Cougar Notes
Good morning Cougar Staff!
I feel like we are off to a great start to the school year, with a very
positive and productive Opening Day and Open House last night. Our building was abuzz yesterday with positive
comments and smiling faces of students, parents, and staff members. The first days of school are always an
exciting time of year; the key is to sustain that enthusiasm as the school year
progresses. Let’s make a conscious decision
to continue this positive atmosphere throughout the year as we focus on EVERY
CHILD, EVERY DAY!!!
Personnel:
Please continue to remember those who are dealing with
health concerns, recovering from surgeries, have family members with health
concerns. We have many of our GCMS
family who have such concerns right now.
Also, please remember all of the students as they start back to
school. I pray that we will all be able
to impact students in a positive way.
Monday:
As Mr. Anderson’s email indicated, the district-wide day
will be Monday morning at GCMS. The
district will provide breakfast in the GCMS cafeteria starting around 7:15 and
then our district meeting will be in the auditorium starting around 8:30. I am anticipating us finishing up the morning
session before 11:00. Take an hour for
lunch on your own and then all GCMS staff (classified and certified) will meet
in the library for our restraint and seclusion training. I will try to announce our afternoon start
time before we are dismissed to go to lunch.
Tuesday:
Since we have already completed our opening day, Tuesday is
not a required work day at GCMS. Though
I know that some of you will be in your classrooms putting on those finishing
touches, please feel free to take that one last day off. Go to the lake, take your kids to the movies,
sleep in late, sit around in your pajamas, work around the house, you get the
picture! It’s your day….spend it however
you like!
Wednesday:
That’s the day the pitter patter of two thousand feet will
be heard around the hallowed halls of GCMS!
Let’s get off to a great start with our students! Most of your time these first three days of
school will be spent going over and practicing procedures with your
students. Remember, managing procedures
is one of the PGES components, and even if it were not, we all know that going
over procedures early and often will pay great dividends as the year goes
on. I would like for all teachers and
staff to come down to the gym around 7:40 to start off the day on
Wednesday. We will do a “cafeteria drill”
with our sixth graders only during 2nd period on Wednesday. Mrs. House may send out a specific schedule
for that drill. It is crucial to have as
much adult supervision as possible on that first day, so any volunteers in
addition to our scheduled early and late duty folks would be greatly
appreciated!
CIITS:
Remember, every teacher at GCMS is expected to enter lesson
plans into the CIITS program for one class every week. Last year was our first year, and I know it
took some time. With a year under our
belts, it should be smoother and simpler the second time around. Please see Becki Pearl if you have any
problems with getting this completed each week.
PD 360:
I am encouraging all GCMS to utilize the PD 360 program of
online professional development. As we
develop our new professional growth plans, I would like for everyone to include
PD 360 as a supporting activity to help accomplish the goals that you set. Again, PD 360 is not your goal; it is a tool
to use in accomplishing your goals. Some
of you attended one of the breakout sessions on Tuesday and received a PD 360
flipchart. Stop by Mr. Blain’s office
for a flipchart if you didn’t receive one.
I will leave them on my round table in case I am not in the office when
you stop by.
Sunshine Club:
It was the consensus of our staff that we want to continue
the “sunshine club” at GCMS to buy flowers for funerals of immediate family and
gifts for first marriage and first born child.
Please give your $5 contribution to Mrs. House. Thank you for supporting your GCMS family in
this way!
Committees:
Please stop by the front desk on Monday to sign up for the
GCMS committee of your choice. We still have
lots of openings on every committee!
Also, if you know of a GCMS parent who would be willing to serve on a
committee, please recruit them and get them signed up as well.
Bully Prevention
Lessons:
Please make sure that you follow the schedule that Mr.
Whitmore sent out earlier in the week for the Bully Prevention lessons. We will start with the Stop/Walk/Talk lesson
during 6th period on Wednesday, August 7. Let’s work hard to continue to decrease
bullying at GCMS!
Quote of the Day:
“Success in any
endeavor does not happen by accident.
Rather, it’s the result of deliberate decisions, conscious effort, and
immense persistence…all directed at specific goals.” ~Gary Ryan Blair
Coming Attractions:
August 5……….District-Wide
Day
August 6……….not
a required work day at GCMS
August 7……….Students
first day of school in Grayson County
August 16……..Suicide
Prevention Certificates due from all certified staff
August 19……..Cougar
Zone begins
August 21……..GCMS
site based council meeting, 3:00 in the GCMS conference room
August 23……..School
Picture Day at GCMS
August 30……..PD
Day, no students
Sept. 9………….GCMS
Faculty Meeting after school (James Hardin will discuss ILP’s)
Notice that the Sept.
faculty meeting is not on the typical date.
Sept 17…………Parent/Teacher
Conferences, 4:00-6:00 (tentative date and time)
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