Steve Minard, Principal

Kristi Bast, Secretary

Telephone (616) 252-2010 and Fax (616) 252-2011

Geskus Photography will be on site at North Godwin Elementary for School Picture Day on Friday, September 8, 2023. Order packets will go home with students about 1 week before the big day.

Your student's pictures will arrive approximately 3 weeks after our School Picture Day.

TIPS for GREAT PHOTOS:

Plan out your child's outfit. Look through clothes and think about which outfits look best on your child. Think about what colors look best on them. Make sure to stay away from busy patterns, white, bright colors, and clothing with words or big logos.

Keep accessories simple. Big earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, scarves, or other accessories will distract from your child's face and smile.

Parents and Guardians,

Please note that there will be an EARLY DISMISSAL for all students on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Parent pick up is at 1:30 PM. Buses depart and the final bell rings at 1:45 PM. Please plan accordingly and arrive at 1:30 PM if you are picking up a student! Thank you!

North Godwin Elementary will be hosting our annual Title I Fall Family Informational night on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. All families are invited to join us!

We invite you to come hear about what your children will be learning in their classrooms this school year. There will be important information provided about Title 1 services, how we are building a healthy and safe school community, and our Kent School Services Network resources that are available for North Godwin families.

Snacks will be provided for parents. Students will enjoy popsicles on the playground with our Principal, Mr. Minard!

_____________________

What is Title I?

The Title I program gives federal funding to school districts for supplemental instruction for students who qualify. Title I funding is used to offer support services to students who need extra time and instruction to master grade level curriculum. Title I schools are identified through a state formula each year that is based on the number of students from economically disadvantaged homes.

The purpose of Title I is to:

• help every child receive a high-quality education
• increase academic achievement
• build capacity for parent involvement
• provide professional development for building staff

Title I services provided by federal funds are based on the academic needs of students. Students who qualify for academic support may be served in language arts, mathematics or both. Eligibility is determined by standardized tests, classroom assessments and performance and teacher recommendation.

Parent-Home Connection

Parents and guardians of students receiving Title I support services are encouraged to be actively involved in their child's education. Learn more about our parent participation policy and Title 1 policy in our board documents.

Conferences are one of the most important ways parents and teachers work together as a team, as parents and guardians may share information about their child’s special interests. It is also a good time for discussing the child’s academic progress and for gaining ideas on how parents can best help their children at home. A translator is available upon request.

Parents and guardians influence their children’s education more than anyone else. Parental involvement can boost children’s achievement. By taking an active role in our school, parents show their children that they are valued and that education is important. Children learn that parents and the school are a team, working together to help them succeed.

Parents can participate in their child's learning in several ways:

• Read to your child daily
• Listen to your child read daily
• Attend your school's annual open house
• Attend parent-teacher conferences
• Participate in class field trips and class projects
• Come to school meetings and events

What is the purpose and function of Kent Schools Services Network (KSSN)in our school?

is an initiative that involves many partners, but a single goal: to ensure all children are healthy and learning. The partners do this by bringing health and human services right into the school building to help students and families.

SCHOOL HOURS

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

Our 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, September 19, 2023

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

If you have your own bags, please bring them!

Parents, please plan to join us for our first Principal's Coffee of the 2023-2024 school year! It will be held in the North Godwin Elementary cafeteria on Friday, September 29, 2023 from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM.

Our Principal's Coffee is a popular monthly event. It is a meeting for parents to learn and give feedback to support our school. Our Principal, Steve Minard, will share what is going on at school. He asks for feedback and support, presents data and best practices, and makes space for parents to get involved in school activities. The Principal's Coffee also reinforces our PBIS initiative by honoring select students each month who have modeled positive PBIS behaviors and worked hard to achieve academic goals.

We hope to see you there!

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:

1. Parents should, with their physician’s counsel, determine whether the medication schedule can be adjusted to avoid administering medication during school hours.
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
4. Medication that is brought to the office will be properly secured.
5. 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.

https://4.files.edl.io/ba26/07/25/23/152431-cecb8d91-7012-4d74-91c7-33914a6243a4.pdf

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

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:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U1JcGjFJKu6tLOgOyPDD-KbWqvby4f-u/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108803618244321152339&rtpof=true&sd=true

Spanish Questionnaire:

https://forms.gle/n2tCLnQA3MamgrKF9

English Application:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10RZ4dNPXuV2qAr0gluLGRSiUyAar0qok/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108803618244321152339&rtpof=true&sd=true

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 recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration, and provides iPads for students to be productive in the classroom. However, to keep the focus on our students developing academically as well as acquiring the necessary skills for face-to-face interaction with peers and adults, we feel it’s imperative to reduce the unnecessary distractions that our elementary school-aged children are facing.

• 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.

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.

The Kent District Library is a great, FREE resource for promoting literacy in our student homes. Please take a moment to click on the above link to see what types of FREE programs and resources that your local KDL Library can to offer to your family!

As a public school, we are held accountable to public school laws that govern attendance. The Kent Intermediate School District oversees all public schools in Kent County to be sure that all are operating under the laws and of the Michigan Department of Education.

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 is home to Godwin Heights Public Schools’ 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders!

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/