GPPSS Update

Our 56 participating students, working in collaborative teams, applied concepts like the 4 P's (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) and target market analysis to design and market their own unique brand of canvas shoes. The finished products were donated to Matrix Human Services to support its mission of providing resources, education, shelter, and clothing, including new footwear, to underprivileged individuals in the Metro Detroit area.

Program Goals & Student Benefits
The program is designed to achieve several key goals for academic and personal development:

• Reinforce and Apply Marketing Concepts: Students apply the 4 P's and consumer data analysis through experiential learning.
• Create a Real-World Simulation: Teams navigate roles and responsibilities, mimicking a professional workplace environment.
• Develop Philanthropic Giving: The service-learning component instills a culture of community support and social responsibility.
• Foster Critical Thinking: The project encourages problem-solving, collaboration, and creative inquiry.

This hands-on approach directly aligns with our curriculum's Marketing Foundations and the District's Strategic Plan for career preparedness. Students gain superior learning retention and essential professional skills, culminating in the significant benefit of understanding citizenship and their positive impact on the local community by supporting Matrix Human Services.

Community and Alumni Connections

When you watch the video you will see several Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education board members. The GPFPE provided start up funding for the project and they were excited to see the finished products. Also fun, Channel 7's Peter Maxwell, who covered the story, was a Blue Devil who got his start in TV Production in our Career and Technical Education courses with Mr. Geresy.

I have MLK Day firmly on my radar, especially with our local connection. But I almost missed the half day next Friday for all students. Teachers have a records day in the afternoon as the first semester of learning and growing comes to an end. And high school students have midterms Tuesday-Friday. Please note that the school calendar is at the very end of every GPPSS Update. Scroll down to make sure these important dates are on your calendar.

The Board held its annual organizational meeting Monday, January 12, and the elected officers are as follows:

• President: Clint Derringer
• Vice President: Colleen Worden
• Secretary: Valerie St. John
• Treasurer: Tim Klepp
• Trustees: Sean Cotton, Laura Hull, Ginny Jeup

They also established the calendar of board meetings for 2026.

These action items passed:

• Regular and closed session minutes from 12/8
• Declaration of Board member compensation (whether they would receive, reject or donate to a GPPSS group)
• Annual resolution on the continuance of funds and designation of signatories on accounts
• Annual appointment of a representative to MAISL Joint Risk Management Trust
• Establishing two committees (Facilities and Policy - with the participants to be named by the Board President)
• Accepting STEAAM grants (see article below)

They also heard presentations on the first budget amendment GAAA#1, the food service RFP process, south turf replacement, a field trip to Egypt, and budget parameters. Those will be voted on at the next regular meeting.

Please watch the district calendar on the website for the latest information on board and committee meetings. Upcoming BOE meetings include:

• BOE Policy Meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 6 p.m., North Library

• BOE Facilities Meeting, Wednesday, January 21, 5:30 p.m., North Library

• BOE Regular Meeting, Monday, January 26, 7 p.m., Brownell MPR

• BOE Strategic Planning Meeting, Saturday, February 7, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.,North Library

On the new 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.

Annually, the STEAAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Athletics, Math) Foundation presents grants for proposals written by our teachers, staff and this year students to enhance the learning environment. Since its founding, the STEAAM Foundation has given $1.2 million to our schools through over 70 grants, impacting every student, grade and school! Here are the 20 grants presented this winter:

1. Detroit Tigers Class Outside Series - STEAM - Defer $3,000, Kerby $1,500, Maire $3,000
2. 360 Robot Lab - Pierce Middle School $1,000
3. E Bikes - Girls Cross Country/Track - Grosse Pointe South $5,670
4. “The Outsiders” Field Trip - Pierce Middle School $3,750
5. Update Early Childhood Sensory Equipment - Barnes $4,456
6. Drone Club - Parcells Middle School $5,699
7. STEAM-Powered Girls: Tools and Resources for GP's All-Girls Robotics Team - South, North, Brownell, Parcells, Pierce $5,000
8. Updated Sanding and Dust Collecting Equipment - Grosse Pointe South $1,250
9. 3D Printer - Pierce Middle School - $1,000
10. Destination Imagination Finals - Grosse Pointe South and Pierce Middle School - $7,000
11. Early Elementary Mathematical Book Study - GP District Curriculum Office - $1,500
12. Updated Air Rockets - Grosse Pointe South - $2,200
13. Michigan Thespian Festival - Grosse Pointe North - $1,500

14. AI Summer Camp - GP District Curriculum Department - $25,000

15. Support for Family and Consumer Science Classes - Brownell Middle School - $10,000

16. Outdoor Obstacle Course - Pierce Middle School - $20,000

17. Gearheads - Rebuild and Upgrade - GPN, GPS, Parcells - $20,000

18. Culinary Class Field Trip - Grosse Pointe South - $15,000

19. STEAM Assemblies - Defer, Ferry, Kerby, Maire, Mason, Monteith, Richard - $15,000

20. InStat Hockey Software - Grosse Pointe South - $3,500 (submitted by junior Will Gryzenia)

The next grant deadline will be in the fall.

An impressive 559 families signed in at our Info Nights last week! We understand that evenings are busy times for families. If you were unable to join us, the materials are posted on our school websites.

• Brownell
• Parcells
• Pierce
• North
• South

If you were not able to join us for our Kindergarten and Young Five Info Night, please click the image below for the presentation materials.

Grosse Pointe North and South High Schools have both earned a place on the AP® School Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year! Launched in 2023, the AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

The fabulous Beth Rainbolt found a writing contest for our students to enter, and Delilah Nicholl, one of our 6th grade students is a Top Ten finalist in the fourteenth annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest! About 1,000 Michigan writers from all over the state entered the contest.

About Delilah

Delilah Nicholl is an avid reader of all genres, her favorites being fantasy and adventure. She loves being outdoors and going on hikes in the woods where she daydreams and pictures herself in her favorite stories. She loves playing piano and violin and likes to write her own music. She lives in Grosse Pointe Woods with her parents and her beloved old dog, Mabel.

Vote for her Short Story

Winners will be chosen by public voting through the WriteMichigan.org web site or by using this link: https://tinyurl.com/WriteMichigan through January 23 for the $250 Readers’ Choice award, and by a panel of judges for the $500 Judges’ Choice and $250 Judges’ Choice Runner-up awards. Winners will be announced the end of January.

All winning stories (including three published finalists in each of the three age groups) will be published by Chapbook Press using the Espresso Book Machine. Copies will be available in Spring 2026.

Please vote for Delilah Nicholl's story The Creature, the Magician, and the Cabin using the link below. You will need to sign up with the contest, and after that it will take you straight to the story to vote.

VOTING LINK

- Submitted by Mrs. Kari Mannino, Reading Foundations/Academic Assistance/ELA 6, Elementary GP Writing Coordinator, ELA Co-Department Chair

Locally, these little free libraries, that normally stock books, have converted to food pantries to help our families:

• 1325 Torrey Rd, GPW

• 19950 Mack Ave, GPW

• 1014 Hollywood, GPW

• 477 Cook Rd, GPW

• 1616 Huntington, GPW

• 69 Hawthorne, GPW

• 20601 Beaufait St, HW

• 407 Lexington Rd, GPF

• 227 Chalfonte Ave, GPF

• 740 Cadieux, GPC (Maire)

• Trombly facing Essex

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services asked that we direct families that may need assistance with food to the following resources:

• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) interactive map, Where can I get TEFAP?
• Find Help - Michigan 2-1-1 for other local resources available.
• Remember that free breakfast and lunch are available on school days in all our schools. There is a charge for ala cart selections, but meals are free.
• Here is another resource suggested by The Family Center through Gleaners: https://pantrynet.org/

Thank you to all who participated in the Strategic Planning focus groups this week and to all who took the Strategic Planning Survey. That anonymous feedback from 412 respondents went straight to our facilitator from MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) and the composite data will be shared with the Board of Education and Strategic Planning retreat participants February 7. Thank you for helping us continue to improve!

Congratulations to the Parcells 8th Grade Basketball team for an undefeated season. They were also undefeated in 6th and 7th grade! What an outstanding achievement.

Above you will find the Unified Showcase flyers for both GPS and GPN. If you click the image, these unique links will purchase tickets to support their respective programs. The North South rivalry game is at 1 p.m. on Feb 25th at LCA. Then, with the tickets purchased, our Unified students can go back to the Pistons' game on March 31st for "All Abilities Night."

Unified Basketball in high school is an inclusive Special Olympics program that pairs students with intellectual disabilities ("athletes") and without disabilities ("partners") on the same team to train and compete together. It promotes social inclusion, friendship, and understanding. These programs are part of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools strategy to create inclusive school environments, reducing bullying and stigma while encouraging social interaction.

Have questions? Email Drew Kisskalt, MiCI Teacher at Parcells and GPN Unified Basketball Coach.

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.

GPPSS is conducting a GSRP survey of currently enrolled families regarding interest in the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) in order to ensure we are serving our current GPPSS families and those families intending to apply to tuition based preschool. The initial plan for GSRP would be to acquire the current GSRP classroom at Ferry run by Wayne Metro, and have our district become the subrecipients of funding for that classroom. Based on the data from our GSRP survey, GPPSS will decide if we proceed with additional classroom(s) with the location to be determined. Our goal is to ensure that our GPPSS families continue to have the same, or more, options for preschool as they do now.

Basic facts about GSRP

Current law states that in order to qualify for the free GSRP program, a family’s income must be equal or less than 400% of the federal poverty level ($128,000 for a family of four). There are seven GSRP program prioritization factors. These include:

1. Low family income

2. Diagnosed disability or identified developmental delay

3. Severe or challenging behavior

4. Primary home language other than English

5. Parent(s) with low educational attainment

6. Abuse/neglect of child or parent

7. Environmental risk

Based on the prevalence data, family income is the main factor in determining eligibility for GSRP. It should be noted that with programs across the state, geography is a major determinant for where families choose to send their child. For example, in the current GSRP classroom at Ferry of the 16 students, 14 live within GPPSS boundaries. If you have additional questions about GSRP, don't hesitate to reach out to Dr. Sara Delgado.

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:

• Afternoon Custodian (there are also Substitute Custodian positions available)
• Swim Instructor and Swim Lifeguard
• Lunchroom Supervisors
• Attendance Clerk
• Instructional Substitute

Join us Friday, Jan 30 for a fun-filled evening at our 1st Annual Junior Class Night at the Races! We are hoping this fundraiser becomes a North tradition for every Junior class to raise money for their Senior All Night Party. 100% of money raised goes to SANP. A “Night at the Races” is an exciting, interactive event where guests watch pre-recorded horse races, place friendly bets, and cheer on their picks—no experience needed, just lots of laughs and energy. Buy a Horse for $25 and cheer it to victory, even if you're unable to attend. If your sponsored horse wins, you receive $50!

Enjoy great raffle prizes, a chance to win a Yeti of Cheer, 50/50, prizes for best dressed, and so much more. It’s a perfect night out to support the junior class and connect with our school community. Bring cash-it is a fundraiser! Ticket/Horse deadline is Wednesday, Jan 21.

Don’t have FOMO—BE THERE! https://gpn-class-of-2027.square.site/

This is the final week to apply for the 2026 @gp_chamber Small Business Grant and 2026 @gp_chamber Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Award!

Tell the inspired students in your life and the small businesses you love that this is their chance to get the recognition and financial boost they deserve!

Visit GrossePointeChamber.com for full details or call 313-881-4722!

The Team Jake toy drive honors the life and legacy of Monteith student Jake Pennar. Jake embodied kindness and service to others. In 2019 he began the toy drive to bring joy to children receiving in-patient chemotherapy at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. It’s a New Day Foundation, a Grosse Pointe-native 501(c)(3) nonprofit, continues to serve children and families in Jake’s memory.

Please join us in creating the most successful toy drive yet! Donating is quick and easy:

Shop our Amazon Wishlist

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/36DXWZBBAHFL2?ref_=wl_share

Donate today to support our community and children receiving treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

The Grosse Pointe Public Library is undergoing a strategic planning process as well and would appreciate your input on their survey. It only takes a few minutes. Tell what YOU want to see from your library in the future. Scan the QR code at your library branch or tap this link to take the survey: https://ow.ly/H3UE50XwZi6

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.

There is no cost to subscribe and emails will not be shared with any other organization or business.

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:

• Facebook @GPPSS
• Twitter @GPSchools
• Instagram @gppschools

While we do not yet have the school calendar for next year, we promise to share that as soon as we do. In the meantime, we do have these dates to mark on your calendar:

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