As we welcome in 2023, we wanted to thank you for all of your support thus far this school year. It is our hope and mission that your child's school year continues to be an enriching and rewarding experience. May this new year bring you and your family good health and happiness!

A few important reminders for the month of January:

• Tuesday, January 3rd: First day back to school after Winter Break
• Thursday, January 5th: Mid-Year Class Meetings for Students
• Thursday, January 12th: GMMS & LHS Family Game Show Night with Jeff Veley at Lounsberry Hollow School at 6:00 pm. ALL GMMS & LHS FAMILIES ARE WELCOME! Please join us! (MORE INFO)
• Friday, January 13th: Parent/Guardian Presentation with Jeff Veley at GMMS (8:15 am)
• Friday, January 13th: Student Presentations with Jeff Veley
• Monday, January 16th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - District Closed
  
• Wednesday, January 18th: SCA Meeting at 9:45 am in GMMS Faculty Room
  
• Thursday, January 19th: 7th Grade Hangout Night (5:30 - 7:30 pm)
• January 23rd - 27th: Student Council Spirit Days (CLICK HERE)
• Wednesday, January 25th: Early Dismissal - Wellness Wednesday
• Monday, January 30th: End of Marking Period Two
• Wednesday, February 1st: Student Cyber Safety Presentation with Detective Perez
• Wednesday, February 1st: Parent/Guardian Cyber Safety Presentation (6:30 pm)

As always, we thank you for sharing your children with us. If you should ever have any questions or concerns about your child's education, please do not hesitate to reach out. Together, we are stronger! When the school and home collaborate and communicate, we are all working towards one common goal - a successful school year for your child. Thank you for partnering with us throughout the 2022-2023 school year.

Jacquelyn M. Van Orden, Principal

Eric W. Kosek, Assistant Principal

How can we start this new year happier? Things have certainly not been easy over the last year, and we are still in difficult and uncertain times. The best way to try to handle our difficult emotions and experiences is by focusing on what we can control. This month, we're encouraging everyone to focus on small steps to try to boost happiness - for ourselves and others around us - to spread kindness and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

~obtained from: actionforhappiness.com

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) is an after-school program that provides students with academic enrichment opportunities that will offer support beyond the classroom curriculum. Students will receive homework support and a nutritional snack each day. The 21st CCLC allows students to explore STEM, Physical Fitness, and Visual and Performing Arts activities, including but not limited to Theatre, Robotics, Engineering, and Culinary Arts. Students will also have the opportunity to attend field trips within the community to work with key stakeholders of this initiative. The Farm at Glenwood Mountain and The Painted Grape have partnered with Glen Meadow Middle School’s 21st CCLC. In addition, there will be a Parent University component which will provide workshops for parents/guardians and will also allow students to showcase their learning activities.

The program officially began on Monday, September 19, 2022, and will run Monday through Friday, immediately after school from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with parent/guardian pick up. Please note that on days that the school is closed or if we have called for an early dismissal, the program will not be in session. The 21st Century Community Learning Center is only available to 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students residing in Vernon Township and is at no cost to families.

January is Mental Wellness Month, National Mentoring Month, and National Get Organized Month.

Here are some tips for parents/guardians to help middle school students get organized in the new year:

• Make Getting Organized a Team Effort - Model organization for your child and develop a system together. Once your child is used to the routine, he or she will be self-reliant. Remember, the habits students form in middle school will be carried forward, so creating good habits early on is important!

• Encourage Positive Routine - Help your child learn the strategies above to set them up for success. Suggest specified places to keep supplies and create a sample daily planner. Don’t force your child into a routine that doesn’t work for them. The most important part is that they have a system to consistently follow.

• Keep Track of Important Dates - Mark important dates such as tests and assignment due dates on your calendar (separate from your child’s agenda or calendar) and make sure your child is prepared for them. You can check assignments on Genesis and/or Schoology to ensure your child knows what they have to do.

• Seek Extra Help - If a child is still having trouble staying organized after trying the above steps, seek extra help. Teachers may be able to offer personalized help after school, during lunch, or possibly during study hall. Peer tutors are also great options. Tutors can help teach study skills and homework skills. To have your child sign up for peer tutoring, have them complete this google form.

• Volunteer to be a Peer Tutor at Glen Meadow. Click HERE for more information.
• Volunteer at Sussex County Libraries. Click HERE for more information.

Thank you, GMMS families, for your partnership throughout the first half of the 2022-2023 school year. We are honored and grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside you and your child(ren). If there is anything we can do to assist in making this year a successful one, please do not hesitate to contact us. #TheGlenMeadowWay

Happy New Year!

The Faculty and Staff of Glen Meadow Middle School