December 15, 2016

Happy Holidays from our GVMS family to yours!

We, at GVMS, want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday.  We appreciate your communication, diligence in working with our Viking students and being a part of this journey in middle school. 

We also want to send out a special thanks to our GVMS PTC for all of the time, energy, efforts, and support!  We are so thankful!  Thank you to ALL of our families for the support that they give to our PTC for our staff and students.  Because of this support, we are the only middle school in Fairfield-Suisun Unified that was invited to apply for the California Gold Ribbon Schools Award (formerly known at California Distinguished School Award)!  We are honored and excited at this opportunity!

Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!

2016-2017 GVMS Staff

December 9, 2016

Parents of 8th grade students!  Please mark these dates down:

*Matt Garcia College and Career Academy is open for registration for 9-12 grades and they are having information nights on December 13 from 5-6 and January 19, 2017 from 5-6!

*International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Armijo High School will be HERE @ GVMS on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 beginning at 6 PM in our library!

*Fairfield High School is having registration for incoming freshman on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from 4:30-7:30!

Ever wish parenting came with instructions and a manual?!? =)  THIS WEBSITE for some ideas on everything from grades, to help your student write essays, to social issues and more.  It could be the next best thing to written instructions!!

Have you heard?  GVMS is building a school garden!  It is taking shape in the back of our campus and we could use YOUR help!  Have a green thumb?  Know your way around gardening tools and plants?  Please email Mrs. McKenna HERE to get involved!  We are also trying to win a grant to help fund this project!  Please click this link to enter!!

Have you seen these #sparkle acts at home and around our campus?  Have you had a #sparkle moment yourself?  SPREAD THE #SPARKLE, especially when it comes to our kids!  There are #sparkle moments EVERYWHERE! 

You just have to look! =)

Don't forget that next week is Spirit Week!

Monday- Disney Day

Tuesday- "Fandom Day"

Wednesday- Ugly Holiday Sweater Day (there's a contest!)

Thursday- PJ Day

All students have been reminded, repeatedly, to continue to follow dress code regardless of the spirit days.  This includes NOT bringing blankets, slides, or inappropriate clothing to school

Official report cards will be mailed home after December 16th, so PLEASE check Parent Portal daily!  Today was the last day (unless otherwise communicated by a teacher with your student) to turn in late work.

We will have a rally schedule when we return from Winter Break to recognize grades and attendance.  Please note that awards are as follows:

3.0-3.4 Honorable Mention

3.5-3.9 Honor Roll

4.0 Principal's Honor Roll

Please bookmark THIS LINK and enter your student's unique code.  Please let us know if you need another copy of the instructions to log in.  

PLEASE check this DAILY and work with your student to ensure that they turn in all of their work.  Teachers emails and websites (if applicable) can all be found on Parent Portal or our website at www.fsusd.org/greenvalley so please check it out!  

Heart & Sole wants to come to GVMS!  This is a 10-week after school program with a small team size of 8-15 girls so that girls have an opportunity to build strong connections with one another and their coaches.  It teaches life skills such as team-building, goal setting, problem solving, creating a support system and more.

We want GVMS to become a site for the Hearth & Sole program!  We NEED YOU to become a coach, leader, and part of the program!  Are you interested?  Please contact Mrs. Cherry if you are interested!!

Many of our teachers are getting even more creative and working to bring state of the art technology and hands on learning for our students!  Check out what they are doing AND see if you can support!  It's a great time to be a Viking!

• Check out Ms. Kinder's project here!
• Check out Mr. Mac's project here!
• Check out Mrs. Nitto's project here!
• Check out Mrs. Devries' project here!
• Check out Ms. Toll's project here!
• Check out Ms. Phillips' project here!
• Check out Ms. Mansour's project here!
• Check out Mrs. Love's project here!
• Check out Ms. Toll's project here!
• Check out Mr. Diaz's project here!

December 2, 2016

Parents of 8th grade students!  Please mark these dates down:

*Matt Garcia College and Career Academy is open for registration for 9-12 grades and they are having information nights on December 13 from 5-6 and January 19, 2017 from 5-6!

*Early College through RHS is having another information night on December 7 from 5:30-6:30 in their library!

*Fairfield High School is having registration for incoming freshman on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from 4:30-7:30!

*International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Armijo High School will be HERE @ GVMS on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 beginning at 6 PM in our library!

Official report cards will be mailed home after December 16th, so PLEASE check Parent Portal daily!  LAST DAY to turn in work (unless otherwise stated by teachers) is December 9th.  Grades will cut off on this date!

We will have a rally schedule when we return from Winter Break to recognize grades and attendance.  Please note that awards are as follows:

3.0-3.4 Honorable Mention

3.5-3.9 Honor Roll

4.0 Principal's Honor Roll

Please bookmark THIS LINK and enter your student's unique code.  Please let us know if you need another copy of the instructions to log in.  

PLEASE check this DAILY and work with your student to ensure that they turn in all of their work.  Teachers emails and websites (if applicable) can all be found on Parent Portal or our website at www.fsusd.org/greenvalley so please check it out!  

We know that we shared this Itunes App at Back to School night, so here it is again!  This app DIRECTLY links to our Aeries/Parent Portal system so please check it out if you have an iPhone or Apple product so that you and your student can stay up to date on grades, attendance, and upcoming assignments!

While Hour of Code is coming December 5-11, MANY of our classes are already coding on a daily, if not weekly, basis!  This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn programming skills and more!  Sign your student up HERE and check out all of the different options for students!!

Heart & Sole wants to come to GVMS!  This is a 10-week after school program with a small team size of 8-15 girls so that girls have an opportunity to build strong connections with one another and their coaches.  It teaches life skills such as team-building, goal setting, problem solving, creating a support system and more.

We want GVMS to become a site for the Hearth & Sole program!  We NEED YOU to become a coach, leader, and part of the program!  Are you interested?  Please contact Mrs. Cherry if you are interested!!

Many of our teachers are getting even more creative and working to bring state of the art technology and hands on learning for our students!  Check out what they are doing AND see if you can support!  It's a great time to be a Viking!

• Check out Ms. Kinder's project here!
• Check out Mr. Mac's project here!
• Check out Mrs. Nitto's project here!
• Check out Mrs. Devries' project here!
• Check out Ms. Toll's project here!
• Check out Ms. Phillips' project here!
• Check out Ms. Mansour's project here!
• Check out Mrs. Love's project here!
• Check out Ms. Toll's project here!
• Check out Mr. Diaz's project here!

November 18, 2016

Parents of 8th grade students!  Please mark these dates down:

*Matt Garcia College and Career Academy is open for registration for 9-12 grades and they are having information nights on December 13 from 5-6 and January 19 from 5-6!

*Early College through RHS is having another information night on December 7 from 5:30-6:30 in their library!

PLEASE take advantage of this and help support our classrooms!!!  

ONE DAY ONLY!  All day on November 29th, every time OUR FAMILIES support a classroom on DonorsChoose.org, you'll be entered to receive one of fifty $5,000 DonorsChoose.org gift card to support classroom projects! Check out the official rules!

THAT'S NOT ALL!!  The teachers that donors support will ALSO be entered in a separate drawing to receive one of fifty DonorChoose.org gift cards!!

Help us get our projects funded through #GivingTuesday and you get a chance to win too!

We must need a reminder on some of the rules we have at school, so here it goes!  

*Please remind students that "slides" or shoes with no backing, PJ bottoms as daily pants and skimpy clothing are not allowed at school

*Please remind students as they leave each day to remember their ID.  It is required at ALL middle and high schools in FSUSD!

*Please remind student that gum is not allowed on campus as it ends up in the wrong place!

Official report cards will be mailed home after December 16th, so PLEASE check Parent Portal daily!  We will be emailing again NEXT WEEK, after Thanksgiving Break (Nov 21-25) so students can find their work!!

We will have a rally schedule when we return from Winter Break to recognize grades and attendance.  Please note that awards are as follows:

3.0-3.4 Honorable Mention

3.5-3.9 Honor Roll

4.0 Principal's Honor Roll

Please bookmark THIS LINK and enter your student's unique code.  Please let us know if you need another copy of the instructions to log in.  

PLEASE check this DAILY and work with your student to ensure that they turn in all of their work.  Teachers emails and websites (if applicable) can all be found on Parent Portal or our website at www.fsusd.org/greenvalley so please check it out!  

We know that we shared this Itunes App at Back to School night, so here it is again!  This app DIRECTLY links to our Aeries/Parent Portal system so please check it out if you have an iPhone or Apple product so that you and your student can stay up to date on grades, attendance, and upcoming assignments!

While Hour of Code is coming December 5-11, MANY of our classes are already coding on a daily, if not weekly, basis!  This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn programming skills and more!  Sign your student up HERE and check out all of the different options for students!!

Heart & Sole wants to come to GVMS!  This is a 10-week after school program with a small team size of 8-15 girls so that girls have an opportunity to build strong connections with one another and their coaches.  It teaches life skills such as team-building, goal setting, problem solving, creating a support system and more.

We want GVMS to become a site for the Hearth & Sole program!  We NEED YOU to become a coach, leader, and part of the program!  Are you interested?  Please contact Mrs. Cherry if you are interested!!

November 10, 2016

November and #thankfall are in full swing and our focus at GVMS is to be thankful and grateful for everything and everyone around us!  Remembering to be #thankfall has multiple benefits and you can post all over social media! Everyone gets a glimpse into each other's live and builds relationships with families!  It also remind each of us to appreciate what we have!!

We recently emailed parents of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who had MORE THAN ONE F on their progress reports and are not on track for high school.

Official report cards will be mailed home after December 16th, so PLEASE check Parent Portal daily!  We will be emailing again NEXT WEEK, before Thanksgiving Break (Nov 21-25) so students can find their work!!

We are SHOCKED at the number of families and students that are NOT checking Parent Portal DAILY to ensure that your student is turning in their work.  Please bookmark THIS LINK and let us know if you need another copy of the instructions to log in.  

PLEASE check this DAILY and work with your student to ensure that they turn in all of their work.  Teachers emails and websites (if applicable) can all be found on Parent Portal or our website at www.fsusd.org/greenvalley so please check it out!  

We know that we shared this Itunes App at Back to School night, so here it is again!  This app DIRECTLY links to our Aeries/Parent Portal system so please check it out if you have an iPhone or Apple product so that you and your student can stay up to date on grades, attendance, and upcoming assignments!

Whew.  There has been a LOT of discussion, attention, social media coverage, and more regarding the election.  What should we tell our students can be a concern.  Please take a look at THIS ARTICLE to see ways, as adults, we can tell and show our students how to be tomorrow's leaders TODAY!

November 4, 2016

#thirtydaysofthankfulness and #thirtydaysofthankful is something that we are doing daily on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook page and we want to encourage you to join in!  We will be posting and can't wait to see what you all post as well!  Check out THIS ARTICLE on some ways that you can change life with the 30 day challenge!

We recently emailed parents of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who had MORE THAN ONE F on their progress reports and are not on track for high school. 

Official report cards will be mailed home after December 16th, so PLEASE check Parent Portal daily!

We are SHOCKED at the number of families and students that are NOT checking Parent Portal DAILY to ensure that your student is turning in their work.  Please bookmark THIS LINK and let us know if you need another copy of the instructions to log in.  

PLEASE check this DAILY and work with your student to ensure that they turn in all of their work.  Teachers emails and websites (if applicable) can all be found on Parent Portal or our website at www.fsusd.org/greenvalley so please check it out!  

We know that we shared this Itunes App at Back to School night, so here it is again!  This app DIRECTLY links to our Aeries/Parent Portal system so please check it out if you have an iPhone or Apple product so that you and your student can stay up to date on grades, attendance, and upcoming assignments!

We really want our students to bring their own devices and we have had many parents asking is there is additional insurance that can be obtained.  What if the device breaks at school?  There is an option!  Check out our FSUSD website HERE for more information on reasonably priced insurance for student devices!  Check it out as you can purchase insurance for a $250 device for a low as $30 a YEAR!

We are striving to promote kindness every single day at GVMS.  We really want students to give a smile, say hi. and to start spreading the chain reaction of kindness.  The smile or friendly high five that our kids pass along may just be the one thing that helps another student (or adult for that matter!) turn things around.  We will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge in January 2017 but it's something we want to promote ALL THE TIME!  Help us spread kindness too!

October 28, 2016

Challenge Day was a HUGE success and it was wonderful to see adults and students working together to support each other!!  There were a lot of emotions throughout the past three days and we certainly want our students supported.  Please continue to ask your student what took place, how they felt, and encourage them to share with you!  Please help us help them continue the feeling of love, inclusion, care and concern for one another!!

We recently emailed all parents of 8th graders who had more than one F and are not on track for high school.  We are SHOCKED at the number of families and students that are NOT checking Parent Portal DAILY to ensure that your student is turning in their work.  Please bookmark THIS LINK and let us know if you need another copy of the instructions to log in.  PLEASE check this DAILY and work with your student to ensure that they turn in all of their work.  Teachers emails and websites (if applicable) can all be found on Parent Portal or our website at www.fsusd.org/greenvalley so please check it out!  

Please remember that GVMS has ALREADY celebrated Halloween with dressing up and our dance today.  PLEASE do not send students to school in their costumes on Monday as they will be directed to call home and change clothing.  Thanks for your help on this!

Have you taken a look at how students and families are using social media? Check out the real lives, real media use HERE to show how age, living circumstances, and access to technology influence how they use social media.

We are striving to promote kindness every single day at GVMS.  We really want students to give a smile, say hi. and to start spreading the chain reaction of kindness.  The smile or friendly high five that our kids pass along may just be the one thing that helps another student (or adult for that matter!) turn things around.  We will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge in January 2017 but it's something we want to promote ALL THE TIME!  Help us spread kindness too!

October 21, 2016

Challenge Day is COMING next week!  We are so excited!  About 300 students will participate in this life changing event.  Our kids will be working together to build empathy, accept others for who they are, be aware of bullying, know that their actions directly affect those around them and more! Check it out HERE or www.challengeday.org! It will be an emotional day for some so please check in with your kids when they get home and give them a hug =)  Are you interested in being a part of this???  WE STILL NEED MORE ADULT LEADERS!!  Email Mrs. Bates HERE or ElizabethBa@fsusd.org to come hang out with us and help make a difference in our middle school students' lives!

Halloween is coming!  GVMS Vikings are celebrating Halloween a few days earlier so that we can coordinate it with our first school dance!  GVMS will wear school approved costumes on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th ONLY so that they may wear them to the dance and NOT on Monday, October 31st.  All costumes must be school approved (no masks AT ALL, any costume promoting violence/drugs/alcohol, or skimpy costumes) or students will be calling home to change and not participate.  Our dance is immediately after school in the gym and costs $2.00 per ticket.  All students MUST show ID to purchase a ticket AND to get into the dance!  Want to come dance with us?  CLICK THIS LINK TO SIGN UP!!!

We really want our students to bring their own devices and we have had many parents asking is there is additional insurance that can be obtained.  What if the device breaks at school?  There is an option!  Check out our FSUSD website HERE for more information on reasonably priced insurance for student devices!  Check it out as you can purchase insurance for a $250 device for a low as $30 a YEAR!

How much time is too much cell time?  Are my kids too tech savvy?  How often should I be checking my kid's cell phone?  These and many other questions can be answered on CommonSenseMedia.org for some fantastic resources to support parenting in this tech driven worlds!

We are striving to promote kindness every single day at GVMS.  We really want students to give a smile, say hi. and to start spreading the chain reaction of kindness.  The smile or friendly high five that our kids pass along may just be the one thing that helps another student (or adult for that matter!) turn things around.  We will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge in January 2017 but it's something we want to promote ALL THE TIME!  Help us spread kindness too!

October 14, 2016

WE STILL NEED YOU!!!  We have many many many exciting things planned this year at GVMS and, with a population of over 960 students and families, we know that many of you have the resources to help!  We are truly trying to make our outdoor learning classroom and garden grow (check out needed supplies HERE)!  Also, check out the picture sent with the weekly update as to what our DREAM GARDEN looks like!

We are incorporating more and more hands on learning to our two STEAM classes (check out needed supplies HERE)!  Our Journalism and Creative Writing classes are hands on and engaging (check out needed supplies HERE)! We STILL need a few more Challenge Day Volunteers for October 25, 26, or 27 please (email Mrs. Bates HERE)!  

Halloween is coming!  GVMS Vikings are celebrating Halloween a few days earlier so that we can coordinate it with our first school dance!  GVMS will wear school approved costumes on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th ONLY so that they may wear them to the dance and NOT on Monday, October 31st.  All costumes must be school approved (no masks AT ALL, any costume promoting violence/drugs/alcohol, or skimpy costumes) or students will be calling home to change and not participate.  Our dance is immediately after school in the gym and costs $2.00 per ticket.  All students MUST show ID to purchase a ticket AND to get into the dance!  Want to come dance with us?  CLICK THIS LINK TO SIGN UP!!!

We really want our students to bring their own devices and we have had many parents asking is there is additional insurance that can be obtained.  What if the device breaks at school?  There is an option!  Check out our FSUSD website HERE for more information on reasonably priced insurance for student devices!  Check it out as you can purchase insurance for a $250 device for a low as $30 a YEAR!

We, at GVMS, TRULY strive to build character in each one of our students, including teaching character strengths and life skills, through social interactions AND social media.  We strive to have our students understand that their digital footprint is LIFELONG.  Check out THIS ARTICLE to see how COLLEGES are using student's social media postings, which can HARM and HELP their admission chances for college!  It's no longer just a focus on GPA or activities....

October 7, 2016

We want to thank you SO MUCH for all of your continued support this year!! We are thrilled to report that PTC has already set aside money for the purchase of new after school sports equipment, more Chrome books and storage, garden supplies, and more!  THANK YOU!!!

WE STILL REALLY NEED YOU!!!  We have many many many exciting things planned this year at GVMS and, with a population of over 960 students and families, we know that many of you have the resources to help!  We are truly trying to make our outdoor learning classroom and garden grow (check out needed supplies HERE)!  Also, check out the picture sent with the weekly update as to what our DREAM GARDEN looks like!

We are incorporating more and more hands on learning to our two STEAM classes (check out needed supplies HERE)!  Our Journalism and Creative Writing classes are hands on and engaging (check out needed supplies HERE)! We need Challenge Day Volunteers for October 25, 26, or 27 please (email Mrs. Bates HERE)!  

We really want our students to bring their own devices and we have had many parents asking is there is additional insurance that can be obtained.  What if the device breaks at school?  There is an option!  Check out our FSUSD website HERE for more information on reasonably priced insurance for student devices!  Check it out as you can purchase insurance for a $250 device for a low as $30 a YEAR!

We, at GVMS, TRULY strive to build character in each one of our students, including teaching character strengths and life skills, through social interactions AND social media.  We strive to have our students understand that their digital footprint is LIFELONG.  Check out THIS ARTICLE to see how COLLEGES are using student's social media postings, which can HARM and HELP their admission chances for college!  It's no longer just a focus on GPA or activities....

We have the chance to win $10,000 for our school!  Visit THIS website or click www.grandstandforschools.com EVERYDAY to enter!  Plus, we can earn 5 bonus entries when you upload your receipt of participating products AND try to win $175 Visa Prepaid Card for yourself! 

We are collecting SunnyD labels for the SunnyD Book Spree!  20 labels earns us 20 books for our teachers!  We are still collecting so please bring them into the front office!  We have until 11/20/16 so start collecting!