It's Great to Be a Cougar!

This Week at GCMS:

It is always great to have former GCMS students come back and visit or share stories of their experiences with our students.  I enjoyed sitting in with Vicki Hicks’ class this morning to hear Courtney Tucker (Nena’s daughter) tell of her semester in China.  It was so interesting to hear about the culture and to see the students so interested and asking so many great questions.  This is just one more example that our Grayson County kids can go anywhere and do anything when they set their minds to it.  We appreciate Courtney visiting our school today.

Student Voice Survey:

We will begin this year’s Student Voice Survey this coming Monday, January 30.  Please review the schedule and instructions that Becki Pearl sent out earlier this week.  Any student whose parent has returned the form requesting their child not participate should not be required to participate.  While the SVS is only a small part of anyone’s evaluation, it should be taken seriously and each teacher should be able to take valuable feedback from the survey.  With three years of data, we should be able to see trends and patterns about how our students view us as teachers.  Everyone should use the results to focus improvement efforts.  Thanks.

Congratulations:

This past week has been very successful for many GCMS student groups.  Particularly, our GCMS band had 25 students to qualify for All-District Band this year.  Our GCMS academic team won first place at this year’s District Governor’s Cup, including first in quick recall, first in FPS, three first place individuals, and 14 individual placements altogether.  Our archery team also had a very successful meet at Edmonson County last weekend. 

Good Luck:

I would like to wish the best of luck to our GCMS boys basketball teams as they participate in the Green River Valley Conference tournament at Edmonson County starting on Saturday.

Make Up Day:

The school district has decided to use February 20 as a student makeup day.  That date had originally been scheduled as a staff only PLC day.  This means that the staff day will have to be made up later in the school year, likely added at the end of the school year.  As of right now, the March 17 PLC day has not been designated as a makeup day.  This could change depending on whether we miss many more snow days.

Quote of the Day:

“When you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them.” ~Zig Ziglar

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 27…GCMS  home volleyball, 5:00

Jan. 28…GRVC Boys Basketball Tournament begins (at Edmonson Co.)

Jan. 28…Archery at Meade Co.

Jan. 31…GCMS home volleyball, 5:00

Feb. 4….Grayson County Spelling Bee at GCMS

Feb. 7…Parent/Teacher Conferences at GCMS, 4:00-6:00

Feb. 15-17…State Beta Convention

Feb. 21..8^th Grade Parent Night at GCHS

Feb. 28…Deadline for spending Classroom Funds

Go Cougars!

This Week at GCMS:

We have had another good week at GCMS!  It was great to see Elaine Holley visiting at GCMS this morning!  I have just a few notes to share this week.

Staff Concerns:

Please continue to remember Stacy Pierce in your thoughts and prayers.  She is currently in the hospital in Louisville and in need of your prayers.

Also, please remember Chris Drake in his recovery from back surgery. 

Chromebook Trainings:

It is great to have Dee Dee Webb at GCMS today to work with our teachers on Chromebook use.  I was able to sit in on a session this morning, and I know that Dee Dee is going to be a huge asset to our school and our district.  With the 60 Chromebooks added this year, another 70 next year, and the sets purchased by Teams 4 and 6, GCMS is becoming Chromebook City!  Let’s make the best use possible of this technology resource to benefit student learning at GCMS. 

Good Luck Academic Team:

GCMS will be hosting the district Governor’s Cup academic competition this week.  Future Problem Solving and written composition were held on Tuesday evening, and quick recall and written assessments will be held this Saturday.  Good luck to our GCMS academic team!

Quote of the Day:

“Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.”

~Franklin Roosevelt

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 21…Academic Team hosts District Governor’s Cup Competition

Jan. 21…Archery at Edmonson Co.

Jan. 21…All District Band Auditions

Jan. 21…GCMS Boys Basketball hosts Edmonson Co., 12:00

Jan. 25…Team Leader Meeting, 7:15

Jan. 28…GRVC Boys Basketball Tournament begins (at Edmonson Co.)

Jan. 28…Archery at Meade Co.

Feb. 4….Grayson County Spelling Bee at GCMS

Like Kentucky Weather? Stick Around, It Will Change!

This Week at GCMS:

It has been another great week at GCMS!  After the short disruption of snow days last week, our students are settling back in to the routine of the new semester and good things are happening.  I have just a few notes to share as the week winds toward Friday.

Anti-Bully Program:

Our anti-bullying assemblies went very well yesterday.  The speaker, Major Robert Carter, of the Madisonville Police Department, was very complimentary of our students and staff.  I felt that our kids really responded well and took the message to heart yesterday.  My challenge to our students now is to remember and practice the things that were taught.  The area of digital citizenship and online behavior was the main focus of the presentations, and this is such an important area for students to take seriously and think before they post pictures, comments, and other information online.  The parent session was lightly attended but was also very informative.

Emergency Drills:

As you know, we conduct a variety of emergency drills throughout the school year.  There are legal requirements that every type of emergency drill be conducted in January.  With this in mind, we will be doing one of every drill this month.  We will watch the weather in choosing when to do the fire drill.  As always, please review emergency drill procedures and encourage students to always take the drills seriously.  We are always better prepared in the event of an actual emergency when we have practiced our drills effectively.  Thanks.

Observations:

I have enjoyed observing in lots of classrooms recently.  With observation window 2 closing this week, I would like for all teachers to be thinking about scheduling your remaining observations for the school year.  Non-tenured teachers will need a full observation by the end of March.  Tenured teachers in the summative year will need a full observation by the end of March if you have not already done so.  Tenured teachers not in the summative year will need a mini observation, also before the end of March if not already completed.  Please review your lesson plans and contact your administrator to schedule your observation.  Summative year teachers (tenured and non-tenured) should be working on Domain 1 and 4 documentation as well.

Living Well Promise:

If you have chosen a Living Well insurance plan, you will need to complete your Living Well Promise this spring.  Please review Sarah Crume’s email from this week regarding how to complete the Living Well Promise.

Quote of the Day:

“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.” ~George Washington

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 12…GCMS Boys Basketball, 5:30 pm

Jan. 13…Window 2 observation deadline

Jan. 14….GCMS Archery at John Hardin HS

Jan. 16…No School, MLK Day

Jan. 17 & 21…Academic Team hosts District Governor’s Cup Competition

Jan. 18…GCMS SBDMC Meeting, 3:15
Jan. 19...Dee Dee Webb will meet with teams during planning times.

Jan. 21…Academic Team hosts District Governor’s Cup

Jan. 21…GCMS Boys Basketball hosts Edmonson Co., 12:00

Snow Day Report

This Week at GCMS:

I hope that everyone is enjoying our first snow day of the school year today.  It is very quiet around GCMS today, as I wonder about whether we might get to have school tomorrow or not.  I was pleased that we did not come to school and then have an early dismissal.  We have all been through those days where we have the students here, it’s snowing outside, and everyone wants to know if we are leaving early (and the kids want to know too!).  Those days don’t make for very good learning environments, so I think it was a great call to cancel.  I also got to have an extra cup of coffee and come to work at 8:00 instead of 6:00.  That was pretty sweet too!  I have just a few notes to share this week, since we have only been back from Christmas break for a couple of days.

GCMS Yearbooks:

Our GCMS yearbook ordering is now available online.  Students, parents, staff and others may go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com and use the order number 13799 to place an order.  Our yearbooks are $30 again this year or $35 with the student’s name imprinted on the yearbook.  The online orders will be available through February 28.  If you have questions, please contact one of our yearbook sponsors, Stephanie Horn or Laura Goff.

Monday Faculty Meeting:

Our January faculty meeting will be after school on Monday, January 9.  Mrs. Dee Dee Webb, our new district technology integration specialist, will be here to share with us about a potential new program.  Dee Dee stopped by GCMS and met with Mrs. Miller and me this morning about the program.  Also, Becky Miller and Becki Pearl are going to share with you the plan for making up the PLC day that we missed earlier this school year because of the Election Day conflict. 

Anti-Bullying Program:

Major Robert Carter, of the Madisonville Police Department, will be at GCMS on Wednesday, January 11 to present assemblies to each grade level during the school day and then a public session at 5:00 pm that evening.  The programs will focus on digital citizenship, cyber-bullying, and other bullying issues.  Everyone is welcome to the public program. 

School Board Appreciation Month:

January is School Board Appreciation Month.  I want take this opportunity to thank our board members for their hard work and dedication in support of teaching and learning in Grayson County.  The work and decisions of a school board really can make a difference in the future of a community.

 

Quote of the Day:

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” ~Vince Lombardi

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 6….Report Cards go home (if we are in school)

Jan. 7…GCMS Cheerleaders at Snow Ball Classic, Bowling Green

Jan. 9…GCMS faculty meeting, 3:00

Jan. 11…Anti-Bully Programs (during school and at 5:00 pm)

Jan. 13…Window 2 observation deadline

Jan. 14….GCMS Archery at John Hardin HS

Jan. 16…No School, MLK Day

Jan. 17 & 21…Academic Team hosts District Governor’s Cup Competition

Jan. 18…GCMS SBDMC Meeting, 3:15