The 2nd Annual Wonder Workshop District-wide 5th Grade Robotics Competition was hosted by GBCS Technology Exploration teachers and took place at Perry Innovation Center on Tuesday. The 16 teams from 7 Grand Blanc elementary buildings did an amazing job planning, coding and executing Mission 5 from the Wonder Workshops. 5th-grade Technology Exploration classes have been leading Wonder robots, Dash and Dot, through the first 4 missions since the beginning of the year, and those teams that are able to successfully get to Mission 5 are invited to this competition. Students worked diligently throughout the day to complete the final mission for presentation to staff judges in the afternoon. Great sportsmanship, impressive teamwork, and some truly unbelievable coding skills were observed by staff. Families were invited to join their students for the awards ceremony to conclude the day. Each student received a medal for being a finalist, and trophies were given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. ...

“Stop the Bleed” is a life-saving campaign initiated by the National Security Council Staff and endorsed by the American College of Surgeons. Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death from trauma. Originally in response to the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting, proponents of the program are quick to point out that the life-saving techniques to stop bleeding extend far beyond a mass casualty incident. Trauma Program Coordinator, Zachary Landers, RN, BSN from Ascension Genesys is leading the training for school staff. The course teaches proper use of the tourniquet and steps to take when there is uncontrolled bleeding. The steps to respond are easily remembered as “A – B – C”: A : ALERT – Call 911 or have someone call 911 B : BLEEDING – Find the source of the bleeding C : COMPRESS – Apply direct pressure, apply a tourniquet, or pack the wound and apply pressure Landers used a recent example in which a young child sustained a broken arm on the ...

Team 1 & Team 2 at Grand Blanc East Middle School held a "Metabolic Fair" at the Grand Blanc Senior Center to educate people on the many metabolic diseases. Small groups did research and presented as visitors and fellow students circulated around to hear the presentations. Groups were very well-researched and well-spoken in spite of the noisy atmosphere. It was a great way to get out of the classroom and into the community while learning through teaching. Great job, Bobcats!

Students from Grand Blanc High School’s Early College program recently participated in the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver CPR Training program. The training included the use of lifesaving automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The medical device can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. In addition to videos and instruction, students had the opportunity to practice CPR and AED use first-hand. The students are participating in the College & Career Readiness curriculum, which includes certifying all 12th-grade students in CPR, as well as other Safeschools training courses such as; Distracted Driving, Winter Driving, Health Emergencies (Choking & Heimlich Maneuver), First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention. Certified American Heart Association trainers, Kathleen Roberts and La...

The panel will choose only two Grand Blanc High School seniors to receive a scholarship based on this semester's Exit Interview participants, and they have a very tough job. Each semester, Seniors at Grand Blanc High School create "Exit Interviews" - it is a requirement of graduation that they typically produce and present in their English class - but some opt to also share their presentation with a panel of professionals. This serves to create another venue for students to expose their plans to objective influence, practice their presentation and communication skills, and it could also bring them a scholarship to help with their higher education goals. Grand Blanc Administrators often stop in to observe sessions, and the morning brought in Principal Fray, Superintendent Garner, Asst. Principal Goetzinger, GB Board of Ed Trustee Yasmeen Youngs, and CTE Director Janet Roberts, just to name a few. Career Resource Center Program Assistant & EDP Specialist, Shenethea Mang...

Not long ago, Mason Elementary went "all-out" with their holiday decorating skills. They soon issued a challenge to other schools: Top this! Some of our other buildings have provided photos of their work. What do you think? View more photos here.

A staff member at East Middle School received what was believed to be a SPAM email threatening the activation of an explosive device. Another school in Genesee County received the same email. It was non-specific and we believe sent with the intention of scaring random people into sending money overseas. As a matter of safety, we activated the procedures for a bomb threat and local police investigated. We did not believe this threat was something to be concerned about, but obviously, we must be on the safe side. Police searched the grounds while classrooms were in secure mode. Authorities have cleared the building and grounds and secure mode has now been lifted. Please know the safety of our students is our #1 priority. Thank you to our staff and the Grand Blanc Township Police for their quick response and diligence this afternoon.

Senior Bobcat OG/DT/OT/DE, Jarrett Short, has accepted an invitation to the Tiki Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. Short leaves Tuesday, December 18 for the experience and will return December 24. While in Honolulu, in addition to playing in the invitation-only high school bowl game, he will attend the Hawaii Bowl scheduled for December 22 at Aloha Stadium and televised on ESPN. Short will have the opportunity to interact with college coaches and college-bound players from all over. Attendees will also have time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and rich culture of the island. Grand Blanc Community Schools wishes him a fantastic and safe trip and good luck in the Tiki Bowl! Congratulations on your 1st team All-Conference designation and outstanding GPA! Represent Grand Blanc with pride! #WeAreGB

Over 550 students interviewed adults in various occupations in the day-long Junior Interview Expo. Volunteers from law enforcement, health, communications, business, engineering and more were waiting to answer students' thoughtful questions in interviews. The meetings were scheduled by GBHS Career & Technical Education (CTE) staff. Various colleges and universities were set up to answer questions, as well. What a wonderful learning experience for high school juniors as they plan for their post-high school futures. The interview process is a requirement for graduation at Grand Blanc High School.

Official vehicles from Metro, Argentine Twp. and Grand Blanc Twp. Police Departments and Grand Blanc, Argentine, and Mundy Twp. Fire Departments lined the sidewalk outside the Hill Rd. Meijer on Tuesday, December 4. 25 students from the area, including 10 from Grand Blanc Anderson & McGrath Elementary, were selected to "Shop with a Hero" at the Hill Rd. Meijer store. Each attendee was given a budget of $100 and a hero shopping buddy to assist them. Thank you to one of our Grand Blanc Twp. resource officers, Dan Wolschleger for setting this up for our students, to Meijer for providing the opportunity, and our local police, 911 office, and fire for being our heroes on this day and every day! #WeAreGB #community #connection #purpose #teamwork #otherpeoplematter

Echo Yearbook Staffers Receive #8 “Best in Show”  at  Nationwide Scholastic Journalism Conference Grand Blanc High School’s Echo Yearbook is built on a long and rich history at Grand Blanc Community Schools. In early November, four yearbook staffers attended a national journalism convention in Chicago, Illinois. They joined with over 6300 scholastic journalists from around the country at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention. Lucas Hartwell, a sophomore and current Photo Editor, earned a top award for his photo story and captions from the Westboro Baptist Church protest/counter-protest that took place at Grand Blanc High School on Homecoming day in October. There were only 3 Superior Awards given in this category, so this was an impressive achievement. The 2017-18 Echo yearbook staff earned was #8 in the “Best in Show” Yearbook category. This, too, is a triumph, as our yearbook staff has only earned a “Best in Show” award once bef...

“Old Gym” at GBHS West Campus Sees New Life Crews work at the old gym in late November. Project completion is expected in February 2019. Work has begun on the renovation of the gym at Grand Blanc High School’s West Campus. Once the main gymnasium for Grand Blanc High School, the gym has been identified as underutilized. The Strategic Plan that guides Grand Blanc through 2023 has outlined athletic facility revitalization and the examination of repurposing space that is not being used to its full potential. This project checks both those boxes. The Grand Blanc Athletic Foundation (GBAF) is assisting with funding for the project, which will include replacing the entire gym floor with artificial turf. Fundraising began with the collection of parking fees for the Ally Challenge Golf Tournament in September. The Athletic Foundation now seeks private and corporate donors to fund this and other athletic facility projects. Donations are tax-deductible through their 501(c)3 non-profit...