December 19, 2018

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 students, teachers and our staff.  Please be sure that you are checking Parent Portal as many electives are changing for the Spring Semester.  

We will be enjoying the holidays with friends and family so all emails will be returned when we come back to GVMS on January 7, 2019!

Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!

2018-2019 GVMS Staff

December 14, 2018

Many parents have expressed frustration, in meetings we have had, as to why their tween/teen is pushing them away and how to deal with it.  Take a look at THIS SITE, which has amazing resources in addition to what is going on with their tween/teen.  This site gives great ideas including 5 strategies to strengthen your relationship with your teen during this time!.

While you know that selling and having tobacco products under the age of 18 are illegal, there are places that sell them to kids, even right in our community.  
Most adults can't recall what a Juul looks like or ever having tried one themselves, however, most teenagers can tell you what they look like, the best ones to have, and where to get them.  Juuling and vaping are on the rise among teenagers and it's something that all parents need to be aware of.  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE to see the harmful effects, what to look for, and the difference between Juuling and vaping.

Grades....ahhhhh.....a subject we talk about with our students on a DAILY basis.  FINAL grades will be done December 20, which means ALL assignments MUST be turned in and these grades go on our students' transcripts.  No work will be accepted after December 18.

We continue to struggle with turning in assignments, though students are given multiple opportunities during class, tutorial, before/after school (depending on availability), free tutoring in our library, and more.  PLEASE check your student grades HERE and if you need the codes, please call our office!  We would love to help!  

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 Toy Drive with Officer Holecek and his Toys for Tots Drive!  Thank you for all of your generosity as we help those that are in need!

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 Christmas shopping on Amazon, remember to log into Amazon Smile and click Green Valley Parent-Teacher Club to help support GVMS!  Thank you!!

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
• Please let us know if your student has an IEP as we must hold an additional meeting
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

If you didn't purchase your yearbook at the beginning of the school year, it can NOW be purchased online!  AWESOME!  Click HERE to order and enter the code 7927!  Yearbooks will arrive sometime at the end of May, 2019!

*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!!

December 7, 2018

Grades....ahhhhh.....a subject we talk about with our students on a DAILY basis.  FINAL grades will be done December 20, which means ALL assignments MUST be turned in and these grades go on our students' transcripts.  No work will be accepted after December 19.

We continue to struggle with turning in assignments, though students are given multiple opportunities during class, tutorial, before/after school (depending on availability), free tutoring in our library, and more.  PLEASE check your student grades HERE and if you need the codes, please call our office!  We would love to help!  

The holiday season can bring a time of great joy and happiness!  It can, however, be a time that causes great stress and depression for many.  
Teen depression is a major concern in our society AND at Green Valley Middle School.  We have noticed, over the last few weeks, more and more students coming to school and changes in their behavior.
Issues with peer pressure, social media, access to information, academics, and more can seriously over power how they feel.  What are the signs that you, as a parent, should look for?  What is "normal" and what isn't?  At what point should medical professionals be included in concerns?  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE (though there are MANY other reputable ones as well) to see what signs to look for!  Please be on the lookout and notify us if there is something we need to know or help with!

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
• Please let us know if your student has an IEP as we must hold an additional meeting
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

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 Toy Drive with Officer Holecek and his Toys for Tots Drive!  Thank you for all of your generosity as we help those that are in need!

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 Christmas shopping on Amazon, remember to log into Amazon Smile and click Green Valley Parent-Teacher Club to help support GVMS!  Thank you!!

*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 30, 2018

Grades....ahhhhh.....a subject we talk about with our students on a DAILY basis.  FINAL grades will be done December 20, which means ALL assignments MUST be turned in and these grades go on our students' transcripts.  No work will be accepted after December 19.

We continue to struggle with turning in assignments, though students are given multiple opportunities during class, tutorial, before/after school (depending on availability), free tutoring in our library, and more.  PLEASE check your student grades HERE and if you need the codes, please call our office!  We would love to help!  

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!

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!

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 Toy Drive with Officer Holecek and his Toys for Tots Drive!  Thank you for all of your generosity as we help those that are in need!

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!!

November 16, 2018

We hope that you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones!  We will be refraining from emails for the week of November 19-23 so that we can spend time with family and friends!  While some may be working, the office will be closed to the public and all emails will be returned when school reopens on Monday, November 26!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Agape Counseling Center sent information in regards to counseling services that can be accessed within our community.  Flyers are connected to those that are available:

• Women's Group (Free) - Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. beginning November 14th (flyer attached), contact Rosie De Alvarez 415-891-4088 to register.
• Women's Group for Spanish speakers (Free) - Fridays from 6:00 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. beginning November 2nd (flyer attached) contact Rosie De Alvarez 415-891-4088 to register. 
• Grief and Loss Group for Adults (Free) - 10-week psycho education group Tuesdays from 5:00 p.m. - 6:20 p.m. beginning November 6th (flyer attached), contact Sidney Caldwell 707-709-6488 for more information.
• Teen Anger Management Group - 10-week, can be facilitated at your Fairfield or Suisun City location or ours. Dates to be determined by participant interest but we're ready to get started. Flyer attached.
• Managing Emotions Skills Group - 10 weeks, winter dates and times to be determined.  This workshop fills up quickly.  Contact Kevin Anderson for more information, 707-634-4863. 

Agape is also poised to offer the following 10-week psycho-education groups for students in Fairfield and Suisun locations.  They accept Partnership Insurance or self-pay in which they accept credit cards, checks, or cash in the exact amount only please.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Cornelia Gibson, LMFT, Ed.D www.agapeccan.org for more information. 

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 Toy Drive with Officer Holecek and Canned Food Drive with Contra Costa-Solano Food Bank!  Thank you for all of your generosity as we help those that are in need!

Many parents have asked us what to do about insuring their Vikings' chrome books and PERSONAL phones.  While we know that we really want our students to all be careful, sometimes things happen.  There is a LOW COST option that is available to ALL GVMS students!  Check out THIS LINK to get an instant quote!  Seriously worth it!!

If you didn't purchase your yearbook at the beginning of the school year, it can NOW be purchased online!  AWESOME!  Click HERE to order and enter the code 7927!  Yearbooks will arrive sometime at the end of May, 2019!

*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 9, 2018

It's that time of year again when we, at GVMS, do our best to support those in need!  We are currently collecting canned food for our Canned Food Drive and new, unwrapped toys for our Toy Drive with Officer Holecek!  Contests for the most cans donated are happening and those that bring in new, unwrapped toys are entered into a random drawing!  Thank  you for all of your generosity!!

Ahhh grades.  Grades will be final for this semester on December 19.  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.  PLEASE remember that hard copies will NOT be mailed home!

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
• Please let us know if your student has an IEP as we must hold an additional meeting
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

Many parents have asked us what to do about insuring their Vikings' chrome books.  While we know that we really want our students to all be careful, sometimes things happen.  There is a LOW COST option that is available to ALL GVMS students!  Check out THIS LINK to get an instant quote!  Seriously worth it!!

All of our lost and found, located on our stage in the cafeteria, will be donated to charity on Friday, November 16.  PLEASE make sure you and your Viking check to see if anything is theirs before it leaves!

If you didn't purchase your yearbook at the beginning of the school year, it can NOW be purchased online!  AWESOME!  Click HERE to order and enter the code 7927!  Yearbooks will arrive sometime at the end of May, 2019!

*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 2, 2018

How do we teach our students (and some adults we are surrounded by) to show empathy to one another?  How do we get students to recognize and respect the feelings of others and to THINK about their actions before doing something?  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE from parenttoolkit.com on ways that parents can support those around them!

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 19.  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.  PLEASE remember that hard copies will NOT be mailed home!

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
• Please let us know if your student has an IEP as we must hold an additional meeting
• All assignments are due the day that the student returns
• IS may not be granted leading up to a long holiday week break (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

Many parents have asked us what to do about insuring their Vikings' chrome books.  While we know that we really want our students to all be careful, sometimes things happen.  There is a LOW COST option that is available to ALL GVMS students!  Check out THIS LINK to get an instant quote!  Seriously worth it!!

All of our lost and found, located on our stage in the cafeteria, will be donated to charity on Friday, November 16.  PLEASE make sure you and your Viking check to see if anything is theirs before it leaves!

If you didn't purchase your yearbook at the beginning of the school year, it can NOW be purchased online!  AWESOME!  Click HERE to order and enter the code 7927!  Yearbooks will arrive sometime at the end of May, 2019!

*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 26, 2018

Many parents have reached out to ask for ways to motivate their middle school student.  While we know it can be a challenge (believe us!), we do have some ideas to share with you.  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE on ways that we strive to get them motivated.  There is not ONE sure fire way as each student is unique, of course.  If you have additional ideas, we'd love to hear them as we want all of our students to succeed!

We really strive to help build empathy in our students as well as focusing on the positive EVERY day.  Some days are easier than others, for sure.

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!

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!

Many parents have asked us what to do about insuring their Vikings' chrome books.  While we know that we really want our students to all be careful, sometimes things happen.  There is a LOW COST option that is available to ALL GVMS students!  Check out THIS LINK to get an instant quote!  Seriously worth it!!

*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 19, 2018

We really strive to help build empathy in our students as well as focusing on the positive EVERY day.  Some days are easier than others, for sure.

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!

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. 

Many parents have asked us what to do about insuring their Vikings' chrome books.  While we know that we really want our students to all be careful, sometimes things happen.  There is a LOW COST option that is available to ALL GVMS students!  Check out THIS LINK to get an instant quote!  Seriously worth it!!

*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!!