GIPS Monthly Update, December 2024

Welcome to GIPS Monthly Update!

This online monthly newsletter features helpful information, notable updates, district stories, and more from Grand Island Public Schools.

This edition of the newsletter features an article about a recent Manufacturing Day GISH students participated in. This day offered a glimpse into the future for area high school students, showcasing the diverse career opportunities available in the manufacturing sector. The event, which included tours of local manufacturing facilities and presentations about educational pathways, highlighted the importance of manufacturing to the community and the potential for well-paying, in-demand jobs.

The event emphasized the critical role of partnerships between GIPS and local businesses in fostering the development of a skilled workforce. By providing students with hands-on experiences and connecting them with potential employers, GIPS is helping to pave the way for a thriving manufacturing sector and a bright future for our students.

The Academies of Grand Island Senior High provide great opportunities for our students to not only learn academics but also give students the chance to experience real life work environments and develop skills they can bring to the workforce. The unique experiences our students have through the academies help set them up for career success.

We are extremely grateful for our business partners and the opportunities they provide for our students. Their commitment to our schools is essential to the success of our students. We are excited to continue to grow these relationships and build future success stories with our students.

#WeAreGIPS

Families are now able to update Emergency Contact information for their GIPS students in ParentVUE both online and through the mobile app. Previously, this process was facilitated directly through School Secretaries. Now, Families will be able to make more real-time updates.

HOW TO UPDATE THE EMERGENCY CONTACT FOR YOUR STUDENT:

• Login to ParentVUE (desktop or mobile app)
• Select your student from the list of your children
• Select 'Student Info'
• Click 'Edit Information'
• Scroll down to the 'Emergency Contacts' listed
• Make any changes needed to any fields

We need at least one emergency contact that is not a guardian for each child. This person needs to be someone that could help us locate the guardian in case of an emergency. This person does not have to live in Grand Island.

If you have questions, reach out to your school Secretary.

You may also find ParentVUE resources on our district website by clicking the button below.

"I really believe that we can change the world one child at a time."

34 years deep in public education and Mrs. Thorne still lives that truth every day.

Mrs. Michelle Thorne, Academic Support Coach at Wasmer Elementary, joins The GIPS Cast to share why teaching is the best way to change the world. She speaks to the importance of welcoming all students while also providing consistent expectations and how she's seen that approach impact thousands of scholars. Thorne also reflects on how her unique role allows her to take part in the daily passion of collaborative teaching and mentor staff all throughout the school. And what the honor of being named 2024 GIPS Specialist of the Year means to her.

Because it's all about daring to believe that students — thru the influence of dedicated teachers — can achieve great things.

Listen to the podcast episode HERE.

Each day our educators — teachers and support staff alike — show-up to do the ever important work of inspiring students in the classroom. Part of that work also includes opportunities throughout the year to see both the growth and areas of improvement we have in our district.

The Nebraska Department of Education released their annual reporting of public schools assessment performance on November 27th. Each year their reporting systems (NSCAS and AQuESTT) give Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) an opportunity to look at the previous school year’s data to see performance and improvement areas in our schools.

While these yearly reports do not cover all we do in our schools, they are a helpful tool for us at GIPS as we continue our work of educating students to grow and succeed.

Read the full article HERE.

Art united an entire class at Grand Island Senior High, as students were to create one large mural together — they just didn’t know it.

Students in Kasey Lammers’ newcomers art class were given a white square of paper with specific instructions on what to draw, using a specific color palette. The Newcomers Program helps students who recently arrived in the country gain English language skills to transition into a traditional classroom.

For the art project in Mr. Lammers’ class, each student had a small example to work off of.

Read the full article HERE.

We're excited for another year of the Superintendent's Holiday Card Contest!

Linked at the button below is this year's submission form.

Deadline for students and teachers to submit artwork is December 13th, at 5:00 p.m.

Please send them to your school Principal or to "Communications" at the Kneale Administration Building.

Also, you may want to check with your student to see if they've already completed artwork as part of a class project at their school.

If you have questions, please reach out at communications@gips.org or 308.385.5900.

From the classroom to the community, for one middle school the month of November was all about making a difference.

For the second straight year, Barr Middle School hosted their annual “Be Thankful Challenge” — a week-long effort to keep thankfulness top-of-mind for students in school while also giving back to the Grand Island community.

“We just want to teach our students to be good citizens and to care about others.” Denise Pedersen, Barr Media Integration Specialist, said.

Read the full article HERE.

‘Participated in a national research project’ – that’s something not many people can put on their resume.

But students in Mrs. Renee Ekhoff’s science class at Grand Island Senior High can.

Students got a unique opportunity to collect and extract dog DNA as part of Ekhoff’s Biotechnology Showcase October 28 to November 5. The DNA extraction focused on a gene related to hyper social behavior.

“This lab is part of a National Research project, and the data we collect will contribute directly to this ongoing research,” Ekhoff said.

Read the full article HERE.

An extra project in media class turned into national recognition for students at Engleman Elementary.

Graphic designers in the making, fifth graders Jordan Newman and Zayden Wilbeck both won grand prizes in Wixie’s Thanksgiving eCard Contest. Fellow Engleman fifth grader Madelyn Sloan was also recognized with honorable mention.

Wixie is an education software platform where students can create through art, voice, video and writing. Grand Island Public Schools media teachers use the platform in their classes.

Read the full article HERE.

One day made the world of difference for area high school students looking to pursue future careers in manufacturing.

In celebration of October being National Manufacturing Month, about 140 Hall County area high schoolers toured local manufacturers and learned about educational opportunities after high school. The event was organized in partnership with the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation (GIAEDC). Students toured Case New Holland, Chief Fabrication, and Hornady Manufacturing.

About 40 Islanders participated in the first-ever Grand Island Manufacturing Day, including John Adams and Ramiro Lucas, who are both juniors in Grand Island Senior High’s manufacturing pathway in the Academy of Technical Sciences.

Read the full article HERE.

Breakfast and lunch meals will be available to all students at no cost at all of our schools for the 2024-25 school year!

Due to current needs and qualifications, GIPS has qualified for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) across the district. CEP provides an alternative, state-supported funding source in order to provide meals at no cost to every student at Grand Island Public Schools.

Find school meal menus on the Nutrition Services website HERE.

The menus are able to be translated in over 100 languages and may be downloaded or easily captured through a screenshot on your mobile device.

Follow GIPS Eats on Facebook for more info!

• ELEMENTARY - Doors open by no later than 7:30 a.m.
• MIDDLE SCHOOL - Doors open by no later than 7:45 a.m.
• GISH - Doors open by no later than 7:30 a.m.

School and district calendars for GIPS may be found at the link below:

At the GIPS Foundation, our Legacy Grants program serves as a bridge between the values of our community and the needs of our students.

These grants cover essential expenses, from graduation caps and gowns to mental health care assistance. They provide much-needed relief for families struggling to afford basic necessities, such as clothing, and even birth certificates- allowing students to focus on their education and future aspirations. Each fund is guided by criteria that reflect the donor's beliefs, passions, and experiences, shaping the kind of student needs they choose to support.

Over the years, the impact of Legacy Grants on our students has been extraordinary. In the last fiscal year alone, the Foundation granted 35 Legacy Grants for a total impact of $59,023, supporting over 900 students.

Read more about our Legacy Grants here.

We are 10,000 families, stories, and voices. In teaching hearts as well as minds, we — students, staff, and families — are changing the world together.

Throughout the 2024-25 school year, we will be featuring student and staff voices from across our district.

You're invited to explore our "We Are GIPS" landing page each week for the latest video from our wonderful people.

www.GIPS.org/WeAreGIPS

Catch the Islanders in action here in Grand Island!

Here are some of the upcoming home varsity events for December.

• Girls Wrestling v North Platte - Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30 p.m. @ GISH East Gym
• GISH Vocal Music Concert - Tuesday, December 10th at 7:00 p.m. @ GISH Auditorium
• GISH Bands Concert - Wednesday, December 11th at 7:00 p.m. @ GISH Auditorium
• Boys Basketball v Lincoln North Star, Friday December 13th, at 7:15 p.m. @ GISH West Gym
• GISH One-Acts, Friday December 13th at 7:00 p.m. @ GISH Little Theatre
• GISH One-Acts, Saturday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. @ GISH Little Theatre
• GISH One-Acts, Sunday, December 15th at 2:00 p.m. @ GISH Little Theatre
• Swimming v North Platte, Tuesday, December 17th at 4:30 @ YMCA Pool
• Boys & Girls Wrestling at the Flatwater Fracas, December 20th & 21st at 9:30 a.m. @ Heartland Events Center
• Boys Basketball v Lincoln NE, Friday, December 20th at 7:15 p.m. @ GISH West Gym

Full activities calendar and ticket links may be found at the buttons below.

Go Islanders!

Here's a snapshot of the Academies of Grand Island Senior High courtesy of the brand promise:

"At GISH, we have pride in our academies. We own our learning system, which provides fun opportunities where everyone has a place that is relevant to our future. Our voices are heard and we create meaningful relationships built on trust.

• 2,500+ Students
• 5 Academies
• 11 Pathways
• 40+ AP & Dual Credit Courses
• 10 Industry Certifications
• 26 Sports
• 11 Fine Arts
• 20+ Clubs
• 2 Campuses

My choice. Our Voice."

Learn more about the GISH Academies HERE.

• ParentVUE Guide
• GIPS Nutrition Services
• Bus Routes
• Cell Phone Expectations & Dress Code
• Nurse Health Forms
• Kindergarten Ready
• GIPS Handbook
• School Drop-Off & Pick-Up Safety: ENGLISH | SPANISH
• Welcome Center
• Families in Transition
• School Boundary Maps