Pony Express
Connecting GMS in one place!
August 17th
GMS Families,
Well the school year is upon us! In this newsletter, you will find very important information to begin the 18-19 school year. This is going to be the best year yet!
We are doing so many NEW things at GMS this year because we are ready to take it to the NEXT LEVEL! The new staff is excited and while we still share the same focus of OUR HOUSE, we've also decided that we need to AMP UP what we're doing to support our students and give them a personalized learning experience.
The format of this newsletter will not look like my regular newsletters because this informs you of some changes and first day of school procedures.
Please read through the entire newsletter to stay in the loop. The first message is from Superintendent, Dr. Robin Ryan.
Your child is at the BEST middle school. We are the place to be! Welcome to OUR HOUSE!
We are FAMILY! This is OUR HOUSE! Great students come from GREAT FAMILIES!
#OurHouseGMS #GMSAmpsUp
State Accountability Ratings: An Open Letter from Dr. Robin Ryan
When I speak to groups in the community, I often ask the audience: “What makes a good school?” The responses range from great teachers to involved parents to happy, well-adjusted students, to good citizens. Not once in eight years has anyone responded: “good standardized test scores.”
Next week, the State will release its A-F ratings for school districts. These ratings are supposed to be a simple way to tell if a school is doing well. The A-F rating system is an attempt to inform us about something as complex as school quality by reducing it to a single letter grade, and that is where it falls short. As accountability expert John Tanner often states: “Simple is good unless it is wrong.” Don’t worry, I’m not going to try and explain the metrics behind the “simple” ratings. This article would become a book the size of an encyclopedia. The State’s A-F ratings will be neither simple, nor comprehensive. School accountability is important and with all we know about teaching and learning in 2018, there has to be a better way to design a more accurate accountability system.
Testing is important, for sure, but using tests as the sole indicator to label and form statistical conclusions about students, teachers and schools will be mostly inaccurate. These tests do not measure skills that many employers repeatedly describe as necessary in today’s workforce: creativity, grit, teamwork, empathy, artistic ability, endurance or compassion. In GCISD, we will examine our results and make appropriate adjustments as we continue doing what is best for students.
Standardized tests have been used to judge schools for almost two decades. Parents and students have been increasingly frustrated that high stakes testing actually hijacks the curriculum and decreases the quality of a student’s educational experience. The 2015 National Superintendent of the Year Dr. Philip Lanoue called it the “fool’s gold” of accountability. Parents have higher expectations for our schools to do more than simply mold students into successful test takers. Our goal is to make sure that every student who crosses the stage is equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to participate fully in their chosen career path and the future of our republic. That takes much more than performing well on one test. Rather than relying on a tired, recycled accountability system, as a district, state and nation, we need to adjust our views on accountability.
As part of developing LEAD 2.0, the next phase of the district’s strategic framework, we are going to develop a robust Community Based Accountability System. The whole premise behind this system is two questions: for what should we be accountable? And to whom should we be accountable? We say all the time that our students and staff are not defined by scores on standardized tests, but we also know that we need to have robust accountability that actually reflects the values and expectations of our community, along with the educational standards of the State. I am all for accountability, but it needs to be based on more than just a snapshot of how our students perform on one day. This Community Based Accountability System will provide an opportunity for our parents, community, staff and students to determine the standards that are important in this community, determine how best to meet those standards and be transparent in reporting out on those metrics.
As educators, our job is to champion the more than 5.4 million students receiving a public education in the State of Texas. More specifically, we must champion the almost 14,000 students in GCISD. One definition of a champion is “a winner of first prize or first place in competition.” We are very fortunate to win a lot of championships in GCISD, and while the hardware that comes along with it is nice, the characteristics of a champion are more important. Focus, courage, motivation, perseverance, and integrity are a few commonly recognized traits of a champion and none of these are measured by the new A-F Accountability System.
The State’s A-F system tells a story, but it is an incomplete and limited one because almost everything that happens at school is not captured in a letter grade determined by a standardized test. It cannot capture the hopes, dreams and aspirations a community has for its children. It will not tell the complete GCISD story. We can do better and we are committed to improving moving forward. Done well, an accountability system should be accurate, credible and used by all stakeholders to improve our schools. We will use the A-F information as one of many data points on our quest to provide an excellent education for every student who walks through our doors in order to continue to Build Excellent Schools Together.
Why a House System? It builds a family atmosphere within GMS that values honesty, kindness, persistence, boldness, bravery, and wisdom. It creates a positive environment that rewards good behavior and still holds students accountable. In addition, it creates opportunities for instructional staff to mentor a small group of students.
How does it affect my student? All student will be a part of a House. Six Houses have been created. Each one has a latin name that is reflective of the characteristics listed above that we value as a campus: Honesty, Kindness, Persistence, Boldness, Bravery, and Wisdom.
How will my student know which house they are in? At schedule pickup, your student received their schedule. At the bottom of that schedule was a handwritten number. They will need to remember this number! Students were selected randomly by our computer system to place students in a house so that houses were as even as can be.
The House System rewards behaviors that make our school THE BEST! This is done through a points system. Students will be able to purchase shirts to represent their house. We will also have house flags to represent each house.
We will provide opportunities for House Rallies, mentor chats, and friendly competition. We love our GMS students and want them to feel like they are a part of our GMS family!
Doors open at 7:30 to allow students into the building. ALL students must go to the cafeteria until the 8:00 bell rings.
At that point, 6th graders will go into the main gym and all other students will head to class.
There is a new walking pattern when leaving the cafeteria that we will show the 7th and 8th graders since they are mostly housed on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
During 1st and 2nd period, the 6th grade will be receiving their NEW Chromebooks! All students will receive another clean copy of their schedule from their 1st period teacher.
During 7th period, students will be introduced to the House System.
ZERO HOUR STUDENTS
Since zero hour will start on Tuesday, August 21st, students will come to GMS and go to the cafeteria on Monday morning just like everyone else. When the 8:00 bell rings, you can head to the lecture hall. You will be held there until 2nd period so bring something to read.
Due to changes of classrooms, we have a new way for students to walk through the halls so certain areas don't get crowded (We want to protect our little ones from getting squashed).
When students exit the cafeteria: 7th, 8th graders, and STEM students will take the stairwell before the band hall to head to the 2nd and 3rd floors.
The 6th graders, Dual Language, AVID, and Spanish I/Language Acquisition will go straight through the main hallway past the Pony to head to the 1st floor.
If students travel to and from the gym area and their class is on the 2nd and 3rd floor, they will STILL take the stairwell at the end of C hall (by the band hall) to travel back and forth.
We will work to get the students acclimated to this pattern to help with traffic flow.
Parents, our student handbook states the hair should be a natural color. While I saw some fun and beautiful colors during schedule pickup, hair CANNOT be a full color that is not a natural color. However, at GMS, we are okay with tips or a couple of steaks around the face. We ask that this is taken care of prior to the first day.
Please make sure that shorts and skirts are longer than finger tip length. Shirts may not be longer than the shorts.
Spaghetti straps and halters are not acceptable.
Jeans with slight tears are trendy and okay provided that the tears/rips do not show a full thigh.
Please make sure that blankets and stuffed animals stay at home. Yes, this was a thing last year. We understand that temperatures vary in large buildings so we recommend layering clothing.
No slippers may be worn for safety reasons.
If you are dropping your student off at school, you will drop off at the circle drive. This is towards what is now the side entrance by the flag pole. We would prefer that you drop your child off toward the flag pole but many like to drop of by the gym because that entrance is closest to the cafeteria. This is okay too.
Be careful when pulling out at drop off because the left lane moves and then goes back into one lane to prepare for the three way intersection between Pony Pkwy. and the stadium.
Buses drop off at our main entrance that faces Walgreens. Please do not use this as a drop off. This is a place for buses and we want to keep it open.
Parents that are going into the front office must enter from the main entrance that faces Walgreens. You may park in that lot while you visit the office but please do not park in the reserved or handicap spots (you may park in the handicap spot if you have a permit). Reserved spots are the two parking spots to the right of the handicap spots.
School lets out at 3:25. Please know that pick up locations are the same as the drop off locations.
Please avoid waiting in the Walgreens parking lot. That lot is for paying customers.
WALKERS
We prefer our walkers that leave out by the circle drive to walk on the left side of the street once they cross towards the stadium. There are blind spots that are not safe for students to cross on the side of the stadium by the concession stand. If they stay to the left, it will put them at the parking lot across the stadium.
Walkers that have to head toward Walgreens/114 NW Hwy. should exit the school towards the main entrance where bus drop of occurs. This keeps them safe and away from the parent pick up traffic since there are no sidewalks between our building and the stadium.
This is how we will spread out the school supplies. Students can put the Monday binder supplies together and put it in the backpack.
Monday-
Binder
8 tabbed pocket dividers
1 package notebook paper
3 hole pencil pouch
1 set earbuds
*planner if purchased or $5
2-3 pens/pencils in pouch
Tuesday- (teachers will tell you which ones they need in their class)
2 spiral notebooks
3 composition notebooks
2 pocket, 3 brad folders
Wed/Thurs- (Block days) Take to Science class
graph paper
index cards
glue sticks
pencils
classic markers
colored pencils
additional notebook paper package
scissors
tissue
*batteries
*paper towels
*(if purchased)
Don't forget to bring your Chromebooks and laptops and chargers. Charge your devices each night!
I know you want to know all about lunches. Here are the lunch times
M,T,F Lunch (5th period)
A- 11:30-11:56
B-12:00-12:26
C-12:30-12:55
W,TH Lunch (W - 3rd, Th - 6th)
A-10:50-11:18
B-11:20-11:48
C-11:50-12:18
Here is a link that will tell you which lunch your student has each day. You will see above that 3 days are based on which 5th period teacher they have and the other two days, it's based on the 3rd period and 6th period teachers. Lunch Schedule
Look at this with your student so that they feel comfortable. Don't worry, their 4th period teacher will go over the schedule with them.
NEW procedure for lunch drop off!
If you bring your child lunch, please come to the front office and let the front desk know who will be receiving it. When the lunch bell rings, your child can pick up their lunch at a table in front of the office. They will not have to enter the office because the lunch will be available for them with their name on it.
Please do not purchase lunch from the outside for students other than your student. This will help us protect any other students with allergies. Better to be safe than sorry.
We understand how important cell phones have become in our society. There are NEW rules and procedures that you need to know about:
Students may use their phones in the hallways or at lunch. When students are in class, the expectation is that phones are PUT AWAY!
Some teachers have a place to put the phones and some teachers allow students to keep them in their backpack. So please inform your student that teachers have the autonomy to select how cell phones are put away.
A teacher may pick up a cell phone if a student has their phone out when they should not. Here are the discipline steps if a student is not cooperative:
Teacher will begin with ONE warning - 0 offense 1st offense - teacher returns to student at end of class 2nd offense - teacher sends phone to the front office and assigns detention (student may pick up phone at end of day)
If a student does not give up their phone and an assistant principal has to go to the class, the student will be placed in ISS and a parent will have to pick up the phone.
Monday, August 20th - First Day of School
Tuesday, August 28th - Open House (details coming soon)
Monday, September 3rd - Labor Day (Holiday)
Tuesday, September 18th- School Pictures
- GMS PTA Back to School Membership Drive: GMS PTA membership is off to a great start this year! Last year we had a record high of 314 members and our goal is to set another record this year. PTA memberships are $10. You can join online at www.joinpta.org or you can return the membership form to the GMS front office. Join by August 31 for a chance to win a free gift card. PTA member benefits include discounts for Dell, HP, Great Wolf Lodge, La Quinta, Six Flags, Schlitterbahn, Texas Rangers and more. We have many fun events scheduled this year: School Picnic, 6th grade cotillion, 7th grade winter dance, 8th grade dance, teacher appreciation and much more. Thank you for supporting GMS PTA. Join PTA today and help us back the future!
- GMS School Picnic: Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 9th from 12:30-3:30pm at Parr Park in Grapevine for the GMS School Picnic sponsored by the GMS PTA and the STEM Booster Club. Join us for food, fun, and human hamster ball games! There will also be a short PTA General Meeting during the picnic.
- Back to School Staff Luncheon: GMS PTA welcomed our teachers & staff at the annual back to school luncheon on August 15. Thank you to Wise Guys for their generous support and all the PTA volunteers who helped out at the luncheon.
- Congrats New Officers: Congratulations to the following new PTA officers who were approved on August 15. President- Rachel Canafax, Treasurer- Shellie Johnson, 2nd Vice-President of Membership- Betsie Jaeger.
- GMS PTA Website and Facebook page: http://grapevinemiddlepta.wixsite.com/gmspta
https://www.facebook.com/Grapevine-Middle-School-PTA-102473876475990/
Grapevine Middle School
Email: laura.koehler@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/gms
Location: 301 Pony Parkway, Grapevine, TX, United States
Phone: 817-251-5660
Facebook: facebook.com/GrapevineMiddleSchool
Twitter: @GrapevineMiddle