GPPSS Update

Grosse Pointe Public School System's Annual Summer Choir Workshop pictured above is for students rising into grades 4-12 in the fall. It provided an opportunity for students to maintain and further develop their singing skills. Thank you to all the families and staff who participated in this wonderful experience!

With summer, or “construction season” as we call it in Michigan, going strong despite the start of school, we would like you to take a moment to consider the current projects and how they will impact your school commute particularly around school entrances.

These large projects are currently underway:

• Mack Avenue from Cook Road to Eight Mile Road will undergo resurfacing and repairs, with substantial completion expected in late Fall 2026, weather permitting.

• Chalfonte has significant sewer construction going on in the area south of Monteith. Parking lot traffic will be directed out of the lot and toward Cook Road.

• Lake Shore Road (Warner to Fisher) - federally funded repaving of Lakeshore will begin at the start of September. Due to lane closures, this will likely impact student parking on Fisher (between GP Boulevard and Lake Shore Road).

• Bus exit behind North - while this is not to be used for any other vehicle traffic, construction of the exit gate for our special education buses behind North is under construction. Remember this gate is not to be used for any other vehicles, and parking remains prohibited in the Wedgewood dead end to allow the buses space to exit.

• North main entrance paving - a beautiful Norseman brick paver project outside the main entrance is expected to be completed Labor Day weekend, but please watch for barricades if weather delays this project. It will be worth the wait and worth protecting!

During construction, expect lane closures, traffic delays, and intermittent access restrictions. Property access and emergency vehicle access will be maintained, though brief interruptions may occur.

For questions on the Mack Avenue project, contact AECOM, the engineering company, at (248) 234-2676. Please note, neither the cities nor the school district set the construction schedule and notice was minimal to both parties.

These projects will significantly impact drive time. With this in mind:

1. Please plan ahead and leave time for a longer commute with lane closures

2. Please keep safety your focus for students and workers

3. Carpool, walk or bike whenever possible to reduce road congestion

4. E-bikes are not allowed on school property

Thank you for your patience.

Sarah Neely, a Second Grade teacher at Maire Elementary School, has been named the 2026 Michigan History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History! Since 2004, this distinguished award has recognized exceptional K–12 educators for their remarkable work in teaching American history.

“History teachers play an essential role in helping students understand the past, build critical

thinking skills, and develop a deeper appreciation for the people and events that shaped our

nation,” says James G. Basker, president and CEO of the Gilder Lehrman Institute. “We are

proud to recognize educators who go above and beyond to make history engaging, meaningful,

and relevant in their classrooms.”

The annual recognition program celebrates one outstanding teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and U.S. Territories. It recognizes educators for their dedication, creativity, and effective use of primary sources. Nominees are recommended by students, colleagues, or school leaders and selected by state committees of historians and educators.

Sarah Neely is a veteran educator with 32 years of teaching experience across grades 2 through

8. A passionate advocate for place-based education in science and social studies, she uses primary sources and local partnerships to foster engagement as well as a sense of agency in her students. Outside the classroom, she is a proud mother of two adult daughters.

As the 2026 Michigan History Teacher of the Year, Ms. Neely will receive a $1,000 honorarium,

a curated collection of American history books and educational materials from the Gilder

Lehrman Institute, and recognition at a local ceremony. She will also join 52 other honorees as a finalist for the 2026 National History Teacher of the Year Award. The national winner will be announced this fall at a special ceremony at the Harvard Club of New York City and will receive a $10,000 grand prize.

Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr., Superintendent shared: "Sarah Neely positively impacts the students in her classroom through her daily lesson plans and annual Living Museum where students dress up and present as a historical figure of their choosing. But her impact goes far beyond that. She brings the magic of history to students across the district through community partnerships like the Cook School House visits, and her work preserving the history of Maire Elementary. She is also the creator and protector of a Monarch Waystation at Maire, and her creativity has inspired the student teachers she mentors to have a similar impact on our learning environment. Sarah exemplifies the excellence all our teachers strive for every day, with every student."

The Michigan High School Athletic Coaches Association (MHSCA) has named John Fodell of Grosse Pointe South High School the Michigan Swim Coach of the Year across all divisions. He coaches both girls and boys swimming and diving for South. Mr. Fodell will be formally recognized at the annual MHSCA State awards ceremony November 8.

"The selection of Coach Fodell reflects the high standard of excellence maintained by Grosse Pointe South and the broader community," the MHSCA noted in its announcement.

Candidates for the award are nominated by the respective sport associations and evaluated based on long-term program performance, leadership, and contributions to athletics and the community. Representing nearly 25,000 athletic administrators and coaches, the 71-year-old association promotes the educational values of interscholastic athletics across Michigan.

Please help us thank and honor both Sarah and John for their dedication to our students and learning community!

Just a reminder, GPPSS has Late Start Mondays for professional learning for staff. Because of Labor Day, our first day this school year is Tuesday 9/8 so we will see you:

• 8 a.m. for high school
• 8:15 a.m. for middle school
• 8:20 a.m. for elementary school

Please see the chart above for Late Start Monday times by level, our schedule for Tuesday-Friday, and half day dismissal times. Only elementary is a half day September 8. Thank you!

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

Our North-South Gearheads participated in the Detroit Youth Sports Showcase on the Riverwalk again this year. Check out all the amazing organizations that also participated and click the Gearheads link to learn more about this opportunity to develop Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and so many more life skills.

https://www.detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/08/15/detroit-youth-sports-showcase

See more photos on our Facebook and Instagram accounts!

Click the image below to read the full two-page letter posted on Peachjar.

MDHHS is partnering with local health departments to provide these screenings at no cost to families. Dental-related problems prevent kids from reaching their full learning potential. To prevent this, Michigan created the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program (KOHA) to improve school readiness and raise families’ awareness of the importance of good oral health.

• Children’s oral health is a key public health priority. Early detection of dental problems and connecting children to needed care will help children succeed.
• Poor dental health affects attendance and grades. Kids with poor dental health are 3x more likely to miss school because of dental problems.
• Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children. Almost half of Michigan Head Start children have tooth decay and close to one-third have untreated decay.
• Help is available. Your local health department can help you find a dentist if you don’t have one. Your child may be able to enroll in the Michigan Healthy Kids Dental Program if they don’t have insurance. For information about Healthy Kids Dental, visit the Healthy Kids Dental website.

For more information: Contact your local health department or MDHHS-KOHA@michigan.gov.

Please visit the Food Service section of our district website by clicking Meals in the upper right corner. And be sure to download the Taher Food4Life app for your phone. These are the easiest ways to access the menus by school (use the dropdown menu to select your school and your meal - breakfast or lunch). Use the arrows to toggle to next week (no menu shows for this week but next week's is posted). Click on any menu item to see the Allergen and Wellness Guidelines. See a sample below from Brownell's menu for next week when you click Chicken & Cheese Enchilada. A form for those with dietary restrictions was included in the K12 Pre registration packet and is available in each school office. Remember that for breakfast or lunch to be free students must take all items including milk. Taher staff will gladly help if students have questions about what makes up a full meal. A la cart items will be charged to their account. Money can be added to your student's account online with a credit card. Click Cafeteria in MiStar to check your balance, then Online Food Service Payments (upper right corner) to add.

To help your family qualify for additional assistance (ex: reduced testing or athletic fees) and for Grosse Pointe Public School System secure critical state and federal funding, we need ALL families that think they may qualify to complete the Education & Nutrition Benefits Application (formerly known as the Free & Reduced Meals Application).

Why it matters:

• Your application helps ensure we can continue to provide nutritious meals to all students.
  

• Funding tied to our free/reduced rate supports far more than meals; it impacts academic programs, athletic programs, technology, and student services.
  

• Even if you think you may not qualify, completing the form still helps the district.

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.

Each year we ask families to update important forms including emergency contact information, review the code of conduct, and note specific information for each school community. It is critically important that you take the time to review and update this information. This must be done before registration at your school where you would then receive your class assignment information. Look for an email from gpregistration that went out August 14th with your login information. Thank you for partnering with us on this!

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, September 14, 7 p.m., Brownell MPR

• BOE Regular Meeting, Monday, September 21, 7 p.m., Brownell MPR

• See graphic below for the upcoming Superintendent Listening Sessions

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.

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.

Questions? Please email gpvirtualschool@gpschools.org.

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 and early childhood staff, but check out the possibilities and help us spread the word to find great candidates! Here are a few positions to explore:

• Elementary School Resource Program Teacher - 2 Positions (1.0 FTE) (Mason and Defer Elementary)

• Spanish 1.0 FTE- North
• Elementary Art (0.5)

• Lunchroom supervisors

• Kids Club Caregiver, multiple sites

• Senior Employee Relations Specialist

• GSRP Associate teacher

• GSRP Caregiver

• Performing Arts Center

• Lifeguard-Swim Assistant

• Swim Instructor

• Guest Teacher (Instructional Substitute) through EduStaff

The Fall Frolic is back! Join the GPFPE for the return of our favorite fall tradition - a casual evening that brings our district community together for food, drinks, entertainment and an all-around good time!

When: Thursday, September 24

Where: Cadieux Cafe

Mark your calendars - ticket details and full event info will be shared soon. We can't wait to see you there!

Here is a quick summary of key communication tools we utilize to stay connected:

• District Newsletter - Our GPPSS Update you're reading now comes out every week on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Please make a practice of scanning through it for important updates throughout the district.
• School newsletters typically come out Friday or Sunday with school-specific information.
• Daily updates are posted on social media.
  • Facebook @GPPSS
  • Twitter @GPSchools
  • Instagram @gppschools
  • LinkedIn will be a focus this year as we seek different ways to tell our story
• Calendar updates are on the district website (click icon right on main page). Please note there is a separate Performing Arts Calendar, and high school athletic calendars are linked from the school athletic department websites.

If you know someone (neighbor, grandparent, business owner, public official) who would like to be on our mailing list for the district newsletter, 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. We strive to provide balanced coverage and you can help by providing information on your favorite program, team or club!