Bulldog Bark
GHMS Moving Forward Together
From the Desk of Mr. Fording
As September progressed, students began to get the routine of their schedules down and became more familiar with school procedures. While some students need to do a better job of being in class on time, the vast majority of our students are in class and ready to work when the bell rings. Teaching AND learning is in full swing. When we visit classrooms, students are working hard and engaged in the lesson.
Most of our students are making good decisions on a daily basis. We still have some students that are not making decisions that help themselves educationally, and we are working with them on appropriate choices and decisions throughout the day. Parents/Guardians, if you have concerns about your child's grades or behaviors, please feel free to reach out to our Guidance office or Administration. We have resources available to provide support if there is a need.
Finally, our new dismissal procedure is working well. Students are being dismissed in the following order:
1st - Bus Riders
2nd - Car Riders: line-up outside and wait for their rides
3rd - Walkers: exit from door B and head home
4th - Students with siblings at Maple Leaf: report to designated area at M.S. and wait, supervised, until we walk them to Maple Leaf prior to Maple Leaf students being dismissed
We will keep adjusting as needed to ensure that all of our students, districtwide, are safe at all times. There should not be any walker or car rider at Maple Leaf or waiting at the Middle School for any reason. This has helped to greatly reduce issues in the community and has allowed us to remain focused on being safe and learning.
I do have some reminders as we begin October.
1. Parents, we would be happy to meet if there is something you need. Please call the main office ahead of time to make an appointment to meet with and Administrator as the mornings can be difficult due to student arrival.
2. We do not allow students to wear hoods in the building. This is for the safety of everyone. Please remind your child of this policy. Hoods that are brought to school can be put in the students locker until the end of the day.
3. Our school has a cell phone away for the day policy. I understand many students have cell phones because they need them at the end of the day when they walk home or to call when they get home. However, they are not permitted to use them at any point during the day. Many issues begin through text messages and social media platforms. If we are not using cell phones during the day student issues will be reduced and we can keep our focus on learning. Parents/Guardians, if you need to speak with your child, please call the office and we would be glad to give them a message or have your child use the phone in the office.
4. We require masks on students everyday. They must be worn properly. This has been implemented to help keep our students in school as we navigate through the pandemic. Please make sure your child arrives to school with a mask. Also, talk to them about wearing it at all times and properly. We should not have to call home to discuss mask wearing at this point. It takes everyone in our building following these guidelines and doing their part in keeping our school and community safe.
5. Please remember, the first quarter ends October 22nd. Please continue to check on your child's progress and contact their teachers when needed. At Garfield Heights Middle School, we are here to learn and grow everyday and it takes all of us being committed to this for our students to be successful!
6. Finally, we tell our students everyday that we cannot help them if they do not talk to us when something is going on. Please talk to your child about the importance of them communicating issues to an adult so that we can help them in the best way possible. We have Counselors, Mediators, Security, Teachers, Administrators and other adults that are here to help them not only with their education, but socially and emotionally as well.
Parents and Guardians, thank you for your support and continued efforts everyday in helping your child and our students become the successful young ladies and gentlemen that we know they can be!
From the Office of Teaching and Learning-Striving for Greatness
We are back in the swing of school, post remote and hybrid learning from last school year. Getting your children to study in the evening after being in school all day can be difficult. Here is some advice that can help you get the most out of study time.
- Ask questions: Quiz them on the material. Provide as few hints as possible, which helps your child realize what they know and don't know, while also eliminating a false sense of knowledge that can accompany guessing correctly.
- Question the reasoning of a specific answer. Have students answer correctly multiple times before moving on.
- Discuss stumbling blocks: Ask your child to write down major concepts relating to the material. Have them explain their understanding to you without relying heavily on their notes.
- Give them small hints, if they are confused ask them to explain what confused them.
- Ask your child to write down everything they know about the material. We call this a "brain dump." This will help them to recall as much as possible.
We are striving for greatness and the success of your children.
MAPPING
MAP measures the academic progress of your child, it is an adaptive achievement and growth test. It is a personalized assessment experience that is adapted to each of your child's learning levels, measuring the progress and growth of each student.
Students will take MAP assessments 3 times a year in the fall, winter, and spring. Please encourage your child to do their best, take their time, as this will help the teachers plan for instruction for each child in their classroom.
From the Athletic Department-Rebecca Shotliff
From the Guidance Department
Mrs. Richardson and Miss Manilla went into the RWC classes during the month of September to present their monthly guidance lessons on anti-bullying and suicide prevention.
Congratulations to the new Student Ambassadors for the 2021-2022 school year! We are looking forward to working together to better our school!
If any resources are needed by the students or families, please contact the guidance office at
Ms. Manilla
Grade 7: All Teams
Grade 8: All Teams
(216) 475-8105 ext.53007
Ms. Richardson
Grade 6: All Teams
Grade 8: All Teams
(216) 475-8105 ext.53008
Teacher Feature
Mrs. Mackenzie Aossey
Mrs. Aossey is in 5th year of teaching, but her first year here at Garfield Heights Middle School. She teaches 7th-grade Science. She is a graduate of the Ohio State University and has a degree in Middle Childhood Education in Science and Social Studies.
Her favorite part of her job is getting to work with students and see how they grow personally and academically throughout the school year.
For fun, she likes to read, take her dog on walks and go hiking with her husband.
Some advice she would give her students: Focus on what you can control and always put forth your best effort.
Mr. Rob Wilson
Mr. Wilson has been working in education here in Garfield Heights Middle School for 9 years. He is an Intervention Specialist teaching Social Studies.
Mr. Wilson enjoys playing games on his Xbox, golfing and playing basketball, but most of all he enjoys hanging out with friends and family.
Mr. Wilson's advice to all students is to remember: most people want to skip the process, not knowing that when you skip steps you miss lessons. If you start small and build on what you have, you can continue to multiply that into something greater, while picking up all the valuable lesson along the way. Also, don't expect from others but rather put in your own work to get your goals, walk out of your comfort zone to do great things.