GSD E-Blast
April 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Spring is finally here; before you know it, school will be out for the summer! We love Spring time in GSD as we have many special activities and programs happening in our buildings. From Kindergarten Roundup, 6th and 9th-grade orientation, concerts, and activity nights, we have something for everyone this Spring! Don’t forget to check with your child’s school on what events will take place in April, May, and June. Please make sure to follow your child’s school and the district on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as you will see amazing pictures and posts from all over the district of what great educational and fun activities our students at GSD are participating in!
Your partner in education,
Amy Conway
Superintendent
Spark's Corner
Research shows that being happy and positive primes the brain to be more successful and productive. Promoting positivity will enhance our student’s academic ability and develop them into happy and positive thinkers and leaders. Each month we will highlight a building or staff member that is spreading “The Orange” (Happiness) through Gibraltar!
Fun-Filled Night Boosts Literacy Love at Downriver STEM at Weiss
Weiss's recent Bingo for Books/Literacy Night event not only focused on promoting literacy but also helped to foster a positive school culture among our community. The event was a huge success, with around 200 people attending and eagerly participating in the fun-filled evening of games, prizes, and literacy strategies.
The school understands the importance of promoting literacy and providing resources to families, especially as a Title 1 school. Every child who attended the event walked away with at least six books, which not only encouraged reading but also helped to boost their happiness and love for learning. Additionally, every family received a wealth of literacy strategies to support reading and writing at home, which further fostered a positive school culture. Even those who were unable to attend the event received books, resources, and strategies to take home with their child throughout the school day.
The success of the event would not have been possible without the contributions of various members of the Weiss community. The PTO provided all the books used as BINGO prizes, and the GSD food service team provided a delicious meal, which was enjoyed by everyone in attendance. The staff members who volunteered their time and expertise to make the event a success were also appreciated and recognized for their efforts.
Above all, the outstanding leadership and organization of the event by Mrs. Pidgeon, Mrs. Bongiorno, and Mrs. Fleming deserves special recognition. It was a joy to see so many families engaged in promoting literacy and having fun at the same time!
Kindergarten Round Up is Coming!
Do you have a child at home who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2023? Do you know someone who does, perhaps a friend or a neighbor? If so, Gibraltar School District has a spot waiting just for them in our kindergarten classrooms next year! Gibraltar School District offers both a traditional Kindergarten program as well as a Young Fives Kindergarten program. Both of these programs have a strong focus on the math and literacy skills needed for a solid foundation through the course of the formative elementary years. Registration opened on February 21. Once you register, please join us for an informational night, for parents and prospective students, on April 11 at 6:00. These will be held in each elementary building. Visit our website for more information!
http://www.gibdist.net/about/register-students/kindergarten-young-5s-registration
Carlson High School
CHS Band & Choir
Congratulations to the Carlson Wind Ensemble for earning Straight 1st Division ratings at last week's Michigan Scholastic Band and Orchestra Festival! The Wind Ensemble performed 3 pieces of music -- March of the Belgium Paratroopers, A Basque Lullaby, and Chanteys (Their Required Piece). The ensemble was also given 5 minutes to study and perform a brand-new piece of music. They performed this new piece with confidence and a high level of musicianship earning a 1st division rating for sight reading as well! Congratulations Band!!
Additionally, in the first solo and ensemble competition with the Downriver Choir Association at Woodhaven High School, all six students received a 1 score which is the highest rating. Congratulations to Emilie Norton, Olivia Owsinek, Jack Sheridan, Jaydelynn Haney, Anthony Chiarelli, and Cameryn Beatty-Burnett.
Chapman Elementary School
Kindergarten takes on Imagination Station
The Kindergarten class at Chapman went to Imagination Station in Toledo, Ohio on March 9th. They explored their science curriculum through hands-on activities and had a blast. The students worked with push and pull systems, explored in water, played in an area to explore various professions and more!
The Kindergarteners also attended a workshop where they learned about different types of weather through experimentation and demonstration. The students were blown away when they saw a cloud forming in front of their eyes and when snow appeared in their hands! This field trip truly helped solidify science skills taught in the kindergarten classroom curriculum.
Hunter Elementary School
Reading Month in the Early Childhood Program at Hunter
The fun of reading month made its way down to our littlest Hornets in the Early Childhood Program (ECP). ECP has been celebrating reading all month long. We had a special mystery reader join us. Mrs. Marek surprised our students with an interactive Pete the Cat story. The students loved taking part in the retelling of the story. Thank you Mrs. Marek for helping to bring the story to life for the students!
Reading month was filled with many fun activities. The students made buttons displaying their favorite stories. They loved seeing their buttons displayed in the hall for all to see. Another favorite activity was reading by flashlight. The students loved reading in their makeshift tents and exploring the books with their friends.
Downriver STEM @ Weiss
Career Day
Career Day was a HUGE success at Downriver STEM at Weiss Elementary School. We had 16 careers that students had the opportunity to learn about. These careers were engineer, doctor, occupational therapist, Mayor, Realtor, Interior Design, millwright, carpenter, dental hygienist, cake artist, HVAC specialist, firefighter, police officer, coding, and fitness coach. Students had a chance to learn from these professionals, participate in hands-on activities, and ask questions to learn more. Presenters emphasized the relevance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in their careers, and shared what a typical day looks like for them and their responsibilities. They also discussed how education and school work today prepares students for a career in their field tomorrow. Many presenters brought hands-on items for the students to try. Thank you so much to our Career Day professionals and volunteers! Thank you to our PTO for providing lunch for our volunteers! Lastly, a big thank you to Ms. Hardy for working so hard to put this amazing event together!
Parsons Elementary School
Parsons Pirates Love to Read
Reading Month started off with a bang with Grandparents Breakfast and Book Fair. Parsons welcomed 250 students and grandparents to breakfast and many books were purchased. A few days later, families came back to the gym to play Bingo and everyone took home at least two books. Throughout the month, guest readers such as Superintendent Conway, Carlson NHS students, and Team Wade came to share their love of reading. Finally, teachers enjoyed being "Booked" with new read alouds throughout the month. At the end of the month, these new books will be available in the library for all students to enjoy. Happy Reading!
Lakeshore Virtual School
Spring Break Send Off!
Students at LVS came in Friday, 3/24, to socialize before heading into Spring Break. First, students created make-and-take bookmarks for Reading Month. They designed their own or chose a template to decorate. Next, students worked together to create Get Well cards for a child who needed some uplifting and cheerful thoughts. Students ended the hour with a video game tournament with Mr. Duperon. Thank you to our student Leadership Club for sponsoring the event and bringing tasty treats to share!
Shumate Middle School
6th Grade Changing Oceans Research
The 6th graders in Ms. Hulderman's ELA class have finished their inspiring ocean research project, delving into topics such as how changes in our oceans affect people and animals, and ways we can improve our stewardship of waterways. Utilizing their vocabulary and persuasive writing skills, students wrote letters discussing plastic in oceans, overfishing, and sea level rise and sent them to various politicians in hopes of enacting positive change. To display their hard work, QR codes outside the classroom lead to Padlets which showcase social media hashtags, facts, and visuals on the chosen topics. A gallery walk on Monday and Tuesday served as a celebration of their learning. We are truly proud of their accomplishments. These amazing 6th graders have put in the effort and research to make a difference.
Transportation Department
We are excited to welcome aboard Emilee Dow and Kathy Labonte-Voshol. Emilee will be one of our
Sub Drivers. She has her bus driver credentials and will be learning our routes. She also will be taking Advanced Bus School Training in the summer. Kathy is in training for her bus driver’s credentials. Once she has her credentials, she will also become a sub driver and learn the routes.
We are hiring bus drivers and bus aides. If you are interested, contact us at (734) 379-6370.