the
TOWER Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016
Volume 89
Issue 1
@thetowerpulse
A weekly tradition since 1928
Grosse Pointe South 11 Grosse Pointe Blvd. Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
Back to School Night ushers in a new year
One night gives chance for sudents, parents and teachers to be brought together
P
RACHEL HARRIS ’18 | Supervising Editor arents will have the chance to walk in their kid’s shoes at Back to School Night this Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. “Back to School night is the opportunity for parents to follow their student’s schedules throughout the day, get to know their teachers, see how their classroom runs and see what the curriculum they will be addressing in the year is,” counselor Beth Walsh-Sahutske said. Back to School Night provides the beginning of the communication bridge between parents and teachers for the remainder of the school year, Walsh-Sahutske said. Teachers will give parents an introduction of their course and show them how each classroom runs, as well as demonstrating classroom procedures and grading systems. “Parents can have a sense of what their student is doing in their day, so that they know how to reach out and get help if the student needs help,” Walsh-Sahutske said. “Or, as issues might crop up during the school year when parents and teachers are communicating with each other, (parents) can reference that same basic information of what he or she needs to do in order to improve or succeed in classes.” Social studies teacher, Dennis Pascoe, said he introduces himself to Teachers are so imparents and explains classroom expectations. Pascoe conveys that he portant in shaping wants his students to be the best they can be so he can see them earn good grades, he said. our kids lives and as “I think Back to School Night helps parents to know the teachers a parent, supporting and it gives them a sense of what their students go through,” Pascoe any activity that our said. “As long as I can communicate that they can trust their kids with me, I think that’s what parents really want to know.” kids are in, makes our Back to School Night is an important event for parents to attend, community stronger. Walsh-Sahutske said. Parents will receive a flyer in the mail, but stuANN TURNBULL dents can help their parents by highlighting their classes on a map of MOTHERS CLUB PRESIDENT South and writing down their schedule so parents know where to go. Parents will also be able to meet their student’s counselor outside of the counseling center. Pascoe said he enjoys Back to School Night because he gets the chance to help parents relax by explaining classroom curriculums. Pascoe takes pleasure in seeing family resemblances among students and relatives. “I think there’s a certain thing that helps them relax and trust the people better that are in charge of their kids,” Pascoe said. “It’s also fun to see some of the things that you see in the kids, you get to see in their
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parents. Its funny and it’s fun to get to know them so that you can build that relationship.” Mother’s Club President Ann Turnbull attends Back to School Night because it gives parents an insight of what their kids do each day, she said. It is important to meet students’ teachers, as well as how to monitor grades and assignments. “Teachers are so important in shaping our kids lives and as a parent, supporting any activity that our kids are in makes our community stronger,” Turnbull said via email. “I love seeing the path that my kids will take each day, meeting their teachers, seeing the beautiful school and seeing my friends since I was just in high school a few years ago.”
Welcome back! Class schedule -Introduction -Hand outs -Class rigor
GRAPHIC DESIGNED BY ELENA RAUCH
MEMORIAM:
South club remembers 9/11 in annual tribute KATHLEEN CARROLL ’19 | Web Content Manager Grosse Pointe South’s Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) Club will place 2,977 American flags on the school’s front lawn as a memorial for those who died on 9/11, each flag representing a victim during the terrorist attack. The memorial has been a tradition at South since Sept. 11, 2011, the attack’s 10-year anniversary. The memorial is part of a national project begun by YAF in 2003 to remember those who died on 9/11. South’s YAF president, Elizabeth Sullivan ’17, said that the CHARLIE YOO ’17 club plants the flags at 5 a.m. However, because Sept. 11 will fall on a Sunday this year, she anticipates the flags will be
planted Friday, Sept. 9. Sullivan said that each year the memorial is accompanied by a school-wide moment of silence at 9:11 a.m. to remember the people lost. South’s YAF secretary, Charlie Yoo ’17, said anyone is welcome to help -he planted flags his freshman and sophomore years, despite not being a YAF member. “I think it’s important that not just as a school, but as a community and as a country we remember all the people who lost their lives,” Yoo said.
I think it’s important that not just as a school, but as a community and as a country we remember all the people who lost their lives.
PHOTO BY RAY HASANAJ ‘18
Financial Aid Night offers information on paying for college LAUREN THOM ’18 | Supervising Editor Financial Aid Night is an event that gives students and parents the opportunity to learn about different options when it comes to paying for college from counselors and college reps, as well as scholarships that are available and what the main colleges in Michigan provide for financial aid, according to Counselor Aja Perales. Perales said that there is typically a good turnout in attendance among students, and, in her opinion, it is worth the time to learn more about financing higher education. “It is super important to learn more about financial aid, as college is expensive,” Perales said. “There is a lot of information
and resources available, so it is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more.” Financial Aid Night will be held on Thursday, Sept. 8 for all students and parents in North’s cafeteria at 8 p.m.
There is a lot of information and resources available, so it is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more.
AJA PERALES Counselor
PHOTO BY LIZ BIGHAM ’18
THIS WEEK AT SOUTH... sept.
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Financial aid night will be held at Grosse Pointe North’s cafeteria at 6:30 p.m.
sept.
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PAGE DESIGNED BY ELENA RAUCH ’18
Varsity football plays Fraser at home this Friday starting at 7:00 p.m.
sept.
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Back to School Night will be held next Thursday at 7 p.m.