The following Gwinn Middle School students were named “Students of the Month” for February: Megan Brinker & Chris Sirois (6th); Ashley Chaudier & Dakota Dupras (7th); and Dakota Stankowski & Jacob Brinker (8th).
Mr. Mitchell Paris was named Gwinn High School’s “Student of the Month” for February.
Claims in the amount of $555,561 were approved for payment.
District News
Gilbert Elementary School
Congratulations to the following Students of the Month: Manuel Magdaleno & Tammy Packard (Kdg.); Josie Matheny & Emma Cramer (1st); Sophia Krysmalski & Melanie Beauchamp (2nd); Gabrielle Hammond & Brittany Ouellette (3rd); Christopher Kirkwood & Avah Hammond (4th); Emma Kimsel & Kadie LaRock (5th).
Our theme for “March is Reading Month” is “Reading Rodeo.” We will be having fun with a “Western” spin on all of our activities. Phrases like “Lasso a good book,” and “Rootin’ Tootin’ Reading,” will be thrown around like cows on a ranch. So saddle up, get some giddy-up in your go, and read a good book with your child.
Our School Improvement Team has been making progress to improve math instruction K-5 and fully implement the common core. Several staff members have attended grade-level alignment meetings at MARESA. We continue to have an emphasis on writing improvement as well as bolstering our Informational text instruction, readying ourselves for the new common core test coming in the near future.
Congratulations to the following 4th and 5th grade students that have recited all 44 presidents to become part of the “President’s Club”: Peyton Osborne, Adrienne Bodenus, Chase Jensen, William Anderson, McKayla Quigley, Tia Nordeen
Our January “Classes of the Month” were as follows: Lower Elementary (K-2) – Mrs. Anderson – 1st Grade; Upper Elementary (3-5) – Mrs. Sather – 3rd Grade.
Our January Staff Member of the Month was Mrs. Debbie Goldsworthy – 5th Grade teacher.
Our spring concert will be held on Tuesday, May 14th.
KI Sawyer Elementary School
Congratulations to the following Students of the Month: Antonio Kerr & Isaac Johnson (Kdg.); Seth Phillips & Madison Arnoldussen (1st); Nora Jarrell, Lauren Mattila (2nd); Starlet Shannon & Morgan Palmer (3rd); Jacob Harnick & Gabby Wallenslager (4th); Adrian McLean & Bryan Bleckler (5th).
We had 44 visitors, including parents and grandparents, at our school on February 11th, for “Be our Guest Day.” Some guests also joined us for lunch with their child. We had some nice positive comments from parents about how much they enjoyed being at school!
We held a dog-sledding assembly on February 5th, with dogs Banshee and Seamus, to promote interest in the U.P.200.
Cheyenne Meier from Gilbert Elementary and Icesis Williams from KI Sawyer Elementary will be representing Gwinn 5th Grade at the Regional Spelling Bee on February 19th. Competitors in grades 5-8 from area schools will be competing for the opportunity to spell in the UP Final Spelling Bee in March.
K.I. Sawyer Elementary is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair this week during Parent-Teacher Conference hours. Proceeds are turned into Scholastic Vouchers which will help fund some technology needs. Everyone is welcome to come and shop!
Staff members will be participating in an Active Shooter Training, presented by the State Police, at our upcoming PD Day on February 21st.
On February 22nd, our three teams will be heading to MTU to participate in Day of Challenges on Saturday. The members of Team ROARS (boys team), Team G2 (girls team) and Team Towners (girls team) are ready to go!
Gwinn Middle School
Congratulations to the following GMS students who recently participated in the Superior School Music Association’s Vocal Solo and Ensemble Festival on February 7th in Negaunee: Division 1 Rating: Bethany Woodruff, Solo; Division 2 rating: GMS Chorus Ensemble.
Special congratulations to Bethany Woodruff, GMS 7th grade student soloist who is the first ever selection from GMS to sing in the Honors concert on Sunday, February 17, 3:00 p.m., Reynolds Recital Hall at NMU.
Congratulations to the following GMS District Spelling Bee winners:
6th Grade: 1st: Taylor Jansci, 2nd: Gracie Cook, 3rd: Andria Mancini
7th Grade: 1st: Samantha Duvall, 2nd: Brooklyn Bowling, 3rd: Trinity Sebaly
8th Grade:1st: Jonathan Harris, 2nd: Gabe Hafer, 3rd: Rileigh Erickson
Congratulations to our very own, Chris Swanson, who was named Gwinn Area Community Schools Teacher of the Year!!
A big thank you to Gina Sterwald and her lunch ladies for helping make ICU a success!
Our next PERK trip is planned for Friday, March 1st where students will have an opportunity to go tubing, skiing, or bowling.
Gwinn High School
Congratulations to the following GHS students for receiving writing awards in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Gold Key Flash Fiction – Tyler Yelle; Silver Key Short Story – Eric Flinn; Silver Key Poetry – Samantha Bammert; Silver Key Senior Portfolio – Alex Pastor; Honorable Mention Memoir Alex Pastor; Honorable Mention Flash Fiction – Madison Forrester & Christian Sharp; Honorable Mention Science Fiction – Shianne Teeple; Honorable Mention Poetry – Samantha Anderson, Kacy Cannon, Mariah Guevara, Payton Luokkala, Melissa Neal & Alex Pastor. Tyler Yelle received a Gold Key award his entry will now advance to the national level.
Congratulations to the following GHS students who recently participated in the Superior School Music Association’s Vocal Solo and Ensemble Festival on February 7th in Negaunee: Division 1 Ratings: Solos: Naria Ford-Thompson, Ben Hafer, Kaileena Haralson, Laura Thompson, Mara Westman, Ellie Woodruff, Erica Sanford*; and the GHS Chorale Men’s Ensemble, GHS Chorale Women’s Quintet*, GHS Women’s Ensemble*, and GHS Chorale Mixed Ensemble*.
(*indicates a perfect score) Division 2 ratings: Solos: Daabii Reinhardt and Jessamyn Orr-Obeshaw; Duet: Jessamyn Orr-Obeshaw and Akiryanna Johnson; and GHS Chorus Ensemble.
Congratulations to the following GHS students who were selected to sing in the Honors concert on Sunday, February 17, 3:00 p.m., Reynolds Recital Hall at NMU: Erica Sanford, Soloist; GHS Chorale Women’s Ensemble; and the GHS Women’s Quintet (Ellie Woodruff, Daabii Reinhardt, Erica Sanford, Kaileena Haralson, & Naria Ford-Thompson).
GHS will host the Boys District Basketball tournament with two games on March 6th starting at 6:00 pm with Gwinn playing Ishpeming followed by Westwood against Negaunee. The District Final will be Friday, March 8th at 7:00 pm.
The Girls District Basketball tournament will take place in Negaunee. Gwinn will play Negaunee at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, February 27. The finals are set for Friday, March 1st at 7:00 pm.
Parent/Teacher Conferences will beheld at GHS on Tuesday, February 19th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm; Wednesday, February 20th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Thursday, February 23 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The Michigan Merit Exam will be held for all juniors, in the gymnasium on March 5-7.
Superintendent Tufnell also gave a brief update on various topics including: a recent conference call with regarding the District’s Standard & Poors rating and a recent meeting with Senator Tom Casperson regarding school funding. The Board also received updates from the recent Youth Advisory and Athletic Committee meetings.
Superintendent Tufnell updated the Board on Excellence in Education Week which will be April 22-27, 2013. Congratulations to the following students and their influential educators: Alana Smith (Amy Anderson), Mitchell Paris (Tom Ross), Matt Moilanen (Brian Rice), Makayla Mayo (Jim Morris), and Lydia Asplund (Judy Girard), as well as the District’s Professional Development grant winners Meghan McLeod (special education teacher, GMS) and Connie Sather (3rd grade teacher, Gilbert Elementary).
Superintendent Tufnell recognized Kevin Luokkala, Jackie Cole, Sandy Petrovich, Dan Barry and Beth Bond in honor of Michigan’s Principal’s Week, February 10-16, 2013.
Mr. Chris Swanson, social studies teacher at Gwinn Middle School, was honored as the District’s “Teacher of Year for the 2012-13 school year. Superintendent Tufnell congratulated and presented him with a plaque recognizing his outstanding accomplishments.
The Board took action on the following:
Approved the District’s 2011-12 amended budget, which shows a $66,836 General Fund balance as of June 30, 2013.
Changed the date of the March Board meeting to Monday, March 25, 2013.
Set a date for a Board workshop with MASB to be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Scheduled the Superintendent Evaluation to be held as a part of the regular Board meeting on March 25, 2013.
Defeated a motion to change the 7th/8th grade Sex Education Curriculum to an abstinence based curriculum.
Approved a contract between GACS and Wells Township Schools for reimbursement to Wells Township for transportation costs for Wells Township high school students attending GHS.
Passed a resolution calling for a May election to continue to levy the current 18 mills from non-homestead properties in the District, in the event the millage election on February 26th is defeated.
Approved the following student trips as Board-sponsored activities:
1. GHS CADD class trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 11-12, 2013
Accepted, with great appreciation, the following gifts and donations:
1. Modeltown Express/Exxon Mobil/Vanzeeland Oil – $500 donation for Gilbert Elementary School
Accepted the resignation of the following personnel:
1. Angela Martin – GHS girls sotftball coach, effective date of resignation – February 18, 2013
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