Happenings @ the Hill
Volume 2, Issue 17
Book Fair is Coming to GHMS November 18th - 22nd
Student Council Food Drive to Support the Fort Mill Care Center
For the next two weeks, Student Council will be collecting canned food and pantry items on behalf of the Fort Mill Care Center. This event will also serve as a House Challenge. Students and staff are asked to place donations in the House Boxes located in front of the Media Center. Thank you for paying it forward!
Spirit Night is Wednesday at the Fort Mill DQ from 5-8pm for the 8th grade DC Trip.
It's a Great Week to be a Bulldog!
19th Tuesday - Introduction to Beta Club during FLEX (Cafeteria) / Disc Golf Club (after school)
20th Wednesday - Clubs during FLEX / DQ Spirit Night for 8th Washington Trip 5-8pm / Leadership Meeting (after school)
21st Thursday - FLEX / Beta Club Induction 6-8pm in Gym
22nd Friday - SSR during FLEX / PTA Bulldog Ice @ Lunches / Book Fair Ends
We will be conducting a lockdown drill before the end of this month.
Need to Update Your Student's Information?
Need to update your student's pick up list or allow alternate forms of transportation? Please select the link(s) needed below and complete the form(s).
Contact our receptionist, Neena Hudson, if help is needed by calling 803-548-8300 or emailing her @ hudsonn@fortmillschools.org.
It's getting colder outside... Please help prepare your students.
School Counselors' News
GHMS Will Host an Angel Tree This Year - See Flyer Below.
Our students and teachers need you! Donate to the PTA today!
Did you know that over 53 GHMS faculty and staff members have joined our PTA?
How can you help? Are you a member? Have you donated online?
Our One Time Donation/Armchair Fundraiser
- This is our major fundraiser for the year and our teachers and students need your help. Their wish lists have been submitted and the requests are greater than our $14,000 budget we had planned for the year.
- Please visit our website (www.ghmspta.org) or see the attached flyer for more details and to make your donation.
- Please also check your student's backpack because an information packet was sent home several weeks ago.
Spirit Wear Store Open Online - November 11-22
- November 11-22 the spirit wear store will be open again online - order shirts, hoodies, jogging pants and etc.
- All orders can be placed on our website - http://www.ghmspta.org
- Items will be delivered to your student's classroom two weeks after the order deadline.
Parent Portal
Need access to your student's grades, attendance, meal balance, and other info?
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
We do expect our parents/guardians to regularly check parent portal. Student grades are updated every 2 weeks per district policy. If you have questions about a particular grade or assignment, please reach out to your student's teacher directly. If you haven't already signed up to receive Parent Portal email notifications on a weekly basis, we encourage you to do so.
If you are having any issues with Parent Portal, please notify Dawn Fite @ fited@fortmillschools.org.
#Differencemakers
We kicked off our One Book, One School culminating project on November 8th during FLEX, and we are so excited to see what our Bulldogs will do to change the world! The basic idea behind the project is for students to incorporate STEAM and Literacy into a project that illustrates some of the ideas presented in I Will Always Write Back. Examples of ideas we presented are: every story matters, anyone can make a difference, and no idea is too small. You can view a slide show of our kick off here. Students were also given a handout with information regarding this project. Students have until March 6th to complete their product and they will present to homerooms on March 16th. Students will use our designated Monday Literacy FLEX time to work on this project and any other FLEX time they have available as well as any time outside of school that they choose. Ultimately 15 students or groups will present to our community at our STEAM/Literacy Night on April 21st where we will be joined by one of the authors of our book, Caitlin Alifirenka.
Please encourage your Bulldog to be a #differencemaker!
HOUSE Games will be held November 26th - Be sure to sign up for your events! Details to come during CHromeroom/FLEX and Lunches.
What are we doing in our HOUSE system this year for Character Education?
We are studying the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People/Teens during our HOUSE meetings this year.
- Habit 1: Be Proactive (You’re in Charge)
- Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind (Have a Plan)
- Habit 3: Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)
- Habit 4: Think Win-Win (Everyone Can Win)
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Listen Before You Talk)
- Habit 6: Synergize (Together Is Better)
- Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (Balance Feels Best)
Claim Items by Friday, December 6th. Unclaimed items will be donated.
The Bulldog Shake Competition for 19-20 / Learn About the Bulldog Shake from this Video
- December 13th - 6th Grade STEAM Career Day
- December 17th - Festival of the Arts (Related Arts Showcase Night) 6-8pm
- 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!)
- May 7th - Spring Band Concerts
- May 8th - SC Ready and PASS Testing Window Opens
Got FMSD App?
We did it! GHMS won the district app contest with the most middle school followers! Thank you to all who have downloaded the app! We have 298 followers and now have bragging rights for the "W"! If you haven't downloaded the app yet, please do so!
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!
Links to Fun Friday Jokes & Weekly Quotes
https://forms.gle/UxP8N7JeNzPF7ZJs5 Fun Friday Joke Link
https://forms.gle/UMezZXdxH9dmSMX67 Quotes Link
Dr. Jackson is our Athletic Boosters Leader of the Pack.
Our PTA Sponsors are AMAZING!
The Hill - One Great Big Family
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!
#BulldogsLEAD
Christine V. McNeil, Principal
Website: http://ghms.fortmillschools.org/
Location: 1025 Dave Gibson Boulevard, Tega Cay 29708
Phone: 803-548-8300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMS1998/
Twitter: @GHMSBulldogs