Jaguar News
Volume 2, Issue 12 - November 2, 2018
Dear Families,
Next week we do not have school on Monday (Professional Development day for teachers) or Tuesday (voting day!), but we will devote the rest of the week in advisory to address the topic of Self-Worth. Middle school are sensitive years where students struggle with the concept of self-value and self-respect. When students struggle in this area it can result in thoughts or actions of self-harm. At Gentry, we want to address this with students in the classroom, but also provide resources for you as parents so you can have a better understanding of some of the struggles your students can go through and some ideas about how to address them.
On Wednesday, November 7, a representative from Boone County Mental Health Coalition will join us during our PTSA meeting (6:00 pm @ Media Center) to discuss these topics and share with you some of the things you should look for as a parent and some resources.
Advisory week of November 7-9:
Monday: PD day
Tuesday: No School (Go Vote!)
Wednesday: Academic Day
Thursday: Advisory Lesson (I Like Me)
Friday: Academic Day
A link associated with self-esteem:
Diabetes Month
November is American Diabetes Month, which is an excellent time to educate our students about a disease that impacts tens of millions of people, including a large percentage of the population that may not realize they are at risk or already have the disease. This month we encourage students
- To find out if they're at risk
- To educate students about Diabetes Basics
- To educate students about national statistics
- To show support for Diabetes Awareness by wearing Blue on November 14.
If you have questions about diabetes, feel free to reach out to our school nurse, Dawn Sapp (dsapp@cpsk12.org) or our counselor Mark Holman (mholman@cpsk12.org)
From the Nurse
CPS Illness Guidelines
Students exhibiting the following symptoms will be sent home and/or should remain at home if they exhibit any of the following:
- Temperature of 100 degrees or greater
- Vomiting with associated signs of illness
- Diarrhea
- Unusual or unexplained rash
- Ongoing symptoms of discomfort or immobility from an injury
- A concerning health condition that may require further medical evaluation
Students may return to school when:
- Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea free for 24 hours
- Other conditions (rash, injury or health concern) subside or with a provider’s note
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Media Center Minute
We are seeing an increased incidence of 6th grade students taking the front flap off of their iPad case. Students MUST leave the flap on the iPad case at all times. It protects the front of the iPad from breakage. Taking it off may cause the flap to break which will result in a $5 charge for a new flap. Please remind your student that there is no reason to remove the front flap from the case.
All students should upgrade their iOS on their iPad to 12.0.1.
Competitive Tennis Play Day
Food Drive Update
Thank you for supporting our We CAN say NO to Drugs food drive. Last week we collected 303 pounds of food to donate to the food pantry! AMAZING!
Congratulations to Mrs. Taylor's class for winning the Advisory Competition! They had a donut party today in class!
College and Career Readiness
General Reminders
This week we want to send a friendly reminder of general procedures at Gentry:
- Riding the bus with a friend: We realize that occasionally your student will need to ride the bus home with a friend. If this is the case, we will need for you as the parent to write a note stating that your child has permission to do so. Please include in your note: the date your child will be riding, who your child will be riding with and that student’s bus number. Instruct your child to bring that note into the main office on the day that they will be riding with a friend and we will in turn issue your student a buss pass that they can give to the driver to be permitted to ride.
- Lunch at Gentry: Parents are always welcome to enjoy an occasional lunch at Gentry with their student, but before you visit we thought you would like a better understanding of our lunchtime guidelines. Our guidelines below are quite simple and by being aware of them we can hopefully alleviate undo parental and student stress on the day of your lunchtime visit.
- You are welcome to purchase a school lunch through the student lunch line. Our cashiers only accept cash, however, and are unable to make change due to our large student population. An adult school lunch costs $ 3.75.
- If you wish to carry a lunch in on the day of your visit be sure that the lunch you are bringing in is only for you and your child to share. Due to the overall health concerns of our student population, we cannot have a parent share lunch items or bring in a lunch for any other student other than their own child.
- Lastly, we do not accept any lunch time food deliveries from local food delivery companies for students.
- Use of Coats: Students are not allowed to wear coats in the building, however, we really want them to dress for the weather. Please, encourage your students to wear coats, long pants, and anything else they need to stay warm while they walk to school or wait at the bus stop!
- Use of Cellphones: Cellphones are not allowed at Gentry during the school day, except at lunch. Please, do not communicate with your students via cellphone during class time, it is extremely disruptive and sends them the message that you, as a parent, are encouraging them to not follow the school rules. If the message to your student can't wait until lunch time or the end of the day, please, contact the office.
- Dropping items at the office: Once again, it is ok for your students to learn responsibility by "surviving" a school day without the items they forgot at home. They are more likely to remember next time if you don't bring it to them... and helps the office enormously by not having to contact every student who has forgotten something at home (and there are way too many!)
- Drop off & Pick up procedures: These are the general guidelines:
- Pull up as far as you can in front of the building to drop off your student
- Encourage your student to get out of the car as soon as you are close to the building
- All students must be picked up or dropped off by the curb. If you park in the lot, escort your child to and from the car.
- Students must be in their classroom no later than 7:30am. Plan accordingly.
- Pick up your student(s) no later than 3:00pm, unless they are staying for a supervised after-school activity.
- Parents need to make arrangements with their students ahead of time for pick up. Make sure you communicate with them if they are to ride the bus or wait to be picked up. If you need to call the office to change arrangements it must be done before 2:00pm.
For other questions about procedures, please check the Student Handbook HERE.
Clubs Collaboration
Jaguar PAWS and Fellowship of Christian Athletes members worked together after school on November 1 to clean up Bethel Park!
Looking Ahead (November 5-11)
Please see listed below the clubs and/or activities along with their locations that are occurring at GMS for the upcoming week. Please know that activities are subject to occasional last minute changes.
Monday, November 5: School is NOT in Session Today Due to a Teacher Work Day
2:35-4:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
4:00-5:15 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
5:15-9:00 pm- Cheer Squad Cheering for Home Game/Gym
6:00-9:00 pm- 7th Boys Basketball Game vs. Smithton @ GMS
6:00-9:00 pm- 7th Girls Basketball Game vs. Smithton @ Smithton
Tuesday, November 6: School is NOT in Session Today Due to Election Day
Wednesday, November 7: (B Day)
2:35-4:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
4:00-5:15 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
5:15-9:00 pm- Cheer Squad Cheering for Home Game/Gym
6:00-9:00 pm- 7th Boys Basketball Game vs. TJ @ GMS
6:00-9:00 pm- 7th Grade Girls Basketball Game vs. TJ @ Thomas Jefferson
6:00 pm- PTSA Meeting/Media Center
Thursday, November 8: (A Day)
6:00-7:00 pm- Cheer Squad Practice/Up Commons
7:00-7:20 am- Glee Choir Rehearsal (6th-8th)/Annex N
2:35-4:00 pm- 6th Grade Band Rehearsal/Rm. 172
2:35-4:00 pm- Tennis Club/Meet by Locker Rooms
2:35-4:00 pm- French Study Hall/Annex K
2:35-4:00 pm- Jazz Rehearsal/Rm. 172
2:35-4:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
2:35-4:00 pm- Gentry World Cultures Club/Rm. 205
2:35-4:00 pm- After School Tutoring/Media Center
2:35-4:00 pm- Show Choir Rehearsal/Annex N
4:00-5:15 pm- 7th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
5:15-6:30 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
6:00-8:00 pm- Archery Club/Up Commons
6:30-8:00 pm- 7th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
Friday, November 9: (B Day) IPR's Sent Home TODAY
2:35-4:45 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
3:00-5:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/The Crossing Church
5:15-9:00 pm- Cheer Squad Cheering for Home Game/Gym
6:00-9:00 pm- 7th Boys Basketball Game vs. Sedalia @ GMS
6:00-9:00 pm- 7th Girls Basketball Game vs. Sedalia @ Sedalia
Saturday, November 10:
9:00-11:30 am- Show Choir Rehearsal/Annex N
Sunday, November 11:
2:00-4:00 pm- 7th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
4:00-6:00 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
6:00-7:30 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
Dates to Remember
11/5-11/6 – No School Due to a Planned Teacher Work Day and Election Day
11/7 – PTSA Meeting @ 6 pm in Media Center
11/9 – Interim Progress Reports Sent Home
11/12-11/15 – Book Fair
11/13 and 11/15 – Parent Teacher Conferences
11/14 – 8th Grade Career Center Field Trip
11/14 – 6th Grade Winter Band Concert
11/16 – No School Due to a Teacher Work Day
11/19 and 11/20 – Stop, Drop and Read
11/21-11/23– No School Due to Thanksgiving Break
Jaguar News
Dr. Fairouz Bishara
Email: fbishara@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/17
Phone: (573) 214-3240
Twitter: @FairouzBishara