Blue Jay News
October 27th, 2023
A Message from the Administrative Team
Greenwood Students and Families:
Next week is Parent/Teacher Conferences - there will be NO classes on October 31 and November 1 to allow all teachers adequate time to meet with parents. We encourage you to communicate with your students’ instructors whether you schedule a conference or not.
The annual Halloween parade and senior skit will occur on Monday, October 30 beginning at 1:15 pm in the Event Center. Parents are invited. The elementary students will be in costume – as well as the senior class. Costumes for grades 6-11 are not allowed. The elementary classes will have their classroom party following the presentation in the Event Center.
Basketball season and practices will begin Monday, October 30th – please make sure your student-athlete has a sports physical on file if they plan to participate.
Cooler temperatures will mean a lot more coats, hats, jackets, etc. coming to school and therefore the possibility of misplacing one of these items. Please write your student’s name on ALL their belongings so we can return the items to the proper person.
The PSAT for 2023 is complete! Thank you to Coyeatte Ewing for leading this endeavor with valuable help from Jane McCann, Jason Barlowe, Bailey Brashers, Lisa Mueller, and the Missouri State University testing center.
A HUGE thank you to all volunteer parents who participated in the GPA workday. A lot of cleaning, fixing, and sprucing up the building was accomplished. Please view the pictures in this newsletter.
Have a great weekend!
Ron & Jeni
GLS Electronic Device Practice
As a reminde, this is our Electronic Device Practice. Please discuss this with your student:
Effective January 30, 2023
The GLS electronic device practice will be in place to support the learning environment in the classroom and support our educators in the academic setting. This is a valuable teaching practice intended to reinforce the respect of our instructional time and provide consistency throughout our classrooms.
Expectations
During class, all devices must be placed in a student’s locker, backpack, or purse. Examples of devices are, but not limited to, cell phones, air pods, smart watches (may be worn, but not use in class), iPods, iPads, computers. To be clear, there are times when devices are used as a part of the instructional process. The instructor will determine when the device is used for this purpose.
Consequences
First and foremost, classroom management techniques will be used in the classroom prior to instructors taking a student device for the first time. If students continue to use the electronic device in question after redirection from the instructor, the following practice will be in place:
o First offense: Instructors will take the device and keep until the end of the class period. Instructors will add to the record on a master list located HERE.
o Second offense: Instructors will take the device to the office for the student to pick up at the end of the day and the offense will be documented as a second offense. Instructors will add to the record on a master list located HERE.
o Third offense: Instructors will take the device to the office for the parent to pick up at the end of the day and the offense will be documented as a third offense. Instructors will add to the record on a master list located HERE.
o Fourth offense: Student will receive discipline in accordance with the scope and sequence in the handbook for Disrespect of Authority. Instructors will add to the record on a master list located HERE.
o Fifth offense: Student will receive discipline in accordance with the scope and sequence in the handbook for Disrespect of Authority. Student will not be allowed to bring the electronic device for the remainder of the semester. Instructors will add to the record on a master list located HERE.
o Subsequent offenses incurred will be reviewed by administration and can result in enrollment probation.
Offenses will be documented and offenses will be cumulative school wide. For example, if a student phone comes to the office from Mrs. Hopkins class and then again from Dr. Snodgrass’ class, that would be the student’s third offense.
Thank You GPA For Making Greenwood Shine!
We want to thank our GPA for volunteers for coming to Greenwood on Wednesday and taking the time to thoroughly clean school! Their time and efforts are beyond appreciated and because of them our students also now have new recess games on the playground! Thank you, GPA! You are the best!
Thanksgiving Basket Collection
Secondary families, STUCO and Sustainable Service Society are renewing a time-honored tradition of gathering thanksgiving baskets to give to families in need. Your student will be given an item to bring in. We are excited to begin this again and will have more information soon.
Second Graders Learn About Making Measurements in Math
Fall is great time to learn using pumpkins. After reading the book, “How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin” by Margaret McNamara, the 2nd graders made predictions and found actual measurements for their pumpkins. The book taught us that although you won’t know how many seeds are in a pumpkin until you open it up, there are some clues that can help you. The number of lines on the outside gives you a clue because each line has a row of sees on the inside. The longer the pumpkin grows, the more lines it gets. It’s skin gets darker, too.
Second Graders Learn About Earth's Changes in Science
Second graders have been learning about the changes that happen on earth. As part of our lesson about erosion, they did an experiment to determine the effectiveness of windbreaks. The objective of the lesson was to design and build a model that uses plants as windbreak to help prevent wind erosion.
You are Invited to Attend Drury Athletics' Trunk or Treat
Hello, Greenwood Families,
My name is Melissa Kuhar and I am the Lady Jays soccer coach. I am the advisor for Drury Athletics’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). SAAC is a student-athlete organization that allows the athletes to have a voice on campus and an impact in the community!
We are putting on a Trunk or Treat event next Monday October 30th from 6-7:15pm. All 31 of our Drury Athletic Teams will be passing out candy and will have activities for the kids to enjoy!
We would love to have as many families from the community get a chance to interact with our Drury student-athletes!
If you have questions, please let me know! Thanks!
Mel Kuhar
Science Olympiad Reminder
Dear Science Olympiad Families,
Students are working hard building devices and practicing for tests. We are in the design phase of our t-shirts, and we will be gathering sizes for our order. If you haven't, please remember to submit the $100 fee on Storefront so we can move forward. Thank you so much for your assistance with Science Olympiad.
Chris, Cory, Christian, Dave, Abby, and Kristy
Girls High School Basketball is Starting Soon
Girls High School Basketball will start on October 30th from 3:20 – 5:20 pm. Please contact Coach Percival at MichaelPercival@MissouriState.edu if you are interested in playing this year.
Updates from Archery
Thanks to all of our Greenwood Archers for a great first two weeks of practice!
Here is our schedule for the next three weeks of practice in the Wellness Gym. There will be no practice the week of Thanksgiving.
October 30 - November 3:
Monday - 7:15-8:00 AM - Everyone
*Tuesday and Wednesday - see note below regarding voluntary individual practice
Friday - 7:15-8:00 AM - Everyone
November 6 - 10:
Monday and Wednesday - 7:20-8:00 AM - Practice for the ‘10 meter shooting’ group
Tuesday and Thursday - 7:20-8:00 AM - Practice for the ‘15 meter shooting’ group
Friday - No Practice
November 13 - 17:
Same as last week for Monday through Thursday
Friday - Practice for everyone- 7:20-8:00 AM - ‘Fun Friday!’
* Everyone will shoot from 10 and 15 meters soon but some are ready for 15 now. When we practice, we all have to shoot from the same distance. We want to be confident and consistent at 10 meters before we move to 15 meters. So we will divide into two groups. That will also help everyone get more practice.
With no Classes scheduled for Parent- Teacher-Student Conferences Tuesday and Wednesday, October 31 and November 1, we will provide an opportunity for individual practice those days for those interested. We will have two slots for each time period if you would like to practice with another student. Parents are welcome to come with their student at the time they practice those two days.
E-mail or text Coach Ewing the time, day and name for your student. The time slots will be every 30 minutes from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
This can also serve as a time for anyone wanting to test themselves at 10 meters to see if they are ready for 15 meters.
Please contact Coach Ewing if you have any questions: 417-569-8698, j.e.ewing@att.net
Mark Your Calendars for Blue Jay Bash
Dear Greenwood Family,
Blue Jay Bash is almost here! On Friday, November 10, the Greenwood GPA and Athletic and Debate Booster Club will host a 90 's-themed, adults-only Blue Jay Bash at 6 p.m. at The Old Glass Place.
Each year parents, teachers, and supporters of Greenwood gather for a fun evening of comradery to raise money for our school. This lively evening of food, drinks, and entertainment is the largest fundraiser of the year for Greenwood Laboratory School. This allows us to fund several projects, including building safety improvements, building improvements, athletic equipment, and uniforms, as well as fulfilling many academically focused teacher requests.
There are several ways that you can be a part of this event; every contribution impacts its overall success.
·Become a BlueJay Bash sponsor and enjoy the benefits that come with it; you can do that here
·Purchase tickets and plan to enjoy a fun evening; you can do that here
·Donate an item or service to the live or silent auction; here
·Can’t Come to the event? Additional Sponsorship options are available here
ELEMENTARY parents... Another way we are asking families to support the BlueJay Bash is to contribute at least one item to their child’s classroom basket. These baskets will be raffled at the BlueJay Bash. Please sign up to contribute to your child’s class basket using the links below. We ask that these items be given to your child’s teacher by Friday, November 3rd. Thank you!
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Jaimee Seagrave (816) 830-5736 or Blair Usery (417) 861-7114.
Thank you for supporting Greenwood! We look forward to seeing you on November 10th!
Jaimee and Blair
Greenwood BlueJay Bash Committee
From the Nurses
Flu vaccines & COVID boosters are readily available in our community!
Please consider vaccinating your family to keep our school community healthy!
** Remember - If your child receives any school-required immunizations throughout the year, please bring an updated copy of their shot record to the office or email us, so we can keep them up-to-date in our system.
Stay well,
Nurse Alexa & Nurse Heather
From the Counselors
Upcoming CollegeRep Visits: Representatives from colleges/universities will be available in the Science Wing during lunch (12:37-1:27). They will be happy to provide information about their school and answer any questions you may have.
November 27 – Republic Parks and Rec
November 28 - OTC Career Center
Seniors: Turn in your Diploma Verification form and Endorsement Documentation to Mrs. Ewing before leaving for Thanksgiving Break, November 17.
PSAT: The PSAT was administered on Tuesday, October 24. Remember to pay the testing fee of $18 on Storefront. Scores will be available on Nov 16. See more details about the College Board’s PSAT score release schedule at this link: PSAT/NMSQT Score Release Dates – SAT Suite | College Board
AP Tests: Students wishing to take an AP test in the spring should contact Mrs. Ewing before November 10. Mrs. Hopkins will then order those tests. Each test is $97.
ACT and SAT Reminders:
Register for the ACT at ACT | College and Career Readiness Solutions.
Register for the SAT at The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board.
Be sure to enter our School Code (CEEB) to identify with Greenwood: 263285. See the Greenwood Counseling Website for ACT/SAT tips Greenwood Laboratory School Counseling Department (greenwoodlabcounseling.com)
Many colleges/universities are test optional for admissions; even some scholarship programs are test optional. Check with the institutions you are interested in pursuing for their specific requirements.
Spring 24 PRE-COLLEGE REGISTRATION: Registration for MSU’s spring semester opens for Pre-college students on November 17. Students wishing to concurrently enroll in Pre-college courses at MSU must first make an appointment with Teresa Cunningham (Zoom or in person). Following that appointment, she will lift the hold on student accounts allowing students to then register. Follow one of the links to schedule your appointment with Teresa: To book an in person appointment; To book a Zoom appointment.
Teresa is our Pre-College Academic Advisor. You will love working with her! You will find her very responsive, positive, and sincere in her approach to assisting you in successfully navigating college classes.
The spring catalog is available to view now. You may open the spring catalog in your MyMissouriState account by finding the Registration card and clicking on “Add, Drop, or Search for Classes”. If you do not have a MyMissouriState account, you can use this link: Class Schedule - Missouri State.
Scholarships:
Bold.org is the largest independent scholarship provider in the US. Visit the links below to learn more about many scholarship opportunities:
- https://bold.org/scholarships/
- https://bold.org/scholarships/by-year/high-school/seniors/
- Exclusive Mental Health Scholarships in 2023 were recently updated.
Also check out www.scholarships.com and www.fastweb.com.
View a few scholarships with upcoming deadlines here: Scholarships.com - Google Sheets
BOYS & GIRLS STATE: Greenwood has been proudly represented at Boys and Girls State over the years by some of our most amazing juniors. Boys State and Girls State 2024 are hosting a Virtual Open House via Zoom Thursday, November 14 at 5:30 p.m. Any juniors interested in attending the programs during June 2024 should attend this zoom informational meeting. Register Here: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Jay-Pic of the Week
GPA Cookbook Fundraiser
Greenwood Parent Association is bringing back a classic!
For years, Greenwood put together a cookbook of favorite recipes and now it's your turn to add to the tradition. Please submit your favorite family recipes here. We will compile them into a cookbook that will be available for sale this school year. We look forward to starting up a much-loved tradition again. You are more than welcome to submit a recipe from a previous cookbook, if you have one!
Cookbooks will be spiral bound, with a color cover and black and white interior with student art. Cost will be between $25-35, depending on how many pages it has and how many are ordered.
Score your raffle tickets and help the boys soccer team go to Europe!
Greenwood Laboratory School
Email: Greenwood@Missouristate.edu
Website: https://education.missouristate.edu/greenwood/
Location: 1024 East Harrison Street, Springfield, MO, USA
Phone: (417) 836-5124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodlab
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenwoodlabschool/
Counseling Website: https://www.greenwood.missouristate.edu/page/counseling-department
Greenwood Blue Jays YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greenwoodbluejays4814/featured