GPPSS Update

Thank you to our GPEA teacher's union and district administration for agreeing to the key dates in our 2026-27 GPPSS calendar. Additional dates will be announced when the contract is settled, but above are the major breaks and below are a few more we can share:

• North Homecoming is October 2nd vs. Marysville
• South Homecoming is October 9th vs. Eisenhower
• The North South game will be October 23rd at North

Grosse Pointe Times shared a feature article on the student artwork that was on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Pieces ranged from pottery to paintings, sketches to mixed media. Click to read about the students' inspiration and see more photos of the artists and their work. The show featured more than 85 pieces by over 80 students representing more than 25 schools and select pieces are now on display at the Guardian building in downtown Detroit through August. GPPSS students include: Mary Chesterton, Finley Ebright-McKeehan, Grace Geresy, Mariella Goodman, Elizabeth Petz, Emerson Reterstorf and Eva Wieczorek.

• Be aware of outdoor air quality and sign up for alerts. You can get information about current air quality from AirNow.gov. You can also sign up for Michigan-specific email alerts at EnviroFlash.info/signup.cfm
• When outdoor air quality is poor, choose indoor activities and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Protect indoor air quality by keeping smoke out of your home and filtering indoor air.
• Close windows and doors.
• A heating and cooling system that uses forced air is equipped with an air filter. Prepare for wildfire events by:
• Knowing if there is a fresh air intake. Close this during a wildfire smoke event. If you have a window air conditioner, close the outdoor air damper.
• Using air filters with a rating of MERV-13 or higher.
• Try to keep the air clean in at least one room. Use a portable air cleaner that is appropriately sized. If you do not have a portable air cleaner, you can make a temporary do-it-yourself air filter. Learn more at bit.ly/EPA-DIY-Air-Filter.
• When you can’t avoid wildfire smoke, the best mask to use is a tight-fitting N95 or P100 respirator marked with “NIOSH.” If those are unavailable or do not fit well, KN95 and KF94 respirators are an option. Learn more at bit.ly/EPA-masks.
• Learn more about protecting indoor air during wildfire smoke events at bit.ly/Indoor-Air-Wildfires.

Source: Michigan.gov/climateandhealth

GPPSS continues to monitor the air quality alerts. While air quality has improved and declined over the week, it remains unhealthy for sensitive groups. As a precaution, the district will be limiting time outside, particularly for our students and staff with underlying issues like asthma. Thank you for working with us to keep everyone safe.

Progress continues on our summer projects and here are a few highlights. Wiring projects continue. The North gym floor looks amazing. South's field is complete. The South roof railing project helped us discover and fix issues with rot that could have led to more substantial leaks and costs down the line. Kerby's original steps are being replaced to match the ADA ramp added with the last round of projects. Also, deep cleaning of every classroom and office space continues in preparation for the new school year.

Barnes, North, and South parking lots are in progress. An exciting update on the North parking lot is that the City of Grosse Pointe Woods partnered with us and approved a restricted use exit at the back of North High School for four buses that transport our students receiving special education services. Currently the buses enter off Morningside and need to execute a blind pivot turn to exit back onto Morningside. With temporary approval that will be reviewed at the end of the school year, the buses will now be able to enter off Morningside, and make a simple left turn to exit onto Wedgewood. GPPSS promises to work with public safety to enforce the no stopping, standing, parking near Wedgewood so we can accommodate our students' unique transportation needs. That exit may not be used for any other vehicles (staff, student or family).

• Grosse Pointe: Council Chambers, 17145 Maumee Ave. (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
• Grosse Pointe Farms: Council Chambers, 90 Kerby Rd. (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
• Grosse Pointe Shores: City Hall, 795 Lake Shore Rd. (**8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.**)
• Grosse Pointe Park: City Hall, 15115 E. Jefferson Ave. (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
• Grosse Pointe Woods: Community Center, 20025 Mack Plaza Dr. (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
• Harper Woods: City Hall, 19617 Harper Ave. (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

*Please note the specific hours for Grosse Pointe Shores!*

For more information and to check your voter status, visit [www.mi.gov/vote](https://www.mi.gov/vote).

Five candidates filed by the 4 p.m. deadline Tuesday, July 21, to run for the three open positions on the Board of Education section of the November ballot. They are:

• Walter Fitzpatrick
• Thomas (Jake) Howlett
• Virginia (Ginny) Jeup (incumbent)
• Muriel Krupanski
• Michelle White

Please help us thank them all for their willingness to serve in this important role.

Even if your child brings lunch from home or does not participate in the school meal program, completing the FRL application helps our school district qualify for important state and federal funding. These funds support educational programs, instructional staff, technology, academic interventions, mental health services, and other resources that benefit all students. Since Michigan started funding breakfast and lunch, our applications have decreased, impacting our eligibility for grants and other funding sources.

Completing the application may also qualify your family for additional benefits, such as reduced fees for certain programs, discounted internet services, college application fee waivers, reduced fees for AP/SAT/ACT exams, and other assistance for which you may be eligible. The form is confidential and directly benefits your family and our schools.

Families can find SFSP sites by using the Meet Up and Eat Up Site Locator Map, or the USDA Meals For Kids Site Finder and entering their address in the search bar at the top left of the map. Both maps are updated throughout the summer as new sites become available. Families can also receive SFSP site information by calling 211.

We wanted to share the fall sports tryout schedule at North and South along with important sports registration information for the upcoming school year. Please review the attached documents and save these dates and times:

• August 10 Tryout information attached specific to North and South

• MHSAA Physical Form

• Team Meetings

• South: Team Meeting Thursday, August 6th @ 5:30 p.m. in the South Main Gym

• North: Meet the Coach on Monday, August 17th @ 6 p.m. in the North cafeteria

Online Forms

We are also very excited to announce that the Grosse Pointe Public School System and our Athletic Departments have partnered with FinalForms, an online forms and data management service. FinalForms allows you to complete and sign athletic participation forms for your students. The most exciting news is that FinalForms saves data from season-to-season and year-to-year, meaning that you will never need to enter the same information twice! FinalForms also pre-populates information wherever possible, for each of your students, saving you time.

You may review your data at any time to verify it is current. You will be required to sign your forms once per year and after any update. We are asking the parents/guardians of all students planning to play sports to create accounts in FinalForms and register your student(s). IMPORTANT: You must choose the sports your child is interested in to generate all forms for the upcoming school year.

Please register at: https://grossepointe-mi.finalforms.com/ and follow the prompts to create your parent account.

If you do not receive your confirmation email, check your spam/junk folder. When you register your student athlete, you will be prompted to include their personal email. If they don't have a personal email address, they can use their 15XXXXXX@gpschools.org email. Your student athlete will be emailed instructions on how to login and sign, only after you have signed all forms.

Thank you for your assistance in streamlining our paperwork processes across the district.

We look forward to a great fall sports season!

Proceeds benefit our Robotics Teams! Scholarships are available but space is limited.

This year we are establishing metrics for 5 key goal areas: Academics & Programs, Culture, Personnel, Operations, and Community Engagement & Communications. We welcome your input as we continue to refine what we offer to meet your student’s needs. Listening sessions scheduled so far include:

• 5:30 p.m., August 4th, Parcells Student Union, 20600 Mack Avenue

• 6 p.m., August 27th, South’s front lawn, 11 Grosse Pointe Blvd.

• 3:45 p.m., September 10th, Mason’s Outdoor Classroom, 1640 Vernier

• 8:30 a.m., September 29th, Pierce front lawn, 15430 Kercheval

Grosse Pointe Virtual School is launching in Fall 2026, offering flexible, high-quality learning opportunities for students in our community in collaboration with Michigan Virtual.

Grosse Pointe Virtual is designed to increase flexibility, access, and supports for the broader learning community, leveraging technological advancements and innovations in instruction.

Utilizing Michigan Virtual and district staff, GP Virtual will expand access to the high-quality education associated with GPPSS. We are a District of Opportunities and want you to be part of this exciting development. GP Virtual students walk at graduation with their home high school and can participate in athletic and extracurricular activities. Space is limited to ensure success.

Registration is now open for a select group of rising 9th through 12th grade students. Students must be district residents and not currently attending GPPSS.

If you have immediate inquiries, please email gpvirtualschool@gpschools.org.

Please watch the district calendar on the website for the latest information on board and committee meetings. Agendas and supporting documents are linked from the calendar. Upcoming BOE meetings include:

• BOE Regular Meeting, Monday, July 27, 7 p.m., Brownell MPR

• BOE Regular Meeting, Monday, August 17, 7 p.m., Brownell MPR

On the website, click About GPPSS, then School Board. From there you can read about our board members, find links to past and current agendas, and watch the meetings.

E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular with children and teens across Michigan. While they are a fun and efficient way to travel, they can also reach much higher speeds than traditional bicycles and require responsible operation. Michigan law recognizes three classes of e-bikes:

• Class 1 E-Bike – Equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and stops assisting at 20 mph.
• Class 2 E-Bike – Equipped with a throttle that can propel the bike without pedaling and stops assisting at 20 mph.
• Class 3 E-Bike – Pedal-assist only and capable of assisting up to 28 mph. Riders must be at least 14 years old to operate a Class 3 e-bike in Michigan. Class 3 requires a helmet for those aged 14-17.

Please research E-Bikes vs. E-Motos. The Grosse Pointe Farms Department of Public Safety encourages all young riders and parents to follow these important safety tips:

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet.
• Obey all traffic signs, signals, and roadway rules.
• Ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Stay alert and avoid using cell phones, headphones, or other distractions while riding.
• Use lights and reflective gear when riding at dawn, dusk, or nighttime.
• Slow down near pedestrians and provide an audible warning before passing.
• Never carry passengers unless the e-bike is specifically designed to do so.
• Parents should ensure their child's e-bike is age-appropriate and that the rider understands how to safely operate it.
• Ride at a safe speed for conditions and be prepared for vehicles entering driveways and intersections.
• Remember, e-bikes are not toys. Many models can travel at speeds comparable to those of motor vehicles in residential neighborhoods. Safe and responsible riding helps prevent crashes and injuries while keeping our streets, sidewalks, and shared-use paths safe for everyone.
• Ride Smart. Ride Safe. Arrive Alive.

For questions regarding e-bike laws and safety, contact your Department of Public Safety. This article has been adapted with permission from one by the City of Grosse Pointe Farms. The school district continues to partner with all of our public safety departments and will share updates on this and other safety topics.

The City of Grosse Pointe Department of Public Safety's new “Walk Your Wheels” campaign is moving forward as part of their ongoing efforts to make the Village an even safer and more enjoyable place for everyone. The goal of the campaign is simple: create a safer, more comfortable downtown by asking visitors to walk their bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, skateboards, and similar devices while traveling through the busiest pedestrian area of the city. Riders are encouraged to enjoy their ride to and from downtown, then simply dismount and walk once they enter the Downtown Courtesy Zone. The Village already offers numerous bicycle racks, but are adding more to make it as convenient as possible.

As this program is introduced, our focus will be on education first. We especially want to help young riders understand how to safely share our sidewalks with pedestrians while preserving the welcoming atmosphere that makes the Village a special place for visitors and families.

As we finalize this program, we would greatly appreciate your thoughts. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to email Chief John Alcorn directly

AlcornJ@grossepointedps.org

The Grosse Pointe Public Library (in partnership with the GPPSS) announces the beginning of the 2026 Summer Reading Program!

Read at least 20 minutes per day, log your reading by days, try fun activities, and earn free books and virtual tickets for prize drawings!

Please click the QR code here to learn more!

Summer reading opportunities with active links have been added to all school webpages. Help your student avoid summer learning loss by taking advantage of these curated options. Many thanks to our library media specialists for collecting these all in one place!

• Elementary Summer Reading Links
• Middle School Summer Reading Links
• High School Summer Reading Links

More will be added as details are finalized. There is also a handy tool at the top of the Summer Programs webpage to sort opportunities by grade level. From science to AI, sports to music, there is something for everyone!

Early On

Early On is Michigan's system for helping infants and toddlers, birth to age 3 and their families who have developmental delays or are at risk for delays due to certain health conditions.

Build Up

Build Up helps parents and their eligible children, ages 3 through 5, access special education supports and services as they develop and learn skills before they go to kindergarten.

If you have a concern about your child's development, go to https://miearlychildhood.org/ to make an online referral for a free Early On or Build Up evaluation.

Do you know someone who would be a good fit for one of these open positions in GPPSS? We're particularly looking for paraprofessionals, but check out the possibilities and help us spread the word to find great candidates! Here are a few positions to explore:

• GSRP Associate teacher

• GSRP Caregiver

• Attendance Clerk – Parcells Middle School

• GSRP Lead Teacher

• Varsity Ski Coach - South

• Guest Teacher (Instructional Substitute) through EduStaff

Our GPPSS Update comes out every week throughout the school year. Please make a practice of scanning through it for important updates throughout the district.

If you know someone (neighbor, grandparent, business owner, public official) who would like to be on our mailing list, please share this form with them. If your youngest child is a senior this year, you will be automatically unsubscribed from our mailing list this summer. If you'd like to keep receiving our weekly emails, click the form above and subscribe!

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If you have a story idea for GPPSS Update, a photo to share, or a fun community event, please reach out to info@gpschools.org. And don't forget to follow us and tag us on social media:

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