Mustang Messenger
2020-2021 School Year: Volume 1: Week 1 August 31, 2020
Be the Best YOU at Grandview!!!
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to another school year! This will be a historical school year and one that you will speak of for years to come. I remember where I was when I learned of the Challenger space shuttle exploding and when Princess Diana was killed. Now when people ask me what did you do during COVID-19. I get to say proudly......lead an amazing community through a great school year.
Despite saying that, I want you to know that this school year will not be perfect. I will try....and I will work hard to ensure as best of a product as possible for the Grandview families, but with the news, research and politics evolving frequently and the policies associated with COVID changing often, Grandview routines will change too. I will promise to give you current and timely information and I promise to lead this school year with the students safety and education #1 in my heart and in my mind, as we tackle this school year together. Please practice flexibility and patience with all of us and extend us grace as we reframe our best instruction in a virtual setting.
The teachers are ready!! They will be starting the school year from their classroom. They have been so creative reconfiguring their room to maximize the impact for your children. Each teacher has a platform ready for you that includes all the lessons, learning activities and Google Meet links. K-2 students use Seesaw and 3-5 use Google Classroom. All codes were in your back-to-school mailing. Teachers are excited to meet your children!!! Every classroom starts the day with an 8:30 meeting. Please have your child logged on and ready to go tomorrow. The school year is ready to begin. We are ready to support you and your children during this unprecedented time!!!
Each Sunday (or Monday on holiday weekends), you will receive, through email, an electronic newsletter of this Mustang Messenger. Some information will remain all year, while other information will be included as necessary. We love to communicate and celebrate with our families and the community. This is a great way to stay informed. I attach archived newsletters on the Grandview website too.
I look forward to working with all of you as well. It will take a village this year as we support each other and learn from each other. Thank goodness you are are in Clarenceville, a small district with a big heart and a tight knit community. I have an open door policy and I believe that through open communication, we will work as a team to create the best school year for your child. Do not hesitate to reach out to me should you have a question, comment, suggestion, or in need of a clarification.
Your Proud Principal,
Mrs. Melissa Carruth, Ed.S
What to say to your Child on the 1st Day of School?
- You're capable of anything you set your mind to.
- You don't have to be the best at everything; you just need to try your best.
- It's about the journey, not just the destination.
- Treat others how you want to be treated.
- Don't let your peers' actions affect how you feel about yourself.
- Every mistake is a lesson.
- I believe in you and I support you.
- Magic happens outside of your comfort zone.
- I'm going to drop you off, then you'll meet your teacher, and have lunch....."
- I can't wait to hear about your day.
- Be yourself.
Grandview Staffing
This school year, we have had little staff turnover. The only new staff member is.....
- Ms. Erin Grossi, instructional coach
All teachers that were on staff last year, are back to Grandview this year. Though it may seem different since we are in this COVID school year. A few staffing shifts that may impact your students:
- Some Grandview teachers are our 100% virtual teachers. Mrs. Mahoney, Mrs. Habkirk, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Gibson, Ms. Mantei and Mrs. Jacobs are teaching the students who chose Option 2, virtual academy. They are teaching Grandview and Botsford students from Grandview.
- Ms. Parent, a Botsford teacher (but a Grandview alumni), is teaching the 2nd grade Virtual classroom. She is teaching Grandview and Botsford students.
- Mrs. Thomas is teaching 3rd grade this year.
- If you chose Option 1, hybrid remote. You will have a Grandview teacher with only Grandview students. Also, your children will return to school when we are able to return to school.
All of the Grandview and Botsford teachers will be working together to deliver an effective and quality learning platform and best practice instruction. They will be collaborating to ensure that pacing is similar between both buildings should you make a semester switch.
Back to School Mailing
There also is the supply list for the 2020-2021 school year. This is a suggested list and will help your child with their learning whether they are at school or at home learning. If you need help purchasing supplies, please contact myself or the Grandview main office.
School Schedules
A lot of questions have come up about this wondering if their children will have to be online for a full day. Teachers will be accessible for a full day to support your children in both synchronous (face-to-face, like a Google Meet) opportunities and asynchonous (learning activities, software, websites) opportunities.
School Hours and Attendance
Attendance will be taken daily. Attendance will be monitored. Truancy laws will be upheld. If you are option 1 - hybrid remote, teachers will take a morning and afternoon attendance, just like in brick and mortar. If you are in option 2 - virtual academy. You have a little more flexibility, but daily contact with the teacher is still expected.
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Since students are not in the building, lunch and breakfast will be served from the high school. See the attached letter for more information about this. If this schedule does or does not work for you, I strongly encourage you to complete the attached survey so that food service can continue to meet your needs.
Curbside meal pick-up for all enrolled students will take place on Thursdays at Clarenceville High School, Door 21. On most Thursdays, students will be given 5 days’ worth of breakfast and lunch meals. Parents/students can pick up their meals during one of the following service times: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM OR 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. See the 2020-21 First Semester Meal Pick-Up Schedule for a complete list of service dates and the number of meals to
be provided on each date.
If you are in need of food, but cannot get to Grandview for food, please reach out to myself or the Grandview office so that we can help you to get food.
On-line Registration for ALL Grandview Students
The enrollment process is 100% on-line. To process the paperwork, you need to log into your child's parent portal site. The parent portal site can be accessed from the main page of the Clarenceville website by clicking on the blue on-line registration button or you can click the following link https://mistar.oakland.k12.mi.us/clarenceville/parentportal/. You will need your PIN number and password. If you do not know it, please contact the Grandview main office at 248-919-0404. For this process, you will be asked and prompted to go through the annual registration forms and approve the forms for this year, as prompted.
If you are new to Grandview, you need to click on the pre-enrollment button (has a pencil) located on the Clarenceville home page.
If you want to enroll on a phone or tablet.....
We now have a mobile version of Mistar that can be used on phones/tablets. It must be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Itunes. I have attached instructions if you would like to share with your parents. With the app a parent can now complete their re-enrollment forms.
Students can also download their Student Connection through Google Play Store or Itunes.
Parents can now can report absences through the app. To report an absence or complete the re-enrollment packet there is a drop down icon that they need to click, I highlighted it in red and attached a screenshot of what it looks like from their perspective.
Once they click they can choose from the options.
The instructions for the app are included below......
Live Online Class Meetings
Teachers in our remote settings are asked to record their class meetings. The meetings are then shared with the class within the class learning platform (ie Google Classroom or Zoom) so that students that were absent or those needing a second viewing can review material. Please complete this form to provide consent to have your child's class recorded.
PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM PER CHILD. The form is attached!!
Welcome Back Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/2214253729?pwd=K3YwOUNyVU10OUtzUDBwSGhOeDg5Zz09
Meeting ID: 221 425 3729
Passcode: 185721
If you cannot attend, that is OK, we will be recording it and will upload it on the Grandview webpage after the event. This event is strictly informational!!!
Tech Support this School Year
Click here for Google Meet Support Link
Click her to access Google Meet for Tech support
Tuesday Night Night
FOG Positions are available
The following positions are available:
FOG President:
Treasurer: Nomination - Jackie Hart
Secretary: Nomination - Mallary Louiselle
If you are interested, please reach out to myself or Nick Dorst at fogvp2020@gmail.com
Interested in Cub Scouts
Grandview Sports
Important Dates and Upcoming Dates
August 31: First day of school - ½-day -- 11:30 dismissal
September 8: Virtual FOG Meeting @ 6:30 pm
10: Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30 pm
11: First Supply Distribution -- More information to come on this
15: Virtual Curriculum Night (K-5) at 6 pm
17: Constitution Day - Wear red, white and blue to your Google Meet
22: MOD FOG Dinner Night - Take the night off cooking and give money back to Grandview
24: Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30 pm
25: Second Supply Distribution -- More information to come on this