fall 2017 the torch - gpfpe

The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education is a 501(c)(3) organization.

GPFPE Celebrates Annual Spring Gala to Launch New Campaign

THE TORCHgpfpe.org

FALL 2017

Photos courtesy of Renee Landuyt, Grosse Pointe News

Supporters of the Grosse Pointe Public Schools came together on Saturday May 6, 2017, at

the Grosse Pointe Club to celebrate the GPFPE’s Annual Spring Gala. Guests enjoyed a lovely evening of cocktails and a strolling supper while also learning about the GPFPE’s newest campaign to raise funds to roll out The Leader in Me program to elementary schools in our district. The program teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.

The evening’s theme, “Be the Beacon” was inspired by the “lighthouse” status a district achieves when all schools are fully operating within the program. This year’s Gala drew a record number of corporate sponsors and a sell-out crowd of attendees. In addition to making pledges to support The

Leader in Me, guests were able to support the GPFPE’s fundraising goal through raffl e ticket purchases and a wine pull.

Addressing the guests during a VIP reception that night were two students who talked about the impact The Leader in Me had on them, their families, and their school. Olivia Snead, a third-grader at Poupard Elementary, told the

crowd how she used the habits in the classroom. Dominic Malouf, a fourth-grader at Ferry Elementary, explained to the guests how he uses the program’s skills outside the classroom and with his family.

The VIP reception concluded with a video message from Sean Covey, senior vice president at FranklinCovey and co-author of The Leader in Me: How Schools

Around the World Are Inspiring

Greatness, One Child at a Time. See pages 4-5 for more photos and

details on the Annual Spring Gala. See pages 7-8 for more information and photos on The Leader in Me.

“A good leader always sets a good example for others.I stand straight in line and always do what my teachers ask me to do. When other students in the school see me doing the right

thing, I know I am helping them become a better leader.”– Olivia Snead, Poupard Elementary

GPFPE Annual Spring Gala

“Be the Beacon”

FALL 2017 GROSSE POINTE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION – THE TORCH

2 gpfpe.org gpfpe.org 3

GROSSE POINTE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION – THE TORCH FALL 2017

We hope you’re having a wonderful fall! In this latest edition of “The Torch” we look back on all the events and news that made last spring such a success for the GPFPE, including our Annual

Spring Gala and all the individuals and local businesses that gave us their tremendous support.

Thanks to these generous supporters (and we hope many more), we’re moving forward in our quest to help introduce The Leader

in Me program to the elementary schools in our district. This integrative program is based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. To see it in action, you only have to go as far as Poupard, Ferry or Defer. The results are truly amazing!

To learn more about the work we do, please continue reading this edition. You may also visit our website (gpfpe.org), follow us on Facebook or call us at (313) 432-3058.

Thank you for making it possible for us to continue Enriching, Engaging and

Inspiring our Future.

All the best,Bob Bury, President

A Letter From Our President

Board of Directors:

President

Robert Bury

Vice President

Christie Scoggin

Treasurer

Kiana Rose

Secretary

Lois Warden

GPFPE Board of Trustees:

Barbara Bierbusse

Elizabeth Connors

John Danaher

Kathy Fisk

Jake Howlett

Laura B. Huebner

Robert Montgomery

Beth Moran

Mary Beth Nicholson

Cynthia Sohn

Jason Tinsley

Advisory Board:

Jeff Broderick

Patrick Burke

Cynthia Hempstead

Marian Roberge

Cat Ruffner

Lorna Utley

Lisa Vreede

Make a gift to the GPFPE

or join us as a volunteer.

For more information, visit

gpfpe.org or call us

at (313) 432-3058.

Grosse Pointe Foundation for

Public Education

Board and Committee Listing

2017-2018

Are you 70 ½ years old or older? Do you need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA?

Why not consider a direct charitable contribution from your

IRA to the GPFPE using funds from your RMD? It’s essentially a tax deduction for the charitable contribution, even if you don’t itemize.

• For example, for someone in the 25% tax bracket, the after tax cost of a $200 gift is only $150.

Adjusted gross income is lowered, which could result in: • reduced amounts of social security taxed• lower Medicare premiums paid• reduced state income tax paidRemember your RMD must be distributed by December 31 each year, so

start planning now!

Attention Seniors with IRAs

Photo courtesy of Renee Landuyt, Grosse Pointe News




Caught in the Act of Giving

Back was founded by the GPFPE in 2015 in order to

recognize student volunteer projects within the district, to reinforce the importance of giving back to others and to inspire our students to become actively engaged in doing so.

Entries were submitted by building administrators. Submissions were evaluated based on how the project demonstrated leadership, a commitment to volunteerism, and community impact. A winner was selected at each school level.

On May 8th, 2017 the GPFPE recognized this year’s winners at the Board of Education meeting. They were:

• “Community Warmth Project” – Defer Elementary

• “Wigs4Kids Rubber Duck Race” – Brownell Middle School

• “Making Lunches for Homeless Veterans” – North High School

This year’s runner up:• “Be Kind Club” – Trombly

Elementary

A special award was also given to Poupard Elementary in response to “Candy Cane Sales,” “Thank you to the Officers in Blue,” and “Pay It Forward” to recognize all the outstanding volunteerism in the school.

The organization behind the winning students’ volunteer efforts received approximately $500 to further advance and support their work. Runners-up were given gifts ranging from $50 - $250 for their organizations.

Funding for this program in perpetuity is made possible by the Anne R. Hudson Endowment Fund of the GPFPE, held at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

2017 Caught in the Act of Giving Back Awards

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2017 Spring Grant Cycle1. Increasing the complexity of

play skills (Early Childhood) Barnes

2. Creating a culture of leadership (K-5) Ferry

3. Whiteboard for the French and Spanish rooms (grades 6-8) Parcells

4. ExploreLearning Gizmos subscription renewal (grades 6-8) Brownell, Pierce and Parcells

5. Using graphing calculators in Math (grades 9-12) North HS

6. Raspberry Pi’s for Innovative Studies class (grades 9-12) North HS and South HS

7. TV studio upgrade (grades 9-12) North HS and South HS

8. Digital camera for photography classes (grades 9-12) South HS

9. Grosse Pointe Learning Network (staff development) all schools Total: $35,820




Ms. Linda Abar Ms. Lisa Abbey Dr. and Mrs. Amer Aboukasm Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Adams Mr. Robert Allen & Ms. Ellen Dennehy AllenMr. and Mrs. Richard H. Allison Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Armbruster Mr. and Mrs. William Asimakis Mr. and Mrs. Todd Baker Ms. Monica Barbour Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Barry Mr. Robert Bendzinski Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bennert Mr. Larry Berkowski & Ms. Peggy ShineMr. and Mrs. James Bierbusse Mr. and Mrs. Reed Bingaman Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Boomer Mr. Dan Bowen & Ms. Karen FrenchMr. and Mrs. Neil Bristol Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Broderick Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bsharah Mr. and Mrs. James Bur Mr. and Mrs. Paul Burke Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bury Mr. and Mrs. Sean Cleland Mr. and Mrs. Brian Connors Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Cornell Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Crowley Mr. and Mrs. Tim Cunnane Mr. and Mrs. Joe Curtis Ms. Nena Dahling Mr. John Danaher Mr. and Mrs. Alejandro Delgado Dr. and Mrs. Michael B. Dib Dr. and Mrs. James Dietz Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Dingeman Mr. and Mrs. Michael Donovan Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Dupes Mr. and Mrs. Tom Enders Mr. and Mrs. Dan Fannon Mr. and Mrs. Christian Fenton Mr. and Mrs. James Fisk Mr. and Mrs. Jef Fisk Dr. and Mrs. James Fortune Mr. and Mrs. Mark Franchett Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Frasier Ms. Judy Gafa

Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Gavagan Mr. Guy Gehlert & Dr. Danielle GehlertDr. and Mrs. Christian George Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Gotfredson Mr. and Mrs. William Gough Mr. and Mrs. David Graff Dr. and Mrs. Tristan Guevara Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Halso Mr. and Mrs. Pete Handwork Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hartley Ms. Janette High The Hill Seafood & Chophouse Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hinz Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hix Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hoffmann Mr. and Mrs. Scott K. Houghton Mr. Keith Howell Mr. and Mrs. Jake Howlett Mr. and Mrs. Julius Huebner Mr. and Mrs. Peter Huebner Mr. and Mrs. John Huntington III Mr. and Mrs. John Hurley Ms. Christine Jaggi Mr. and Mrs. Scott Kapla Mr. and Mrs. Brendan Keelean Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Kennedy, III Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Ketels Mr. and Mrs. Walid Korkmaz Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Kornmeier Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Kuhn Ms. Karen Lawrence Mr. and Mrs. Steven Lesha Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lubera Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Maccagnone Mr. and Mrs. Joe Maffesoli Mr. and Mrs. Michael Marks Mr. and Mrs. Andy Martin, Jr. Mr. George R. McMullen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William A. Mestdagh, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Moran Ms. Patricia Moritz Mr. and Mrs. William Moseley Mr. and Mrs. Ron Muawad Mr. and Mrs. Colin Murray Mr. and Mrs. James B. Nicholson Mr. and Mrs. James M. Nicholson

Mr. and Mrs. John Nicholson Mr. and Mrs. Tim Nicholson Dr. Gary Niehaus & Ms. Paige VanderhydenMr. Mike O’Bryan & Ms. Karen SullivanMr. and Mrs. Anthony Paddock Dr. and Mrs. Richard Perry Mr. and Mrs. John Poplawski Mr. and Mrs. Dino Ricci Mr. and Mrs. Robert Riney Dr. and Mrs. John Roarty Mr. and Mrs. Dan Roeske Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rose Ms. Angelle Rothis Mr. and Mrs. Rick Ruffner Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Brian Satterfield Mr. and Mrs. James J. Schebil Dr. Jonathan Schwartz & Ms. Sonya AckmanMr. and Mrs. Patrick Scoggin Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shea Mr. and Mrs. Dan Shine Mr. and Mrs. Dan Simon Mr. and Mrs. D.J. Sine Mr. and Mrs. John Sohn Ms. Victoria Stackpoole Mr. and Mrs. John Standish, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Brian Summerfield Mr. Anestis Teftsis & Ms. Margaret WeertzMr. and Mrs. Louis Theros Mr. and Mrs. Jason Tinsley Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Tompkins Mr. and Mrs. Matt Turnbull Mr. and Mrs. Bill Turner Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Valentic Dr. and Mrs. Edward Vermet Village Food Market Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Vyletel Mr. and Mrs. Gail Warden Mr. and Mrs. Richard Widener Mr. and Mrs. Brian Williams Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wolking Mr. and Mrs. David Wysocki Dr. and Mrs. George Yoo Dr. Christopher Zingas & Dr. Marsha Chaffins

Annual Spring Gala, "Be the Beacon" May 6, 2017Sincere thanks to all who attended, participated in the raffle or wine pull, and/or sent their regrets with gifts.




Platinum Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Clairpointe Family DentalConstrucTeam, Inc.Conventional Carpet, Inc.Domzalski Ciaramitaro Insurance AgencyDonnelly Penman & PartnersDr. Kerri Gustafson, D.D.S., PLLCDentistry for ChildrenEnvironmental Maintenance Engineers, IncGrosse Pointe Urgent Care

Higbie Maxon Agney RealtyMarshall LandscapingMeridian Health PlanMiller, Canfi eld, Paddock and Stone, PLCSignature EndodonticsSmith Family FoundationState Farm Insurance, Tom MazzolaSuntastic Swim SchoolViviano, Pagano & Howlett, PLLC

Bronze Sponsors:

Edmund T. Ahee JewelersJulie & Bob BoomerCapriciousCruiserSUP.comLakePointe OrthodonticsKiana & Bob RoseCarol & Tom Shea

Raffl e Donors:

Photos courtesy of Renee Landuyt, Grosse Pointe News




Poupard Elementary School students showed off their leadership habits on June

1st as they welcomed members of the community to Poupard’s second annual Leadership Day. This special celebration was an opportunity for the GPFPE, GPPSS administrators, community members, and teachers from other schools, to see The Leader in Me

program in action. Visitors were met on the front

sidewalk by students who greeted them with hand-shakes, welcome banners, and a peppy drumbeat. Students introduced themselves and guided guests to the Poupard gym, where they were given a care package of water, treats, and a seedling.

The afternoon event started with a demonstration of a four-foot robot, built by one of Poupard’s amazing students. Then, student leaders introduced their enthusiastic Parent Lighthouse representatives. These parents, who call themselves the PEP RALLY- Parents Empowering Parents, described how The Leader in Me has empowered their kids to be lifelong leaders and why the program is making a difference in their school. They were followed by Student Lighthouse members, who detailed the special schoolwide jobs their fellow students participate in each week, and the real-life application process involved in receiving these jobs.

Principal Penny Stocks explained that The Leader in Me has helped her amazing students fi nd their voices. “Three years ago, we were a Focus school.” This meant that Poupard was among 10 percent of schools in the state with the largest achievement gap between its top 30 percent and bottom 30 percent of students. “That’s a list you don’t want to fi nd yourself on. This year, Poupard was one of 100 schools in Michigan awarded a Rewards school.” According to the Michigan Department of Education, Rewards schools are ranked in the top 5 percent overall and are among those making the greatest gains in achievement or have beaten the odds by outperforming the school’s predicted ranking.

Following the presentation, guests visited the Dragon Dens in classrooms throughout the school. These Dragon Dens meet monthly and are made up of groups of multi-age students, kindergarten through fi fth-grade, who participate in planned activities that help promote a family-like atmosphere. This allows students to get to know

schoolmates in other classes and grades, and provides opportunities for older students to mentor younger students.

Finally, students returned to their classrooms and welcomed community members to observe their learning process in action. Visitors were invited to ask questions as students demonstrated how they incorporate The Leader

in Me’s “7 Highly Effective Habits”

into daily lessons. The GPFPE is committed to

bringing this outstanding program to all Grosse Pointe elementary schools in the future. To make a contribution to the program, visit gpfpe.org.

Leadership Day at Poupard




In July, teachers and staff from Defer Elementary School began their offi cial training for The

Leader in Me, the highly acclaimed program based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

The fi rst session, “The Leader in

Me – Seven Habits” was led by a FranklinCovey consultant and included teachers, administrators, and other support staff and custodians in the building. A month later, in August, the Defer staff received their second day of training from FranklinCovey, “Launching Leadership”.

Some members of the Defer community attended a symposium at Schoolcraft College in 2014. The knowledge and enthusiasm gained from this symposium helped spur their desire to become a Leader

in Me school. Now, thanks to a grant from the GPFPE, the Defer staff is able to offi cially start The

Leader in Me for the 2017-18 school year. Materials and support from FranklinCovey will be available throughout the school year as students, parents, and the entire Defer community embark on the

three-year journey of becoming a Leader in Me school. Says Janette High, one of the teachers undergoing training, “The '7 Habits' have given us a common language within our school.”

Defer is Grosse Pointe’s third Leader In Me elementary school, joining Ferry (second year) and Poupard (third year) as a certifi ed Leader in Me school.

The Leader in Me is an all-inclusive, schoolwide program that teaches timeless principles of personal and interpersonal effectiveness such as responsibility, vision, integrity, teamwork, and collaboration. It will take three years to fully implement The Leader

in Me in each school.

The Leader in Me Kicks Off the School Year at Defer

“The ‘7 Habits’ have given us a common language within our school.”

– Janette High, Defer Teacher

The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education brings our community together to fund extraordinary educational opportunities for our children.

Our Guiding ValuesWe strive to demonstrate the following in all that we do:Collaboration: We search out and develop partnerships to

better serve our students and community.Responsibility: We pledge to be accountable to our partners,

donors, volunteers and the students we serve.Innovation: We strive to be forward thinking and inclusive.Impact: We enhance our school system, our greater

community and as a result, our world.Empowerment: We fund programs that help each student

realize his or her full potential.

gpfpe.orgPhotos courtesy of Lisa Vreede.

Enriching, Engaging, Inspiring Our Future

389 St. Clair AvenueGrosse Pointe, Michigan 48230

fall 2017 the torch - gpfpe

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