From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parcells Parents,

School Safety - A Message from the Superintendent We are blessed to live in a safe community. It is not unlike Parkland, which was named Florida's safest city last year. There have been four shootings at U.S. middle and high schools in 2018 so far, 18 if you include incidents where guns were fired but there were no injuries. Like schools and districts across the nation, GPPSS is working diligently to do everything in our power to provide a safe and secure learning environment. Here are some of the steps GPPSS is taking to support our Code of Conduct:

The district works closely with our local public safety departments, reviewing protocol and conducting evacuation drills with multiple scenarios. These drills include communication tests, reunification sites and the process to get families back together as soon as safely possible.

GPPSS provided PREPARE emergency response training this fall to all administrators, school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and key office and plant staff. This focused on measures to enhance psychological as well as physical safety.

Part of the facilities enhancements being discussed at every Town Hall this spring is creating secured vestibules at every school (similar to the office at North).

Here is what families can do to help:

Please encourage your children if they hear or see anything -- in person or on social media -- to tell a trusted adult immediately.

Contact your principal, or attend a Town Hall, and share what you think needs to be done to enhance safety.

Reach out to our school psychologists, social workers and counselors if your student or family is in need of additional support. They can help and can provide referrals to additional professionals.

Please help us maintain our locked doors and don't prop or hold doors open for others. Each school has a buzzer system in place to protect our students and staff.

Thank you for partnering with us, Superintendent Gary C. Niehaus

Parent/Teacher Conferences: The second and final round of Parent/Teacher Conferences for the 2017-18 school year where on Wednesday, March 7th from 12:30PM to 3:00PM and 4:30PM to 7PM. It was good to see so many parents in attendance.

March 14th - Grosse Pointe Unity Event & Kindness Challenge A National Day of Remembrance is being planned for 10am on Wednesday, March 14th. In order to plan a positive event for our students, I met with representatives from Student Council, the National Junior Honor Society, and WEB to plan an event for Parcells. On this day, we will run our normal ONE Parcells (Tuesday) bell schedule so that we can use this extra time in the morning to send a positive message to the Parkland, Florida community. Events will include the taking of our annual ONE Photo that we will include in a message to Stoneman Douglas High School. This day will also kick off a 17 Days of Kindness Challenge at Parcells. Thank you for your continued support of our school and students. Have a great Reading Month!

Sincerely,

Dan Hartley, Principal

GROSSE POINTE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Parcells Newsletter

Each and Every Child, Each and Every Day

March 2018 http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/gpparcells

Important Dates to Remember Thu Mar 1 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 4:30pm 7th hour testing Rm 100 3:30pm - 4:30pm Strong Girls Rm 204 Fri Mar 2 Read Across America NJHS reading at Elementary Schools 9am - 2pm DIA & College for Creative Studies Art Field Trip Mon Mar 5 7:30am - 8:45am 21st Century Leadership Rm 219 3:18pm - 4pm Lifeskills Club Rm 221B 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 5pm Swim Club Starts (refer to Mr. Wolff’s schedule for all practices) 4pm - 7pm 7/8 Girls BB Game HOME vs. Jefferson MS Tue Mar 6 3pm - 5:30pm MS Choral Festival Preview Concert @ Brownell MS 4pm - 7pm 7/8 Girls BB Game HOME vs. Pierce MS Wed Mar 7 AM Classes (11:34am dismissal students) AHE 6th Grade 7:30am - 8:15am Anime Club Rm 201 12:30pm - 3pm Parent Conferences 4:30pm - 7pm Evening Parent Conferences Thu Mar 8 3:20pm - 4:20pm Yearbook Club Rm 211 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 4:30pm 7th hour testing Rm 100 3:30pm - 4pm Student Council Meeting Rm 221B Fri Mar 9 3:30pm - 4pm Team Pictures - Girls BB 7/8 and Wrestling Grosse Pointe War Dance-Neon Mon Mar 12 District Choral Festival at Dakota High School 3:18pm - 4pm Lifeskills Club Rm 221B 3:30pm - 4pm Social Studies Olympiad Rm 105 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 4pm - 7pm 7/8 Girls BB Game @ Pierce MS Tue Mar 13 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 6pm Wrestling @ Jefferson MS 4pm - 7pm 7/8 Girls BB Game @ Brownell MS **both teams play at same time ** Wed Mar 14 7:30am - 8:15am Anime Club Rm 201 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 7pm - 8pm Commemorating 50th anniversary of MLK’s speech in Grosse Pointe @ Grosse Pointe South Main Gym Tickets can be purchases online or in Parcells Office Thu Mar 15 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 4:30pm 7th hour testing Rm 100 3:30pm - 4:30pm Strong Girls Rm 204 3:30pm - 4pm Student Council Meeting Rm 221B 3:30pm - 6pm Wrestling HOME vs. Lincoln MS 3:30pm - 6:30pm You Be The Chemist Rms 110, 112 & Auditorium 4pm - 6pm Swim Club vs Brownell at South

Fri Mar 16 AM Classes (11:34am dismissal students) AHE 7th & 8th Grade Sat Mar 17 Wrestling Tournament - Chatterton/Fitzgerald HS - all day Mon Mar 19 Scholastic Book Fair 7:30am - 8:45am 21st Century Leadership 3:18pm - 4pm Lifeskills Club Rm 221B 3:30pm - 4pm Social Studies Olympiad Rm 105 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 4pm - 6pm Swim Club Pierce vs Parcells @ South 7pm - 8pm PTO Meeting Tue Mar 20 Scholastic Book Fair 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 4:30pm - 7pm Wrestling @ Page MS Wed Mar 21 Scholastic Book Fair 7:30am - 8:15am Anime Club Rm 201 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 Thu Mar 22 Scholastic Book Fair 3:20pm - 4:20pm Yearbook Club Rm 211 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 4:30pm 7th hour testing Rm 100 3:30pm - 4:30pm Strong Girls Rm 204 4:15pm - 6:45pm Wrestling HOME vs Chatterton/Clawson MS

Fri Mar 23 Scholastic Book Fair 4pm - 6:30pm Wrestling @ Pierce MS

Mon Mar 26 3:18pm - 4pm Lifeskills Club Rm 221B 3:30pm - 4pm Social Studies Olympiad Rm 105 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108

Tue Mar 27 3pm - 10pm PTO TCBY Fundraiser 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 4pm - 6pm Swim Club Finals at South 4pm - 6:30pm Wrestling HOME vs Wolff MS

Wed Mar 28 7:30am - 8:15am Anime Club Rm 201 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108

Thu Mar 29 End of 3rd Quarter 3:25pm - 4:25pm Homework Station Rm 108 3:30pm - 4:30pm 7th hour testing Rm 100 3:30pm - 4pm Student Council Meeting Rm 221B

Fri Mar 30 Spring Break - School Closed

April 2nd - April 6th Spring Break - School Closed

Mon Apr 9 Classes Resume

From the Assistant Principal’s Desk

Beginning mid-April, we will begin to administer the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) to our stu-dents. This will be the first year we are administering the test to the students online instead of by paper and pencil. The test is designed to measure student knowledge in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. According to the state of Michigan, there is no allowable way to "opt-out" of state assessments. Students who are not assessed will count against their schools' participation rate, which will skew the data on actual school performance. 8th grade testing window runs from April 9 - May 4th. These students will be taking math, English language arts, science and social studies. **This will not impact the Washington DC trip as those students will be completed with testing prior to leaving. 6th and 7th grade testing window runs from April 30 - May 25th. These students will be taking the math and English lan-guage arts tests. The total time tested over the course of the window are as follows and are reduced from last year:

6th Grade - 4.5 hours total

7th Grade - 6 hours and 10 minutes total

8th Grade - 8 hours and 10 minutes total The test is untimed so the above are estimates. If you would like additional information on M-STEP, please feel free to visit the web page at www.mi.gov/mstep. Debbie Redlin, Assistant Principal

The Counselors’ Corner

March 2018

WEB (Where Everyone Belongs)

February 1-2: 2017-18 WEB applications distributed to 7th grade students

March 16: 2017-18 WEB applications are due/singed in the Counseling Office

March 28: WEB acceptance letters sent home

Spring Conferences!

Where held in the Main Gym. Thursday, March 7th 12:30-3:00pm and 4:30-7:00pm

Suicide Prevention Meeting

March 1: Middle School Counselors @ Brownell MS

Love Your Laces Anti-Bullying Event

March 9: 6pm Emagine Movie Theater

March Leadership Meeting

March 22: monthly Parcells meeting To find out more, check out the Counseling website and join us on Facebook (Parcells Middle School Counseling Office) and Twitter (@ParcellsCounsel) to be the first to hear what’s new in the counseling offices. Please feel free to contact your student’s counselor with any questions or concerns! Kimberly Radant (A-K) Carla Palffy (L-Z)

(313) 432-4618 (313) 432-4620

Kimberly.Radant@gpschools.org Carla.Palffy@gpschools.org

Greetings from the English Department

The 6th graders just wrapped up a cross-curricular unit celebrating Black History Month. Readings, reflective writings and discussions all centered around renowned African Americans from a variety of fields. This unit allowed students to learn more about great American authors, scientists and political leaders.

Many of our 7th grade students recently wrapped up their reading of Charlotte Doyle, while the 8th graders have transi-tioned from The Giver into either The Pigman or Chains.

Greetings from AVID

AVID students where excited about the trip to Little Caesar's Arena for Career/College Night, and to watch the Pistons take on the Toronto Raptors. In addition to the March 7th NBA contest, students were afforded the opportunity to meet with Pistons/Little Caesar's executives to discuss their roles and the academic path that led to leadership roles. After the game students were given the opportunity to take a free throw on the court. Each student that knocks down the free throw will earn an automatic A for the rest of the semester! Actually, that is not the case, however in AVID we're always looking for ways to encourage success.

GYM SHORTS #6 Athletic News and Information

We have 29 girls that are playing for the Lady Panthers. They are working hard and learning every day how to be classy

on the court and off. It has been a hectic game schedule and then their season will be complete soon.

Our wrestling team has four members and practices to become better wrestlers. These four members show up at prac-

tice and attend meets with the determination to be the best they can be. Their season is complete right before we leave

for Spring Break.

Swim team Club began March 5th and is for 4 weeks. The meets are held at Grosse Pointe South and we compete only

in district as a way to provide another sport for our students.

Track will begin once we return from Spring Break. Please make sure to have physicals, emergency cards and grade

sheets turned in to the coaches on the first day of tryouts. If your student participated on a team already, their pay to

participate fee is waived. This is an athletic fee not a club fee.

Sixth grade basketball will also begin after Spring Break. This is a 4 – 5 week commitment with 2 home games and 2

away games. This is considered a club sport. Our students must still have a current physical, emergency card and

grade sheet to participate. This is a club fee of $52.

There will be a GAME DAY photo in May to commemorate all our student athletes here at Par-

cells and it is then posted in our hallway by the gym to share our PRIDE in our students.

THANK YOU for allowing your children to play sports here at Parcells.

Greetings from the Math Department

Algebra I: Students are beginning the factoring unit. This is one of the most challenging units for students. Make sure they are keeping current with their homework.

Pre-Algebra: Students are in the middle of the systems of equations unit.

Math 7: Students are finishing the Proportional Reasoning unit and are continuing with the Percent unit. Next, they will begin studying Measures of Central Tendency (MCT).

Math 6: Student are finishing their Variable Expressions work and then will move on to the Introduction to Alge-bra unit, which is focused on solving one-step equations.

Your child can get extra help Monday through Thursday after school in the homework room (room 108). NHS students from the high school along with Mrs. Rabidoux (Parcells staff) will be available to assist students.

Greetings from the Choir Room!

It’s an exciting month for Parcells Choirs! Here are our upcoming events:

Monday, March 12th – Choral Festival at Dakota High School today!

6th grade choir and 7th grade girls’ choir leave Parcells by 9:10am and returns to Parcells around 12:30pm. These singers need to come to school already dressed in their choir uniform (7th grade girls: dressy black; 6th grade: dressy combination of black, white, and/or gray).

8th grade girls’ choir and 7th/8th boys’ choir leave Parcells at 12:15pm. 8th grade girls’ choir returns by the end of the school day; 7th/8th grade boys’ choir returns to Parcells by 4:15pm. (These singers need to bring their uniform to school with them – either wear it all day or change before the bus leaves.)

If you wish to come support our choirs, here is our specific schedule of the whole day: (Address of Dakota High School - 21051 21 Mile Rd, Macomb, MI 48044)

10:00 6th Grade Choir Warm-up

10:15 6th Grade Choir Performance

10:30 6th Grade Choir Clinic

10:45-11:15 6th Grade Choir Sight Read

11:15 7th Grade Girls’ Choir Warm-up

11:30 7th Grade Girls’ Choir Performance

11:45 7th Grade Girls’ Choir Clinic

12:00-12:30 7th Grade Girls’ Choir Sight Read

1:00 8th Grade Girls’ Choir Warm-up

1:15 8th Grade Girls’ Choir Performance

1:30 8th Grade Girls’ Choir Clinic

1:45-2:15 8th Grade Girls’ Choir Sight Read

2:15 7th/8th Grade Boys’ Choir Warm-up

2:30 7th/8th Grade Boys’ Choir Performance

2:45 7th/8th Grade Boys’ Choir Clinic

3:00-3:30 7th/8th Grade Boys’ Choir Sight Read Please continue to encourage your singers to practice daily at home with their online practice recordings. As little as 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference!

Finally, the Festivals of Music trip to Chicago, IL is just around the corner (April 13-14) for our 7th and 8th grade musi-cians. Please call the travel agent, Jenny, at Bianco Tours to make your final payments - (734) 946-7021. We will have our Pre-festival Concert and Final Trip Meeting on April 10 @ 7pm in the Parcells Auditorium. All chaperones will

be asked to attend a chaperone meeting that same evening starting at 6pm.

Making summer plans? Please mark your calendars on August 13-17 for Grosse Pointe Summer Choir. Registration info will be available in the spring.

As always, feel free to contact if you have any questions. Thank you,

Mrs. Leslie Saroli SaroliL@gpschools.org

Greetings from Art Department

This year, Parcells Art classes went on a FREE field trip to the Detroit Institute of Art and the College for Creative Stud-ies on Friday March 2, 2018. At the DIA, students did a self-guided tour about Shaping Identity -- Combined with Think-ing Through Art. This tour includes art from around the world and spanning thousands of years in a combination of di-rected and open-ended discussions and activities. After the tour, our group walked across the street to the College of Creative Studies to see the award winning Scholastic Art Show. This show has eleven artworks from nine Parcells stu-dents that where displayed for us to see!

Parcells Running Club The Parcells Running Club will begin this spring. This club is organized by Mr. Cooper, the Cross Country coach at Grosse Pointe North. The runs will be held every Monday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:15. One, two, and three-mile loops will be set up through the Parcells neighborhood and Mr. Cooper will run along with the students. The Parcells Running Club is intended for any Parcells student or staff member interested in getting in shape and having fun at the same time. This would be a great way for potential North high school athletes to prepare for their high school athletic career. The students need a signed parent permission slip in order to participate in the Running Club. These may be picked up in Mr. Cooper’s room (205) or in the school office or below. You can also download the form at my website: http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/Page/5026 The runs begin on Thursday, April 12. Students should report to room 205 by 3:30 dressed to run. We run in rain, sun, wind, snow, and cold – dress appropriately. Permission slips must be turned in before they can run with the club. The Parcells Club Fee must also be paid. Remember, the Club Fee is paid only once and is good for all clubs during the school year.

The District is working with our internet filter options to ensure appropriate bandwidth for instruction and testing. Please be aware that as the District limits access, social media like Snapchat and Instagram will be us-ing your family data uses and charges could increase. Make sure to review with your student the cell phone police that is on pages 11and 12 in their student planner passed out the 1st day of school. Thank you for supporting our focus on academics.

Bandwidth Focused on Academics

THE HOMEWORK STATION

The Homework Station is open after school Monday through Thursday from 3:25 to 4:25 in room

108. It’s a great place to do homework, ask for help and work on projects. We have textbooks, cal-

culators and other school supplies. Students may also use computers and a color printer for class

projects. No sign up is necessary, and students may attend as often as they like.

PTO Corner

PTO Membership at Registration: Please be sure to sign up for PTO Membership when you register your child online for the new school year. This will make the school directory available to you and your membership will also go toward numerous programs at the school that benefit our children. Please also consider volunteering for the various events held by the PTO. Your help is always appreciated! PTO Meetings: PTO Meetings are open to all parents and are a great way to get involved in your child’s school. They are generally held on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00, but some meetings are different due to holiday schedules or conflicts. Please check the school calendar for dates, or send an email to paul@paulabke.com for a schedule of meet-ings. Kroger Cards: Please register your Kroger Card to benefit the Parcells PTO. (see instructions) Even if you signed up last year, the enrollment period ended in April and it is necessary to re-register. This is an easy source of income for the PTO and it doesn’t cost you anything! School Clinic: The Clinic is in need of volunteers. Even if it’s only for a few hours, every bit helps. if you are interest-ed, please contact Juli Mott Bastien.

Kroger Plus Card Support Parcells – Enroll or Renew

www.kroger.com school id # 91050

Parcells is an Evergreen School

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Your Grosse Pointe Public Library

The Grosse Pointe Public School System is grateful for its many community partnerships. To ensure we remain good neighbors with our partners in the Grosse Pointe Library System, we would like to take this opportunity to remind pa-trons of rules that will help us all utilize this community resource to its fullest potential. Just as in school, there are guidelines for behavior and supervision at our local libraries. The library has a document entitled “Guidelines on Behavior” that will be enforced. It is available for review at the Youth Desk, but here are a few highlights we would appreciate your help in maintaining: Visiting the Library

We encourage all patrons to work together in order to ensure a safe, positive learning environment.

Loitering outside the library, or excessive entrance and exit, is disruptive to this environment which is de-signed to support study, reading and other quiet activities.

Please remember the Woods branch parking lot off Mack Avenue is locked during drop-off (7:30-8:30 a.m.) and pick-up time (2:45-3:30 p.m.) for the safety of our children.

Our libraries, particularly the Woods branch, are busiest from 3:15-5:30 p.m., so it may be helpful for oth-er patrons to visit at non peak hours.

Children under the age of 9 cannot be left unattended. Guardians or caregivers must be age 13 or above themselves to watch younger students in the library. The library staff is not responsible for supervision of your children. Childcare is available for a fee through the GPPSS Kids Club and details can be found at www.gpschools.org or by calling 313-432-3067.

Computer Use

Students need a valid library card or knowledge of their card number to use computers.

Livetutor.com is available free of charge from 3-10 p.m. every day of the week.

Computer use is limited to 30 minutes to ensure equitable access.

Only one student is allowed to sit at a computer.

No food or drinks are allowed at the computer.

Students may bring their own earphones to use with computers; the library does not provide these.

Printing is available from youth computers for a small fee (10¢ per black and white page, $1 for color). Working Together

An expired library card or excessive fees may prevent patrons from using the computers or borrowing materials.

Any patron, including students, with a pattern of disruptive behavior will be banned from the library.

To keep track of library usage in those busy times, student patrons will be asked to sign in for program-ming or quiet study using their library card.

Please remember, this is our community library. Working together, parents, students, community members, and li-brary and school personnel will maintain a positive library environment and experience for all.