May 26, 2016

To my sweet 8^th graders…

I am so proud of all of you.  Through the ups and downs, happiness and sadness, laughter and tears, I have loved seeing you each day.  You have such a bright future ahead of you and while I will say most of this during promotion, I want to thank you for letting me be a part of your life.  For some, I have had the privilege and honor of watching you learn and grow, seeing you make new friends, and caring for you for 9 years.  I cannot imagine next year without you.  Always be the change you wish to see in the world and continue to make me proud as you move on.

All my love,

Mrs. Cherry    

8th Grade Promotion is scheduled for Thursday, June 2nd from 11-12.  Each 8th grade student that is being promoted to 9th grade will receive FOUR PROMOTION TICKETS ONLY.  Tickets were distributed and signed for beginning THIS WEEK.  Due to space, parking and crowds, this is all that we can accommodate.  All balloons, posters, and such MUST remain at home as it cannot block the view for other families and will be checked at the front door when tickets are collected.  Again, we don't have the space for these items and they can be given outside the gates.  Parking will be a mess (blacktop WILL be open!) and gates will not open until 10:30 so please plan accordingly.  You MUST have a ticket to enter!  If ANY 6th or 7th grade student is leaving after promotion, they MUST be signed out of the office by an adult ON the emergency card!  We appreciate your support in making this successful for our students before moving to high school!

WEB Day (Where Everyone Belongs) is COMING for all NEW incoming GVMS students! More info will be sent (it's already gone out on our Twitter and Facebook pages) by email but spread the word!  We will have WEB Day on Tuesday, August 9th from 9-11 and welcome packages will be distributed on that day, PE clothes may be purchased, games will be played and friendships will be made!  

Do you think Teasing and Bullying are the same....?  Think Again!  We continue to have more and more students and families report bullying that may not actually be bullying and starts out as teasing.  Please check out THIS ARTICLE to read the definition of bullying teasing, and to know the difference!

Attention 8th grade girls!!! If you are interested in playing basketball for the Rodriguez High School Lady Mustangs, there will be an important meeting this Thursday, at 7 p.m. in the RHS Lounge (next to the Main Office.) Please pick up a form from Ms. Serpas or Ms. Hirsch.

Interested in cheering for Rodriguez? There will be a mandatory parent meeting this Thursday at 5:30 in the RHS gym. If you have any questions, please contact Athletic Director Tracy Cordes, at 863-7950 ext. 1398.

Don't forget to turn in your athletic packets and physicals for Rodriguez High School.  They must be turned into the Athletic Director, Ms. Cordes before you can participate in ANY sports.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Cordes at 863-7950 ext. 1398.

Armijo cheerleader tryouts are here! Please announce to your eighth grade students the following clinic and tryout dates:

June 6, 7, 9, and 10th 8:30 am-10:30 am and tryout day is June 11th starting at 8:30 am in the Armijo Library Quad. 

Students MUST complete the participation packet (which includes physical) prior to starting tryouts. Participation packets can be found by going to Armijo's website, clicking on Athletics, and clicking on participation packet on the right hand side. 

Our staff voted last week and we will NOT be having short Wednesdays for the 2016-2017 for collaboration.  We will be posting the final bell schedule once it's approved. We are tentatively looking at 8:36 AM for the first bell (start time is 8:40) and dismissal at 2:50 PM.   We only have three minimum days a year: September 30th, February 24, 2017 and June 8, 2017. 

For the 2016-2017 school year, we are offering a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) elective for ALL 7th/8th grade students!  We are SO excited about this opportunity and need your help to get it going!  If you have ANY Leggos or Barbies (yes, it's going to be FUN!), please donate them to Mrs. Love in room E202 or drop them in the front office!  Thank you!

Want another way to support our school?  Check out DonorsChoose.org and Gofundme for ways to support various teachers at GVMS!  In fact, check out these project from Mrs. Nitto HERE , Mrs. Love HERE, Ms. Toll's HERE, Mrs. DeVries HERE, Mr. McNamara's HERE, Ms. Mansour HERE,  and Mrs. Bates HERE!  We LOVE and APPRECIATE ALL of the support!

Or simply check out THIS LINK to see all of the options to support! 

May 20, 2016

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all parents, volunteers, and PTC for making our Teacher Appreciation Week for our teachers fantastic!  Thank you for all of the goodies for the luncheon and a SPECIAL shout out to Slim Djili for the DELICIOUS crepes and yummy goodness!  WE ARE SO THANKFUL!!  Thank you for all of the caring words, treats, and more!  We are so appreciative!

ATTENTION!  We are donating ALL of our TONS AND TONS of lost and found next Friday, May 20th! PLEASE have your Viking stop by and check to see if they are missing anything before it goes to charity! Thank you!

Also, please remember that the last day to dress out in PE is Thursday, May 26th and ALL students MUST remove the locks from their lockers and belongings taken home by the end of the day on Tuesday, May 31 OR the locks will be cut and all contents in the locker will be given to charity.  Thank you!

Ever wonder how to keep up with ALL of the latest social media apps that our kids are exposed to?  Feel like just when you figure one out, another one comes out and they've already become pros at it?  Check out THIS ARTICLE from Commonsensemedia.org (download the app too!) to give you hints and suggestions for navigating social media with your teen and tween!!

Exactly HOW much time do they spend in front of a screen?  Check out THIS ARTICLE to see the average time that tweens/teens spend in front of a screen.  It may surprise you that they spend more time on a device than sleeping...

Our staff voted last week and we will NOT be having short Wednesdays for the 2016-2017 for collaboration.  We will be posting the final bell schedule once it's approved. We are tentatively looking at 8:36 AM for the first bell (start time is 8:40) and dismissal at 2:50 PM.   We only have three minimum days a year: September 30th, February 24, 2017 and June 8, 2017. 

For the 2016-2017 school year, we are offering a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) elective for ALL 7th/8th grade students!  We are SO excited about this opportunity and need your help to get it going!  If you have ANY Leggos or Barbies (yes, it's going to be FUN!), please donate them to Mrs. Love in room E202 or drop them in the front office!  Thank you!

Want another way to support our school?  Check out DonorsChoose.org and Gofundme for ways to support various teachers at GVMS!  In fact, check out these project from Mrs. Nitto HERE , Mrs. Love HERE, Ms. Toll's HERE, Mrs. DeVries HERE, Mr. McNamara's HERE, Ms. Mansour HERE,  and Mrs. Bates HERE!  We LOVE and APPRECIATE ALL of the support!

Or simply check out THIS LINK to see all of the options to support! 

8th Grade Promotion is scheduled for Thursday, June 2nd from 11-12.  Each 8th grade student that is being promoted to 9th grade will receive FOUR PROMOTION TICKETS ONLY.  Tickets will be distributed and signed for beginning the week of May 23rd.  Due to space, parking and crowds, this is all that we can accommodate.  All balloons, posters, and such MUST remain at home as it cannot block the view for other families and will be checked at the front door when tickets are collected.  Again, we don't have the space for these items and they can be given outside the gates.  Parking will be a mess (blacktop WILL be open!) and gates will not open until 10:30 so please plan accordingly.  You MUST have a ticket to enter!  If ANY 6th or 7th grade student is leaving after promotion, they MUST be signed out of the office by an adult ON the emergency card!  We appreciate your support in making this successful for our students before moving to high school!

WEB Day (Where Everyone Belongs) is COMING for all NEW incoming GVMS students! More info will be sent (it's already gone out on our Twitter and Facebook pages) by email but spread the word!  We will have WEB Day on Tuesday, August 9th from 9-11 and welcome packages will be distributed on that day, PE clothes may be purchased, games will be played and friendships will be made!  

May 13, 2016

ALL of our students in 6th-8th grade did an AMAZING job taking their time, reviewing their answers, citing evidence, and working VERY hard during the last three weeks of school.  WE ARE SO PROUD OF THEM!  Thank you for all of your support and patience!

ATTENTION!  We are donating ALL of our TONS AND TONS of lost and found next Friday, May 20th!  PLEASE have your Viking stop by and check to see if they are missing anything before it goes to charity!  Thank you!

Ever wonder how to keep up with ALL of the latest social media apps that our kids are exposed to?  Feel like just when you figure one out, another one comes out and they've already become pros at it?  Check out THIS ARTICLE from Commonsensemedia.org (download the app too!) to give you hints and suggestions for navigating social media with your teen and tween!!

Our staff voted last week and we will NOT be having short Wednesdays for the 2016-2017 for collaboration.  We will be posting the final bell schedule once it's approved. We are tentatively looking at 8:36 AM for the first bell (start time is 8:40) and dismissal at 2:50 PM.   We only have three minimum days a year: September 30th, February 24, 2017 and June 8, 2017. 

For the 2016-2017 school year, we are offering a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) elective for ALL 7th/8th grade students!  We are SO excited about this opportunity and need your help to get it going!  If you have ANY Leggos or Barbies (yes, it's going to be FUN!), please donate them to Mrs. Love in room E202 or drop them in the front office!  Thank you!

Want another way to support our school?  Check out DonorsChoose.org and Gofundme for ways to support various teachers at GVMS!  In fact, check out these project from Mrs. Nitto HERE , Mrs. Love HERE, Ms. Toll's HERE, Mrs. DeVries HERE, and Mr. McNamara's HERE, Mrs. Bates HERE!  We LOVE and APPRECIATE ALL of the support!

We have a lot of events coming up at GVMS in May!  Be sure that you have them all listed!  Please click on this link if you are able to help with Teacher Appreciation Lunch on May 20th or cut and paste into your browser:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0449afa72aa5fc1-teacher1

We are also gearing up for the 8th grade dance!  Thanks for all that have already signed up!  Please check out this link here or cut and paste this link into your browser:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4EACA82DA31-2016

8th Grade Promotion is scheduled for Thursday, June 2nd from 11-12.  Each 8th grade student that is being promoted to 9th grade will receive FOUR PROMOTION TICKETS ONLY.  Tickets will be distributed and signed for beginning the week of May 23rd.  Due to space, parking and crowds, this is all that we can accommodate.  All balloons, posters, and such MUST remain at home as it cannot block the view for other families and will be checked at the front door when tickets are collected.  Again, we don't have the space for these items and they can be given outside the gates.  Parking will be a mess and gates will not open until 10:30 so please plan accordingly.  You MUST have a ticket to enter!  We appreciate your support in making this successful for our students before moving to high school!

WEB Day (Where Everyone Belongs) is COMING for all NEW incoming GVMS students! More info will be sent (it's already gone out on our Twitter and Facebook pages) by email but spread the word!  We will have WEB Day on Tuesday, August 9th from 9-11 and welcome packages will be distributed on that day, PE clothes may be purchased, games will be played and friendships will be made!

May 6, 2016

Thank you SO MUCH to all of our families and supporters for making the Spring Fling an AWESOME event!  It was SO MUCH fun and we are still working to calculate all of the money raised for our kids!  Thank you SO much again and again!  A special shout out to all of the people, families, and companies listed below:

7 Flags Car Wash, Aida Moreno, AMC Theatres, Amici’s Pizzeria, Amanda Espiritu, Amanda Benguerel, Amy Schmidt, Arrowwood Winery, Auberge de Soleil, Bacon Family, Bear Republic Brewing Co., Bell Wine Cellars, Biscocho Families, Bistro Don Giovanni, Booker Family, Brikovich Family, Buena Vista Winery, Buffalo Wild Wings, Candy Mattern, Cast Iron Bar and Grill, Caymus Vineyards/ Conundrum, Cheesecake Factory, Cherry Family, Chick-fil-a, Christen Rice, Cindy Smith, Cline Winery, Craft Waves/Judy Butler, CrossFit Interchange, Cyndi Cozby, Dana Smith, Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Disneyland, Driven Raceway, Eagle Vines Golf Course, Elizabeth Bates, Escano Family, Favela’s Fusion, Ford Lincoln Fairfield, Ferrer Family, Flores Family, Fuddruckers, Galvan Family Cellars, Golden State Warriors, Green Valley Country Club, Green Valley Dental, Green Valley Middle School PTC Board Members, GV Cellars, Green Valley Orthodontics, Habit Burger, Harrah’s/Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Heather Toll, Hurley’s, Heretic Brewery, In and Out Burger, In Shape, Jacob Barron Photography, Jamie Pope/Restless Gypsy, JD Nails, Joy of Eating Café, Judy Wilson, Jump Highway, Just Delightful, Justina Dombrowski, Kimberly Holland, Kim’s Salon and Spa, Kristin Brown, Laffey Family, Libby Graham, Lisa Scaccalosi, Little River Inn, Marianno Family, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Massage Envy, Maureen Perez, Metcho Family, Meyer Corporation, Momentum Toyota, Muniz Family, Oakland A’s, Panera, Pangloss Wine Cellars, Patina Home and Garden, Pietros, Pine Ridge Winery, Rancho Solano Golf Course, Red Hen Cantina, Red Robin, Regal Movie Theatres, River Cats Baseball, Rockville Corners, Rosina’s, Rote Family, Ruth Clawson, San Francisco Giants, Sandra Robinson, Santos-Smith Family, Sarah Barnes, Sasha Craig Photography, Sauerwein Family, Schwarzbach Family, Scott Moss/Moss Rubber, Silva Family, Sloan Family, Sondra Wells, Sonoma Raceway/Randall Brown, Stacey Pratt, Starbucks, Steve Hopkins Honda/Acura, Succulent Obsession/Sabrina Neri, Sue Kinder, Tess Downey, Valdez Family, Vezer Family Winery, VJB Cellars, Westin/Union Square, Wooden Valley Winery, Wurzbach/Fischer Photography, Yahell Peralta

ALL students in 6th-8th grade began the ENGLISH portion of the SBAC and continues through May 13th!  Students may bring their headphones instead of using the ones that we provide.  PLEASE remember that we are in block schedule for the next week! 

Our staff voted last week and we will NOT be having short Wednesdays for the 2016-2017 for collaboration.  We will be posting the final bell schedule once it's approved. We are tentatively looking at 8:36 AM for the first bell and dismissal at 2:45 PM. Again, we will let you all know when it's official but please start planning now.  We only have three minimum days a year: September 30th, February 24, 2017 and June 8, 2017. 

Want another way to support our school?  Check out DonorsChoose.org and Gofundme for ways to support various teachers at GVMS!  In fact, check out these project from Mrs. Nitto HERE , Mrs. Love HERE, Ms. Toll's HERE, Mrs. DeVries HERE, and Mr. McNamara's HERE, Mrs. Bates HERE!  We LOVE and APPRECIATE ALL of the support!

We have a lot of events coming up at GVMS in May!  Be sure that you have them all listed!  Please click on this link if you are able to help with Teacher Appreciation Lunch on May 20th or cut and paste into your browser:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0449afa72aa5fc1-teacher1

We are also gearing up for the 8th grade dance!  Please check out this link here or cut and paste this link into your browser:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4EACA82DA31-2016

I cannot stop talking about THE BEST app!  Take a moment to download it from the App Store for free and then follow the instructions to load Fairfield-Suisun and connect DIRECTLY to Aeries!  No more logging in, no more password to remember and it's FANTASTIC and so easy!!

Check out THIS ARTICLE about brain development and adolescents!   It is extremely helpful and gives multiple strategies for both home and school in order to support your student!

The PTC is looking for GVMS families who can host a middle school student from China for ten or sixteen days this summer.  The American Chinese Cultural Exchange Service will operate one session from 7/10-7/20 and a second session from 7/28-8/13.  Students attend classes at Solano College during the day and are free on weekends to spend with their hosts.  Hosting involves providing a place for the student to sleep, three meals a day and transportation to and from Solano College.  Hosts are paid a stipend to cover expenses.

Each of the two sessions is limited to 32 boys and girls with about half that number accommodated so far.  If you are able to host a student this summer, or would like additional information on this program, contact Ying Bacon at Ying.Bacon@ACCEXS.org or by phone at (203) 918-2595.