This Week at GCMS

Cougar Staff:

We are winding down another busy week at GCMS, and believe it or not next week is the last week of the first quarter of the school year!  The school year is flying by, but I know that everyone is looking forward to fall break and having a few days to spend with your families and get a little rest.  Like many of you, I have been battling a head cold and cough for the past several days.  I know that there are several different maladies going around right now.  I actually had to excuse myself from two different classrooms this morning when I started coughing and didn’t want to disrupt the classes.  I hope that the bugs fly on out of here, and everyone gets feeling better soon.  I have just a few notes to share in this week’s Cougar Notes.

Personnel:

Please continue to remember Ellen Thomas and her family as they continue to deal with health concerns.  Please remember Dian Huffman, whose father passed away this week.  Also, please remember Mr. David Whitmore, who will have surgery coming up next Thursday. 

Time Marches On:

I didn’t quite know how I would feel about my little girl Tessa starting kindergarten this year.  Teresa and I have already raised one child, and he’s graduated from high school and going to college.  Tessa is our baby, and I have been quite happy with that for the past five years.  Sending her out into the big, bad world somehow didn’t feel just right.  The good news is that she is off to a great start!  She loves her teacher and her school, and she gets to walk over to Daddy’s office every day after school.  I have to admit that seeing a big smile on her little face is the highlight of my day each afternoon.  We all like the idea of our children being our little babies, but they grow up and we love them just as much then as when they are babies.  Time marches on.

Short Article:

Please take just a few minutes to read this short article:  http://www.teachingquality.org/content/how-facial-expressions-can-help-classroom-management.  This may seem like common sense, but then again, common sense can sometimes be an uncommon thing!

Thank You Team 9:

I appreciate Team 9 teachers hosting showcase lessons today!  I enjoyed spending a few minutes in each of the Team 9 classrooms this morning.  I observed high levels of student and teacher engagement in each class.  I also appreciate all of our other teachers visiting in Team 9 today.  We can pick up so many effective strategies during this process, and the classroom teacher who is hosting can get valuable feedback at the same time.  Showcase lesson day is a “win/win” for GCMS!

Walkathon:

Please continue to encourage the students to work hard in raising money for our annual GCMS walkathon.  All money which will be considered for earning prizes must be turned in by Wednesday.  Students may go ahead and turn in money on Thursday, but anything turned in after Wednesday will not be considered for prizes.  Remember, there will be no related arts or advanced math classes on Thursday since those teachers supervise the walkathon. 

Hansel and Gretel:

Thanks again to Melanie Manion and Cougar Zone for bringing the production of “Hansel and Gretel” to GCMS earlier this week!  The play was very well done.  If you will remember, this is the same company that put on “Tom Sawyer” for our students last year.  Our students were very respectful and well behaved during the performances, and I appreciate each of you supervising the students during this event.

Professional Growth Plans:

Most everyone has done your new professional growth plan for the new school year, but if you have not, please take care of this by September 30.

Quote of the Day:

"I am firm in my belief that a teacher lives on and on through his students. Good teaching is forever and the teacher is immortal." ~ Jesse Stuart

Coming Attractions:

Sept 27                 2013 School Report Cards available to the public (including K-PREP)

                             Departments will meet during CSI planning time.

Oct 3                     GCMS Walk-A-Thon

Oct 4-11               Fall Break

Oct 14-15             Open Enrollment at GCMS (for health insurance)

Oct 23                   Related Arts Showcase Lesson Day

Oct 28-31             Red Ribbon Week

Oct 30                   Picture Retake/Makeup Day

Nov 1                    PLC Day (no students)