The High School Hustle
Sharing information with our Hustlin Hawk community
-November 2023 -
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many things that make our school community so special. As a learning organization who so regularly identifies and honors the importance of relationships, this holiday reminds us to pause and appreciate those people and experiences that enrich our lives.
Here at Greenfield High School, we are blessed to have a talented team of teachers who pour their hearts into empowering our students each day. Their commitment to bringing lessons alive with creativity, passion, and care is unmatched. We are further blessed by all the different ways and forms in which our teachers lead and support each other’s professional growth - some of which we will share in this newsletter.
I also want to take a quick moment to share my personal appreciation for the work of our Administrative Team - our Assistant Principals Mr. Dominic Erner, Mrs. Sarah Griffie, and Mrs. Lindsay Wurster, and Athletic and Activities Director Ms. Nina Rouse. This team is in constant motion, balancing a multitude of tasks while always staying focused on the needs of our students.
Speaking of our students, we're also tremendously grateful for our wonderful kids who arrive each morning with curiosity, determination, and eagerness to learn. Our students continue to show their leadership in so many ways. Our attendance is up, our behavioral referrals are down, and our students are working hard to better themselves and their futures. Their joy and enthusiasm create such a positive, inspiring school environment. Everyday is truly a great day to be a HAWK!
And of course, we could not cultivate this exceptional learning community without the support and partnership of you - our students' families. Thank you for entrusting your children to us, communicating openly with teachers and staff, attending school events, and reinforcing our shared values at home. We are honored to take this journey with you and your children.
As we enjoy time with loved ones this Thanksgiving, let's reflect on all that we appreciate about our school and community. We all have a role to play in helping our students learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for being part of this special place. Wishing you and your family a warm, joyful Thanksgiving!
With gratitude,
Mr. Todd Willems, Principal
WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD OUR GOALS
The SLAIT (School Leadership and Innovation Team) team remains focused on its goal to increase our understanding of modern learners in order to foster involvement and engagement both inside and outside of the classroom. During our most recent staff meeting on October 26, the SLAIT team led the staff through a jigsawed reading of the book Generations by Jean Twenge, with a particular focus on the chapter about the lives and experiences of members of Generation Z, those born between 1997-2013. Through this reading our staff members learned about, discussed, and grappled with new understandings about the Gen Z learners we meet in our classrooms.
Some teacher takeaways included:
"Gen Z is much more likely to have an external locus of control"
"Gen Z is far more likely to identify as something other than cisgender than previous generations"
"Members of Gen Z have an optimistic view of their future" but "less than half of Gen Z say they are 'thriving' in their lives"
"Even though sugary drinks have gone down and school lunches have improved, the number of overweight kids has increased"
In the future, we plan to take these learnings and use them to develop new strategies for fostering engagement and involvement that are directly applicable to the experiences and needs of Gen Z students.
Happening Around the Building...
Veterans Day
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month runs 9/15 to 10/15 annually. Students and staff at GHS celebrated and learned about Hispanic Heritage Month through food, music, and a variety of projects, like the bulletin board displayed below.
AFJROTC Ceremony
Did you know that for students in grades 9-12, attendance is an excellent predictor of on-time graduation—even better than state and national test scores?
An Attendance Change in Infinite Campus
If you receive attendance notifications in IC, you may have noticed that the category "L" has started appearing. This is an internal change so that we can determine which students are actually tardy to school ("T") versus who is here in the building, but late to class. This will help us more accurately send notifications to parents, will show a truer reflection of our attendance data, and is more similar to how the middle school codes attendance.
At-Home Attendance Support:
Make getting students to school on time every day a top priority.
Ask for and monitor your student's attendance through Infinite Campus.
Talk to your student to reinforce being on time to every class, every day. . . It is to support their learning and future success.
If your child calls you asking to come home due to feeling ill, encourage them to go to the office first to be assessed by the nurse.
GHS Attendance Stats for Sept-Oct, 2023:
Overall attendance: 91.45%
Percent on time to school: 90.01%
Range of % on time for each period: 85.5% and 85.8% are lowest in periods 5 and 6 (after lunch) and 94.3% are highest in period 2.
- NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
No school for students Wednesday November 22nd - Friday November 24th.
Teachers will engage in Professional Learning on the 22nd.
All School Break Thursday November 23rd and Friday November 24th
Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for our Hustling Hawk Community!
Congratulations Mrs. Goodkind!
ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES
Check out our NEW WEBSITE! You will find up to date news and events happening within our athletics and activities groups and pictures of them in action! Come join us for a game, show, or activity and support our Hawks!
Ways to Get Involved This Month
Toys For Tots
Student Senate and our Air Force Junior ROTC programs are sponsoring a toy drive this month.
Club Picture Day
Come ready to represent your clubs on the 16th!
Hygiene and Clothing Drive
Hope Squad and the Basketball Program are teaming up to collect hygiene supplies and clothing items for people in need.
GHS Student and Family Contacts
Lindsay Wurster
Assistant Principal
Serving Students with Last Names Starting A-Ha:
414-855-2411
Dominic Erner
Assistant Principal
Serving Students with Last Names Starting He-Pe:
414-855-2412
Sarah Griffie
Serving Students with Last Names Starting Pf- Z:
414-855-2413