March 2020
FROM THE MOTHERS’ CLUB PRESIDENT 
Dear Grosse Pointe South Families, Staff and Friends,

Come on Spring!!!

Our annual Friends Mailing has hopefully reached your mailbox.
This annual fundraising effort chaired by Julie Schuetze helps support classroom
enrichment requests, scholarships, and preservation projects. Please consider
making a donation to the Mothers’ Club.

Thank you to our mailing chairs Andrea Brien, Nicole Kuhnlein, and Emily Scupholm!

Scholarship Applications are in for all seniors.  Beverly Bennert the Scholarship Chairman is ready to ensure the most qualified and deserving candidates are honored. 

Our Spring Benefit planning is underway for ‘Crazy for Fashion!’ Our annual benefit and fashion show on Sunday, March 29th! 

This year our dedicated committee is hard at work planning an entertaining afternoon with special musical performances from our All School Musical “Crazy for You”. Our fabulous students will be showcasing current fashions, with distinctive shopping and an exciting raffle. 

Please go to our website for tickets at mothersclubgps.com
If you are interested in joining this committee please contact me at [email protected]

Art Fest 2020 will be held March 25-28, 2020. This is a four day celebration of our talented and creative art students.

Many thanks to Paula Draper and Emily Wolfe, the Art Fest Chairmen for their work
in organizing this amazing show. 

Finally, it is hard to believe, but we have already begun planning for next year . Past President, Wendy Bruetsch is accepting nominations for open Executive Board positions and President Elect Marica Ostrowski has lots of opportunities to get involved with Advisory Board positions. If you are interested in volunteering next year please contact them as soon as possible.

Our next Mothers’ Club meeting on March 12, 2020 in Cleminson Hall at 7:00 pm. Find out what is happening with the Mothers’ Club. We hope to see you there!

Spring Activities are being planned now, with lots of opportunities to help. Please join us!
  • The Art Fest –March 25-28, 2020
  • Spring Benefit Luncheon-Crazy for Fashion March 29, 2020 12-3pm
  • Mothers’ Club Scholarship Night-May 7, 2020 7:00 pm
  • Graduation- June 4, 2020
  • All Night Party- June 4, 2020

For continuing updates on all the happenings in the Mothers' Club and at South, visit the mothersclubgps.com. There you can find ways to support the school, volunteer, and get involved! We have a job for everyone!

Sincerely,
Helen Srebernak
Grosse Pointe South Mothers' Club President
The Mothers' Club of Grosse Pointe South
2019-2020 Executive Board
IMPORTANT DATES
March 4
South Choir Winter Spectacular
7:00 PM
Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center

March 5
Parent/Teacher Conferences
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
GP South

March 12
Mothers' Club General Membership Meeting
7:00 PM
Cleminson Hall
March 13
Coffeehouse
7:00 PM
Cafeteria

March 25-28
Art Fest
GP South MPR
See flyer below for details

March 29
 Spring Benefit Luncheon
Crazy for Fashion
Noon - 3:00 PM

COUNSELORS' CORNER
Parents, we appreciate the time that you spent with your students discussing course selections and schedules for next year. Please remember that families are still welcome to make changes to next year’s course requests if necessary. Feel free to make adjustments as necessary so that we can support healthy students. Evening Conferences will be March 5 at South. This is great timing as it is halfway through the 3 rd quarter. Most teachers will be located in the Main Gym from 5-8 pm. Counselors will be in the library computer lab.

Trades Night was a roaring success. If your student did not get a chance to attend but is interested in the trades just stop by the counseling center for information. Rising Juniors and Seniors that are interested in attending a career technical education training program to get started in learning a trade should talk to their counselors as soon as possible to make plans for the taking classes next fall.

College Night will be Tuesday, April 21 at GP South from 6 pm to 8 pm. Over 100 colleges will be present to share information about their institutions and answer questions. More information to follow in April High Pointes

Financial Aid Information for freshmen through seniors is conveniently available online at  Oakland University Financial Aid Outreach page

SENIORS
It’s not too late to search for Scholarships and Financial Aid. Be sure to check Naviance and the Career Resource Center webpage for an ever updating list of scholarships. Make sure that you have completed your FAFSA , as well. Even if you don’t think you will get any grant (free) money you will get loan offers that you may accept or decline in whole or in part. Also, it's a great idea to show interest in receiving money – sometimes this opens doors that were previously hidden. For general scholarship searching, I am a big fan of www.fastweb.com and http://www.finaid.org/  These are both packed with GREAT information and resources. 

JUNIORS: 
Current Juniors who are planning to apply to colleges in the Fall of 2020 should make sure that they are doing the following:
  1. Register in time and take the necessary ACT and/or SAT tests. You can do this online at www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.org
  2. Visit your counselor for the Junior Meeting to discuss possible choices that match your individual profile.
  3.  Plan to visit college campuses.
  4. Visit the College Resource Center to see college brochures and other information that is available.
  5. Remember that your junior student will be taking a complete SAT in April along with the rest of the state-required tests. Each student has the opportunity to send their test scores to four colleges for free.
  6. Your student will register for the test in school. You do not need to do anything to sign him or her up online.

SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN:
Sophomores and Freshmen will be taking the PSAT test again in April. Have your students linked their College Board account with Khan Academy for Free and effective college test prep? Check out this You Tube video about how to do this. Finally, consider attending College Night on April 21 (see details above).

All students received a valentine from a teacher on February 14 as a reminder that they are valued and an important member of our school community. Valentine’s Day is a wonderful reminder to build gratitude and love into our everyday interactions. “Winter Blues” are real issues along with more serious mental health and wellness concerns. If you are noticing changes in your child’s grades, interactions, behaviors or friends this may be a message to seek support. Please connect with your child’s counselor or another member of the school’s mental health team to find resources. If you are in immediate need of assistance with concerns of suicide please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255) or www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org for live chat. Students may feel comfortable texting the Crisis Text Line, a free, 24/7, confidential text message service for people in crisis. Just text HELLO to 741-741
 
Upcoming Events:
The Family Center does a great job listening to the needs of our community and responding by programming events to meet those demands. 

March 3 @ The War Memorial
8: 15 p m – 9 pm College is Coming; Are you Ready? Keynote address 6:15pm
Staying Safe Without the Safety Net, presented by Sharman Davenport, CEO of Turning Point, Inc.
One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
Going off to college often changes the dynamics and safety factors in dating situations. Typically when teens leave home the parental safety net is minimized. The risk of violence and assault is elevated. We will explore how important it is for teens to understand the importance of safety measures, clear communication and consensual relations from a male and female perspective.
Breakout sessions:
1) Managing Your Newfound Freedom, featuring Gary & Janice Abud, Saga Educators
2 ) Beyond Your Reach: Documents you Need When Your Child Turns 18
3 ) Student Perspectives Panel

April 2 @ The Village - Grosse Pointe
Light It Up Blue Tree Lighting A grand tree-lighting ceremony to kick off a month of Autism and Bullying Awareness. Event will take place at 7:00 pm in the Village of Grosse Pointe, corner of Kercheval and St. Clair. Everyone welcome!
Mothers' Club Alumni Membership

Do you know someone who is a former South student
or a parent/legal guardian of a former South student with no current students at South?
Invite them to become an Alumni Member of The Mothers' Club.
 
Alumni Membership Dues support  enrichment preservation,  and  scholarship  for South.  Alumni Members receive a copy of the student / alumni directory, invitations to Mothers’ Club events, a monthly email of the High Pointes Newsletter, and other emails showcasing what is happening at South.  Alumni Members may attend and vote at monthly membership meetings.  

To become an alumni member go to  https://www.mothersclubgps.com/membership/ or contact Julie Mathews Schuetze ([email protected]).  
Time is flying by. Before we know it, graduation and the All Night Party will be upon us. Here are a few updates about upcoming events and items we need for the All Night Party.

RUSTIC CABINS FUNDRAISER : On Thursday, March 19th, we will be having a Guest Bartender fundraiser at Rustic Cabins from 7:30 - 10:30 pm. Come out and help us raise funds for the All Night Party! All are welcome - bring a friend or two!

SLIDE SHOW : Please take the time to email a baby picture of your son/daughter to slideshow chair Jennifer Ebenhoeh. Deadline is  May 1st,  but don't wait! Send in your pictures  NOW !
  1. Email the picture, preferably in .jpg format, to [email protected].  
  2. Name your picture with your child's first and last name (ie. John_Doe.jpg)
  3. In the body of the email, please indicate how your child should be listed in the slideshow. For example if your child's name is Elizabeth, but she prefers to be called Liz, please indicate that preference.

BOXER BINGO  is a newer event at the All Night Party. This game has been well received and enjoyed by the graduates! We need your help for it's success. Please consider donating a pair of boxer shorts to the cause. We are looking for all sizes and fun designs! Please contact  Nancy Labadie at  [email protected]  or  Nicole Kuhnlein at  [email protected]  to donate OR bring to our Rustics Fundraiser or Senior Parent Night.

VOLUNTEER AND DONATION SIGN UP:  Information about volunteering and donations will be sent to all Senior parents the first week of March!  If you are able, please sign up for a shift. A party of this size takes many, many volunteers. There will also be opportunities to donate food, drink and prizes for our casino.

Thanks,
Laura Wholihan and Paige George

The official social media accounts/pages for the parents of the Class of 2020 are:
     Facebook: GPS 2020
     Instagram: GrossePointeSouth2020
2019-2020 Class Officers
President- Aleena S.
VP- Evie K.
Treasurer- Elle O.
Secretary- Eleni T.
Contact Information
Class Advisor: Meg Pierce
Advisor Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @gpsouth.22
Facebook: GPS Class Of 2022
The Class of 2023 will be hosting the annual coffeehouse event. We have a wide variety of acts lined up for a great, laid back night of performances. The event will be held March 13th in the cafeteria at 7pm. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults and includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and homemade goodies. People of all ages welcome to attend!
2019 - 2020 Class Officers
President - Caroline J.
VP - Jacob A.
Secretary - Meredith T.
Treasurer - Selga J.

Class Advisor
Katie Parent, [email protected]

Instagram:  gpsouth.2023

Tuesday, March 3 rd  -  Booster Meeting  – 7:00 pm Band & Orchestra Festival
Thursday, March 5 th  thru Saturday, March 7 th  –  MSBOA District Band Festival
Come and join us for an evening with the National Award Winning Grosse Pointe South Choirs when they perform their Winter Spectacular. This will be the first time the public can see their Competition Sets that they will be performing at Bishop Luers on Saturday March 7th, and in Chicago March 28th. The date will be Wednesday March 4th. The Choir will be performing one night only, at 7:00 PM, at the Christian A. Fenton Performing Arts Center. This is located at 707 Vernier Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. Please see the Choir Website for details on how to get your tickets. With only one performance they will surely sell out quickly.    www.gpsouthchoir.org  
A group of interested South Choir students traveled to Poland and Austria, as an Ambassador Choir during the winter break. The Choir performed to standing room only audiences twice in each country. They performed classical as well as show choir sets. They were well received by their new friends, as well as gaining an understanding and new respect of each countries musical groups, with whom they had the privilege of meeting and performing with. The Ambassador Choir represented Grosse Pointe South with pride, as well as the United States.
ArtFest 2020
 
 Volunteers Needed
Each year, the ArtFest Planning Committee works closely with the GPS Art Department in preparing for this much anticipated week. Success would not be possible without all of the committed volunteers we have to help set up and run this event. Your help is again needed this year! Interested? Contact our Volunteers Coordinator, Danielle Cannon ( [email protected] , (313) 434-2646)

Award Sponsorship
ArtFest is all about supporting our students in their creative pursuit of the arts. In 2019, we were able to provide over $8000 in awards to our students through generous donations from our community. Have you considered sponsorship, but not sure where to start? Contact our Sponsorship & Awards Coordinator, Debbie McSunas ( [email protected] , (423) 987-0912)

Be sure to come and see all of the Regional and National Scholastic art pieces at ArtFest 2020…and much more!

ArtFest 2020 Co-Chair, Paula Draper
SOUTH SCHOOL STORE
High Pointes | Grosse Pointe South Mothers' Club | http://www.mothersclubgps.com/