A message from Ms. Iljkoski, GMS Principal:

Welcome to the start of Semester 2! As we dive into Quarter 3, this is the perfect time for a fresh reset and renewed focus on reaching our midyear goals. With new opportunities on the horizon, we are excited to work together to ensure a strong and successful second half of the school year.

This portion of the school year can be challenging—weather, breaks, and state assessments can make it feel like a whirlwind. However, it’s also an exciting time filled with opportunities for growth and community engagement. Let’s embrace these months as a time to shine!

Here are some highlights and key events to look forward to:

• Girls Basketball Season: Cheer on our Grizzlies as they hit the court with teamwork and determination!
• Preparing Our 8th Graders for High School: This includes our Keeping It Real conference, high school open houses, and the transition to high school activities.
• Kindness Week in February: Let’s spread kindness across our school community!
• Booster Club Events: Support our school through the Popcorn Fundraiser and join us for Family Movie Night.
• State and District Assessments:
  • WIDA testing begins in February.
  • NWEA testing takes place in March.
  • 8th graders will take their first PSAT right after Spring Break, followed by M-STEP testing for grades 6-7-8.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: March conferences are a vital opportunity to connect and collaborate on your student’s progress.

We encourage all families to stay involved by:

• Reviewing PowerSchool weekly to track your student’s progress.
• Marking important events on your calendar, including high school open houses.
• Participating in Booster events to help build our school community.

Thank you for your partnership in making Grissom a place where our students can thrive. Together, we can make Semester 2 a time of achievement, connection, and positivity. Let’s work together to make every moment count!

Our Grizzly Sighting Newsletter will be updated, as needed throughout the quarter. So, we ask that you refer to our website and newsletter to learn what is happening at Grissom.

Grizzly PRIDE,
Ms. Iljkoski
Principal, Grissom Middle School

And, remember, Grizzly PRIDE is what we do!!

Parents, we want to hear from you!! Please complete this survey to share your views on how things are going at Grissom. Our goal is to identify areas that are going well and areas that need our attention to make Grissom a better school for all of our students.

Offered in English, Arabic, Bengali and Spanish.

Our counselors are shifting from finalizing semester 2 schedules to preparing students for next year. First our 8th graders will participate in our 8th grade Keeping It Real conference and we will host SHHS and WMHS counselors as they meet with 8th graders to go over the scheduling process. In March they will begin working with our 7th and 6th graders, as well as, visiting our feeder elementary schools to get 5th graders ready for middle school.

Our counselors recommend that all parents are actively using our PowerSchool Parent Portal to review their child's academic progress throughout the school year. (Link can be found below.)

If you have any additional information that would help us better support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child's counselor. Whether it's about their learning style, any challenges they might face, or other important details, we’re here to listen and help.

Let’s work together to make this a successful year for your child!

Reminder--their Counseling Corner website has important information--CLICK HERE TO ACCESS.

Parents, please consider signing up to help our Booster organization and to

chaperone at our Booster sponsored events.

Without you, these events can't take place!

The first step in getting ready for the big move to high school is to attend all of the district Open Houses to learn about the many programs available to our high school students. There are two events at GMS that we encourage every 8th grader to be in attendance for: our Keeping it Real Conference and HS Counselor visits for scheduling. Be sure to visit these schools and programs:

• 1/23/2025: MMSTC Open House (session 1 5:30-6:30pm & session 2 7-8pm)
• 2/5/2025: Keeping It Real Conference for 8th graders at GMS--make sure you are at school
• 2/5/2025: Sterling Heights High School 8th grade Parent & Student Open House @6:30pm
• 2/11/2025: SHHS & WMHS Counselors visit GMS SS8 classrooms to schedule high school courses--make sure you at school
• 2/25/2025: Warren Mott High School 8th grade Parent & Student Open House @6pm
• 2/27/2025: Career Prep Center Program Showcase 5:30-7pm

• January 20, 2025: MLK Day-No School
• January 21, 2025: No SCHOOL-due to extreme temperatures (COLD DAY🥶)
• January 22, 2025: No SCHOOL--due to extreme temperatures (COLD DAY🥶)
• January 23. 2025: 🎉Beginning of Semester 2-Quarter 3😀 /PBIS-PRIDE Review / WCSPA Presentation💃🕺🎭 5th HR / ELP #4 List Posted and New Cards Delivered in 6th hour🎫 / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm
• January 24, 2025: PBIS-PRIDE Review / (➕)U Mentoring during 5th and 6th hour / Score-4-Success💯 💪 3-6p m

• January 27, 2025: PBIS-PRIDE Review / Booster POPCORN fundraiser orders start during 6th HR 🍿 / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55pm-3:55pm
  
• January 28, 2025: PBIS-PRIDE Review-admin visits to SS8 classes / POPCORN orders in 6th HR 🍿 / Early Release Tuesday🚌🚸-dismissal at 1:45pm
• January 29, 2025: PBIS-PRIDE Review / POPCORN orders in 6th HR 🍿 / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring 💻2:55-3:55pm / HOME Girls Basketball 🏀VS Carter MS @3:45pm
• January 30, 2025: POPCORN orders in 6th HR 🍿 / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring 💻2:55-3:55pm
• January 31. 2025: Boosters deliver POPCORN to 6th HR 🍿** / Score-4-Success💯💪3-6pm

**Boosters January Fundraiser--🍿POPCORN🍿 sales the week of January 27th thru 30th in 6th hour for $1 a bag. Parents will delivery 🍿POPCORN🍿 to students on 1/31/2025 during 6th hour.

• February 3rd: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring 💻2:55-3:55pm / Girls Basketball 🏀 away VS Warren Woods MS @4pm
• February 4th: (➕)U Mentoring during 5th and 6th hour / Jazz Club 3pm🎷/Chess Club👑3pm
• February 5th: 8th Grade Keeping It Real Conference 7:51am-11am📆🎓📝/ Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / February BOOSTER 💻🕡meeting via WebEx at 6:15pm
• February 6th: RDJ Field Trip 🚌 /Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / Girls Basketball 🏀 away VS Warren Woods MS @4pm
• February 7th: Photo Day for GMS Sports and Clubs 📷 🎨⛹🏻➕⛹🏻‍♀️🧩👨🏻‍🚀📸 / Score-4-Success💯💪 3-6pm

• February 10th: 💞PBIS-PRIDE Kindness Spirit Week-Kindness Ties Us Together: wear a tie, bowtie or scarf / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / HOME Girls Basketball 🏀 VS Roseville MS @3:45pm
• February 11th: 💞PBIS-PRIDE Kindness Spirit Week-We Don't Hide from Kindness: wear camo or grren, black or brown / High School Counselors visit 8th graders in SS classes for HS scheduling 📆 /🎥🎫BOOSTER'S selling Family Movie tickets during lunch $5** 🎥🎫 / (➕)U Mentoring during 5th and 6th hour / Jazz Club 3pm🎷/Chess Club👑3pm
• February 12th: 💞PBIS-PRIDE Kindness Spirit Week-Work Out Problems with Kindness: wear workout clothes 🤸🤸🏻‍♀️🤸🏻‍♂️ / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / 🎥🎫BOOSTER'S selling Family Movie tickets during lunch $5🎥🎫 / HOME Girls Basketball 🏀 VS Carleton MS @3:45pm
• February 13th: 💞PBIS-PRIDE Kindness Spirit Week-Peace, Love & Kindness: wear tie dye✌🏻/ WEB&SPACE Bowling Field Trip 🎳🥳🍕 / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm /Booster sponsored Family Movie Night 🎥🍿🎫 6-8pm in GMS cafe
• February 14th: 💞PBIS-PRIDE Kindness Spirit Week-Show Your Heart for Kindness: wear RED / EPL Party by grade level 🎫 / half day--dismissal at 10:59am 🚸🚌

• February 17th thru 21st: MIDWINTER BREAK⛄🧣🏂

• February 24th: 7th Grade Scheduling for next year begins in SS classes / EPL #5 list posted and cards distributed / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / Girls Basketball 🏀 away VS Carter MS @3:45pm
• February 25th: (➕)U Mentoring during 5th and 6th hour / Jazz Club 3pm🎷/Chess Club👑3pm / 6th & 7th graders are invited to the MSVPA Open House at Butcher to learn about their program 6-7:30pm 🎼🎤🕺💃🎭
• February 26th: 6th Grade Scheduling for next year begins in SS classes / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / HOME Girls Basketball 🏀 VS Beer MS @3:45pm
• February 27th: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / HOME Girls Basketball 🏀 VS Warren Woods MS @3:45pm
• February 28th: MSBOA Band & Orchestra Festival 🎺🎻🎷🪘🎶 / Score-4-Succes 💯💪 3-6pm

**BOOSTERS February event--Family Movie Night on 2/11/2025🎥🍿🎫 For $5 entry you will get a movie, bag of popcorn and bottle of water. This is a fun and safe family events...we encourage all families to participate.

• March 3rd: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / Girls Basketball 🏀 away VS Roseville MS @3:45pm
• March 4th: Early Release Tuesday--Dismissal at 1:45pm
• March 5th: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / Girls Basketball🏀 away VS Carleton MS @3:45pm / MARCH BOOSTER Meeting via Webex at 6:15pm
• March 6th: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm
• March 7th:

• March 10th: Book Fair Begins in media center📚📖/ Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm
• March 11th: (➕)U Mentoring during 5th and 6th hour / Jazz Club 3pm🎷 / Chess Club👑3pm / Title 1 Community Event-Pi Math Night➕➗🥧 6-7:30pm
• March 12th: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm
• March 13th: EPL Party by grade level🎉 / half day--dismissal at 10:59am / 👪PTC (more details coming soon).
• March 14th: Last day of Book Fair📚📖

• March 17th: SPRING SPIRIT WEEK🎉--theme TBD / Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm
• March 18th: Early Release Tuesday-dismissal at 1:45pm
• March 19th: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm / Chamber Music Concert in GMS cafe 7-8pm🎶🎺🎷🥁
• March 20th: Afterschool 23G extended day tutoring💻2:55-3:55pm (wrap-up of cycle 2)
• March 21st: Spirit Week-Pep Rally🎉 / half day-dismissal by 10:59am

*SPRING BREAK March 24th through March 31st. School resumes on Tuesday, April 1st.

Our Lady Grizzlies Basketball teams are up and running. Reminder for those wanting to come to home game to cheer on our ladies:

• student ID for GMS students
• all fines and fees paid off
• on the Earned Privileged List
• NO STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS-unless with parents from our opposing team and their parents must stay for the entire game.

Girls Basketball

• 7th Grade Coaches: Mr. Delicato
• 8th Grade Coaches: Mr. Rayshouny

WEB consists of 60+ 8th grade students that were chosen for their leadership and being positive role models. Their focus is to help our incoming 6th graders transition to middle school. They also work with new students to Grissom by giving tours or mentoring until they learn the Grizzly way.

You can identify these students by their red WEB lanyards and red WEB shirts (that they wear for special occasions).

Advisors: Mrs. McCauley, Mrs. Raschke and Mr. Dudek

Our Peer-2-Peer program was created to support our students with Autism. Students are selected for their leadership, willingness to learn about ASD and be a positive role model. The goal of our Peer-2-Peer program is to improve outcomes for autistic students and a most positive and accepting school culture. More information will be coming soon.

Advisors: Mrs. DevLaminck & Mrs. Marcial

SPACE is a select group of students that meet with our principal every month to share their voice on all things Grissom. This program is selective as there is an application and review of student discipline and grades. Students must show the ability to stay on top of their academic work and their behavior is to highlight our Grizzly PRIDE expectations.

Advisor: Ms. Iljkoski (aka...Ms. I)

Our Ecology Club students do special projects on school recycling and beautification. They play an important role in keeping our community clean and environmentally friendly. Interested students can sign up in Mrs. Foxes room. Open to all grades.

Advisor: Mr. Gruca

Chess club runs on Tuesday afternoons from 3-4pm in the media center. Interested students can sign up in Mr. Biber's room. Open to all grades.

Advisor: Mr. Biber

We are bringing the RDJ experience back to Grissom. RDJ is an unique experience where a select group of 25 7th graders (nominated by their teachers and with an application process) take their learning from their Social Studies 7 class on the road!

RDJ introduces 7th grade students across South East Michigan to local faith communities as a way to teach respect of others and remove the barrier of “other” from people and places students interact every day. RDJ students hear, first-hand, about a faith’s important holidays, customs, pillars of belief and life-cycle celebrations. Additionally, students meet local clergy and volunteer community leaders, learning about a faith’s historical roots and stories of community building in South East Michigan.

These students will create presentations to take back to the classroom for all 7th graders to learn from the experience.

Advisor: Mr. Marzolf

Score-4-Succes is in it's 7th year at GMS. It is a partnership with Oakland University Medical School where OUMD students come to Grissom about every 2-3 weeks to tutor, teach mini health units and mentor students. This program is limited to 30-35 students (invitational letter will be sent home to students that qualify (based on district test scores). The first 30-35 that submit their signed parent letter will reserve a spot.

Program runs on Fridays from 3-6pm. Must have transportation home, promptly at 6pm

Advisor: Mr. Marzolf

Positive You

• We have partnered with Positive You on a 30-week social emotional program for our 7th and 8th graders. This program consists of weekly video messages, journaling, assemblies, prizes, weekly mentor program and much more. We will kick off this program in October...so stay tuned for more information. Positive you will also be presenting to parents on October 15th about the complicated relationship between teens and their phones. We encourage all parents to attend their presentation.

Macomb Care

• Educators from Macomb Care will be visiting our 7th and 8th grade social studies classrooms to present on "Too Good for Drugs" program. They will also be visiting our 6th grade science classrooms to present on "Life Skills" for middle schoolers. These programs will wrap up in December.

Our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is our main teaching tool to promote school safety and good behavior. We use the acronym P.R.I.D.E.

• P for Prepared
• R for Respectful
• I for Involved
• D for Dedicated
• E for Empathetic

We kick off the week of September 3rd with our PRIDE week--filled with lessons, videos and class visits to discuss our expectations.

Also, last year we began our Earned Privilege List for students to earn opportunities to attend and participate in after school sports and activities, fun and games that come up throughout the school year. Flyer is below for additional information.

Parents we know mornings are hectic and many of our parents drop and pick up their students. We have the following rules for our parking lot:

• Arrive early to avoid the madness of the late drop off (peak drop off time is around 7:25-7:45am). Students enter at door 22.
• Drop offs and pick-ups have to happen at the back of the building. Drive along the side of the building (right lane) to the back of the building. Please do not stop mid driveway on the side of the building to drop off or pick up....causes major backups in the lot and on Ryan Road.
• Bus lane in front of the building is for WCS BUSSES ONLY.
• Pay attention to the directions are staff working the lot are giving. We all have the same rule--safety for students and staff.
• Please do not be on your phone or playing music so loud you cannot hear staff directions or get distracted.
• Watch for children walking or biking to school.
• If you choose to drop your child off next door at St. Renes (and students take the short sidewalk to walk to Grissom), we ask that you respect the rules of the church lot: (a) Do not park in the designated spots labeled for the priest, (b) do not park or wait in their fire lanes, (c) Park in the back of their lot (not on the side sections at the front of the building), and (d)follow the layout of their lot.
• Patience and extra time will go a long way in school parking lots. :)

Grissom Middle School is committed to educating and making a difference to the lives of students.

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The Grissom Community will model respectful and responsible behaviors in a save environment where all can achieve educational growth.

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Grizzly Pride Is What We Do!!!

Ms. I's office line 586-698-4310

Find us on Instagram @grissom_ms

Find us on Facebook @GrissomMS

#GMS_GrizzlyPride

Email: eiljkoski@wcskids.net
Website: http://school.wcskids.net/grissom/
Location: 35701 Ryan Road, Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Phone: 586-825-2560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrissomMS/
Twitter: @MsEIljo