Wolverine Weekly
Monday, August 19 - Thursday, August 22 (No School Friday)
Principal's Email: urbanski@godwinschools.org
Phone: 616-252-2070 x3008
Principal's Corner
We enjoyed seeing your faces at orientation and look forward to seeing you bright and early tomorrow morning at 7 AM for breakfast on our first day of school.
We want to emphasize that daily attendance and punctuality matter! School is students’ first job, where they learn the importance of showing up on time every day. This discipline will serve them well when they graduate and enter the workforce. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and find good jobs. On average, a high school graduate makes a million dollars more over a lifetime than a dropout.
Being on time means arriving at school before 7:30 AM, so students can be in their seats and ready to learn when the bell rings at 7:30. Thankfully, it's a short week with no school this Friday, giving us a little extra time to get into the swing of things.
As tomorrow is our first day back, we will be following a special schedule. Before 7:22, all students head to the cafeteria. Around 7:22, 6th graders will remain in the cafeteria to meet their teachers, and 7th & 8th graders will head to their advisory/homeroom (their 5th hour teacher). If students don't know who their advisory teacher is, lists will be posted around the school to help them, and any adult can help them as well.
During advisory, students will receive a hardcopy of their schedule and participate in important lessons designed to help students acclimate and prepare for the school year ahead.
After today, subsequent days will follow our normal bells schedules, which you can download here:
Recommended Supplies
The attachment below lists the materials your child will likely utilize throughout the academic year. The school will furnish certain items, but it would be greatly appreciated if you are able to provide these supplies for your children. This allows us to allocate any surplus supplies to those in greatest
need.
As we start this first week togther, we will focus on being anchored in achievement by cultivating the following values:
AcademicNurturing
Committed
Hard Work
Opportunity
Resilience
We look forward to a successful and enriching school year!
GHMS School Calendar
August
Monday, Aug 19: First Day of School
Friday, Aug 23: No School
Friday, Aug 30: No School
September
Monday, Sept 2: No School
Wednesday, Sept 11: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
Tuesday, Sept 24: STEM Night @ HS
Wednesday, Sept 25: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
Monday, Sept 30: Picture Retakes
October
Wednesday, Oct 9: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
Thursday, Oct 17: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal), Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday, Oct 18: Half Day (11:15 AM Dismissal), Parent Teacher Conferences; End of 1st Marking Period
Wednesday, Oct 30: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
November
Wednesday, Nov 13: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
Wednesday, Nov 20: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
Wednesday, Nov 27 - Friday, Nov 29: No School
December
Wednesday, Dec 18: Early Release (1:10 PM Dismissal)
Friday, Dec 20: Half Day (11:15 AM Dismissal); End of 1st Semester
December 23 - January 3: No School
Skip the Attendance Robo Call!
How to Report an Absence
Don't want to be hounded by pesky robocalls when your child is late or absent? Contact us before 8:30 AM and you'll dodge those calls! Those calls only activate when children are unaccounted for.
If your child will miss school for any reason, please either email our attendance administrative assistant Ms. Perez at dolores.perez@godwinschools.org or dial the school number (616) 252-2070 and press "2" to leave a message on our attendance line. In your message please include your relationship to the student, the student's name, the date(s) they will be absent, and the reason for their absence.
If your child attended an appointment, please have your child submit a note from the office they visited to our main office to excuse their absence upon their return.
Thanks for helping us keep our awesome students safe & accounted for!
Attendance Policy
The normal attendance expectations 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,
An excused absence is one that is excused by both the parent and the attendance office. Any excused absence entitles the student to make up the work missed and receive full credit upon completion of academic requirements. Examples of excused absence falls into one of the following categories: illness, death in the family, approved family vacation, family emergencies, or required court appearance.
> 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.
All Things Health & Medicine
School Nurse
Dear Parents/Guardians:
If you wish to have medications on file at the school, or a recorded medical condition/healthcare plan, please submit the proper consent forms for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Medication must be brought to the school office by an adult in its original bottle.
Paperwork Needed for Medical Conditions
Asthma:
- Asthma Action Plan (AAP) – from doctor, often Pulmonology, Allergy or
- primary doctor
- Medication Administration Form for Inhaler and/or Allergy Medication
- Inhaler(s) and/or Allergy Meds
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
Severe Allergies:
- Allergy & Anaphylaxis Plan (A&AP) – from doctor, often Allergy, Pulmonology or primary doctor
- Medication Administration Form for EpiPen and/or Benadryl
- EpiPen and/or Benadryl
- Dietary Accommodation Form, if food related
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
- Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) – from doctor, often Endocrinology
- Medication Administration Form for Insulin and Glucagon/Emergency
- Medication, signed by doctor
- Insulin and Emergency Medication
- Emergency Supplies at school (see nurse for detailed list)
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
- Seizure Action Plan (SAP) – from doctor, often Neurology
- Medication Administration Form for Emergency Medication, signed by doctor
- Emergency Medication
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
- Letter from doctor noting condition, treatment & restrictions
- Medication Administration form, signed by doctor (if giving medication during school day)
- ADHD Medication
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
- Letter from doctor noting condition, treatment & restrictions
- Medication Administration form, signed by doctor (if giving medication during school day)
- Mood Medication
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
- Letter from doctor noting condition, treatment & restrictions
- Medication Administration form, signed by doctor (if giving medication during school day)
- Medication, if needed for condition
- Individual Health Plan – RN to create
- Letter from doctor noting condition, treatment & restrictions
- Medication Administration form, signed by doctor (if giving medication during school day)
Medicine
For over-the-counter medications to be kept and administered at school, we require a parent signature and the medicine brought in its original container. Prescribed medications must have both a physician's signature and a parent's signature for administration, and brought in its orginial container.
Should My Child Stay Home?
When your child is sick, it’s important to know when they should stay home from school. If they have a contagious virus or disease, keep them home. This will help them get better faster and keep their teachers and classmates from getting sick.
Talk to your child’s doctor or health care provider if you are unsure if they should stay home from school. As a general rule, your child should not go to school if they have:
- A fever over 100.4° Fahrenheit (F) or 38° Celsius (C) – Your child can return to school after they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without antipyretics. Antipyretics are medicines that treat or prevent fever.
- Signs they are weak and tired. This is common with the flu.
- Diarrhea – Having loose poop (stool) more often that isn’t caused by a change in diet.
- Throwing up (vomiting) – More than 2 times in a 24-hour period.
- Coughing that disrupts normal activity.
- Wheezing or get short of breath.
- Pain from earache, headache, sore throat, or recent injury.
- Yellow or green drainage from the eye(s).
- A new rash – Not all rashes mean your child must stay home from school. Check with their doctor or health care provider.
If your child has a fever, they must stay home from school until they have been FEVER-FREE for 24 hours WITHOUT medication! Thank you!
Free Health Center
All Godwin Heights students are welcome to utilize our new health center Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 AM - 4 PM. To make an appointment, call 616-965-0435.
Athletics
Click the link for all athletic information: https://ghathletics.com/
Click here for a map of athletic locations.
*Please note that participation in any sports requires a completed physical to be turned in.
MS Girls Volleyball
There will be a meeting after school by the gym on Tuesday, August 20.
Contact the coach for questions:
7th Grade Volleyball - Mia Panella mia.panella@godwinschools.org
8th Grade Volleyball - Airyanna Munguia airyannamunguia2@gmail.com
MS Boys Soccer
Contact the coach for questions:
Coach: Reese Stuart reese.stuart@godwinschools.org
MS Football
Contact the coach for questions:
Coach: David Drake drake@godwinschools.org
Community Resources
TRIO Accepting Applications
The TRIO Educational Talent Search program of Grand Valley State University is currently accepting new 6th-12th grade scholars at Godwin Middle School and Godwin High School.
This FREE program assists scholars by providing workshops and individual meetings at their school on college-going topics, career exploration, financial literacy, college visits, study skills, financial aid awareness, assistance with completing financial aid applications, field trips, summer programming and more! The program is grant funded through the United States Department of Education. First priority for admission goes to scholars who meet federal low-income eligibility guidelines and those who would be the first in their family to attend college. Our application form is available in both English and Spanish.
To see eligibility details and to apply, visit: https://www.gvsu.edu/ets/how-to-join-22.htm
Experience Wyoming Parks & Recreation!
Wyoming's Parks and Recreation Department has prepared an exciting lineup of events and activities designed to make the most of the upcoming season. Dance classes, art classes, fitness, social events, and much more await you. Click the link below to see all the great offerings!
Get Active with GR Outside!
The GR Outside Gear Library is a collection of outdoor gear that is available to the entire community to borrow, such as outdoor clothing, camping, biking, kayaking, sledding gear and more. The Gear Library exists so that our community can go outside regardless of financial access to outdoor clothing and equipment. Memberships are FREE to those within Grand Rapids City Limits, and non-Grand Rapids have a small annual membership fee of $10 for an individual or $25 for the WHOLE family! Click here to learn more!
FREE Family Paddle Night w/ GR Outside
GR Outside will be at the Riverside Park Lagoon offering FREE 20 minute kayak rides August 23rd, from 5-8PM. No Registration Required!
- Paddlers under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult on the water.
Solo kayaks available for ages 10+, paddlers under 10 may ride in a tandem with an adult.
All equipment, and a basic paddling demo is included.
Saturday Kayak Rental
The GR Outside team is offering $5 an hour kayak rentals from 1:00 - 5:00 PM on August 31st in Canal Park. Drop in during available hours or reserve in advance using the link: Reserve a Kayak
Godwin Heights Public Schools proudly partners with Feeding America West Michiganm which provide mobile food truck pantries to our school district once a month. These distributions are at 4:45 pm in front of the high school on these dates:
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
If you have your own bags, please bring them!
Shop for Godwin Heights Gear
Contact Us
Front Office Email: susie.yoder@godwinschools.org
Español: dolores.perez@godwinschools.org
Location: 100 Wexford St SE, Wyoming, MI, USA
Phone: 616-252-2070
Website: https://ms.godwinschools.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GodwinMiddle