We were thrilled to welcome everyone back this week and see our halls buzzing with energy and excitement! This week’s newsletter is packed with important updates and helpful information. Please take some time to review everything, and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We’re looking forward to a great new year of learning and growth together!
Important Upcoming Dates
January 23: Chili Cookoff and Project Showcase Night 5:30-7:00
January 24: Half Day, Students Released at 11:30January 24: End of Semester 1January 27: Records Day- No SchoolJanuary 31: High School Prep Day for 8th Grade Only- See BelowFebruary 7: Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year Begins- Please spread the word to prospective Greenspire Families.
Greenspire Chili Cookoff and Project Showcase Night
We’re thrilled to invite you to Greenspire’s Chili Cookoff! Bring your best chili recipe to compete for the top prize—or simply come to enjoy delicious food and great company. Prizes will also be awarded to runner-ups!
This event is open to the public and is the perfect opportunity to showcase what makes Greenspire special. Explore current student projects, connect with our community, and experience our unique approach to learning.
With enrollment season approaching, this is a fantastic time to bring friends and family to discover Greenspire. If you’d like to bring chili, please sign up here: Chili Sign Up.We can’t wait to see you there! 
8th Grade High School Prep Day
Free Yoga for Teens at The Mercado
We are excited to announce that Yoga for Health in building 50 is offering FREE Yoga for Teens on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30. Please visit their site to learn more.
Art Lab in Leland
The Old Art Building in Leland is offering a middle school art lab from January 24 through May 18. Here is a link with more information.
Culture and Counseling:Relationships are something we sincerely value at Greenspire. They are the basis for students to have a positive experience at school and to help maximize learning and social development. One way we promote relationships with one another is by doing “circles.” Rooted in Indigenous cultural tradition, circles have been used for a variety of purposes, from building community to addressing conflict. Ask your child/children if they recall doing any circles at school, in Advisory, or in class. 
If they can’t seem to remember, nudge them with “Do you ever stand or sit in a circle with other students and answer a prompt or share something about yourself?” Over time, we hope circles will become commonplace at Greenspire Middle School and a natural way for community members to come together throughout the school day. Circles can even take place at home.
Project Updates
For more information about a specific class, please click on the class name to email the teacher directly. To access PowerSchool, please click here: Powerschool Link
Math: Please visit the Math Website to learn more. All assignments for missing or late assignments for Q2 are due by Friday, January 17 at 3:45.
Social Studies: Please visit the Social Studies Website for any updates. The last day to turn in late or missing assignments is due by January 24.
English: English is taking on the task of writing persuasive essays. This will be a step-by-step guided process and will focus on fully answering the project’s Driving Question: Should we escape to space? The last day to turn in late assignments from Q2 is Jan 24.
We also officially kicked off our next Greenspire Reading Program Quarter Quell Challenge this week! All students and staff are asked to read a book OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL that is at least 50 pages (2-hour audiobook) and report that to Claire. If everyone reads one book, that opens up the prize options. The more books that are reported to Claire, the better the prizes! See the attachment for full details. Please encourage everyone to continue to attempt reading for at least 30 minutes outside of school each day.
Art Class:This week in art, we explored the concept of positive and negative space through zentangle designs. The students are doing an amazing job creating intricate and beautiful projects that really showcase their creativity and understanding of the techniques. We can’t wait to display these works soon! The semester is ending shortly and the last day to turn in art projects will be the 24th of January!
PE Class: In PE, we’ve been taking advantage of the chilly weather by going on lots of hikes! The students are enjoying the fresh air and staying active. As the temperatures drop, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately with extra layers to stay warm and comfortable during our outdoor activities.
Science: Students kicked off 2025 with building and launching compressed air rockets. Next week we’ll identify how Newton’s Laws of Motion apply to their rockets. Students will then be scaling objects in our solar system, as well as modeling moon phases and the seasons. Teams of students are creating Escape Rooms for their final product using the themes from the space and math concepts they have been studying. Work will be accepted until January 22.
Sustainable Agriculture: We are wrapping up our exciting “Growing Plants in Space” unit! Students will conduct experiments to test how artificial lights impact plant growth, simulating farming in space. Additionally, we’ll be building some of the innovative farms we’ve studied this quarter, including hydroponic, aquaponic, aeroponic, and vertical farms.
To ensure fair and consistent grading following this fall’s challenges, all grades prior to December will be excused. This fresh start allows students to focus on meeting clear expectations moving forward. The only items that will count toward final grades are work submitted after December. Please note that the last day to submit work for the semester is January 24th. Thank you for your support!
Outdoor Ed: This week has been filled with tracks through the Commons: rabbit, squirrel, coyote, and turkey greet us most days as the first travelers of the trails. We have discussed the “Scene Survey” portion of first aid and are continuing to discuss cold weather safety. We look forward to forecasts of slightly warmer temperatures and precipitation as well as any sun; the stratus clouds create a lot of grey skies. We are waiting patiently for sap to start running and are enjoying the winter wonderland of the Commons.
It is time to order your 2024-2025 Greenspire Middle School Yearbook! For the second year in a row, students are creating the yearbook and, although the details are top secret, we can tell you it will be amazing! There are a few different ways to order if you haven’t already or if you want to order an extra copy. Yearbooks are selling for $24 until April 25, 2025. Help secure a lasting memory for your student and purchase a yearbook today! Please email Alli with any questions (alli.boyer@greenspireschool.org).
Order Online:
Yearbook orders can be placed online by clicking on this link and entering your student’s picture ID number that they received with their picture packet on picture day. If you do not remember this number, please email Alli. Online orders must be purchased via credit card.
Order via Cash or Check/Order Envelope:
If you have not yet ordered a yearbook, your student will be receiving a new envelope next week with their personalized order ID number on it. These envelopes are due by March 7th. After this date, you will no longer be able to order using this method.
Order via Phone:
If you have any questions or prefer to order over the phone, please contact Timeless Image. They will be happy to take your yearbook order over the phone. Call 231.929.1010 Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Parents of 8th grade students ONLY!!!
We are offering the opportunity for you to create a special, personalized ad in the yearbook for your 8th grader again this year! Please look for an email from Alli next week with more details.