This Week at GHS: September 30

Good Friday Afternoon, Parents:

We are in the middle of Homecoming Week as I write this. This is always a week of great excitement, and an upbeat week goes a long way in setting a positive, productive tone to the school year.

This year we are looking towards an improved Homecoming Parade (4:00 p.m. on Friday), focusing on more involvement from the GHS athletic teams, the football players,clubs, and groups. Also, student leaders and parent volunteers are working with GHS staff to plan various aspects of the spirit week festivities: pep-assembly, PowderPuff game (at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday), parade, and -- new this year -- a post-game bonfire on Friday night. Please note: Obviously, it has been windy lately and that can cause unsafe conditions. The Greendale Fire Department issues the permit to hold this event, and it is clearly stipulated that if the winds are steady or gusting above 10 mph that we aren't allowed to have the fire. We will monitor weather conditions and make a call sometime during the game. I sent a separate SchoolMessenger out on Tuesday with additional information about all the week’s events.  In case you did not see this, it is attached here.

So far, my Weeklies have centered on events as we started this school year. There are many initiatives in place with staff, students, and parents all aimed at continuously improving the educational experience at Greendale High School. I look forward to sharing some of that work with you through this communication in the coming months.

Thanks for your continuous help in guiding our students and for your continued collaboration, support, and high expectations.

Now, in no particular order…

Annual Meeting Update from the Superintendent of Schools
Please click here for a letter to parents from Dr. William H. Hughes, Superintendent of Schools.

District Parent Information Night
All Greendale parents are encouraged to attend the first of 3 District Parent Information Nights (PIN) to be held on October 12 at GMS. The district-level information portion of the evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the MPR. All 5 schools will also be holding a school-level meeting on the same night at the middle school, either directly preceding or following the district presentation. The evening’s schedule is as follows:

• 5:45-6:30 p.m. GMS PTO - Library
• 6:30-7:10 p.m. District Presentation - Rethinking Education in Greendale, Dr. William Hughes
• 7:15-8:00 p.m. CA Parent Engagement Meeting - RM 174
• CP PTO Meeting- RM 175
• HV PTO Meeting - RM 177
• 7:15-8:15 p.m. GHS Financial Aid Workshop - Multi Purpose Room
  

The collaborative format of these nights allows parents to learn about important district initiatives as well as keep informed about ways to be involved in their child’s educational experience at the school level. Childcare will be provided for children who are potty trained. Dates for future district PIN are January 11 and April 18.

Financial Aid Information Night
As part of the K-12 District Parent Information Night to be held at Greendale Middle School on October 12 at 6:30 p.m., the high school break-out session (7:15 p.m. in GMS MPR) will feature Trisha Springstead, Financial Aid Advisor, Department of Financial Aid at UW-Milwaukee.

The Financial Aid Workshop is primarily a senior parent meeting that is intended to answer those pressing questions that parents have about the process of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is something that all families should do after January 1 of their child's senior year, and many that have never done it before enter this process with a lot of questions. This workshop is designed to answer the questions they may have and go over those items they may not have thought of.

Parents of non-senior students are still encouraged to attend if interested, but you will also want to attend whenever your student is in their final year (as the “rules” of this process change yearly). This is mainly a parents-only event and usually lasts an hour. More specific information will be provided closer to the event.

ALSO NOTE: We ask that families call Linda Odya, the guidance secretary, at (414) 423-0105 to RSVP their attendance. We base the compilation of hand-out packets on the amount of RSVP’s we get.

To Parents of Our Seniors
Haven't had your senior's yearbook photo taken yet? They aren't due until January; however, if you're planning to go to Prestige, have your student stop by Room 111 for a coupon for a $20 sitting. This includes your yearbook headshot, and 10% off any photos you order.

Photos for Yearbook Needed
Parents: The yearbook staff needs your photos from summer and September. Please email your photos to Kate Wagner - Thanks! (kate.wagner@greendale.k12.wi.us).

Winter Sports Meeting Scheduled
The Winter Sports Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. in the Greendale High School Multi-purpose Room. Parents/Guardians of all students who are interested in participating in winter sports are required to attend this meeting. The meeting will begin with a general portion where athletic eligibility topics, transportation information, athletic physical requirements, and other pertinent information will be discussed. After the general portion of the meeting, each sport will break off into their own meeting where the coaches will discuss the upcoming season and the expectations associated with being a part of their program. The coaches will also be available to answer any general program or specific individual questions that there may be.

ACT Preparation Class (LAST CALL!)
Greendale Park and Recreation offers a fall course, Preparing for the ACT, available for students in grades 10 - 12. Register by contacting the Park and Recreation Department at (414) 423-2790 (with a credit card available for payment – MC, Visa, or Discover) or download a registration form and mail in or drop off Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. To learn more, visit gpr.greendale.k12.wi.us

Course Description: This study group will help students prepare, review, and take practice tests that should help them get a higher score on the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment. Practice material in English, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, and Science will be used to enhance learning. This has been a popular, cost-effective way to give students that extra boost heading into this important measure of their college readiness. Instructors have successful experience delivering this type of material to high school students.

Dates: Mondays, October 3 - November 21 #222003.1
Time: 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Place: Greendale High School, Room 111
Fees: Resident and Open Enrollment Students - $50.00, Non-Resident - $60.00
Instructors: GSD Staff-Kate Wagner (English and Yearbook) and Sarah Schultz (Math)

For those choosing to take the ACT in the spring test period, there will be another Preparing for the ACT class in the winter session of Park and Recreation programming.

GHS Scholarships on Facebook
Did you know that you can now find GHS scholarship information on Facebook? To “like” the GHS Scholarship page on Facebook, please click here. Seniors that are planning to attend college in the fall of 2012 should can also use the GHS scholarship webpage. There will be new scholarships added approximately every two weeks. It is hard to know if you qualify if you don't apply. For more information, please click here.

Clean & Green
Seventh graders from Team Integrity at Greendale Middle School have organized a service-learning project in the community called Clean & Green. On Thursday, October 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students will provide services such as the following to Greendale senior citizens or those in need: lawn raking, garage cleaning, furniture moving, window screen removal, and sidewalk sweeping. To request services, please complete the attached form or call middle school teacher Lee Burish or Clint Weishaar at (414) 423-2800 ext. 3278 or ext. 3277. To download form, please click here.

Greendale Open Market
The Greendale Park and Recreation Department will host the Greendale Open Market on Saturday, October 1 from 8:00 a.m. – noon in the Greendale Municipal Parking Lot. Vendors will be offering homegrown produce, flowers, ethnic food and more. The last Open Market of the season will be held on October 15.

This Week's Links and Downloads:
• Upcoming Events
• Guidance Newsletter