September 6, 2019

Back to School Night is Wednesday, September 11, beginning at 5 PM .  Be sure to mark your calendars!  Families will go through their Vikings' schedule, moving from class to class as the bell rings and ending in the gym for food from Napa Deli for purchase and information from GVMS PTC, Watch D.O.G.S representatives, Attendance Liaisons, Child Nutrition, and more!  

It's a WEALTH of information for all families! We look forward to having you involved!

MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing will take place THREE times during our school year, with Winter scores helping to determine high school placement for our current 8th graders.  We started and continue to MAP test in Math and ELA. These tests are done on a computer and they measure academic growth throughout the year.  The tests are unique as they can adapt to your your Viking's level of learning!  Each student has the same opportunity to set goals for themselves and to succeed while maintaining a positive attitude toward testing!  MAP tests take a shorter amount of time to administer and give us detailed accurate information about their growth.  Check out THIS Parent's Guide to MAP Growth!

PLEASE help us help our students to remember a few things!  Please remind them to charge their chrome books every night and bring them back each day!!  We know that this is new and we are really struggling with this!!  Also, please remind them of our school rules and keeping their hands to themselves!  Thank you!

Just a few friendly reminders that were announced during our morning announcements:

• The daily bulletin is on our website and is read each morning.  It can be found HERE.
• We know that short shorts and short shirts are super cute....AND need to be left at home please!  
• We follow FSUSD dress code policy, so please make sure that you and your Viking are aware of it or they will need to change.  It can be found HERE. 
• Please do NOT bring gum to campus.  It ends up EVERYWHERE!  Mints are totally fine!
• Earbud, wireless or not, MAY NOT be used during passing periods any longer.  It has become a safety hazard and we need all of our students to hear what's going on.  If teachers allow earbuds to be worn in class, with permission, then that is up to the teacher!
• PE Clothing can be purchased before and after school still.  
• Please make sure that your Viking has money on their lunch card.  We cannot give emergency lunches in middle school.  The website can be found HERE.
• If you still haven't created your Parent Portal account or need the instructions, please call the office or come in.  If you need the website again, you can find it HERE.
• If your Viking needs assistance from a different teacher than they are going back to for tutorial, they MUST arrange that the day before to get a pass!

7th and 8th grade Vikings will be participating in Challenge Day on September 12, 18 and 19 to help build empathy, love for others, kindness and compassion and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  We need parent volunteers to be the host of small groups during these days!  If you are able to help for the day (THANK YOU!!) please take a look at this form:  Challenge Day Sign Up and take a minute to check out what Challenge Day is all about at www.challengeday.org 

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!!

August 30, 2019

Welcome back to school!  We are thrilled and excited that we are going to have the BEST year!  We appreciate your patience as we balance schedules, get students placed, as make sure everyone knows where to go!

PLEASE help us help our students to remember a few things!  Please remind them to charge their chrome books every night and bring them back each day!!  We know that this is new and we are really struggling with this!!  Also, please remind them of our school rules and keeping their hands to themselves!  Thank you!

Back to School Night is Wednesday, September 11, beginning at 5 PM .  Be sure to mark your calendars!  Families will go through their Vikings' schedule, moving from class to class as the bell rings and ending in the gym for food from Napa Deli for purchase and information from GVMS PTC, Watch D.O.G.S representatives, Attendance Liaisons, Child Nutrition, and more!  

It's a WEALTH of information for all families! We look forward to having you involved!

Cell phones and Internet aren't just part of our student's lives....they ARE their lives in many cases!  As a parent, we don't get an instruction manual as to how we can keep up with it, so check out THIS LINK on ideas, ways to keep up with the latest apps and more.  Don't back away!  Work with your tween and teen to stay on top of it!!

Just a few friendly reminders that were announced during our morning announcements:

• The daily bulletin is on our website and is read each morning.  It can be found HERE.
• We know that short shorts and short shirts are super cute....AND need to be left at home please!  
• We follow FSUSD dress code policy, so please make sure that you and your Viking are aware of it or they will need to change.  It can be found HERE. 
• Please do NOT bring gum to campus.  It ends up EVERYWHERE!  Mints are totally fine!
• Earbud, wireless or not, MAY NOT be used during passing periods any longer.  It has become a safety hazard and we need all of our students to hear what's going on.  If teachers allow earbuds to be worn in class, with permission, then that is up to the teacher!
• PE Clothing can be purchased before and after school still.  
• Please make sure that your Viking has money on their lunch card.  We cannot give emergency lunches in middle school.  The website can be found HERE.
• If you still haven't created your Parent Portal account or need the instructions, please call the office or come in.  If you need the website again, you can find it HERE.
• If your Viking needs assistance from a different teacher than they are going back to for tutorial, they MUST arrange that the day before to get a pass!

7th and 8th grade Vikings will be participating in Challenge Day on September 12, 18 and 19 to help build empathy, love for others, kindness and compassion and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  We need parent volunteers to be the host of small groups during these days!  If you are able to help for the day (THANK YOU!!) please take a look at this form:  Challenge Day Sign Up and take a minute to check out what Challenge Day is all about at www.challengeday.org 

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!!

May 23, 2019

Please continue to monitor Parent Portal as grades are changing DAILY and all of our teachers enter as soon as they are able.  While a grade may say one thing on the Progress Report, it may change immediately when a teacher enters a grade.  Grades are not final until June 7!!    Please let us know if you have lost your log in or need assistance by calling our office at 646-7000.

We know that social media is a WAY of life.  Maybe not with all families, however, we know it is in many lives, especially of the students we serve.  While social media can have some positive impacts (connecting and communicating with friends and family near and far), there are MANY negative effects that I am sure that you are aware of.  From making comparisons of yourself to others to having it consume part of our life, we need to make sure we (and our tweens/teens especially) don't fall into the negative traps that social media can have.  

In addition to the short pod cast above, check out THIS ARTICLE to check out some of the effects of social media...

Our lost and found will be donated on Thursday, May 30 after school.  Please stop by and make sure you aren't missing something!

Sport O Rama is COMING Friday, May 31 from 3:15-5:15 in our gym!!  This is an awesome team building/game playing event that we love to include the whole school and our families!  Cost is $2.00 per person and $5.00 per family!  PE Department will be selling snacks for purchase and it will all be a great time!

Challenge Day is COMING!! 

We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2019-2020 and NEED adult volunteers for September 2019!  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?  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

September 12, 16, & 19 for 2019

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 6 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 WITH their name on their tickets!  Lost tickets cannot be replaced!
• 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
• If you want to bring your own chair, please do so
• Gates for families promotion will open 9:30 AM
• Any sibling that attends GVMS and wants to attend promotion, MUST be signed out by an adult on their emergency card and must also have a ticket!
• All 8th graders are dismissed immediately after promotion end.

We have had several parents ask for additional resources, outside of GVMS, to support parenting their students.  We are glad you asked!  There are many resources on the Sullivan Inter agency Youth Services Center that can be used, including Parent Project from the FFPD!  Take a look and get signed up!

Every 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, no play fighting/slap boxing, and stop the negative behavior on SOCIAL MEDIA!!.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules as they are certainly not complicated: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe!

May 17, 2019

Please continue to monitor Parent Portal as grades are changing DAILY and all of our teachers enter as soon as they are able.  While a grade may say one thing on the Progress Report, it may change immediately when a teacher enters a grade.  Grades are not final until June 7!!    Please let us know if you have lost your log in or need assistance by calling our office at 646-7000.

Our lost and found will be donated on Thursday, May 31 after school.  Please stop by and make sure you aren't missing something!

Sport O Rama is COMING Friday, May 31 from 3:15-5:15 in our gym!!  This is an awesome team building/game playing event that we love to include the whole school and our families!  Cost is $2.00 per person and $5.00 per family!  PE Department will be selling snacks for purchase and it will all be a great time!

Challenge Day is COMING!! 

We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2019-2020 and NEED adult volunteers for September 2019!  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?  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

September 12, 16, & 19 for 2019

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 6 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 WITH their name on their tickets!  Lost tickets cannot be replaced!
• 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
• If you want to bring your own chair, please do so
• Gates for families promotion will open 9:30 AM
• Any sibling that attends GVMS and wants to attend promotion, MUST be signed out by an adult on their emergency card and must also have a ticket!
• All 8th graders are dismissed immediately after promotion end.

We have had several parents ask for additional resources, outside of GVMS, to support parenting their students.  We are glad you asked!  There are many resources on the Sullivan Inter agency Youth Services Center that can be used, including Parent Project from the FFPD!  Take a look and get signed up!

Every 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, no play fighting/slap boxing, and stop the negative behavior on SOCIAL MEDIA!!.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules as they are certainly not complicated: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe!

May 10, 2019

THANK YOU to our GVMS PTC, parents and families that donated supplies and time and love to make our Teacher Appreciation Week for our GVMS teachers feel very special!  THANK YOU over and over and over again!  We truly appreciate it!!

CAASPP testing is in FULL SWING!  Our students are working hard and are still in the ELA part of the CAASPP test!  Please continue to encourage them to DO THEIR BEST!  Take a look at the video above (though the dates don't match ours so be aware!) to give some ideas and suggestions!  THANK YOU!!

Our testing dates are as follows:

5/13-5/17 Block Schedule Math CAT/PT

5/20-5/23 Regular Schedule Science CAST (8th grade only)

5/20-5/23 Regular Schedule 6th & 7th Grade MAP testing

5/28-5/31 Regular Schedule 8th Grade MAP testing

Sport O Rama is COMING Friday, May 31 from 3:15-5:15 in our gym!!  This is an awesome team building/game playing event that we love to include the whole school and our families!  Cost is $2.00 per person and $5.00 per family!  PE Department will be selling snacks for purchase and it will all be a great time!

Challenge Day is COMING!! 

We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2019-2020 and NEED adult volunteers for September 2019!  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?  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

September 12, 16, & 19 for 2019

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 6 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 WITH their name on their tickets!  Lost tickets cannot be replaced!
• 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
• If you want to bring your own chair, please do so
• Gates for families promotion will open 9:30 AM
• Any sibling that attends GVMS and wants to attend promotion, MUST be signed out by an adult on their emergency card and must also have a ticket!
• All 8th graders are dismissed immediately after promotion end.

We have had several parents ask for additional resources, outside of GVMS, to support parenting their students.  We are glad you asked!  There are many resources on the Sullivan Inter agency Youth Services Center that can be used, including Parent Project from the FFPD!  Take a look and get signed up!

Every 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, no play fighting/slap boxing, and stop the negative behavior on SOCIAL MEDIA!!.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules as they are certainly not complicated: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe!

May 3, 2019

CAASPP testing is in FULL SWING!  Our students are working hard and are still in the ELA part of the CAASPP test!  Please continue to encourage them to DO THEIR BEST!  Take a look at the video above (though the dates don't match ours so be aware!) to give some ideas and suggestions!  THANK YOU!!

Our testing dates are as follows:

5/3 Regular Schedule ELA Performance Task (PT)

5/6-5/9 Regular Schedule ELA PT

5/13-5/17 Block Schedule Math CAT/PT

5/20-5/23 Regular Schedule Science CAST (8th grade only)

5/20-5/23 Regular Schedule 6th & 7th Grade MAP testing

5/28-5/31 Regular Schedule 8th Grade MAP testing

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming May 6-10 and we appreciate all of the donations and support that our teachers have been given!  Thank you so so much!

Sport O Rama is COMING Friday, May 31 from 3:15-5:15 in our gym!!  This is an awesome team building/game playing event that we love to include the whole school and our families!  Cost is $2.00 per person and $5.00 per family!  PE Department will be selling snacks for purchase and it will all be a great time!

Challenge Day is COMING!! 

We are already planning for Challenge Day for 2019-2020 and NEED adult volunteers for September 2019!  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?  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

September 12, 16, & 19 for 2019

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 6 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!  Lost tickets cannot be replaced!
• 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
• If you want to bring your own chair, please do so
• Gates for families promotion will open 9:30 AM
• Any sibling that attends GVMS and wants to attend promotion, MUST be signed out by an adult on their emergency card and must also have a ticket!
• All 8th graders are dismissed immediately after promotion end.

We have had several parents ask for additional resources, outside of GVMS, to support parenting their students.  We are glad you asked!  There are many resources on the Sullivan Inter agency Youth Services Center that can be used, including Parent Project from the FFPD!  Take a look and get signed up!

Every 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, no play fighting/slap boxing, and stop the negative behavior on SOCIAL MEDIA!!.  PLEASE encourage your student to follow our school rules as they are certainly not complicated: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe!