Have a Great Spring Break!

This Week at GCMS:

As the week winds down and we get ready for Spring Break week, I am amazed at how quickly this school year has gone.  We are already starting to plan for spring events such as Future Cougar Nights and 8^th grade commencement, along with next year’s back to school events.  I hope that everyone has a relaxing break next week, and “recharge your batteries” for the final stretch run of this school year!

Congratulations Susan!

I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to Susan Higdon for all that she has done here at GCMS and in Grayson County Schools.  Susan and I started teaching around the same time at the high school several years ago.  Susan would later teach at Clarkson and then at GCMS.  Since I have been principal at GCMS, Susan has taught a little bit of everything:  ELA, social studies, reading intervention, literacy coach, and never once complained to me when I would ask her to take on a different challenge.  She has shown great dedication to her job and more importantly to her students.  She will certainly be missed at GCMS, and on her last day before retirement, I just wanted to say thanks.

Congratulations Ginny!

Ginny Paine recently shared with me her plans to retire at the end of this school year.  I told her that she was way too young to retire!  Ginny has been with the school system for the past 27 years, teaching at Caneyville and then coming to GCMS when the 6^th grade was added to the middle school.  We want to thank Ginny for her hard work, dedication, and inspiration to the students of Grayson County.  She will certainly be missed as well.

Great Job!

Congratulations to the GCMS chorus on their KMEA performances earlier this week!  The 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade choirs all received distinguished ratings this year!  Great job!

Congratulations to the GCMS volleyball teams on an outstanding season!  The 7^th grade team was undefeated this season and won the conference championship.  The 8^th grade team was also outstanding and was the conference 8^th grade runners up.

Several GCMS students participate in the GCHS winter drum line and color guard.  The drum line recently won grand champions at the Tri-State Winter competition!  We look forward to having the drum line and the color guard perform for our student body at GCMS on Friday morning!

Education Funding in State Budget:

I received the email below from KASA.  I highly recommend calling to leave messages for Rep. Tim Moore and Senator Carroll Gibson.  It took me about 1 minute to call this morning.  Calling in to leave a message can only help!

Urgent Action Required -  It is possible the General Assembly may vote on a final version of the budget bill - House Bill 303 - before they recess. A conference committee made up of members of both chambers will be working to produce a final version of the budget during these three days.

The House version of the budget restored almost $90 million in proposed cuts to P-12 education that had been proposed by Governor Bevin. These cuts were in preschool, ESS, and other critical areas. The Senate reversed the House action and re-instituted cuts to these programs in its version of the budget.

It is critical that we contact legislators with the following simple message: "Retain the House version of House Bill 303 funding for elementary and secondary education."

Please call 800-372-7181 and leave the simple message above for your Senator and Representative. 

Aspiring Principal Program:

The third and final cadre of the Aspiring Principals program through GRREC and WKU will be having an informational meeting on March 30 at the Grayson County Board of Education Central Office.  The meeting is scheduled to start at 3:30 that afternoon.  Lea Ann Frank, Ashley Johnson, and Gary Parker are participating in the 1^st and 2^nd cadres, and I’m sure that they would be glad to answer any questions that you might have.  This is a great way to get your principal certification at a greatly reduced cost.

Quote of the Day:

“People often tell me that motivation doesn’t last, and I tell them that bathing doesn’t either.  That’s why I recommend it daily.” ~Zig Ziglar

Coming Attractions:

April 1……Due date for SGG post assessments to be given

April 4-8…Spring Break for GC Schools

April 18….Faculty Meeting/VAL-ED Survey

April 30….Summative Conferences due for non-tenured teachers

April 30….All teachers should have organized and analyzed SGG data.

May 15….Summative Conferences due for tenured teachers

May 17….PLC Day for teachers and staff (no school for students)

May 18-24..KPREP Testing (makeup testing, May 25-27)