GSRP preschoolers had a fun field trip, with beautiful weather, at the Chippewa Nature Center last week! They learned about farm animals: what they need to live and what they provide. They also explored some areas inside the visitor center and a Nature Play Area.
Reminder: Donuts with Grown-Ups will be held at South Elementary from 7:15-8:00 a.m.
Our 1st and 2nd grade students took their fall trip to the school woods this week. Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr and a few FFA students led the students through three separate stations. Students will return in the spring to see how the woods changes through the seasons.
Screens are part of childhood now. Figuring out how they fit into family life isn’t always simple.
How much is too much? What boundaries are realistic? What do we do when kids push back? How can we help them build independence and resilience both online and offline?
Join Tracey Galgoci, MA, LPC for Raising Resilient Kids, an honest and judgment-free conversation for parents and caregivers.
We’ll talk about practical ways to:
• Set realistic boundaries around phones, gaming, and screens
• Navigate social media and digital habits
• Handle pushback around technology limits
• Build independence and problem-solving skills
• Make more room for connection, play, sleep, and real-world experiences
There are no perfect answers and no expectation to have it all figured out. Come with your questions and hear ideas that can work in real family life.
📅 Tuesday, Oct. 27
⏰ 6:00-7:00 p.m.
📍 North Elementary
This FREE event is for all South and North families. Food, drinks, giveaways, and childcare will be provided.
Register here: https://forms.gle/tDfcpA2usdChtLq96
How much is too much? What boundaries are realistic? What do we do when kids push back? How can we help them build independence and resilience both online and offline?
Join Tracey Galgoci, MA, LPC for Raising Resilient Kids, an honest and judgment-free conversation for parents and caregivers.
We’ll talk about practical ways to:
• Set realistic boundaries around phones, gaming, and screens
• Navigate social media and digital habits
• Handle pushback around technology limits
• Build independence and problem-solving skills
• Make more room for connection, play, sleep, and real-world experiences
There are no perfect answers and no expectation to have it all figured out. Come with your questions and hear ideas that can work in real family life.
📅 Tuesday, Oct. 27
⏰ 6:00-7:00 p.m.
📍 North Elementary
This FREE event is for all South and North families. Food, drinks, giveaways, and childcare will be provided.
Register here: https://forms.gle/tDfcpA2usdChtLq96
Mrs. Gulick's 2nd graders couldn't stay inside earlier this week on such a beautiful day! For Number Corner this month, they've been learning about Pinnate and Palmate leaves. They've practiced recognizing patterns in leaf type, color and orientation. On this day they went on a leaf hunt! Students found a ton of Palmate leaves and some Pinnate leaves too! 🍁🍂
👨👩👧 Make Time Together 👨👩👧
Spend quality time with your child. Listening, talking about school, and sharing experiences shows them how much you value education and keeps them motivated to attend every day.
Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.
Spend quality time with your child. Listening, talking about school, and sharing experiences shows them how much you value education and keeps them motivated to attend every day.
Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.
2nd Graders had a wonderful morning at Lake Farms! They learned about different varieties of pumpkins, beef cows, explored the sunflower and pumpkin patch as well as enjoyed a donut and cider treat! Thank you to Lake Farms, FFA members and our PTO for sponsoring the trip! 🌻🎃🐄🐮
Our Junior Jacket ticket winners are especially spirited this week in honor of Homecoming! Great job for Being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe this week. We are proud of you!
Our South Elementary Junior Jackets had a special visit from some of our local Gratiot Emergency Services Authority (G.E.S.A.) Firefighters early this week. Firefighters talked with students about fire safety, demonstrated how to use their fire equipment, and gave students the opportunity to look inside their fire trucks. We are thankful for these community helpers that serve and protect our local families.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: Homecoming Hero Spirit Day!
The big day is almost here! It’s time to bring maximum school pride for Homecoming Friday!
What to wear: Show off your ultimate school spirit! Wear your Ithaca shirt or school colors of BLUE & GOLD
The big day is almost here! It’s time to bring maximum school pride for Homecoming Friday!
What to wear: Show off your ultimate school spirit! Wear your Ithaca shirt or school colors of BLUE & GOLD
⏰ Morning Routines = Strong Attendance ⏰
Set out clothes, prepare backpacks, and start the day with a healthy breakfast. Small routines lead to big success!
Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.
Set out clothes, prepare backpacks, and start the day with a healthy breakfast. Small routines lead to big success!
Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.
THURSDAY PREVIEW: Superhero Accessories & Sock Day!
It's time to gear up for Thursday! Let’s see those super accessories and fun socks in action.
What to wear: Superhero socks, wristbands, hats, or capes!
Here are a few ideas to help find your superhero accessories around the house: use supplies to make a lightweight DIY cape, or just pull on a pair of bright/mismatched fun socks!
It's time to gear up for Thursday! Let’s see those super accessories and fun socks in action.
What to wear: Superhero socks, wristbands, hats, or capes!
Here are a few ideas to help find your superhero accessories around the house: use supplies to make a lightweight DIY cape, or just pull on a pair of bright/mismatched fun socks!
Today students dressed as community helpers as part of our Homecoming celebration. This Junior Jacket decided to dress like Mr. Hessbrook, one of our custodians at South. Good choice!! We have the BEST custodians in our building. Thank you, Mr. Larry and Mr. Hessbrook for keeping our school squeaky clean! Go Jackets!! 💙💛🐝
This past week in Music, 1st graders have been practicing their beat and rhythm skills by creating patterns using 1 and 2 syllable fruit names. One partner would create the fruit pattern, and their partner would read the pattern to a steady beat. We had lots of fun creating music in a very simple way!
WEDNESDAY PREVIEW: Everyday Real-Life Heroes!
Not all heroes wear capes—some wear scrubs, uniforms, or high-vis vests! Tomorrow we celebrate the heroes in our community.
What to wear: Dress like an everyday hero—doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, teachers, military members, or postal workers.
Keep it simple! Scrubs, a sports jersey, a high-vis vest, or a homemade paper badge taped to a plain shirt does the trick.
Not all heroes wear capes—some wear scrubs, uniforms, or high-vis vests! Tomorrow we celebrate the heroes in our community.
What to wear: Dress like an everyday hero—doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, teachers, military members, or postal workers.
Keep it simple! Scrubs, a sports jersey, a high-vis vest, or a homemade paper badge taped to a plain shirt does the trick.
Our kindergarteners had some special helpers in STEAM lab this week! Fifth graders came over to help with a living/nonliving things hunt outside and with fire safety helmet models inside!
We are so un-beelievably PROUD of our Junior Jackets! Today we presented 162 students with attendance awards. These students missed no more than 1 day in the month of September. Keep "Striving for Fewer than 5"!!
TUESDAY PREVIEW: Hero Graphic Tee & Comic Brights!
Day 2 is all about showing off your favorite characters and bold power colors!
What to wear: Your favorite superhero t-shirt OR bright comic book colors (red, blue, yellow, green, or purple).
Don't have a superhero shirt? Any top featuring an empowering word like "Kind," "Strong," or "Brave" totally counts as a hero shirt!
Day 2 is all about showing off your favorite characters and bold power colors!
What to wear: Your favorite superhero t-shirt OR bright comic book colors (red, blue, yellow, green, or purple).
Don't have a superhero shirt? Any top featuring an empowering word like "Kind," "Strong," or "Brave" totally counts as a hero shirt!
South Elementary students had a visit from the Farm Lab on Thursday and Friday last week. Students had the opportunity to learn about Michigan agriculture, parts of a plant, and goods and resources from local farms. Thank you to our Ithaca PTO for funding this experience for our students!
MONDAY PREVIEW: Superhero Color Squad!
Tomorrow kicks off Homecoming Spirit Week! Let’s fill the hallways with color.
What to wear: Dress in your assigned grade-level color!
PreK/K/DK: RED
1st Grade: GREEN
2nd Grade: ORANGE
Any basic t-shirt, sweatshirt, or socks in your grade’s color works perfectly. Zero fuss required!
Tomorrow kicks off Homecoming Spirit Week! Let’s fill the hallways with color.
What to wear: Dress in your assigned grade-level color!
PreK/K/DK: RED
1st Grade: GREEN
2nd Grade: ORANGE
Any basic t-shirt, sweatshirt, or socks in your grade’s color works perfectly. Zero fuss required!
