GPPSS Update

We have been colleting First Day of School Photos to show on social media. Here is a small sampling. But it's not too late to submit!

In fact, did you know you can submit stories to celebrate throughout the school year by emailing info@gpschools.org and putting Good News in the subject line? We love photos and try very hard to balance stories across the district. Thank you for sharing your news. Did you partner with a classroom on a special learning opportunity? Did you go to 5th grade camp? Do you coach a team? We would love to share!

One of the important steps at the start of each school year is to fill out the K12 pre-registration forms. About 89% of families have completed the forms to date -- thank you. By default, that means 11% of our students won't be in yearbooks, can't go on walking field trips, and haven't agreed to our behavior expectations. So we will be calling and emailing you until these are complete and we know your family's decisions and not just the default exclusion.

Inside K-12, make sure you have visited MiStar and updated your emergency contacts. This ensures we have the proper phone numbers in the event of any emergency (like a snow day) and email addresses for school communications like this. You may update your emergency contacts at any time and here are step by step instructions to do so.

Other key forms are:

• FERPA - without that we cannot include your student in yearbooks or celebrate them in newsletters or graduation/promotion/concert materials with their name or image.
• Technology Acceptable Use
• Walking Field Trip (for elementary)
• Student Handbook

One of the strengths of our district is the strong connection between home and school. It is not uncommon for our elementary schools to have 100% participation at conferences. That is remarkable. Start the year off strong by attending Back to School Night. And thank you for being actively engaged in our schools! Thank you to those at Defer and Ferry who attended Tuesday.

Students at Defer and Richard Elementary Schools, and Pierce Middle School, spent time researching American symbols as part of our country’s 250th birthday celebration. They worked with library media specialist Mrs. Martin. The project was completed in three parts:

1. Research - students were guided through the research process using both print and digital resources. Authoritative resources were discussed and used. Students were responsible for finding answers to six questions on their topic using a variety of sources.

2. Model Creation - Students were then provided with paper templates tat when put together would resemble the topic they researched. These templates were then glued onto cardboard and students used ChompSaw, a kid-safe power tool, to cut the template. Students then assisted in assembling and decorating the models.

3. Bringing it to Life - Students learned the meaning of an electrical circuit and created several with our cardboard models. They accomplished this by building a continuous circuit using conductive materials like aluminum foil and conductive tape. These materials were then connected to various parts of an innovation kit that allows you to turn everyday items into touchpads and keyboards for your computer. Scratch programming was then introduced to the students and they took turns recording the voice over facts that play when the displays are fully connected and touched.

10 Steps to Keep Ahead of Head Lice

1. Watch for signs of head lice, such as frequent head scratching, flaky or irritated scalp, scabs, or the presence of nits. Anyone can get lice, mainly from direct head-to-head contact or possibly by sharing hats, brushes, beds, pillows, towels, etc.

2. Check all household members and close contacts for lice and nits (lice eggs) at least weekly.

3. Be sure not to confuse nits with hair debris (i.e., dandruff, hair spray droplets, or hair casts). Nits are yellowish-white, oval-shaped, and are attached at an angle to the side of the hair shaft.

4. Consult a pharmacist, physician, or school nurse before applying pesticides or other lice treatments. If anyone to be treated is pregnant or nursing, has allergies, asthma, or has nits in the eyebrows or lashes, contact your physician. Never use a pesticide or lice treatment on or near the eyes.

5. Consider all of your treatment options. Remember, lice-killing products are pesticides and must be used with caution. If you choose alternative methods, they may not have been studied thoroughly enough to determine long-term outcomes. The most effective and safe alternative is manual removal by combing.

6. Remove all nits. Separate hair sections and remove nits with a lice comb, baby safe scissors, or your fingernails.

7. For lice treatment, follow package directions carefully. Use the products over the sink, not in the tub!

8. Wash bedding and all recently worn clothing in hot water and dry in high heat for at least 30 minutes. Combs and brushes should be soaked in hot water (not boiling) for 10 minutes. Articles that cannot be machine washed, or placed in a hot dryer can be vacuumed, dry cleaned, or stored in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks (stuffed animals).

9. Avoid lice sprays! Vacuuming is the safest and best way to remove lice or fallen hairs with attached nits from furniture, rugs, stuffed animals, and car seats. Floors, carpets, upholstered furniture, pillows, and mattresses should be vacuumed to pick up any hairs that may have living lice or nits attached to them.

10. Notify your child’s school, camp, child-care provider, play partners, and neighborhood parents. Check for lice on a regular basis.

Here are our official GPPSS Lice Policy and Procedures. Please see our Health Services Website for more information.

Here is the link for the fall swim class registration: https://gpschools.formstack.com/forms/fallswimming2026

See you at the pools,

Diane R. Zedan

zedand@gpschools.org

Aquatics Coordinator, Community Education

Grosse Pointe Public School System

Just a reminder, GPPSS has Late Start Mondays for professional learning for staff. Please see the chart above for Late Start Monday times by level, our schedule for Tuesday-Friday, and half day dismissal times. Grosse Pointe Transition Campus, for our students ages 18-26 receiving special education services, has times slightly offset from the high school schedule to make for an easier drop off and pick up; those times have been communicated directly to families. Thank you!

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). Click on any menu item to see the Allergen and Wellness Guidelines. See a sample below from Brownell's menu 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.

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.

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 September 21. 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.

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-motos are not allowed on elementary or middle school property and must follow all state laws on high school grounds (see article below)

Thank you for your patience.

Earlier this school year, GPPSS communicated that e-bikes were not permitted on school property. Since then, we have received thoughtful questions and feedback from students, families, and community members about e-bikes, e-scooters, and the growing variety of electric motorized devices students are using to travel to and from school.

We appreciate that feedback, and we listened.

One theme that emerged from those conversations was the need to balance two important priorities: supporting safe ways for students to travel to school while keeping our busy school grounds and arrival and dismissal areas safe for everyone. As a result, we are refining our approach and introducing a simple districtwide safety expectation:

Walk Your Wheels in School Zones

Moving forward, students may bring Michigan-compliant e-bikes to school. Once students reach school property and adjacent sidewalks, bicycles, scooters, e-bikes, and e-scooters should be walked — not ridden.

This gives students the ability to use these devices for transportation while reducing the risk of collisions in areas where students, families, buses, and vehicles are moving during arrival and dismissal.

What is an e-bike?

An e-bike is a bicycle with a seat or saddle, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of 750 watts or less. Under Michigan's e-bike classifications, electric assistance is limited to no more than 28 mph.

What is an e-moto?

An e-moto is a higher-powered electric motorbike that does not meet Michigan's definition of an e-bike. These devices may look similar to e-bikes but operate more like motorcycles or other motor vehicles. For example, a device may be considered an e-moto rather than an e-bike if it does not have fully operable pedals, exceeds 750 watts, provides motor assistance above 28 mph, or operates primarily by throttle above 20 mph.

Because e-motos are motor vehicles rather than e-bikes, students may not bring or operate e-motos on elementary or middle school property.

At the high school level, students may bring a qualifying motorized vehicle to school only when the student and vehicle meet the applicable Michigan requirements for that type of vehicle, including any required license or endorsement, registration, insurance, and safety equipment. The vehicle must also be registered with the school and have an approved student parking permit.

Please take a few minutes to review these expectations with your student, particularly if they ride an electric bike or other motorized device to school.

• When you reach the school zone, walk your wheels.
• Whether you arrive by bicycle, scooter, e-bike, or e-scooter:
• Slow down.
• Walk safely.
• Look out for one another.

Thank you for helping us keep our school communities safe.

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

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

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.