Mr. Woods' Corner

As we wrapped up the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, we celebrated the hard work, growth, and success of our students. Cohort 14 has shown remarkable progress, becoming more confident and engaged as the semester unfolded. Our Wednesday seminars featured guest speakers from a variety of local organizations, exposing students to diverse career paths and opportunities in the Great Lakes Bay region.

We are equally excited to begin the second semester and would like to extend a warm welcome to four new members that will join Cohort 14 for the second semester:

Kelsie Shanice
Josie Jackson
Drew Stephan
Cooper Essex

We look forward to their contributions and continued growth as they gain the knowledge and skills to transition into college class in the Fall.

Stay connected with us on our social media platforms for updates, highlights, and details about our upcoming Informational Sessions. Help us spread the word by sharing these opportunities with family, friends, and community members interested in learning more about GLBEC.

Finally, from all of us at GLBEC we wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday Season!

Rodney Woods, Program Director

Message From Student Leadership Council

Student leadership council concluded our last meeting of 2024 with a gingerbread house building activity. The creative juices must have been flowing, because students were also inspired to write “The 12 Days of GLBEC”. We have included the lyrics below in case anyone wants to add this to their Christmas repertoire.

Our first meeting of the new year will be on February 5th from 2:20-3pm in S-057. We look forward to seeing everyone there to discuss our upcoming volunteer events and to participate in a Valentine’s Day themed activity.

“The 12 Days of GLBEC”

On the first day of GLBEC the program gave to me…

A lab report due next week
2 mentor meetings
3 core classes
4 Science units
5 faculty members
6 +30 students
7 Thrillshare photos
8 pizza slices
9 years of study
10 frozen cheese balls
11 critical thinkings
16 weeks of school

Co-Presidents Molly Wahl & Savannah Bellinger

Math with Mr. Christensen

A new year, a fresh start in math. All classes will continue to focus on critical thinking and communicating with clarity and thoroughness. With smaller class sizes, there will be even more opportunity for feedback and improvement.

We have been part of a pilot program for the artificial intelligence feature on Khan Academy. We did a little bit with it during the Fall semester but I want to incorporate more of that resource into classes this Winter term. Students have access to “Khanmigo” for tutoring, extra practice, answer keys, among other uses that we are discovering.

Students who are heading out to a college math class should take advantage of the many ways to receive continuing support, both from the college tutoring centers and from GLBEC staff. Friday support class is as much for those in a college class as it is for the students in GLBEC classes. Each campus has excellent tutoring services in the library. Students are also encouraged to find mentoring times that they can consistently attend. They should be on the lookout for the sign-up documents.

Mr. Joel Christensen, Math

English Literature and Writing with Ms. Kojak

Our semester ended with a dive into dystopian literature, while honing our research and writing skills in preparation for college courses. During our unit students analyzed several dystopian stories and used this information to consider what dystopian literature could be written about our world today. To assist in their research, students read various articles relating to potentially dystopian topics such as artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces. Based on their research and understanding of dystopias, students were tasked with building their own dystopian worlds. They picked an element of modern society to criticize or warn about, and considered what the implications would be if their warning or criticism was not followed. The results were SO creative, and you should definitely ask your student to share.

In addition to this project, students wrote annotated bibliographies during this unit. This assignment asked students to evaluate the relevancy, credibility, and usefulness of the sources found through their research. This is an assignment that they will likely encounter in college classes, and this practice helps to familiarize students with the expectations. To further support them, students attended a presentation with one of Delta’s librarians where they learned about the many resources available to them through the library, as well as how to navigate the library’s search engine when conducting research.

Ms. Kojak, English Literature and Writing Teacher

Career Navigation with Mrs. Gloss

GLBEC's SVSU Orientation

Graduates who plan to attend SVSU in the Fall should plan to attend the GLBEC's SOAR Program a.k.a. SVSU's Freshman Orientation. The advantages of attending our SOAR are that the program is cut in half, 4 hours instead of 8 hours, and you are able to register at your normal registration time in April. If you do not attend the GLBEC SOAR you cannot register for Fall semester until you attend a summer SOAR. Your account will be locked.

FAFSA Night

GLBEC will host a FAFSA night to give students and families the time and space to complete the FAFSA on January 29th from 6-7:30 p.m. A free dinner will be provided to families.

SVSU On-Site Admissions Event

GLBEC is partnering with SVSU to provide On-Site Admission on January 24th. During the event a SVSU Admissions Rep will review your transcript and give you a decision right away. I will send out a registration form at the beginning of the semester.

Mrs. Gloss, Career Navigator

No School Winter Break

Winter break will take place from December 16, 2024, to January 5, 2025. School will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025. We wish all of our students and families a happy, safe, and enjoyable holiday season filled with quality time with loved ones. This is a perfect opportunity to relax, recharge, and reflect on the achievements of the first semester. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready to start the second semester strong. From all of us to your families—Happy Holidays!

Mr. Rodney Woods, Program Director

Science with Mr. Conklin

Reflecting on this semester, I am deeply impressed by the growth and transformation Cohort 14 has undergone. Through significant lessons and enriching lab experiences, these students have not only mastered challenging material but also gained profound insights into their own learning processes.

At the start of the semester, the concept of optional homework would have likely been met with skepticism or outright dismissal. Fast forward to mid-December, and the story is remarkably different. Many students now actively seek additional challenges, filling my inbox with requests for extra practice work. This shift speaks volumes about their resilience and dedication, cultivated over a semester filled with trials and triumphs.

One highlight of this semester has been watching students apply the soft skills they've honed throughout the past 16 weeks. These skills have proven invaluable as we navigated the complexities of GLBEC science methods. Witnessing their persistence and adaptability has been a privilege.

As we transition into the winter semester, the dynamic of my relationship with these students will naturally evolve. For some, I will step into the role of personal tutor and cheerleader, supporting them as they tackle new challenges. For others, I will continue as their instructor, guiding their learning journeys.

I am eager to see the accomplishments of Cohort 14 as we embark on the next chapter of their academic journey. Being a part of their growth and success is an honor, and I look forward to witnessing their continued achievements in the coming months.

Mr. Conklin, Science Teacher

Important Dates To Remember

December 16th-January 5th: Winter Break. School Resumes Monday, January 6, 2025
January 2nd- Delta Book Pick Up
January 3rd: SVSU Book Pick Up
January 6th: Start of 2nd Semester.
January 8th: GLBEC Informational Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm
January 16th: GLBEC Information Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm
January 20th: GLBEC No School
January 20th: GLBEC Information Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm

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