Have a Great Summer!

This Week at GCMS:

As we wrap up another year at GCMS, I just want to thank everyone for all of your hard work, support, and encouragement to help to students of GCMS to be successful and have a great year.  I want to wish our 8^th graders the best of everything as they start the exciting adventure of high school, and I look forward to seeing our 6^th and 7^th graders again when school starts in the fall.  I know that everyone is looking forward to the summer break.  I hope that you are able to enjoy time with your family and friends, get your minds of school for a while, and get some much needed rest and relaxation.

 

Congratulations GCMS Retirees:

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank those staff members who are retiring from GCMS at the end of this school year.  We have more retirees than usual, and each one will certainly be missed by our students and staff.  Thank you all for your hard work and dedication.  You don’t receive nearly enough credit for the hard work that you have done.  Your work is key to student success, and in the bigger picture, your work is key to the future of our community.  Thanks for all that you have done.

Retiring from GCMS this year are Elaine Holley, Ginny Paine, Lisa Robards, and Viola Williams.  We also had some teachers and staff who retired during this school year, Shela Herman, Susan Higdon and Nell Elmore.  We wish each of you the very best in your retirement.

Field Days:

Thank you to everyone who worked hard to make this year’s field days run so smoothly.  The weather cooperated for 6^th and 7^th grade days, and despite this morning’s rain, our staff has made things work with inside events for our 8^th graders.  A special thanks goes to Mr. Whitmore for directing the field day events and to our related arts teachers for all of their work in planning and running the events. 

8^th Grade Commencement Programs:

We have our annual 8^th grade commencement programs scheduled for Friday, June 3 in the GCMS auditorium.  The Team 3 program will be at 8:00, with Team 1 at 9:30, and Team 2 at 11:00.  I am asking our staff not to park in the large staff parking lot off of Lee Avenue and not to park in front of GCMS.  We will reserve these areas for those family members who are here to attend commencement.  Also, those attending the 9:30 and 11:00 programs will be able to park in the bus loop behind the school.  Parents may meet their students in the GCMS library after commencement. 

Next Week:

Grayson County School staff only days will be held on Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7.  Our closing day will be Wednesday, June 8.  We plan to have a breakfast for our staff on Wednesday morning at GCMS and take a few moments to recognize our retirees that morning.  Those staff members who worked Back to School Night at the beginning of the school year will only be required a half day on Wednesday.  Any staff members who did not attend Back to School Night should plan to work a full day on Wednesday. 

Quote of the Day:

“Kids don’t make up 100% of our population, but they do make up 100% of our future.” ~Zig Ziglar

Coming Attractions:

June 3…Students’ Last Day of School

June 3…8^th Grade Commencement programs

June 6 & 7…Staff Work Days

June 8…Closing Day (those who worked Back to School Night only have to stay half a day)

August 2….Opening Day at GCMS

August 2….Back to School Night, 5:00-7:00

August 4….PD day for GCMS teachers

August 5….District-wide PD day at GCMS

August 8….Not a required work day for teachers, aides

August 9….Students first day of school in Grayson County

This is a Test...This is Only a Test

This Week at GCMS:

After driving a 1600 mile round trip to go apartment hunting with my son in Minneapolis last weekend, it has been nice to be back into the routine of school this week.  After getting stuck in traffic in Chicago on the way and again in the “Gatlinburg of the North” Wisconsin Dells on the way back, I remember why I like living in small town USA, where a tractor or Amish buggy constitute a traffic jam.  I have no desire for “bright lights/big city” unless it’s just to visit.  I have just a few notes to share as we wind up the week.

Congratulations!

GCMS is proud to have 6 students recognized for high ACT scores this year.  Bailey Richardson, Amanda Fulp, Chloe Cox, Stetson Higdon, Nate Pennington, and Miles Hornbeck have all achieved recognition at the state level for high scores.  Bailey and Chloe were recognized for high scores in all subject areas, and Bailey and Amanda were recognized at the national level for high scores.  This is an outstanding level of achievement!  If you see these students, please congratulate them!

KPREP:

I want to thank everyone at GCMS for the great effort put forth during this year’s KPREP testing.  I heard many comments about how hard the students were working and the positive attitudes being shown during testing.  As I told our students, I already know that we have great students at GCMS, but this is their chance to show the whole state of Kentucky what great students we have! I know that everyone is relieved to have this year's testing completed.

New Faces/New Spaces:

I would like to welcome a few new faces at GCMS for next school year.  Mr. Alex Lovell has been hired to teach math in Team 8.  Mr. Shane Decker has been hired to teach social studies in Team 4.  Mr. Bryan Jones has been hired to teach science in Team 3.  A couple of folks in new spaces will be Vicki Hicks teaching social studies in Team 6 and Ali Clemons teaching science in Team 4. 

Field Days:

Our annual field days will take place next week at GCMS.  The 6^th grade field day will be Tuesday, with 7^th grade on Wednesday, and 8^th grade on Thursday.  Students will be allowed and encouraged to wear hats, sun screen, sun glasses, etc.  The Beta Club will be selling bottled water and snacks.  Of course, students will be allowed to go in for a drink of water if they do not wish to buy water.  We certainly want everyone to stay hydrated.  KPREP rewards will be each afternoon for the grade that has field day that day.  I appreciate Mr. Whitmore and our related arts and title teachers for organizing and supervising these events. 

8^th Grade Commencement:

Our 8^th grade commencement programs will be held by team on the morning of Friday, June 3 with Team 3 at 8:00, Team 1 at 9:30, and Team 2 at 11:00.  I am asking our related arts and title teachers to take care of parking cars and crowd control within the building as we have done the past few years.  I am asking GCMS staff to not park in the front of the building and no park in the large teacher parking lot next to Lee Avenue.  We will leave this parking open for parents attending the commencement programs.  After each program, students will exit the back of the auditorium stage and then meet their parents/guardians in the library.  Parents may then exit through the library to their cars to depart. 

Quote of the Day:

“All that stands between the graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder.”  ~Author Unknown

Coming Attractions:

May 27…Cougar Buck Battle Ball and Movie rewards (6^th/7^th periods)

May 30…No School, Memorial Day

May 31…8^th Grade Awards Program by invitation, 6:00 pm

June 3…Students’ Last Day of School

June 6 & 7…Staff Work Days

June 8…Closing Day (those who worked Back to School Night only have to stay half a day)

August 2….Opening Day at GCMS

August 2….Back to School Night, 5:00-7:00

August 4….PD day for GCMS teachers

August 5….District-wide PD day at GCMS

August 8….Not a required work day for teachers, aides

August 9….Students first day of school in Grayson County

Thank You, Teachers and Staff!

This Week at GCMS:

With it being National Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take this opportunity to thank our teachers and staff for all you do at GCMS.  I have often said that being a teacher is the second hardest job in the world, second only to being a parent.  It is also the second most rewarding job to being a parent.  We have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of our students, and our teachers and staff do a wonderful job each and every day with this huge responsibility.  Thank you for all that you do!  We will be providing a catered lunch for our staff on Friday as a small token of our appreciation.  I also want to thank our GCMS Beta Club for all of their work to show appreciation this week as well as Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Pearl for organizing our daily treats and activities.  I think our GCMS staff is the greatest!

No Cougar Notes Next Week:

Teresa and I will be going to Nashville for Scott’s graduation from Vanderbilt next Thursday/Friday, so there will be no Cougar Notes next week.  It seems like just yesterday that I was taking him down there as a green college freshman, dropping him off at the dorm, and wondering if he would survive.  He has done great, not only surviving but thriving.  He will start his PhD program in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Minnesota this fall, and we are very proud as always.  I know that a lot of our teachers and staff are in the same boat, with kids growing up and making their way in this world.  It all just happens so fast. 

Congratulations!

I want to congratulate one of our 8^th graders, Laura Vincent, for breaking the school record in the pole vault with a vault of 8 feet 6 inches!

Student Growth Goals:

Just a reminder, the assistant principals and/or I will visit CSI meetings next week to check student growth goal scores.  Please have your analysis with you at your CSI meeting.  This should include the percentage of students showing growth (H is 90 or above, E is 75-89, L is 74 or below) and the percentage of students at proficiency (or better) compared to your goal.  Those not in a regular CSI can stop in any time, or we can check yours on our May 17 PLC day. 

Quote of the Day:

“A President needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.” ~Harry S. Truman

Coming Attractions:

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

May 15….Summative Conferences due for tenured teachers

May 15…GCMS Band Concert, 2:30

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

May 18…GCMS SBDMC meeting, 3:15

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

May 22…GCMS Orchestra Concerts

May 30…No School, Memorial Day

June 3…Students’ Last Day of School

No Idle Time Around GCMS!

This Week at GCMS:

In Proverbs 16, we read about idle hands being the devil's workshop.  That has not been a problem around GCMS lately!  It has been another very busy week at GCMS, with two Future Cougar Nights, Reality Store, Operation Preparation, transition meetings, and tomorrow’s instructional rounds.  Teachers are working hard to meet deadlines and still teach students as well.  I have just a few notes to share with you as the week winds toward its end and a well deserved weekend!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our newly elected GCMS site based council representatives.  Our parent reps will be Jenny Cummings and Jackie Stanton.  Our teacher reps will be Ashley Johnson, Ellen Thomas, and Don Logsdon.  I appreciate all of these folks being willing to serve, and I look forward to working with them in the coming year.  I also want to thank departing council members, parent rep Keith Lucas and teacher rep John Cariel.

After interviewing some very good candidates, I am happy to announce that I plan to recommend Alex Lovell for our math opening.  I believe he will be an excellent addition to our staff at GCMS.  If you see Mr. Lovell as he finishes up his student teaching assignment with Mrs. Gallagher here this week, please welcome him to our staff.

If you see 8^th grader, Ethan Pierce, congratulate him for breaking the school record in pole vault again!  That’s right; he broke his own record by vaulting over 10 feet this week! 

Future Cougars:

We had a great turnout on Tuesday evening, and I anticipate another great turnout tonight for our annual Future Cougar Nights!  Current 5^th graders and their parents get an introduction to our school.  Our counselors and administration share some information with the students and parents, and our Beta Club students lead them on a tour of our building.  I appreciate our 6^th grade teachers coming out to meet their future students and parents.  It helps our incoming Cougars feel more at ease about their transition to middle school.

Instructional Rounds:

Our district instructional rounds team will visit GCMS tomorrow.  As we discussed at our last faculty meeting, we will continue to focus on our problem of practice in the area of questioning.  Guiding questions that our observers will be looking for are:

•        Do the teacher and students refer to the common language for questioning?
•        Do student responses match the level of questioning?
•   ·         What are the frequencies of student generated open and closed questions?

The team will get in about half of our classrooms.  To my knowledge, no one has ever been bitten during an instructional round.  They are here to help us get better at something we have identified as a focus area for improvement. 

Reality Store/Operation Preparation:

I would like to thank Faye Critchelow, Kelzey McCubbin, and Angie Jones for all of their work in organizing and carrying out this year’s Reality Store and Operation Preparation.  With both events on the same days, it really helps out as far as reducing the impact on instruction and our regular school schedule.  It does create quite a challenge though, in recruiting more volunteers to work with each program.  I appreciate many GCMS staff members volunteering alongside our many community volunteers!  I even saw our Board of Education Chair, our County Court Clerk, a Leitchfield City Councilman, a State Senate candidate, and on and on!  I appreciate so many great folks pitching in to pull this off!

Quote of the Day:

“Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes solutions…has reason to complain, but chooses to smile.” ~William Arthur Ward

Coming Attractions:

April 29….Instructional Rounds at GCMS

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

May 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)

Bang, Zoom, to the Moon!

This Week at GCMS:

The full moon has been out this week, and our GCMS cougars must have known!  It’s been one of those crazy, busy weeks around the old school house!  I have just a few notes to share as our week winds toward the weekend.

Staff Concerns:

With several staff members and their family members having health concerns, please remember our GCMS family in your thoughts and prayers.  One positive note in this regard is that Tina’s husband, Jerry Poindexter, had an appointment this past week, and his doctors say that Jerry is cancer free!  I know that Tina and Jerry appreciate everyone who has prayed for them. 

Congratulations Viola Williams!

I believe this school year may be the highest in my 9 years as principal for the number of retirements.  I have known for quite a while but was hoping she might change her mind that our front desk receptionist/secretary, Viola Williams, will be retiring at the end of July.  Viola has worked in Grayson County Schools for the past 27 years, starting at the high school about the same time that I did.  She has done an outstanding job and will certainly be missed at GCMS. 

Congratulations to GCMS Music Performance Groups:

The pressure was on last Friday for the GCMS band as they performed in the annual KMEA concert festival.  This is because our GCMS orchestra and chorus programs had already scored all distinguished ratings in all grade levels the week earlier.  Our band also came through with flying colors and scored all distinguished ratings at KMEA.  Congratulations to all of our music students and to their directors.  We are truly fortunate to have great music programs at GCMS and in the district.  Over half of our 1,000 GCMS students participate in band, orchestra, or chorus.  This is an amazing statistic, and I believe music education benefits our students in many other areas of education as well. 

Vaulting to New Heights:

Two middle school track athletes are currently ranked number 1 in the state in their individual events.  Laura Vincent is number 1 in girls pole vaulting, and Ethan Pierce is number 1 in boys pole vaulting.  Ethan actually broke the school record with a vault of 9 feet 6 inches last week!  Great job!

Congratulations Mr. Parker:

I emailed earlier this week, but I want to congratulate Mr. Gary Parker on being named as 2016 Outstanding Education Administration student at WKU!  Only four students out of 70 in the program were chosen for this award. 

Instructional Rounds:

The district instructional rounds team will be back at GCMS next Friday, April 29.  We will use our same problem of practice and the team will be looking at the following guiding questions:

·         Do the teacher and students refer to the common language for questioning?

·         Do student responses match the level of questioning?

·         What are the frequencies of student generated open and closed questions?

Retirement Breakfast/Brunch:

This year, the district will be hosting a retirement breakfast/brunch on June 7.  This will be instead of the traditional evening retirement banquet.  Retirees will receive invitations and will gather that morning for a nice meal and recognition.  We will still have our closing day breakfast and pause to recognize our retirees at that time too. 

Quote of the Day:

“High expectations are the key to everything.” ~Sam Walton

Coming Attractions:

April 29….Instructional Rounds at GCMS

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)

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)

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)