Bobcat Bytes

October 15, 2021

Dear Bobcat Virtual Families,

I want to extend a special thank you to the PTO for organizing the Fall Festival Family Night at Porter's Orchard. We had beautiful weather, and it was exciting for me to meet so many of our BVL families in person!


If you'd like to join the PTO and help plan our next exciting event, you are invited to attend the next meeting on Wednesday, October 20, at 6:30pm. The meetings are all virtual, and the Zoom link is listed below.


We are almost half-way through the first semester, which means you may be wondering how your student is doing. As you know, in Bobcat Virtual Learning, we do not do Marking Period grades; however, teachers will be submitting Progress Reports that give you a snapshot of how your student is progressing. In addition, Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up in November. See the "Things to Know" section for more details.


It looks like the weather is starting to cool down, so I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy the fall colors! Have a great weekend!


Allyson Walroth

Bobcat Virtual Learning Director

awalroth@gbcs.org

810-591-6649

Counseling Office Appointment Form

Fill out this form to make an appointment with our counselor, Mr. Hentes.

Things to Know

PTO Meetings

Please join the PTO to help plan fundraisers and fun events for our students and staff.


Here's a link to the next meeting: The meetings take place on Zoom at this location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8072191939?pwd=M3JGT3JHQzNpNG8waWdvY25ydjN4dz09


Meeting ID: 807 219 1939

Passcode: 385980

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Parent-Teacher Conferences

Bobcat Virtual Learning Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, November 9 - 5:00pm-8:00pm
  • Wednesday, November 10 - 5:00pm-8:00pm
  • Thursday, November 11 - 12:30-3:30pm


Keep an eye out for an email with information on how to sign up.

Progress Reports

Bobcat Virtual Learning only reports Semester grades for students, but teachers will be sharing progress reports on Friday, November 5. These will be available in Jupiter for GB families and will be emailed to Flushing families.


Progress reports have no weight on the final Semester grade and are simply a way to inform you about your student's progress thus far. Students will have plenty of time to improve their grade if they are not currently meeting their goals. Since Parent-Teacher Conferences are the following week, this will give you a great starting point for discussions.

BVL Picture Day & Yearbooks

We will be scheduling BVL picture days for the beginning of December. All students will have the opportunity to come in to the school and have their picture taken. Students in grades K-8 will be in the BVL yearbook, and students in grades 9-12 will be in the GBHS yearbook.


Stay tuned for information about the exact dates, time, and location of BVL picture days!

Teacher Profile

Each week we will profile one of our amazing virtual staff members so that you can meet everyone!

Mrs. Abby Merrill

Position: 3rd Grade Teacher

Experience: 20 years with Grand Blanc. This is my second year as a virtual teacher.

Looking Forward To: I can't wait to meet my new students!

Interests: I love to hike, camp, read, garden, cook and ski with my family!

Student Support

BVL Tutoring Services

Every Wednesday, you can sign your student up for tutoring with one of our BVL Interventionists. Tutoring sessions can take place virtually in Google Meet or in-person in our BVL Lab at the High School West Campus (1 Jewett Trail). If you choose to meet in-person, you will need to provide transportation for your student and must pick them up at the end of their tutoring session.


Here is a link to sign up for tutoring: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/selfsched?sstoken=UUxIV3F0R1l1TERXfGRlZmF1bHR8ZmQ3MmJmM2RjM2QzNDcwNTZjNWIzNDg4MDdiZTg5MTQ. Find the correct date, click right on the time slot that works for you, and enter your student's information.

NHS Tutoring

High School students can also take part in in-person NHS tutoring, which occurs Tuesday-Thursday, from 2:25-3:25pm in the GBHS East Campus Library.
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Elementary Workbooks

As workbook orders are coming in, they are being shipped to the location you selected in your order.


According to Lincoln Learning, the worksheet collections correspond to the worksheets embedded in the objects of each lesson. If you look at the name of the worksheet in the object online, there should be a corresponding worksheet in the physical book with the same title. Here's a video from Lincoln Learning that may help you navigate the worksheets with the online content.


If you would still like us to order print versions of the workbooks, please use our Print Materials Order Form. There is no cost to order workbooks.

National School Lunch Program

We are working with Dining Services to provide a breakfast/lunch program for Bobcat Virtual families.


In the meantime, we still need your household to fill out and sign the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application. This information is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc.


These supplemental programs have the potential to offer supports and services for our students including, but not limited to:


  • Instructional supports (staff, supplies & materials, etc.)
  • Non-instructional services (counseling, social work, health services, etc.)
  • Professional Learning for staff
  • Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities
  • Technology
  • Pandemic-EBT


We are asking that you please complete and submit it as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our school is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the application submitted is confidential. Without your assistance in completing and returning the attached application, our school cannot maximize the use of available State and Federal funds.


If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us at Grand Blanc Dining Service

(810) 591-6675 or (810) 591-6928.

Who Can Help?

If you need something, please don't be afraid to reach out:


  • Main Desk/Technology Help: 810-591-1658
  • Enrollment/Grades: Elaina Martinez - 810-591-6391
  • Counselor: John Hentes - 810-591-1634 or jhentes@gbcs.org
  • Mentors: Elizabeth Ralbusky (last names A-J) - 810-591-6368; Scott Thurlow (last names K-Z) - 810-591-6366
  • Coordinator: Kevin Keilitz - 810-591-6375 or kkeilitz@gbcs.org
  • Director: Allyson Walroth - 810-591-6649 or awalroth@gbcs.org
  • Classroom teachers should all include information on how to contact them on their course. If you have course-related issues, please reach out to your teacher first. They will respond back within 24 hours (during the work week) and can usually clarify things quickly. You can also attend their office hours, which should be listed in their course.

Allyson Walroth

Director of Bobcat Virtual & Secondary Curriculum Director