Welcome Decemberrrrrr!

This Week at GCMS:

December has come in with some wintery temperatures that seem way too soon, but fortunately we are not getting wintery precipitation like many parts of the nation.  I am always very hopeful that the wintery weather will hold off until at least Christmas break, and I am optimistic about this year as well.  December is a very busy month, and I have several notes to share as this week winds down.

Staff Concerns:

It seems like we have many staff members and their family members with health concerns right now.  Eugene’s brother, Pendleton, is still at Norton’s but Eugene says that he is making progress.  Tonya’s husband is back home after a few days in the hospital with pneumonia.  Elaine Holley’s brother will be having surgery on Monday.  Charlotte McDonald’s daughter is recovering from surgery, and Charlotte has an appointment coming up about blood pressure issues.  Please remember these, along with Shela Herman, Jerry Poindexter, Stephanie Brey’s mom, Cassie Jarboe’s daughter, Allyson, Gail Smallwood’s husband, Angie Escue’s mom, Paige Shiarella’s father, Rita Mullins’ daughter, and many more.  Please keep your GCMS family in your thoughts and prayers.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the GCMS academic team for winning their first round match over LaRue County on Wednesday.  The team will take on T.K. Stone next Thursday. 

Three more GCMS chorus students have been honored!  Jessica Manion, Liberty Payton, and Nathan Meredith have been named the KMEA Jr. High All State Choir.  Great job!

Good Luck!

Good luck to our GCMS KYA delegation!  Our delegation of about 60 students will be in Louisville for this year’s Kentucky Youth Assembly from Sunday through Tuesday.  We wish them the best of luck!  Also, since my wife is one of the sponsors of this group, I will get to have my annual Mr. Mom days with our 7 year old daughter.  Wish me luck!

Good luck to our GCMS girls basketball teams as they start GRVC Tournament play at Edmonson County.  The tournament starts on Friday, but our girls will play their first games on Saturday morning. Go Cougars!

Good luck to all GCMS groups competing and performing this weekend, including boys basketball, archery, band, and academic team 6^th grade showcase!

Instructional Rounds:

As you know, we plan to have our instructional rounds at GCMS next Thursday, Dec. 10.  We will have teams of observers including central office staff, principals from around the district, three GCMS teachers who are in the Leading to Learn grant, Mrs. Pearl, and our GCMS administrators visiting classrooms during 2nd and 3rd period that morning.  The observers will focus on our questioning practices.  Are we asking open ended questions that make our students think?  Do our student responses match the level of questioning?  Are the students asking questions (open and/or closed)?  The instructional rounds are a positive process by which a “fresh set of eyes” will look at our questioning practices and make some recommendations to help us get better at an area that our school has identified for improvement.  Most all of you have questioning as an improvement goal on your PGP this year, so I know that you have really worked to improve in this area already. 

Observations:

Teachers, please be thinking about scheduling formal classroom observations.  Non-tenured teachers must have your second mini observations completed by January 15.  Get with Mr. Blain, Mr. Whitmore, or Mrs. Miller to schedule your observations.  Thanks.

Quote of the Day:

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” ~Yoda (Star Wars)

Coming Attractions:

Dec. 4…Recognize Girls Basketball with Pep Session, 7:40 am

Dec. 5-10…Girls Basketball at GRVC Tournament (Edmonson Co.)

Dec. 5…Academic Team at 6^th Grade Showcase

Dec. 5…Archery at NASP Competition

Dec. 5…GCMS Band at Hometown Christmas Parade and Nursing Homes

Dec. 5-6…GCMS 8^th grade boys basketball at TK Stone Tournament

Dec. 6-8…GCMS Students at KYA

Dec. 10…Christmas Breakfast provided by GCBOE

Dec. 10…Instructional Rounds at GCMS

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

Dec. 13...Orchestra Concert

Dec. 14...Chorus Concert

Dec. 15...GCHS Symphony at GCMS, 10:00 am

Dec. 15...Band Concert

Dec. 17...GCMS Drama Club Christmas Play

Dec. 18…due date for Teacher’s CIITS items (teachers, see earlier email)

Dec. 21-Jan. 1…Christmas Break