Pony Express
Connecting GMS In One Place
December 15th
GMS Families,
This has been a week filled with great performances by our GMS students. Our athletic programs had wins, our theater students had their first play, and our band put on a wonderful holiday concert with choir and art students supporting the band prior to the concert - WOW! What a great week!
Of course, our students are working on semester reviews and have to stay focused for one more week. Everyone is excited for the long break and it is much deserved. We have so many great teachers that are working hard to support our students so please reach out to thank them.
This will be the last newsletter of the semester until the first Friday we return in January (Jan. 12th). Please read through this newsletter so you don't miss out on anything. As you know, GMS is a great place to be! Here’s what you need to know for this week:
(SRC). The School Report Card provides information concerning student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®), as well as, as information on student enrollment, class size averages, and financial expenditures. The School Report Card for the GMS campus can be found on at https://tinyurl.com/y8nregql
We are FAMILY! This is OUR HOUSE! Great students come from GREAT FAMILIES!
#OurHouseGMS
A Cold Night
GMS Band Represented
Go GMS Band!
Staying Warm
Pizza w/ the Principal
Holiday Band Concert
Singing Christmas Carols
Congratulations!
We would like to congratulate our Bobby Bragan Scholarship nominee’s Laci Jackson and Jacob Jimenez. Their application and essay have moved on to the next round. Good luck Laci and Jacob!
TECC Field trip for 7th graders- A letter was sent via email in Skyward blast to 7th grade parents.
Duke Tip:
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented youth. Duke TIP's talent searches serve as the entry point to academic benefits and programs for gifted and talented students in grades 4-12. For more information, or enroll your child online:
7th Grade https://tip.duke.edu/programs/7th-grade-talent-search/enroll-now
6th Grade https://tip.duke.edu/programs/4th-6th-grade-talent-search/enroll-now OR
via paper applications at any time during the enrollment periods. Fees are paid only once, and need-based financial aid is available.
Students must have attained a qualifying test score at or above the 95th percentile on at least one accepted subtest area of a grade-level standardized achievement test (Stanford or Iowa Test of Basic Skills), or achieved a score of a 125 or above on an aptitude test (OLSAT, CoGAT, NNAT) or mental ability test (IQ test such as WISC), or met the Duke approved score on a state criterion-referenced test (STAAR).
Qualifying 2017 STAAR Scores:
ENGLISH- 5th Grade: Reading 1774 or greater; Math 1849 or greater, Science of 4702 or greater 6th Grade: Reading 1782 or greater; Math 1879 or greater
SPANISH- 5th Grade: Reading 1745 or greater; Math 1710 or greater, Science of 4145 or greater Here’s a link to information on how access your student’s STAAR scores: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/46681
Grapevine Middle School’s Duke Tip school code is: 819555-GA
High School Plans for 8th graders
GMS Counselors continue to work with 8th grade Ponies on what they currently think they want to take in high school. They encourage using pencil on this document as it is a living, breathing document. More information regarding high school planning is available on the GMS Counselor’s webpage
( http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/49107 )
and in the Counselor’s Google Classroom
Play It Safe:
Play It Safe is a multi-session curriculum about healthy relationships. It is presented by The Women’s Center.
Students at GMS will see the Play It Safe presentation on these dates:
6th grade-- March 22
7th grade-- Feb 28
Questions may be addressed to Mrs. Lemke at 817-251-5673. The opt out is here:
English--Play It Safe English
Spanish--Play It Safe Spanish
Grapevine History Book Fundraiser: Are you still looking for a last-minute gift for the holidays? Grapevine: A Visual Journey Through A Beloved Texas Town is a 152-page book that highlights Grapevine's intriguing history, public art, working artists, attractions, and seasonal events. Fifty percent of book proceeds will go to the GCISD school of the buyer's choice until January 1, 2018. Books must be purchased at the approved website, www.GrapevineTexasJourney.com to meet fundraising requirements. The cost of the book is $49.95 (plus tax and $5 shipping). If you would like your book delivered before Christmas break, please request that on the order form.
Amazon Smile: Holiday Shopping on Amazon? Purchase on Amazon Smile and they'll give 0.5% to GMS PTA. Bookmark this link and support us every time you shop! https://smile.amazon.com/ Grapevine Middle School is our organization name.
6th Grade Cotillion 2018: Save the dates February 2, 9, 16, 23. Each week will be a different theme. Cost is $50 for all 4 weeks. Cotillion is so much fun and requires a lot of planning. Committee members are needed to help plan and volunteers to help each week. Please contact Cotillion Coordinator Stacey Comer at Stacey@coreachinsight.com to help out.
To stay connected with all the latest PTA news be sure to like our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/grapevinemiddleschoolpta/
Happy Holidays!
7th grade Dance
Best Dressed
Band
More Dancing
Totally 80's
AVID Elves (Community Service Opportunity)
Students can earn community service hours for AVID by helping out the GMS staff with their Christmas gifts! AVID will provide the wrapping paper, bows, tape, etc, AVID students will do the wrapping! Student will be able to help Wednesday (12/20) and/or Thursday (12/21) after exams from 12:15-1:15, and will need their own transportation home. Students can sign up by filling out this form
Semester Exams
7th and 8th grade AVID students are preparing for their final exam which a speech to the class. They will be speaking for 3-5 minutes about a passion of theirs. Speeches will begin Tuesday, December 19th and will continue through their exam period.
AVID 6th graders will use their exam period to reflect on their first semester as a middle schooler. There is no need to prepare for the exam, students will draw on prior experience and personal opinion for their reflection project.
What’s happening in AVID?
Check out our Facebook page for class updates, pictures and more!
Community Service
Please remember that the first ½ of community service hours are due at the end of the semester.
Students will begin reviewing for finals in classes throughout the next week. Please make sure students are completing missing or make up work. Most teachers will be providing a review sheet through Google Classroom and/or time in class for review. Students should be studying notes outside of class as well. It will be important for students to stay rested during this stressful time. Please let us know if you have questions.
The schedule for the rest of this semester:
Dec 11-15th- ABCCC
Dec 18-21st- All C days for finals
Finals-
Tuesday 19th- 1st period final
Wednesday 20th- Early release
2nd period final
3rd period final
4th period final
Thursday 21st- Early release
5th period final
6th period final
8th period final
Band: https://www.smore.com/3ku09
THEATRE NEWS: Our Theatre Department just had their first show on Tuesday. It was very well attended and received. The cast and crew were amazing, and fun was had by all! Thank you to everyone who supported us by helping and/or attending our first show of the year!
Cross Country Announcements
Zone CC Meet Dec. 9th
at Coppell – Wagon Wheel Park
Girls CC:
8th Grade Outstanding Performers –
Julianna Vargas – Most Valuable Performer
Yoana Contreras – Player of the Week
7th Grade Outstanding Performers –
Sirenia Granados – Most Valuable Performer
Kyrsten Gove – Player of the Week
8th Grade A Race
On Saturday, December 9th the Zone Cross Country Meet took place at Wagon Wheel Park in Coppell. Nine schools competed in the Zone Cross Country Meet. The 8th grade girls placed 8th out of 9 teams: Cross Timbers (43 pts.), Carroll (78 pts.), Coppell East (86 pts.), Coppell North (102), Dawson (104), Coppell West (144), Heritage (162), Grapevine (189) and Colleyville (189 pts.).
Individual placing for the GMS 8th Grade A Race: 5th Lia Nicodemus, 38th Nicole Tovalin, Julianna Vargas 44th, Yoanna Contreras 47th, Michelle Granados 55th, Brande Smith 59th .
8th Grade B Race
Individual placing for the GMS 8th Grade B Race: Placing 47th was Alisia Melanson, and 48th was Angeles Cruz-Perez.
7th Grade A Race
The 7th Grade A team place 6th of the nine teams. Dawson (40 pts.), Cross Timbers (54 pts.), Coppell West (58 pts.), Carroll (99 pts.), Coppell North (122), Grapevine (175), Colleyville (197), Heritage (217), and Coppell East (242).
The top Individual finisher for the Lady Ponies was Jaycee Martin placing 22nd, Marina Barrera 30th, Sirenia Granados 32nd, Scarlett Reed 38th, Karina Tovar 53rd, Aliya Anderson 57th , Joana Anaya 59th.
7th Grade B Race Highlights
Kyrsten Gove 55th, Rylee Landrum 75th, April Melanson 87th Sydney Engel 96th place out of 146 runners.
Boys CC:
3rd Meet Results: GCISD District Meet
Tonight the Ponies ran in the GCISD District Meet. The Ponies had a remarkable night of running. At the close of the meet, the Ponies would walk away with 4 District Championships. The 8th Grade A squad had 30 points for a 1st place win. The 7th Grade A Squad had 30 points for a 1st place win. The 8th Grade B Squad had 28 points for a 1st place win and rounding out the District Championship sweep was the 7th Grade B squad with 18 points and a 1st place win. Congrats to all four squads on their District Championships.
Places: 8th Grade A Squad-Walker St John 1st place-10:57, Josue Granados 3rd place-11:25, Byran Guerva 5th place-11:30, Damien Lezama 9th place-11:55,Alex Morales 12th place-12:04,Skyler Wright 17th place-12:35 and Matthew Monson 21st place-13:04. 8th Grade B Squad-Chris Morales 2nd place-12:40, Christian Begley 3rd place-12:47, Austin Kelsoe 5th place-13:00, Micheal Milano 7th place-13:02 and Mark Hanna 11th place-13:21
7th Grade A Squad-Alberto Rayon 1st place-8:33, Austin Fye 3rd place-9:07, D'Shawn Grey 4th place-9:10, Cole Comer 7th place-9:17, Logan Vorachard 15th place-9:28, Gavin Richardson 16th place- 9:32. Kameron Shleton 17th place-9:34. 7th Grade B Squad-Jorge Pozos 1st place-9:25, Ryan Wolter 2nd place-9:25.1, Saxton Staley 3rd place-9:26, James Hines 5th place-9:27, Jose Beltran 7th place-10:10, Victor Mar 13th place-10:14, Evan Gonzalez 17th place-10:19. Congrats to all of our teams and runners tonight. Thier hard work this week paid off in a big way. This Saturday the Ponies run at Wagon Wheel park in the Zone Cross Country Meet. The Ponies hope to ride momentum into the Zone Meet and once again perform well.
The Lady Ponies had another successful night of basketball on Monday night. 8th grade took a huge sweep against the Coppell Middle School West Wranglers. 7th grade was on the other end of the sweep, unfortunately, but showed a huge improvement from the previous weeks of play. The bye week really helped our girls focus and work well together!
The next girl's games will be at Coppell Middle School North. 7th grade on Monday 1/10 and 8th grade will play on Tuesday 1/11. Come out and support these girls as they take on the Lady Cougars.
7th grade C:
POG- McKayla Ashley
POW- Laura See
7th grade B:
POG- Lily Rodriguez
POW- Allie Pierce
7th grade A:
POG- Nicole Fiffik
POW- Simeran Shrimanker
8th grade C:
POG- Maddie Clague
POW- Darlene Ramirez
8th grade B:
POG- Emily Brady
POW-Claire Newton
8th grade A:
POG- Danny Navarro
POW- Kaylee Lewis
Great job ladies!! Go Ponies!!
Boys Basketball
7th Grade
7th grade A team lost to Coppell West 28-17. The offense was led by Jaelen Polk. Dylan Pellegrin had a great game defensively with 6 blocked shots. Dennis Rivera was the hustle player of the game.
7th B team lost to Coppell West 36-22. Zane McHorse was the offensive player of the game. Jonathan led the team defensively and Harun Sare was the hustle player of the game.
7th C team lost a close one 11-7 to Coppell West. Jordan Chavez led the ponies on offense with 4 points. Keller Shamburger was the defensive player of the game. Kaleb Bell was the hustle player of the game.
8th Grade
Red team:
Picked up their first victory beating Coppell West 32-28. The offensive player of the game was Adriene White who scored 10 points. The defensive player of the game was Aasim Kamruddin who had multiple steals and rebounds. The hustle player of the game was Leon Covington who had 9 points and 3 steals.
White:
The Ponies came out hot, beating Coppell West 27-17. Offensive player of the game goes to Michael Allen who lead the team with 12 points. Defensive player of the game goes to Caleb Miles who was cleaning up the boards. Hustle player of the game goes to Saiviahn Shockley. Great game Ponies. Way to start off the year 2-0!
Grey:
It was a hard played game by the Ponies tonight, who lost to West 33-4. Offensive player of the game goes to Logan Bennett. Defensive player of the game goes to Brody Day. Hustle player of the game goes to Wyatt Gidney.
Go Ponies!!
Spanish AP IV students took a practice AP exam on Saturday and I could not be prouder of them. The exam is rigorous and they gave it their all. This practice exam will give a students an idea of what the actual exam will be like and allow them to see what areas they need to work on.
Click here to volunteer for 2-hour shift(s).
Students compete by maneuvering their robot on a field to complete increasingly complex challenges. Additionally, students present to panels of judges regarding teamwork, robot construction, and a problem-solving project.
The event will begin at 8 am and judging is generally finished around 2 or 3 p.m.
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