WEEKLY UPDATE – MIDDLE SCHOOL 10.13-17.2025

Dear Middle School Families,

This week, our entire school community gathered for a presentation from OK2SAY, a statewide program dedicated to keeping students safe. During the presentation, students learned the importance of speaking up and reporting concerns to trusted adults or through the OK2SAY platform. It was a valuable reminder that everyone plays a part in creating a safe and supportive school environment.

OK2SAY hotline: 855–565-2729

Text: 652729

Important Upcoming Dates:

**Complete Handbook Consent Form (see below for link)**

October 10: Boys’ Basketball Final Registration (see below for info and link)

October 17: Half Day of School – Dismissal is at 11:30

October 28: Picture Retakes 

October 30: Haunted Forest-Volunteers Needed (see below for sign-up, and attached 25-26 Volunteer Policies, Responsibilities, and Guidelines Form)

Picture Retakes:

If you would like to have your child’s picture retaken, please return the picture prints that went home today. Please feel free to reach out to Timeless Images with any questions: 231-929-1010

Dressing for the Weather: 

As we enter chilly weather, please make sure your child comes prepared with weather-appropriate gear for all of their outdoor experiences. This includes warm jackets, mittens or gloves, hats, and warm footwear. Thank you for helping us ensure students stay comfortable and ready to learn outdoors!

Handbook Consent Form-Please Complete!

Please take a moment to complete and return the Handbook Form by September 29. Your acknowledgment is important and ensures we’re all on the same page for the school year.

Boys’ Basketball Registration:

Boys Basketball (6th-8th) Navigators
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 10, 2025
Registration: FinalForms
Cost: $140.00
Season: October 28 – December 18, 2024
Practice: Practices will start on October 28.  Practices will be after school at The Children’s House. These will be three times a week until games start and then two times a week.
Games: Most games will be on Mondays and Wednesdays with start times ranging from 4:30pm-7:30pm.
MHSAA requirements: all athletes must have their  24-25’ sports physical form on file from an examination on or after April 15 of the previous school year.
COACHES NEEDED! Fill out this form if you are willing to coach or assist.

Haunted Forest-Volunteers Needed:

We’re excited for our upcoming Haunted Forest on Thursday, October 30 from 4:00–6:30PM, and we need your help to make it a fun and safe event for everyone!

If you’re able to volunteer, click on the Haunted Forest Sign Up.

All volunteers must also complete the volunteer form attached.

Thank you for supporting our students—we couldn’t do it without you!

Willy Wonka Jr. Update!

We have our cast!  Below is the list of all of our Cast members for our March show.  Congrats to all 33 (!!!) of them and thank you for the spirited auditions over the past weeks.  Actor Books (scripts) have been handed out and must be taken good care of.  Please study these and make sure to look for “Willy Wonka Jr. Soundtrack” on youtube.com to hear the music.  We will do our first read through very soon!  Crew members will start to organize in the coming weeks, too, after I do a walk through of the auditorium. – Claire

Dismissal Transportation Reminder:

If your child will regularly take the bus, walk, ride a bike, or use any form of transportation other than the car line, please let us know so we can keep their dismissal plan on file.

We understand that plans can sometimes change throughout the day. However, if at all possible, please make transportation arrangements with your child before school and try to keep them consistent.

If your child’s dismissal plan will be different from their usual routine on a given day, please notify us as early as possible that day: Office@greenspireschool.org.

Please be aware that there is no staff supervision on campus after 4:00 PM. For the safety of all students, please make sure they are picked up or have left campus by that time.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us ensure a safe and smooth dismissal for all students!

Attendance Reminder:

If your child will be absent or tardy, please call 231-421-5905 and leave a message on the attendance line. You are also welcome to email us at Office@greenspireschool.org. If your child is missing school due to an appointment, please provide a doctor’s note so the absence can be medically excused.

Project Updates and Staff Email Addresses:

Please feel free to reach out to staff if you have any questions!

Click on Math Website Link for all math updates 🙂

We wrapped up the first part of this project with a paragraph writing assignment that is due 10/10.  Next week, we will start research on individuals who made a positive impact directly on the Northern Michigan area.  If you have any recommendations of individuals who have done great things in our area, please send them to Claire!  Students should continue working on reading outside of school daily and still have their challenge that goes until 10/31!

Please consider any of the books on our Library’s Wishlist.  There is also a world map that would be very valuable and appreciated.

Find assignment due dates, project updates, and vocabulary practice on our Social Studies Class Website. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

This week, we started a project titled “Finding Myself in the Commons” where students are finding and foraging for items that represent themselves. We have started with our feet in the soil of our favourite place in the Commons, and also found stones the colour of our irises! We have discussed two edible species: Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), along with the rules of each species. We very much enjoy the cooler temperatures and slow softening of the afternoon light. We introduced games like FADE!, tiniest leaf, and Firekeeper. Bring on Winter Solstice!

Start of Phase 2 of our Woodland Athlete unit.We scouted our possible trails on which to build our circuit training loops.  Next week, we will select our target audience the Trail we will use and the placement of exercises.  We will use our new knowldge of Muscles, Exercises, and FITT Principles to build our personal Training circuit though the woods. 

This past week we started our “making sense” of the bug population data that was collected and what it means for the health of the Commons ecosystems. Sense making is a science learning strategy where students employ critical thinking skills to figure out and explain observed phenomena. Looking ahead to project week 6, we’ll continue to gather data about biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components of the ecosystems – focusing on water quality and tree/shrub communities. Students will eventually synthesize their findings into recommendations for future trail modifications. Students should be prepared to spend significant amounts of time outside. 

Students are currently engaging in the following NGSS Science and Engineering Practices: gathering observational data, asking questions and identifying problems, using models, planning & carrying out investigations, analyzing & interpreting data, and constructing explanations. 

Registrar/Office Manager: Emma.moulton@greenspireschool.org 

Assistant Principal: Becky.morse@greenspireschool.org 

Principal: Emily.feaster@greenspireschool.org 

Superintendent: Michael.schramm@greenspireschool.org