The Beat Goes On

This Week at GCMS:

It has been a busy week at GCMS as we returned to school after the Thanksgiving break.  It has also been a difficult week for students and staff as we deal with the death of one of our GCMS family.  As you know, Mrs. Loretta Clemons passed away during the break.  Loretta was such a sweet lady, dependable and dedicated to her family and to her job at GCMS.  We will all certainly miss her. 

No Office Day:

I really enjoyed participating in “Kentucky No Office Day” on Monday.  Principals across the state used Monday as a day to get out of the office and into the classrooms and other areas of the building.  I enjoyed meeting with teachers, visiting almost 60 classrooms, talking with students, and not being tied down to the office with phone calls, emails, discipline referrals, etc.  All of those things are necessary and important, but Monday was a great reminder to me about all the great teaching and learning that goes on at GCMS!  I hope to do this again soon!

Good Luck Girls!

We would like to wish good luck to our GCMS Lady Cougar basketball teams as they begin conference tournament play.  Our girls will play in the first round at Butler County on Saturday.  If we win on Saturday, games will continue Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of next week at Butler County. 

CIITS Roster Verification:

Every teacher should go into CIITS and verify the accuracy of your student rosters by December 12.  The student list in CIITS needs to be accurate to assure that student growth percentiles are accurate and so that the student voice survey later in the school year will be accurate.  I emailed our teachers a “quick reference card” that Mrs. Purcell shared with me.  This should guide you through the roster verification process.  For teachers who teach 9 weeks classes, please verify your current 9 weeks class rosters only.  Let me know if you have questions or need assistance.

Observations:

I have enjoyed doing several classroom observations in recent weeks.  Please keep in mind that all peer observations and all 2^nd mini-observations (non-tenured teachers) should be completed by January 30.  If you are ready for your observation, please contact the administrator assigned to you to select a date.  We would be glad to do some more of these before Christmas Break!

Staff Attendance:

We have been having more teacher and staff absenteeism recently.  I know that there are emergencies and other times when you have to be out, but please make every effort to be at work every day that you possibly can.  Our students perform better and learn more when our teachers and staff are here.

Quote of the Day:

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” ~William James

Coming Attractions:

Dec. 6…GRVC Girls Basketball Tournament begins, at Butler Co.

Dec. 8…Staff Christmas Dinner at GCMS, 6:00 (sign up in the office)

Dec. 11…Christmas Breakfast provided by GC Board of Education, 7:15-8:15

Dec. 11-13…GCMS Students at KYA

Dec. 12…Teachers should complete roster verification in CIITS

Dec. 15…faculty meeting after school

Dec. 15…Santa Hat Day

Dec. 15..GCHS Chorus performs at GCMS, 10:00-10:30

Dec. 16…Reindeer Day

Dec. 16…Staff Potluck in the GCMS Library

Dec. 16…Drama Club Play for the public, 6:30

Dec. 17…Elf Day

Dec. 17…Drama Club Christmas Play (7th grade at 8:15, 8th grade at 9:45, 6th grade at 1:00)

Dec. 17…GCMS SBDMC meeting, 3:15

Dec. 18…Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Dec. 19…Cougar Bucks Award (see school calendar for details)

Dec. 20-Jan. 4…Christmas Break

Jan. 16…PLC Day (no school for students)

Jan. 30…Students grades 3-12 should have tested their IC user IDs and passwords by logging into IC.

Jan. 30…Teachers will review their PGP and record reflections in CIITS.

Jan. 30…Deadline to have all Peer Observations completed

Jan. 30…Deadline to have all 2^nd Mini-Observations completed (non-tenured teachers)

Feb. 16…PLC Day (no school for students)