Making the Turn into the Home Stretch

This Week at GCMS:

I hope that everyone had a nice and relaxing Spring Break week last week.  It is always quiet around the school during the breaks and a chance to get caught up.  I was able to read and score several Domain 1 and 4 binders during break, and I was quite pleased with the work that our teachers put into those.  I know that it is a huge commitment to carry out the planning and preparation as well as the other professional responsibilities that sometimes “do not meet the eye” during a classroom observation.  Thank you for putting in the countless hours, not just preparing a binder, but preparing for your classes and being a professional with our students’ success in mind.  Thanks for all that you do!

Progress in Frankfort:

The state house and senate negotiations have finally produced a compromise budget that is expected to pass both the house and senate tomorrow.  If this budget goes through as proposed, K-12 education would not see funding cuts as the Governor had proposed.  The budget compromise also includes over $1 billion to state pension programs (including KTRS).  This is great news for Kentucky schools!  Stay tuned.

Congratulations to Lisa Robards!

Some of you are already aware that Mrs. Lisa Robards has decided to retire from teaching at the end of this school year.  Mrs. Robards has taught at GCMS for the past 4 years after teaching for many years in Hardin and Jefferson Counties.  She quickly became “one of us” at GCMS, and she has done a wonderful job with our students.  Lisa will certainly be missed at GCMS.

Welcome Back Decker!
I want to announce our once and future 7th grade social studies teacher, Shane Decker.  Mr. Decker will return to GCMS next school year after a one year hiatus in another district. I know that everyone will welcome this prodigal son back with open arms (finest robe, fatted calf, etc.)   

PBIS Student Reward:

Our “Ready, Set, Jump” Assembly will be Friday afternoon for all of those students who have not had an office referral since our last PBIS reward assembly in the fall.  Almost 85 percent of our students will get to participate in the assembly because of doing a great job following our rules and expectations at GCMS!  We will start calling students out of 6^th period at about 1:15.  Teachers should come to the gym to help supervise your team’s students.  We will need our related arts teachers to help supervise students from the team(s) that you have during 6^th and 7^th periods.  It will be fine for teachers to work in your rooms during your normal planning time.  The program should conclude at around 2:15, and we will send the students to 7^th period after the assembly. 

Faculty Meeting on Monday:

Just a reminder, we will have our April faculty meeting after school on Monday, April 18.  Mrs. Purcell will be here to familiarize teachers with the VAL-ED survey.  This survey is given every other year.  In Kentucky schools, teachers take the TELL survey one year, and the VAL-ED survey the next year.  The VAL-ED survey takes about 15 minutes, and the window will be open for the survey from Monday through Wednesday.  We will also spend some time discussing our problem of practice and classroom questioning using the school wide format.  If anyone still needs posters, please get with Becki Pearl.

Quote of the Day:

“If you want to get the best out of a person, you must look for the best that is in him.” ~Bernard Haldane

Coming Attractions and Due Dates:

April 18….Faculty Meeting/VAL-ED Survey
April 18-22....Teacher and Parent SBDMC nominations
April 20.....GCMS site based council meeting
April 26.....GCMS site based council elections, 6:30-3:30

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

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

April 30….End of Year Reflections on PGPs should be entered into CIITS (non-tenured)

May 1…..Teachers should have completed final roster verification in CIITS

My 15…… End of Year Reflections on PGPs should be entered into CIITS (tenured)

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)