GHS Family Hustle
5.9.22
~ From the Desk of Todd Willems
Welcome to the initial edition of the GHS Family Hustle! We are excited to launch this newsletter to share school updates, highlight some amazing student stories, connect you more closely to our educators, and to share resources to help you support the learning of your students.
While it may feel like an odd time of the year to begin a new communication channel, we want to begin to build the positive impact that we hope this newsletter will bring right away. We look forward to publishing one more edition right at the end of the year as an entry point into summer and to share then all the ways you can stay engaged with learning over the course of the summer months!
We commit to using the space to inform, share, educate, and support. Our goal as a school community in 2022/23 will be focused on increasing engagement and we hope to use this as a tool to help better engage our relationship between you and our building. Please know you are always welcome to reach out with ideas, inspiring stories, or other information that you feel may help strengthen our work in support of our school. You can reach me at twillems@greenfield.k12.wi.us, or Assistant Principal (and newsletter editor) Mrs. Lynn Misirian at lmisirian@greenfield.k12.wi.us.
It's a great day to be a HAWK!
Best Regards,
Mr. Todd Willems, Principal
Student Senate Blood Drive
Here at GHS we strive to give back to our community as much as possible. What better way to give back than to help give the gift of life? That is exactly what 70 members of our school community chose to do on April 29th. The GHS Student Senate collaborated with Vesiti Blood Center to conduct a blood drive. 70 student and staff members volunteered to donate blood as our student senators assisted in checking in volunteers, providing support throughout the process, and providing refreshment. All participants received a complimentary voucher for Mount Olympus Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells.
Managing Stress & Anxiety
As we approach the end of the semester, and school year, we are aware that for numerous GHS families this is a stressful time. We like to take this moment to share some information that will help your family navigate this stressful time of the year.
First, understand that anxiety is the brain and bodyβs response to a perceived threat or overwhelm. This results in the fight-flight-or-freeze reaction. We typically think of anxiety as the flight or freeze reactions. For example, your child might be refusing to go to school, acting out, becoming disengaged, or not listening to the teacher. If you are starting to notice these behaviors, attempt to have a conservation about potential issues that could be conceived as a threat by your student.
Normalize their fears and provide guidance on how to address their fears in healthy and productive manners.
Encourage them and let them know that they can handle it.
Collaborate with your student to make a list of tasks, prioritize which tasks are the most important/challenging, and make a schedule to complete tasks to avoid trying to complete multiple assignments within the same timeframe..
Finally, while it is vital to begin prepping and working now, it is equally important to plan time for fun and relaxation. As we know, maintaining this balance is essential for students and teachers alike.
Hope Week and Spirit Week
Whether you embrace the warm tropical air at the beach, long for the rugged life in the country, or sip tea with your pinky out at the country club, GHS students literally brought everything but the kitchen sink to show their support of HOPE week (April 25th-29th).
Our HOPE Squad put together a fun week that united our school community in a variety of creative ways to promote hope, spread kindness, and educate students and staff on suicide prevention and awareness. To witness the bonding, collaboration, and creativity our school community displayed brought joy to all corners of GHS. Well done HOPE Squad. We can not wait to see what you have in store for us next year!!!
We were able to ride that tidal wave of unity and community into the week of May 2nd, GHS School Spirit week. Once again, students and staff did not disappoint as GHS pride was on full display!
COMMUNITY EVENT - GREENFIELD HEALTH DEPARTMENT
* * *ππ·ππ§ * * * Greenfield Farmers Market
Every Sunday from May - October (closed: May 29) from 10 am - 2 pm at Konkel Park 5151 W. Layton Ave, Greenfield, WI 53220
βWhat to expect: Live Music, Fresh Produce, Bakery, Meat, Dairy, Specialty Items, Ready-to-Eat Foods
COMMUNITY EVENT - GREENFIELD PARK AND REC
* * *πͺππ‘π * * * Dan Jansen Family Fest
Memorial Day Weekend at Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave, Greenfield, WI 53220
May 27th: Festival Open 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Band, Madison County 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM
May 28th: Festival Open 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Band, Cherry Pie 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM
May 29th: Festival Open 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Band, Bella Cain 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM
May 30th: Festival closed, Rides Open 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
* * * * * * * * * *πππ½Recipes for Memorial Day!π½ππ* * * * * * * * * * *
Ingredients:
1/2 c. pistachio kernels
1/2 small, seedless watermelon, peeled and quartered
1/4 c. olive oil
2 t. finely grated lemon rind
1/2 c. feta
Directions:
Step 1
Heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Add pistachios. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until light brown. Transfer to a bowl. Cool for 5 minutes, Roughly chop.
Step 2
Slice watermelon quarters into 1/2 inch wedges. Arrange on plates.
Step 3
Place oil and lemon rind in a screw-top jar. Season with salt and pepper. Secure lid. Shake to combine. Crumble feta over watermelon. Sprinkle with pistachios. Serve drizzled with oil mixture.
Symphony Brownies - Dr. Laurie Ellis, our Math Instructional Coach, highly recommends this recipe from a friend 10 years ago. Dr. Ellis loves simple recipes and takes this dessert often to get togethers, and it's a hit every time!
Ingredients:
1 family size box brownies
3 symphony bars with toffee (the large ones!)
Directions:
- Follow the recipe for the brownies on the box.
- Put only half of the brownie batter in a 13 x 9 pan.
- Unwrap and lay the symphony bars in the pan.
- Top with remaining batter.
- Bake according to box directions.
Enjoy the yumminess!!!
* * * * * * * * * *ππ Summer School Remindersππ * * * * * * * * * * *
Summer Accelerated Courses (Physical Education 9, Health 9, Economics, Trigonometry)
06/13/2022 - 07/28/2022
Monday* - Thursday (no classes on Fridays)
* no class on Monday, July 04, 2022
7:30 am - 10:00 am OR 10:05 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Greenfield High School
Full attendance and participation is required to earn credit.
Summer Restorative Credit -
7:30 am - 12:30 pm
06/20/2022 - 06/23/2022 - English Courses
06/27 - 07/07/2022 (no class on 07/04/2022) - Math and Science Courses
07/11/2022 -07/21/2022 - Health and Social Studies Courses
07/25/2022 - 07/28/2022 - Additional support to students still needing assistance
School counselors will communicate directly via email with parent/guardians of students who are encouraged to attend summer school for Restorative Credit.
- Information for first semester failures will be communicated by May 13th via email with a registration deadline of June 3rd.
- Information for second semester failures will be communicated between June 9th and June 13th via email with a registration deadline of June 15th.
- Please monitor the email you listed in Infinite Campus to ensure you receive this information.
Summer Trades Academy - (Deadline to Register is May 18th)
Trades: 06/20/2022 - 06/24/2022
Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 2:30 pm
Must attend a Google Meet Information Session on May 18th from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm