Snow!

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...." The words of this song are sung with enthusiasm in the Christmas Holiday Season, but not so much in April!! Today, April 18th, I am looking out the window and watching snow as it steadily falls to the ground. What would be an exciting event in December is a discouraging event in April. It is the same substance though, with the same qualities.

I can't help but think how this same scenario applies to other things as well. We set standards, goals and timelines for students. There is cause to celebrate if they meet the standard, or accomplish the goal within the timeline we establish. Some students take longer, maybe they need to retake a class, attend school longer, maybe attend a summer's worth of classes. They meet the standard, but their accomplishment may not be welcomed with the same enthusiasm and excitement though.

Just as with today's snow we need to focus on the what is truly there. The snow is the same, with the same complete properties it has in December. Students may meet the standard faster, or slower, than others. Either way it is reason to celebrate!

February to MME

There has been a lot of excitement in the halls of South this month! The North vs. South basketball game, Glow Out Dance, Valentines Day, the upcoming winter break, and registration for next year's classes have all have helped to keep the mid-winter doldrums at bay for the Blue Devils.

Students will return from break on the last Monday of February and then go right into MME testing for the next few days. Eleventh grade students will take the ACT on Tuesday, March 1; ACT Workkeys on Wednesday, March 2; and Michigan components on Thursday, March 3. Refer to the school website for the test/class schedule for the MME test week.

Wishing you all a wonderful break. Be safe in your travels, rested in your homes, and come back ready to do your best!

Beginnings and endings

A new year is here and with it comes the invitation to reflect on the past and use the insights gained to move towards the future. Many of us will set goals, or resolutions with the hope that they will guide us and motivate us.

At South High School January is both the beginning of the new year, and the end of the first semester. We have the opportunity to start anew, and bring things to a close. Students are encouraged to 'resolve' to spend these next few weeks applying themselves in preparation for their semester exams.

Midterm exams are scheduled for the week of January 24th. Please check the school website for scheduled times.

This past Friday marked the end of the first quarter of the school year! As we settle into the first semester thoughts of second semester MME, ACT,and Advanced Placement testing are ever present. Like it or not, students and schools are judged on how they perform on standardized exams. With this in mind I have added another feature to my blog page. On the right side you will find links to test prep sites and skill building sites. There will also be a more comprensive list posted on the school web site.

Another tool we have at our disposal is the ACT-PLAN test that will be administered to Sophomore students on December 8th. The PLAN test provides invaluable information for students, parents and the school. It identifies weakness and strengths both individually and as a cohort.
Benchmark scores indicate where on track students are towards developing the skills necessary to succeed with junior year testing, and with college level courses. More specific information identifies areas to focus on for both individual and schoolwide purposes.

Students of all ages can benefit from skill review. Take a minute to explore the sites listed, and visit often as I'll be adding new ones. Please share any sites or tools you may find. Your suggestions are welcome!

How it is.....

This weekend of ghosts and goblins was ushered in by talented South musicians and vocalists at the annual Pops and Pastries concert. I was delighted to watch students and teachers enjoying the fruits of their efforts. As an assistant high school principal it is easy to get bogged down with administrative functions, academic concerns, and student issues that need to be addressed during the day. Add to this the scary state of affairs with school funding, standardized testing, and the increased demands on educators it was refreshing to experience the evening.

The excitement in the faces of the performers, the delight in the expressions of the audience, and the enthusiasm of Mr.Gross and Mr. Cross as they directed their musicians made me proud. Their spooky musical renditions cemented the understanding that although these are 'scary' times our students continue on with an earnest belief in their possibilities. They are not aware of 'how it used to be'....this is their 'how it is'. We will continue to make sure that their 'how it is' is all that it can be.

The Best!

Time and time again I am reminded of the great community that makes up Grosse Pointe South High School. Last week our 9th graders took the Social Studies MEAP test. While other schools struggle to meet the required 95% participation rate our students show up ready to do their best! Out of the 436 Freshmen enrolled on October 20, only one student was absent for both the test and makeup test. This is remarkable!

The seeds of success are sown early on. Grosse Pointe parents instill in their children a love and deep respect for education. Through their ongoing support and high expectations they ready the way for their children's success. Grosse Pointe teachers not only teach their students facts, they teach them how to think,and how to apply what they've learned. With the steadfast support of the community, educational leaders, parents and teachers, students have no option but to do their best!

MEAP Testing

On Wednesday of this week, Freshmen students will participate in MEAP Social Studies testing. Please encourage your students to get plenty of sleep and to eat a healthy breakfast! Afternoon testers should be sure to eat a good lunch as well. South students tend to do quite well on this exam. Reassure your students that with a concerted effort they will surely perform well on the exam.

Students with the last name A through Koehler will test in the morning during periods 1 & 2
Students with the last name Koelsch through Z will test in the afternoon periods 5 & 6
There are several students that will test in the library.

Students will test in four locations: Field Gym, Girl’s Gym, Cafeteria, Library

Students should check the wall in the first cross hall by Mrs. Murphy’s office to locate their test site. (This is a new location for the lists. The lists used to be posted by the Counseling Office.)

The morning session will begin at 8:00, and run to approximately 10:00. After materials are collected and accounted for, students will be released to their 3rd period classes.

The afternoon session will begin with the start of 5th period at 12:24, and will run until approximately 2:30. After materials are collected and accounted for students will be released to their 7th period classes.