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!