Happy Valentines Day from GCMS!

No Phone, No Light, No Motor Car, Not a Single Luxury

We truly do take our modern technology for granted…until we are without it.  With internet down and our phones working on a very limited basis on Wednesday, we are reminded of just how dependent we are on technology.  I hear of schools and districts that claim to be going “paperless,” and I agree that we all need to move in that direction.  That notwithstanding, we must always have a plan B when our precious technology is on the fritz.  My word processor is working just fine on Wednesday afternoon, and I will put this edition of the Cougar Notes into the blog just as soon as internet is restored.  If my word processor breaks down, I also have a couple of pencils within arm’s reach!

Good Luck!

I would like to wish the best of luck to our GCMS boys basketball team.  Our 8^th grade boys team will be competing in the middle school state tournament in Lexington this coming weekend!

I would also like to wish the best of luck to all of those students who will be competing in the annual Grayson County Spelling Bee.  This year’s bee is scheduled for Saturday, February 14 in the GCMS auditorium.

PLC Day (Monday, February 16):

There will be no school for students on Monday, February 16.  This will be the last PLC day of the school year for staff professional training.  We have a variety of activities planned for the staff that day and will try to send an agenda out as soon as we have it finalized. 

Balfour Rep at GCMS (date change):

Mr. Bush will be back at GCMS to take school ring orders on Wednesday, Feb. 18 during lunch.  Students who would like to order a ring should have their completed order form along with a $20 deposit that day.  Please note that this is a change from the original date that I mentioned in last week’s School Messenger call.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

We had a nice turnout for parent/teacher conferences last night.  There were not as many parents in attendance as we had for the first semester conferences, which is to be expected this time of year.  I know that there were some good meetings and important conversations taking place as we enter a very important time of the year.  It is crucial that students and teachers do not let down in February and March, because the home stretch of the year is not that far away.  I encourage everyone to continue your hard work, and our students will benefit greatly!

Observations: (repeated from last week)

Teachers who still need to have formal classroom observations this year should contact the administrator in charge of your evaluation to schedule an observation date.  Remember, non-tenured teachers are required to have 2 minis, a peer, and a full observation.  Tenured teachers in your summative year (8th grade) are required a peer and a full.  We are scoring Domains 1 and 4 for all of those teachers.  Tenured teachers not in your summative year are required a mini observation only.  Those teachers should also be keeping up with documentation for Domains 1 and 4 and carry it forward for when your summative year rolls around.  Let me or one of the assistant principals know if you have questions about that process.  We would like to get several more completed in February, so there are not so many left for the last minute in March.

Quote of the Day:

“One nice thing about egotists: they don’t talk about other people.” ~George Carlin

Coming Attractions:

Feb. 13-14..Middle School State Boys Basketball Tournament, Lexington

Feb. 14…Grayson County Spelling Bee (at GCMS)

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

Feb. 18…Balfour School Ring rep will take ring orders during lunch

Feb. 18…SBDMC Meeting, 3:15

Feb. 23…8^th Grade Parent Night at GCHS, 6:00

Feb. 24-26…8^th Graders register for GCHS Classes