Jaguar News
Volume 2, Issue 18 - December 14, 2018
Finals are here, and we want to provide some study tips that might help your students not just next week, but also next semester. We encourage you to share this information with your students and to discuss with them what they do to be prepared for exams.
Find motivation. When studying, it helps to remind yourself of why you’re doing what you’re doing. How can this class help for a future career? If the subject doesn’t directly relate to something you want to do in the future, how can you use this information? If it’s hard to find connections in the curriculum, you could always find inspirational quotes to decorate your study area with or pick a reward (like a favorite snack or a video game) that you can treat yourself with once you complete a study session.
Make a plan to study a little bit each night. This way, you’re naturally reviewing information daily, which will help when recalling that information for tests.
Don’t just re-read your notes, instead find interactive ways to review and revise notes. Have friends or family members quiz you, and make your own study materials. Rewriting notes and recalling information for others are very effective ways of reviewing notes!
Chunk your studying. Set a timer – take 25 minutes to study academic material, and then take a 5 minute break. These short breaks can help, especially if you’re feeling tired or frustrated. Spending too long on one task can exhaust your mind, and make it harder to recall information. On these breaks, make sure to move somewhere away from your study space, maybe even take a short walk.
Prioritize sleep. When we sleep, the events and materials from the day before are written into our memory, for better recall the next day. Adolescents need approximately 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
MeM Donation
Please, see below some pictures of the Choir performance at MeM today!
All School Winter Spirit Assembly
Gentry Spirit Week
Tuesday - Gentry School Spirit Day
Wednesday - Pajama Day
Thursday - Ugly Sweater Day
Advisory Week Dec. 17-21
During the week of Dec 17th to Dec 21st are lessons on “Character Trait of Caring.” This week students will learn what it means to be caring and learn various ways to discover and demonstrate caring in their own lives as well.
Monday: Silent Sustained Reading
Tuesday: Advisory Lesson (Character Trait of Caring)
Wednesday: Academic Day!
Thursday: Advisory Lesson (Character of Caring)
Friday: No School!
Link on how teachers can show they care :
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/caring_teacher_student_relationship
Attention 8th Grade Students and Parents: Work Begins on 4 Year High School Individual Career and Academic Plans
Last week, our school counselors worked in 8th grade social studies classrooms to introduce students to high school scheduling and give them an opportunity to work on their 4-year plan called their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). The 4-year plan is not the student’s registration for 9th grade classes, instead it is an outline that students will be able to revisit as they work through their high school years.
All 8th graders are enrolled in a Schoology course called “Class of 2023.” In this course, students have access to the power point shown in class, a blank ICAP, course offerings by grade level and the High School Registration Guide. Students were given time in class to begin their 4-year plan and were then encouraged to work alongside their parent or guardian on completing and submitting this plan. We recommend that you take some time over the upcoming break to review the above material and work with your 8th grader on their plan by: helping them understand how courses build upon one another, explaining how some classes require prerequisite courses prior to enrolling, navigating the various course descriptions with them and offering wisdom on how enrolling in certain courses will help prepare them for certain academic and career paths post high school graduation. Students have been instructed to upload their completed ICAPs to Schoology by January 2.
9th grade high school registration will not begin until Jan 23. Organizing this ICAP plan now should give you and your student ample time to ask questions and be fully prepared once registration begins.
Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns!
Raine Fick (last names A-D): rfick@cpsk12.org
Mark Holman (last names E-M): mholman@cpsk12.org
Lexie Davis (last names N-Z): aldavis@cpsk12.org
Counseling Office: (573) 214-3243
Chili Supper and Silent Auction Fundraiser
Our 5th annual Chili Supper and Silent Auction Fundraiser is right around the corner! This year it will take place after our winter break on Tuesday, January 8th from 4:30-6:00 pm. All proceeds will go to our amazing Gentry athletics program.
The value of athletics in school is significant and cannot be overlooked. It has a profound impact on our students and the school as a whole. It can bridge gaps, bring students with relatively nothing in common together and gives students unbelievable, life-altering opportunities.
Facts about GMS athletics:
• Gentry has approximately 400+ student athletes who compete in various sports each
year.
• The CPS budget for athletics is the same for every middle school in Columbia despite our
middle school being the largest in the district.
• Costs for replacement uniforms/equipment, transportation expenses and salaries to cover the cost of officials continues to rise as our student population increases. Past history tells us that GMS will exhaust our allotted budget well before the school year is over.
• We couldn't keep our athletic program running efficiently without the support of our great
Gentry families!!
With that being said, and as the weather begins to get down-right cold, please plan on enjoying us for supper and a ball game for a good cause! Tickets are $7 each (in advance) and will get you a warm bowl of chili with the fixin's, a hot dog, cookie and a beverage. Your ticket price will also include admission into our 8th grade girls basketball game vs. Oakland scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm that same night. Go Jaguars!
7th Grade Basketball Uniform Turn-In
Looking Ahead (December 17-21)
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, December 17: (B Day) Twin Day
2:35-4:00 pm- Show Choir Rehearsal/Annex N
5:15 pm- Cheer Squad Cheering for Home Basketball Game/Commons
6:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Game vs. TJ @ GMS
6:00 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Game vs. TJ @ Thomas Jefferson
7:00-8:15 pm- Choir Concert (7th/8th Grade Academic Singers Show Choir)/RBHS PAC
Tuesday, December 18: (A Day) Red, White and Blue
1:45-2:30 pm- Winter All School Assembly
2:35-4:30 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
2:35-4:00 pm- After School Tutoring/Media Center
2:35-4:00 pm- PAWS (LGBTQ Community and Allies)/Rm. 216
4:30-6:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
7:00 pm- 6th Grade Choir Concert/Hickman HS
6:15-6:45 pm- 6th Grade Winter Orchestra Concert/Stage
7:00-7:45 pm- 7th/8th Grade Winter Orchestra Concert/Stage
Wednesday, December 19: (B Day) Pajama Day
7:35-2:35 pm- School Final Exams
5:15 pm- Cheer Squad Cheering for Home Game/Commons
6:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Game vs. Lange @ Lange
6:00 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Game vs. Lange @ GMS
Thursday, December 20: (A Day) Ugly Sweater Day
7:35-2:35 pm- School Final Exams
2:35-5:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
2:35-4:00 pm- Tennis Club/Meet @ Locker Rooms
2:35-4:00 pm- Show Choir Rehearsal/Annex N
6:00 pm- 8th Grade Girls Basketball Game vs. West @ GMS
6:00-8:00 pm- Archery Club/Up Commons
Friday, December 21:
No School Today Due to Winter Break
10:00-12:00 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
Saturday, December 22:
There are no activities scheduled for today.
Sunday, December 23:
4:00-6:00 pm- 8th Girls Basketball Practice/Gym
6:00-7:30 pm- 8th Boys Basketball Practice/Gym
Dates to Remember
12/18- Winter All School Assembly
12/18- 6th-8th Grade Winter Orchestra Concerts
12/19-12/20- School Final Exams
12/21-1/2- School Not in Session Due to Winter Recess
1/7- Grade Cards Sent Home
1/8- Chili Supper Athletic Fundraiser
1/8- PTSA Meeting
1/9- Boundary Change Open House/6-8:00 pm in the Cafe'
1/15- Band Enrollment Night for Incoming 6th Grade Students @ 6:30 pm
1/22- Spelling Bee
Jaguar News
Dr. Fairouz Bishara
Email: fbishara@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/17
Phone: (573) 214-3240
Twitter: @FairouzBishara