December 20, 2017

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 all of our volunteers including our WATCH DOGS, GVMS PTC, Auction Committee and Book Fair Committee for all of the volunteer time, energy, efforts, and support!  We are SO grateful and thankful for your involvement in our school!  

Thank you to ALL of our families for the support that they give to our PTC, our teachers and our staff.  We will be enjoying the holidays with friends and family so all emails will be returned when we come back to GVMS on January 8, 2018!

Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!

2017-2018 GVMS Staff

December 15, 2017

Thank you for all of the toy donations for Toys for Tots to fill Officer Holecek's squad car!  We truly appreciate all of your donations and support! Thank you, also, for all of the daily smiles and waves we get.  It truly makes our day brighter =)

Over the break we will be making changes to our master schedule due to change in staffing at GVMS.  There will also be changes for students who are in semester long electives.  Please remind and encourage your students to check Parent Portal after the New Year and before we return from Winter Break on January 8, 2018.

Please remember to refill your school supplies over Winter Break!  Make sure binder paper, pencils, etc.  Let's make sure that our Vikings are well prepared when they return on Monday, January 8, 2018!  Thank you!

Please remember that you MUST have an ID to pick up your student from GVMS.  While many of us have known many of you for a long time, it is a requirement that all adults, who are here to check out our students, must be on the emergency card and have ID.  Thank you for helping to keep our precious students safe!

Kindness.  Such an easy word to say and yet such a struggle to encourage kids (and adults) to practice.  Every single day, we remind our students to be nice, kind and caring.  To follow our school rules.  And every day we struggle with some of our students being mean, cruel and downright disrespectful to their peers and the adults.  Please help us encourage our Vikings to PRACTICE KINDNESS DAILY.  Here is an article about the Power of Kindness.  It makes SUCH a difference in everyone's life.

HAVE YOU HEARD?  We are SO excited that our own Green Valley Parent-Teacher Club is signed up for Amazon Smile, where a portion of purchases comes back DIRECTLY to GVMS!  As you are doing your shopping on Amazon, remember to log into Amazon Smile and click Green Valley Parent-Teacher Club to help support GVMS!  Thank you!!

We have a bunch of lost and found in our cafeteria and on our stage.  Please note that all lost and found will be donated on Monday, December 18 to the Clothes Closet at Sullivan Inter-agency Youth Services Center at 2195 Union Ave, Fairfield 94533!   Check out their website HERE!

Ahhh grades.  Grades will be final for this semester on December 20.  These are FINAL report card grades.  Please encourage your student and check Parent Portal WITH them to see any and all missing assignments.  All parents, guardians, and students should have access to Parent Portal to see grades at all times.  While this is a courtesy, our teachers strive to update them as often as possible.

If you need another copy of log in instructions to Parent Portal, Google Classroom or Remind, please reach out to your student's teachers.  Almost 100% of our staff use multiple ways to communicate expectations, assignments, and future assessments.

Wow.  We have NEVER seen so many requests for short term Independent Study (IS) as we have this school year.  It is SO very important for our students to be in school, even if they get the work from their teacher.  The instruction that they loose is way too valuable.  PLEASE, parents and guardians, remember the policies for IS as outlined in our student agenda, webpage, and welcome pamphlet:

• GVMS must be given at least 5 school days advance notice prior to the request
• IS must be at least 5 school days missed or more (weekends and holidays don't count)
• IS will not be granted the first two weeks and the last two weeks of school
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• For 18-19, IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

Hope to see you all there!

*UPDATED WITH ALL NEW PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE 11 of THEM!

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

December 8, 2017

Emotions run high in middle school students, especially at the end of a semester and final grades.  Take a look at THIS Parent Tool Kit article and video about some ways to help support your student during this time of potential high emotions!

HAVE YOU HEARD?  We are SO excited that our own Green Valley Parent-Teacher Club is signed up for Amazon Smile, where a portion of purchases comes back DIRECTLY to GVMS!  As you are doing your shopping on Amazon, remember to log into Amazon Smile and click Green Valley Parent-Teacher Club to help support GVMS!  Thank you!!

We have a bunch of lost and found in our cafeteria and on our stage.  Please note that all lost and found will be donated on Monday, December 18 to the Clothes Closet at Sullivan Inter-agency Youth Services Center at 2195 Union Ave, Fairfield 94533!   Check out their website HERE!

Ahhh grades.  Grades will be final for this semester on December 20.  These are FINAL report card grades.  Please encourage your student and check Parent Portal WITH them to see any and all missing assignments.  All parents, guardians, and students should have access to Parent Portal to see grades at all times.  While this is a courtesy, our teachers strive to update them as often as possible.

If you need another copy of log in instructions to Parent Portal, Google Classroom or Remind, please reach out to your student's teachers.  Almost 100% of our staff use multiple ways to communicate expectations, assignments, and future assessments.

Wow.  We have NEVER seen so many requests for short term Independent Study (IS) as we have this school year.  It is SO very important for our students to be in school, even if they get the work from their teacher.  The instruction that they loose is way too valuable.  PLEASE, parents and guardians, remember the policies for IS as outlined in our student agenda, webpage, and welcome pamphlet:

• GVMS must be given at least 5 school days advance notice prior to the request
• IS must be at least 5 school days missed or more (weekends and holidays don't count)
• IS will not be granted the first two weeks and the last two weeks of school
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• For 18-19, IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

Hope to see you all there!

*UPDATED WITH ALL NEW PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE 11 of THEM!

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

December 1, 2017

It's that time of year again when we, at GVMS, do our best to support those in need!  We are currently collecting new toys for our Toys Drive with Officer Holecek!  Thank  you for all of your generosity as we have been able to donate MULTIPLE backpacks, school supplies and more to those in need due to the wild fires in Nor Cal.

We have a bunch of lost and found in our cafeteria and on our stage.  Please note that all lost and found will be donated on Monday, December 18 to the Clothes Closet at Sullivan Inter-agency Youth Services Center at 2195 Union Ave, Fairfield 94533!   Check out their website HERE!

As we all know, the holidays are right around the corner and we all strive to make our own kids happy.  How do we, then, teach them to be grateful?  Since our kids don't come with an owners manual, sometimes it can be hard to help them understand that being grateful for what they have is important.  Take a look at THESE articles for some great ideas and tips to help teach gratitude during this time of giving and receiving! 

Ahhh grades.  Grades will be final for this semester on December 20.  These are FINAL report card grades.  Please encourage your student and check Parent Portal WITH them to see any and all missing assignments.  All parents, guardians, and students should have access to Parent Portal to see grades at all times.  While this is a courtesy, our teachers strive to update them as often as possible.

If you need another copy of log in instructions to Parent Portal, Google Classroom or Remind, please reach out to your student's teachers.  Almost 100% of our staff use multiple ways to communicate expectations, assignments, and future assessments.

Wow.  We have NEVER seen so many requests for short term Independent Study (IS) as we have this school year.  It is SO very important for our students to be in school, even if they get the work from their teacher.  The instruction that they loose is way too valuable.  PLEASE, parents and guardians, remember the policies for IS as outlined in our student agenda, webpage, and welcome pamphlet:

• GVMS must be given at least 5 school days advance notice prior to the request
• IS must be at least 5 school days missed or more (weekends and holidays don't count)
• IS will not be granted the first two weeks and the last two weeks of school
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• For 18-19, IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

We have already held three parent engagement nights (Back to School Night, Planning for College with RHS, and All Things Tech at GVMS) and we are hoping that you will join us for our next one coming up!  

*NEW DATE* Please join us on Wednesday, DECEMBER 6th from 5:30-6:30 for our first ever STEAM Night, run by OUR students in the gym! Come and see what we have been doing in STEAM, STEM, Robotics, Coding, and more!

Hope to see you all there!

*UPDATED WITH ALL NEW PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE 11 of THEM!

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

November 17, 2017

We hope that you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones!  We will be refraining from emails for the week of November 20-24 so that we can spend time with family and friends!  Want to give back and volunteer?  Check out the food bank HERE, Have a great week!

It's that time of year again when we, at GVMS, do our best to support those in need!  We are currently collecting new toys for our Toys Drive with Officer Holecek!  Thank  you for all of your generosity as we have been able to donate MULTIPLE backpacks, school supplies and more to those in need due to the wild fires in Nor Cal.

We really strive to help build empathy in our students as well as focusing on the positive EVERY day.  Whether it is through Good News Referrals, Student of the Month candidates, Pride Cards, or anything else, we really try to get our students to be KIND, CONSIDERATE, and CARING!  We also know support from home is CRITICAL!  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE to get some helpful ways and techniques to support your Viking, at home, to build empathy which can carry over to GVMS!

We have already held three parent engagement nights (Back to School Night, Planning for College with RHS, and All Things Tech at GVMS) and we are hoping that you will join us for our next one coming up!  

*NEW DATE* Please join us on Wednesday, DECEMBER 6th from 5:30-6:30 for our first ever STEAM Night, run by OUR students in the gym! Come and see what we have been doing in STEAM, STEM, Robotics, Coding, and more!

Hope to see you all there!

*UPDATED WITH ALL NEW PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE 11 of THEM!

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

November 9, 2017

Thank you to those parents that came to the dance on 11/3 to help chaperone and help our Leadership students with the concessions!  We couldn't have done it without you!

Thank you to the parents that stopped by GV Cellars on 11/4 for the Pouring with the Principals!  We had a blast and will report out what was made to help students in Napa and Sonoma Counties!

Thank you for those that participated in our Mountain Mike's Dine and Donate on 11/7!  Every little bit we raise helps our school and our students!

It's that time of year again when we, at GVMS, do our best to support those in need!  We are currently collecting canned goods for Solano County Food Bank and new toys for our Toys Drive with Officer Holecek!  Thank  you for all of your generosity as we have been able to donate MULTIPLE backpacks, school supplies and more to those in need due to the wild fires in Nor Cal.

If you are able to donate canned goods or a new toy for those in need, please send them in!  THANK YOU!!

As parents, we all STRIVE to teach our kids responsibility and, in middle school, it can be especially challenging.  How do we handle this and how do we encourage this when they aren't in our care and are at school?  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE on ways to encourage your middle school student to make smart decisions, be kind, be responsible, and to do the right thing EVEN when no one is watching!

We continue to do our best to encourage our student to make SMART and KIND decisions at GVMS and in life.  That being said, many students (especially when they get to middle school) feel it's time to express themselves and repeat the disrespectful words that they hear others use.  PLEASE encourage your student to not use foul language.  Click HERE for an article on ways to curb foul language.  You would be VERY surprised to hear what comes out of the mouths of some of our students. 

We have already held three parent engagement nights (Back to School Night, Planning for College with RHS, and All Things Tech at GVMS) and we are hoping that you will join us for our next one coming up!  

*NEW DATE* Please join us on Wednesday, DECEMBER 6th from 5:30-6:30 for our first ever STEAM Night, run by OUR students in the gym! Come and see what we have been doing in STEAM, STEM, Robotics, Coding, and more!

Hope to see you all there!

*UPDATED WITH ALL NEW PROJECTS!!*

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

November 3, 2017

Official Progress Reports will be mailed home again this week.  PLEASE remember a few things:

1- These are NOT final.  Final grades that go on transcripts and official report cards will be December 20.

2- Late work for ANY subject, ANY teacher, ANY area will be entered AFTER all work that has been turned in on time.  PLEASE be patient when asking when teachers will enter the late assignments.  Keep in mind, they have the "on time" assignments to enter first.

3- Almost 100% of homework assigned is classwork that students have been given time IN CLASS to start.  Please encourage your Viking to use their time in class wisely!

4- We aren't making any schedule changes to electives until January.  Due to the number of students at GVMS, we just don't have any flexibility!

5- Parent Portal, Websites, Blogs, Remind text, and Google Classroom are all there to HELP you AND your Viking stay on top of their work!

Halloween Day was super fun seeing all of the costumes and smiles on their faces!  Sometimes we need the reminder that our middle school students are kids and want to have fun, even when they are trying to push the boundaries becoming an adult!

It's that time of year again when we, at GVMS, do our best to support those in need!  We are currently collecting canned goods for Solano County Food Bank and new toys for our Toys Drive with Officer Holecek!  Thank  you for all of your generosity as we have been able to donate MULTIPLE backpacks, school supplies and more to those in need due to the wild fires in Nor Cal.

If you are able to donate canned goods or a new toy for those in need, please send them in!  THANK YOU!!

We continue to do our best to encourage our student to make SMART and KIND decisions at GVMS and in life.  That being said, many students (especially when they get to middle school) feel it's time to express themselves and repeat the disrespectful words that they hear others use.  PLEASE encourage your student to not use foul language.  Click HERE for an article on ways to curb foul language.  You would be VERY surprised to hear what comes out of the mouths of some of our students. 

We have already held two parent engagement nights (Back to School Night and All Things Tech at GVMS) and we are hoping that you will join us for our 3rd and 4th coming up!  

*Please join us on November 8 from 6-7:30 in our joint event at Rodriguez High School for College Funding Coach Night to help plan for college!  

*NEW DATE* Please join us on Wednesday, DECEMBER 6th from 5:30-6:30 for our first ever STEAM Night, run by OUR students in the gym! Come and see what we have been doing in STEAM, STEM, Robotics, Coding, and more!

Hope to see you all at both of them!

*UPDATED WITH ALL NEW PROJECTS!!*

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

October 27, 2017

Official Progress Reports will be mailed home again the week of October 30.  PLEASE remember a few things:

1- These are NOT final.  Final grades that go on transcripts and official report cards will be December 20.

2- Late work for ANY subject, ANY teacher, ANY area will be entered AFTER all work that has been turned in on time.  PLEASE be patient when asking when teachers will enter the late assignments.  Keep in mind, they have the "on time" assignments to enter first.

3- Almost 100% of homework assigned is classwork that students have been given time IN CLASS to start.  Please encourage your Viking to use their time in class wisely!

4- Parent Portal, Websites, Blogs, Remind text, and Google Classroom are all there to HELP you AND your Viking stay on top of their work!

Halloween Day is quickly approaching and our students have voted to wear (APPROVED) costumes on Halloween Day, October 31 with a Harvest Dance on the following Friday, November 3 from 3:00-4:00 after school.  

Please remember that REGULAR FSUSD dress code (including no masks, guns, drug paraphernalia, promotion of violence, etc) still applies for Halloween Day.  There will be a costume contest during lunch as well!

The Harvest Dance is open to all students in good behavior standing and they must have their ID.  The cost to enter is $2.00 per student and snacks will be available for purchase from our Leadership Class.  Parents are MORE than welcome to attend and help supervise!

The brain of a "tween" is a fascinating thing to try to understand.  I say try, because I am not sure anyone really understands what's going on up there all the time!  THIS ARTICLE is an easy ready to help parents and caregivers TRY to understand what's going on including tapping into them, helping to change perspectives, and key phrases to get them to understand!  Check it out! 

We have already held two parent engagement nights (Back to School Night and All Things Tech at GVMS) and we are hoping that you will join us for our 3rd and 4th coming up!  

*Please join us on November 8 from 6-7:30 in our joint event at Rodriguez High School for College Funding Coach Night to help plan for college!  

*NEW DATE* Please join us on Wednesday, DECEMBER 6th from 5:30-6:30 for our first ever STEAM Night, run by OUR students in the gym! Come and see what we have been doing in STEAM, STEM, Robotics, Coding, and more!

Hope to see you all at both of them!

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!  NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED!!

October 20, 2017

Halloween Day is quickly approaching and our students have voted to wear (APPROVED) costumes on Halloween Day, October 31 with a Harvest Dance on the following Friday, November 3 from 3:00-4:00 after school.  

Please remember that REGULAR FSUSD dress code (including no masks, guns, drug paraphernalia, promotion of violence, etc) still applies for Halloween Day.  There will be a costume contest during lunch as well!

The Harvest Dance is open to all students in good behavior standing and they must have their ID.  The cost to enter is $2.00 per student and snacks will be available for purchase from our Leadership Class.  Parents are MORE than welcome to attend and help supervise!

We have already held two parent engagement nights (Back to School Night and All Things Tech at GVMS) and we are hoping that you will join us for our 3rd and 4th coming up!  

*Please join us on November 8 from 6-7:30 in our joint event at Rodriguez High School for College Funding Coach Night to help plan for college!  

*NEW DATE* Please join us on Wednesday, DECEMBER 6th from 5:30-6:30 for our first ever STEAM Night, run by OUR students in the gym! Come and see what we have been doing in STEAM, STEM, Robotics, Coding, and more!

Hope to see you all at both of them!

As our middle school students get further into their journey into middle school, their emotions can be ALL over the place.  We certainly do the best we can to support them in middle school when they are with us and THIS ARTICLE has some excellent ideas on self-awareness and emotional development for parents to review.  Check it out!

Are you interested in support for your tween or teen?  Are they displaying more aggression, depression, anger, or frustration and you want some help to get them back on track?  Fairfield PD offers a 10 week class called Parent Project that is a one time fee of $25.00 for the entire time.  If you are interested, please email Mrs. Bates HERE!

We are ALWAYS thinking outside the box to create effective ways to reach all of our students!  Want to be a part of this??  All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!  Check out THIS LINK to see ALL OF the different ideas that our VERY OWN GVMS teachers have come up with!!