Mr. Woods' Corner:

The second semester is off to a great start! We have welcomed seven new students, and they have shared how much they are enjoying their experience and meeting new friends. It’s exciting to see our GLBEC community continue to grow!

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions African Americans have made to our country. Throughout the month, students will have opportunities to learn about these achievements and their impact on history.

In addition to serving as the GLBEC Program Director, I am also the Program Director for the Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center (SCJDC). My office hours for GLBEC are 10 AM – 4 PM. I can be contacted by email or phone at 989-928-8535. If an in-person meeting is needed, please schedule an appointment.

Michigan's winter Count Day is Wednesday, February 12. Attendance is essential!

GLBEC students must be present on this day.
Edgenuity students must log in and complete at least one assignment per class.
College students should follow their regular schedule.

Let’s make this semester great!

Mr. Woods, Program Director

Math with Mr. Christensen

GLBEC students in the program have been a great addition to the energy of the classroom. Students participated in critical thinking activities with a tough one right out of the gate. Ask them about Hats! They also studied what makes a function and how to find its inverse (with an assist from Dr. Suess!)

Classes are working on probability, rational ways to divide up lottery winnings, moving graphs around, exponents and logarithms. They will continue to do a lot of writing to explain how they think and to justify their results. As stated on the SVSU Math department website “Writing skillfully is a characteristic of educated people. Writing in mathematics is an important skill, which students will continue to develop in this course and future math courses. Writing is emphasized by the Department of Mathematical Sciences at SVSU and in several of its courses.”

Mr. Christensen, Math Teacher

English Literature and Writing with Ms. Kojak

This past month, our students have immersed themselves in the power of personal expression through poetry, narrative writing, and analytical thinking. We began by studying poetry and personal narratives, examining how author's craft meaning through structure, language, and voice. Inspired by Elizabeth Acevedo’s visual poem Inheritance, students created their own visual poems, blending imagery and text to explore themes of identity, heritage, and self-expression. Shifting from poetry to practical writing, we explored the expectations of scholarship essays. Students analyzed common scholarship prompts, identifying what makes a compelling response, and applied these insights by drafting their own essays—an essential skill as they prepare for their futures. Beyond writing, we also examined the world through an author’s lens, learning how perspective shapes storytelling and meaning. Through class discussions and reflective activities, students honed their ability to think critically about the messages embedded in the media, literature, and daily experiences around them. This month has been one of creativity, self-discovery, and preparation for the future, and we look forward to continuing to build on these skills in the months ahead!

Ms. Kojak, English Literature and Writing Teacher

Career Navigation with Mrs. Gloss

Important reminders from the office of our Career Navigator:

FAFSA

Students in their 13th/+1 year should be completing the FAFSA as soon as possible so that colleges can create financial aid packages. To complete the FAFSA you need to create a Student Aid account at studentaid.gov.

College Applications

All 13th/+1 students should have completed their college applications at this time. If you have not applied to a college yet, please reach out to Mrs. Gloss to make a meeting.

Exit Survey

Completers, be on the lookout for an Exit Survey and request for a baby photo and senior/current picture for our End of the Year Celebration.

Inclement Weather Days

Inclement weather closures will be announced on the following local news channels & websites:

WNEM TV5ABC
Channel 12
NBC Channel 25
GLBEC Facebook
GLBEC Website

Additionally, parents and students will receive email notification via Skyward. Please stay tuned to these sources for the latest updates. Stay safe!

Mr. Rodney Woods, Program Director

The YMCA Summer 2025 Employment

The YMCA is hiring summer camp counselors! If you enjoy working with kids, leading arts & crafts, games, and outdoor activities in the sun, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Check out the attached flyer for more details and apply today!

Science with Mr. Conklin

GLBEC Science Methods has picked up right where we left off in December, seamlessly transitioning into the new semester with Cohort 14. Students were actively engaged in a dynamic three-week review of Semester 1, reinforcing their foundational knowledge before moving forward. To put their understanding to the test, they are currently designing and executing their own experiments to demonstrate the validity of the Law of Conservation of Mass.

As they refresh their skills in dimensional analysis, students are applying these principles to experiment construction. Given a variety of separation techniques, they are determining the best methods for isolating products within a reaction. What they didn’t anticipate, however, is the unpredictable nature of real-world chemistry. As their theoretical calculations meet the complexities of actual experimentation, the true learning experience is unfolding. Equipped with insights from their initial trials, students are refining their methods and preparing for a second round of testing, further solidifying their understanding of conservation laws.

Looking ahead, we will soon embark on our exploration of the intricacies of chemical bonding and intermolecular forces. Students can prepare for a refreshing shift from the rigorous calculations of stoichiometry, offering hands-on lab experiences that will reinforce many of the core concepts from Semester 1. Students can anticipate plenty of “aha” moments as they connect theory to practice in new and exciting ways. I’m eager to guide Cohort 14 through this next stage of their scientific journey.

Mr. Conklin, Science Teacher

Important Dates To Remember

February 10th: GLBEC Informational Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm
February 14th: Happy Valentine's Day
February 17th: GLBEC No School
February 19th: GLBEC Information Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm
February 24th: GLBEC Information Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm
Spring Break: March 3rd Through March 7th. School will resume March 10th

GLBEC Contact Information

Rodney Woods, Program Director- (989) 686-9146, rwoods1@sisd.cc

Sharmee Gloss, Career Navigator- sgloss@sisd.cc

Therese Kojak, English Literature and Writing- tkojak@sisd.cc

Joel Christensen, Math- jchriste@sisd.cc

Roscoe Conklin, Science- conklinr@sisd.cc

GLBEC GAZETTE