From the Principal’s Desk

Student Pick-up and Drop-off Areas We have designated two spots where we ask all students to be picked up and dropped off. The two approved areas are along Mack Avenue in front of the school or in the back parking lot off of Sunningdale. We ask that you not attempt to park in the drop off zone or use the school parking lot for drop-off or pick-up unless a student has special needs or is injured. The Woods Police are on the lookout for illegal parking, unsafe driving, and other violations, so please respect our re-quests and obey all posted signs. It’s all about the safety of our students. Thank you. Walking Routes Please note that when students are walking and riding bikes to school that they must obey all crossing signals, cross only in designated crosswalks, and respect privately owned driveways, brick walls, and fences on their way to and from school. Parcells prides itself on being a good neighbor in the community. Please remind your child about safe and respectful pedestrian be-havior as you discuss your approved routes to and from school. Thank you. NJHS Fall 2014 Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade students who were be inducted into the Charles A. Par-cells Chapter of National Junior Honor Society. The induction ceremony for the new members will take place on Thursday, October 9th at 6:00 PM in the Parcells auditorium. Conduct and Work Habits Students earn a letter grade for academic classes and a number grade for conduct and work habits on every report card. Please review expectations with your child and discuss the im-portance of good citizenship. In addition, teachers review the necessary qualifications for a stu-dent to earn recognition for outstanding citizenship at our end of the year Awards Assembly. Parcells Website Do you have questions about the Parcells school calendar, staff e-mail addresses and voice mail numbers? Are you searching for teacher web pages and the weekly homework calendar? You can find us at www.gpschools.org/parcells. Please let us know if there is any helpful infor-mation we can add to assist you or your child. Farewell It is with both regret and anticipation that I inform you that I was offered the opportunity to serve as Principal at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills and have accepted the position. My final day at Parcells will be Friday, October 10, 2014. Mr. Gary Buslepp, former Pierce MS prin-cipal, will be at Parcells starting October 13 until the new Parcells principal is named. Over the years we have worked together, it has been an honor and a pleasure to get to know this community and its remarkable students on both a professional and a personal basis. On both counts, I hold this community in the highest esteem and am proud of the work we accom-plished together. We have continued old traditions and instituted new ones that will continue to benefit both students and the whole community in the years to come. I wish each of you health and happiness as you prepare for the new and exciting experiences that lie ahead, and continue in the spirit of “One Parcells” that serves our community so well both today and in the future Sincerely, Dr. Cathryn Armstrong Principal **Please check the Parcells website calendar for updates and further event information. www.gpschools.org/parcells

GROSSE POINTE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Parcells Newsletter

Each and Every Child, Each and Every Day

Important Dates in October Oct 1- Student Count Day

Oct 1 - Art Club starts

Oct 2 - Student Council Mtg.

after school

Oct 2 - Volleyball Game @

Brownell @ 4 PM

Oct 6 - Late Start Monday

@ 9:05 AM

Oct 7 - Pizza Orders Due Today

Oct 7 - Volleyball Home vs

Southlake MS @ 4PM

Oct 9 - NJHS Induction

Ceremony @ 6:30 PM

Oct 9 - Volleyball Game @

Kennedy MS @ 4 PM

Oct 13 - Late Start Monday

@ 9:05 AM

Oct 14 - Volleyball Away @

Pierce MS @ 4 PM

Oct 16 - Student Council Mtg.

after school

Oct 16 - Volleyball Home vs

Jefferson MS @ 4 PM

Oct 20 - Late Start Monday

@ 9:05 AM

Oct 20 - PTO Meeting in the

school library @ 7 pm

Oct 20 - Pizza Order Pick Up

after school

Oct 21 - Volleyball Home vs

Brownell @ 4 PM

Oct 22 - Student Photo Retake

after school. Last chance to

have student photos taken.

Oct 22 - 8th Gr. Choir rehearsal

at GPN PAC 6PM - 7 PM

Oct 23 - Volleyball Away @

South Lake MS @ 4 PM

Oct 25 - NJHS/Student Council

Fall Clean Up 8:30 AM -10 AM

Oct 25 - 8th Gr. Choir performs

with GPN Choir @ GPN

PAC @ 7 PM

Oct 27 & 28 - Play Tech Rehearsal

@ 3 PM - 9 PM

Oct 27 - Late Start Monday

@ 9:05 AM

Oct 30 - Student Council Mtg.

after school

Oct 31– End of Quarter 1

Happy Halloween!

October 2014 http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/gpparcells

News from Mr. Wolf, Assistant Principal

Dear Parents, We have experienced a number of electronic devices that have been lost at Parcells this school year. It should be no surprise that most Parcells students carry at least one electronic device with them during the school day. It is important students are securing these devices and being mindful of where they are placing bags, pencil cases, backpacks or purses if they store their devices in those locations. Students often misplace or lose those items, and thus lose or misplace their electronic device as a result. This is true for both inside and outside the classroom. If students store their devices in their lockers, it is important they form the habit of locking their lockers after each visit for safekeeping. Please reference Grosse Pointe’s BYOT Policy below for the security and damages of electronic devices.

GPPSS’ BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) Policy: SECURITY AND DAMAGES The individual owner is responsible for the security and safety of the device. Grosse Pointe Public School System and its employees are not liable for any device brought to the school district. Individuals are encouraged to utilize security methods for their own devices. The District will not investigate theft or damage to a personal device.

Parcells PTO

We have our next PTO Board meeting scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the school library. The board meeting on the 20

th will start at 6:30pm and we have invited the candidates

running for the GPPSS Board of Education to come and answer any questions. They will each have a few minutes to speak. The regular meeting will begin after that. All parents are invited. If any of us on the PTO Board can be of any assistance, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. Our contact information is available on the school’s website. We’re all looking forward to a fun-filled, productive year.

PTO Directories will be distributed by October 31st. You can still join the PTO and receive a PTO student directory. Additional directories are available for $5 in the office.

Help Needed for Holiday Bazaar. We are still in need of a handful of parents to assist us with this year’s holiday Bazaar which will take place on Saturday December 6

th here at Parcells. We are looking for someone to assist us in recruiting

vendors as well as someone to run the café portion of the event. This is our main and largest fundraiser every year. For the past 5 years, the PTO has donated $15,000 each year to the school most of which is a result of the bazaar. The donation is made in January after the Holiday Bazaar. $12,000 is given for after school clubs and activities (the PTO funds about 25% of the cost of these programs). $3,000 is placed into a Principal’s discretionary account to fund account to fund special items identified by the Principal and teachers. Such items include awards and trophies for the 6

th/7

th grade honors night,

Scholastic books for the teachers to use in the classroom, membership fees for the Vocal Music Associa-tion and the Band and Orchestra Association. We need the parents to make the Holiday Bazaar a success so we can minimize other fundraisers.

Please consider donating your time. Please contact either Dave Denomme@

ddenomme@mccemail.com or Gretchen Schock @ cultureshock@aol.com

NJHS News

Saturday, October 25th - Our first fall clean-up day starts at 8:30am on the Parcells grounds. Please bring gloves, a rake, a spade shovel, lawn bags, and appropriate clothing. We will finish by 10:00am. Thursday, November 13th - Our second fall clean-up day starts at 3:30pm right after school on the Parcells grounds. Please bring gloves, a rake, a spade shovel, lawn bags, and appropriate clothing. We will finish by 5:00pm.

The Counselors’ Corner

October 2014

ONE Parcells Activity during P3 on Tuesday October 28th

. Our students will be participating in an activity called True Colors. Through a variety of activities, students choose a “color” (orange, gold, blue and green) that fits their individual personality. This information helps students understand themselves as learners and their peer relationships.

WEB Mentoring

Tuesday October 14th, 8

th grade WEB leaders will be working with all 6

th graders during P3

time. WEB leaders will be doing an activity that focuses on how to be successful in middle school and understanding how middle school works. WEB leaders will be working with 6

th

graders during P3 time once a month as well as other social opportunities. Middle School Advisory Council

Grosse Pointe stakeholders will meet for the fall Advisory Council on Thursday October 23rd

at Parcells Middle School. The Advisory Council meets bi-annually to support the middle school counselor curriculum.

MSCA Conference

Both counselors will be attending the Michigan School Counselor Association annual confer-ence in Pontiac on Sunday November

2nd and Monday November 3rd.

To find out more, check out the Counseling website and join us on facebook 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! Jennifer Sherman (A-K) Carla Palffy (L-Z) (313) 432-4618 (313) 432-4620 Jennifer.Sherman@gpschools.org Carla.Palffy@gpschools.org

Student Council News

Student Council is off to a fast start this year. We have a great group of students that have helped to kick off the Little Caesars’s Pizza Kit Fundraiser. This year marks a change in our annual fundraiser, and students are against focused on reaching some great prizes for sales milestones, such as a Wally’s Ice Cream treat, a trip to Kalahari, and for one great salesperson, a brand new IPad Mini! We’ve been very pleased with early student returns, and we’re hoping to raise a great deal of money to support so many great opportunities for all. Any questions? Please contact Mr. McDonald or Miss Sobotka. In addition to the fundraiser we are in the middle of Spirit Week. Students are displaying great Par-cells spirit with days such Pure Michigan, Class Color Day, Twins Day, Dress Like a Teacher Day and Panther/Noresman Pride Day. This year’s Spirit Week again coincides with Homecoming at Grosse Pointe North, and the varsity football team is fresh off a big victory over South. Go Panthers!

Seventh Hour Math Help Does your student need help with math homework? Seventh Hour (after school) Math Help has be-gun. When: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Time: 3:25 – 4:25 PM Where: B-2 (Academic Assistance Room in the basement) Your student can ask questions, get individual help and get his/her homework done in a casual, sup-

portive atmosphere.

Science News

6th grade students are wading through the Hydrosphere! Great Lakes, graphing, barge building, properties of water and more are on tap for October. In 7th grade science, Mrs. Gulyas’s and Mrs. Maison’s classes have been reviewing the Metric System and the Scientific Method. The students have been participating in measurement labs and fine tuning their science skills of : hypothesizing, collecting data, making graphs, and writing conclusions. We have future biologists, chemical engineers, and physicians in the making! 8th graders continue to get physical with Forces and Motion. Sir Isaac Newton is their new best friend! Mrs. Gulyas and Mrs. Maison will serve as coaches for this year’s Science Olympiad team. They will begin recruiting students in the next few weeks. If you participated in Science Olympiad last year - they will be contacting you soon.

Social Studies News

6th grade: Students have been learning about various geography skills. They have been working on the 5 Themes of Geography by creating a brochure using a place they have visited. Soon they will be on to the landforms and water bodies unit where they usually create models out of clay to demonstrate their knowledge. 7th grade: Students have completed their Intro and Review unit of sixth grade geography skills. Upcoming units will include: Australia, Population and Culture, and Forms of Governments. Rufus has been in several times to share slides and stories about the many places in the world he has traveled. Rufus is a retired GPPS teacher who has traveled to over 200 countries in the world! He always provides incredible first-hand infor-mation and beautiful pictures in his presentations. 8th grade: Students are reviewing early American History. The thirteen original colonies are being studied through a multimedia project.

From the English Department This year Parcells students will again have the opportunity to participate in the Great American SpellCheck, a Scripps National Spelling Bee fund-raiser that makes sure 100% of the money raised benefits Parcells. It is rooted in academics, so it ought to be a good way for students to raise some money for our school. Here’s how it works: your child studies 50 spelling words and collects pledges from family and friends for every word that he or she spells correctly on the Great American SpellCheck 50-word test. Your child improves his or her spelling skills, and our school enjoys the financial benefits! Our goal is to raise $1000 for English Department needs and wants, such as field trip and activities funds. Here is the Great American SpellCheck fund-raising timeline: Starting Monday, September 22: Students study words appearing on their Great American SpellCheck

Study Words sheet, which their English teacher will provide. Also, students begin to collect pledges from family and friends.

Friday, October 10: deadline for returning pledge sheets to Mr. Bens in room 111 Monday, October 13 (6

th grade); Wednesday, October 15 (7

th grade); and Friday, October 17 (8

th

grade): Great American SpellCheck test at 3:25 in room 111 Monday, October 20: Teachers send home with each participating student the student’s graded test and

pledge form. Friday, October 31: deadline for students to return their pledged funds to Mr. Bens in room 111. Friday, November 7: after-school party for participants, including honoring and rewarding the top spellers

and fund-raisers for each grade Here are some ways you can help:

Help your child learn to spell correctly the 50 Great American SpellCheck study words. Indicate your level of support on the Great American SpellCheck Pledge Form. Also, ask family and

friends to make pledges. Ensure that your child returns the pledge form and pledges to Mr. Bens by Friday, October 31.

We hope that you share our excitement about your child’s participation in the Great American SpellCheck. Together we can encourage strong spelling skills and help Parcells meet its fund-raising needs.

Art News

Art Club starts in October this year! We will meet on Wednesdays right after school until 4:20pm in room 215. Sign up online and then come explore your “RIGHT” side of the brain! Mark your calendar with the Art Club dates: October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th November 5th, 12th & 19th December 3rd & 10th

Amber Mades Art Educator Parcells Middle School

Welcome to Life Skills! Life Management 7/8-- I want to take a minute to thank each and every Life Management parent and stu-dent for their hard work preparing for our mock interview activity. Walking through the class and observing the mock interviews taking place has got to be, hands-down, the proudest moment of my teaching career. It was so apparent that the students were well prepared, and that they took the activity seriously. Students and parents should be commended for their professionalism, attention to detail, and their positive atti-tudes. Again, thank you so much for your effort! Life Skills 7/8—Students have just completed their first unit on Personal Growth and Development. We should all remember each day those wonderful things that make us special and unique! We are heading into our second unit on child development, and Egg Babies will be arriving October 7th. Each egg baby will require a sturdy basket, a bottle, clothing or a diaper, toys or books, and a blanket. Now would be a great time to start looking around your house and gathering these items up! Thank you for your help.

Choir News

Friday, Oct. 3 – Order due date for choir tees and hoodies (order forms are available on Mrs. Saroli’s web-site. From the Parcells homepage, click on “Staff websites” and then “Saroli”.)

Monday, Oct. 6 – 7pm, Parcells auditorium – Informational meeting for parents and students regarding the 7th and 8th grade Music-in-the-Parks trip

***NOTE change in date for this next event - WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22 – 6pm-7pm * NOTE, this date has changed to help accommodate students on the volleyball team** – 8th grade choir only – rehearsal at the PAC (Performing Arts Complex at Grosse Pointe North High School) for the Oct. 25 concert.

Saturday, Oct. 25 – 7pm the 8th grade choir performs a concert with GPN choirs

In our classroom on a day to day basis, the sixth graders have just wrapped up working with the treble clef – learning how to draw treble clefs and a review of the line notes and space notes within the treble clef. Seventh graders are really improving on their sight reading skills, as evidenced by each singer’s weekly performance. Eighth graders wrapped up their study of time signatures with 8 as the bottom number. Rehearsals for this year’s musical, “School House Rock, Jr.” are underway. Parcells students are really bringing out their talents and having a great time learning the music for this show. Thank you for helping your son or daughter stay up to date on their schoolwork after rehearsals.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions – leslie.saroli@gpschools.org. Keep singing, Parcells! Mrs. Leslie Saroli

Attention NJHS members, WEB Leaders, Student Council members, and any student that would like to give their input on Parcells’ new principal search. Assistant Superintendent, Jon Dean, and Mr. Palen are holding a meeting in the library immediately after school this coming Monday (Oct. 6

th) in order to collect student input on the qualities that

Parcells’ new principal should possess. This is a great way to have your voice heard when it comes to hiring a new principal for Parcells. Additionally, NJHS members can earn a half hour of in school service for attending the meeting. Please stop by Mr. Palen’s (Room 204) to sign up for this event.

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 patrons 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 GP Public Library

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

Loitering outside the library, or excessive entrance and exit, is disruptive to this environment which is designed 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 other 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 responsi-ble 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. Middle school students can purchase a GP Library card at the Parcells library for fifty cents.

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 bor-rowing materials.

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

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

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

Grosse Pointe Public Library

After School Step Program Calendar

Tom, a nerve-wracked school teacher nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through such beloved Schoolhouse Rock songs as “Just A Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly” and “Conjunction Junction.”

Parcells Middle School Drama proudly presents…..

November 6th , 7th and 8th 6:30 PM

Parcells Auditorium Tickets available at the door prior to the performance.

November Millage Requests are 25% of our Budget

On Tuesday, November 4, our community will decide whether to continue two millages. GPPSS staff will be going to each building making informational presentations and answering questions at each of the Back to School Night, PTO and Booster meetings. These are key data points to know as you make your decision:

These two millages make up 25% of our district’s budget (approximately $25 million). These are continuations of existing millage tax levies, although the ballot language must say

“increase” as the State sets the rate back to zero when they expire. All of the funds raised remain within our Grosse Pointe schools for our students. The first proposal (homestead and non-homestead) funds program costs, technology tools, text-

books and other instructional materials. The second proposal is a 1 mill sinking fund to maintain our school buildings and update allowa-

ble technology infrastructure. Sinking fund dollars cannot be used for salaries or other human resource expenses, but keep a majority of building repair and improvement projects out of the general fund.

Both millage proposals are for a period of five years (2015-2019).

When the Board of Education agreed to place the continuation of these millages on the November 4 ballot, they did so mindful of the current economic situation. They knew our schools have made multi-million dollar cuts for the last decade. We will continue to act as wise stewards of our financial re-sources to maintain a balanced budget. The Board and our school administration have also increased efforts to be financially transparent. The timing of this election not only saves us the $60,000 cost of an election but asks the question when the largest number of voters is active. Also for transparency, presentations on our current budget, these ballot proposals, monthly financial statements, Michigan school funding and the budg-et process have been made at televised board meetings (Comcast channel 20, AT&T 99 and online). Additional information, a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and the ballot language can be found on our district website www.gpschools.org. Please educate yourself on this important topic and vote November 4.

Washington DC 8th

Grade Trip The 8

th Grade Washington DC trip is shaping up to be our biggest and best trip ever! The trip this

year will take place April 29 through May 1, 2015. We will fly to DC and spend 3 fabulous days and 2 fun-filled nights in our Nation’s Capital, where our students will see first-hand all the things they have learned about in their Social Studies class this year. This time honored Parcells tradition grows more and more popular each year. We already have 110 students enrolled! If you missed out on the early registration, don’t worry. We are still accepting open registrations through the end of October. After October 30, registration will be contingent upon availability of space on the airlines, hotel rooms and motor coaches, and a late fee will be charged. Please keep in mind that you do not have to pay in full at the time of registration. You merely need to place a deposit, and then you can make arrangements to pay off the balance over the course of the school year. Additionally, WorldStrides and Parcells Student Council are both offering fundraising opportunities to help offset the cost of the trip. It is my sincere hope that all 8

th graders will be able to experience this wonderful trip with their

teachers and their peers. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at debra.duffey@gpschools.org Sincerely, Mrs. Duffey DC Trip Coordinator