Great Lakes Bay Early College

GLBEC GAZETTE

April 2025 Monthly Newsletter of Great Lakes Bay Early College

Mr. Woods' Corner:

As we enter the final month of the school year, there are several important dates for students and families to note. Please mark your calendars for the following key events:

  • Thursday, May 8 – Informational Session

    • Time: 6:00 PM | Location: Delta College, Room S-055

  • Thursday, May 15 – GLBEC Completion Ceremony

    • Time: 6:00 PM | Location: Delta College, Lecture Theater G-160

  • Friday, May 16 – GLBEC Classes at SVSU | Building: Gilbertson South

    • Room Assignments:

      • Ms. Kojak – Room 115

      • Mr. Christensen – Room 117

      • Mr. Conklin – Room 119

  • Tuesday, May 20 – Informational Session

    • Time: 6:00 PM | Location: Delta College, Room S-055

  • Friday, May 23 – GLBEC Classes at SVSU | Building: Gilbertson South

    • Room Assignments:

      • Ms. Kojak – Room 115

      • Mr. Christensen – Room 117

      • Mr. Conklin – Room 119

We’re proud of all our students and excited to finish the year strong! Thank you for your continued support.

Mr. Woods, Program Director

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Science with Mr. Conklin

As we approach the conclusion of GLBEC Science Methods, our class will come full circle—returning to the core question that launched our journey: How can we better understand the world around us? This May, we’ll explore the intersection of organic chemistry, modern agriculture, and community health by examining the concept of food deserts in the United States.

In an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration, GLBEC English, Math, and Science will unite around a thematic unit on food deserts. Students will investigate the impact of geography, economics, and food access through both qualitative and quantitative lenses. In Science Methods, this will include analyzing the nutritional content of commonly consumed foods, conducting basic calorimetry experiments, and testing for macronutrients in commercial food samples.

Throughout the course, our emphasis has been not only on what we know but also on how we apply what we know. This culminating project exemplifies that philosophy—challenging students to think critically, collaborate across disciplines, and engage with real-world issues that affect communities every day.

As Cohort 14 wraps up its final Science Methods unit, students leave with more than just content knowledge. They carry forward hands-on lab experience, analytical thinking skills, and a deeper understanding of how science connects to everyday life. It is our hope that this experience not only prepares them for post-secondary science courses but also inspires many to explore future careers in STEM.

Mr. Conklin, Science Teacher

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Career Navigation with Mrs. Gloss

GLBEC Completers

Please let Mrs. Gloss know if you do not plan to attend the Completion Ceremony.  If you are planning to attend, please make sure she has the information needed for the evening's slideshow.  

To receive financial aid, including Pell Grant, Opportunity Grants, & The Community College Guarantee, you must request your final high school transcript through Parchment.com to be sent to the college you plan to attend in the Fall. If you are attending a college that is not the college you are at now (Delta/SVSU), you need to request your final college transcript to be sent to the Admissions Office of the receiving school.  Delta students can travel to delta.edu, Services & Support, and Transcript Request.  SVSU Students can make the request by going to svsu.edu, Quick Links, and Transcript Request.


Literature and Writing with Ms. Kojak

Over the past few weeks, students in our English classes have been hard at work practicing the art of argumentation. After learning how to craft clear, well-supported arguments, students put their skills into action by participating in a series of classroom debates. Debate topics included the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the ethical responsibilities of billionaires in today’s society. These debates gave students valuable, real-world practice discussing complex, relevant topics that have multiple perspectives and no easy answers. It was inspiring to watch them research, build their cases, and engage in thoughtful, respectful discussions with their peers.

We are now shifting our focus to a thematic unit centered on the issue of food deserts—areas where access to affordable, healthy food is limited or unavailable. This unit is especially exciting because it will stretch across all three core classes, allowing students to explore the issue through different academic lenses. In English, students have begun conducting research to better understand the various factors that contribute to the existence of food deserts and the impact they have on communities.

Ultimately, students will use their research and analysis to design and produce informational websites that not only raise awareness about this issue but also offer thoughtful, practical solutions. This project provides another meaningful opportunity for students to apply their critical thinking, research, and communication skills to a real-world problem, and we’re excited to see the ideas and creativity they’ll bring to their final projects.

Ms. Kojak, English Literature and Writing Teacher

Math with Mr. Christensen

As we near the end of the semester, students are wrapping up their final full units in Math this week. Following that, we’ll transition into our interdisciplinary thematic unit in collaboration with English and Science, with Math focusing on an introduction to statistics.

Final exams will encompass key concepts from throughout the semester. During the last week of class, students will participate in three days of comprehensive review, followed by the final exam on Thursday. We’ll close out the semester with critical thinking activities on the final day.

It’s essential that students are present and engaged throughout this final week to ensure they finish strong and are fully prepared for what’s next!


Mr. Christensen, Math Teacher

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Important Dates To Remember

  • May 6th: Late Textbook Drop-off

  • Math 8th: GLBEC Informational Session at Delta College, Room S056 at 6pm.

  • May 15th: GLBEC Completion Ceremony at Delta College, Room Lecture Theater G-160

  • May 16: GLBEC Classes at SVSU

  • May 20th: GLBEC Informational Session at Delta College Room S056 at 6pm.

  • May 23rd: Final Day of GLBEC Classes @ SVSU

GLBEC Contact Information

Rodney Woods, Program Director- 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