Monday - It's a another great day to be a Bulldog!

Tuesday - Disc Golf & Robotics Club (after school)

Wednesday - WEB Day (Where WEB shirts!) / Faculty STEAM Breakout Session (after school) / Academic Team Challenge @ Dutchman Creek Middle School (after school)

Thursday - Q2 Incentive Day - Bring $ for concessions / Boys Basketball v. BTMS @ 5pm / Robotics Club (after school)

Friday - Teacher Work Day / No School for Students

Monday 3:30-4:30 - full cast - Ms. Call's room

Tuesday 3:30-5:00 - full cast - Ms. Shrum's room

Wednesday 3:30-4:30 - full cast - Ms. Call's room

Thursday 3:30-5:00 - full cast - Ms. Shrum's room

We are experiencing numerous issues and damages with our student chromebooks. Damages are mostly due to carelessness and improper storage of these devices by the students. GHMS has incurred 33 damaged chromebooks which have had to be replaced. Staff has also noticed many students using these devices for non-educational purposes (i.e. playing unauthorized games, downloading movies, saving and storing inappropriate images/items not related to assignments, and using the device for ongoing communication between students without permission).

We will be updating our Chromebook Violations/Misuse policy for the second semester (begins January 21st) so that parents are informed when students misuse or damage a school chromebook as we are beginning to notice several repeat offenders. An email will be sent to inform parents when a student receives consequences related to violations of the policy. Chromebook violations will be included in our Make Today Count program as this program includes the expectations that students will adhere to all personal and mobile computing usage polices and that all students will follow all school and classroom expectations.

We encourage you to take a few minutes to sit down with your student(s) asking him/her or them to show you his/her/their student google account(s) and all documents within. Please work with your student(s) to delete all unnecessary items/images, etc.

Stay tuned for an updated policy to be sent to all families via email.

Website to be added.

Use Parent Portal - access the link below to learn how to use this tool.

http://fortmill.ss11.sharpschool.com/parents_summary_from_fmsd/parent_portal

Please note that we are not sending home written progress reports this year. An email alert and reminder (as well as this newsletter) will be sent out regarding progress report dates encouraging you to check Parent Portal.

If you are having any issues with Parent Portal, please notify Dawn Fite @ fited@fortmillschools.org.

January dates x 3 – The top 32 students (3 from each house and 1 alternate) will meet with a coach (tentatively Celia McCarter from Classic Cotillion) in the media center during FLEX to fine tune their social skills.

January 29 – 6:30 P.M. in the GHMS media center - The Bulldog Shake - Rounds 1, 2, and 3. All 24 students participate in round 1, 12 move on to round 2, and 3 will compete in the final round.

Upcoming GHMS PTA Spirit Days at Killington's in Baxter - January 28 and 29 - all day!

Are you interested in submitting a character quote or positive affirmation for Mrs. McNeil to read during the week? What about a Fun Friday (corny) joke? Submit your ideas using the links. Perhaps, yours will get chosen!

https://forms.gle/UxP8N7JeNzPF7ZJs5 Fun Friday Joke Link

https://forms.gle/UMezZXdxH9dmSMX67 Quotes Link

• February 7th - 8th Grade Job Shadow Day
• February 8th - 2020 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics @ Baxter YMCA
• March 7th - Cookin' for the Kids Chili Cook Off
• March 27th - Career Fair (7th Grade @ PKMS)
• April 6th through 13th - Spring Break
• April 21st - STEAM/Literacy Night
• April 24th - 8th Grade Dance (Time to be Determined)
• April 29th - Spring HOUSE Games (Wear HOUSE shirt!)
• April 30th - YEARBOOK ORDER DEADLINE
• May 7th - Spring Band Concerts
• May 8th - SC Ready and PASS Testing Window Opens

GHMS 8th grade students have received their Job Shadow Day packets! The Job Shadow information can also be found online at http://ghms.fortmillschools.org/news/what_s_new/job_shadow. Our School Counselor, Marc Wesseling, and Career Development Facilitator, Kati McFadden, spoke with students about Job Shadow Day. They explained why we have job shadow, taught students about networking, and answered questions about logistics and paperwork. Whether students find their interests confirmed by their experiences at job shadow, or that the career is not exactly what they thought, Job Shadow Day is an amazing opportunity for students to explore careers and learn about themselves. Please contact Kati McFadden at mcfaddenk@fortmillschools.org if you have any questions. We appreciate your support of Job Shadow Day!

See the flyer attached below regarding curriculum night at FMHS for our future Yellow Jackets!

https://www.smore.com/cvn7d - Guidance Gazette, Volume 3

https://ghmsguidance.wixsite.com/ghmscounselorscorner

Order your student's yearbook online via the Pay Fees tabs on the GHMS webpage. Deadline for all orders is April 30th! We cannot guarantee any more yearbooks will be printed after this date!

When the weather is below 40 degrees, we consider the wind chill factor to determine whether or not we allow our students to go outside for their blacktop time during lunches. As the weather begins to get colder, I encourage you to keep your student informed and remind him/her to dress in layers and/or wear a jacket to school.

At GHMS, we pride ourselves on taking a family/collaborative approach to educating our students. Our teaching teams plan together to meet the needs of the students because we believe “they are ALL our students.” We work collaboratively with our Support Staff, Related Arts teachers, Special Services providers and parents to ensure the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students are being met. However, as with all families, we know that sometimes everyone may not see eye to eye. Should you ever have concerns regarding your student, I strongly encourage you to contact the teacher to discuss. Please do not go to your neighbors, friends, or social media to air your grievances or address something that the teacher or staff member has not had an opportunity to discuss directly with you. We teach our students that everyone has a voice and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, even if you disagree with them. It is the Bulldog Way! This is the same behavior we expect from our parents when dealing with a concern. As principal, my blanket statement is and will always be, the doors of GHMS are open and we want to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to communicate with us. We are a family. We are a team. And, the only way we will be successful and the students will receive the education they deserve is if we work together.

Gold Hill Middle School will be a school where all students learn as a result of our teaching talent and the positive human connection that leaves us feeling safe, loved, valued, heard, and respected. #BulldogsLEAD

· Love to learn

· Engage our minds and hearts

· Achieve our goals together

· Do what we say we are

Let’s all be #differencemakers this year!