Welcome to Gaylord Community Schools
GAYLORD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL AND
GAYLORD COMMUNITY PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
"THE BIG BAD MUSICAL"
PERFORMED BY OUR OWN TALENTED 4TH-6TH GRADERS
MAY 17 & 18, 2013
7:00 PM AT THE GORNICK AUDITORIUM
ADULTS $5.00
SENIORS AND STUDENTS $3.00
THE UNIVERSITY CENTER OF GAYLORD
OFFERING SUMMER 2013 KIDS PROGRAMS
Available summer programs
To register, visit www.ucgaylord.org or call 989-705-3700 for more information.
SPORTS PHYSICALS
MAY 29TH & AUGUST 1ST
5:30 PM
OMH PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL BUILDING
$15.00
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT GCS ATHLETIC PROGRAM
PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST BE PRESENT
GHS JUNIOR ACHIEVES TOP ACT SCORE
Gaylord High School is pleased to report that Claire Mammoser, a junior, earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test. Nationally, while the actual number of students earning a composite score of 36 varies from year to year, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2012, only 781 of more than 1.66 million students earned a composite score of 36.
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of l-36, and a student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take ACT's optional Writing Test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.
Claire has attended GCS Schools since kindergarten, and stated that she has had many outstanding faculty members during those years. She is extremely grateful for their dedication and the preparation they provided for this accomplishment.
ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges, and exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE DAY
Gaylord High School students competed in Foreign Language Day at Central Michigan University on April 26th. This is the ninth year that GHS students attended this event. Approximately 60 Gaylord students participated with 11 entries in 6 different categories at the competition. Entries were judged by CMU World Language Department faculty members. Placing in more categories than ever, Gaylord received 6 awards:
1st place: Spanish III-V song
2nd place: Spanish dance
2nd place: Spanish display
3rd place: Spanish I-II poetry/interpretive reading
3rd place: Poster
3rd place: Spanish I-II song
OTSEGO LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS VISIT PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS
On April 17, 2013 Otsego law enforcement leaders read to pre-kindergarten students in the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), the state funded preschool program. The law enforcement leaders are supporting the Fight Crime: Invest in Kids initiative. The new report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids shows that investing in early childhood education can cut crime and dramatically lower prison and other crime-related costs. The leaders emphasize that the early childhood programs must be high-quality to get the best return on the investment. More information on Fight Crime: Invest in Kids can be found on the resource page.
GHS CULINARY II CLASS WINS
"FRIENDLIEST STAFF" FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW
AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S "TASTE OF GAYLORD"
HELD AT TREETOPS RESORT MARCH 13, 2013
GAYLORD HIGH SCHOOL CO-ED STUNT TEAM
CONTINUES THEIR ANTI-BULLYING MESSAGE
After the stunt team's performance at a school pep assembly,
the stunt team received a request to join performers from around the world
to make an anti-bullying music video. Click here to view the video.
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES ACHIEVING AT HIGH LEVELS
The girls' basketball team won Gaylord High School’s first ever Class A Basketball District Championship on March 1st by defeating Traverse City West 31-26 in overtime. Previous district championships had been won in Class B.
The Wrestling team continued their tradition of excellence by again winning the Big North Conference Championship and District Championship. Individually, three students qualified for the MHSAA State Finals, where one finished 8th to earn him All-state honors and was also honored as an Academic All-State Wrestler. Gaylord High School team earned Team Academic All-State with a cumulative 3.485 GPA.
A GHS junior represented the Bowling team at the MHSAA Individual Bowling Championships and finished in 24th place. She qualified for states by placing 2nd in her Regional the week before.
BAND TEACHER TO PERFORM IN LUXEMBOURG
Gaylord Community Schools is pleased to announce that Brian Carter, Director of Bands at Gaylord Middle School, has been selected to participate in the Vianden International Music Festival in Luxembourg this coming August 11-25. Set in the lovely 700 year old city of Vianden, in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the program offers an intensive two week performing opportunity with a distinguished and world renowned music faculty. After applying and auditioning Mr. Carter was accepted. Congratulations Mr. Carter on your selection.
GHS BAND STUDENTS EARN TOP RATINGS
On Friday, March 1st, the GHS Symphony Band traveled to Elk Rapids High School and performed at the MSBOA, District 2 Band and Orchestra Festival. The band performed three prepared musical selections and one sight-reading selection. The prepared pieces included “The Black Horse Troop” march by John Philip Sousa, “Pageant” by Vincent Persichetti, and “By Loch and Mountain” by Robert W. Smith. They earned First Division Ratings from all four adjudicators and have qualified to perform at the State Band Festival on Friday, April 26 at Gaylord High School. Special mention was given to 4 students for their outstanding individual solos. The GHS Symphony Band has earned First Division Ratings at District and State Band Festival for four out of the past five years. “I am extremely proud of our band students and their outstanding performance at District Band Festival”, says Pat Jarve, director of bands at Gaylord High School. “We are very excited to host State Band Festival and hope everyone in the community will come and cheer on the Symphony Band’s performance”.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN EXCELLENT RATINGS AT SOLO AND ENSEMBLE
Gaylord High School students performed in 8 events at the Solo and Ensemble Festival at Traverse City West on January 12th. This was the largest number of Gaylord students attending festival thus far. There were performances by the Chamber Singers, as well as several solos and duets. The level at which the students perform and are rated continues to improve, earning them ratings of excellent and good. Each student and group with an excellent rating is eligible to perform at State Solo and Ensemble Festival to be held at Big Rapids High School on April 12th and 13th.
GAYLORD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS RANK 13TH IN THE STATE
ACCORDING TO BRIDGE MAGAZINE
The Center for Michigan set out to find which Michigan public schools do the best job in adding value – helping students succeed beyond expectations. This organization applied its “Value-Added Matrix” to 560 traditional public and charter schools across the state. The analysis ranked schools by how much value they add to students’ expected achievement. Gaylord Community Schools ranked 13th out of 560 school districts in Michigan. For more information on the analysis and a complete listing of the schools go to Bridge Magazine. The congratulatory video can be viewed on Gaylord Schools YouTube Channel.
GIS & GMS IDENTIFIED AS REWARD SCHOOLS
Gaylord Intermediate School and Gaylord Middle School were identified as Reward Schools when the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) released its Top-to-Bottom rankings during the summer. We received the Reward School distinction for being in the top five percent of schools in the state in terms of making the greatest academic progress over the past four years and making the “beating the odds” list.
The 286 Reward Schools are located in 178 different school districts across the state. Reward School is one of three new school designations that came as the result of Michigan receiving flexibility to the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act from the U.S. Department of Education.
We have reached this point because of the focused, sustained efforts of dedicated staff, students, and families throughout our school and district. As we shift to the Common Core over the next few years, we are confident in the abilities of our staff to lead us to continued success by demonstrating a commitment to quality teaching in a caring environment. Reward School information can be found at www.mi.gov/rewardschools.
GAYLORD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 2013 REFUNDING BONDS
The Board of Education of Gaylord Community Schools is proud to announce the successful sale of its 2013 Refunding Bonds in the amount of $6,600,000. The Bonds are being issued for the purpose of refunding all or a portion of the School District’s outstanding 2003 Refunding Bonds and to pay the costs of issuing the Bonds. The 2013 Refunding Bonds reduce the School District interest expense approximately $1,059,971 for the taxpayers and will occur through lower debt payments over the next 9 years.
In preparing to sell the 2013 Refunding Bonds, the School District, working with their financial advisor, Stauder Barch & Associates, Inc., requested that Moody’s Investors Service ("Moody’s") evaluate the School District's credit quality. Moody's affirmed the School District’s outstanding underlying rating of "Aa3". The rating agency cited the School District's active management engaged in ongoing expenditure reductions and a satisfactory General Fund liquidity in their rational for maintaining the rating of the School District at this level.
School Board President, Jeff Wieber, “We are happy to have the opportunity to refund the 2003 bonds. We are proud of the District’s excellent credit rating and the fact that we will be able to reduce the interest expense and levy less tax in the coming years.”
The School District's financing was conducted by the Michigan investment banking office of the brokerage firm, Stifel Nicolaus, the financial advising firm, Stauder Barch & Associates, Inc. and the law firm serving as bond counsel, Thrun Law Firm PLC. The School District's 2013 Refunding Bonds were sold at a true interest rate of 1.52% with a final maturity of 2021 (a repayment term of approximately 9 years).
Brenda Voutyras, Managing Director with Stifel Nicolaus states, "Gaylord Community Schools Bonds were well received by the bond market. We were able to take advantage of historic low interest rates in the current market that exceeded the goals of the District and produced a very nice level of savings for its taxpayers."
Keeping Kids Healthy
With colds, flu, and other viruses going around, the Health Department would like to remind parents of some of the ways they can promote their children's health and help protect them from getting sick. Offer healthy foods like milk, cereal, fruits and vegetables every day. Don't smoke when children are present--at home or in the car. Set a regular bedtime routine and stick to it. Make sure everyone in the family thoroughly washes their hands. Keep their immunizations up-to-date, including seasonal flu vaccine. It's not too late in the season for a flu shot; call the Health Department at 800-432-4121 to schedule an appointment. Finally, when kids are sick, keep them at home so they don't spread their illness to other children.
ENROLL MICHIGAN
The majority of uninsured children in our state and in our district
are eligible for low-cost ($10 per month) or free health insurance.
It is very important for children to have health insurance.
Click on the following link for information on how to get this low-cost or free health insurance: http://www.mha.org/mha_app/enrollmichigan/docs/em_poster.pdf
HONEYWELL INSTANT ALERT
Gaylord Community Schools uses Honeywell Instant Alert to notify parents of school closings, delays, and special activities. Please be sure to inform your child's school of any changes in your contact information. The school will automatically update the information so you won't miss any instant alert calls.
DISTRICT VISION: "All Gaylord Community School students are empowered to excel by being adaptive and innovative, graduating with the academic knowledge and social skills needed for an ever changing global community."
DISTRICT MISSION: "Our mission is to provide a quality education that inspires students to achieve their potential and become productive citizens."
DISTRICT PROFILE:
Gaylord Community Schools is a K - 12 public school district located in northern lower Michigan. Our district encompasses approximately 265 square miles, including portions of Otsego, Antrim, and Crawford counties. We are a quality learning community and provide our students with a rigorous and relevant academic program enhanced by an array of co-curricular and athletic opportunities. GCS welcomes you to become part of this outstanding learning community.
* Teaching, Learning & Achievement * Communication * Collaboration * Innovation *
* Accountability * Safety * Civility * Trust *
- High Educational Standards
- Student Transportation
- Athletics
- Student Computer Labs in all buildings
- Band, Music, Art and Physical Education
- Extra-curricular programs
- After School Childcare Programs
- Food Services
- Preschool and Daycare Programs