gowns, class rings, graduation announcements, and senior spirit wear.

· The only required item for graduation is the cap & gown set. Order your cap & gown now to get the best price (cost will go up at the end of January)

• Grand Blanc introduced a beautiful new graduation gown in 2023. This gown must be worn by all seniors attending graduation. Older sibling gowns, prior to Class of 2023, cannot be worn.
• Link to Cap & Gown Ordering

Class of 2025 Senior Calendar of important dates: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BM7M3eIeS_4dsPZOpCljh65z_hQLeG60L3jlW9ckt2A/edit?usp=sharing

See the flyer below for details!

As we approach the start of the new marking period, it is a good time to reflect on the skill of goal setting. Helping your student set goals builds independence, confidence, and develops a life-long skill. SMART goals are a good way clearly define what is intended to be accomplished and guide energy with the task at hand.

Email: zhamilton@gbcs.org
Website: https://bobcatinnovation.gbcs.org/
Location: 11920 South Saginaw Street, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 591-6078
Facebook: Visit us on Facebook at: Bobcat Innovation