What's Up @ GCHS
Updated at 1:45 pm April 16
Gearing Up for Learning!
April 16 Intouch Update from Ms. Kollar
Happy Thursday Everyone,
I am excited to share with you the new schedule that starts on Monday, April 20. It will be a rotating schedule, and each week I will share it with you so that you know what classes you are attending or responsible for each day. I have attached an explanation of the schedule and week 1 for your understanding. Please look at both pages of the attached document.
The new platform will be Google Classroom driven. Many of you have already signed up for your teachers' classes through the Google sheet I sent you yesterday. I will also be sending you a How To Google Classroom newsletter later today so you and your parents will have more information on the online process.
A number of you have inquired about grades, who is supposed to attend online school, and are confused by mixed messages. It is important that you know we are following a plan directed by the governor to continue educating students with our Continuity of Learning Plan. Here are our expectations for that plan:
- All students are expected to attend online classes and participate in the assignments/work
- Seniors last day of school will be May 22, and the 9-11th graders will attend thru June 12
- All student work starting April 20 will be graded
- All students will have the ability to improve their grades from where they sat on March 11
- Students that choose not to do online work, still have the ability to fail
- Students that do the work, have the ability to keep or improve their grade
At this time I have no change in date for graduation. As soon as I have more information on this, I will be sure to let you know.
I am excited to get back to learning and see you in your classrooms, even if it is virtual. Please know your teachers are working extremely hard to make this new learning worthwhile for you. They are doing a great job, but may not be perfect right from the start. Even the meeting I had with them on Tuesday had a few bumps before smoothing out. Please be kind and patient with them as they are learning too.
Respectfully,
Sharon Kollar
Principal
InTouch Updates By Date
April 16 Intouch Update from Mr. Fisher
I hope that this email finds you and your families healthy and well. We are pleased to share that online instruction will begin this coming Monday, April 20. Later today, you will receive next week's instructional calendar for your student's building.
We are excited to move forward with Continuity of Learning for our students and we want to encourage as much participation as possible. Classroom teachers will be moving forward with the curriculum so please make sure your student is ready to participate.
Thank you,
Mr. Fisher
April 13 School Starts April 20 - Online
I hope this correspondence finds you well and that you and your students remain healthy during these most challenging times. So you are aware, online learning is scheduled to commence on Monday, April 20. For those of you in need of a district device please review and respond to the correspondence sent earlier today to confirm a time to pick up a ChromeBook. ChromeBooks will be distributed at Garden City Middle School by our Technology Department.
Building staff will be meeting online tomorrow to review plan specifics and finalize details for online learning. Please stay posted for an update on online learning schedules.
Stay Safe and Be Well,
Mr. Fisher
April 13 Update for Students in Need of Technology
Parents and Guardians,
Please have only one member of your family complete the form linked below by Thursday, April 16 if your child does not otherwise have a chromebook device and is requesting a district Chromebook be issued to them. Further instructions will be provided to those families that complete this form.
District Device Request Form
https://forms.gle/9E2WpAE1AXEtcxh96
Trouble viewing the form? Visit www.GardenCitySchools.com/tech
If you have any questions please visit www.GardenCitySchools.com/update for more information. If you have a tech related question, please email computerservices@gardencityschools.com and we will respond as soon as possible.
Thank You.
GCPS Technology Department
Prior Updates are Located at the End of the Newsletter
Hegira Community Help for All
Take Care of YOU!
NEWSIES
ACADEMICS!!!
Enrichment Assignments
Subject Area Folders - Enrichment for All
Students are welcome to clink
on the link here to connect to
work teachers may have
uploaded for enrichment during
our hiatus.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GQA8-rEuUSe0xZ2-lWwFwycE6cAHh3z6?usp=sharing
Inside the
enrichment folder, there are
subject area folders. Feel free
to browse, and work on what
every you would like to keep up
with. Teachers continue to add content, so check back every day or two and see what is new. There is no need to look for a specific teacher, as they are all sharing information back and forth. Just look for your classes.
Khan Academy
You are always welcome to
work on Khan Academy any
time you wish.
This isn't just for SAT prep. There plenty of different subjects for you to work on here.
AP Testing Information
Visit a Smithsonian Museum
The San Diego Zoo Web Cams
Free Audible Books
Ever Thought About Learning to Code?
https://www.vidcode.com/groups/join/draw-sixty-six-amusing-birthdays
Ted Talks for Students
YouTube Audio Book Ideas
If your are looking for additional enrichment activities and want to consider audio books, YouTube has numerous options available. Please consider the options detailed below:
Lower Elementary PreK-2
Many different short children's books with the illustrations.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvlkzX1j60llpfn93A22ZxXEURGblPgkS
Middle Elementary 3-4
The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXybALKqUoU
Upper Elementary 5-6
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (with the pages and illustrations)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSawqL-8d_0
Middle School 7-8
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3--LpDlGi-w&list=PLbMvS8uh9ER1RHQRgWRBMWpNDJ9f0YJcx
High School 9-12
Fellowship of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS
Due to the Governor’s orders to close schools and MHSAA actions to cancel 2019-20 winter and spring sports, physical practices and competitions in all sports are not permitted for the next several weeks until the ban is lifted by the Governor. The Governor’s order bans activity at all school facilities, and non-school activity as well. For the most part, MHSAA regulations remain in place unless waived by the Executive Committee or Representative Council, some of which are known now, others will be dealt with in the weeks ahead. Updates will be posted as necessary (on the MHSAA website).
Other Newsletters You May Be Interested In Seeing Again
Garden City Public Schools Bond Information
Here are the Prior Updates!
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Students: SEE TIME CHANGE
Parents
We will be providing the meals in a take-home package, you may pick up 2 meals for each day at the same time, they will not need to pick up their breakfast and lunch meals at separate times.
April 4, 2020
April 3, 2020
Consistent with the Governor's Order, district properties remain closed. For safety, playgrounds and tennis courts are closed to the public.
The Most Up to Date Information
As you may know the governor's announcement today has suspended all face to face learning through the end of the school year, or until the Stay at Home initiative has been lifted.
With several questions on your minds, please know there are steps at different levels from the county to the district that need to be made before we can put plans out to the community. That means there could be a time lag before Mr. Fisher or myself are able to share such plans.
Know that the decisions being made will be in the best interest of all of our students.
Please continue to read the InTouch messages and use this newsletter as a source of up to date information. I monitor and update the newsletter daily.
BE WELL, STAY SAFE,
Ms. Kollar
April 7, 2020
As GCPS continues to plan Continuity of Learning opportunities for our students, please complete the technology survey included with this correspondence so that we may better address your student's needs.
Community Members,
As a result of Governor Whitmer's Executive Order, specific to the May 5 election day, all registered voters will be mailed an Absentee Voter Application and postage paid return envelope.
The school district was notified through official channels of the executive order and Garden City Public Schools remains committed to the school board supported election date of May 5, 2020. The absentee voter option ensures public safety and affords member of our community their right to vote. Postponing the election would delay many of the bond proposal projects and given the critical needs of the school infrastructure, delaying the election was not the best option. By going forward with the May 5th date as an absentee voter, citizens can vote from the safety of their own homes and fully participate in the election process.
To be clear, all registered voters within the Garden City Public Schools District, will be mailed the absentee voter application. If you complete and return the application, you will be mailed an absentee ballot with a postage paid return envelope. Upon receipt, simply mark your ballot and put it in the mail. Absentee voting will be allowed through May 5th.
Again, Garden City Public Schools is going forward with the May 5 election as it presents the best option to address our critical infrastructure needs and manage construction timelines. The absentee voter option ensures the safety of citizens engaged in the democratic process. We believe going forward with the May election is in the best interest of our students, schools, and our community, and we are grateful for the support for the City Clerk's Office in facilitating the election and ensuring that the right to vote remains in place during these challenging times.
Respectfully,
Mr. Derek Fisher
March 26
Community Members,
This is a reminder regarding Governor Whitmer's "Stay Home-Stay Safe" order. Please know that our school buildings and our school grounds are closed during this state mandate. This directive is for the safety and well-being of all community members. The purpose of this directive is to reduce incidents of COVID-19 infection. Community members should adhere to this very important guidance. Please note that playground equipment on school sites is not to be used at this time.
Thank you and please stay safe,
Mr. Fisher
Parents and Staff,
As many of you are most likely aware, at 11:00 am today, in addition to the “Stay-at-Home” order, Governor Whitmer extended the mandated school closure until April 13, 2020. While this news is concerning, the decision was made in the best interest of public safety including the health and welfare of our students. For Garden City Public Schools, students are scheduled to return to school on Tuesday, April 14. Please know, that until further notice, Monday through Friday food service for students’ remains in place. The district received confirmation that school food service remains an essential function and we will continue to utilize Garden City High School and Farmington Elementary as sites for distribution of student meals.
In addition to student meals, district staff have contributed to the creation of K-6 enrichment packets and Pre K-12 enrichment resources. K-6 enrichment packets are still available at both Farmington and GCHS during food service distribution. The packets are also available online with other enrichment resources including links for students in the Burger Program at the following webpage:
http://www.gardencityschools.com/parents/gcps_closure_update_2020/home_learning_resources.php
As parents and community members, many of you have questions about the state response to COVID-19. For specific information on the Coronavirus and the state’s response, the Governor’s Office has added a webpage to the official state website. That webpage can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/Coronavirus For status on cases of Coronavirus per county, be sure to click on the “see cumulative data” icon.
Regrettably, at this time the district does not have an update on the status of spring sports. Clearly, no student activities can take place during the closure and we do not yet have an update from the Michigan High School Athletic Association on whether or not spring sports will take place once school resumes. Also, please know, should additional information regarding the school closure become available, you will be notified immediately.
Finally, we all know that this event is unprecedented and that the media regularly shares that there are many unknowns regarding when our normal lives will resume. What we do know is that we have a strong community that is full of thoughtful students, committed residents and dedicated staff. As a community, we will get through this crisis, we will persevere and as a school district we will continue to advocate for our children.
All the best,
Derek Fisher
March 16: Students can collect personal items and musical instruments on Tuesday, March 17 from 2-6 pm. Please accompany K-8 students. Limit time in buildings to 10 minutes. (There will be a limited amount of students in the building at one time.)
What is Coronavirus?
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
For those needing information in a language other than English, please click here:
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_98541---,00.html
Garden City High School
Cougar Pride: Pride in where we come from, pride in our education, pride in where we are going.
Globally Diverse
Career and College-Ready
Hometown Pride
Socially Strong Citizens
Website: http://www.gardencityschools.com/schools/garden_city_high_school/index.php
Location: 6500 Middlebelt Road, Garden City, MI, USA
Phone: 734-762-8350