September 30, 2016

Thank you to the invited guests for attending our student-parent conferences on Thursday!  We had some great discussions on ways we can all work together to support our students!  Please remember to send an email to us when you have questions!  We are happy to help!

WE 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)!  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)!  

Cookie dough is COMING!  Cookie dough orders MUST be picked up on October 4 between 10 AM and 4 PM in our cafeteria!  We do not have freezer space to store orders overnight!!  Students with 10 or more boxes will not be able to carry them home and will need to have a ride pre-arranged! Please mark this on your calendar!  Please sign up to help distribute if you can!  Check out THIS link!  Or cut and paste this into your browser:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449AFA72AA5FC1-cookie5

We have the chance to win $10,000 for our school!  Please 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!

Please join us for Walk to School Day on October 5th!  Mr. Mac will be heading this up again this year.  For those that walk, tickets for prizes will be given out!  Thanks for walking to school!

Ever have questions about social media do's and do not's about what to post, who to follow and what their digital footprint looks like already?  Have you sat with your student to remind them that EVERYTHING (private or not) is able to be accessed online and that colleges/employers check this now??? Check out some of THESE helpful questions and answers to these concerns!!

September 23, 2016

WE 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)!  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)!  

Cookie dough is COMING!  Cookie dough orders MUST be picked up on October 4 between 10 AM and 4 PM in our cafeteria!  We do not have freezer space to store orders overnight!!  Students with 10 or more boxes will not be able to carry them home and will need to have a ride pre-arranged! Please mark this on your calendar!  Please sign up to help distribute if you can!  Check out THIS link!  Or cut and paste this into your browser:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449AFA72AA5FC1-cookie5

All of our students have completed their First (of three) MAP Assessments and should have completed their goal pages in their English and Math classes. Our students set goals based on the scores. Please ask to see your student's assessment results, goals and progress pages for English and Math!!  

In order to understand what the RIT score means, here is a handy guide:  Understanding RIT.  The first page of the PDF show you what the target scores are for each grade level, Kinder-10th.  Many of our students were above the target scores for their grade level AND we still want them to strive to keep growing in these subject areas! 

Student-led Parent Conferences are coming up on Thursday, September 29th from 3:15-5:15 in our gym for 7th and 8th grade and the cafeteria for 6th grade by invitation please.  Parents have ALL been sent home an invitation if a conference for your student is needed at this time.  Please be sure to check the mail in the next coming weeks.  These grades that are being mailed home are NOT permanent.  Our students are on the semester system and have THREE months until final report card grades.  What is being mailed home should match exactly what you see in Aeries/Parent Portal.  If you do not receive an invitation for student-led parent conferences, one is not needed at this time!  

Please ENSURE that your student attends these conferences.  This is a MUST as they need to be involved in their learning and part of the conversation.  There are no scheduled conference times, so please plan accordingly.  Check out the video to see what these conferences can be so powerful!

Have you had time to check out some of the additional resources that are available to students and parents online?  Check out the top 10 websites all kids should know about HERE.  We know it's hard to check and stay on top of all of the social media and we can't do it alone.  We always need parents to help us monitor what is being said on social media and THIS ARTICLE on what to look for, the latest apps out there (a MUST to know!), and ways to talk to your tween/teen!

  

Last year, our 6th grade WEB students at GVMS and the Human Collective Club at Solano College collaborated in the PonyTail Hat Project, which serves to donate hair and make hats with ponytails for young people who may have lost their hair due to different conditions.   Our WEB student also wrote notes to donate at hospitals, where patients can pick them up and be inspired. They also cut our hair!  Are you interested in being a part of this?  Contact the THC Club Advisor at SCabrera@solano.edu and let her know!

September 16, 2016

THANK YOU for all of the fundraising efforts with our cookie dough and cheesecakes!  We REALLY appreciate it and we will DEFINITELY make purchases for our students and share that information with our families! THANK YOU again and again, as every little bit helps us get closer to becoming a 1:1 device school!

All of our students have completed their First (of three) MAP Assessments and should have completed their goal pages in their English and Math classes. Our students set goals based on the scores. Please ask to see your student's assessment results, goals and progress.  In order to understand what the RIT score means, here is a handy guide: Understanding RIT.  The first page of the PDF show you what the target scores are for each grade level, Kinder-10th.  Many of our students were above the target scores for their grade level AND we still want them to strive to keep growing in these subject areas! 

Student-led Parent Conferences are coming up on Thursday, September 29th from 3:15-5:15 in our gym for 7th and 8th grade and the cafeteria for 6th grade.  Parents have been sent home an invitation if a conference for your student is needed at this time.  Please be sure to check the mail in the next coming weeks.  If you do not receive an invitation for student-led parent conferences, one is not needed at this time!  

Please ENSURE that your student attends these conferences.  This is a MUST as they need to be involved in their learning and part of the conversation.  There are no scheduled conference times, so please plan accordingly.

Spirit Days are coming next week!  Don't miss out and show your spirit at GVMS!

Monday- Mismatch Day

Tuesday- Twin Day

Wednesday- Super Hero Day

Thursday- Sports/College Jersey Day

Friday- Rainbow Day

(6th wears orange and yellow)

(7th wears blue and green)

(8th wears purple and red)

Congrats to our new Student Council and their officers!  We are looking forward to a very fun year and can't wait to see what you have planned!

   

September 9, 2016

THANK YOU for all of the fundraising efforts with our cookie dough and cheesecakes!  We really appreciate it and we will DEFINITELY make purchases for our students and share that information with our families! THANK YOU again and again, as every little bit helps us get closer to becoming a 1:1 device school!

Student-led Parent Conferences are coming up on Thursday, September 29th from 3:15-5:15 in our gym for 7th and 8th grade and the cafeteria for 6th grade.  Parents will be sent home an invitation if a conference for your student is needed at this time.  Please be sure to check the mail in the next coming weeks.  If you do not receive an invitation for student-led parent conferences, one is not needed at this time!  

Please ENSURE that your student attends these conferences.  This is a MUST as they need to be involved in their learning and part of the conversation.  There are no scheduled conference times, so please plan accordingly.

Cookie dough and cheese cake orders were due this part Thursday 9/8/16!! THANK YOU for helping and supporting us get closer to our tech dreams of becoming a 1:1 DEVICE SCHOOL!  YES!!  We truly appreciate your support! We can still take a few more orders if you are still gathering them! 

PE Clothing orders CAN be sent directly to your child's PE teacher.  We are ordering more small sizes to accommodate for the huge rush we got for the smaller sizes!  Until then, please contact your child's PE teacher and we are happy to loan out CLEAN/WASHED loaner clothing until the new ones arrive!  We are filling orders as fast as we can!

We need your HELP!  Do you have any of THESE items to help us get our STEAM electives rockin and rollin??  We are really striving to have a truly engaging exploration class that supports students investigating ideas through Science-Technology-Engineering-Art-Math!  Here is the link if you want to cut and paste: 

Do you have questions on how much screen time is too much?  What do you do when your students want to use social media and you aren't ready?  What's the "right" age to get your student a cell phone?  Parenting with all of the new technology coming at us and our students doesn't come with a manual and there are resources out there to help!  Check out THIS link to get helpful resources!

We have Challenge Day coming to GVMS this year October 25, 26, 27 and we need YOU!  Are you interested in participating in with us?  This program was created to build connection and empathy among teens, and to fulfill a vision that every kid can feel loved, safe, and celebrated!  This is an AMAZING opportunity for all of many of our 7th and 8th graders!  Sorry, not for 6th at this time due to program policy.

If you are interested in participating PLEASE email Mrs. Bates HERE or cut and paste into your email ElizabethBa@fsusd.org!  

Sports tryouts are here!  Please mark your calendars!  Also, please remember that ALL students MUST have current physical on file, have at least a 2.0 and behavior must be in good standing.

• Boys Basketball- November 1st at 3PM in our gym- DATE CHANGE!
• Girls Basketball- have secured a coach- will get practice scheduled!
• Volleyball- currently trying out!
• Flag Football- currently trying out!
• Cross Country- currently trying out!
• Track- still waiting to secure a coach

Check out this link and this link to support our English Department Team!

Check out this link and this link to support our new Garden Team!

Check out this  and this link to support PE Team!

Check out this link to support our Robotics Program!

Check out this link to support Creativity and Technology in 6th grade!

September 2, 2016

Thank you for coming to Back to School Night this past Wednesday!  We hope you had a great time meeting the teachers and seeing what a day in middle school looks like!

Cookie dough and cheese cake orders came home THURSDAY!!  Yay!  Please be on the look out for these orders NEXT WEEK so that you can help support our tech dreams of becoming a 1:1 DEVICE SCHOOL!  YES!!  Check out the order form when it comes home today and please help if you can! Orders are due 

PE Clothing orders CAN be sent directly to your child's PE teacher.  Please send order form along with cash or checks made payable to GVMS PTC as soon as possible if you wish to purchase GVMS PE clothing.  All students are NOW required to dress out DAILY.  Please instruct your Viking to bring home their clothing on Fridays so they can be washed =).  We are waiting on another shipment of small shirts, shorts and sweats.  If you purchase your own PE clothes in the correct colors, please make sure there is a spot to write your name for all teachers to see!  

We need your HELP!  Do you have any of THESE items to help us get our STEAM electives rockin and rollin??  We are really striving to have a truly engaging exploration class that supports students investigating ideas through Science-Technology-Engineering-Art-Math!  Here is the link if you want to cut and paste: https://docs.google.com/a/fsusd.org/document/d/1QDt6HZcfoJGg31RoHe7wXNA1eAE0UvndJIzZbTDW0y0/edit?usp=sharing

THANK YOU!!

Do you know what's on your student's phone?  Do you know what apps are out there and how to access them?  ALL of our students have been studying Digital Citizenship and their Digital Footprint.  Many of them have Googled their parents to see what their parent's Digital Footprint is.  Oh boy!  Get information on ways to support and protect your middle school student HERE.

We have Challenge Day coming to GVMS this year October 25, 26, 27 and we need YOU!  Are you interested in participating in with us?  This program was created to build connection and empathy among teens, and to fulfill a vision that every kid can feel loved, safe, and celebrated!  This is an AMAZING opportunity for all of many of our 7th and 8th graders!  Sorry, not for 6th at this time due to program policy.

If you are interested in participating PLEASE email Mrs. Bates HERE or cut and paste into your email ElizabethBa@fsusd.org!  

Sports tryouts are coming!  Please mark your calendars!  Also, please remember that ALL students MUST have current physical on file, have a 2.0 and behavior must be in good standing.

• Boys Basketball- November 1st at 3PM in our gym- DATE CHANGE!
• Girls Basketball- still waiting to secure a coach
• Volleyball- Wednesday September 7th from 3-5:30 in gym
• Flag Football- currently trying out!
• Cross Country- currently trying out!
• Track- still waiting to secure a coach

Check out this link and this link to support our English Department Team!

Check out this link and this link to support our new Garden Team!

Check out this link to support PE Team!

Check out this link to support our Robotics Program!

Check out this link to support Creativity and Technology in 6th grade!