October 2018
FROM THE MOTHERS’ CLUB PRESIDENT  
With the 2018-19 school year underway, we have hit the ground running! Homecoming activities which began in early August, ended with the Homecoming Game on September 28 th and Dance on September 29 th . Thank you to the float house host families: Klaasan Family (Freshman Class), Mason Family (Sophomore Class), Kerr Family (Junior Class), Agosta Family(Senior Class), and all the parent sponsors for your assistance during the Homecoming season. The success of this year’s Homecoming would not be possible without the support of the many volunteers chaperoning float parties and the dance, providing food and drinks, donating needed items for the floats and assisting with the parade.

Now that Homecoming is in the rear-view mirror, we can look forward to our award-winning choir’s Fall Follies taking place on October 19 & 20, and our Band and Orchestra’s Pops & Pastries Concert on November 3 rd .

Keep up to date on GP South activities via our facebook page (Mothers’ Club of Grosse Pointe South) and twitter (@GPSouthMC).

I look forward to seeing you at our next General Membership meeting on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 7pm in Cleminson Hall!


Wendy Bruetsch
2018-2019 Mothers’ Club President
IMPORTANT DATES
October 10
Mothers' Club General Meeting
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Cleminson Hall

October 12
Grosse Pointe South - North Tailgate
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Grosse Pointe North

October 14
GPPSS Open House
1:00 - 3:00 PM
All Schools

October 17 & 18
Conferences
5:00 - 8:00 PM

October 19 - 20
Choir Fall Follies
GP North Performing Arts Center

COUNSELORS' CORNER
SENIOR PARENTS : We met with all seniors on Friday, September 14th to review the college application process including how to send test scores, transcripts, request letters of recommendation. The presentation is available to you at our website . Click on the “Presentations ” link at the left. Keep in mind those seniors who would like to apply to the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and Michigan State University should submit their applications as soon as possible. We suggested to the students October 15 to be confident about Early Action applications to Michigan in particular.

Don’t forget that we have representatives visiting from colleges nearly every day of the week during fall! Calendars are posted on Naviance, outside the counseling center and on announcements. Did you know that we have several schools that conduct on-the-spot admission during their visits?! Some even offer scholarships! 

It’s not too late to research schools! Many students are still finding their direction on this. Counselors are happy to help. Also, we encourage students to use the College Super-Match feature on Naviance.

APPLICATION HELP MONDAYS! Every Monday morning in October at 8:00 in Room 100 next to the Fisher Road entrance counselors will be available for hands-on college application help. We love to help. No advance sign up required – just show up! Also, October Fridays at Lunch we will be in the library computer lab with lunch munchies and college application help. No appointment required. We would love for every student to have at least one application sent by the end of the month.
  
FINANCIAL AID search starts now. Families can file a FAFSA, the form you must fill out to determine your eligibility for financial aid, beginning October 1. First register for a FSA ID, this is your electronic signature. Then complete the form online. Want help? We have a Hands-On FAFSA Workshop planned for October 29 at 7:00 with our expert from Oakland Financial Aid Outreach will actually help you fill out the form online. Pre-registration is required. If you would like a paper FAFSA worksheet to preview, that is available on the web or in the counseling center.

Looking ahead to an empty nest? The Family Center has a presentation on October 9, 7 pm, at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church. This free program will explore (and even celebrate) the complexity of this transition. Register at http://www.familycenterweb.org or (313) 447-1374
 
JUNIOR PARENTS : Thursday, September 20, we met with all Juniors in groups.  The theme of the meeting was Nuts and Bolts of Junior Year: finding the right fit. We talked about college research, using Naviance, grades, testing, college matching, how to start with online searching, making the most of college representative visits. We will meet with the Junior Parents to cover this same information Monday October 1 at 7:00 in the auditorium. Hope to see you there.
Mark Wednesday, October 10 on your calendars. That is the day that the PSAT/MNSQT will be given at South. This is the practice test for the SAT reasoning test and it is also the test that juniors take to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students wishing to get some last minute review in may want to check out Khan Academy online for free test prep and reliable practice test.

The Juniors will take the SAT as part of state testing in Spring. This is an official test with reportable scores. Many parents are asking if their students should take the ACT in addition to the SAT. Either test is completely fine for college admissions, so students should go with the test they feel the most successful taking. Consider the PSAT score a good baseline for SAT success. It may be wise to take an ACT as well so you can review both baseline test scores to decide which test he or she will choose to focus on for preparation. Our school curriculum has shifted in the direction of the SAT since this is the state test. However, if the student feels more confident sitting for the ACT, that is completely acceptable for admissions consideration as well.
       
 
FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORE PARENTS :
Have you checked your student’s grades on Schoology yet? October 3 is the middle of the first quarter and a good time to take a look at your child’s progress. 
This year Sophomores and Freshmen will also take the PSAT in school on October 10. Results of this test will help your student target areas where they can improve in preparation for their junior year SAT exams. The PSAT will not count for National Merit Scholarship eligibility; that is exclusively for junior year.

ALL PARENTS :
The Family Center has arranged for a presentation entitled ‘The College Preparation Process for Parents and Students’ October 16, 6:30pm, at Brownell Middle School. Pick Two to Attend: “Know How to Go” and “Using Online College Resources” are each offered with specific content for 9th & 10th graders or 11th & 12th graders. We are very pleased to have our own Beth Walsh-Sahutske presenting again with North counselor Milissa Pierce for what should be a very informative evening. Register online at www.familycenterweb.org  We hope you can attend!

October 23, 2018, 7:00 pm Grosse Pointe Academy Vaping: What We Know, What We Don’t, and Teenage Use  Learn what is an e-cigarette, what are the potential dangers and how can we talk to our youth about it. This is a rising trend among middle and high schoolers and having an understanding about this risky behavior can help you plan for the necessary conversations. The program is FREE and features Ascension physician, Sean Cassleman, D.O. Presented in partnership with Ascension St. John Hospital and the Grosse Pointe Academy. Register online at www.familycenterweb.org Or 313.447.1374
 
DIRECTORIES Will Be Distributed on Sunday, Oct. 28th!
 
TO BE INCLUDED in the 2018-2019 student directory, you should have completed the Family Directory Information page as part of your online registration.
TO RECEIVE A DIRECTORY , you need to join the Mothers' Club and you'll have one delivered to your home on Sunday, October 28th. You had an opportunity to join during online registration. If you did not join during registration, simply go to the Mothers’ Club webpage on the South website; find the “You can still join the GPS Mothers’ Club” box and click on “Buy Now”. Any questions on Mothers' Club memberships should be directed to Elizabeth Cleland at (313) 303-9333 or [email protected] or Colleen Jogan at (313) 221-9084 or s [email protected].
 
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE DIRECTORY , please contact Pam or Allyn MacKay at (313) 642-0068 or [email protected].
DEVELOPMENT
Thank you to our generous 2018 Annual Campaign donors who contributed over $9000 to support South's students and community and reinforce our shared commitment to educational excellence. Funds raised through the Annual Campaign, along with membership dues, revenue from the School Store and events, and other donations, will fund scholarships for South seniors , enrichment of South classrooms and organizations, and preservation of South's historic building.

Scholarships . This spring, through The Mothers’ Club scholarship program, over $56,000 in need and merit-based scholarships were awarded to South seniors ($25,880 from Mothers’ Club funded scholarships and $30,210 from community and family funded scholarships). These scholarships invest in South's legacy by supporting our South students as they head off to college.

Enrichment .  To underwrite educational enrichment activities school-wide, The Mothers’ Club granted over $19,000 in enrichment requests during this school year. Funding extra educational elements such as the Tower final edition, PBIS mentoring program, teacher training, visiting vocal clinicians and DSO musicians to work with our choir and band students, equipment for Adaptive Physical Education classes, dissection specimens, and field trips help South achieve and maintain its excellence as a renowned high school.

Preservation .  With continued financial support, South's beautiful historic building endures as a source of pride for the Grosse Pointe community. Restoration and refurbishment of Cleminson Hall's original windows and doors, South's clock mechanism, and the creation of a conference room are a few examples of preservation projects completed with funds raised by the Mothers' Club. 

We truly appreciate all contributions to this year’s Annual Campaign. For more information on our projects and mission, please visit The Mothers’ Club website at www.mothersclubgps.com.
Class of 2021
Class Officers
President: Jack M.
Vice Pres: Spencer R.
Treasurer: Jacklyn W.
Secretary: Kate B.
Senators: Eva M.
Keelin D.
Parent Sponsors
Grant & Sue Gartrell
Anne Jackson
Roger & Isabelle Mason
Angela & John McBride
Tami & Todd Riley
David & Amanda Roraff
Tanya & Rob Rulison
Brian & Stephanie Schantz
Tracy & David Skupien
Elizabeth & Steve Tengler
Alicia & James Klunder
Faculty Advisor
Todd Hecker

Thank you to all of the parent volunteers who made our Fairytale Freshmen Homecoming 2018 a success! Your donations of supplies, food and time were very much appreciated. The kids had a great time building the float, creating the posters and banner, and painting the rock. 
 
A special thank you goes out to Tiffany and Dan Klassen for graciously hosting the float parties at their home. Your hospitality and welcoming environment made this first Homecoming a success. The kids couldn’t have done it without you!
 
Class Council Meetings are Wednesday mornings at 7:15 am in Room 174. 
Tuesday, 10/2
Monthly band and orchestra booster meeting
South Band Room
 
Wednesday & Thursday, 10/24 & 10/25
All state band and orchestra auditions  
Macomb Seneca High School
 
Saturday, 11/3
Pops & Pastries  
7:oo pm, GP South Gym
All band & orchestra students
Band and Orchestra fundraiser
$15 adults / $5 students 
A night of music, food and raffle items. 
Grosse Pointe South Choir Caroling

Starting planning your holiday parties now
The Award winning Grosse Pointe South Choir Students will be caroling in our community on 
Friday, December 7th and Saturday, December 8th
5:30pm – 9:30pm
Minimum donation of $25
Groups of 8-10
Singing 6 or so songs
Book a caroling group for your Holiday Parties – gather your family and friends and kick off the season, Local Nursing Homes, Work Functions – local events.
Email Kim and Dan Tripp at  [email protected]  for more information
High Pointes | Grosse Pointe South Mothers' Club | http://www.mothersclubgps.com/