GIPS Monthly Update - March 2025

Welcome to GIPS Monthly Update!

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

Welcome to Spring, at least for the moment!

Who knows by next week we may be back to fighting cold weather and snow. At least throughout this Spring Break week the weather looks Spring-like.

The cold wintery weather that we saw a couple of times in February did bring about concerns about having school or not. Making the call on canceling school is one of my least favorite parts of being the superintendent. It’s what I call a lose / lose proposition. No matter what call you make it is going to upset some people.

Here is some of the reasoning that I use when making those decisions. My first consideration is safety for students and staff. It would be easy to look at that ideal and say if the weather is questionable then you should call off. I don’t see it being that easy at all.

First, for a number of our students the place where they have the best food and shelter is at school. A second consideration is that in many families all the adults work during the day. If school is canceled then many daycares also close for the day. Consequently, parents who feel they have to work on these days may be forced into leaving children unattended. Experience has taught me that a snow day doesn’t mean that older students stay safe at home. In many instances these students will spend additional time on the road getting to and from friends' homes. Or in some cases just plain driving recklessly as they play in the snow.

Ultimately, we expect parents to decide if they can safely get their children to school or not. If they don’t think it is safe for their children they can keep them home. With these factors in mind I am going to keep our schools open whenever possible. If we do have to cancel school the decision will be made as early as it is feasible to do so. Ideally this will be done the evening before. If a morning decision is necessary it will be made prior to 5AM.

Hopefully, there are no further weather situations this school year that cause us to need to consider canceling. If there are, then I hope that having insight into some of the factors that go into that decision will provide a deeper understanding into that process.

#WeAreGIPS

Grand Island Public Schools is pleased to announce that registration for the 20245-2026 school year is now open!

Registration will be open from February 3 - March 31, 2025

All new and returning GIPS students will need to be registered online via the ParentVUE app.

Here are a few resources that may help as you register your student(s):

• Online Registration - HERE
• Frequently Asked Questions - HERE
• ParentVUE "How-To" Video - ENGLISH | SPANISH
• Special Transfer Request information - HERE

Please Note:

• To help ensure a place for your student in your school of choice, we ask all families to register by March 31st.
• No child who lives in the school district boundaries will ever be turned away from GIPS. However, AFTER March 31st we will not be able to guarantee placement in your neighborhood school due to high enrollment numbers and building capacities. Our primary goal is to pair each student with their neighborhood Elementary or Middle School. We will work to make that a reality as much as we can until capacity limits are reached at grade and/or building levels.

If you need assistance with your child's registration, please contact your enrolling school or reach out to GIPS directly.

Starting next week your student will have an opportunity to participate in the GIPS Spring School Culture and Climate survey.

The survey will be available for all 3rd-12th Grade students in our district. The survey for students will be open throughout the dates of March 17 through March 27, 2025.

As a public school district we have a state requirement to offer a survey to our students, parents, and staff to measure how students feel about the culture and climate in their schools.

We’ve developed to align with the Nebraska Department of Education along with a few questions identified through last year’s communication audit. Panorama is the platform we will use again for the survey.

We value your student’s voice. Offering these surveys is a meaningful way for students to share their honest experiences and opinions about how they feel while at school.

Here are a few more helpful details:

• Minimal instructional time is used for this survey. The survey should take no more than 20-30 minutes to complete for students.
  
  

• Students will have the option to take the survey in their home language by clicking the “translate” button once the survey is opened. Students may also request support from a Spanish interpreter at their building.
  
  

• For Elementary, one of your student’s teachers and other school staff may support the survey process by reading questions out loud or clarifying details.

Parents / Guardians may opt out for their student’s participation in this spring survey or one of the other components of the survey. A copy of our one page Opt Out Form must be submitted for each student requesting to opt out HERE.

All Opt Out Forms must be submitted to Dr. Summer Stephens, Associate Superintendent, by Sunday, March 16, 2025 by noon.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me directly at 308.385.5900 or share a message through communications@gips.org.

"We're here for everybody — not just select people... It's a humanity thing. We're here for humanity and I think that's the great thing about public schools. We care about the kids."

In her 27 years with Grand Island Public Schools, Kris Spellman has proudly worn the title, “Lunch Lady”. Her official job title for nearly three decades has been “Director of Nutrition Services”. But if you ask her what she does, she’ll smile at you and say, I’m a proud Lunch Lady.

Throughout her career with GIPS, Spellman has served approximately 28,000,000 school lunches — and that's not counting breakfast!

But, true to form, it's not just about school lunches. For Kris, it’s about supporting the 10,000 students we have across our 19 schools to have food security, to help them stay nourished, to help them thrive and flourish in the classroom.

She joins The GIPS Cast to reflect on her career, how she's seen the school meal landscape change through the years, and the importance of advocating for students before venturing to her well-earned retirement at the end of the school year.

Because 28,000,000 meals served as a proud “Lunch Lady” is simply incredible.

Listen to the podcast episode HERE.

The buzzing excitement in the second-grade classrooms at Dodge Elementary wasn't just from the students; it was from the fascinating world of insects the students were actively discovering.

A classroom grant from the Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) Foundation funded the purchase of special microscopes to be used by all GIPS second grade students, transforming CKLA (core knowledge language arts) and science lessons into hands-on experiences.

Second grade Dodge Elementary teachers MaKenna Supencheck and Kaitlin Warner, both passionate about sparking curiosity in their young learners, utilized the microscopes to bring the details of insects into sharp focus.

Read the full article HERE.

A new class of student scholars have been inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) at Grand Island Senior High marking one of the largest groups in recent memory. And with it, each student committed to the NHS four pillars: leadership, character, service, and scholarship.

On Saturday evening, Grand Island Senior High (GISH) welcomed its newest members to the storied society. 65 GISH Juniors were honored with induction into the National Honor Society (NHS) marking one of the largest classes in recent years for the Islanders chapter.

Read the full article HERE.

A leadership transition will be taking place at Wasmer for the 2025-26 school year.

Mr. Jim Tews, Wasmer Principal, has shared that he will be leaving the district at the end of the current school year. We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Tews for the time and service he has brought to Wasmer as well as our district.

With gratitude towards his time spent as a part of GIPS, Tews feels now is a good time for him to pursue other professional opportunities that are closer to his family.

We are pleased to share that Miss Hannah Luber has been named the next Principal for Wasmer Elementary.

Slated to step into the role this summer, Miss Luber is excited about the opportunity to bring her love for championing public education to Wasmer.

Read the full article HERE.

The hum of motors and gears filled the Grand Island Senior High East gymnasium earlier this month on February 8. It was the annual Clash on the Platte Robotics Tournament, an event made up of innovation and teamwork that has become a school highlight. And this year, it was bigger than ever.

"I'm incredibly proud," said Alex Kemnitz, Islander Robotics team coach and tournament organizer. "To see the growth, from about 24 teams last year to 41 this year, it's just a testament to how awesome robotics is and how needed this program is in Central Nebraska."

But the annual Clash on the Platte event isn't just a competition; it's a celebration of STEM education.

Read the full article HERE.

Barr Middle School celebrated the induction of 13 outstanding students into its National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter last week. The ceremony marked a significant milestone for these students, recognizing their commitment to scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.

The induction signifies the students' dedication to upholding these core values and their readiness to serve as role models within the school community. The new members join a legacy of excellence and will play a vital role in shaping the positive atmosphere at Barr Middle School.

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:

Within the heart of our District, in the classrooms and hallways of Grand Island Public Schools, lives a quiet dedication. These are the individuals who "put their full heart into students each and every day," the ones who "meet their students right where they are." They are the educators, the support staff, the unsung heroes who shape futures and ignite passions.

These are the individuals we seek to honor.

On March 17th, the Teacher of the Year program opens, inviting you to nominate those who have touched your lives or have made a difference to students. It’s your chance to say, "Thank you," to the people who make our schools more than just buildings; they make them places of hope and growth.

"He promotes a positive culture by focusing on the good that the students are doing." "It is said that the building would not be what it is today without this ray of sunshine." These are examples of words of past gratitude. People in the District deserve to be honored.

This isn’t just about teachers. It’s about every dedicated individual – principals, administrators, specialists, counselors, secretaries, custodians, para-educators, and Nutritional service – anyone who embodies "the spirit of dedication, warmth, and unparalleled support that defines excellence."

Who has changed YOUR life? Who has made a difference in the lives of our children?

Visit our website on March 17th to submit your nomination and share your story. Let's flood our schools with the recognition these extraordinary individuals deserve. Let's celebrate the heart of Grand Island Public Schools.

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 February:

• Boys Soccer v Kearney - Thursday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. @ Memorial Stadium
• GISH Night of Show Choirs - Thursday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. @ GISH Auditorium
• Boys Golf v Hastings - Friday, March 21 at 3:00 p.m. @ Riverside Golf Course
• Girls Soccer v Lincoln East - Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. @ Memorial Stadium
• Baseball v Omaha Central - Friday, March 28 at 4:00 p.m. @ Ryder Park
• "Ramona Quimby" - GISH Play - March 28 - 29 at 7:00 p.m. & March 30 at 2:00 p.m. @ GISH Little Theatre
• GISH Cabaret Night - Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. @ GISH Auditorium
• Girls Soccer v North Platte - Saturday, March 29 at 10:30 a.m. @ Memorial Stadium
• Boys Soccer v Omaha Skutt Catholic - Saturday, March 29 at 1:00 p.m. @ Memorial Stadium
• Baseball v Lincoln East - Monday, March 31 at 4:00 p.m. @ Ryder Park
• Boys Soccer v Norfolk - Tuesday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. @ Memorial Stadium
• Boys Golf Invitational - Friday, April 4 at 9:30 a.m. @ Riverside Golf Course
• Baseball v Fremont - Friday, April 4 at 4:30 p.m. @ Ryder Park
• GISH Chamber Singers & Children's Choir - Sunday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. @ Trinity United Methodist Church
• Girls Tennis v Columbus - Tuesday, April 8 at 4:00 p.m. @ GISH Tennis Courts

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

Go Islanders!

The Grand Island Public Schools Annual Report is here!

A physical copy will arrive at your mailbox in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you may explore the digital edition on our district website.

Our yearly publication highlights:

• District Updates
• Assessment & Budget Data
• Alumni Stories
• And More!

Learn more at www.gips.org/annualreport.

• 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