Panther Prowl
May 5, 2023
Good Evening Panther Families
We are quickly progressing through the school year and it's now MAY!! Where did the time go?!?
We only have...
- 1 More day till testing
- 24 More days till June 9th
But who's counting... :)
This months Panther Prowl will has many items of importance as we near the end of the school year. Please be sure to read each item below and discuss with your student.
Please let us know if you need anything, we are always here to support you and your Panther!
Ana Castillo
Jessica Fernandez
Principal's Message
Hi Panther Families!
We are quickly moving closer towards the end of the school year which means lots of PLANNING! Many moving parts so be on the lookout for additional direct communications in the near future about:
- Testing
- Promotion
- Upcoming 7th Grade Tdap Requirement
Below are a couple of relevant items previously posted:
GEMS 2023-2024 Course Catalog- Please click the link below to review our revised course catalog for the the 2023-2024 school year. GEMS 2023-2024 COURSE CATALOG
SCHEDULE FOR TESTING NEXT WEEK
Parent Promotion Dance Committee - Final Stretch!!
The 8th Grade Promotion Dance is in the final planning stages. This is an event planned and executed by you….the parents, and your involvement is needed to ensure its success.
If you have been unable to attend any of the planning meetings thus far there is still time to find a way to help. Please check with Committee Coordinator, Tiffany Brown (norcal4life8@yahoo.com) for details on what may still be needed.
Early Check Out Process for 8th Graders 6/8/23
If you would like to check your child out at the end of the promotion ceremony and do not want to have to wait for long periods of time to go to the office, please make sure you fill out this form.
Once this form is submitted, your child will be issued a wristband the morning of promotion.
At the end of the ceremony we will have your students wait until all students without wristbands are released back to class. At that time we will check your child out to you from the blacktop. The person who is checking out the student MUST be on the emergency card. There will be no exception made.
Student Store
Hello Parents!
This year we opened up a Student Store to encourage and recognize students who are practicing our 3 P’s which are to be positive, productive, and professional. Our Student Store is stocked with students’ favorite things. We have treats and snacks such as Takis, Hot Cheetos, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Sour Patch Kids, Hershey’s bars, Kit Kat, Snickers, cookies, fidgets, ramen, and more!
We also have small toys and souvenirs such as fidgets, mini balls, scratch bookmarkers, stickers, and GEMS wristbands, pencils, drawstrings bags, water bottles, and cups.
In addition to these fun rewards, for just one Panther Buck, students can also enter our two weekly raffles for an In-n-Out burger. Winners are surprised with their winnings every Tuesday during PAW on GEMS TV! Rewards are priced from one to five Panther Bucks.
Students earn Panther Bucks from any staff member on site by practicing the 3 P’s. The Student Store is open Mondays and Fridays, before and after school and students should spend them before the end of the school year.
Keep an eye out on our WPUSD - Glen Edwards Middle School Facebook page to see pictures of our students shopping!
Summer Math Opportunity
Happy Friday! The 8th Grade Math Academy will be at LHS and will start after the regular Summer Academy. Students who are attending the middle school Summer Academy can also participate in the Math Academy. Any questions or concerns please contact Ms. Hayes. Her contact information is below.
Thank You,
--
Julie Hayes
Coordinator of Special Projects
Western Placer Unified School District
600 6th Street, Suite 400
Lincoln, CA 95648
Ph. (916) 645-6350
After School Tutoring
Our afterschool tutoring program is still currently available but will end on May 25th.
Time: 3:10-4:10 with the support of 2 LHS tutors.
Location: GEMS Library
Tuesday: Laura Sliepen
Wednesday: Laura Koerner
Thursday: Kelly Ransford
VP Corner
Hi GEMS Families!
The weather is getting nice and bright outside, which is bringing excitement to the students! However, this excitement is leading to poor decisions on behaviors in and out of the classroom.
Please have a conversation with your GEMS Panther Student to remind them that misbehaving in class, out of class, on the bus, social media related to school/school students, and to/from school may result in them losing out on those incentives. Students need to be following all school rules to avoid the possible consequence..
End of The Year Celebrations and Behavior:
As we approach the end of the school year, we are planning our end-of-the-year celebrations. Each grade level will have its own celebration activity/activities.
A few reminders:
- Horseplay is not permitted at school. It often leads to someone getting hurt or escalating to an actual fight.
- Phones are not allowed on campus for students. If they need it for before or after school reasons, they are to be off and in backpacks. If you need to get a message to your student, you can call into the office and they can get a note sent to your student with the information or asking them to come up to the office to call you.
- Technology use on school devices or logged in while on student accounts on or off campus has to follow the Technology use agreement. Accessing inappropriate sites, games, logging into other accounts, is not permitted while on or off campus.
- The use of racial and or derogatory language is not permitted and will result in suspension as well as the loss of activities.
Should you have any questions, please email jfernandez@wpusd.org
Thank you,
Mrs. Fernandez
Assistant Principal
Panther To-Do's:
INCOMING 7th Grade Immunization Requirement
Dear Parents and/or Guardians,
Please see the attached letters regarding immunization requirements for 7th Grade Entry.
Once your student has completed records, you can scan and email a copy (preferably PDF format) or bring a copy into the office. We will need updated immunization records for your student to receive their schedule in August and to be allowed on campus the first day of school. Records need to show they have the required immunizations to enter 7th grade, in addition to all required immunizations for school attendance.
If you have any questions regarding the immunizations, please email your school nurse, or visit the California Department of Public Health's Immunization Website (Shots For School - Parent Resources).
PE Clothes PRE-SIZE 23-24
Please choose the size for your PE Uniform!! Shirts=Sport Tek Material / Shorts=Mesh Polyester / Sweatpants =60 Cotton 40 Polyester Blend. Please take this into consideration when CHOOSING your sizes.
Uniform pricing: Shirts=10$ / Shorts=10$ / Sweatpants=20$
Cash Payments Only
Payment due upon receipt of cloth which will be DURING PE CLASSES the 1st week of the 23/24 school year. PE teachers will be issuing these PRE-SIZED PE Uniforms to all students while also issuing PE locks. Please ensure your child has cash payment ready 8/22/23 for PE Clothes. There is no charge for the lock.
Spirit Shirts PRE-SIZE 23-24
Our current 6th & 7th graders all received a spirit shirt when school started this year 22-23.
If you wish to PURCHASE another Spirit Shirt for your Panther, please choose a size on the google form below!! Fabric will be cotton so take that into consideration when CHOOSING your size. The cost will be $15.00 each (cash only) and payable by 8/22/23 (or the first full week of school).
2023-2024 Intra District Renewals & Applications
At the end of each year, all students will be returned to their home school based on the District boundaries (except for previously approved bilingual immersion, GATE and Honors (GEMS) programs).
You must reapply if you wish to continue your intra-district transfer in 2023-2024. We will begin accepting priority intra-district transfer requests on January 19, 2023. Intra-district transfers are approved for one year only.
- Parents are to submit the form online and must have a Parent Portal Account to submit.
- For LHS and TBHS students - any incoming 8th–– 9th and 10th grade students who wish to attend a high school that is not their home school for the 2022-2023 school year should also submit the form online. On the form there is a notation to include the CTE pathway they are requesting (if applicable).
Join Our APTS Committee
Hi there Panther Families!
Reminder, easy way to SUPPORT GEMS APTS with very little effort is to be sure to assign Glen Edwards Middle School to your Box Tops and Amazon Smile accounts. Amazon account is under Association of Parents, Teachers, and Students.
We have created wish lists for all teachers to hopefully help get them needed classroom supplies. Teachers will add/edit it throughout the year. Please be sure to support!
Agrippino Banderas Baracosa Butler Colson Cuomo
Davena Fulton Greenside Hargis Harrigan Hunt Johnson
Law Luci Mahan Mason McAdam Mullen Noonan Ransford
Rayos Santos Saul Simko Smith, Richard Smith, Ryan
Be sure to follow us on Facebook @GEMSAPTS. Click here to learn more about our parent group and what we do to support the staff and students.
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at GemsAPTS@Gmail.com
GEMS EVENTS
OPEN HOUSE
Despite the gloomy weather our Open House and Parent Orientation Evening was a success. Thank you to our GEMS Band for the wonderful performance. Our Amazing Teachers for their presentations and displays. Mrs. LeBeau and the book fair appreciate any support you afforded. Lastly thank you parents for coming out and showing your support for our Panther Community.
SPONSOR GEMS ATHLETICS with a banner in our GYM!
Sponsorship opportunities are now open for the 2023-24 school year! Advertise your business with a banner in our gymnasium which is home to rallies, school events, and athletic contests throughout the year.
We only have a limited amount we can sell so check out the link below for all info needed.
https://forms.gle/uwtgTU3iqXtNrECv8
Any questions please email jnoonan@wpusd.org
**All money earned goes to the GEMS ATHLETICS PROGRAM
IMPORTANT YEARBOOK INFORMATION
You can now reserve your book in the main office with $60 CASH ONLY! We are not accepting checks.
Online orders at jostensyearbooks.com are $60 as well
We are SOLD OUT of 8th grade dedication ads
Only 65 book are left...we will SELL OUT this year!
Books will be passed out at our annual Signing Party on June 1st!
6TH GRADE ACTIVITIES
Leap: Despite the rain, our first 6th grade LEAP program was a success!! There is something to be said for spending time in nature and learning about the world around us that helps the human condition make a connection. We'd like to say a HUGE Thank You to our APTS group for providing a wonderful BBQ for our panthers. LHS Teachers and Students for hosting our students and all the work they put in getting ready for us. Corky Quirk and her bats (mammals of the order Chiroptera) were of peek interest and we hope the students enjoyed the presentation. We look forward to next year and hopefully the weather will be better.
Cultural Fair: On May 26th the 6th grade class will be hosting a culture fair on campus. Students will be setting up during PAW period and running the fair during first and second periods. Poster boards and other supplies will be provided by history teachers. One student from each group will need to provide a table (approximately 3-5 feet) to set up their project on. Parents can drop off tables May 22nd-25th before and after school. Please label your table to ensure we return them to the correct owner. We encourage students to dress up and bring a food or drink item to represent their culture. For homemade food we ask that the list of ingredients be turned into us or handwritten so we can accommodate food allergies. If you have any questions, please reach out to the 6th grade history teachers Mr. Luci (dluci@wpusd.org) and Ms. White (awhite@wpusd.org).
6th Grade BBQ: The 6th grade teachers will be putting on a BBQ for students on the last day of school. To complete the day, we will also have games and activities for students to participate in. We are in need of a small donation of $3-5 dollars per student to help fund our event. Donation forms will be sent home in May through Mr. Luci's and Ms. White's history classes.
7TH GRADE ACTIVITIES
Our 7th grade class will be going bowling on June 8th. Permission forms are in the works and will go home with students in the upcoming week. They will leave by bus in the morning to get their "bowl on" but return to campus for lunch. Should you have any questions about the 7th grade end of the year activity please email pmcadam@wpusd.org. We look forward to continuing the bowling tradition.
8TH GRADE ACTIVITIES
End of the year will wrap up quickly and the 8th graders have a few last middle school events that have been planned. Please note the following activities, times, dates, permission slip and payment deadlines.
Important Dates:
Thursday, April 27th Promotion Activity Permission Forms sent home
Friday, May 12th All monies and permission slips due for promotion activities
Friday, June 2nd Sunsplash Trip - $40.00
(GEMS students only. Lunch, Admission & Transportation included). Leave at approximately 9:30am/return at 5:15pm. There will be no parent pick-ups at Sunsplash. Students must ride the bus back to school. NO summer passes can be used – Per Sunsplash
Wednesday, June 7th Promotion Dance - $20.00 (students only)
6:30-8:30pm @ Glen Edwards Middle School (see below for dress requirements)
Thursday, June 8th Promotion Ceremony - (for parents/families)
9:00am at Glen Edwards Middle School. Students should arrive to school on time (8:00am) to prepare for ceremony entrance. Guest seating is first come first serve. Please be prepared for any type of weather. No umbrellas or pop ups allowed.
Appropriate dress for the Promotion Ceremony is as follows:
- It is recommended that boys wear dress shirts and slacks; ties are optional.
- It is recommended that girls wear a dress or blouse with a skirt or slacks
- Clothing must not expose buttocks, cleavage, midsection or underclothing when standing still, bending over, raising arms, or in motion.
- Tuxedos, jeans, shorts, T-shirts and overalls are not appropriate. Dresses or blouses should be in good taste and age-appropriate for the occasion. Spaghetti strap dresses are allowed for the promotion dance.
Please keep this dress code in mind when selecting promotion clothing with your child. School administration has final determination as to what is appropriate for the occasion, and administration will deny entrance should your child choose to dress inappropriately.
Promotion Certificates:
Names will be printed as they appear on the school computer unless otherwise requested by parents. Please contact our office if you would like your child’s name updated.
Day of Promotion: (See more info in the TO DO section above)
Wellness Center
Hello GEMS Community!
As we say goodbye to April showers and hello to May flowers, we wanted to reflect on what we have been working on at the Wellness Center. In April, our mental health theme was Self-Care. Students identified positive sleeping habits, engaged in chalk art to identify their self-care and participated in self-care trivia among other activities! We have also started a worry group that will carry us through the end of the school year.
Last month we had 455 student sign-ins at the GEMS Wellness Center. This includes check-ins, wellness breaks, individual support, and participation in lunch activities! We are thrilled to see our students appropriately utilizing the services and support we offer on our campus. If you have any questions about how we can support one of your students then please reach out to our team.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
As we welcome May, we will focus on the importance of Mental Health Awareness. Promoting mental health interventions helps to strengthen an individual's capacity to regulate emotions, find alternatives to risk-taking behaviors, build resilience for managing adversity, and promotes healthy relationships (WHO, 2021). In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health (CDC, 2021). For further reading on how you can support youth and end mental health stigma please visit NAMI. The Wellness Center will have true/false mental health trivia during lunches and will be handing out positive affirmations to students to kick off the month.
How the GEMS Community Can Help
Every month the WC has a 1,000 piece mindfulness puzzle challenge between each grade level where the winning group earns a prize. Our 7th graders won the puzzle challenge for April! We would love your help to keep this challenge going, we are in need of new or gently used puzzle donations to carry us through the end of the school year! Please reach out to Rigo or Adri in A6 for possible donations.
Have a wonderful May!
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 13). Mental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 24, 2023, fromhttps://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm
World Health Organization. (2021). Mental health of adolescents. World Health Organization. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
Important Dates
- 5/9/23-5/12/23 - SBAC Testing (Math)
- 5/10/23 - APTS Meeting
- 5/16/23-5/19/23 - SBAC Testing (ELA)
- 5/26/23 - Cultural Fair
- 6/7/23 - Promotion Dance
- 6/8/23 - 7th Grade Bowling
- 6/8/23 - Promotion
- 6/9/23 - Last Day Of School
School Communications
ParentSquare Resources for Parents
What is ParentSquare and why do I need to use it?
ParentSquare is the primary method of communication (aside from your standard email and phone call) district and site staff will use to communicate with you! To access your account, log in through your internet browser or download the ParentSquare app. It offers different notification settings, so you are in control of when and how you receive information. Learn how to get started here!
Seeing too many emails? Switch to digest mode by accessing your account and notification settings.
Teach in Western Placer!
Have you been interested in substitute teaching? Starting on January 1, it will be even easier to get your substitute teaching permit - all you need is a bachelor's degree and a desire to work with kids! You can apply to be a substitute with us on Edjoin HERE