North News
January 8, 2021
A Message from the Principal:
Dear North Parents,
Happy New Year! We hope you and your family had a restful break. We are looking forward to a year of hope and healing. This first month of the year promises to be full of transitions, which we will navigate together. We have two weeks before the end of the semester, and then we will launch our hybrid learning plan. We understand that transitions tend to increase stress, particularly one of this magnitude. We commit to trying to decrease anxiety as much as possible in multiple ways. One anxiety reducing strategy we will use is to communicate, communicate and communicate. Information is powerful, so we commit to communicating as many details as possible.
With that being said, in this issue make sure to check out the details about the schedule for the last week of the semester (January 18) and for the first week of our hybrid schedule (January 25). As we get closer to transitioning to the hybrid schedule, we’ll be sharing videos with the students concerning the schedule and safety protocols.
Remember there are no semester exams during the last week of the semester. Please help us encourage students to optimize their time and turn in any missing assignments before the end of the semester. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers and counselors with questions. We are committed to helping our Norsemen finish strong!
Take Care,
Dr. Kathryn C. Murray
Connect with North Administrators
Mrs. Michelle Davis
(313)432-3255
Mrs. Katy Vernier
Mr. Geoffrey Young
Schedule for the last week of Semester 1
Face to Face Hybrid Learning and Cohorts
Parking passes for Semester 2
Schedule for the last week of the Semester (1/18-1/22)
Face to Face Hybrid Learning
Which Cohort is my student in?
Please click below to access the High School Hybrid schedule. Make sure to scroll all the way through so you can see the expectations as well.
The following link is North's DRAFT for the return to face to face learning. This document has already been shared with you but we continue to update it. We will be adding videos soon to help with the transition.
The Schedule & details for the first week of Semester 2.
Monday, January 25th
Tuesday, January 26th
Wednesday, January 27th
Thursday and Friday (January 28-29th)
Purchase a Parking Pass for Second Semester
Parking passes will be available to any 10-12th grader with a valid driver's license. Students will need to complete 2 steps in order to get a pass:
- Fill out the google form completely: https://forms.gle/w2uXH6zmFL5Qcmqd7
- Go to the GP North K12 webstore (link: https://gpps.k12online.us/schoolportal) and log in with student # and birthdate to purchase the $35.00 pass.
Physical passes to put in cars will be handed out to students the week of February 1st.
If you have any questions, please call Julie Nixon at (313) 432-3214 or email her at nixonj@gpschools.org.
The Counselor's Corner
The Virtual Library Media Center
Athletic Update
A Note from the Counselors:
Welcome back after our much needed break! We are all going full steam ahead as we look toward the last two weeks of this quarter and the first semester. Please walk through your student's grades together this weekend. If there are missing assignments or grades that can be improved, we can help your student make a plan - please reach out to your student's counselor. Our advice to students is to work hard and try your best. It is such a good feeling to have that fresh start moving into the 2nd semester. We're here to help!
We continue to offer two opportunities to connect students to their peers and wellness resources. Ask your student to join the Student Association and counseling for peer connection during our Wednesday Zoom-ion lunch and trivia. We meet every Wednesday at 12:20 after classes. Second, our open Wellness group meets Thursday at 1:30. This group gives students a chance to openly talk and learn more about strategies around coping with stress and resilience. Reach out for more information.
Virtual College visits are still happening although much less frequently compared to the fall. Upcoming visits are listed below. Junior and senior students can sign up by logging into their Naviance Account. In addition to visits at North, colleges around the country are offering virtual events to help students learn more about each college. Check out the college websites for more information.
- 1/12 Eastern Michigan University
- 1/15 University of North Dakota
- 2/23 Ball State University
College 101 for juniors will be an invitation to an individual mid-year check in with the counselor. Counselors are requesting that students use the link provided in their group to make an appointment to discuss their senior schedule, testing, and a post-secondary check in. Please remind your junior to make that appointment soon.
We have several Career Chats coming up and more information on the details will be available to students through Schoology.
Wellness Wednesday messages are weekly reminders that focus on wellness that include specific strategies for students to try.
Many people start the new year by setting new year's resolutions. 2021 is just a few days old and there is still plenty of time to make goals for what you'd like to accomplish, how you'd like to grow or maybe what you'd like to leave behind in this new year.
Sometimes we are afraid to make resolutions because we worry that we will not be able to accomplish them and may feel embarrassed. One strategy is to keep your goals for the new year private, so that no one will know whether you accomplish them or not. Keep track of how you're doing in a journal or on your phone. Another option is to share your goals with a trusted friend so that they can help you to stay on-track, and perhaps you will be able to do the same for them!
Rest assured that even if you make a mistake, you can always start again! Your counselors and teachers are here to support you with your goals, and if you're looking for some help on creating some, please let us know. One of our goals is always to support our students!
The Virtual Library Media Center
Happy New Year from the GPN Library Media Center! Congratulations to our #ElvesOnTheLibraryShelves winners in December. Weekly winners were Elie S., Maelisa W., and Erin M. and our grand prize winner was Paul C.!
Library Book Binge Bag requests are always available and will be delivered to your doorstep. Students can fill out their interest survey at https://bit.ly/GPNB3 and will hear back from Mrs. Pata ASAP.
The Grosse Pointe Public Library, our partner in books, has opened up registration for their Winter Reading Program, which will run from January 1 through February 28. Sign up at https://gp.beanstack.org/reader365 for the chance to win some great prizes!
Looking for some ways to review materials for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and your AP courses? Check out Shmoop! Students have access to materials in the App Center of Schoology (the 4-block window pane at the top of the screen) and can message Mrs. Pata if they have any questions.
North Athletics
Greetings Norsemen Athletes, Parents, & Guardians!!
Hope you had a relaxing and healthful holiday break. In accordance with the MDHHS and MHSAA, we still are not allowed to have any winter sports formally practice until January 16th. With that being said, our official first day of practice will be as follows**:
Girls Varsity Basketball: Saturday, 1/16 - 8am-11am girls gym
Girls JV Basketball: Saturday, 1/16 - 9am-11am girls gym
Dance Team: Sunday 1/17 11am-1pm gym
Boys Swim & Dive: Monday 1/18 - 4pm-6pm pool deck
Competitive Cheer: Monday 1/18 - 4pm-6pm cafeteria
Boys Ice Hockey: Monday 1/18 4pm-5:30pm Fraser Ice Rink
Gymnastics: Monday 1/18 4:30pm-7:00pm Upper gym
Synchronized Swim: Monday 1/18 6pm at GP SOUTH pool
Wrestling: Tuesday 1/19 4pm-6pm wrestling room
Boys Varsity Basketball: 1/19 6:30pm-8:30pm main gym
Boys JV Basketball: 1/19 5:30pm-7:30pm main gym
Freshman Boys Basketball: 1/19 3:30pm-5:30pm main gym
Girls Ice Hockey: Check with your coach.
** Please note that these dates and times are subject to change based on guidance from the MDHHS and the MHSAA. Please always check the athletic website for updates.
Reminder: Athletes must have a stamped gold card and valid physical on file prior to trying out and playing a sport. Returning athletes from last year need only stamped gold card and completed MHSAA health questionnaire All forms can be found on our athletic homepage: https://www.gpschools.org/domain/3328