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