Jaguar News
Volume 2, Issue 30 - March 15, 2019
Dear Families,
If you would like to start a conversation with your students about screen time and their use of technology, these are the questions we are encouraging you to ask:
- Do you feel you have a healthy balance in your life around screen time?
- Do you have strategies or apps you use to keep you from being distracted by screen entertainment when you need to focus on homework?
- What do you think about the way the adults in your life use their screen time?
- How much do your parents know about your online activities?
- Do you post comments online that you would not say in person?
- Do you notice peers using screens to avoid socially awkward situations?
Synopsis
Are you watching kids scroll through life, with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span? Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her own kids and learned that the average kid spends 6.5 hours a day looking at screens. She wondered about the impact of all this time and about the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time—friction she knew all too well.
In SCREENAGERS, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, Delaney takes a deeply personal approach as she probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, SCREENAGERS reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.
Media Center Minute
Mary Poppins, Jr. Performance
Mary Poppins, Jr. will pop onto the Gentry Middle School stage March 14-16, 2019! “Step in Time” to make plans to attend this Disney production! If you stop along the way to “Feed the Birds” or “Go Fly a Kite,” that is just fine. Make sure you join the Banks family, Bert, Mary Poppins and many others as they experience the magic of a “Jolly Holiday” and “A Spoonful of Sugar” on Cherry Tree Lane in London. If you want to be part of the audience for this “Practically Perfect” show, tickets are sold at the door for only $5.00 each. Each evening the show will begin at 7:00 pm and lasts about an hour. As always, it is family friendly! This production promises to be “Supercalifrag…,” well, you know what we mean! Hope to see you there!
6th Grade Intramurals
Our last round of 6th grade intramurals will kick off on April 2nd with coed volleyball. If your 6th grade student is interested in participating in this final round, please complete the below registration form and have them return it to the main office.
Advisory for March 18-22
Over the past few weeks in Advisory students have researched, planned and created "mini" museum displays of important female figures in history for Women's History Month. During the week of March 18th through March 22nd, students will continue to finalize and tour these displays.
Monday: SSR
Tuesday: Advisory Lesson (Finalize Display)
Wednesday: Academic Day
Thursday: Advisory Lesson (Tour Displays)
Friday: Academic Day
Links for Women’s History Month:
StuCo's Student/Staff of the Week
StuCo’s Student/Staff of the Week
The purpose of the GMS Student Council (StuCo) is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership skills by organizing and carrying out school activities and service projects. One of the projects that this club currently oversees is their Student/Staff of the week project.
This week's StuCo students of the week are Rebecca Buchly for “being nice to everyone, always staying optimistic and radiating a positive attitude” and Ayah Salim for “helping others when they are confused, being friendly to all and responsible in school.”
This week's StuCo staff members of the week are Mrs. Bess for “making all of her students feel welcome, helping her students understand all of the coursework content and being kind to everyone she encounters” and Mr. Renaldi for “telling funny jokes, always being patient and helping all of his students whenever they need it.”
Friday, March 22nd- Final Day to Purchase a Yearbook
The final date to order a yearbook on-line is March 22nd. If your student is interested in a 2018/19 yearbook, it is not too late to purchase one. The link below will remain active throughout the day on Friday, March 22nd, but then will be deactivated at midnight on that date. If you are unable to recall if you placed an order at the beginning of the school year, please contact the main office at 214-3240. Please be aware that March 22 is a FIRM deadline. We do NOT order any extra yearbook copies to sell in May.
GMS Students Move on to State NHD Competition
Congrats to the following 8th grade students for placing in the top 3 at the National History Day regional contest on March 13th! They will move on to compete at the NHD state competition on April 27th.
Junior Individual Documentaries
1st – Addison Spiller: From Tragedy to Triumph: Anne Sullivan Macy’s Story
3rd – Ella Koerkenmeier: The Lemp’s: How Business Triumph Led to Tragedy
Alternate (4th) – Elizabeth Wiese: 1918 Spanish Flu: The Tragedy that Infected the World
Junior Group Documentaries
1st – Robin Crouch and Carina Hawks: The Formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy: A Triumph of Peace and Democracy
Junior Individual Exhibits
1st – Aidan Matteson: The Great Irish Potato Famine: A Compounded Tragedy
Junior Group Exhibits
2nd – Saloni Chaurasia, Allison Kim, and Joan Kwon: Angel of Mercy: How Emily Hobhouse’s Compassion Brought Hope to the South African Concentration Camps
Junior Historical Papers
1st – Ashlyn Clemens: 1954 Missouri Penitentiary Riot: How a Triumph Broke Through a Tragedy
2nd – Kyla Hickcox: The Watergate Scandal: The Tragic Presidency that Shaped America
3rd – George Jia: The Battle of Kursk: The Tragic Defeat and the Triumphant Victory
Junior Individual Websites
1st – Matthew Qian: Chiune Sugihara: A Triumphant Act of Bravery in a Dark, Tragic Time
Incoming 8th Grade Students Proof of Immunizations- Don't Delay!
The primary dose of the Tdap and Meningitis vaccines are generally administered to adolescents in the 6th grade (or between the ages of 11-12). It is a state REQUIREMENT that we obtain proof that your student has received the primary dose of both of these vaccinations PRIOR to their first day of 8th grade. If your student will be attending summer school as an incoming 8th grade student they will need to provide this proof PRIOR to starting summer school. Eighth grade students who have NOT provided us with this documentation will not be permitted to attend classes until this documentation is provided.
There is no need to wait! This documentation can be submitted to our nurse any time after your student receives these two vaccines. Providing this proof promptly will ensure that your student will be ready to start the 8th grade without delay.
PBIS Expectation for the Week of 3/18
The PBIS expectation for the week of 3/18 is being Responsible in the Cafetorium.
This means we will be looking for students who are able to:
- Clean up after them self and place towel in the center of table
- Balance the use of devices, socializing, and eating
- Be aware of their time.
Looking Ahead (March 18-24)
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, March 18: (A Day)
8:00 am-5:00 pm- Children's Literature Festival in Warrensburg
2:35-4:30 pm- Track and Field Practice/Gym and Outside
2:35-4:00 pm- Student Council/Annex L
Tuesday, March 19: (B Day)
2:35-4:30 pm- 7th/8th Track and Field Practice/Gym and Outside
2:35-4:00 pm- After School Tutoring/Media Center
2:35-4:00 pm- 7th Grade Orchestra Rehearsal/Stage
2:35-4:00 pm- 8th Grade Robotics Club/Rm. 152
Wednesday, March 20: (A Day)
7:00-7:25 am- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)/Rm. 203
2:35-4:30 pm- 7th/8th Track and Field Practice/Gym and Outside
6:00 pm- PTSA's Feature Documentary: Screenagers/Cafe
Thursday, March 21: (B Day)
2:35-4:30 pm- 7th/8th Track and Field Practice/Gym and Outside
2:35-4:00 pm- Tennis Club/Locker Rooms
2:35-4:00 pm- French Study Hall/Annex K
2:35-4:00 pm- Science Olympiad/Rm. 116
2:35-4:00 pm- After School Tutoring/Media Center
2:35-4:00 pm- Jazz Band Practice/Rm. 172
2:35-4:00 pm- AVID Student Bingo/Up Commons
2:35-4:00 pm- PAWS (LGBTQ Community)/Rm. 216
4:30-6:30 pm- National History Day Delegate Clinic/Media Center
6:00-8:00 pm- Archery Club/Gym
Friday, March 22: (A Day) LAST DAY TO ORDER A YEARBOOK!
7:35-9:00 pm- 6th Grade Digital Citizenship Assembly
2:35-4:30 pm- 7th/8th Track and Field Practice/Gym and Outside
Saturday, March 23:
There are no activities scheduled for today.
Sunday, March 24:
There are no activities scheduled for today.
Dates to Remember
3/15/19 – IPR Sent Home
3/15/19 – Battle Choral Festival @ Battle High School
3/14-3/16/19 - Spring Musical Performance – Mary Poppins Jr. @ 6:00 p.m.
3/18- Children's Literature Festival for Select Students in GMS Book Clubs/Warrensburg
3/20- PTSA's Feature Film: Screenagers Showing @ 6:00 pm in the Cafe
3/21- AVID After School Student Bingo
3/22- Digital Citizenship Assembly for 6th Grade Students Only
3/22- Last Day to Purchase a Yearbook
3/25-29- Spring Break
4/2- PTSA Meeting @ 6:00 pm in the Media Center
4/5- PEP Assembly @ 1:30 pm/Modified Classroom Schedule Today
4/8- MAP Testing Begins
4/10- Early (12:05 pm) Release Due to a Faculty Collaboration Day
4/19- IPR's Grades Sent Home
Jaguar News
Dr. Fairouz Bishara
Email: fbishara@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/17
Phone: (573) 214-3240
Twitter: @FairouzBishara