Greenville Public Schools

Greenville Public Schools is asking voters to consider a 10-year, 1.5-mill sinking fund millage proposal on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. If approved by voters, this proposal would enhance our schools' safety, comfort, and functionality for the benefit of the thousands of students, staff, and community members who use them daily by allowing GPS to address school security improvements, infrastructure replacement & updates, and technology & transportation replacements. This proposal will NOT increase your millage rate but rather hold it steady at 4.7 mills. For more information, please visit https://www.gpsjackets.org/page/sinking-fund-august-2024

Introducing our 2024 Walnut Hills Elementary Support Staff of the Year, Nik Iverson! Nik loves doing anything outside and hanging with his family. He likes hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and playing and watching sports. He enjoys activities like skiing, wakeboarding, water tubing, and has even been skydiving! The highlight of his career so far is getting to know the staff and building relationships with the students at Walnut Hills. We asked Nik if he'd rather fight one horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses. He answered: "100 duck-sized horses. Because at least they would be cuter than a horse-sized duck and I might be able to take a couple down before the rest took me out!"

Introducing our 2024 Walnut Hills Elementary Teacher of the Year, Alicia Zank! Alicia is a teacher through and through! She has taught for 14 years and has called Walnut Hills home for all of those years. 5th grade is her absolute favorite! When she's not at school, she stays busy with her husband and daughter going on adventures up north, snowmobiling, golfing, golfing, boating, and cruising. She is always reading a book or listening to a podcast! The highlight of her career so far has been having a part in the educational growth of students. Celebrating their successes at 5th grade graduation and then watching those students return as high school graduates is so rewarding! She's also felt privileged to work with many amazing individuals over the years. We asked Alicia which actress would play her in the movie of her life. She answered: "I don't have a specific actress in mind to play me in the movie of my life, but I would want Lin-Manuel Miranda to be the one to write the script and soundtrack. I'm a huge Hamilton fan and would be honored to have him lend his lyrical genius to describe the highs and lows of my life."

Introducing our 2024 Greenville Middle School Support Staff of the Year, Krista Wood! Krista was born and raised in Greenville. She and her husband Ben have two children who both attend GHS. They enjoy spending time together as a family, and go to the UP to camp on Keweenaw Bay every summer. Krista started at GPS working with preschoolers and elementary students, so watching those kids grow into their teens and turn into big kids has been the highlight of her career! We asked Krista what she would do if she found a penguin walking around the school building. She answered: "I've always said that someday, I would write a book with all the funny, crazy, off the wall conversations, requests, or events that have taken place over the years as a school secretary. I would certainly add this scenario into my book, as nothing surprises me at the Middle School." 🐧

Introducing our 2024 Greenville Middle School Teacher of the Year, Kristin Mier! Kristin has been married to her husband Casey for 15 years and has two children, Eleanor and Sawyer. Kristin is in her fourteenth year of teaching, and taught at Baldwin Heights, Lincoln Heights, and Walnut Hills before she landed at GMS teaching 6th grade language arts. She co-advises the student council and NJHS, facilitates the EmpowHer program for 6th grade girls, and created the Jacket Market event for budding entrepreneurs. Kristin has had many highlights in her career at GPS. Seeing students she taught as kindergarteners and again as sixth graders is a unique privilege in her eyes. She was honored to be the first western teacher in the Chinese Immersion program at Walnut Hills. Kristin is immensely grateful for all of the colleagues-turned-friends she's made over the years, as they understand exactly what it's like to juggle the struggles, victories, and life moments that happen as a teacher. We would never force Kristin to sing karaoke, but if we did, this would be her reply: "If I was singing karaoke, it would definitely be forced - as singing is not a talent I possess. However, I'm fairly confident I'd be "all in" for a Shania Twain song, likely "That Don't Impress Me Much," or a 90s country song of some sort. I would select one of these because I grew up on them, and know them by heart. And who doesn't love Shania?"

Introducing our 2024 Greenville High School Support Staff of the Year, Sara Gunderson! Sara is in her 10th year at GPS and loves where she works. She loves kids and "moms" the heck out of them as they grow and mature into young adults! When she's not at GHS, you can find her selling shoes at a sensational place or hanging out with her family: Jeremy, Layna, and Mackenna. You might also catch her being a passenger princess on the back of the Harley! The highlight of her time at GPS has been getting to work with amazing educators, administrators, secretaries, and support staff. We asked Sara if she could turn each of her five fingers into a drinking fountain, which drinks she would choose. She answered: coffee, Mountain Dew, iced tea, peanut butter malt, and water! Yum!

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Introducing our 2024 Greenville High School Teacher of the Year, Mike Radcliffe! Mr. Radcliffe has 31 years of teaching social studies at the high school level, 23 of which have been in Greenville. He has been married to his wife Mary for 33 years. They have three children and two grandchildren! Mr. Radcliffe loves to mountain bike, hike, and entertain us all with his bad dad jokes and puns. The highlight of his time with GPS has been all the great years of building relationships with students and watching them have their own families and careers - and having THEIR children as students! He is also thankful for the great colleagues who have made teaching fun and memorable. When asked how long he would survive in a zombie apocalypse, he stated: "I think I would fare well, as I am a very dead-icated teacher with dead-pan humor that could really enliven up the apocalypse. Afterall, the opportunity to work with zombies is a no-brainer. I would open up a school in order to reform the state of deaducation. Zombies are regularly the victims of misunderstanding--Often, they are simply looking for some body to hang out with. Many of them have dead-end lives. Sure, their killer instincts could use some redirection, but in many cases the living dead are simply needing some help getting their lives back together. I could undertake that task, perhaps even open up a funeral home with my wife, called His and Hearse. After all, we are mourning people. Our motto could be, "We will be the last to let you down." In a worst case scenario, I suppose I could open up a cafe called Bone Appetite. . . or, I could open up a music hall to attract the dead beats. Then again, I might just take shelter in the living room."

A regular Board of Education Meeting will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 7:00pm at the Central Services Facility (1414 Chase Street, Greenville). For more information, please visit https://www.gpsjackets.org/page/board-of-education

If you forgot to pick up your student's medications before the last day of school, they are available for pick up today (Thursday, June 6) from 11:00am-2:00pm & 3:00-5:00pm at the GHS Auditorium/Gym Lobby (regardless of what school your student attends). Any prescription or nonprescription medications not picked up will be discarded/destroyed; medications cannot be stored at the schools for the following year.

If you forgot to pick up your student's medications, they will be available for pick up on Thursday, June 6, from 11:00am-2:00pm & 3:00-5:00pm at the GHS Auditorium/Gym Lobby (regardless of what school your student attends). Any prescription or nonprescription medications not picked up will be discarded/destroyed; medications cannot be stored at the schools for the following year.

You made it! Have a great summer ☀

Today (Friday, May 31) is a HALF DAY & the LAST DAY for ALL GPS students! GMS releases at 10:30am, GHS releases at 10:35am & Elementary releases at 11:50am.

HALF DAY for GMS & GHS students today (Thursday, May 30)! GMS releases at 10:30am & GHS releases at 10:35am. Good luck on your exams! Tomorrow (Friday, May 31) is a HALF DAY & the LAST DAY for all GPS students!

Nominations for the Elmer Russell School Bell Award will be accepted until Friday (May 31)! Please take a moment to recognize an exceptional Greenville Public Schools staff member or community member/organization who has demonstrated outstanding dedication by submitting a nomination or two! https://forms.gle/nC5VJiMFVwJDFJ6i7

🌟 Congratulations to our amazing 2023-2024 Mid-Year and End-of-Year Retirees! Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Wishing you all the best in your next adventures! 🎉

Monday, May 27 - NO SCHOOL due to the holiday.

GPS proudly announces our 2024 Building Winners for the Teacher and Support Staff of the Year! One teacher and support staff member from this group will be chosen as our District Teacher of the Year and District Support Staff of the Year, which will be revealed during our staff welcome back in August for the start of the 2024-25 school year. Over the next few weeks, we will individually highlight each one of these amazing GPS staff members for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations & thank you for all you do!

Hats off to you, grads 🎓 📷: Cory Smith | Daily News

Reminders for Next Week - No School on Monday, May 27, due to the holiday! May 30 is a HALF DAY for GMS & GHS Students, and May 31 is a HALF DAY & LAST DAY for all GPS Students!