GPPSS Update
September 20, 2022
Last week we celebrated Homecoming at North High School. Check out last Friday's edition of School Pointes for beautiful photos from North's week including the pep rally, game and parade. South's parade starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Maire parking lot and concludes at the stadium in time for the football game at 7 p.m.! Pictured above is the South Junior class during their spirit day. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @GPSchools, Facebook @GPPSS, and Instagram or contact info@gpschools.org to be added to our weekly School Pointes newsletter.
Middle School Conference Sign Up Thursday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m.
On Thursday, October 6 at 5 p.m. middle school families will receive an email from GPPSS Communications with a link to PTC Wizard and sign up instructions for parent-teacher conferences. This email will not contain your username and password. Your username and password for PTC Wizard are the same as your MiStar parent portal username (pin beginning with 1500) and password. For those who need assistance finding your MiStar username and password, please visit this link and click “need your login information?”.
Middle School Conferences
- Wednesday, Oct 19: Evening Conferences 5-8pm - Zoom only
- Thursday, Oct 20:
- Afternoon 1-4 p.m. - In Person Scheduled through PTC Wizard
- Evening 5-8 p.m. - In Person drop in format (no scheduling necessary)
If you have students across multiple buildings and grade levels, your username and password will be the same for all students' conference sign ups. Please check your junk mail folder if you have not received the sign up email by end of the day, Thursday, October 6.
Please reach out to gpwebcoordinator@gpschools.org with any questions.
Did you sign up for Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences?
Thursday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. elementary parents and guardians received an email from GPPSS Communications with a link to PTC Wizard and sign up instructions for parent-teacher conferences. This email does NOT contain your username and password. Your username and password for PTC Wizard are the same as your MiStar parent portal pin (number beginning with 1500) and password. For those who need assistance finding your MiStar pin and password, please visit this link and click “need your login information?"
Elementary School Conferences:
- Wednesday, Oct 12: Evening Conferences 5-8 p.m. - Zoom only
- Thursday, Oct 13:
- Afternoon Conferences 1-4 p.m. - Zoom OR In Person,
- Evening Conferences 5-8 p.m. - Zoom OR in Person
All elementary conferences (in person and Zoom) must be scheduled through PTC Wizard.
If you have students across multiple buildings and grade levels, your username and password will be the same for all students' conference sign ups. Please check your junk mail folder if you have not received the sign up email for elementary conferences.
Communities United in Diversity meeting kickoff on Oct. 18
In our ongoing efforts to celebrate the diversity within our schools, GPPSS will be continuing our Communities United in Diversity meetings this school year with monthly sessions for the community. This group is a parent-initiated group that began over 10 years ago in GPPSS.
Come to our first meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Defer Elementary’s library and meet this year’s facilitators, GPPSS teachers Emily Rennpage and Nick Symonette. Learn how we incorporated survey responses from staff and past participants into this year’s topics and get an inside look into some of the diversity initiatives currently in place.
Over the course of the next eight months, we hope to discuss and reflect upon real situations our students are encountering and how we, as educators, parents and community members, can support all of our students toward a greater awareness and appreciation of diversity in our community and beyond.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming meetings and look for more information to come on locations and topics.
Tickets on sale now for South Choir's Fall Follies
Grosse Pointe South’s nationally award-winning show choirs kick off the 2022-2023 season with two performances on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 14-15, with their annual Fall Follies show at the Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center at Grosse Pointe North High School, 707 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods. Curtain time is Friday at 7 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. for families who prefer an earlier show.
Fall Follies will feature all three of Grosse Pointe South’s choirs: The Pointe Singers, Serendipity and Rhapsody in Blue, the extracurricular groups The Tower Belles and The Suspensions, as well as solo performances. The students are bringing their talent and energy to this must-see performance!
“The Fall Follies Concert is a completely new and original program,” says Choir Director Vince Matia.
Tickets for Fall Follies are on sale now and are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors (65+) and $10 for K-12 students. They are available through the Choir web site, www.gpsouthchoir.org.
Other performances on tap for 2022-23 include South’s beloved Sounds of the Season holiday show (December 9-10), The Winter Spectacular (Feb 2) and Broadway which features solos from all of the choirs’ seniors (May 25-26).
For more information, please contact Kara Shall at 313-330-0795 or communications@gpsouthchoir.org
Middle School Study - Next Step: Survey
The goal of the Middle School Study is to assess what is going well and where we can improve upon the curriculum, structures, and supports within a 5th-8th grade middle school building, and make recommendations to the Board of Education that support the learning and growth of our students. As we begin our third year of implementing a 5th-8th grade program, we are looking to all of our stakeholders to be a part of this work.
Today, middle school families received an email with a link to the survey. Please take some time to provide us with this valuable input anytime before October 14. We appreciate you partnering with us on this important initiative.
MDE Accepting Nominations for 2023-24 Michigan Teacher of the Year
Teacher recognition is an important component of teacher retention, and studies show that increased retention results in higher student achievement. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is opening the nomination process for 2023-24 Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY), an annual program that recognizes outstanding teachers in our state. Each year, 10 Regional Teachers of the Year (RTOYs) are selected through a competitive application process, with one of the RTOYs named Michigan Teacher of the Year. Please make nominations using the online form, which is available until Monday, October 24, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.
Food updates: free breakfast, sign up for FRL, check out menus
Please remember that USDA waivers have ended, so families must fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch Application to qualify for free meals. This is included in the K12 registration. Or if things change during the school year, you can access the online form any time on the district website - under the Meals and Nutrition button.
- This year, free breakfast is available every school day at every school. All students are eligible for free breakfast. Check your school communication for details on when and where.
- Lunch prices are the following: Middle and High School- $3.35, Elementary- $3.10. This year students that qualify for either Free and Reduced (at all grade levels) eat for free. Fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch Application if you think you might qualify.
- Lunches returned to the normal style this fall (not pandemic grab and go meal style).
- To see the menu of options, click on the Meals and Nutrition box under News on the website, then click menus in the left column, then click your school. Feedback has been positive on the menus options so far, including the return of the popular salad bar.
- To place funds in your student's account for lunch, visit your student's ParentPortal page, click on the "cafeteria" tab and click "Online Food Service Payments."
Join us for a listening session Wednesday, November 2 at Ferry Elementary
GPPSS is offering one more listening session this fall. So far three have been held at various times, days of the week and locations. If it fits your schedule, come join us outside (inside if weather doesn't cooperate). Thank you to all who have come to ask questions and share comments, concerns and ideas for improvement. Pictured above are those who joined us at Brownell Middle School on October 4th.
Join our GPPSS Team
There are still positions available to join the GPPSS team! Click here to visit our Job Postings. We currently have postings for:
- Special Education
- Paraprofessional/Classroom Assistants
- Preschool
- Kids Club (before and after school care)
- Buildings and Grounds
- Teachers
Interested in subbing? GPPSS works with Edustaff to hire substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and buildings and grounds staff.