GSD E-Blast February 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we begin the second semester, I encourage everyone to embrace this fresh start with renewed energy and a commitment to success! This is a great opportunity to set goals with your child—discuss what they hope to achieve in their classes and how they can set themselves up for success. Take the time now to establish a plan with your child to stay engaged and finish the school year strong!

Your partner in education,

Amy Conway

Superintendent

Research shows that being happy and positive primes the brain to be more successful and productive. Promoting positivity will enhance our student’s academic ability and develop them into happy and positive thinkers and leaders. Each month we will highlight a building or staff member that is spreading “The Orange” (Happiness) through Gibraltar!

Gibraltar kicked off the new year with a staff district-wide step competition (and no, not like Stomp the Yard!). Anyone with a step counter—Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, or any other device—was welcome to join. Participants logged their daily steps each week, and rankings were assigned point values based on their standings. It was a fun and motivating way to kickstart those 2025 health resolutions!

At the end of the competition, the building with the highest total points will be crowned the champion. Beyond the friendly rivalry, the competition has boosted staff morale, bringing colleagues together for walks before and after school while promoting health, happiness, and a little extra movement throughout the day. A big thank you to Drew Sweany from Carlson for organizing the competition!

Do you have a child at home who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025? Do you know someone who does, perhaps a friend or a neighbor? If so, Gibraltar School District has a spot waiting just for them in our kindergarten classrooms next year! Gibraltar School District offers both a traditional Kindergarten program as well as a Young Fives Kindergarten program. Both of these programs have a strong focus on the math and literacy skills needed for a solid foundation through the course of the formative elementary years. Registration opens very soon, on February 18. Once you register, please join us for an informational night, for parents and prospective students, on April 22 at 6:00. These will be held in each elementary building. Visit our website for more information!

https://www.gibdist.net/page/kindergarten-and-young-fives-information

As 1st semester comes to a close, it is important that we stop and reflect on what we have been working on at CHS. Through this work, we are seeing tremendous growth in engagement. Credibility and relatedness are powerful tools for fostering positive behavior in high school classrooms, particularly in improving timeliness and reducing cell phone use. At CHS, credibility is built when teachers demonstrate expertise, consistency, and care, earning students' trust and respect. For instance, explaining the purpose of punctuality or the importance of staying engaged in class reinforces expectations as meaningful rather than arbitrary. Consistently modeling and enforcing these behaviors, while celebrating small successes, strengthens a teacher’s authority and encourages students to comply.

Relatedness focuses on creating connections and fostering a sense of belonging. When students feel valued and understood, they are more likely to engage positively and respect classroom norms. Simple practices like greeting students warmly or taking an interest in their lives build a sense of community where students are motivated to meet expectations. Together, credibility and relatedness create a classroom culture where students internalize behaviors like arriving on time and limiting phone use, not out of obligation but because they align with shared values of respect and responsibility. These habits extend beyond the classroom, preparing students for greater success in school and life.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Shumate’s 8th-grade ELA classes wrapped up their Holocaust Unit with an impactful virtual field trip to the Michigan Holocaust Museum. Students had the opportunity to listen to survivor testimonials, learn about courageous acts during one of history’s darkest periods, and deepen their understanding of the Holocaust. This interactive experience brought history to life, fostering empathy, reflection, and meaningful connections to the various historical texts the students read throughout the unit.

Chapman Elementary is thrilled to welcome two new student teachers from Eastern Michigan University this January! Ms. Jenna Lazarski, a Carlson alumni, is student teaching in 2nd grade with Mrs. Hickey and Ms. Mackenzie Raboczkay is in 3rd grade with Ms. Masland. Both have already made a fantastic impression in their first few weeks with us. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn shines in all they do! We're excited to have them on board and look forward to seeing the positive impact they'll have during their time here. Welcome to Chapman!

Third-grade students in Mrs. Goetsch's class have been incorporating project-based learning to research various reading genres. Students have been placed in groups to research a genre that most students don't tend to read voluntarily. After they research the newly assigned genre, they work together to create a "brochure" to essentially "sell" this genre to their classmates. As part of the process, students explore key elements of their genre, including common themes, notable authors, and popular book titles. They also collaborate to design engaging visuals and persuasive language to make their brochures more appealing. After they create their final project, they teach their peers about their genre, and then Mrs. Fraczek will display them in the Media Center for all students to learn from and enjoy. This hands-on approach not only strengthens their research and teamwork skills but also encourages students to broaden their reading interests.

Last year, Parsons introduced PBIS Clubs as part of our positive behavior framework. Research shows that when students participate in high-interest extracurricular activities supervised by a supportive adult, they develop a more positive outlook on school. These clubs provide valuable opportunities for students to practice social skills, build leadership qualities, and form meaningful connections with both peers and staff.

The program was a huge success, so we set a goal to continue offering clubs this year while also increasing parent involvement. Our first round of clubs launched in November, with all students selecting a club of interest and participating in three engaging sessions from November to January. Students explored a diverse range of activities, including yoga, gardening, Harry Potter, cheerleading, bracelet making, sports, drawing, arts and crafts, board games, karaoke, hiking, creative writing, playdough, LEGO, science, theatre, and baking. We were also fortunate to have parents volunteer to support club activities.

As we prepare for our second session, we have reached out to parents, inviting them to share their talents and ideas by leading a club of their own. We are excited to see how this next round of clubs further strengthens our school community and enriches students’ experiences!

At Weiss Elementary, we’re excited to have a variety of extracurricular clubs to engage and inspire our students!

Right now, our Run Club and Drama Club are in session, giving students opportunities to stay active and creative. Run Club members are working hard to log miles in preparation for the Martian Marathon this spring, where they’ll complete the final 1.2 miles of their marathon journey. At the same time, Drama Club students are busy rehearsing for their spring production of Shrek Jr., which will feature a school-wide show and an evening family performance.

At other points in the year, we also offer Basketball Club and Robotics Club. These clubs provide even more opportunities for students to build skills, explore interests, and have fun outside the classroom.

We’re so proud to be able to offer such a wide variety of extracurricular options at Weiss, thanks to the dedication of our staff and the support of our amazing parent volunteers!

Lakeshore Virtual School: A Flexible Path to Success

Lakeshore Virtual School (LVS) offers students a unique blend of flexibility and community, making online learning a dynamic and supportive experience. Since 2016, LVS has provided K-12 students with personalized education options, whether they prefer a fully virtual schedule or a hybrid model that combines online learning with in-person opportunities.

At LVS, education extends beyond the screen. Students can enhance their learning through online electives with optional in-person sessions led by our LVS teachers, offering hands-on experiences that bring lessons to life. Dedicated academic support is available both virtually and in person, ensuring every student receives the guidance they need to excel—whether learning from home, transitioning back to the classroom, or navigating educational challenges.

Community is at the core of LVS. The school’s Leadership Club brings students together through monthly meetings, social events, and service projects that make a meaningful impact. From creating holiday ornaments for nursing home residents to assembling treat bags for foster children and sending messages of appreciation to deployed soldiers, LVS students demonstrate that virtual learning can be both engaging and deeply connected to the world around them.

Lakeshore Virtual School is more than just an online learning option—it’s a place where students can thrive, find support, and be part of a vibrant, caring community.