GSD E-Blast April 2026

Spring Momentum Across GSD

As we move into April, there is a renewed sense of energy across Gibraltar School District. Classrooms are alive with learning, creativity, and growth, and our students continue to demonstrate all that it means to Accelerate. Engage. Achieve.

This time of year is always filled with opportunities for connection and celebration. Our schools are preparing for a wide range of events, including Kindergarten Roundup, middle and high school orientations, concerts, performances, and a variety of student activities that showcase the talents and accomplishments of our learners. These experiences are an important part of what makes GSD such a special place for our students and families.

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we encourage families to stay connected with their child’s school for important dates and event details throughout April, May, and June. One of the best ways to see the incredible work happening across our district is by following our schools and district on social media. From classroom highlights to student achievements, these snapshots capture the pride and positivity that define our GSD community.

It’s hard to believe summer is just around the corner, but we are looking forward to making the most of these final months together. Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such an important part of our GSD family.

Your partner in education,

Amy Conway

Superintendent

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!

Students in Chapman's Peer to Peer program recently gathered for one of their monthly breakfasts, a special time set aside to connect, communicate, and build friendships. During these gatherings, students share breakfast together while working on hands-on activities that encourage teamwork, conversation, and problem-solving. These provide an opportunity for students to strengthen social skills, collaborate with peers, and practice communication in a welcoming and supportive environment. Through games, building challenges, and shared experiences, students learn the value of cooperation, inclusion, and community. Our Peer to Peer program continues to create meaningful opportunities for students to grow socially while fostering a culture of kindness and belonging in our school.

Do you have a child at home who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2026? Do you know someone who does, perhaps a friend or a neighbor? If so, Gibraltar School District has a spot waiting just for them in our kindergarten classrooms next year! Gibraltar School District offers both a traditional Kindergarten program as well as a Young Fives Kindergarten program. Both of these programs have a strong focus on the math and literacy skills needed for a solid foundation through the course of the formative elementary years. Registration opened on February 17. Once you register, please join us for an informational night, for parents and prospective students, on April 29 at 6:00. These will be held in each elementary building. Visit our website for more information!

https://www.gibdist.net/page/kindergarten-and-young-fives-information

Valedictorian -- Rocco Stoney - Undecided -- Economics, Mathematics

Salutatorian -- Jack Klotz - New York University -- Undecided

3 -- Kali Slade - University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - Biochemistry

4-- Elizabeth Jenkin - University of Michigan at Ann Arbor -- Mathematics

5-- Nathan Nichols - University of Michigan at Ann Arbor -- Computer Science

6-- Elena Bruner - Eastern Michigan University -- Elementary Education

7-- Leo Rowe - Undecided -- Business Management and Finance

8-- Brayden Mantz - Undecided -- Undecided

8-- Morelia Perez-Rodriguez - University of Michigan at Dearborn -- Finance and Accounting

10-- Jerry Hocutt - Undecided -- Nursing

On March 3rd, Carlson High School was buzzing with excitement as we rolled out the blue carpet for 19 future Marauders! We proudly opened our doors to 7th–11th grade students who are considering making Carlson their home, and what a fantastic day it was!

From the moment they arrived, our guests were paired up with current Carlson students who served as their personal guides, teammates, and friendly faces throughout the day. These student ambassadors made sure our visitors experienced a true “day in the life” at Carlson from walking the halls between classes to getting a feel for the energy and pride that fill our building.

Throughout the day, students had the chance to meet our incredible staff, who were eager to share their passion for teaching and supporting every Marauder’s success. They also explored our wide variety of clubs, activities, and athletic programs asking questions, discovering new interests, and imagining where they might fit in.

Whether it was learning about our competitive sports teams, engaging extracurriculars, or the strong sense of community that defines Carlson High School, the day was all about showcasing the opportunities that await. Most importantly, it was about connection building relationships, sparking excitement, and helping future students see themselves as part of the Carlson family.

It truly was a fun, welcoming, and memorable day and we can’t wait to see these future Marauders back in our halls soon!

Students across grade levels are exploring color, texture, and creativity through a variety of exciting art projects. 5th graders are creating mixed media plant artworks inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe, focusing on complementary colors. 4th grade students are finishing a mixed media project inspired by the book Color Blocked, designing imaginative machines that burst out color using watercolor techniques to create tertiary colors. In 3rd grade, students are completing a project called Hot Dogs and Cool Cats, painting cats with cool colors and dogs with warm colors to explore color temperature. 2nd graders recently finished abstract paintings inspired by Alma Thomas while learning about color theory. Both 1st grade and Kindergarten students are exploring collage and texture. Upcoming projects across grade levels include abstract painting using analogous color schemes, food truck and digital advertisements using Canva, found object sculptures, and large community murals. These projects help students develop artistic skills while encouraging creativity, experimentation, and collaboration in the art room.

Hunter Elementary celebrated Reading Month in a big way with our bi-annual Camp-Wanna-Read! The excitement kicked off as our incredibly creative and supportive parents transformed our halls, walls, and windows into a cozy, camp-themed reading adventure, complete with trees, tents, and all things “camp!”

Each grade level then spent a full day immersed in fun, camp-inspired literacy activities. Students enjoyed reading with flashlights in “reading tents,” going on scavenger hunts for story clues, trying their hand at letter fishing, and participating in campfire storytelling circles. They also wrote “postcards from camp,” created nature-themed story maps, and teamed up for buddy reading hikes around the building.

It was a memorable experience that sparked imagination, built a love of reading, and brought our school community together. Thank you to our amazing families and staff for making Camp-Wanna-Read such a success!

The Peer-to-Peer Program is a shining example of inclusivity and belonging at Shumate. Over the past several years, Mrs. Whalen, Mrs. Hobbins, and Mrs. Witte have expanded the program from a once-a-week advisory activity into a fully integrated initiative embedded throughout the school day. Today, it includes advisory periods and even an 8th-grade elective, where students are thoughtfully paired to support one another’s growth and success, spanning nine classrooms and involving 11 teachers overall. The program provides meaningful opportunities for students to mentor, collaborate, and build positive relationships, while also developing leadership and communication skills. Most importantly, it promotes kindness, respect, and inclusivity, reinforcing our PBIS expectations and helping to create a school community where every student feels supported, connected, and empowered.

Our students recently came together in a wonderful show of encouragement and teamwork to prepare for upcoming state testing. Working collaboratively, they created positive notes filled with uplifting messages, motivational quotes, and words of support for their peers. These notes were attached to mint candies and will be shared throughout the school to help build confidence, reduce stress, and remind everyone that they are capable of success. It was inspiring to see students taking the initiative to spread kindness and positivity, reinforcing the strong sense of community that makes our school such a special place.

Congratulations to our Parsons Pirates for sweeping the Wayne State Invention Convention Regional Competition! Our Inventor's Club has been hard at work since November under the coaching of Dan Chojnowski and Colleen Buscemi.

The Invention Convention is an engaging, hands-on learning experience for students in grades 3–12 that focuses on solving real-world problems through the invention process. Students may enhance existing products or design brand-new ideas, all while building skills in critical thinking, teamwork, and confidently presenting their solutions.

Students in grade 3-5 had to work in teams to brainstorm, create a prototype, design a pitch video, make a poster, and present to judges independently. Out of the 5 teams advancing to the State Finals, our Pirates took places 2-5. A big congrats to all of our Pirates for their hard work! The following students will compete on April 25, 2026 at the State Finals at the Henry Ford.

2nd Place-Lucy, Nolan, Brendan, and Ben

3rd Place-Bitzie and Scarlett

4th Place-Frankie and Lily

5th Place-Callum, Jonah, Ivy, and Katherine

This past month, 3rd grade students at Weiss Elementary had an incredible opportunity to connect with Jerry Jason, a seasoned aerospace professional, during a special virtual visit as part of their space studies.

Jerry currently serves as a Flight Director at Sierra Space, where he is helping lead the flight control team preparing for the inaugural launch of the Dream Chaser spaceplane in 2026. During the session, he shared insights from an impressive career that includes over 16 years at NASA, where he served as a Flight Director for the International Space Station and contributed to avionics and mechanical systems for the Space Shuttle program.

Students had the chance to hear about his career journey, learn about the field of aerospace, and ask thoughtful questions that reflected their curiosity and engagement.

We are grateful to Jerry for taking the time to inspire our students and for helping bring real-world learning to life.

Gibraltar School District continues to make meaningful progress on projects supported by the 2023 Bond Program, with a focus on creating modern, safe, and engaging learning environments for students across the district.

At the elementary level, students at Hunter, Parsons, and Rockwood will soon enjoy enhanced

playground spaces designed to encourage active play and support social development.

Parsons Elementary is seeing improvements unfold in phases to ensure continued learning with minimal disruption. Initial work includes heating system upgrades and the installation of new casework, such as cabinets and bookshelves. In addition, a building addition is currently underway and will be completed in phases over the next two years, with full completion anticipated in 2027. Looking ahead, additional upgrades are planned, including new flooring, along with other future enhancements to support the school’s long-term needs. At the Rockwood Early Learning Center, site and interior improvements are helping to modernize the building. Updates include renovations to the parking lot and front entrance to improve traffic flow and accessibility, as well as new classroom flooring, updated casework that will enhance the overall student experience.

Carlson High School is also undergoing significant transformation. The auditorium is being fully updated with new seating, flooring, lighting, and sound systems, along with refinishing of the stage to elevate performances and student events. In addition, the front façade of the high school is being completely reimagined, featuring a redesigned entrance with updated brick and metal paneling. These improvements are on track to be completed in time for the start of the 2026 school year.

Together, these projects represent the district’s continued commitment to investing in high-quality

facilities that support student success and reflect the pride of the Gibraltar community. To learn more about bond progress, visit our website.