Grand Blanc High School
Newsletter ~ March 2021
Upcoming Events: March and April
3/8 - High School Hybrid Learning Transitions to New Format.
3/8 - School Picture Self-Portrait Option is Due
3/26 - Half Day for All Students
3/29 - 4/2 Spring Break
4/12 - 4/16 SAT, PSAT, MSTEP Testing (Tentative)
Daily Announcements
FROM THE DESK OF MR. FRAY
RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN - MARCH 8
Dear GBHS Families,
By now I am certain most of you are aware of the recent Return-to-Learn plan that was approved by the school board. In case you missed the announcement from the district, here is a LINK TO SUPERINTENDENT GARNER’S LETTER.
I know the new plan is a significant shift from where we have been as a high school over the past 11 months. What excites me most is this plan is a significant step towards a return to our “pre-pandemic” school schedule. While we know for some this plan is not moving fast enough, please know we continue to share your desire for full in-person school as soon as it is feasible for GBHS.
Below are two links that will help you gain a better understanding of the plan:
Testing Week details are being finalized. We are currently awaiting guidance from the Michigan Department of Education regarding what will be required of schools this year.
As always, thank you for your continued patience, support and understanding. There is no doubt that school during a pandemic was something no one was prepared to handle and I continue to be amazed by the work our staff and students are doing everyday.
Michael Fray
Principal GBHS
How to Help a Teen Out of a Homework Hole
Parents, here is an interesting article about helping teenagers dig themselves out of a late homework hole.
GRAND BLANC ATHLETICS
From the Counseling Office
- Need to speak to your counselor? You can now request an appointment by clicking https://tinyurl.com/GBHSCounselorAppointment
- Students! Keep an eye on your messages about information to come regarding scheduling for the 21-22 school year.
- Scholarships! Be sure you are checking out the scholarship list frequently. The list is constantly growing and deadlines are coming fast for some! A complete list of current scholarships can be found on the counseling website: https://www.gbcs.org/Page/1551
- Navigating down the road to college doesn’t have to be hard! For all things college, the GBHS Counseling Office has a one-stop online resource center with valuable college information all in one place! As you prepare for your next academic step, the GBHS College Resource Center will help provide information, links, and videos to help navigate through the post-secondary process. Visit www.gbcs.org/page/2973
- Don’t be stuck behind! If you are in need of making up credits, contact your counselor to set up credit recovery.
Paula Douglas D-Hi pdouglas@gbcs.org
Nicole Kernen Ho-Ma nkernen@gbcs.org
Brian Halas Mc-R bhalas@gbcs.org
Susan Shaw S-Z sshaw@gbcs.org
John Hentes Bobcat Virtual, CSS, Early College jhentes@gbcs.org
Stipend for all Genesee County 2021 Graduates!
The Genesee Opportunity (GO) stipend provides Genesee County high school graduates with money for college, career training, or certification licensing fees. To be eligible, you must reside in Genesee County, Michigan, or on a property that is taxed by a Genesee County school district and be a graduate, from a high school in Genesee County. Graduates must be enrolled in an eligible training program or post-secondary educational institution and submit an application by the due date. The GO stipend can only be awarded one time and must be used within the first 12 months after graduation or GED completion. The GO stipend is not based on income or grades and is funded through a millage approved by Genesee County voters. This stipend can be used at most institutions. In the past the amount of these funds has been over $500!
College Board Accounts: 9th-11th Grade
A College Board account is required of all students. If you do not have a College Board account already set up, please do so at www.collegeboard.org . The student needs to be the one to set this up. Do not set up a second account. This account is needed for PSAT9, PSAT10, and SAT review, score viewing, and score sending to colleges. Please keep your login and password somewhere where you can find it as needed. These accounts are sometimes used during class time. If you already set up an account and cannot remember your login and password information, please call College Board at 1-866-756-7346. Staff do not have students information.
GBHS Library
Career Tech Education - CTE
FEBRUARY is CTE Month! Celebrate with us and identify what CTE program is right for you!
Grand Blanc High School is proud to offer quality Career & Technical Education programs designed to prepare students for college, career, and/or Technical schools.
This unique opportunity includes:
- Connections to real-world experiences through field trips, service learning, job shadowing, co-op, internships and apprenticeships
- Earn FREE college credit while earning high school credit
- Opportunity to develop skills needed for post-secondary education and/or employment
- Earn scholarships and compete in competitions
- Option to earn valuable industry-recognized certifications
- Opportunity to earn academic credit to meet graduation requirements: 4th year Math-related, VPAA-Visual Performing and Applied Arts, World Language, and/or elective credits
Our programs include traditional curriculum, hands-on labs, and off-site experience through work-based learning in our community.
Visit our website to learn more about our program and available classes: https://mi50000457.schoolwires.net/Page/338
Career Resource Center - CRC
Volunteer Hours
Each year, Grand Blanc High School hosts an annual Youth Volunteer Recognition Banquet. This annual ceremony, is held, in part, to recognize those students who have achieved at least 20 hours of volunteer activity. Awards are presented based on hours of service.
Award Categories:
20-39 hours- Recognition Level
40-99 hours- Merit Level
100+ hours- Presidential Level
(Students at this level will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award)
In addition, any senior who has 2 or more Presidential Awards will be awarded a medallion for graduation.
Please visit the Career Resource Center website for more information and to enter hours!
Questions? Contact Mrs. Clark at sclark2@gbcs.org or 810-591-6336.
Please accept your invitation to the classroom TODAY!
In the first semester GBHS introduced the Grade Specific Google Classrooms. These classrooms contain announcements, messages from counseling and
graduation requirement assignments. We want to share with you, specifically what we are including in the classrooms.
Each class has a Stream. The Stream contains: Counseling messages, event announcements and notifications, student activity announcements, information relative to grade.
Classwork: Each class has assignments that are either state mandated, district required or both. These assignments are graduation requirements and are tracked outside of the typical classroom.
Here is the link to the current assignments for each grade level and their due dates. Included is a summary of the mandatory assignments/content within each classroom. The structure of each classroom is the same, it is the content that changes and is grade specific. :
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14DdDzRSOYN4DBRraIfzq73oI6PXk54gspxUHDoQhKfc/edit?usp=sharing
SENIORS - GET YOUR CAP AND GOWN ORDERED!
Order your graduation Cap and Gown, Apparel, and Announcements!
Go to the GBHS page at Jostens.com. Payment plans are available.
Please contact our local Jostens distributor at 810 658-1700 with any questions.
~Diplomas are ordered by the school and distributed to students~
AP English Test-In
Students who are not currently taking an honors English class may choose to test into Honors English 10, AP Language for juniors, or AP Literature for seniors next year. Students should talk to their English teacher to see if these programs are a good fit. Please use the following codes to join the appropriate Classroom: Honors English 10 -- qikztdj, AP Lang -- ojtorsu, AP Lit-- 7es3xnd.
Classrooms will introduce a writing prompt on March 8, and students will have until March 12 to finish. Once essays are evaluated, students will be notified by email of their placement. Please contact Nick Popadich (npopadic@gbcs.org) with any questions.
Join The Chess Club
· Our GBHS Chess Club is currently virtual.
· All Students, grades 9-12, are welcome to join our Google Meet on Tuesdays 2:00 – 3:00pm.
· Classroom Google Code – vwt6faf
· Email Ms. Mareski with questions – smareski@gbcs.org
GBHS 2021 Yearbook
- Senior portrait information
- Sharing photos for the yearbook
- Ordering your yearbook
SUBMIT YOUR OWN YEARBOOK PORTRAIT
GBHS School Pictures were 2/17-2/18. THERE ARE NO RETAKES FOR SCHOOL PICTURES. However, if your student would like to submit their own self-portrait for the yearbook, please watch the informational video and follow the instructions on the flyer. SELF PORTRAITS ARE DUE NOT LATER THAN MARCH 8.
Pre-order your 2021 Echo Yearbook before the price increases.
Cost is $80 until February. Visit gbyearbook.com or scan the code to order and pay online. Installment options are available.
We are working hard to bring you the stories of this historic year.
All new this year - choose if you’d like your yearbook delivered to your home address for the cost of shipping, or pay nothing extra and pick up at our delivery event in July.
Parents of Seniors - remember to honor your graduate with an ad in the yearbook.
This will be on a first come, first served basis. Prices range from $90 - $350 and all information (photos, text, payment) can be submitted online (or to HS East).
Visit www.gbyearbook.com/seniors for ad instructions and contracts.
Want to be in the yearbook? Here are two ways to connect with us:
Take 3 minutes to fill out this survey to let us know how the yearbook staff should cover you in this year’s historic yearbook. We need story ideas, too!
https://forms.gle/R4utDPmgCFvnBk5r9
2. Use YBK+ to share photos that will be digitally linked to your portrait and viewable with the YBK+ app. Follow the directions above.
JOIN THE 2021-22 YEARBOOK STAFF!
If you know of a student who will be at GBHS next year, please encourage them to scan this code and apply to be on yearbook, or click this link: https://forms.gle/voUzJrgy3U1dP84U7