Godwin Heights High School
Weekly Newsletter January 8, 2021
Upcoming Events
January 4 - Return to Virtual Learning
January 11 - Feeding America Food Truck @ High School 5 pm
January 11 - Board of Education Meeting 6 PM - Admin Building
January 13 - Early Release (Schedule B) 9 AM - 1:40 PM
January 18 - No school for Students
January 19 - Return to In-Person Learning
January 25 - Board of Education Meeting 6 PM - Admin Building
January 27 - Early Release at 1:40 PM - HS Only
Important Letter from the Principal
January 8, 2021
Dear Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),
I hope this communication finds you, your family, and children safe and healthy. Thank you for your patience and support for the start of the 2nd semester during the 2020-21 school year. Due to COVID-19, this was certainly different than past years; however, based on multiple conversations with parents, students and staff, it has been a very successful school year up to this point. Additionally, to support a successful transition to in-person instruction, this letter contains important information for students and parents pertaining to the first day of in-person learning on Tuesday, January 19th.
Student Start and Dismissal Times
Due to the pandemic, Godwin Heights High School made every effort to reduce class sizes in all in-person learning classes. In order to do this, the decision was made to give teachers planning time in the morning from 7:45-9:00 a.m, and then follow a three hour block schedule. Thus, students will start each day at 9:00 AM beginning on September 28th, with school day ending at 3:15 p.m. Please click on this link to see the High School Daily Schedule.
Student Drop-Off/Entry
School starts at 9:00 AM. Please do your best to drop your student off as close to 8:50 AM as possible as students will have to wait outside until 8:55 to be let in the building. There are two locations for student drop off. The first option is in the front of the High School located off of 35th street. The second option is the West Parking Lot, located off of 36th street. Please take a moment to watch this video on the two drop off locations. Please do not use the bus loop located off of 36th street; this area is reserved for the High School busses. The building will open at 8:55 for student entry, and students will be expected to go directly to class. Please advise your child to social distance at all times while waiting for entry into the building.
Dismissal
The school day will end at 3:15 PM and students will be expected to leave the building immediately after 3:15. This will allow our custodial staff to begin the process of cleaning and sanitizing the building to get ready for the next school day. Students who are in sports will be contacted by their coaches in regards to routines and procedures for entering the PEB afters-school.
Breakfast
At Godwin Heights High School, it is our goal to meet the needs of our students both academically and physically. Currently, Godwin Heights is able to offer free breakfast to all students. To avoid students eating breakfast in their classroom and having to take their mask off to eat, Godwin Heights will be sending breakfast items home with all in-person learning students during the last hour of the day, starting on Tuesday, January 19th. Please make sure your student eats breakfast prior to leaving the house for school.
Lunch
Since Godwin Heights High School will be following a cohort model in the school setting to reduce exposure to COVID-19, your student will be eating with their cohort in a designated place during the school day. Please click on this video for an explanation of the lunch schedule.
In-Person Safety Measures
If your child is scheduled to attend in-person classes starting on January 19, please have the conversation with your child that school will look different from years past due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the High School, to ensure a secure learning environment for all students and staff, important safety measures include:
Masks: Facial coverings must always be worn by students and staff in all areas of the building. Facial coverings must cover both the nose and the mouth at all times. If your child does not have a mask, one will be provided by the District. If your student is not able to wear a mask, documentation must be provided from a medical professional before in-person classes begin. (Click on link to view Mask Video)
Cohorts: Your child will be placed in a cohort with other students to limit the possible spread of COVID-19. These cohorts will consist of 15-25 students in one room for the entire school day with a different designated room for lunch. Teachers will rotate in and out of the classes to support student learning. By placing students into cohorts, it eliminates transitions of students in the hallways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as allows us to provide appropriate contact tracing if a case of COVID-19 were to arise. (Cohort Model Explained)
High School Visitors: For the safety of all students and staff, visitors will not be allowed into the building without prior authorization from Administration during the school day. If you would like to meet with a teacher or an administrator, please call the High School Office at 616.252.2050.
Hand Sanitizer Stations: For safety of all students and staff, hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the buildings in classrooms, hallways, and Cafeteria. (Hand Sanitizer Locations Explained)
Water: Due to the possible transmission of COVID-19, please make sure you send your student with a water bottle. The drinking fountains will be turned off; however, the bottle filling stations at the fountain will be working.
High School Early Release, Late, and Half Day Dates
During the 2020-21 school year, the High School teachers will be participating in Professional Development in an effort to build strong Professional Learning Communities to support the District’s vision to support students with strategies grounded in Sheltered Instruction, 21st Century cooperative learning, and content area literacy. Please click on this link to see the early release and late start dates for our High School Students.
ODYSSEYWARE STUDENTS
Students who have taken Odysseyware classes during the 1st semester have been provided the following guidelines in regards to Odysseyware grading and course completion. Please make sure you take a moment to read these and review them with your students.
KCTC/KIH/KTC
KIH/KCTC, and KTC will still remain options for students during the 2nd semester, and teachers from these programs will work with students either virtually or in-person depending on orders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. KCTC is welcoming students back to campus on January 11th, and transportation will be provided for students to and from KCTC starting Monday, January 11th.
Sincerely,
Chad Conklin
Principal Godwin Heights High School
Board of Education Recognition
Godwin Heights is joining 544 local and 57 intermediate school districts across Michigan to celebrate January as School Board Recognition Month.
“In a year full of challenges for public education not seen in recent history, our school board members persevered through the adversity of 2020 to provide the best possible education for our students,” said Superintendent Bill Fetterhoff. “Celebrating School Board Recognition Month is one of the very small ways to express appreciation for all they do.”
School board members represent the views and priorities of their community in the complex system of maintaining and running a district’s public schools. They also reinforce the principle of local control over public education, which is an important, highly valued aspect of education in Michigan.
Even though we are making a special effort during January to show appreciation for our school board members, we recognize their contributions reflect a year-round effort on their part. “No matter what challenges lie ahead for our district in 2021, our school board members will continue to govern to improve student achievement and provide exceptional education for all our community’s children.”
Welcome Back Godwin Heights High School
Robotics
My name is Mr. Hoch and I am the Robotics Coach here at Godwin. I am looking for members for our 2021 season. Despite the COVID 19 pandemic and associated restrictions WE WILL HAVE A SEASON. Much of what we will do this season will be done in a virtual component.
In the past we have taken a box of parts and a plethora of specialized tools and created a robot that competed live on ESPN last spring! We built this robot from parts, we designed our robot using computer software and wrote the code for the robot. Much of what we did was in cooperation with the Wyoming High School Robotics Team. This year we will continue the tradition established last year and will have a Robotics Team here at Godwin that is engaging, challenging and a ton of fun!
Due to the COVID 19 restrictions we are at this time unable to have in person events, the decision was made to adapt and overcome the current situation and design a season around those restrictions.
I am hosting informational sessions to discuss what our season will look like, take any questions you may have as well as provide an opportunity for me to explain to you all what we will be doing this season here at Godwin Robotics.
These sessions will take place Thursday January 14th, and will run from 330pm until 4pm. The meetings will occur at this google meet link. All students of Godwin Heights High School are invited to join. There are many roles to our team dynamic that will ensure success so even if you are not passionate about working with power tools, and robotics equipment there are plenty of roles on our team for you.
Please, if you are even remotely interested in this experience please come to one of the informational sessions. One final aspect that makes this experience unlike any other is the fact that there are MILLIONS of dollars in scholarship funds available to students who participate in this team; even if only for one season.
Hope to see you all Thursday! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email if you have any questions.
Mr. Hoch
Godwin Heights High School
Email: cconklin@godwinschools.org
Website: https://hs.godwinschools.org/
Location: 50 35th Street Southwest, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Phone: 616-252-2050
Facebook: facebook.com/godwinhighschool
Twitter: @godwinschools