Dear Galvin Families,

Each day at GMS we continue to create and sustain a school culture and climate that support a rich educational environment for all students and staff. One way we accomplish this is through school spirit events. Our Student Leaders have designed Spirit Weeks beginning on Monday (outlined in this newsletter). In addition, if you have a chance, please read this week's Canton Citizen article about the GMS Cross Country Team's inaugural season. These events, and many more throughout the school year, unite our students and staff, and instill pride in our school.

Thank you,

GMS Administration

The GMS Robotics Club competed in the First Lego League Challenge Qualifier in Easton on Sunday 12/5! There were three teams from GMS - Team G GMS Global, Team M Mobile Movers, and Team S Shipping Seals competing with 18 other regional teams. Team M Mobile Movers won the runner up 2nd place trophy for robot design! Teams were coached by Jessica Murphy and Nancy Stockwell-Alpert, along with parent mentor volunteers and CHS student Ryan, with tons of support from Katie Healey and her high school robotics teams.

Before Thanksgiving, students in Mrs. Stuart's 7th grade science classes did an engineering design challenge to construct the tallest turkey roost structure. The winning structure was created by Spencer R. and Paul M. at 50 inches tall!

On Wednesday, December 8th an email was sent to all GMS families containing a link to your child’s demographic information. It is very important that we have accurate student information on file. This includes student and parent/guardian contact information, as well as emergency and medical information. Please take a few moments to read this email, review the data and make any updates. If after reviewing the information you find that no changes have been made, please SUBMIT the form regardless. This will alert us that your child’s information is accurate.

If you did not receive this email, please first check your junk/spam folder. In the event that an email was not received, please contact the GMS main office at 781-821-5070 so that we may update your email address and resend you the form.

Thank you.

We previously shared with families an electronic copy of the GMS Student and Family Handbook with the District Appendix. This Handbook is also posted on our school website. The link to this handbook can be found here: Approved GMS Handbook with Appendix.

It is the responsibility of each family to review the Handbook together and to fill out the 2021-22 Canton Public Schools Student/Family Handbook and Permissions Signature Page. The link to the Google Form can be found here. Please ☑ each section and electronically sign this form as receipt and agreement as stated below. We ask that you complete this form for each child you have at the Galvin.

We appreciate your attention to this matter.

WEEK OF 12/13 - 12/17

Monday 12/13 - Pajama Day

Tuesday 12/14 - Blackout Bullying Day - Wear all black to "black out bullying"

Wednesday 12/15 - College Day

Thursday 12/16 - Decade Day - "Dress like you are from your favorite decade."

Friday 12/17 - Canton Spirit Day - Wear Green or White

WEEK OF 12/20 - 12/23

Monday 12/20 - Camo Day

Tuesday 12/21 - Team Spirit Day (See below)

Wednesday 12/22 - Twin/Multiple Day

Thursday 12/23 - Plaid/Flannel Day

Team Colors

GRADE 6 - Galaxy - Purple; Meteorites - Yellow; Supernovas - Blue

GRADE 7 - Grizzlies - Black; Mountain Lions - Red; Sharks - White

GRADE 8 - Green - Green; Maroon - Maroon; Silver - Silver

It is our students' responsibility to bring their charged Chromebook to school with them each day. We have a very limited number of loaners available and are using those to first support students who's Chromebooks aren't working. The Chromebook is an essential, daily, school supply. Please help your child come up with a process that allows them to have their device ready for school each day. Thank you.

During the month of November, donations were collected for the Canton Food Pantry. Students in Mrs. Morrison's and Mrs. Daly's classroom collected and sorted out donations. Thank you to GMS staff and students who donated!

Do you have a college-age child coming home for winter break? If so, would they be interested in subbing for the Canton Public Schools while they are here? Subbing is a great way to keep busy, make money and get real-world work experience. In Canton, we have had great success bringing our own, former students back to help support our students and schools during this busy time year. If your child is interested, please have them fill out this sub application packet and email it to Kim Eardley (eardleyk@cantonma.org) to get the process started. If they fill it out before they get home, the process can begin asap!

Students in their first year of college are able to sub at the elementary and preschool levels only.

Students in their second year or beyond can sub at all school levels.

"Students in Señora Moore's seventh grade classes are writing poems about themselves in Spanish. Who am I?...(¿Quién soy yo?...).

How can we, as a design team, create an environment that is more learner-centered? As the middle school anxiously awaits a decision by the MSBA (Mass School Building Authority) about the future of the GMS facility, our 6th grade students are tackling the question in their next PBL unit.

Just recently our students were presented with this challenge: Have you heard? Canton is in the running to get a brand new school, and we need your help! Together, in teams of 3 to 4, you will research the latest trends in school design to promote collaborative classrooms where students are at the center. To help influence what the future could be, you and your team will create a blueprint of your design, showcasing what you want it to look like, and sharing to members of the community your ideas.

As they do their work, they will address math, reading and science standards as well as the desired student outcomes of perseverance and curiosity. We can't wait to show both our school and town communities what our ideal learning communities can look like but also the MSBA!

The GMS 7th and 8th Grade Winter Concert will be held Wednesday evening December 15th at 7:00 pm at the Canton High School Auditorium. The Concert will feature performances by the 7th and 8th Grade Bands, the 7th and 8th Grade Chorus and the 7th and 8th Grade Orchestra. The 6th Grade Winter Concert is scheduled for January 18th.

TRANSLATE ACCESS

Dear Canton Families,

We hope you are doing well as we enter the winter season and the middle months of the school year. We are making great progress as a District, and we are continually acknowledging and adapting to the challenges and transitions sparked by last year. On behalf of CPS, we are so pleased with -- and proud of -- the incredible work of our students, educators and staff, our administration and our families.

And….We would love to hear from you! Your feedback is appreciated.

As part of our District Goals and Action Steps, we have a commitment to two-way communication. We push out a great deal of information, and we want to ensure there are opportunities for you to share your perspectives and voice as well. The Community Forums have been outstanding, and today we are pleased to share the Canton Public Schools Family Survey.

We would ask that you take a moment to complete the survey. Your feedback provides great insight into our District’s strengths, your child’s experiences, areas for improvement, and hopes and vision for the future. Much like last year, the survey is constructed around the Conditions for Learning, and a desire to ensure excellence at every level, in every category.

Here is the link for the survey:

December 2021 Canton Public Schools Family Survey

The survey will stay open until Thursday, December 16 at 4 p.m.

To allow us to record an accurate representation of survey results, we are asking you to please fill out this survey ONCE FOR EACH OF YOUR CHILDREN.

Results of the survey will be summarized and shared publicly via School Committee meetings. Please do not include any identifiable information in your comments.

We know it is a busy time of year, so we really appreciate your time and effort in completing the survey. As always, we value your partnership and support to provide the best learning experience for your children.

Sincerely,

Derek Folan

Interim Superintendent

Sarah Shannon

Interim Assistant Superintendent

The Galvin is creating its first, official, DEI team. The team will build upon the work our inaugural equity team started and is looking for staff who are interested in being a part of the team as we do the ongoing work of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion at the GMS. We are looking for 2-3 parents/guardians to be members of our team and, in time, we will begin to include students as well.

The meetings will be held after school, approximately every 3 weeks for 1 hour. Our first meeting will be held Thursday, December 16 from 2:30 - 3:30. We will establish dates for after the New Year at that meeting.

If you are interested in being a part of this team or want to learn more about the GMS DEI team, please email Mrs. Shannon at shannons@cantonma.org.

At a prior School Committee meeting updated COVID-19 Protocols were approved. Please click here to access them: Canton Covid-19 Protocols.

December 13th - 23rd - Spirit Days (see above for specifics)

December 15th - 7th & 8th Grade Winter Concert

December 23rd - Early Release

Available CAPT Positions

The following positions could also use support, potentially shadowing this year to take over in future years:

• GMS CAPT Treasurer (Shadow 21/22 for School year 22/23)

• 8th Grade Coordinator (Can be a parent or team of parents)

• Fundraising (Fit4Fund$)

GALVIN CAPT Meetings

Galvin CAPT meetings are held the first Monday of every month at 6:30 PM. Please send us an email at galvincapt@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more.

Want to help earn money for GMS?

1) To sign up for Amazon Smile go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-2311578 and choose William H. Galvin School CAPT Inc.

2) To sign up for Box Tops download the box tops mobile app and choose William H. Galvin School CAPT Inc. School code is School ID: 439958

• Use the app to snap a photo of your store receipt within 14 days of purchase.

• The app scans your receipt, finds Box Tops products and instantly adds cash to our school earnings online.

• Our school can receive two checks every school year, one in December and one in April.

Find us on Facebook! There are two sites:

Galvin Middle School Parents

Galvin Middle School CAPT