Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm

Front Office Email: susie.yoder@godwinschools.org

Espanol: 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

Student Handbook / Manual del Estudiante

Student Code of Conduct / Código de Conducta

School Menu

Principal's Email: urbanski@godwinschools.org

Phone: 616-252-2070 x3008

Our MAP testing is finishing this week, marking the last of the mandated tests for this school year. These assessments provide valuable insights into your child's academic progress, helping us know what they are ready to learn and how to best support them in the classrooms.

We have some fantastic field trips planned for our students. Our 6th graders will have outdoor learning experiences at Pinery Park on Thursday, May 9th, (or May 13th, depending on weather) and Yankee Springs on Thursday, May 16th. Our 8th graders will cap off the month with a trip to Michigan Adventures on Wednesday, May 29th.

In addition to these grade-level trips, our entire school will be attending the Youth Summit on Friday, May 10th. Hosted by the Above the Influence Kent County Youth Coalition at DeVos Place downtown, this event promises to be both educational and inspiring.

We are also hosting the "Move Up" day for a few hours on Friday, May 17th. This day serves as an opportunity to move up a grade, meet the teachers in the next grade level, and answer questions about the following year. We are excited to have our 8th grade to head to the High School and our 5th graders from North Godwin to visit our building.

8th Grade parents, please plan to join us for Farewell Night as we honor our 8th grade students and celebrate their transition to High School. The event will be taking place on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6pm at the High School auditorium.

Thank you for your continued support, and here's to some unforgettable weeks ahead!

The middle school team works hard to ensure your child is safe, learning, and a valued member of our building. If you'd like to commend a staff member for their exceptional work, please click here to complete this form. We look forward to sharing your positive messages with staff and our families alike.

May

5/8: Feeding America Food Truck; 8th Grade MAP Math; Girls Soccer Away Game vs. GRPS 1

5/9: 8th Grade MAP Reading; Boys Baseball Home Game vs. Tri-Unity Christian; home track meet

5/10: Youth Summit

5/11: Softball Home Game vs. Lee Middle

5/13: FREE PHYSICALS; ; 6th Grade Pinery Park Groundswell Project; Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Kent City; Board of Education Meeting 6PM

5/14: Boys Baseball Home Game vs. Potter's House

5/15 FREE PHYSICALS; Girls Soccer Away Game vs. GRPS 3

5/16: 6th Grade Field Trip to Yankee Springs Rec Area; Boys Baseball Home Game vs. NorthPointe Christian; Softball Away Game vs. Lee Middle

5/17: Move-Up Day

5/20: FREE PHYSICALS; Girls Soccer Away Game vs. Kelloggsville Middle

5/22: Early Release - 1:10 PM; Girls Soccer Home Game vs. GRPS 2; 8th Gd Farewell Night

5/24: Half Day - 11:15 AM

5/27: No School

5/29: 8th Gd Michigan Adventure Trip; Final Exams

5/30: Final Exams

5/31: Final Exams; Half Day, Last Day of School - 11:15 AM

June

6/10: Summer School Begins; Board of Education Meeting 6 PM

6/12: Feeding America Food Truck

6/24: Budget Hearing Board of Education Meeting 5:30PM & Special Meeting @ 6PM

July

7/10: Feeding America Food Truck

August

8/6: GHMS Orientation

8/7: Feeding America Food Truck

September

9/30: Picture Retakes

Who: Any GHMS Student

Cost: FREE

Where: MS Health Room

When: Monday, May 13; Wednesday, May 15; Monday, May 20

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• You or your child must pick up a physical form from the office.

• Forms must be completely filled out, on both sides, by parent and student (except for the “PHYSICAL EXAMINATION” section). A parent/guardian signature is required on the physical form before physical can be given.

• These forms must be completed and turned into the Middle School Main Office.

If you have any questions, please contact the office at 616-252-2070.

7:30 - 9:15 AM - 7th Hour Final Exam

9:20 - 11:00 AM - 6th Hour Final Exam

(A Lunch: 11:00 AM - 11:35 AM) (5th Hour [A]: 11:04 AM - 11:48 AM)

(B Lunch: 11:48 - 12:22) (5th Hour [B]: 11:39-12:22)

12:26 PM - 1:06 PM - 4th Hour

1:10 PM -1:50 PM - 2nd Hour

1:54 PM - 2:35 PM - 1st Hour

7:30 - 9:15 AM - 4th Hour Final Exam

9:20 - 11:00 AM - 2nd Hour Final Exam

(A Lunch: 11:00 AM - 11:35 AM) (5th Hour [A]: 11:04 AM - 11:48 AM)

(B Lunch: 11:48 - 12:22) (5th Hour [B]: 11:39-12:22)

12:26 PM - 1:06 PM - 1st Hour

1:10 PM -1:50 PM - 6th Hour

1:54 PM - 2:35 PM - 7th Hour

7:30 - 9:15 AM - 5th Hour Exam

9:20 AM - 11:15 AM - 1st Hour Exam

It's not too late to raise those grades and prep for upcoming exams! Join us for tutoring Monday - Friday, 2:40-3:15.

*please note transportation is not provided afterward.

Tutoring will NOT be avaiable the last week of school, Tuesday, May 28- Friday, May 31.

Thank you to everyone who has already enrolled in summer school. There's still space available for registration - click here to sign your child up. The registration deadline is May 24th. Parents will receive notifications regarding their children's approval after this date.

Summer school will be held Monday through Thursday, commencing on June 10th and concluding on July 25th. Please be aware that there will be no summer programming from July 1st to July 4th.

For further details, please consult the attached document below.

The TRIO Educational Talent Search program of Grand Valley State University is currently accepting new 6th-8th grade scholars at the Godwin Heights Middle School.

This FREE program assists scholars by providing workshops and individual meetings at their schools 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

For any questions or further details please contact Lester Anderson 616-331-7114, andelest@gvsu.edu or lester.anderson@godwinschools.org

Medication stored in the middle school office for the 2023-2024 school year must be collected by 3:30 PM on Thursday, June 6th; otherwise, it will be disposed of. Please note that we cannot retain medication over the summer. New medical release forms will need to be signed for the upcoming school year, 2024-2025 at the beginning of the new school year.

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.

Who: Any GHMS Student

Cost: FREE

Where: MS Health Room

When: Monday, May 13; Wednesday, May 15; Monday, May 20

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• You or your child must pick up a physical form from the office.

• Forms must be completely filled out, on both sides, by parent and student (except for the “PHYSICAL EXAMINATION” section). A parent/guardian signature is required on the physical form before physical can be given.

• These forms must be completed and turned into the Middle School Main Office.

If you have any questions, please contact the office at 616-252-2070.

At volleyball camp, you’ll be able to build your skills under the guidance of an experienced coach and older players. Plus, it's a fantastic chance to meet new friends!

Details:

Who’s invited: Incoming 7th graders to high school seniors

When: June 3rd – June 5th, 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Cost:Only $15 (Includes camp t-shirt!)

How to Register:

1. Pick up a camp t-shirt order form in the office.
2. Return the form with your payment to the office by Thursday, May 23th.

For any inquiries or clarifications, feel free to reach out to Coach Kyle directly at 616-901-3792. She’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.

Girls who will be in 7th and 8th grade next year who are interested in attending cheer camp, click here and fill out the form. For any questions, feel free to contact Coach Lani: Phone: 616-856-5144; Email: ailanimata6@gmail.com

Click here for track stats. Practice is every day 3-4pm at the field located at 35th and Hilcroft. For any questions, reach out to Coach Mathews at 616-272-2829, coachdog54@gmail.com or Coach B at nick.blaskowski@godwinschools.org.

Practice is every day 3-4:30pm on the turf of the football field. For any questions, contact Coach Hai at braima.hai@godwinschools.org.

Practice is every day right after school until 5pm at Hillcroft Park, which is right next to the football field (340 32nd St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49548). For any questions, contact Coach Andrew Underhill Phone: (616)-970-1523, Email: andrewunderhill48@gmail.com

A meeting was held Tuesday, 4/30. Further details have not yet been communiticated to the office. Contact Brandon Kimble, Athletic Director, for information: brandon.kimble@godwinschools.org

School is students’ first job. They’re learning how to show up for school on time every day so that when they graduate and get a job, they’ll have built that discipline. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and find good jobs. High school graduate makes, on average, a million dollars more than a dropout over a lifetime.

If your child will miss school for any reason, please 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 no call is received before noon the day after your student is absent, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

If your child attended an appointment, please have your child submit a note from the office they visited to excuse their absence upon their return.

The normal attendance expectations for any given child 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.

Godwin Heights Public Schools are held by law to report tardies and absences in excess of the guidelines listed above to the Kent Intermediate School District Office of Truancy and School Attendance-State Law Enforcement Division.

Families should avoid extended vacations that require their children to miss school. Try to line up vacations with the school’s schedule. Chronic absence not only affects the absentee students; it disrupts learning for an entire classroom when teachers have to repeat lessons for students returning to class.

When notified in advance, the office can provide a pre-arranged absence form to the student that must be signed by each teacher, administration, and parent/guardian. It is the family’s responsibility to get all missing assignments. Classwork should be completed before the absence unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher.

All vacation days may accumulate toward the attendance policy.

Exciting news! Hand2Hand signup is back for the 2nd semester at Godwin Heights Middle School. If your family could benefit from weekend food assistance, CLICK HERE to sign up.

How it works:

• Free and confidential participation.
• At the end of the week students who are signed up for the program will receive a minimum of 10 food items from the Hand2Hand pantry located on the school campus. These food items will be a combination of breakfast, snacks, lunch and/or dinner items. While the food items are meant for the student, they can be shared among the family as well. (Please note: if your student or another family member has food allergies it will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check the food your student brings home each week to ensure the food doesn’t contain ingredients which could cause an allergic reaction).

To learn more about Hand2Hand, please visit their website: http://h2hkids.org.

Godwin Heights Public Schools has a proud partnership with Feeding America West Michigan. They provide mobile food truck pantries to our school district once a month.

Our Godwin Heights Feeding America truck distributions are at 4:45 pm in front of the high school, Here are the dates the truck will be present:

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

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!

The Literacy Center of West Michigan offers free English classes for parents. While the current semester is closed, registration for the Fall semester is just around the corner. Call the number on the flyer for more information and to secure your spot!

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!

Please be aware that for the safety of our students, all medications must be stored in the main office. This includes medicated cough drops, pain relivers, etc.

For over-the-counter medications to be kept and administered at school, we require a parent signature. Prescribed medications must have both a physician's signature and a parent's signature for administration.

Medication stored in the middle school office for the 2023-2024 school year must be collected by 3:30 PM on Thursday, June 6th; otherwise, it will be disposed of. Please note that we cannot retain medication over the summer. New medical release forms will need to be signed for the upcoming school year, 2024-2025 at the beginning of the new school year.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.

We have free COVID tests in the office, available for all interested staff and parents.

As a Title One school, our building receives funding from the federal government to support instruction. In order to receive that funding, we must communicate specific information with our families. Linked below is a letter letting you know that, at any time, you may request information about the qualifications of the staff working in our building. If you have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to our State and Federal Programs Director, Mary Lang. She can be reached via email at lang@godwinschools.org or by phone at 616-252-2030.