February 7
A Date with the Devil
Battle of the Bands
6:00 PM
Bert's Warehouse Theater
February 10
Skilled Trades Career Fair
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
South Gymnasium
February 12
Mothers' Club General Membership Meeting
7:00 PM
Cleminson Hall
February 12 & 13
Pointe Players - One Acts
7:00 PM
South Auditorium
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March 4
South Choir Winter Spectacular
7:00 PM
Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center
March 5
Parent/Teacher Conferences
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
GP South
March 17-21
Mid-Winter Break
No School
March 25-28
Art Fest
GP South MPR
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Welcome to semester two! In our house a “half-way there” reference would immediately launch into some quality renditions of Jon Bon Jovi’s 1980s masterpiece, though I am sure there must be a more refined allusion (or at least more modern) that your student can offer. In any case, the new start means that we begin again with a fresh start in grades, attendance and classes. Hooray!
Skilled Trades Night -
Grosse Pointe Public Schools will be hosting our annual Skilled Trades Career Night Monday, February 10 from 6:30-8:30 pm in the South Gym. A variety of trades will have tables set up to tell you what specific training is required and how to get started. Careers in the trades can have starting salaries that range from $40,000-80,000 per year. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn more!
Freshman, Sophomore, Junior Parents:
Scheduling
(and over scheduling) Are you choosing your priorities or are they being chosen for you? As we all know, the demands on our time are great. This year as we kick off the course selection process for 2020-21 with our Course Recommendation Day on January 29, please note the column: Weekly Time Commitment. We want students to challenge themselves in their studies, but not overextend their academic commitments such that their lives are out of balance resulting in added stress and anxiety. Families should dedicate some time together for thoughtful discussion about the commitment the student is making in selecting these courses within the context of their other commitments to family, friends, faith, sports and activities. This planning session should include what the family and individual priorities are and how much time they will devote to prioritizing these activities. Our students are amazing and want to do
EVERYTHING
! It is our role as parents and educators to support them in building balance, making some hard choices about what is a wise selection and what is better to let pass. Families know their student best and need to play an active role.
On Course Recommendation day, all teachers spent time in each class discussing individually with students their recommendation for future classes. Each core academic class has a
Course Expectation Planning Guide
outlining the average time and activity commitment required for success in the course. This will also help students and families in course selection decisions. In the case of electives, teachers will discuss other electives available to students. Course selection forms came home on the 29
th
with a majority of courses selected. On the back is a simple worksheet to sketch out other time commitments. After you have had a chance to meet as a family and discuss the selections, please sign this form and return it to the 3
rd
hour teacher by February 5
th
at the latest. Counselors will be available for easy walk in consulting at lunch on Jan 30 & 31 and Feb 1 in the library. When we return from Mid-Winter Break we will be meeting with students in small groups to review course selections for next year, input them on the computer, and complete the annual Educational Development Plan (EDP) review (see below for more discussion on EDP). If you have any lingering questions or concerns about course content and requirements, the
Program of Studies
is available on the school system website. We will be sending out a reminder towards the end of the school year of the classes that your student has selected. At this time, if there are any changes you will be welcome to make modifications. Things to consider include the overall workload of the student, post high school plans, extracurricular demands and possible summer school classes that may replace grades in previous courses. As always, it is all about balance.
We will also be completing the EDP at this time. The EDP uses the Naviance program to help students define their interests and match them to careers that best fit their skills and interests. It also takes the next steps to link students to college matches and even has a scholarship search engine. You can access this program from home by logging in directly from South’s homepage or
https://student.naviance.com/gpshs
You can use your Parent Portal Password to sign in the first time.
PSAT results have been distributed. Use your access code to link your results to Khan Academy for FREE SAT tutoring customized to your student’s needs. What a great resource! Have you had a chance to check out the amazing tools available through PSAT’s
My College QuickStart
using the access code listed on the results? They also offer college matching and career matching.
Senior Parents
:
While the majority of seniors have applied for college for next fall, some have waited for the first semester senior year grades to be available before applying. Please encourage your senior to see their counselor immediately to discuss either their college application plans or employment, military service, travel or technical school plans. In addition, any senior who wishes to have their first semester of senior year grades sent to a college can request midyear grades to send online. Students will do this in a similar process to their college application requesting first through Naviance and then stopping in the College Resource Center to complete a short request.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to complete the
FAFSA
for next year’s college freshmen. Also, look to see if the prospective college or university requires the
CSS/Financial Aid Profile
Junior Parents
:
Another reminder to make that Junior meeting for an uninterrupted hour of personalized college counseling with your student’s counselor. This is critical to understand the college application process at South as well as getting tips on research. Call the counseling center to make your appointment 432-3519
It is an excellent plan for each junior who intends to apply for college admission to register for and take an additional ACT and/or SAT test beyond what they will take with us in April. Students can register online at
www.act.org
for the ACT and
www.collegeboard.org
for the SAT. Please encourage your student to pay attention to deadlines and not to put off registering until the last moment. Test center availability at nearby locations may be at a premium, especially for the April, May, and June tests.
Test Prep: We get the question so often about ways to prepare for the standardized tests. I want to point out a few of the free and convenient tools that we have available. For the SAT the easiest and most helpful online program is the free
Khan Academy
. Students can link their PSAT results and get a free customized test prep program. The Michigan Electronic Library (MEL) is a state resource available through our school library web page that offers free test prep. Mr. Spencer kindly created a video addressing how to access it at:
http://youtu.be/pM9KUDzEkFw
Also
Shmoop
, accessible through our library web page has great online tutoring options. Our “magic word” when you sign up is “COLOSSAL” This is a free service thanks to the library and the Mother’s Club. We can also offer suggestions for private tutors or tutoring programs
upon request.
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In our fall series of enrichment grants, we approved 12 individual requests, totaling $13,804.47
Some of the Enrichment grants we were able to fulfill are:
- DSO musicians visiting both Symphony and Concert Orchestra classrooms as guest clinicians.
- MI Shakespeare Festival coming to South in Spring of 2020 to perform Romeo and Juliet for all freshman students.
- Art Fest costs
- Continuation of yoga program for special needs students.
- Camp Fowler trip for ASD and cognitively impaired students.
- DECA registration and competition fee for students to compete in the district and state level.
- Assistance with acting and directing of the All School Musical, Crazy for You; monies will help coach actors in production from Jan-April 2020.
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In December the Preservation Committee used our detective skills to happily reunite a Class of '77 alum with her long lost class ring. Then, to kick-off the new year, we spent four hours cleaning Cleminson Hall - special thanks to Helen Srebernak and Marica Ostrowski for their help!
Now we look forward to the spring when we can assist the district with the Fisher Plaza project.
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Mothers' Club Alumni Membership
Do you know someone who is a former South student
or a parent/legal guardian of a former South student with no current students at South?
Invite them to become an Alumni Member of The Mothers' Club.
Alumni Membership Dues support
enrichment
,
preservation,
and
scholarship
for South. Alumni Members receive a copy of the student / alumni directory, invitations to Mothers’ Club events, a monthly email of the High Pointes Newsletter, and other emails showcasing what is happening at South. Alumni Members may attend and vote at monthly membership meetings.
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As you may know, plans are already underway for the GPS 2020 Senior All Night Party. The party will be held at South on graduation night, June 4th. It will be a fun and special night for our graduates to spend together. Our goal is for 100% participation. Thanks again if you have already purchased your student's ticket. If not, please go to the Mothers' Club website (
www.mothersclubgps.com
) to purchase your tickets. The price is $70 through the end of the month. On February 1st, the price will increase to $80. You may also bring a check payable to “GPS Mothers’ Club – ANP” to the main office. Don't delay - purchase your ticket NOW!
We will be posting updates on social media, as well as sending out e-blasts, regularly in the New Year. The official social media accounts/pages for the parents of the Class of 2020 are:
Facebook: GPS 2020
Instagram: GrossePointeSouth2020
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2019-2020 Class Officers
President- Aleena S.
VP- Evie K.
Treasurer- Elle O.
Secretary- Eleni T.
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Contact Information
Class Advisor: Meg Pierce
Advisor Email: piercem2@gpschools.org
Instagram: @gpsouth.22
Facebook: GPS Class Of 2022
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Monday, Feb 3
rd
–
All Band Students - Pre Festival Band Concert
– 7:00 pm (Pierce MS)
Tuesday, Feb 4
th
–
All Orchestra Students – Pre Festival Orchestra Concert
– 7:00 pm (GPS)
Friday, Feb 7
th
or Sunday, Feb 9
th
(Need to confirm) –
WSU Orchestra Session
Tuesday, Feb 11
th
–
Booster Meeting
– 7:00 pm Band & Orchestra Room
Thursday, Feb 27
th
thru Saturday, Feb 29
th
–
MSBOA District Orchestra Festival
Tuesday, March 3
rd
-
Booster Meeting
– 7:00 pm Band & Orchestra Festival
Thursday, March 5
th
thru Saturday, March 7
th
–
MSBOA District Band Festival
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There was a date change for the Winter Spectacular. The new date will be Wednesday March 4th. The Choir will be performing one night only, at 7:00 PM, at the Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center. This is located at 707 Vernier Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. Please see the Choir Website for details on how to get your tickets. With only one performance they will surely sell out quickly.
www.gpsouthchoir.org
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Please join the very talented
Pointe Players
for their Student Directed
One-Acts
Performances. Each performance is student directed and student performed.
Come and support these wonderful, exciting and energetic thespians on Wednesday and Thursday
February 12 & 13
. Both shows are at 7:00 in the South Auditorium. Tickets will be for sale at the door.
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Volunteers Needed
Each year, the ArtFest Planning Committee works closely with the GPS Art Department in preparing for this much anticipated week. Success would not be possible without all of the committed volunteers we have to help set up and run this event. Your help is again needed this year! Interested? Contact our Volunteers Coordinator, Danielle Cannon (
dcannon26@gmail.com
, (313) 434-2646)
Award Sponsorship
ArtFest is all about supporting our students in their creative pursuit of the arts. In 2019, we were able to provide over $8000 in awards to our students through generous donations from our community. Have you considered sponsorship, but not sure where to start?
(423) 987-0912)
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Looking forward to seeing you in March!
ArtFest 2020 Co-Chair, Paula Draper
(313) 310-0211
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High Pointes | Grosse Pointe South Mothers' Club | http://www.mothersclubgps.com/
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