First Day of School Update
August 31st, 2019
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
Our focus for this update is simple - First Day of School Information.
Thank you for taking a minute to read this update and we hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Lisa Stenz, Principal
Gerry Weinhardt, Assistant Principal
Rick Martin, Assistant Principal
Staffing Updates
As we mentioned in our August update, one of our Assistant Principals, Ms. Papa, will fill a vacancy left by Ms. Julie Cady who resigned to spend more time with her family. Similarly, Ms. Papa’s transfer will allow her to continue her work as an exceptional educator with the students, parents, and staff of Garnet Valley Middle School while making more time for her family. Ms. Papa is excited to take on this new opportunity, remain in the Garnet Valley school community, and do what she loves–teaching!
This past Tuesday, Mr. Rick Martin was unanimously approved at our district's monthly board meeting as our new assistant principal. Please help us welcome him to the Garnet Valley Middle School. Rick Martin comes to us from the West Chester School District. During his time teaching in the WCASD, he was an elementary teacher for five years and then moved to Pierce Middle School in 2008 as a Science Teacher. He has 17 years of experience as a classroom teacher. Rick can be reached at 610.579.5102 and his email address is martinr@garnetvalley.org.
In addition to hiring Mr. Martin, we recently concluded our search for our fourth school counselor. We are excited to announce that Ms. Madison Rogas has officially joined our already strong team of school counselors. Ms. Rogas' diverse background and commitment to making meaningful, personal connections will make a positive and immediate impact on our building.
School Counselors
2019 - 2020 School Counselor Caseloads
- Marisa Mahon - Last names beginning with A-Em
- Wendy Xanthopoulos - Last names beginning with Ep-Ler
- Madison Rogas - Last names beginning with Les-Rom
- Christy Francart - Last names beginning with Ros-Z
Alma Access
To access Alma, click the link below:
For more information on Alma, click the link below:
https://sites.google.com/garnetvalley.org/gvsystemssnapshot/alma
First Day of School Reminders and Tips
- Middle school busses will drop students off at the GVMS main entrance. Upon entering the building, seventh and eighth graders will go directly the the auditorium to wait for the first bell. All sixth graders will head directly to the cafeteria.
- All sixth grade students will have first period in one of their elective classes. **For the first day of school, students will remain in the cafeteria after the first bell rings. All elective teachers will come to the cafeteria to meet the students and walk them to their first period class.**
- All seventh and eighth graders will report to one of their four content classes for first period.
- All middle school students will receive a color copy of their first semester schedule in their first period class on Tuesday. The schedule includes all classes, teachers, and room numbers. The schedule is formatted to show students how classes will change on each letter day.
- Staff members will be in the commons area, cafeteria, and auditorium on the first day of school for any student who doesn't know where to report for first period.
- Our final bell rings at 2:24. Students who are taking the bus will head out the main entrance and board their bus. Please review with your child their assigned morning and afternoon bus number. There will be staff members located outside the main entrance for students who forget their afternoon bus number.
- For students who will be utilizing carline pick-up, students will head down the the cafeteria area. Afternoon carline pick-up occurs in the parking lot along the side of the middle school. This is the parking lot that separates GVMS from GVES.
- For specific class and lunch times, please refer to the schedules below.
GVMS Morning Drop-off Procedures
We encourage all families to utilize our transportation services for safety and efficiency purposes. However, if you need to drop your student off below are our AM Drop-off procedures:
- Parents entering from Station Road will travel to the GVES and GVMS shared parking lot by taking a right and making a loop to the GVMS drop off location. Parents will exit back to Station Road.
- Parents entering from Bob Mench Drive (Passed the Rachel Kohl Library) will travel to the left of GVMS and take a right and make a loop to the GVMS pool drop off location. Parents may exit to the right or left on Bob Mench Drive.
- Parents may not park in the front parking lot and walk students across the BUS ONLY LANE into the school between 7:00 and 7:30. This poses a safety risk.
- ALL BUSSES will be entering the campus from Station Road and enter the BUS ONLY LANE for Student Drop Off. The BUS ONLY LANE for Student Drop Off will only be for busses, so no other traffic will be allowed to go through. ALL busses will continue past GVMS and make a right onto Municipal Drive and exit onto Temple Road.
- This traffic pattern will be in place from 7:00 to 7:30 during all school days.
We appreciate your cooperation in following all established traffic patterns.
GVMS Afternoon Pick-up Procedures
We encourage all families to utilize our transportation services for safety and efficiency purposes. However, if you choose to pick your child up in the afternoon, below are our PM Pick-up procedures:
- Parents can only enter from Station Road and will travel to the GVES and GVMS shared parking lot by taking a right and making a loop to the GVMS drop off location. Parents will exit back to Station Road.
- Students who miss their bus will call and notify you that they missed their bus. Any student who misses the bus will remain in the office until they are able to be picked up.
We appreciate your cooperation in following all established traffic patterns.
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS