GVMS Weekly Update
March 2nd, 2020
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: https://gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com/
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS
GVMS School Community
Garnet Valley Middle School Community,
Can you believe we are preparing for Spring Conferences?! We are aligned with the elementary schools and have Spring Conferences scheduled Wednesday, March 11th - Friday, March 13th. Students will have a half day of school on Wednesday, March 11th and then we will proceed into afternoon conferences for parents. There will be no school for students on Thursday and Friday.
We have worked with our teachers and guidance staff to create as many parent conference time slots within the allotted 2.5-day schedule. Based on our work, we will continue to utilize 15 minute conference times for team teachers. Additionally, we have provided an opportunity to meet with the elective teacher(s) if needed as an additional conference. Our collective work resulted in 50 conferences per team. This is the highest number we have offered to date for Spring conferences. Unlike the elementary schools, our teacher teams have approximately 100 students per team, more than the allotted time slots.
It is not a requirement to attend middle school parent conferences. We believe in active and ongoing parent communication to monitor your child’s progress through emails, phone calls, ALMA, and Schoology. If your child is doing well and your ongoing communication with your child’s team has been communicated, please continue this communication. With that being said, it is not necessary to meet for a parent conference. If, at any time, you need to communicate with your child’s teacher, each of the grade-level teams has a "team time" available to meet during the school week. This should be coordinated with one of your child’s team teachers.
In addition to adding more time slots to our upcoming conferences, we are also expanding our pilot of utilizing a timer during conferences. The timer will provide a visual aid throughout the discussion, which will help maximize the allotted time. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to find ways to be mindful of everyone's time.\
As of today, Monday, March 2nd, you are now able to schedule a Parent/Teacher conference with your child/children’s Team or Elective teachers. It is recommended that you follow the link below whereby you will be brought to our online conference schedule. Please select only one (1) appointment. If you provide your email address you will be sent a confirmation for your appointment with the time, date and location. Each conference is 15 minutes, please arrive 5 minutes prior to your appointment. If you have any trouble managing the PTC program, please contact the Guidance Office at 610-579-5106.
The link is as follows:
https://ptcfast.com/schools/Garnet_Valley_Middle_School_Spring2020
This link is also available on our website. If you would like to access the link via our website, go to gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com. From there, hover over the “Resources” dropdown and select “Parent Teacher Conferences.”
Thank you for your continued support and ongoing communication with your child’s team.
Have a great week!
Spring Pictures - Optional
8th Grade Scheduling Information
8th Grade Families: Important Upcoming Dates
February 26th-March 15th : GVMS Counselors will meet with students individually to register for High School classes.
For questions related to your child's Core Course Recommendation please reach out directly to the recommending teacher. Feel free to contact your child's counselor for other scheduling questions.
Disney's Camp Rock The Musical
We are excited to bring Disney's Camp Rock The Musical to the GVMS stage! Tickets are now available online. Our 70 students have been working incredibly hard!
After our Saturday matinee (2 pm), we will be having a cast "Meet & Greet" for children 5th grade and younger! The kids will be able to explore the set and take pictures with our lead cast members.
Click here for the link. We hope to see you there. ROCK ON!
Support GVPAA - MS at MOD Pizza on Feb. 26th 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mention GVPAA - MS or show the flyer at checkout and 20% of the proceeds will support the Drama Club! Thank you!
Grab your tickets to GVPAA - MS' Disney's Camp Rock the Musical on March 20th @ 7 p.m. and March 21st @ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Shows are held in GVMS' Auditorium, and tickets are $10! Purchase your tickets online now! https://gvpaa.org/gvpaa-2019-2020-season/tickets/
Sincerely,
Siena Catanzaro, Tyler Lonergan, and the GVMS Cast
Afternoon Carline Pick-up
Just as we met with our students this week and shared a midyear check-in, we wanted to take a moment and review our afternoon carline pick-up procedures. Please see the bulleted items below:
- Due to safety reasons, we cannot have more than two lines formed.
- The first line that forms, the line closest to the curb, is our waiting line. Please do not leave this line until your child is outside and ready to be picked up.
- The second line is for parents who see their child. DO NOT wait in this line.
- Do not encourage your child to walk if you are further than two cars away from the pick up point. Students cannot walk across the parking lot to meet you.
- Do not park and have your child come to your parked car.
- Please drive cautiously throughout our campus.
We realize your time is valuable, but the safety of our students is our top priority. We genuinely appreciate your willingness to practice being patient and cautious during each dismissal. Thank you again for your cooperation and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.
Friendly Reminder From The Nurse: Fighting the Flu
Since the sick season is upon us, here are a few reminders to help keep our students and staff members healthy per our district guidelines:
- Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.
- Children experiencing vomiting and diarrhea must be kept home for 24 hours after the last episode.
- Children with possible infectious diseases (i.e. Flu, pink eye and any unknown rashes) should be kept home until your health care provider affirms they are no longer contagious and/or they are no longer symptomatic.
- Some OTC medications may be given at school by the school nurse, provided the parent/guardian has given their approval via the SNAP Health Portal. Prescription medication that your child may need during the school day must be brought to the nurse’s office by a parent/guardian in the original, labeled pharmacy container. A parent must complete the ‘Medication Consent’ form when dropping off this medication. Students are not permitted to carry medication.
- If your child is sick, please keep them home regardless of parties, field trips or other special events.
We ask that you be mindful of the other students attending GVMS who may be immunocompromised and may not be able to fight off common winter illnesses. Thank you for your cooperation and working with us to help keep our students safe and healthy.
Links to Important Information
- Early Dismissal and Absence Request Form
- GVMS Student Item Drop-off
- New Technology and Instructional Accommodations
- Raptor Information
- Morning Drop-off Procedures
- Afternoon Drop-off Procedures
- Alma Access
- Young Adult Library Access
- After School Rachel Kohl Release 2019
- GVMS Library Expectations
- School Counselors
Upcoming Community Events
Mod Pizza
1751 Wilmington Pike, Suite F-1
Glen Mills, PA 19342
In honor of April as Autism Awareness month, the Learning Center classes are hosting a fundraiser for Autism Awareness on April 1 (no fooling) at Mod Pizza. 20% of in-store sales will be donated to Autism Speaks.
Click here to register for the event.
GVMS H/A SPRING BREAK CAMP
DATE 4/6- 4/10
TIME: 9-12
LOCATION GVMS RM. 134
COSTS: $165 Checks made out to Garnet Valley School District
Grades: 3-8
GVMS HSA Information
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
The HSA Board is starting to look ahead to next year and we need your help! We are looking for parents who are interested in helping make next year another amazing one for our students and GVMS teachers!! The HSA plans and organizes many of the dances and fun events for our students. We also organize events that show our teachers our love and appreciation at events such as Staff Appreciation Week! The HSA raises money to support the school, purchases items for our students and works closely with the GVMS staff and administrators. We can't plan any of these events without parental support!
Please take a moment, click on the attached link, and complete the survey for next year's 2020-21 HSA. Any amount of time you can offer is greatly appreciated! Team up with a friend and co-chair an event or gather a group of friends and help to run next year's Board in the different available positions! A little time and effort on your part will go a long way to help make next year an incredible one for your students and for the GVMS school community that we love!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesNSvjUQi0RCe9G-T0abNsiXzIkhVPLazTVOydRtuOjI0LiQ/viewform
HSA Updates and Announcements
SAVE THE DATES
1). Wednesday, 3/11/2020
4:00 - 8:00 PM
Urban Air Adventure Park Fundraiser
DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS??
Last year, the House received over 8,000 pounds of tabs & raised over $3,200 just from donated pop tabs! The Ronald McDonald House is a “home away from home” for families with children who are getting care at nearby hospitals.
Tabs can be dropped off starting Monday, 1/27/2020 in collection bins located in the school office, cafeteria, & teachers lounge!! What an easy way to help raise awareness & funds of the Ronald McDonald House!
Garnet Valley Communities That Cares
Garnet Valley CTC Quick Tip #24
Garnet Valley CTC Quick Tip #24
The results are back from the 2017 Pennsylvania Youth Survey for Garnet Valley’s 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. We also have results from 2013 and 2015.
The results of this anonymous survey are self-reported and represent 83.9% of our students.
Did you know? According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), teen use of marijuana is at the highest level in 30 years. Garnet Valley 2017 PAYS results revealed that an average of 10% of students surveyed reported using marijuana in their lifetime and 5% reported using it regularly. However, unlike the AACAP survey, vaping marijuana was not included in the PAYS question. When asked if students were vaping marijuana, 18% of students who reported vaping, had vaped marijuana. While we wait for our 2019 PAYS results, it is worth noting that the percentage of students vaping marijuana has increased by 7.7% from 2015 to 2017.
Call to action… Our students are receiving mixed messages about marijuana from many sources. The AACAP encourages parent/caregivers to listen to what their child has heard about marijuana as early as upper elementary school. From an early age, honest and factual discussions about marijuana help keep the lines of communication open. The link below details how to have a productive discussion that will help your student to understand the facts about marijuana.
Click on the link below to learn more.
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS