Bobcat Bytes
March 25, 2022
Dear Bobcat Virtual Families,
Spring Break is here! Tomorrow is a half day, and then teachers and students are both off from March 26-April 3. If there are deadlines listed during this week on your student's course, your students are NOT expected to work during that time. The dates are guidelines for pacing and are not required. This might happen more frequently in our classes from outside vendors, as they may not recognize the same breaks as our school. Likewise, teachers will be on vacation for the week of Spring Break and may not be grading assignments or checking email. We are encouraging everyone to enjoy some well-deserved time off!
We hope that all of your students have an opportunity to relax and reset. When we return, we only have one marking period left. If your students are behind, please encourage them to take this time to get caught up.
Don't forget - common work submission deadlines for the second semester of Bobcat Virtual are as follows:
- Senior Deadlines: Since seniors are done on May 20, 2021, the work submission deadlines for seniors in high school classes will be May 13, 2021, at 11:59pm. Exams will be given/collected during the following week.
- Elementary classes and middle school classes that do not give an exam and are not tied to high school credit: Wednesday, June 8, 2021, at 11:59pm
- High school classes and middle school classes that have an exam and are tied to high school credit: Friday, June 3, 2021, at 11:59pm, with exams the following week
We hope you have a great break!
Allyson Walroth
Bobcat Virtual Learning Director
awalroth@gbcs.org
810-591-1658
March is Reading Month Winners!
Thank you to everyone who has been participating in our March is Reading Month activities! We've loved looking at the pictures you've been submitting for our Daily Activity Calendar.
The following students have been randomly chosen as winners of a free book:
- Ernest Weasel, 2nd Grade
- Briella Phegley, 3rd Grade
- Gracie Duncan, 5th Grade
In addition, the following students were winners of the GooseChase for students in grades 6-12:
- 1st place: Julia Huff
- 2nd place: Sophia Khait
- 3rd place: Trace Shank
- 4th place: Timmy Valentin
- 5th place: Camden Vangilder
We will reach out to all winners with information about how to choose your free book.
It's not too late to win free books - a couple of our other contests are running through the end of March. You can find more information in our Special Edition Reading Month Newsletter.
Activity Calendar Pictures!
Ramadan
This year, Ramadan ⎯ the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar and the holy month of fasting ⎯ lasts from Saturday, April 2 until Monday, May 2. Ramadan will begin while we are on Spring Break. Ramadan ends with the celebration Eid-al-Fitr, “The Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.” Many Muslims, including some of our Muslim students, will be fasting - abstaining from any food or drink including water - from dawn to dusk for 30 days to focus on personal growth and reflection.
Any part-time in-person BVL students observing Ramadan are welcome to come to the BVL Lab during lunch if they would prefer a different environment from the cafeteria. They can sign in at the front desk in the lab.
Teacher Appreciation Week: May 2-May 6
Hello BVL families! Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up soon. The PTO organization is looking for help and support. Let’s show our teachers and staff just how thankful we are for all of their hard work. Please reach out to PTO Secretary Meg Sprecher at megsprecher9@gmail.com for more information and details.
Bobcat Virtual Mascot
A while back we asked for suggestions for a mascot for Bobcat Virtual. We got so many great responses, and these are the finalists:
- Qwerty the Cyber Bobcat
- Robot
- Explorer
- Navigator
- House Cat
- Speedy the Sardine
Please vote for your favorite!
4th, 5th, and 7th Grade Human Growth and Development
The Grand Blanc Board of Education provides a program of instruction in human growth and development to all students in 4th, 5th, and 7th grades. As a component of the Human Growth and Development program, the following content is generally taught to our in-person students:
- 4th grade: concepts relating to the onset of puberty and reproductive health
- 5th grade: reproductive health
- 7th grade: HIV/AIDS and other serious communicable disease prevention as well as sex education
For our Grand Blanc and Flushing students, these will be available in a separate asynchronous Google Classroom
for students whose parents choose to opt them in to the lessons. These will be appropriate to your student's grade. They will be able to work through this content at their own pace and with your support.
By law you have the right to excuse your child from the class, if you choose. Please visit the GBCS Human Growth & Development website to see sample resources and explore the topics covered during this program.
Please take time to review the information on the website. If you would like your child to participate you need to complete the Opt-In Form linked here. Please complete this form by April 22. Once we have collected names of students, they will be added to the Google Classroom the following week. If you would not like your child to participate, you do not have to do anything.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at 591-6649.
9-12 Health Human Growth and Development
Our high school health class is pre-loaded with the Human Growth and Development unit.
By law you have the right to excuse your child from this content, if you choose. Please visit the GBCS Human Growth & Development website to see sample resources and explore the topics covered during this program.
Please take time to review the information on the website. If you do not want your child to participate you need to complete the Opt-Out Form found at the top of the website or linked here. If you have not opted out by Friday, April 1, your child will gain access to this unit.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at 591-6649.
Grades 3-11 Required Spring Testing
Per the Federal Government, we are required to complete spring testing (SAT, PSAT & M-STEP) for all of our 3rd-11th grade students. In addition, it is a GBHS graduation requirement that all students take the SAT.
These tests must be delivered face-to-face and require all students, including Bobcat Virtual students, to attend testing in person. Flushing students will complete testing with their own district.
Testing for 3rd-11th grade students will take place at the High School West Campus, each over a two-day period. The HS West Campus is located at 1 Jewett Trail, Grand Blanc. Parents will need to provide transportation. On the first day of testing, the only other students in the building will be those who are also testing. On the second day, high school students will begin to arrive at 11:30am for school. Aside from the 11th grade students, we hope to have all testing completed by that time, but students may overlap as they are leaving. It is important to note that the schedule for BVL students is DIFFERENT than the schedule for in-person high school students.
Students should enter through the main entrance and will be directed to the cafeteria to learn the location of their test. Students in grades 3-7 will need to bring their Chromebook, fully charged, and know their login information. 8th grade students will only need their Chromebook on the second day and will be doing a pencil/paper test on the first day. We will not have extra Chromebooks or chargers.
Students in grades 9-11 will need to come prepared with a pencil. On the second day ONLY - 11th grade students will need to bring their school-issued Chromebook, fully charged, and know their login information. We will not have extra Chromebooks or chargers.
Students will be spaced 3 feet apart during testing. We will follow the district’s current masking policy at that time. They are permitted to bring a bottle of water and snacks to eat during breaks. They should also bring a book or something quiet to do if they finish testing early. We recommend a good, healthy breakfast and a good night’s sleep before testing. On the second day ONLY - 11th grade students will be provided with a lunch between the WorkKeys and M-STEP tests.
When arriving to pick up students after testing, parents will need to park in the front lot. Parents of students in grades 3-5 will need to come inside to pick up their student. Parents of students in grades 6-11 can wait in their cars, and students will come out of the building to be picked up.
Here is the schedule for testing (please note that drop off and pick up times vary by grade and by day):
Makeup dates are tentatively scheduled for the week of April 25-29. Please make every attempt for your student to attend on the initial testing days.
If you have any questions or concerns about the testing process, please contact our office at 810-591-1658. We are here to support you and should be able to answer any of your questions..
22-23 Scheduling & Placement Survey
We are still missing a few responses, and we'd like to hear back from 100% of our families with their intentions for next year. If you have not already done so, please access the
22-23 Scheduling Newsletter and complete the appropriate survey for each of your students. This is especially important for secondary students (grades 6-12) who will need to pick their courses. If we have not heard from you, we will assume that you plan to keep your student in Bobcat Virtual Learning for the 22-23 school year, and we will select courses for students who have not already done so.
Student Clubs
Our amazing 6-12 English teacher, Mr. Stuck, has started multiple student clubs for our secondary (grades 6-12) students. All clubs are virtual. Students do not need to worry about coming in to the school.
There is a different club each day of the week:
- Monday - Gaming Club, 1:00-2:00pm, Google Meet code: bvlgame
- Tuesday - Arts & Crafts Club, 1:00-2:00pm, Google Meet code: bvlcraft
- Wednesday - BVL Cafe, 1:00-2:00pm, Google Meet code: bvlcafe
- Thursday - Anime Club, 1:00-2:00pm, Google Meet code: bvlanime
- Friday - Fandom Club, 1:00-2:00pm, Google Meet code: bvlfandom
For a description of each club, please see this newsletter from Mr. Stuck. All secondary students are invited to attend!
Here are some drawings created during Art Club!
College Board Accounts
A College Board account is required of all students. If you do not have a College Board account set up, please do so at
www.collegeboard.org . The student needs to be the one to set this up. Do not set up a second account.
This account is needed for PSAT9, PSAT10, and SAT review, score viewing, and score sending to colleges. Please keep your login and password somewhere where you can find it as needed. These accounts are sometimes used during class time. If you already set up an account and cannot remember your login and password information, please call College Board at 1-866-756-7346. Staff do not have access to students information.
Seniors - Order your Cap and Gown!
If you haven't already, It's time to order everything you need to celebrate and commemorate this Senior Year. This includes cap and gown, graduation announcements, and class apparel.
CLICK HERE for all the important information you need. The EASIEST way to order is click on the link and order online at Jostens.com. Call with any Questions - Jostens of Mid-Michigan 810 658-1700 (office line)
CLICK HERE for special GBHS Packages.
Each week we will profile one of our amazing virtual staff members so that you can meet everyone!
Mr. Nate Riek
Position: Social Studies Teacher
Experience: 17 years teaching. 16 Years at GBHS. 7 years as a virtual teacher
Most Excited About: Great people on this staff
Looking Forward To: Trying to get back into a routine of school
Interests: Reading, Gardening, Drawing, Spending time with Family
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 (grades 6-12): 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 - 810-591-1658 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
