GPPSS Update

It's that time of year! Enroll now for Kindergarten & Young Fives for the 2025-2026 school year. Visit www.gpschools.org/enrollment to complete our online enrollment process!

March is Reading Month, and our Board of Education members, along with our administration team, are visiting elementary schools to guest-read to students, sharing their love of books and inspiring young readers.

This past weekend 33 North DECA students competed at the State competition. Nine members of the North team won their events and as state champions will get to compete at the DECA International conference. Seven students finished as state runner's up. In total, the North DECA team collected over 20 medals/honors for their work.

Monteith's March is Reading Month Spirit Week concluded on Friday with "Readers are Rockstars" Day and a rockstar assembly. During the assembly, rockstars voted for by their peers from each class participated in a rockstar parade. The winners of their One Book, One School (BFG) program were drawn, and the annual bookmark contest winners were announced. The event ended in a presentation called The Masked Reader, where six staff members, including Principal Dr. Keelean, were disguised in inflatable costumes and worked together to read a book using disguised voices. The kids were very excited and had a great time trying to guess who the readers were. The event was organized by Library Media Specialist Michelle Stackpoole, who hosted the assembly dressed as Taylor Swift.

The Tuition Based Preschool Program at Barnes celebrated National Reading Month with Mystery Reader visits all month long!

South's Officers, Jon Ross and Jim LaBeau, were guest speakers in Nicole Westfall's Health class talking about binge-drinking, vaping, and other dangerous drugs, like Fentanyl.

Pierce eighth graders, Addison P. and Eva K., competed in the G.P. Optimist Club Oratorical Speech Contest. Eva took first place and Addison took second place. Eva will continue on to compete in the next round of the competition. Go Trojans!

Mason Elementary is proud to once again achieve Emerald status as a certified Green School! Thanks to the Green Team, Ms. Gealer, and all staff for their dedication to sustainability.

Students enjoyed hands-on learning, including third graders presenting Michigan research projects and an interdisciplinary unit on Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes blending literature and art.

Firefighters and officers visited to teach fire safety, while Parcells NJHS students inspired young readers during Read Across America. Board President Worden also joined them, reading to Young 5 and Kindergarten students and admiring their creative Leprechaun traps.

Thank you to everyone who makes Mason a fun place for learning and growth!

The DIA is excited to present the 4th annual Wayne County High School Art Exhibition, June 20 – July 20, 2025.

Students in grades 9-12 who attend public or private school in Wayne County are invited to submit artwork for consideration in this juried exhibition.

Submissions are due by March 23rd and approximately 70 artworks will be selected for display at the DIA.

For more information on this exhibition and how to submit artwork for consideration visit Wayne County High School Art Exhibition | Detroit Institute of Arts Museum

Artists selected for this exhibition can also have their artwork included in the extension of the DIA’s exhibition immediately following at the Guardian Building.

Pierce students celebrated Pi Day on Friday, March 14. Each grade level participated in different Pi related activities such as: reading Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, Creating Bar charts with the consecutive digits of pi, finding the circumference, area, diameter and radius of different fruit pies, as well as evaluating equations to find the volume of a cylinder, cone, or sphere. In addition to learning about the irrational number math classes celebrated with round treats together.

Maire had several guest readers visit their classrooms this March, but one especially memorable day was when three police officers stopped by to read. Officers Jim, Ryan, and Ross from Grosse Pointe Farms not only read to the students but also gave them a tour of a patrol car, School Resource Officer Jim’s specially designed car, and a fire truck. Officer Jim explained his role as the School Resource Officer and shared that his car’s design was created by a senior at South. The officers went out of their way to describe their daily responsibilities, making the visit both educational and exciting for the students.

The Media Specialist and Art teacher at Ferry created an all school book accompanied by artwork to highlight Black History Month. QR Codes can be found around the building to pull up the book and specific pages.

Congratulations to North Pointe Editor-in-Chief Katie M. and Managing Editor Isabella B. who were both awarded MIPA Student Journalism Staff last week. MIPA's Student Journalist Staff recognizes outstanding graduating seniors who participate in student media. Katie was awarded for her portfolio in the area of News Design and Isabella for News Writing. They were 2 of 15 students selected in the state for this honor.

The 4th Graders enjoy playing with a Makie Makie Operation Game game they built in the library

Students had a fun time creating dirt pudding cups with Taher.

This past weekend, the Grosse Pointe Destination Imagination teams participated in the East Regional Showcase, where they presented their solutions to a central challenge involving engineering, technical components, scenery, costumes, and props. They also competed in an Instant Challenge, testing their ability to think on their feet and collaborate under time pressure. Seven of the eleven teams from Pierce, Defer, and Kerby will move on to the State Tournament at Albion College in early April. These teams, representing a variety of categories, are showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills as they head to the next level of competition.

Third graders did a great job at their market today. Students were able to shop around with their classmates and pitch their products to customers.

Middle school students are invited to join the GP Rallyers, a competitive tennis club designed to introduce players to match play and prepare them for high school tennis.

Since 2016, the Rallyers have helped young athletes gain their first competitive experience, with many former players going on to earn All-Conference, All-State, and State Championship titles.

Dates: April 10 – May 22, 2025

Location: Grosse Pointe North’s newly renovated tennis complex

Open to: Boys and girls in middle school (must bring a racquet)

Practices will be held on Thursdays and Fridays, with matches against other area club teams on Sunday afternoons. Players will compete in singles and doubles matches, with exhibition matches available.

The cost is $100 per player, which includes a team shirt and the use of balls for practices and matches. All proceeds support the Grosse Pointe North tennis program.

For more details, contact Coach John VanAlst at 313-269-4869.

Click here to see the latest athletic news from South.

All In the Timing by David Ives, (Spring play) March 14-15, 2025

Nineteen crew & production students and fifteen actors put on the critically acclaimed series of one-acts by David Ives. Small “vignettes” between scenes were also created by students and served as transitions between each act, allowing all company members to shine!

Thespian Festival - Dec 11-12, 2024

Thirteen drama students attended the International Thespian Festival Michigan Festival in East Lansing for two days. Four students competed in Thespies:

• Silas Wooten & Will Murray (musical duet): Good Rating
• Lauren Kaled (dramatic monologue): Excellent Rating
• A Schroeder (dramatic monologue): Superior Rating

Into the Woods (Fall musical) November Results in Sutton Foster Acting Awards for two North Students:

Almost 100 students participated in the fall musical including orchestra/pit members, cast, and crew! Students were adjudicated by the Sutton Foster awards out of MSU. Both acting award winners may go on to compete at the state level in May.

• Will Muray: Sutton Foster Acting award
• Silas Wooten: Sutton Foster Acting award

🏅 MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble Success

North High School's Band and Orchestra students delivered outstanding performances at the MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble Festival, with multiple students earning 1st Division Superior Ratings. Special congratulations to Yuxuan “Eva” Dai (Flute) and Keira Finley (Bassoon) for their Outstanding Soloist nominations, as well as the Sax Quartet ensemble for their top-tier recognition.

🎻 MSBOA District Festival Highlights

North’s Wind Ensemble, Concert Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra each earned 1st Division Superior Ratings, making them eligible for the State Festival. Meanwhile, Parcells Middle School musicians also shined, with their Concert and Symphony Bands, along with the 7th & 8th Combined Orchestra, achieving Excellent Ratings.

🎺 DSO Civic Youth Ensemble Performers

Select Parcells Middle School students had the honor of performing at Orchestra Hall as part of the DSO Civic Youth Ensemble, playing alongside top musicians from Michigan and Ohio.

🎤 Vocal Achievements

Parcells and North Choir students brought their A-game to MSVMA competitions, earning Superior Ratings across various solo and ensemble categories. Special recognition to those who participated in State Honors Choir and All-State Band & Orchestra.

🌟 Looking Ahead

Our Outstanding Soloists and Ensembles will be competing next month at Eastern Michigan University. Best of luck to all participants—we are so proud of you!

👏 Bravo to all our talented musicians for their dedication and hard work! Big thank you to the Performing Arts department for sharing this good news!

Our elementary schools recently wrapped up their spring concerts. Great job to all of our students who participated!

Grosse Pointe South’s culinary teams earned impressive 3rd place finishes in both the Culinary and Pasta competitions at the Michigan ProStart event.

In the Culinary competition, students created a unique three-course meal, showcasing their skills and creativity. In Pasta, they impressed with a unique pasta dish.

Congratulations to the Grosse Pointe South team for their hard work and success!

Click here to see the latest news from the TV Production program.

Join us for a summer filled with fun activities for every interest—sports, arts, STEM, and more! Our camps offer something for everyone, in a safe and engaging environment.

Register today at gpschools.org/summer!

All secondary students are to have access to a technology learning device. The GPPSS BYOD Handbook supports the district's strategic plan for student learning and growth. Students use their technology learning device to access Schoology -- the GPPSS's Learning Management System.

Additionally, cell phones are OFF AND OUT OF SIGHT all day for middle school, and during class time for high school students. If students need to be reached during the school day, please continue to contact the main office.

Middle school students may use their phones before the first school bell and after the final school bell. High school students may use their phone during passing time and at lunch, as well as before and after school.

As winter approaches, we wanted to provide you with important information about how inclement weather may affect school operations. Our top priority is the safety of our students, staff, and families, while also striving to maintain as much instructional time as possible.

Decisions to close school or adjust schedules are made thoughtfully, with careful consideration of the impact on our community. While the District reviews all available information to make the best possible determination, we recognize that winter weather brings inherent risks. Ultimately, parents have the authority to decide what is safest for their students under their unique circumstances.

On Monday, March 3rd, the Board of Education held a regular meeting where they approved the following:

• Regular Meeting Minutes for February 24, 2025
• HR Report
• CFO Contract
• Human Sexuality Advisory Board
• Board Expectations/Superintendent Benchmarks - MASB Superintendent Evaluation Tool sent to Board Members from President Worden

On Monday, March 31st, the agenda action items will be:

• Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes for March 3, 2025
• Approval of South Field Trip to Peru
• Approval of Board Expectations/Superintendent Benchmarks - MASB Superintendent Evaluation Tool sent to Board Members from President Worden

You may review each item on the Board of Education agenda by visiting the district calendar and clicking the date of the meeting, then clicking the agenda, then each hyperlinked action item.

Please watch the district calendar on the website for the latest information on board and committee meetings. Upcoming BOE meetings now include:

• BOE Regular Meeting, Monday, March 31, 2025, 7:00 pm, Brownell MPR

March 24 through March 28- No School, Spring Break