GMS Principal's Corner
October 30, 2020
Dear Galvin Families,
Happy Halloween, Galvin! This year is a different Halloween for sure. As you make your plans, please be sure to check out the Halloween Guidance from the Town of Canton to help ensure that you are keeping yourselves, your children and others as safe as possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who completed the district-wide survey about our school reopening as well as the ODL specific survey. We are currently in the process of analyzing the data and working with staff, students and our School Council to evaluate potential schedule shifts. We will keep you informed about any changes that we make.
The Conditions for Learning survey also provided us with some great information about what we are doing well and where we need to focus some attention. We were glad to learn that we are doing a good job with safety protocols and greatly appreciate your support in that and your children's efforts as well with their mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. Please keep (or start) filling out the self screener each morning as well - it's our first line of defense!
One consistent theme that emerged from the comments was that there is a need for parent education around the use of Google Classroom and Plus Portals. At our virtual open house, many teams gave a brief overview of these tools. I'm including two short videos for you to access now to help you. Stay tuned for more specific support and workshops that will be announced soon. There are many tips and tricks to monitoring your child's Google Classrooms that will give you more insight into what your children are learning and doing each day as well as a window into feedback the teachers are giving. As a parent, myself, I try to sit with middle schooler every week or two and look at his Google Classrooms with him. This allows me to make sure he's keeping up and see where he needs more support. Click here to see Mr. Masciarelli's video on how to see your child's Progress Report in Plus Portals and Mr. Johnston's video about Google Classroom. Thanks to them both for sharing these!
Another theme that emerged was student connectedness to each other and to the staff. While the feedback revealed that students are feeling connected to and like their teachers, they are looking for more meaningful ways to connect with peers and the adults in the building. We are working on ways we can do this safely. We hope to reimagine some of our traditional structures - such as clubs - and be able to offer them to your children soon.
Our SEL (social-emotional learning) work continues to evolve and deepen at the Galvin to support connectedness. Though we tend to think of middle school students as being ready to tackle many issues, we know that they continue to need strong SEL support. They need direct instruction to navigate many of the issues - academic, social and personal - that they will encounter during their adolescent years. Throughout the school year, our students will be engaged in a variety of SEL activities. More specifically, SEL is the process through which students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to set and achieve positive goals, understand and manage emotions, feel and show empathy for others, establish positive relationships, and responsible decision making. The goals of our SEL activities are to: (1) promote students’ self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship, and responsible decision-making skills; and (2) improve student attitudes and beliefs about self, others, and school. As a result, these skills provide a foundation for better adjustment and academic performance as reflected in more positive social behaviors and peer relationships, fewer conduct problems, less emotional distress, and improved grades and test scores.
So far, we have executed two SEL lessons during Community Block. These lessons have addressed the following Learning Targets:
Lesson #1: SEL Introduction
SEL Strand: Establish an understanding of social emotional learning and interpersonal skills to create and maintain positive relationships and caring communities.
Learning Targets:
- Students will be able to identify the five main categories of SEL.
- Students will examine their personality to determine strengths, set goals and create a personal mission statement.
Lesson #2: Time Management
SEL Strand: Increase ability to successfully regulate and manage your own time and behavior.
Learning Targets:
- Students will be bale to identify time management and behavior goals.
- Students will examine their daily and weekly schedule to better understand and balance their time.
I am including a short video (below) for those of you who would like an overview of what SEL is and why it's important.
Finally, a couple of reminders:
- This weekend is Daylight Savings.... don't forget to "fall back" on Saturday night!
- Please take a moment with your middle school child to review the handbook that can be found here and to fill out the Handbook and Permissions Signature Page. We need this for each student so if you have more than one child at GMS, please fill it out for and with each child. Thank you.
Warmly,
Sarah
GMS Parent-Teacher Conferences
The Galvin Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place virtually by appointment only on Wednesday, November 18th from 12:00–1:00, 1:10-2:25, 2:35-3:45, 3:50-5:00, 6:00-6:45 and 6:55-7:45.
Appointments can be made electronically beginning on Wednesday, November 4th at 4:00 PM. Appointments will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Please mark 11/4 at 4pm on your calendar if you wish to set up an appointment with your child's teacher(s).
A separate email with further information and instructions will be sent to all families on Monday, November 2.
GMS TEAM WEBSITES
Grade 6
Galaxy, Meteorites, Supernova, Ravens
Grade 7
Grizzlies, Mountain Lions, Sharks
Grade 8
Specialists - Physical Education, Health, Art, Music, and Technology & Engineering
GMS Student Work Spotlight - 8th Grade Civics
A Message from our GMS CAPT
Please join us virtually for the first Galvin CAPT meeting of the year on Monday, November 9th at 6:30 p.m.
ID: 2379698749
Password: 7818215070
The agenda will consist of:
- Updates from the CAPT leaders, teachers, Principal Shannon and Assistant Principal Spillane
- School funding needs/requests
- Brainstorming ideas for virtual fundraising
- Discussing ideas and finances for the annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast usually held in November/December
- Q&A
All are welcome and we always need your help! We look forward to seeing you virtually on 11/9!