GSD E-Blast September 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well and that you and your family have had a relaxing summer break. As we gear up for another incredible school year, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and your children.
Although summer brought us plenty of sunshine and relaxation, it also came with some challenges such as floods, storms, and tornadoes. However, during these difficult times, our community's strength was inspirational. I am incredibly proud of how we came together to support one another. These experiences remind us that we are not just a school district, but a village that cares for each other.
Our maintenance and custodial staff have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to prepare everything for the start of the school year despite the damage caused by the storms. I cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication to GSD staff and students. If you see one of these special individuals in your child's building, please give them a big thank you!
We remain committed to the safety and security of our students and have continued to upgrade our safety procedures and efforts over the summer. These enhancements ensure that our schools remain safe havens where children can learn, grow, and thrive. We take this responsibility seriously and recognize safety's crucial role in fostering a conducive learning environment.
As we enter this new academic year, I'm excited to share that our dedicated educators and staff have worked diligently to create an engaging and enriching learning environment. Our focus remains on providing your children with the highest quality education, and our team has spent numerous hours getting ready for a truly outstanding educational year for each of our students. We are focused and ready to prepare all our students for a future full of possibilities. From innovative teaching methods to exciting extracurricular activities, we're committed to making this school year one of inspiration and growth!
Welcome back, GSD families! Here's to another fantastic school year!
Your partner in education,
Amy Conway
Superintendent
Bond Election Information
We have exciting news for all GSD Community!
This summer, the Gibraltar School District Board of Education has approved placing no tax-rate increase bond proposal on the November 7th ballot. Voter approval of the bond proposal will not increase residents' current tax rate.
The $81.5 million no-tax-rate increase bond proposal is designed to improve the learning environment and update the interior and exterior of school buildings.
The bond proposal will allow the school district to make improvements in five key areas:
1. enhancing elementary educational programming;
2. enhancing student safety and security;
3. improving the learning environment;
4. expanding arts, athletics, and play areas; and,
5. addressing aging facility infrastructure and, increasing building efficiencies.
To learn more about the bond proposal, click HERE
Amy Conway- Superintendent
Spark's Corner
Research shows that being happy and positive primes the brain to be more successful and productive. Promoting positivity will enhance our student’s academic ability and develop them into happy and positive thinkers and leaders. Each month we will highlight a building or staff member that is spreading “The Orange” (Happiness) through Gibraltar!
Kindergarten Signing-Day
Incoming Kindergarten and Young Fives Student's Commit to Gibraltar School District
Our incoming Kindergarten and Young Five's Students, the class of 2036, had the chance to participate in a Mock Signing-Day like high school athletes on their way to college. We hope this event where students meet with teachers to answer some questions about kindergarten and then celebrate becoming a GSD student enhances the excitement and settles any nerves about starting school. Welcome class of 2036.
Carlson High School
Prep Day
August 28th marked Carlson High School’s annual Prep Day. While this was a toned down version this year due to the recent storms, our Marauder Captains were on hand to greet all incoming students! This is the day that each class (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior) gets to come in and pick up their schedule, check out their books, sign up for their coveted parking spot, etc. Please enjoy a few pictures from Prep Day!
The Captains are Ready to Lead
Students in line for Chromebooks
The Spirit Shack was Open for Business
Chapman Elementary School
Welcome New Chapman Staff!
We are absolutely thrilled to introduce three remarkable additions to our teaching family: Ms. Lindsey St. Andre, Ms. Riley Fast, and Mrs. Bethany Shuman. They bring an invigorating wave of enthusiasm and expertise to our school community. Ms. St. Andre and Ms. Fast will be igniting young minds in first grade. Mrs. Shuman's passion for Art and STEM will undoubtedly inspire our students to inquire, explore, and innovate. As we embark on this new school year, let us extend our warmest welcome to these exceptional educators, embracing the knowledge and inspiration they bring. Here's to a year of growth, discovery, and endless possibilities! Welcome to Gibraltar School District!
Hunter Elementary
Summer Academic Program at Hunter
A dynamic and enriching six-week summer academic program, catering to students from Young Fives to Exiting 4th grade, has come to a close with over 150 young learners celebrating new knowledge and skills. Hosted at Hunter Elementary School, the program focused on mathematics, reading, and STEM instruction, nurturing a well-rounded educational experience.
Throughout the program, students dove into the worlds of math, reading, and STEM. From mastering mathematical concepts to honing reading comprehension skills, each student was supported purposefully. The program's standout feature was its hands-on, inquiry-based STEM projects, which ignited curiosity, collaboration and problem-solving. These engaging projects nurtured critical thinking and teamwork. We thank the Gibraltar teachers who commitment their summer to the program's success. Their efforts ensured that each student thrived.
Parsons Elementary
Parsons Pirates Shine in Fourth of July Parade
Parsons Elementary School students don't just shine in the school year! A group of Parsons Pirates worked together to create a float for the Fourth of July Parade. The adorable "Peace, Love, Parsons" VW Bug was a big hit! Our students had a wonderful time handing out hundreds of pieces of candy and big smiles to all of our community. What could make a great day even better? The Parsons float won a $75 prize that went to our PTO and will be used to support our Pirates this year!
Downriver STEM at Weiss
We are excited to introduce three amazing educators joining our Weiss school community for the 2023-2024 school year. Mrs. Schroeder brings a remarkable 13 years of education experience to our CI self-contained special education classroom, with 12 of those years dedicated to special education across various grade levels. Her expertise and commitment are poised to greatly contribute to the growth and success of our students in the CI program. Equally exciting, Mrs. Marzouq, with an impressive 13-year background in early childhood education encompassing preschool, young fives, and kindergarten, is set to bring a nurturing approach and deep understanding of child development, creating an engaging learning experience in her kindergarten classroom. Moreover, Mrs. Cox, a district veteran of 8 years, has served in diverse roles and has taught first grade and intervention. Her impactful intervention support last year at Weiss, close collaboration with school staff, and utilization of a targeted and personalized approach through one-on-one sessions and small group activities have set the stage for her success. Now embarking on teaching second grade at Weiss, Mrs. Cox's diverse expertise promises a dynamic and effective learning environment. We extend warm welcomes to these educators, eagerly anticipating the positive impact they will bring to our school community.
Shumate Middle School
Shumate Middle School Prep Day: A Perfect Start to the Academic Year
On August 28th, the halls of Shumate Middle School were buzzing with anticipation and excitement as staff and student leaders met to welcome both new and returning students! This annual event marked the beginning of the academic year, providing students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their schedules, check out their Chromebooks, explore the school with First Mates tour guides, have their school pictures taken, and indulge in delectable treats from local food trucks. With schedules in hand, Chromebooks powered up, and the campus explored, students were ready to embark on a year of growth, discovery, and learning. Prep Day at Shumate Middle School was a resounding success, setting a positive tone for the upcoming academic year. With a blend of organization, anticipation, and an unmistakable air of camaraderie, the event highlighted the school's commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning.
Lakeshore Virtual School
Prep Day 2023!
As summer comes to a close, a new school year is on the horizon and the LVS staff is ready to welcome our students to the 2023-2024 school year. We had a successful prep day which allowed us to talk to returning families and meet our new ones. Families received their mentor meeting, a curriculum refresher, and other important information about our school and virtual learning. It was a great way to start the new year and provide our families an opportunity to see our school and ask questions about the upcoming school year.
Annual Notifications
Gibraltar School District is required to provide families with certain notifications, as required by law, which can be accessed at the link below. Please take a moment to review these notifications.
Transportation Update
We are excited for our school year to begin!
We are hiring bus drivers and bus aides. If you are interested, please come in and fill out an application. We are located at 28291 Fort Street, in Trenton or contact us at (734) 379-6370.
Cherie Fraser- Asst. Director of Transportation
Maintenance and Operations and Update
First off I want to thank our amazing custodial staff for another job well done. They have been hard at work all summer making the buildings shine. They all take great pride in everything they do! Another huge thank you to our grounds staff who have not let off all summer. They have been working extremely hard to keep our district looking great from the outside. Lastly, we are excited about our turf project at the CHS softball and baseball fields, including updated irrigation and drainage systems. Completion is scheduled for mid-late September.
We are looking forward to yet another amazing school year!
Greg Timmons- Director of Operations
Food Service Update
I am excited to announce free breakfast and lunch for each student this school year! We are asking that all parents to fill out a free and reduced lunch form (regardless of income) in order to help the district with Title 1 and 31a funding. Below are the links to the District letter explaining the process and the application.
For Parents GSD Food Service Fall Letter 2023/24 digital
Application --> Free & Reduced Application 2023-2024 (PDF Version)
Brian Bahr- Director of Dining Services
District Crisis and Safety Coordinator
This summer, we have diligently prepared our buildings and Downriver police officers for a safe return to school. We facilitated an active shooter training at CHS, which included all Downriver departments and was conducted by the Border Patrol. We installed safety film in select areas of our schools and we added fencing beneath the stadium bleachers to control traffic flow and prevent unsafe behavior. We are also upgrading bus radios with GPS locators and other special safety features. In addition, we are continuing to add additional safety features that will provide additional support if necessary. This year, I will continue to meet frequently with each building's safety and crisis team's and work with each group to continue to practice and build robust safety procedures.
Ken May- District Crisis and Safety Coordinator
Technology Update
We are thrilled to share a brief update on our summer efforts in the technology department. We've been hard at work ensuring your child's safety and learning experience. We've introduced a new technology agreement to provide a secure tech environment, and we've taken the extra steps to clean and sanitize all Chromebooks. Additionally, we've made significant strides in boosting cybersecurity measures to keep all users safe online. We're committed to your child's wellbeing and growth, and we're excited about the enhanced tech journey ahead!