GPPSS Update

Our teachers at Defer Elementary had a great time learning literacy and word study skills with Julie Bourke during our district wide professional development day.

It's gonna be the best day ever! Grosse Pointe North High School presents 'The SpongeBob Musical' from November 16th through the 18th at Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center. The performance on Nov. 17th starts at 7 p.m., while Nov. 18th has performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. There is an opportunity to meet SpongeBob and friends after the 2 p.m. show on Nov. 18th.

Tickets:

Students $7, Adults $18 in advance

Students $8, Adults $20 at the door

As a reward for students, Pierce Middle School hosted a 'Staff vs Students Flag Football Game' on Wednesday, November 15. The game was full of friendly competition and resulted in a victory for staff.

Parcells and Brownell life skills students cooked and carved 48 turkeys (24 per school) this week for Motor City Mitten Mission. This meal is part of Homelessness Awareness week. They plan to feed 150 people for community outreach meals and an additional 150 people at their shelter service later this evening.

This was truly a district wide effort with Grosse Pointe North's culinary contributing cornbread muffins and veggies, Grosse Pointe South's culinary contributing dinner rolls and stuffing, and Pierce's life skills contributing brownies.

"We have been making turkeys for the last 10 years and it's such an amazing experience for students. We are so thankful to the community for their donations to make this possible. Huge thank you's to the building principals who shared our sign up genius in their Friday newsletters to help spread the word," said Parcells life skills teacher Andrea Gruenwald.

Third graders at Monteith Elementary were hard at work this week as they began planning a fun, interactive project. Students read "Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade" by Melissa Sweet and are working on creating their own balloon and float creations. Students had a variety of ideas from the popular book characters like Dog Man to hockey players. This is a school wide activity led by Mrs. Stackpoole during their library special. We are excited to see everyone's completed projects!

Pierce Middle School hosted their 49th Annual Turkey Trot on Friday, November 10th. The half-mile race included boys and girls in each of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. First and second-place finishers won a butterball turkey! The best time of the day was Everett Wood, 2:42.

Congratulations to our winners:

Charlott Bond, Emma Ford, Nyla Burrascano, Avery Miller, Blake Denner, Owen Nowicki, Calvin Decker, Jordan St. John, Paige Garbo, Dalina Kokoshi, Eleanor Pilsner, Lydia Thomason, Wyatt Roberts, Oscar Resnick, Everett Wood, Jack Stewart

Savannah Seabrooks, a senior at Grosse Pointe North High School, won first place in a contest sponsored by the Healthy Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods coalition. The contest is part of an awareness month called "No Vape November...or EVER" which educates teens and the community about the dangers of teen vaping. Seabrooks' poster was chosen out of 24 entries from Grosse Pointe High School students. Her article titled : “Peer Pressure: The effects it has on vaping, young adults" was also featured in the Grosse Pointe News.

On Tuesday, November 14, the Board of Education held a regular meeting where they approved the following:

• Regular Meeting Minutes for October 24, 2023
• HR Report for November 14, 2023
• 2023 Audit Report
• RFP for Parking Lots
• Playground RFP for ADA-Compliant Structures
• Special Meeting Minutes for October 26, 2023

The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) gave an update on the Superintendent Search. A representative from the firm reviewed stakeholder input and the rubric, developed interview questions and selection criteria, and reviewed a timeline to the board.

Previewed for action November 28 were these business items:

• Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes for November 14, 2023
  
• Approval of Consent Agenda for Curriculum
  
• Approval of British Lit
  
• Approval of Anatomy and Physiology
  
• Approval of Middle School/High School Program of Studies

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, TUESDAY, November 28, 6:30 p.m., Brownell MPR
  
• BOE Training, Wednesday, November 29, 5:30 pm, Barnes PLS
  

• BOE Policy & Contracts, Monday, December 4, 5 p.m., Barnes PLS

• BOE Finance & Facilities, Monday, December 4, 6:30 p.m., Barnes PLS

• BOE Curriculum, Tuesday, December 5, 5 p.m., Barnes PLS

• BOE Community Engagement, Tuesday, December 5, 6:30 p.m., Barnes PLS

• BOE Superintendent Interviews, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 6:30 pm, Brownell MPR

• BOE Superintendent Interviews, Thursday, December 7, 2023, 6:30 pm, Brownell MPR

• BOE Regular Meeting, TUESDAY, December 12, 6:30 p.m., Brownell MPR

All students in Michigan public schools will be able to receive one breakfast and one lunch daily at no cost for the 2023-24 School Year. Important things to know:

• Students must have three out of the five food groups for the meal to be free.
• There will still be a charge if students only want milk and for ala carte purchases (like an extra slice of pizza).
• Student accounts WILL NOT be allowed to go negative.
• Families who would qualify for free or reduced meals should still fill out an application online. You can log in to the K-12 preregistration forms to do so.

Menus from Taher, our new food service provider, are now live at this Food Service link on the website. or you can click the Meals and Nutrition button under district news. Please note:

• Use the "Schools" dropdown menu to select your school.
• Then click "Menu." Use the arrow to move to the month you want to view. Please note that menus are currently available for the month of September only.
• Nutritional information is available in the right hand column if viewing on your computer, or below the menu item if viewing on your phone.
• If your student has specific dietary needs or you have a question, please use the "Contact Us" form on the Taher website

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.

November 21st-8th Grade Visitation Day 8:30 to 10:30am

November 21st & 22nd - Grosse Pointe South PB&J Drive

November 30th-Pierce Instrumental Concert

December 1st & 2nd-Grosse Pointe South Choir Sounds of the Season

December 2nd-Maire Elementary PTO Holiday Event

December 2nd- Defer Elementary Craft Fair

December 2nd-Parcells 48th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar

December 4th- Communities United in Diversity Meeting

December 5th-Parcells Winter Vocal Concert

December 6th- Pierce Vocal Winter Concert

December 7th- North Vocal Winter Concert