GCMS Has a Heart!

This Week at GCMS:

We were glad to have one of those rare and wonderful happenings this week, a five day week of school!  It has been a super busy week, and I have enjoyed getting to observe in lots of classrooms this week.  Thank you for your continuing dedication to helping students learn and succeed!  I have just a few notes to share as this week comes to a close.

Great Job on AHA Fundraiser!

After three years in a row as the number 1 school in the state in fundraising for the American Heart Association, we took a one year hiatus from the program last year.  Our students came back in a big way for this year’s AHA fundraiser, raising over $11,000 this week!  The students have enjoyed the competition and this morning’s reward events.  I appreciate Crystal Bratcher and all the related arts teachers heading up these efforts.  I appreciate Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Pierce, and Mr. Morris being great sports and each taking a pie in the face this morning.  It was good to see Mr. Lockett receiving an award for his valiant efforts earlier this week as well.  Great job!

Dr. Suess’ Birthday and Career Dress Up:

We will recognize Dr. Suess birthday with a future career dress up day on Wednesday, March 2.  Students may dress up as their future career, with GCMS using the theme “Oh! the Places You’ll Go!”

Observations/Evaluations:

As you know, all formal classroom observations must be completed by the end of March.  If you have not yet scheduled your observation, please get with the administrator in charge of your evaluation to set a date and time.  The summative conferences must be completed by April 30 for non-tenured teachers and by May 15 for tenured teachers.  Non-tenured teachers have summatives every year, and this year we also have summatives for 6^th grade teachers, Title teachers, and unit teachers.  Please check with your administrator if you have questions.

Logging On and Off of Computers:

Teachers and staff members should be extremely careful and conscientious about never leaving a computer workstation logged in.  If you are logged in and need to leave the room, always be sure to log out of that computer.  There was an issue because of this sort of thing at one of the other schools this week, and that school and the whole network were in jeopardy.  Mr. Graybeal, Mr. Butler, and the entire tech staff worked many extra hours and were able to contain and eliminate the threat.  Again, let’s make sure that does not happen here.  Thanks.

Student Voice Surveys:

Thanks for your diligence in getting this year’s student voice surveys completed.   Results are starting to show up in CIITS, so take a look next time you log into CIITS.  I don’t want anyone to stress over the survey results.  It is just one piece of evidence about performance and not a set percentage of anyone’s evaluation.  Realistically, SVS gives a very limited amount of information in looking at one year’s results.  As we get farther in, it may be useful to look back at multiple years of data and see if we have observable patterns in SVS results. 

Showcase Lessons in March:

We have two teams planning showcase lessons during the month of March.  Team 3 showcase will be on March 10, and Team 5 showcase will be on March 23.  We look forward to visiting these two teams and appreciate them opening their classrooms to their colleagues.

Quote of the Day:

“You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”  ~Dr. Seuss

Coming Attractions:

Feb. 29…last date to spend 920X classroom money

Mar. 1…GCMS Volleyball hosts Hancock Co., 5:30

Mar. 2…Dr. Suess’ Birthday/Career Dress Up Day

Mar. 2…GCHS Showcase in the Gym, 2^nd/3^rd/4^th periods (one team per period)

Mar. 3…GCMS Volleyball hosts Ohio Co., 5:30

Mar. 3-5..GCMS students at KUNA

Mar. 31…deadline for all formal classroom observations

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

This Week at GCMS:

It was great to have the students back in school today after the continuing wintery weather.  I appreciate our GCMS teachers and staff keeping the students focused on their learning despite the continuing interruptions due to bad weather and slick roads.  Becky Miller said that it seemed like the movie “Ground Hog Day” around here, as we continually have days where we try to get back in the groove of having school.  The weather forecasts are showing a warming trend, so hopefully the worst of winter is behind us.  I have just a few notes to share as this week draws to a close.

Condolences:

We were very sad to learn of Mrs. Kathy Haycraft’s passing away over the weekend after a tragic automobile accident in Hart County.  Most of you know Kathy as the head cashier in our GCMS cafeteria.  Her daughter Samantha is one of our Cougar Zone workers.  Kathy’s brother-in-law also died as a result of the wreck.  Please keep their family in your thoughts and prayers.

We were also sad to hear of Owen Cottrell’s passing.  Owen was custodian Glen Cottrell’s brother and the father of 8^th grade Team 1 student, Skylar Cottrell.  Please keep the Cottrell family in your prayers as well.

Mrs. Tonya Haycraft and her family had garage fire night before last.  Their detached garage was a total loss, but thankfully, no one was hurt, and they were able to save their dogs from the fire.  The fire did not impact their home, but the garage building and all contents were lost in the fire.  Please remember Tonya’s family as well.

Good Luck Beta!

I want to wish the 51 GCMS Beta Club students the best of luck at the State Beta Convention today and tomorrow in Louisville.  Nancy Sims and Haley Lindsey are our GCMS Beta sponsors, and the students are involved in a variety of presentations and competitive events.

Faculty Meeting:

We do have a faculty meeting scheduled for this coming Monday, February 22.  We will meet at 3:00 in the school library.  Agenda items will begin with a presentation from Annie Hynes of Air-Evac.  We will have this presentation first, so any classified employee who is interested in Air-Evac is welcome also.  Mrs. Venita Wilson’s family recently utilized this Mr. Morris will share the formative assessment app, “Kahoots” and Mrs. Pearl will share the “robot questioning” format as a school wide approach to questioning at GCMS. 

Quote of the Day:

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed.” ~Booker T. Washington

Coming Attractions:

Feb. 18…Home Volleyball, 5:00

Feb. 22…AHA Fundraiser Kickoff (through related arts classes)

Feb. 22…Faculty Meeting, 3:00

Feb. 22…Home Volleyball, 5:00

Feb. 25…Home Volleyball, 5:30

Feb. 26…AHA Reward Event (through related arts classes)

Feb. 29…last date to spend 920X classroom money

Mar. 31…deadline for all formal classroom observations

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Week at GCMS:

Somebody asked me this morning, “if we miss school on Monday, will we make up the “make up make up day” and if so, will we make it up once or twice?”  Those are the kinds of questions that schools and districts have to think about in a snowy winter like this.  As I sit here in my office on Snow Day 8, I look forward to spring and warmer weather.  Channel 41 came by and interviewed me this morning about snow days and how this affects our students and our school year.  We have always had snow days, and we likely always will…unless the global warming folks are right.  Then our grandchildren may not have snow days.  I remember the winter of 1978 when I was still in school.  We went home for Christmas break and did not come back to school until February.  I always use that as my frame of reference when someone talks about missing “so many days”.  It’s really not “so many” just yet.  On the other hand, those were the days when the state would “forgive” the first five or ten days missed before days had to be made up.  Our students and staff will likely have to go into early June this year, but it won’t be the first time, and likely won’t be the last.  Be careful if you have to travel when the roads are bad, and just stay home if you do not have to be out.

 

As of right now, we will plan to send progress reports home the next day that we are back in school.  If we are in school on Tuesday, we will plan to go ahead and have our parent/teacher conferences on Tuesday evening from 4:00-6:00.  If school were to be cancelled on Tuesday, we will not hold conferences that evening. 

Quote of the Day:

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”  ~Theodore Roosevelt

Coming Attractions:

Feb. 13…Grayson County Spelling Bee, at GCMS

Feb. 13…Academic Team at Regional Governor’s Cup, at Bluegrass Middle School

Feb. 16…Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:00-6:00

Feb. 17…GCMS site based council meeting, 3:15

Feb. 18…Home Volleyball, 5:00

A Five Day Week! (I say confidently on a Thursday)

This Week at GCMS:

It has been great to have a five day week of school this week!  Weather interruptions happen every year, but it is great to get some consecutive days of instruction in.   It has been a busy time with starting the student voice survey along with our regular teaching and learning.  The students seem to be taking the survey seriously and doing a good job with it.  I appreciate Becki Pearl serving as our building contact person for the survey.  I have just a few notes to share as this week winds down.

National School Counselor Week:

Being National School Counselor Week, I want to take this opportunity to thank our two GCMS school counselors, Leann Majors and Nancy Sims.  Both ladies do an outstanding job for our students and staff at GCMS.  They are a crucial part of our leadership team, they keep our daily and yearly schedules running efficiently, and most importantly, they work closely with our students who have a wide array of social and emotional needs.  Nancy and Leann often deal with highly emotional and crisis type situations, and always approach each case with the best interests of students in mind.  Ladies, thanks for all that you do!  Also, a big thank you to Shawn Majors, the counselor and director of our Grayson County Alternative School.  He counsels and works closely with many GCMS students who are assigned to AEC and often helps to get them back on the right track.  We also appreciate all of our outside agency counselors who help with counseling needs at our school.  We have a great support network for our students.

Staff Concerns:

With lots of staff families having health concerns right now, I will not attempt to list them all.  Whether it is elderly parents, children, spouses, siblings, or others, please remember your GCMS work family and their family members who have issues right now. 

Congratulations:

Congratulations to the GCMS boys basketball team on another successful season.  The season wrapped up this past week with the conference tournament.  Even though we did not bring back a championship this year, the boys and Coach Majors and Coach Johnston have worked hard and done a great job representing our school.

Baseball:

Grayson County Baseball has reorganized this year, and we now have a middle school baseball team.  The team is still part of the GCHS program, and our own Jonathan DeVore will be coaching the team.  Baseball Open field for 7^th and 8^th grade boys will start next Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-4:30 on the Babe Ruth Field.  You must have a physical to participate.  Please see Coach DeVore for more details.

Cougar Bucks:

Lately, we have had a few cases of students attempting to cash in Cougar Bucks which were originally awarded to other students.  Please watch this closely to make sure that the students who are rewarded are the students who actually earned the Cougar Bucks in the first place.  Try to give Cougar Bucks on a regular basis so that students do have the opportunity to be rewarded for hard work, positive behavior, and good citizenship. Writing the students' names on the bucks or having the student to write their own name upon receiving them is the best way to assure proper use.  The good news is that even having this conversation means that students do value the bucks and want to use them.  Thanks.

Make Up Days: (repeat from last week)

It has been decided that February 15 and March 18 will be used as makeup days instead of PLC Days.  Students and staff will be here those two days.  Also, one PLC Day will be held on primary election day, Tuesday, May 17.  As of right now, spring break has not been affected, but this could change if we continue to have bad weather and have to close school additional days.  Stay tuned. 

Leading To Learning Grant: (repeat from last week)

There will be an informational meeting at the central office in March about the GRREC Leading to Learn Aspiring Principals program.  This is the third and final cohort of the grant, and it is a great way to get your principal’s certificate through WKU at a greatly reduced cost.  Ashley Johnson and Lea Ann Frank are in the year 1 cohort, and Gary Parker is in the year 2 cohort.  I know that any of the three would be glad to talk to you about the details of the program if you are interested.  Again, this will be the last year of the Aspiring Principals part of the grant, so if you are interested, now is the time.

Quote of the Day:

“Try Not.  Do or do not.  There is no try.” ~Master Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back)

Coming Attractions:

Feb. 6…GCMS Archery at NASP Region, Owensboro (Apollo HS)
Feb. 8...GCMS Faculty Meeting, 3:00

Feb. 8 and 10…Balfour Ring Rep at GCMS during lunch to take ring orders (form and $25 deposit)

Feb. 9…GCMS Home Volleyball Matches, 5:00

Feb. 12…Progress Reports go home

Feb. 13…Grayson County Spelling Bee, at GCMS

Feb. 16…Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:00-6:00

Feb. 17…GCMS SBDMC Meeting, 3:15

Feb. 18…GCMS Home Volleyball Matches, 5:00

Feb. 22-26…Tentative Dates for American Heart Association Fundraiser (pending approval)
Mar. 14..GCMS Faculty/Staff  Meeting (Testing Ethics Training), all who will work with testing

Back in the Saddle Again!

This Week at GCMS:

It has been great to get back in school this week after our latest round of winter weather.  Our students seem to have responded well and gotten right back into our normal routines.  I appreciate everyone working hard to make sure that our students do not lose ground when we have weather interruptions like we had last week.  Tis the season!

It has been a very difficult week for me personally.  My father has been having some health problems, and spent the past week in the hospital before transitioning to the nursing home yesterday.  We would love to see him get to go home at some point, but at 93, it may be very difficult for his health to get back to where it was.  I appreciate your prayers and so many of you asking about him.

Make Up Days:

It has been decided that February 15 and March 18 will be used as makeup days instead of PLC Days.  Students and staff will be here those two days.  Also, one PLC Day will be held on primary election day, Tuesday, May 17.  As of right now, spring break has not been affected, but this could change if we continue to have bad weather and have to close school additional days.  Stay tuned. 

Welcome New Staff!

I would like to welcome two new staff members to our GCMS family!  Stacey Escue and Annie Zellers will both be working as assistants with students in Mr. Greenleaf's unit.  We are very happy to have both of these ladies joining our staff.  I know that you will make them feel welcome!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the GCMS band on having 19 students to qualify for All District Band!

Congratulations to the GCMS academic team for doing very well at District Governor’s Cup, placing first in FPS, third in quick recall, having a large number of individual student winners, and placing second overall in the district!

Good Luck!

Good luck to the GCMS boys basketball teams in the conference tournament!  The tournament was postponed because of the bad weather, and GCMS teams will begin tournament play on Friday evening at Muhlenberg South Middle School.

Good luck to the GCMS Archery Team at this weekend’s NASP Competition!

Leading To Learning Grant:

There will be an informational meeting at the central office in March about the GRREC Leading to Learn Aspiring Principals program.  This is the third and final cohort of the grant, and it is a great way to get your principal’s certificate through WKU at a greatly reduced cost.  Ashley Johnson and Lea Ann Frank are in the year 1 cohort, and Gary Parker is in the year 2 cohort.  I know that any of the three would be glad to talk to you about the details of the program if you are interested.  Again, this will be the last year of the Aspiring Principals part of the grant, so if you are interested, now is the time.

Quote of the Day:

“To love what you do and feel that it matters…what could be more fun?” ~Katharine Graham

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 29…Boys Basketball begin GRVC Tournament at Muhlenberg South

Jan. 30…Archery Team at NASP Competition

Feb. 1…Balfour Rep to meet with 6^th graders at 2:20 in auditorium

Feb. 2/3…Humana Vitality Check at GCMS, sign up at the front desk

Feb. 8…Faculty Meeting, 3:00

Feb. 16…Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:00-6:00

Feb. 17…GCMS SBDMC Meeting, 3:15

Batten Down the Hatches!

This Week at GCMS:

Not much action to report at GCMS this week, with the MLK Holiday, one day with students, and then the winter weather cancellations of school.  I took the day off yesterday with the slick roads but decided to come in today since ice and an even bigger snow event is forecasted for tonight and tomorrow.  My driving in snow and ice personality has made something of a full circle over the years.  When I was a new driver in the early 80’s, I didn’t have a vehicle suited to drive in the snow, but I loved nothing better than to get out there and slide around in the middle of it.  My ’74 Chevy was proficient if not distinguished in making donuts on the big parking lot across from Breezy Hill store at Falls of Rough.  When I got married and had a family, I still loved to get out in it, but with 4 wheel drive.  I could make it anywhere, anytime…a regular Klondike Jack.  As I have gotten older and perhaps wiser, I have realized that getting rid of the 4X4 actually gives me a great excuse not to get out there and risk life and limb.  I’m still proficient, if not distinguished, but I realize that there are a lot of novices and apprentices sliding around out there!  The insurance companies and emergency rooms don’t care if those novice drivers are from the non-duplicated gap group or not.  If we have an inch of ice and a foot of snow in the next 24 hours, I will plan to be at the house on Friday.  I would encourage everyone to stay home unless you absolutely have to be out.  Be safe if you do have to be out.  See you after the thaw!

Quote of the Day:

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.

"So it is."

"And freezing."

"Is it?"

"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

— A. A. Milne

Coming Attractions:

GRVC boys basketball and District Governor’s Cup are scheduled for Saturday but look very doubtful at this point.  Coaches will contact players and parents about any cancellations or rescheduling of events.

Winter Has Arrived!

This Week at GCMS:

Starting the week with our first snow day of the school year hasn’t affected us much this week, as things continue to go very smoothly around GCMS.  The new student drop off procedure out front each morning seems to be going very well, and we appreciate our GCMS parents helping make this a smooth transition.  Car traffic seems to be moving better as more students are able to be dropped off simultaneously.  I have just a few notes to share as this week winds down.

Staff Concerns:

We pass along condolences to Ashley Johnson’s family and Hannah Embry’s family.  Ashley’s grandfather and Hannah’s aunt both passed away this week. 

Please continue to remember those GCMS staff members and families with health concerns.  There are too many to name them all.  Venita Wilson’s father is still in the hospital in Louisville but hopes to get moved to Elizabethtown to a Rehabilitation in the next few days.   

Emergency Drills:

As you know, each school in Kentucky is required to practice every emergency drill several times during the school year.  GCMS students and staff have been doing a great job practicing our emergency drill procedures since we returned from Christmas break.  We had several local policemen, including our own Sergeant Bryan Hammons, to assist with the lockdown drill earlier this week.  Our students and staff did a great job with the lockdown and took it very seriously.  I always encourage our students to react as if the drill is a real emergency, so they will be well prepared in the event of an actual emergency.

Great Job Team 6!

I want to thank our Team 6 teachers for doing an excellent job with showcase lessons this week!   I saw highly engaged students studying everything from photosynthesis to ratios, rates, and proportions to the political system.  Great job Team 6 teachers and students!

Family Resource Survey:

GCMS students received surveys to take home this week regarding services provided by the Leitchfield Family Resource and Youth Services Center.  Our FRYSC provides very valuable services and support for our students and their families.  Students should return these surveys to their teacher by Tuesday, January 19.

MLK Day:

As most of you know, there will be no school on Monday, January 18 in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Observations:

As you know, all formal classroom observations must be completed by the end of March.  That sounds like a long way off, but it will be here before we know it…and we obviously prefer not to do 60 observations all that last month.  Our 7^th and 8^th grade teachers just need one mini-observation this year.  Our 6^th grade teachers, unit teachers, and Title teachers are in the summative year, so those will need a full observation and show evidence of progress on Domains 1 and 4.  I do not want anyone to complete a huge portfolio for 1 and 4, just an example of how you are meeting each of those 12 components of D1 and D4.  Non-tenured teachers have two minis and a full (unless you were hired later in the school year) and evidence of the 12 components of D1 and D4.  Please review your lesson plans and decide when you would like for your assigned administrator to observe.   

Quote of the Day:

“Adversity is the first path to truth.” ~Mike Murdock

Coming Attractions:

Jan. 14…Parent Involvement Committee, 3:30

Jan. 15…Due date for 2^nd mini-observation for non-tenured teachers

Jan. 15…Due date for all peer observations

Jan. 18...No School, MLK Day

Jan. 20…GCMS SBDMC meeting, 3:15

Jan. 27-Feb 10…Student Voice Survey Window