Patriot Pulse
January 8th Edition
Hello Grissom Families,
Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones enjoyed a restful and fulfilling winter break. We are eager to warmly welcome our students back to Grissom and continue our important journey of learning and growing together.
A new year can mean a new beginning, or fresh start, in so many ways. The new year can also prompt many of us to make a resolution for improving or changing something in our lives. Recently, I read that only 9% of Americans follow through with their New Year's Resolutions. How is that for a discouraging statistic? Still, 9% shows that it is possible to succeed in our resolutions. What do these 9% know that most others don't? According to this article from Ohio State's School of Business, it's actually rather simple... They know how to make a plan! Perhaps you have made and shared resolutions with your children for 2024. If so, I encourage you to read the linked article and learn more about how to stay on track with these resolutions through careful planning and accountability. Best wishes to you in the new year and with your new resolutions!
This edition of The Pulse includes information about the upcoming Winter MAP testing, recently adopted changes to arrival procedures and YouTube access, details on how to order Hot Lunch for the second half of the school year, an upcoming Special Olympics basketball game, and more! I would also like to highlight a significant upcoming milestone: Grissom's 50 Year Anniversary.
Read on to learn all of this and more in our January edition of the Pulse!
With warm regards,
Mr. Michael Rumbaugh - Principal
Upcoming Events:
- January 9th
Classes resume.
- January 10th, 11th, 12th
MAP Testing - during school hours
- January 15th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
- January 17th
Special Olympics Basketball Game
6 PM Start - Grissom Gym
- January 18th
Board of Education Meeting
7 PM - Administration Building - January 19th
End of 2nd Quarter Marking Period - January 26th
2nd Quarter Report Cards Issued
Grissom's 50 Year Anniversary
I am excited to share that Virgil I. Grissom Middle School is nearing it's 50th Anniversary. Grissom first opened its doors to students in 1975 as a 7th and 8th grade junior high campus. Since then, our campus and surrounding community have experienced substantial growth and change.
Upwards of 12,000 students have attended Grissom in its near half century of existence. In my conversations with students and families, it's often revealed that many current students have parents or adult relatives who are also Grissom alumni. (Don't worry, I don't ask how long ago!) I am heartened to know that so many former students choose raise their children in the same community in which they were raised and send them to the same schools they once attended. To me, it demonstrates that they valued their experience growing up in our community and want their children to enjoy a similar experience. What a great legacy we have built in our Grissom community!
The 2024-25 school year will mark our 50th year in session, and we look forward to commemorating it with current and former students, parents, staff, and community members. Keep an eye out for future details of events and opportunities planned to commemorate this milestone sent via the Patriot Pulse, Parent Square, and our school-sponsored Facebook page. Here's to 50 years!
Mike Rumbaugh - Principal
Pictured Above: Original main entrance to V.I. Grissom Junior High School. - circa 1975
Aerial photo taken southeast of the Grissom campus shortly before its opening - circa 1975
Grissom campus from the northwest. The intersection of 171st Street & 80th Avenue as well as the Kirby Elementary School building can be seen in the background. - circa 1975
Winter MAP Testing
We will conduct Winter MAP testing starting on Wednesday, January 10th and continuing through the remainder of the week on Thursday and Friday. Students will test in either math or ELA on two of the three days in the morning. A slightly altered bell and lunch schedule will be in place to accommodate testing. See below for lunch times.
Lunch Start Times 1/10, 1/11, 1/12
8th Grade: 11:14 AM
6th Grade: 11:55 AM
7th Grade: 12:36 PM
Arrival Procedure Change
We have made a slight change to student arrival procedures in the morning.
Effective immediately, students who arrive to Grissom at 8:25 AM will be permitted to enter the building, regardless of weather conditions, and immediately report to their lockers. Students will sit near or in front of their locker until the 8:35 AM bell. At that time, students may access their lockers to put away backpacks, coats, and belongings. Students will then gather class materials and report to their first period classes. Classes begin promptly at 8:45 AM.
This is a change from previous policies of having students congregate outside of the building until 8:35 AM if weather conditions permitted it.
Our school-wide policy prohibiting student cell phone use remains in effect once a student enters the building. Phones must be powered off and stowed away in backpacks.
YouTube Access
Parents & Guardians,
Effective now and moving forward, the YouTube application and website will no longer be accessible to students on district-issued iPads. Teachers will still be able to access content from YouTube and share it with students by other means if it fits a curricular need. For instance, video clips assigned by a teacher through EdPuzzle will still be accessible to students. Should you have any questions about this change in access to the YouTube platform, feel free to email Mr. Rumbaugh at mirumbaugh@ksd140.org.
Emergency Closing Notifications and eLearning Plan Review
As temperatures drop and winter weather begins, we’d like to take a moment to review our Emergency Closing notification protocols and eLearning Day plan.
If emergency days are needed due to snow or extreme cold, families will receive notification via a phone/email/text message, and an alert will be posted on our District website. KSD 140 also communicates school closure information through the District’s social media accounts and the Emergency Closing Center (ECC). Detailed school closing information can be found here.
If an emergency closing day is needed, the District may elect to use an eLearning Day instead of a traditional “snow day” that has to be made up at the end of the school year. Please refer to our eLearning Day Overview to review specifics of the plan, including school hours and access to D140’s digital platforms.
Now would be a great time to ensure your contact information is up-to-date. Please log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal to check your contact information and make any necessary changes.
Special Olympics Basketball Game
On Wednesday, January 17th, Kirby's Special Olympics basketball team will participate in a peer basketball game against fellow District 140 students in Grissom's Main Gym.
Tip off is at 6 PM.
Come out and support our student-athletes in what is always an exciting and fun event!
Breakthrough - February 9th
Breakthrough will be held at Prairie View Middle School on February 9th from 5:00 to 9:00pm. It is open to all students from Grissom and Prairie View Middle Schools. Breakthrough is an empowering 4-hour retreat aimed at fostering personal and social development among middle school students. This inclusive program, open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, unites youth with community professionals and dedicated adults. Its core mission is to nurture healthy peer relationships, enhance responsible decision-making, and equip students to counter negative peer pressure. Emphasizing a peer-support approach, Breakthrough guides students towards making sound choices for a healthy lifestyle.
Students who wish to attend can get a permission form outside the main office.
Contact Mrs. Katie Ryan (kryan@ksd140.org) if you have any questions.
Student Support
Student support is open to any student who wants to complete schoolwork in a supervised, quiet setting - our Media Center.
Before-school support is offered Monday - Friday starting at 8:00 A.M. Students attending can be dropped off at Grissom's main entrance. Students will not be able to enter the building before 8:00 A.M.
After-school support is offered Monday - Thursday until 4:05 P.M. An activity bus is available to take regular bus riders home at that time, if needed.
After School Activity Bus
An after-school activity bus will be available ONLY for students who are already receive bus service. Students who attend after-school activities that last no later than 4:05 P.M. can take the bus home.
KSD 140 Band & Chorus Events
- January 22nd
Band Parent Meeting @ Grissom - 7 PM
Great Grissom Events!
Winter Assembly!
7th Grade Science Field Trip - Tinley Lanes
Learning in Action!
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch orders for the second half of the school year are due on Wednesday, January 17th. Order today using the link below!
https://grissompto.h1.hotlunchonline.net/
Upcoming Hot Lunch Dates (First Half of Year Orders)
- Tuesday, January 9th - Culver's
- Friday, January 12th - Jet's
- Tuesday, January 16th - Nick's BBQ
- Tuesday, January 23rd - Winston's
- Friday, January 26th - Nick's BBQ
- Tuesday, January 30th - Panda Express
Volunteer!
Support our PTO by volunteering to distribute hot lunch! Click one or both the links below to sign up.
December Students of the Month!
Congratulations to our December Students of the Month!
Allison G, Sarah G, Ryan G, Gavin B, Barney K, Liliana M, Courtney S, William B, Isabelle K, Natasha M, Ioannis K, & Atala S!
Keep in Touch!
#KirbyONE40 #EveryChildEveryDay
Respectfully,
Mr. Michael Rumbaugh - Principal
Mrs. Julie Simpson - Assistant Principal
Virgil I. Grissom Middle School
Principal Michael Rumbaugh- mirumbaugh@ksd140.org
Website: ksd140.org/grissom
Location: 17000 South 80th Avenue, Tinley Park, IL, 60477
Phone: 708-429-3030