Bobcat Innovation

Families,

We have enjoyed another week of nice weather, and another great week at Bobcat Innovation! Hopefully the nice weather sticks around for a couple more weeks for us, and it looks like it just might!

Freedom Fest was a huge success last week. Thank you to everybody that participated and enjoy the pictures!

Next week is our first PTO meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 18th from 5:30-6:30pm. See the PTO section below for more information about the Chili Cook-Off that will be happening at the meeting. Also, keep selling those raffle tickets! Here is the link to attend the PTO meeting virtually: https://meet.google.com/bvd-pebw-ujr

We still have space in our hybrid classes at Bobcat Innovation. Students in our hybrid program follow the same curriculum as our virtual students and learn from home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays they come in-person to the Perry Center, taking advantage of everything that face to face education has to offer. If you are in 2nd-5th grade and are interested in switching from full time virtual to hybrid, please let Mrs. Stockoski or Mrs. Johnson know. You can also email Director Zach Hamilton at zhamilton@gbcs.org.

If you are interested in volunteering to come in on Fridays for popcorn and recycling at the Perry Center, please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/78jS1Cgz9CQU4iV9A.

We are also still looking to fill another very important position for Bobcat Innovation. We are looking for a Yearbook Coordinator! Our current coordinator, April Ewing, is going to be retiring from the job after this school year. We are looking for somebody to team with her this year and learn the ropes while splitting the position. Next year, the new person can hit the ground running with experience already under their belt. Please fill out the google from at https://forms.gle/yrb9GhWzGX8fEK5w5 if you are interested. There is a small stipend involved for this time commitment.

All students, both new and returning, must have their online registration updated each year. We are still missing several online registrations. If you have not yet, please update your student's registration information at: https://www.gbcs.org/for-parents/online-registrationenrollment.

Warm regards,

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

(810) 591-6077

ahall@gbcs.org

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

(810) 591-6375

kkeilitz@gbcs.org

September

* Friday, Sept. 18th - 5:30-6:30pm - Chili Cookoff and PTO Meeting

* Friday, Sept. 27 - Half Day; Homecoming

* Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday Oct. 1st - Picture Day!

One of the amazing things about Bobcat Innovation In-Person and Hybrid Programming is our small school environment. We get together every couple of weeks for a Community Meeting where the whole school comes together and talks about Positivity Project, Building Culture, Upcoming Events, and much more. Students are recognized for doing the right thing and receiving shout-outs from others. It is a great time for students and staff to stay in touch, and make sure we are making progress with our whole school initiatives.

A few things from your PTO Board:

Quick reminder: the first PTO Meeting for Bobcat Innovation is next Wednesday, September 18th, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. To spice things up, we're aiming to hold a Chili Cook-Off, inviting parents and guardians of students to bring their best pot of chili to share as we meet.

Not only that, but we'll be voting on the top 3 best bowls of chili, and each participant awarded will be given a special gift for their family to remember. Whether you've got a traditional chili recipe from grandma or a new spin on a recipe you've perfected, sign up here to volunteer chili for next Wednesday's PTO Meeting.

You bring the chili, and we'll get everything else: crackers, chips, napkins, condiments, etc. We also plan to provide child care during the meeting. If you have any questions, please call or text Spencer at 810-701-2610.

We look forward to tasting your chili next week.

If you haven’t received your raffle tickets yet please ask your children or touch base with their teacher. Reminder, DO NOT receive payment via venmo, paypal, apple cash, zelle, ect.. CASH or CHECK (made out to Grand Blanc Community Schools) only! Thank you to everyone for taking the time to sell your tickets! If you are unable to sell them please return them to the office or your child's teacher for redistribution. No judgment!

Do you like being creative and solving problems? Do you like building structures? Do you like performing and being part of a team?

If you said yes to any of these questions, then OM is for you! OM is the world’s oldest international creative problem-solving competition and the only Grand Blanc team is at Bobcat Innovation!

OM is available for students in grades 2nd through 8th. There is a time commitment of at least one hour every week after school. In addition, there will be a Saturday in January or February that you will be required to perform your skit. If we move onto the state competition, another Saturday will be required in March. The closer the competition gets, the more time might be required from the group depending on how things are going.

Each group MUST have one or two adults (anyone with a completed background check) who can commit to supervising the team every week. Mrs. Cramer will be available for team support, help getting started, planning activities and paperwork, but OM is a lot of work and we will need hands-on help to make it happen.

Please email Mrs. Cramer at jcramer@gbcs.org if your child is interested in participating in OM this year and indicate if you are able to provide any help to the team. Some teams will choose a STEM problem where they will be required to create a structure. This group benefits from engineer-minded adults who can assist with technical work. Unfortunately, if we don’t have help with teams, we will have to limit participation.

Our Robotics season starts early this Fall. Our 6th-8th grade team is all set and ready to go with Mr. Nick Clute serving as the coach. If you missed the Spring sign-up for Middle School Robotics, please reach out to Mr. Hamilton. We have a limited number of slots still available.

2nd-5th grade students learn about Robotics in their Technology Exploration class. However, if you are interested in coaching a 2nd and 3rd grade team, or a 4th and 5th grade team as an after school activity, please reach out to Zach Hamilton at zhamilton@gbcs.org

The State of Michigan requires us to report on the status of immunizations for our 7th graders. Please help ensure that your 7th graders are up to date and contact our offices (Bobcat Innovation In-Person and Hybrid - 810-591-6078; Bobcat Innovation Virtual - 810-591-6391) with any questions. Thank you!

Please see the Athletic website below for information on opportunities for our PIC and BVL 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to participate in sports. A physical and signed Athletic Handbook must be on file prior to participation in practice.

7th and 8th grade Bobcat Innovation students can try out and participate in all sports offered at the middle school level. Students will participate with East MS during Fall and Winter 1 sports seasons, and with West MS during Winter 2 and Spring seasons. 6th grade students can participate in Cross Country (Fall), Wrestling (Winter 1), and Track (Winter 2).

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

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