Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks:

As we close in on the Thanksgiving holiday next week, we will all pause to give thanks for the many blessings that we enjoy in our lives.  I am so thankful for what the good Lord has given me, my family, good health, and a wonderful group of people to work with at GCMS!  Thank you so much for what you do each day to help make the lives of these young people better!  I hope that each of you gets to relax and spend quality time with family and friends next week during the Thanksgiving break.

Thank You Related Arts:

I enjoyed getting to observe in several of our related arts classes today.  The students and teachers were highly engaged, and I saw some good examples of formative assessment in action.  Mr. Crump and Mrs. Cates from Clarkson were with me for part of the classes, and they were very complimentary of what they saw as well.  I appreciate our related arts teachers opening up your doors to colleagues and sharing some great teaching and learning ideas.

Striking Up the Band:

I enjoyed hearing our GCMS Pep Band play at the GCMS basketball games recently.  I appreciate the band coming out to play at a girls game and a boys game each year.  It adds so much to the atmosphere to have the band playing.  Great job, Cougar Band!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Laura Goff for being chosen as one of 15 Kentucky social studies teachers for the McConnell Center’s upcoming professional learning for teachers in Boston, Massachusetts in February.  Also, congratulations to Ellen Thomas for being chosen as first alternate for this program.  My only concern is that these ladies go to Boston and get snowed in by three feet of snow and we don’t see them again until after the spring thaw!  Hopefully, it will be a mild winter. 

Also, congratulations to Stacy French on earning her National Board Certification!  This is a great accomplishment.

Congratulations, ladies!

Instructional Rounds:

The instructional rounds date at GCMS has been set for December 10.  I will send out a detailed schedule as the date gets closer, but I would like for you to go ahead and mark your calendars for that date.  The teams will be in each classroom observed for 10 minutes and will be looking specifically at our use of questioning.  I will send out the revised Problem of Practice and guiding questions in the near future as we discussed at Monday’s faculty meeting.

Quote of the Day:

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ~Aristotle

Coming Attractions:

Nov. 19…GCMS Boys Basketball hosts Edmonson Co., 5:00

Nov. 23…GCMS Girls Basketball hosts St. Romuald, 5:30

Nov. 25-27…No School, Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 10…Christmas Breakfast provided by GCBOE

Dec. 10…Instructional Rounds at GCMS

Dec. 11…Christmas Lunch catered by Kay’s Café

Dec. 21-Jan. 1…Christmas Break

The Wheels Keep Spinning!

This Week at GCMS:

It’s been a long, busy week at GCMS and still more to come!  With three home ballgames, 2 assemblies, a board meeting, etc., I know that everyone will be glad to get to the weekend.  I want to thank everyone for their efforts this week and throughout the school year.  I have just a few notes to share as our week draws to a close.

Veterans Day:

I would like to thank everyone for a great Veterans Day program on Wednesday.  We had about 35 veterans in attendance, and our students did a wonderful job of being respectful and appreciative.  I would like to specifically thank our GCMS staff members who are veterans:  Ellen Thomas, Mike Blair, and Eddie Dennison.  I would like to thank our GCMS chorus, band trumpet players, and Boy Scouts for an outstanding job as well.  Our students do not get many opportunities to participate in patriotic programs, so it is good for them to have the opportunity.  Thanks to all.

Friday Assembly:

Just a reminder, motivational speaker and juggler, Paul Kelly will be putting on an assembly in the gym during 1^st period tomorrow (Friday).  Come on down to the gym and help supervise the students.  It is fine for related arts to go ahead and have your PLC meeting.  We will go straight to 2^nd period when we dismiss from the gym.

Faculty Meeting:

We will be having a faculty meeting after school on Monday, November 16.  I want to spend some time going over the instructional rounds process and upcoming December visit by district administrators.  I will share the “problem of practice” and guiding questions that the observers will be focusing on that day.  Also, Mr. Parker will share information about the importance of formative assessment.  All teachers should plan to stay that afternoon.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

We are offering an additional parent/teacher conference opportunity next week on a “by appointment” basis.  We have set a three day window for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for conferences during planning periods and/or right after school.  I hope that we have several parents to take advantage of this additional opportunity.  I appreciate our teachers being flexible with scheduling these conferences.

Quote of the Day:

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others.  It is the only thing.”  ~Albert Schweitzer

Coming Attractions:

Nov. 12…GC BOE meeting at GCMS, 6:00

Nov . 13…”Juggling Up the Ladder” assembly 1^st period

Nov. 16…Faculty Meeting, 3:00

Nov. 18…Dress for Success Day

Nov. 18…SBDMC Meeting, 3:15

Nov. 25-27…No School, Thanksgiving Break

Short Week News

This Week at GCMS:

It has been a short week but a very productive week at GCMS.  With students out Monday and Tuesday, we were able to have a beneficial PLC Day on Tuesday at GCMS.  Steph Jenson from Boys’ Town shared with us a presentation on relational aggression, bullying, and strategies to help our students be more successful.  I feel that we can work the social skills lessons into our current structure for teaching expectations.  Thanks for a great day of professional learning!

New Personnel:

I would like to welcome some new staff members to GCMS!  I am recommending Ms. Dana Drane for our new special education unit teacher position.  The board of education has created this position due to our units being over caps this year.  I would also like to welcome Halee Johnston, who is subbing in the 6^th grade special education co-teacher position created with Nell Elmore’s retirement.  I know that you will join me in welcoming Ms. Drane and Ms. Johnston!

GCMS Boys Basketball:

Our GCMS boys basketball teams kicked off the new season with victories on the road last week and will have their first home game of the season Thursday night starting at 5:30.  Girls’ basketball season is also in full swing, so I encourage everyone to get out and support our teams.  The kids love it when there are big crowds, and they love to see teachers and classmates along with their parents at the games. 

Morning Announcements:

It is important that all teachers show the morning announcements power-point.  I know that first period is short, but there are announcements on the power-point that the students need to be aware of.  When teachers fail to show the announcements slides, students are missing out.  We can move quickly through the slides, and most days the announcements can be completed in 5 minutes or less.  Thanks.

Supervision:

As always, it is very important for teachers and staff to be very visible in supervising students during the school day.  Steph Jenson spent some time discussing this on PLC day.  One time that is especially important is during the class changes.  Students are much less likely to engage in inappropriate behavior if they know that teachers are watching.  Thanks for your efforts in this area.

Quote of the Day:

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” ~Thumper from “Bambi”

Coming Attractions:

Nov. 5…GCMS Boys Basketball hosts Owensboro, 5:30

Nov. 6…6^th graders from Clarkson go to CES, 12:15-2:00

Nov. 11…Veterans Day program, 7:45 am

Nov. 12…GC BOE meeting at GCMS, 6:00

Nov . 13…”Juggling Up the Ladder” assembly 1^st period

Nov. 16…Faculty Meeting, 3:00

Nov. 18…Dress for Success Day

Nov. 18…SBDMC Meeting, 3:15

Nov. 25-27…No School, Thanksgiving Break