GPPSS Update
Rocket Launches at Richard
Mr. Williams' 3/4 class celebrated the end of their NASA SPARX program by creating and testing rockets. The NASA Sparking Participation and Real-world eXperiences in STEM (or SPARX for short) lasted throughout the school-year and gave students opportunities to learn about NASA's new Artemis mission, the first flight to the moon in over 50 years! Students learned about the physics of flight, and even zoomed and asked questions to NASA astronauts. The experience culminated with designing rockets to shoot off, with special help from Dr. Kernan, Mrs. Deveroux, and Officers Jon Ross and Chris. Students quickly discovered how the position of the rocket fins effected the trajectory of their rockets.
8th Annual Suicide Prevention Walk & Mental Health Fair
North's Peer to Peer students and South's Wellness Club students supported the 8th annual Suicide Prevention Walk and Mental Health Fair. The weather held out and it was a beautiful day to honor those impacted by suicide. It was uplifting to see our community come together to support such an important cause.
AVID at Parcells
On May 9, the Parcells AVID program took a college visit to Oakland University. sixth through eighth grade students were provided an overview of the school, took a guided campus tour of classrooms, facilities and dorm rooms and were treated to a buffet style cafeteria lunch.
The tour guides were in agreement that Parcells was the best middle school group they've ever encountered and rivaled most high schools that had visited. While the students loved all aspects of the trip, it was the the lunch that stood out as highlight #1.
Richard earns an award from Artsonia.com
Richard Elementary School has earned a certificate award from Artsonia.com for (the art teacher Erin Maday) photographing and uploading 10,000 individual artworks over the last several years. This year, Natalie Zoufal is also teaching a few classes at Richard and they both use Artsonia at their buildings and photograph every child's artworks throughout the year for parents to interact with their child's free online art portfolio.
Parcells Middle School
Parcells seventh and eighth grade band, choir and orchestra students traveled to Chicago, IL on May 9-10. They performed at the Field Museum, explored Millennium Park, Grant Park and Navy Pier, learned about Chicago architecture on a river cruise, traveled to the 360 Chicago observation deck, shopped the Magnificent Mile and made lifelong memories!
Parcells was given the honor of having the Detroit Symphony Orchestra perform for them in their auditorium. They were one of three schools in the Metro Detroit area to be chosen for this honor. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the once in a lifetime experience. The DSO's sound and musicality was impressive and it kept the students' rapt attention throughout the performance. It was definitely a day to be proud to be a Parcells Panther!
Leslie Saroli, Parcells Vocal Music Teacher, applied for the DAR "Stars and Stripes" grant to fund a field trip for next year's seventh and eighth grade choir members to travel to our state Capitol to celebrate Constitution Day in mid-September. They will sing patriotic music at the Capitol building in Lansing, tour the building, enjoy a lunch at the Pizza House in East Lansing and maybe even sneak in a tour of Michigan State University's music building or a workshop with an MSU music faculty member! The grant money earned will cover the cost of a charter bus and lunch so that all students can participate without a financial burden. Thank you to Barb Davis and Deann Newman for coming to Parcells on Tuesday morning to present the larger-than-life check during 1st hour choir!
Off & Out of Sight Reminder
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.
