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!!

October 12, 2018

Below are our school-wide results (dark blue and green) from the 2018 SBAC assessments, including scores compared across the State of California (light blue and yellow).  HERE are some helpful hints on understanding your Viking's score.  Additionally, here are side by side comparisons from 16-17 to 17-18. Our focus will be on closing the achievement gap in both Math and English-Language Arts!  

The Teen Anger Management and Empowerment (T.A.M.E.) Group is back by popular demand!  This is a 10 week group open to all teens!  Please take a look at THIS FLYER and contact Rosaura De Alvarez for registration information!  

There is SO much access to vapes that parents are unaware of.  Yes, it's illegal for our students to have them, bring them, use them, and share them.  This seems to be a struggle to understand for students.  Parents:  students are getting them online, at the local gas station, from their "friends", at inner city tobacco stores and more.  Yes, they aren't supposed to be sold to them, but they are.

Take a moment to see THIS ARTICLE for the rising risks, ways students are getting addicted, and the different signs to look at for.  Please be aware!

Many of you have been asking about Halloween and what's approved.
Yes, students are allowed to wear costumes. They must be appropriate,
not display drugs, drug use, profanity, or anything illegal. They may
not wear masks either. At the end of the day, we have the staff vs.
volleyball team game in the gym! Cost is $1.00 and students must have ID!
Snacks will be sold in the cafeteria!

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!

October 5, 2018

We have had some awesome sessions with Soul Shoppe at GVMS!  We have broken down some barriers, learned about one another, and shared our experiences surrounding some tough issues.  We know that it may be emotional AND we also know that we want to do anything and everything we can to build empathy and consideration for others on our campus!  Please visit https://www.soulshoppe.com/ to see what character education looks like!

As we learn more about each other and our behavior, we seem to have a HUGE disconnect in what the word bullying truly means.  Please take a look at THIS ARTICLE to understand that there is a true difference and we are working with our kids and Soul Shoppe to identify that difference and put a stop to it all!  Thank you!

While prescription marijuana may have become legal in many states, including our own, it is still very much ILLEGAL for middle school students to have it, smoke it, and bring to campus.  There seems to be some confusion about this and many students have access to it from home.  Please remember, students will be cited by FFPD, suspended, and possibly expelled for this.

How do you talk to your teens about drug use and abuse?  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE regarding conversations and topics to discuss.  Aren't sure about the rate of drug use in middle school?  Find it hard to believe that the rate of usage and access is rising?  You may not want to face it, but take a look at THESE facts about drug use and abuse in teens....scary.

Helping your GVMS Viking to be able to self-manage and be self- aware, is something that can be a challenge.  Parent Toolkit is a GREAT resource to help guide you through some tips and advice on what to do.  Check out THIS LINK for this and more ideas on social emotional support, relationships, academics, and more!

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