April 20, 2018

Our Color Run was SO FUN!!  Check out the pictures on Twitter (@gvmsvikings) and Facebook (GVMS Vikings)!  Thank you to GVMS PTC for making it happen and to all of our Parent and Leadership (both GVMS and RHS) Volunteers for all of your help!

We, at GVMS, work DAILY to remind, teach, encourage our students to be kind, caring, and empathetic to one another.  We continue to struggle with this DAILY.  We have students that come to school and say mean things to one another, continue to put their hands on one another, take things that belong to others, and more.  EVERY DAY we remind students of our school rules.  EVERY DAY we remind students to be kind, be caring and to keep their hands to themselves.  EVERY DAY we remind students to say kind words to one another, to make someone's day brighter, to be positive.

It's STILL a struggle.  Please help us reiterate this at home.  We need the help and support to encourage our students to be kind, be caring, and be empathetic.  We need our students to treat others the way that they want to be treated.  If you aren't even sure how to start, take a look at THIS ARTICLE to read some questions on how to get the conversation started!

Challenge Day is COMING!! We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2018-2019 and NEED adult volunteers!  Have you already been a part of Challenge Day and want to do it again?  We'd LOVE it!  Interested in participating and want more information?  Check out their website HERE or cut and paste this: https://www.challengeday.org/our-programs/schools/#challengeday  

Please email Mrs. Bates at ElizabethBa@fsusd.org to sign up!  WE NEED YOU!

Please be courteous to our neighbors as you are coming and going from GVMS!  We have had reports of driveways being blocked, trash cans being knocked over, and people being rude to others in our neighborhood.  PLEASE be courteous to our neighbors when you are coming to GVMS!  We want everyone to work together!

We are already planning for and fielding phone calls for 8th grade promotion!  Please mark your calendars for Thursday, June 7 beginning at 10 am!  Here are a few things to note:

• All 8th graders get 4 tickets ONLY
• Tickets are available AFTER Memorial Day weekend and will be signed over to the students directly!
• Rain or shine, we will be outside in the amphitheater
• We ask that all signs, balloons, or anything else blocking the view of other families be left outside or we will hold it in our front office
• Gates for families promotion will not be opened until 9:30 AM
• Any sibling that attends GVMS and wants to attend promotion, must be signed out by an adult on their emergency card
• All 8th graders are dismissed immediately after promotion ends

More information will come out as we get closer to the date of promotion!

We know you are well aware of our upcoming SBAC/ CAASPP testing in Math and English that is coming up from April 30- May 18.  We will be on block schedule and we will be sending the schedule home with students via email.  In the meantime, we are getting our Vikings ready for this assessment!  

How can you help at home?  Check out THIS WEBSITE and the video above for more information and how you can support your Viking at home!

ALSO!  Please make sure that your Viking brings their own earbuds for the entire length of the test.  We will provide them, however, we know that most students prefer to use their own!  THANK YOU!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

Please remember that we have DAILY morning announcements (HERE), where important information is shared with all Vikings!  While it is shared over the loud speaker, all teachers project it and hard copies are always available in the front office and the library.  Additionally, it is always updated on our website!  Please make sure that you (along with your Viking) stay up to date on all information from GVMS.  Thank you!

April 13, 2018

Our Color Run is going to be SO FUN!!  We can't wait to share pictures with you on Twitter (@gvmsvikings) and Facebook (GVMS Vikings) so please check them out!  If you are running or volunteering for this event, THANK YOU for making it happen!

Our students and their safety are our number 1 priority.  This continues as our students are dismissed from GVMS and headed home.  PLEASE encourage your student to pay attention to the cars coming and going on Gold Hill Road.  PLEASE encourage them to get OFF of their phones when crossing the street.  We have had multiple instances where our Vikings have almost been hit by cars as our students are really not paying attention!  We want them to be safe!  Thanks for your help!

Spring has sprung, even in middle school.  But what does that mean, when it comes to "dating"?  What does it even mean to say a middle school student is "dating"?  Does that mean holding hands?  Does that mean texting and SnapChatting all the time?  Honestly, the best possible way to know what it means (especially in middle school where they can't even drive!), is to sit down and define it with your Viking!  Check out THIS ARTICLE for ideas, ways, and strategies to chat with your middle school student about what "dating" means!

Challenge Day is COMING!! We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2018-2019 and NEED adult volunteers!  Have you already been a part of Challenge Day and want to do it again?  We'd LOVE it!  Interested in participating and want more information?  Check out their website HERE or cut and paste this: https://www.challengeday.org/our-programs/schools/#challengeday  

Please email Mrs. Bates at ElizabethBa@fsusd.org to sign up!  WE NEED YOU!

We are already planning for and fielding phone calls for 8th grade promotion!  Please mark your calendars for Thursday, June 7 beginning at 10 am!  Here are a few things to note:

• All 8th graders get 4 tickets ONLY
• Tickets are available AFTER Memorial Day weekend and will be signed over to the students directly!
• Rain or shine, we will be outside in the amphitheater
• We ask that all signs, balloons, or anything else blocking the view of other families be left outside or we will hold it in our front office
• Gates for families promotion will not be opened until 9:30 AM
• Any sibling that attends GVMS and wants to attend promotion, must be signed out by an adult on their emergency card
• All 8th graders are dismissed immediately after promotion ends

More information will come out as we get closer to the date of promotion!

REU (Rodriguez Entertainment Unit) has been at GVMS during both lunches for several days, to introduce and entice our students to REU!  Students who are interested in being a part of Drum line or Color Guard are highly encouraged to attend their clinics from 5-7 going on NOW!!  Want more information?  Email Scott Miller at ScottM@fsusd.org and get involved!

We know you are well aware of our upcoming SBAC/ CAASPP testing in Math and English that is coming up from April 30- May 18.  We will be on block schedule and we will be sending the schedule home with students via email.  In the meantime, we are getting our Vikings ready for this assessment!  

How can you help at home?  Check out THIS WEBSITE and the video above for more information and how you can support your Viking at home!

ALSO!  Please make sure that your Viking brings their own earbuds for the entire length of the test.  We will provide them, however, we know that most students prefer to use their own!  THANK YOU!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

Please remember that we have DAILY morning announcements (HERE), where important information is shared with all Vikings!  While it is shared over the loud speaker, all teachers project it and hard copies are always available in the front office and the library.  Additionally, it is always updated on our website!  Please make sure that you (along with your Viking) stay up to date on all information from GVMS.  Thank you!

April 6, 2018

Welcome Back!  We missed you!  Now that we are back, we hit the ground running!  With less than 50 days of school left, we have a LOT going on!  Please be sure that you know ALL of the events, activities, testing dates, and more!  Make sure you mark your calendars!

Challenge Day is COMING!! We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2018-2019 and NEED adult volunteers!  Have you already been a part of Challenge Day and want to do it again?  We'd LOVE it!  Interested in participating and want more information?  Check out their website HERE or cut and paste this: https://www.challengeday.org/our-programs/schools/#challengeday  

Please email Mrs. Bates at ElizabethBa@fsusd.org to sign up!  WE NEED YOU!

We know you are well aware of our upcoming SBAC/ CAASPP testing in Math and English that is coming up from April 30- May 18.  We will be on block schedule and we will be sending the schedule home with students via email.  In the meantime, we are getting our Vikings ready for this assessment!  

How can you help at home?  Check out THIS WEBSITE and the video above for more information and how you can support your Viking at home!

Have you heard of the SayAt.Me app?  We hadn't either.  It's an anonymous website/app that allows anyone to get feedback from others.  Sounds harmless enough, however, anyone can send ANY message to ANY person, including tweens and teens.  It's a place where cyber bullying and cruel comments can be posted and it encourages others to compare their self image to other people's opinions.  Says you must be 16 to use, however, it's super easy to sign up as there is no age check....Not so harmless, huh?  

We are very excited for our 1st Annual Color Run!  Come check it out and throw come color on our runners on Friday, April 13 after school!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

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!!

March 23, 2018

Spring is HERE!  We have DEFINITELY noticed that Spring is here at GVMS and want to stress that attendance is still important!  While we historically have noticed that attendance starts to decline in April, we truly want to stress that being at GVMS daily is very important!  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE for data, information, and reasons why attending daily is still very important!  Plus, we are ALWAYS happy to see our kids! 

We know that MANY of our students LOVE to post videos on multiple sites, but do we all TRULY know what is going on with them?  Check out the video above and THIS ARTICLE about the pros and cons and everything in between about Kik, Whisper and Musical.ly!

Have you sent in your Color Run participation sheet?  This is going to be a great family event!  Don't miss out on this SUPER fun event!   Flyers went home and can be found on our website!  They were due today, however, if you still have one and want to join the fun, PLEASE send it in when we return from Spring Break on April 3, 2018!!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

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!!

*CHECK OUT OUR PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE MANY NEW ONES TOO!! 

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!!

March 16, 2018

Every day at GVMS, we mention being nice/saying kind words/being polite/doing the right thing DAILY to remind our Vikings that we are all here together!  Sometimes, that can be much more difficult than anticipated.  We have been able to use the resources from THIS LINK to help us and wanted to share them with you all as well!

Every SINGLE day, over our loud speakers, we make lots of announcements to our students.  These include: events coming up, clubs to join, sports activities, grading windows, and more.  PLEASE make sure that you all, at home, bookmark this page HERE so that YOU don't miss out on what's happening at GVMS!  We have a LOT of exciting activities coming up that you won't want your student (or YOU!) to miss out on!

Additionally, we review our school rules.  EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Including keeping our hands to ourselves and no play fighting/slap boxing.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules!!

Have you sent in your Color Run participation sheet?  This is going to be a great family event!  Don't miss out on this SUPER fun event!   Flyers went home and can be found on our website!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

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!!

*CHECK OUT OUR PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE MANY NEW ONES TOO!! 

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!!

March 9, 2018

We know that many of our students are talking about the national school walk out on March 14.  We are currently meeting with student council and student leadership to discuss ideas on how students can get involved in ways that do not violate school rules and board policy.  The specific board policy on student disturbances can be found here.

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We have met with interested students, Leadership and our Student Council.  We have explained that leaving class at 10 AM will be considered a cut on their attendance and they will get a call home.  Leadership is organizing a lunch time activity in place of walking out of class so that interested students can sign letters, make posters, etc.

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We continue to be very concerned about the amount of students that are dropped off at school in the morning (sometimes before 7 AM!!) and then choosing to WALK to Tower Mart.  This is extremely unsafe and we cannot chase after them to have them return to school.  Please remind your student NOT to do this!

Every SINGLE day, over our loud speakers, we make lots of announcements to our students.  These include: events coming up, clubs to join, sports activities, grading windows, and more.  PLEASE make sure that you all, at home, bookmark this page HERE so that YOU don't miss out on what's happening at GVMS!  We have a LOT of exciting activities coming up that you won't want your student (or YOU!) to miss out on!

Additionally, we review our school rules.  EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Including keeping our hands to ourselves and no play fighting/slap boxing.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules!!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

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!!

*CHECK OUT OUR PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE MANY NEW ONES TOO!! 

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!!

March 2, 2018

We, at GVMS, do our very best to ensure that our students are safe at all times.  We practice fire drills, intruder drills, review safety protocols and more.   Please talk with your students about where the exit routes are from their classrooms and where to evacuate if necessary.  Should we need to evacuate campus completely, GVMS offsite meeting and pick-up locations are #1: Cordelia Community Park and #2: Ridgeview Park (next to Oakbrook Elementary).

We are currently in the process of increasing our video camera coverage and installing an additional gate in front that requires being buzzed in and increasing our volunteers through our Watch DOGS program.  We can always use more eyes and ears!  We have our amazing campus monitors (and all adults) constantly patrolling our huge site and communicating to all Admin and office when anything goes on. 

We know that many of our students are talking about the national school walk out on March 14.  We are currently meeting with student council and student leadership to discuss ideas on how students can get involved in ways that do not violate school rules and board policy.  The specific board policy on student disturbances can be found here.

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We continue to be very concerned about the amount of students that are dropped off at school in the morning (sometimes before 7 AM!!) and then choosing to WALK to Tower Mart.  This is extremely unsafe and we cannot chase after them to have them return to school.  Please remind your student NOT to do this!

Did you know that colleges and employers make the time to search tweens and teens to see what their "digital footprint" looks like?  Take a look at the video to help you, as a parent, monitor your students social media presence every week/month in less than 5 minutes!

Intra-murals are COMING!!!  GVMS is starting after school intra-murals for students who are interested!  These are FREE, open to ALL students, and will be FUN!  There is a after school meeting from 3-3:30 PM on February 27th for parents and interested students!  Information, contract information, and more will be discussed at this meeting!  We are super excited to have Mrs. Keffer and Mr. Peila be able to offer this to our students!

Every SINGLE day, over our loud speakers, we make lots of announcements to our students.  These include: events coming up, clubs to join, sports activities, grading windows, and more.  PLEASE make sure that you all, at home, bookmark this page HERE so that YOU don't miss out on what's happening at GVMS!  We have a LOT of exciting activities coming up that you won't want your student (or YOU!) to miss out on!

Additionally, we review our school rules.  EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Including keeping our hands to ourselves and no play fighting/slap boxing.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules!!

The SPRING FLING IS COMING!!  We are gearing up for our 4th Annual Spring Fling at GV Cellars on Saturday, April 28 from 4-8 PM and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Do you have connections for tickets to sporting events, time shares, winery tours, limo tours, etc?  Tickets will be on sale FEBRUARY 1st for $25.00 and the Sign Up Genius has gone out!  Click HERE to see if you can donate! Please reach out to your connections and help us make this year's event even more fun and successful than last year's (that may be hard as last year was a TON of fun!).  More details, donation letters, and Sign Up Genius links will be sent at the beginning of February!  You DON'T want to miss this!

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!!

*CHECK OUT OUR PROJECTS!!*  THERE ARE MANY NEW ONES TOO!! 

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!!