What's That Crunching Sound?

This Week at GCMS:

It is an extremely busy time at Grayson County Middle School as we get ready to start the last month of the school year.  Some might even call it “crunch time” with so much work left to do in so little time.  This school year has gone by very quickly.  It seems that the more years that I work, the faster the time goes.  As I complete my 25^th year in education, I look back in amazement.  I am so thankful for the many great students, parents, and teachers that I have had the opportunity to work with, and that I look forward to continuing to work with for a few more years.  

Staff Appreciation:

I do not say thank you often enough to our wonderful staff at Grayson County Middle School, but I do sincerely appreciate the work that you do each and every day for the students at GCMS!  We will recognize staff appreciation next week with a hospitality room in the library on Wednesday organized by Faye and Kelzey from FRYSC and breakfast from Best Donut on Friday.  Thanks for all that you do to make GCMS a great place for students and staff!

Thank You:

I appreciate everyone who helped out with our 7^th grade field trip to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College on Monday night.  The students and parents seemed impressed with the programs they were able to tour.  It is never too early to start becoming college and career ready, and this annual trip is a great way to build that readiness.  I also want to thank everyone who helped out with our Future Cougar Nights this week.  The transition from elementary to middle school is often very stressful for students and parents, and events like this are great to ease the anxiety.  We had some long days this week, and I appreciate your efforts.

Great Job:

I was very impressed with our Junior HOSA students who competed in healthcare events this week.  The students were very knowledgeable about their events and did a great job!  I appreciate Mrs. Nena Tucker putting her nursing experience to work by sponsoring the Junior HOSA club.

Congratulations to the GCMS band for earning a total of 41 distinguished ratings at the recent KMEA solo and ensemble festival at North Hardin.  Several students scored 2 distinguished ratings, and Mason Parker even earned 3 distinguished ratings.  This is outstanding!

Wulfe Brothers:

The students and staff had a great job at the recent Wulfe Brothers assembly.  Members of the Wulfe Brothers even commented several times after the show about how well our students behaved and participated, saying it was the best middle school they had been to in many years!  Please brag on your students about this.  

One-on-One Meetings:

Mr. Whitmore, Mrs. Miller, and I have gotten started with one-on-one meetings with our GCMS students.  We are meeting with students during study skills time this week and plan to meet with the rest of the students through music classes next week.  I love getting to talk to the students like this and hearing what they have to say.  It is a wonderful reminder for me that we really have a great bunch of kids at GCMS!

Online Discipline Referrals:

We have had a smooth transition to the online discipline referral this year.  I do want to share one tip, though.  When you do an online referral through Infinite Campus, it is normally best to choose all three administrators rather than just choosing one.  This allows us to get to the referrals in a more timely manner.  Once in a while, there might be a case that one administrator has prior knowledge of, and in that case it is fine to just send it to one person.  Thanks.  

Supervision:

We are entering a time of year that supervision is more important than ever.  Students tend to get a little “spring fever” this time of year and inappropriate behaviors can take place.  The best approach to this is for staff members to be very visible and supervising at all times.  This goes for the hallways, the restrooms, the common areas and the classrooms.  Our students are always less likely to misbehave if a staff member is there.  Thanks.

Quote of the Day:

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill

Coming Attractions:

May 5…KHEAA program for 8^th grade parents, 5:30

May 6...Hospitality Room for staff appreciation

May 8....Breakfast sandwiches and donuts for staff appreciation

May 8… Living History for 8th graders in the auditorium at 1:00.

May 11…Faculty Meeting

May 13-20…KPREP Testing Window

May 14...GCMS  Hosts the Grayson County School Board Meeting, 6:00

May 19… No school for students – PLC Day for staff

May 20…Posting window opens

May 20....Site Based Council Meeting, 3:15

May 26… Drama Club Play for 8th graders at 8:00

May 27…8th Grade Field Day

May 27…Posting window closes

May 27…Drama Club Play for 6th grade 8:00, for 7th grade 9:30

May 28…6th/7th Grade Field Day

May 28 …8th Grade Awards Program at 6:00

May 29…Last day for students

Keeping Your Head Up

Quote of the Day:

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa

I would encourage everyone to follow this advice.  Keep your head up when things don’t go your way, and always work to do the right thing.  If you can look yourself in the mirror and know that you have done your best, happiness and satisfaction will be yours.  Don’t let the wrongs in this world get you down.

Staff Concerns:

Please continue to remember our GCMS staff and their families.  We have many health needs, family members with health issues, and personal issues right now.  Thanks.

Congratulations New SBDMC Members!

I would like to congratulate and welcome our newly elected site based decision making council for next school year.  Our two parent representatives, Jenny Cummings and Keith Lucas, were both re-elected to the council along with teacher representative Ashley Johnson.  New teacher representatives, Ellen Thomas and John Cariel, were also elected and will join the council in July.  Congratulations to all and thanks for your willingness to help our school’s continuous improvement process.  I would also like to thank both Elaine Holley and Lea Ann Frank for their service as teacher representatives to the council this year and previous years.  

Good Luck Cougars!

Good luck to all those students trying out for boys basketball, cheerleading, and girls basketball at GCMS.  Also, good luck to those band students who will be participating in the KMEA solos and ensembles on Saturday, April 24.

Student Growth Goals:

The assistant principals and I have been able to meet with all of the teachers in the four core departments and related arts concerning your student growth goals this week.  While some teachers have not been completely satisfied with the growth seen through this process, we have all learned a great deal about the process.  I feel like this will be much more effective next year with a year of practice under our belts.  We still need for each Title teacher and each special education teacher to stop by during your planning time today or one day next week.  Those teachers will need to bring a copy of your student growth goal, your rubric, data from your pre and post assessments, your analysis of the data (spreadsheet would be a good approach).  You should be able to show the percentage of students who showed growth and the percentage of students who reached proficiency or better.

Coming Attractions:

April 27…History Assembly, The Wolf Brothers, 1:15

May 8… Living History for 8th graders in the auditorium at 1:00.

May 11…Faculty Meeting

May 13…20 – KPREP Testing Window

May 19… No school for students – PLC Day for staff

May 20…Posting window opens

May 26… Drama Play for 8th graders at 8:00

May 27…8th Grade Field Day

May 27…Posting window closes

May 27…Drama Club Play for 6th grade 8:00, for 7th grade 9:30

May 28…6th/7th Grade Field Day

May 28 …Awards Evening at 6:00

May 29…Last day for students

Here in Cougar Nation

This Week at GCMS:

It has been another busy week at GCMS as we have returned to spring break.  While it is a hectic time of year as the school year winds down, it is also an important time of year.  It is important to finish the year strong and with a continued focus on learning.  I have a few notes to share as the week winds down.

Congratulations:

I would like to congratulate Mr. Doug Robinson for being named as the next Superintendent of Grayson County Schools.  We at GCMS wish him the very best in his new role.
 

Congratulations to our GCMS music performance groups on earning distinguished ratings at the recent KMEA concert festival.  Our band, orchestra, and chorus all earned distinguished ratings at all grade levels.

Congratulations to our 7^th and 8^th grade volleyball teams on a great season.  Both teams wound up as runners up in the conference tournament!

Site Based Council Nominations:

Site Based Council nominations are being accepted this week.  See Mrs. House in the GCMS office to nominate someone or to self-nominate.  The council is comprised on three teachers, two parents, and the principal.  Teachers are eligible to nominate and to serve, and parents whose children are currently in grades 5-7 in Grayson County are eligible to nominate and serve.  See Mrs. House for other qualifications questions.  The voting will be next Wednesday, April 22.

Student Growth Goals:

We spent some time on Monday after school reviewing the student growth goal process.  I am requesting that each teacher be prepared to meet with me or one of the assistant principals during CSI planning time next week (April 20-April 24) to reflect on the progress made toward the SGG this year.  Teachers will need to bring a copy of your student growth goal, your rubric, data from your pre and post assessments, your analysis of the data (spreadsheet would be a good approach).  You should be able to show the percentage of students who showed growth and the percentage of students who reached proficiency or better.

Student Voice Surveys:

As you know, the recent student voice survey results are now available in CIITS.  Overall, I felt like the results at GCMS were positive.  I know that there has been some conversation and even concern about the survey results.  The student voice survey is not a percentage or direct component of anyone’s evaluation.  It should be thought of as one piece of evidence that informs the evaluation of professional practice.  It is also the first time that we have done the student survey, and some students may not have taken it very seriously.  We can learn from this first experience, and perhaps we can better prepare our students next year so to get optimal and appropriate results.  While I don’t want anyone to get all bent out of shape about the survey, I do want you to take it as it is intended.  We should consider student perceptions and do what we can to make those perceptions positive, while at the same time maintaining quality teaching and learning.  For example, if the students have rated a teacher low in engagement, it should cause that teacher to consider ways of making his/her classroom more engaging.  If the students have rated someone highly in a category, consider what you are doing well to motivate that high rating and build on that strength area.  Again, let’s take the student voice surveys in a constructive way to inform and improve our professional practice. 

Quote of the Day:

“In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility.” ~Michael  Korda

April 22…Teacher and Parent SBDMC Election, 6:30-3:30

April 27…History Assembly, The Wolf Brothers, 1:15

May 8… Living History for 8th graders in the auditorium at 1:00.

May 11…Faculty Meeting

May 13…20 – KPREP Testing Window

May 19… No school for students – PLC Day for staff

May 20…Posting window opens

May 26… Drama Play for 8th graders at 8:00

May 27…8th Grade Field Day

May 27…Posting window closes

May 27…Drama Club Play for 6th grade 8:00, for 7th grade 9:30

May 28…6th/7th Grade Field Day

May 28 …Awards Evening at 6:00

May 29…Last day for students