GSD E-Blast May 2025

Celebrating All GSD Staff!

Each May, we take time to recognize the incredible individuals who make Gibraltar School District such an extraordinary place to learn and grow. From our teachers, support staff, administrators, and maintenance crews to our bus drivers, food service teams, secretaries, and dedicated volunteers, every member of our GSD family plays a vital role in shaping the positive environment our students experience each day.

Our staff's unwavering commitment is evident from the first cheerful greeting in the morning to the final bell at the end of the day. Whether they are teaching, mentoring, caring for our facilities, or offering a helping hand, their daily efforts make GSD more welcoming, supportive, and inspiring than the day before. As I often say, it takes a village to support our students—and at GSD, we are proud to have one of the strongest villages around. Our collective dedication to teaching, learning, and building meaningful connections truly makes a difference in the lives of our students and in our community.

Throughout this month, I encourage you to join us in expressing heartfelt appreciation to our amazing staff and volunteers. Your gratitude reminds them that the work they do matters—and it does, every single day. Thank you, GSD team, for being the heart of our schools and the difference-makers in our students’ lives!

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!

What a joy-filled performance! This past week, our incredible 4th and 5th grade Drama Club students lit up the stage with their production of Shrek Jr., and it was pure magic. Since December, these young performers have poured their hearts into rehearsals—singing, dancing, acting, and building lasting friendships along the way. Their dedication, teamwork, and passion remind us that when students feel connected and joyful, they shine even brighter.

This group didn’t just put on a show—they spread happiness and built confidence, both on and off the stage. We are so proud of our Drama Club for creating such a positive and uplifting experience for everyone involved. Bravo, cast and crew—you truly sparked joy and showed us all what it means to be Weiss Wildcats!

This past Earth Day saw an inspiring display of community spirit as a large contingent of dedicated Earth Club members from Carlson high school and our wonderful maintenance crews embarked on a district-wide cleanup and beautification initiative. These environmentally conscious students and staff fanned out across various elementary, middle, and even their own high school campuses. Armed with gloves, trash bags, and an unwavering commitment to a cleaner environment, they meticulously collected litter and debris that marred school grounds. The sheer number of participating students underscored the growing passion for environmental stewardship among our youth. By day's end, the collective impact of their hard work was clearly visible, leaving each school looking refreshed and demonstrating the powerful difference a dedicated group can make.

On April 28, Shumate Middle School 8th grade students once again participated in the DCTC 8th Grade Career Exploration field trip. In the weeks leading up to the trip, students used Xello at school to investigate their career interests, which were then matched to related programs offered by the Downriver Career Technical Consortium (DCTC). During the visit, CTE teachers and students from the consortium’s transfer programs led a series of interactive mini show-and-tell sessions, giving students a hands-on look at a variety of Career and Technical Education pathways. For the past three years, these CTE teachers and their students have enthusiastically shared their knowledge and experiences with our 8th graders, encouraging them to explore high school programs that align with their skills and passions. Through this experience, students were able to connect their career exploration findings to real-world opportunities and discover new fields they may not have previously considered, helping to expand their future possibilities.

Chapman Elementary 5th grade students recently had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Detroit Institute of Arts’ In-School Program, engaging in a powerful and thought-provoking lesson titled Identity Around Time. Students explored how artists use their work to document identity across different times and places by closely examining pieces from the DIA’s collection. Through guided looking routines like "Step In, Step Out, Step Back" and visual thinking strategies, students practiced critical thinking and reflected on how artistic choices can influence how history is recorded. They then applied what they learned by collaboratively creating their own collages—works of art that capture this moment in time from their unique perspectives. This enriching experience not only deepened students’ appreciation for the arts but also strengthened their literacy, reasoning, and visual communication skills. Our 4th grade students are looking forward to their program in May - focusing on the same topic but through the art of mosaics.

Hunter Elementary is proud to spotlight its Healthy Kids Club, a before-school program that promotes physical activity, community building, and healthy habits for students in Young 5’s through 5th grade.

Running during both the fall and spring seasons, Healthy Kids Club offers a safe, supervised, and non-competitive space for students to walk or run laps with friends. This year, the club saw 150 student participants who collectively logged an astounding 1,400 miles!

The spring season culminated in a particularly exciting achievement—15 Healthy Kids Club members participated in the Martian Marathon. These students logged 25 miles during club sessions and completed the final 1.2 miles at the race to reach a full 26.2-mile marathon distance. Crossing the finish line, they proudly received the same medals as the marathon runners—a remarkable accomplishment and memory they’ll never forget.

The Before School Math Boot Camp at Parsons Elementary was a fantastic opportunity for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to strengthen their math skills in a supportive and focused environment. Multiple dedicated teachers volunteered their time to work with students twice a week before school, offering targeted math interventions and extra support. In addition to building foundational skills, students also gained valuable insight into the Math MSTEP, learning strategies and preparation techniques to help them meet and exceed their academic goals. It was an inspiring example of teamwork, dedication, and student success!

Weiss Elementary was full of excitement during this year’s Spring Innovation Night! Families and community members came together to celebrate the amazing work our students have done all year long. The evening highlighted Weiss’s strong focus on hands-on learning through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and project-based learning, giving students a chance to share what they’ve learned in fun and creative ways.

All year, Weiss students have been involved in real-world learning that builds teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. Innovation Night was a special time for students to take the lead—building, presenting, and explaining their work to visitors. You could truly see the pride they had in everything they shared.

The halls and classrooms were filled with interactive displays that showed off students’ hard work and big ideas. On display were carefully built bridges, homemade catapults, solar ovens, and both LEGO and programmable robots. In the updated Makerspace—organized, revamped, and improved by students—kids ran hands-on stations they created themselves, giving visitors a chance to explore and try new things.

Guests also enjoyed student-made brochures about local landmarks, creative fundraiser ideas, and colorful art projects. Other exhibits included cardboard robots, slime-making tables, plant-packing creations, Native American homes, pollinator gardens, and even a student-designed drive-in movie theater. Every display showed how students used what they learned in the classroom in real-life ways. It was truly a celebration of creativity, learning, and fun!

To celebrate Earth Day, our students took action to make a positive impact on the environment right here on campus. Students took a break from their classes to volunteer their time to pick up trash around the school grounds, showing care and responsibility for their community. Armed with gloves and garbage bags, they worked together to clean up outdoor spaces, demonstrating how small actions can lead to big change. We’re proud of their efforts to keep our campus clean and green, and their commitment to protecting the planet for future generations!

We are excited to welcome aboard Laura Cossey. Laura is in training for her driver’s credentials. Once she has her credentials, she will be a sub driver and learn the routes.

Parsons students enjoyed celebrating National Breakfast Week. They had a great time showcasing their coloring sheets and sharing their favorite things about breakfast.