Winter Has Arrived!

This Week at GCMS:

Starting the week with our first snow day of the school year hasn’t affected us much this week, as things continue to go very smoothly around GCMS.  The new student drop off procedure out front each morning seems to be going very well, and we appreciate our GCMS parents helping make this a smooth transition.  Car traffic seems to be moving better as more students are able to be dropped off simultaneously.  I have just a few notes to share as this week winds down.

Staff Concerns:

We pass along condolences to Ashley Johnson’s family and Hannah Embry’s family.  Ashley’s grandfather and Hannah’s aunt both passed away this week. 

Please continue to remember those GCMS staff members and families with health concerns.  There are too many to name them all.  Venita Wilson’s father is still in the hospital in Louisville but hopes to get moved to Elizabethtown to a Rehabilitation in the next few days.   

Emergency Drills:

As you know, each school in Kentucky is required to practice every emergency drill several times during the school year.  GCMS students and staff have been doing a great job practicing our emergency drill procedures since we returned from Christmas break.  We had several local policemen, including our own Sergeant Bryan Hammons, to assist with the lockdown drill earlier this week.  Our students and staff did a great job with the lockdown and took it very seriously.  I always encourage our students to react as if the drill is a real emergency, so they will be well prepared in the event of an actual emergency.

Great Job Team 6!

I want to thank our Team 6 teachers for doing an excellent job with showcase lessons this week!   I saw highly engaged students studying everything from photosynthesis to ratios, rates, and proportions to the political system.  Great job Team 6 teachers and students!

Family Resource Survey:

GCMS students received surveys to take home this week regarding services provided by the Leitchfield Family Resource and Youth Services Center.  Our FRYSC provides very valuable services and support for our students and their families.  Students should return these surveys to their teacher by Tuesday, January 19.

MLK Day:

As most of you know, there will be no school on Monday, January 18 in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Observations:

As you know, all formal classroom observations must be completed by the end of March.  That sounds like a long way off, but it will be here before we know it…and we obviously prefer not to do 60 observations all that last month.  Our 7^th and 8^th grade teachers just need one mini-observation this year.  Our 6^th grade teachers, unit teachers, and Title teachers are in the summative year, so those will need a full observation and show evidence of progress on Domains 1 and 4.  I do not want anyone to complete a huge portfolio for 1 and 4, just an example of how you are meeting each of those 12 components of D1 and D4.  Non-tenured teachers have two minis and a full (unless you were hired later in the school year) and evidence of the 12 components of D1 and D4.  Please review your lesson plans and decide when you would like for your assigned administrator to observe.   

Quote of the Day:

“Adversity is the first path to truth.” ~Mike Murdock

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 14…Parent Involvement Committee, 3:30

Jan. 15…Due date for 2^nd mini-observation for non-tenured teachers

Jan. 15…Due date for all peer observations

Jan. 18...No School, MLK Day

Jan. 20…GCMS SBDMC meeting, 3:15

Jan. 27-Feb 10…Student Voice Survey Window