Wolverine Weekly
GHMS Updates and Notes (4/24/24)
Contact Us
Front Office Email: susie.yoder@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
Principal's Corner
Principal's Email: urbanski@godwinschools.org
Phone: 616-252-2070 x3008
I'm filled with pride for the perseverance of our 8th-grade students! I want to extend my gratitude to all of you for the tremendous effort and dedication shown during the PSAT testing on April 17th. But that's not all – I also want to give a huge shout out to all the students who participated in the MSTEP testing over the last couple of weeks. Your hard work and perseverance are truly inspiring!
As we gear up for the final stretch of mandated testing with MAP testing next week, I encourage everyone to stay focused and give it your best. Remember, your determination and dedication are the keys to your success.
Let's not forget about the excitement of spring sports and the fun events that May promises to bring. From grade-level field trips to final exams scheduled for May 29th, 30th, and 31st, there's much to look forward to as we wrap up the school year.
For those considering summer school, now is the perfect time to sign up. It's a fantastic opportunity for students seeking additional support with academics.
Additionally, I'd like to remind everyone that registration for the next school year is currently open. Please ensure to re-enroll your students by May 3rd to secure their places for the upcoming academic year.
As we begin the final month of the 2023-2024 school year, let's continue to work together towards a strong finish.
Staff Shout-Out Opportunity
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.
Tomorrow: Art Show!
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!
We hope you will save the evening of April 25th open to come join us to celebrate the tremendous artists across our district at our art show! We are so excited to showcase over 400 pieces of art, dazzle you with some senior spotlight displays, entertain you with interactive art and - new this year - celebrate some of our cultural diversity with a Global Gathering performance! We can't wait to see you there!
Time: 6-7:30pm
Location: GHHS Auxiliary Gym Upper Track
Free admission!
Register for Next School Year by May 3
Each year, GHPS students must be re-enrolled for the upcoming school year. This is now a quick and easy process that can be completed online beginning Monday, March 25, using ParentVue. All returning families need to be re-registered by May 3, 2024. You will be verifying your student information and electronically signing consent forms for the 2024-2025 school year. If your address has changed, you will need to upload two (2) new proofs of residency.
If you reside out of Godwin's district, you will need to fill out a School of Choice (SOC) application. The SOC application period will be open April 8 through May 10, 2024.
The first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year has not yet been confirmed.
Summer School Registration
Click the attachment for more information. The registration deadline is May 24th.
Now Accepting TRIO Applications for 24-25 School Year
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 pictures are from our last field trip where scholars got to explore the campus of Grand Rapids Community College and later were able to burn off some energy at Battle GR! Although we are done with field trips this semester we will have some summer opportunities available that we will release information on soon.
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
School Calendar
April
4/24: 8th Grade MSTEP Science; Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Kelloggsville Middle
4/25: 8th Grade MSTEP Social Studies; District Art Show 6-7:30pm
4/29: Girls Soccer Away Game vs. GRPS 2; Track Home Meet vs. Belding Middle
4/30: Boys Baseball Away Game vs. NorthPointe Christian
May
5/1: Early Release - 1:10 PM; Guskus Spring Athletic Pictures; Girls Soccer Home Game vs. NorthPointe Christian
5/2: 6th Grade MAP Math Test; 7th Grade Field Trip to 3 Mile Project; Boys Baseball Home Game vs. Lee Middle
5/3: Donate for Donuts Fundraiser; 6th Grade MAP Reading Test
5/4: Softball Home Game vs Lee Middle
5/6: 7th Grade MAP Math; Girls Soccer Away Game vs. Hopkins Middle; Track Home Meet vs. Comstock Park
5/7: 7th Grade MAP Reading; Boys Baseball Away Game vs. Zion Christian
5/8: Feeding America Food Truck; 8th Grade MAP Math; Girls Soccer Away Game vs. GRPS 1
5/9: 8th Grade MAP Reading; 6th Grade Pinery Park Groundswell Project; Boys Baseball Home Game vs. Tri-Unity Christian
5/10: Youth Summit
5/11: Softball Home Game vs. Lee Middle
5/13: Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Kent City; Board of Education Meeting 6PM
5/14: Boys Baseball Home Game vs. Potter's House
5/15 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: 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
8/7: Feeding America Food Truck
State Mandated Spring Testing
All students in grades 6-8 are participating in State Testing, as well as District Level Assessments. The PSAT and MSTEP are both tests designed to measure where students are in their academic progress and based on Michigan State Academic Standards. The MAP test is our district-level assessment that we use 3 times per year to monitor student growth throughout the year.
The specific testing days are listed below. Please do your best to get your student to school on time, well-rested, and with their charged chromebook.
6th Grade Testing
Thursday, May 2- MAP Math
Friday, May 3- MAP Reading
7th Grade Testing
Monday, May 6- MAP Math
Tuesday, May 7- MAP Reading
8th Grade Testing
Wednesday, April 24- MSTEP Science
Thursday, April 25- MSTEP Social Studies
Wednesday, May 8- MAP Math
Thursday, May 9- MAP Reading
Final Exams Schedule
Wednesday, May 29th
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
Thursday, May 30th
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
Friday, May 31st
7:30 - 9:15 AM - 5th Hour Exam
9:20 AM - 11:15 AM - 1st Hour Exam
Pre-Order Your Yearbook Today
Click here to place your order or scan the QR code below. Don't miss out on the memories!
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.
- TRACK: 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.
- GIRL'S SOCCER: 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.
- BASEBALL: 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
- SOFTBALL: All Students interested in joining the softball team, please click here to sign up
Spring Athletics Photos will be held May 1st @ 1:30pm.
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
Attendance & Being On-Time Matters!
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.
Attendance Policy
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.
Reporting an Absence
A 24-hour answering machine has been installed for your convenience in the office, to report the day that your student will be absent. If no call is received before noon the day after your student is absent, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
Going on Vacation?
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.
Community Resources
Weekend Food Assistance Available
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!
Free English Classes for Parents (Fall 2024)
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!
Health Corner
Parent's Guide to Keeping Kids Home From School
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!
Medicine Policy
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. Thank you for your cooperation.
COVID Policy
We have free COVID tests in the office, available for all interested staff and parents.
Parents Right to Know
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.