GPN builds a better world for autism

Junior computer graphics student Devyn LaValley, created a logo for Autism Awareness month that was used district-wide. (By Christine Kuhl)

Gearheads build 'Howie' the robot

By Laura Larson, parent booster

Congratulations to the Gearheads robotics team on their 2014 competition season. The team is comprised of students from both North and South High Schools; their faculty adviser, Mr. Pata; mentors and parents. Together, they built a robot in six weeks that shoots large exercise balls through a goal and over a truss in the middle of the playing field, assists other robots on their alliance and plays defense against the opposing team, much like a sporting event. The Gearheads competed in three district competitions and the Michigan FIRST Robotics State Championship, for which they qualified the second year in a row. They have won numerous spirit awards and this year were the recipients of the General Motors Industrial Design Award which “celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively addresses the game challenge.”

The Gearheads is one of over 5,000 high school robotics teams belonging to the FIRST robotics program, an international organization founded by inventor, Dean Kamen in 1989 to inspire high school students in engineering and technology. FIRST also offers college scholarships to students from the program who are going into the STEM fields.

The Gearheads will be making an appearance at Brownell and Pierce middle schools in May where they will demonstrate what the robot, “Howie” can do. This was a big hit last year when they brought the 2013 robot, “Odd Job” to the middle schools and shot Frisbees through a goal.

The Gearheads would like to thank their sponsors; General Motors, Grosse Pointe Rotary Club, Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club, Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education, Grosse Pointe Public School System, Dassault Systemes, Peninsula Capital Partners L.L.C., Accenture, Grosse Pointe Moms Club, State of Michigan, Festo, Grosse Pointe North Parents Club, Mothers’ Club of Grosse Pointe South, Auto Form Engineering.

The Gearheads invite you to visit their website.

Our Super Hero Costume Contest Winners

By Christopher Skowronski

Today we had a fantastic event! We had over 260 runners come out for the 2nd Annual S.A.V.E A LIFE 5K AND 1 MILE run. We saw runners as young as 3 years old come out for the event busting out their best super hero garb!

At the end of the day, we raised $9,040 for the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation and the Moross Greenway Project, which brings our two year fundraising total to $20,440! Thanks again for everyone that made this possible!

I would like to thank all our student and staff volunteers (Nancy Davison, Terri Steimer, Caty Vernier, Dan Gilleran, Tom Beach, Lisa Steiner, Milissa Pierce, Pat Gast, Karen Villegas, Jill Davenport, Barb Skelly, Tom Z, Joanna, Scarlett Greet and many more) for ensuring that everything everything ran smoothly.

Results are posted here:

 

Musicians to Return from Competition

 

Musicians to Return from Competition

Congratulations and welcome home to the members of the Band and Orchestra Program on a remarkable weekend in Toronto and Niagara Falls. The North musicians performed at the Toronto International Music Festival last month. The Full Orchestra received a gold rating on their performance; the Concert Band received a Silver rating; and the Symphony Band received a gold rating. The Band and Orchestra Program includes over 200 students and is under the direction of David Cleveland, Dean Doss, Laura Rasmussen, and Kemmer Weinhaus. (By Dave Cleveland) 

Musicians to perform at Orchestra Hall

The Grosse Pointe North Bands & Orchestras will perform at the DSO Orchestra Hall on Sunday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m. More than 200 of our students will showcase their talents at this extraordinary event! Our featured senior soloist is Kayla L; also featured will be a trumpet trio featuring Michael B, Bobby M, and Max Y. Tickets for this amazing event are available at Wild Birds Unlimited on Mack Avenue or at the door. General admission tickets are $20, but student/senior tickets are only $10 (no gold cards). Box seats are $25 and only available at Wild Birds. (By Dave Cleveland)

Students earn art awards

February 2014 - This year the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are celebrating over 90 years of student creativity. North students received two Gold Key Awards, two Silver Key Awards and seven Honorable Mentions in photography, printmaking and drawing. (By Susan Forrest)

Interact students lead food collection

January 2014 - Interact (a service club) led the collection of  1,141 lunches, which were delivered to the homeless. Parents, staff and students came in with bags and boxes filled with lunches to donate to the hungry. Club officers scrambled to be able to count the lunches as they arrived. The generosity was overwhelming and we are so proud to be able to say "This is what we do here at Grosse Pointe North." (By Barb Skelly)