December at GCMS!

                                            Sun Up at GCMS

This Week at GCMS:

I hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and got to spend time with family and friends.  We had a good visit with Scott before he had to hop on a plane back to Minnesota.  We look forward to a longer visit during Christmas time.  It has been good to get back to a normal 5 day week this week.  I have a few notes to share with you as the week starts to wind down.

Good Luck Cougars!

We have many GCMS student activities and competitions going on in the next few days.  Our boys basketball team hosts Muhlenberg North tonight (Dec. 1).  Our Lady Cougar basketball team kicks off the GRVC Conference Tournament at Muhlenberg North on Saturday.  If we win, our 7^th grade girls would play again on Monday night and our 8^th grade girls would play again on Tuesday night.   Our Cougar Bands will be very busy this weekend, with the 7^th/8^th grade band marching in the Leitchfield Christmas Parade and the 6^th grade band performing at the nursing home on Saturday.  The band’s Christmas concert is scheduled for this Sunday afternoon at 2:30.  Our GCMS cheerleaders will compete at DuPont Manual in Louisville on Saturday, and our GCMS academic team is hosting the regional 6^th Grade Showcase on Saturday as well.  Good luck to all of our GCMS students!

Next Week:

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Mobile Science Center will be at GCMS next week.  Our 7^th graders will get to visit the center, with Team 6 on Tuesday, Team 4 on Wednesday, and Team 5 on Thursday.  The Center will be available to all GCMS students through Cougar Zone on Tuesday after school.  This is the third year that we have been able to have the Mobile Science Center to visit GCMS, and our students always get a lot out of it. 

Our 8^th grade teams have been invited to GCHS on Friday, December 9.  High school programs, organizations, and activities will be set up in the gym for our students to learn about.  We appreciate our colleagues at GCHS hosting us for this informative day. 

Congratulations Ms. Goff!

I want to congratulate Laura Goff on being accepted into WKU’s Doctoral program!  This is a very exciting opportunity, and I am proud that Laura is going to pursue her doctorate. 

Merry Christmas:

Mrs. Miller sent this out yesterday, but I want to remind you of our upcoming Christmas activities at GCMS.  We are having our Santa hat, reindeer, elf and Christmas sweater days as we have in the past.  New events include: On Friday dress up as your favorite Christmas character from a book or movie.  We also are having a bulletin board decorating contest per team or department.  Boards will be judged on December 14^th.  We will have a staff and student sweater contest on Thursday morning in the gym, so plan accordingly and let the ugliness begin!  The board will be providing breakfast on Monday, December 12^th.  We will have a staff lunch on Thursday, December 15^th catered by Kay’s.  Menu will include, roast beef, chicken tenders, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, harvest salad and chocolate cake, and sugar free banana pudding for dessert.  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at GCMS!

Christmas Play:

The GCMS Drama Club will present the school Christmas play "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" on December 13, with performances for each grade during the school day and a public performance at 5:30 that evening.  

Observations:

Observation reminders:  all non-tenured (and probation year) teachers will need a second mini-observation by January 13.  Please contact your observing administrator to schedule your observation.  Those teachers who need a peer observation this year should have those completed by January 13 as well.  Full observations for summative year teachers may be completed any time after your peer observation has been completed.

Quote of the Day:

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.” ~Charles Dickens

Coming Attractions:

Dec. 3….Academic Team 6^th Grade Showcase at GCMS

Dec. 3…..Band in Christmas Parade and at Nursing Home

Dec. 3…...Cheerleaders at DuPont Manual

Dec. 3-8…GRVC Conference Tournament at Muhlenberg North

Dec. 4….GCMS Band Christmas Concert, 2:30

Dec. 6-8…Kentucky Science Mobile at GCMS for 7^th grade

Dec. 8…GCMS Choir Concerts, 3:00-8:00

Dec. 9….8^th graders to GCHS for high school information

Dec. 9…Meet the Lady Cougar Volleyball Team Night, 7:00

Dec. 10…GCMS Archery Competition at Bowling Green

Dec. 11-13…GCMS delegation at KYA
Dec. 13....GCMS Drama Club Christmas Play, during school and at 5:30 for public

Dec. 15…GCMS Orchestra Concerts, 3:00-8:00

Dec. 17…GCMS Cheerleaders at State Competition in Lexington

Dec. 17-Jan. 2…No School, Christmas Break