Jaguar News
Friday, December 3, 2021
Please note that our upcoming PTSA meeting originally scheduled for this coming Wednesday, December 8 at 6:00 pm has been canceled. Instead, PTSA members should be looking for an email from our PTSA president which will outline topics requiring feedback and input. So, in essence our meeting this month will be an email meeting only.
Your participation in previous meetings has provided us with very valuable feedback. As always, we welcome and encourage these periodic thought exchanges. Please mark your calendar for our next in person meeting which will be held on January 19th at 6:00 pm in the Media Center. Hope to see you then. Have a great weekend!
Gentry’s Science Olympiad Team Ready for First Competition
Gentry’s Science Olympiad Team will be jumping into action starting Saturday, December 11th! The team is comprised of 30 amazing students from 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Most of the team members have been preparing since September to compete in 23 different science and engineering events against other schools in both Missouri and beyond.
Their first competition will span the week of December 11th through December 18th, as students will be competing with teams from all over the United States through an on-line format. Most students will be competing along with a partner in events spanning from Anatomy and Physiology to Diseases to Rocks and Minerals.
This will be the first of 3 virtual competitions that the Jaguars will be participating in as they prepare for the Missouri Region 5 competition on Saturday, February 19th in Rolla, Missouri. If the Jags place in the top four at regionals, they earn a place at the State competition to be held in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday, April 9th.
Go Jaguars!
Science Olympiad Team Members In Action
Notes From Guidance
Our guidance counselors will present information to 6th-8th grade classrooms on Tolerance every Monday throughout the month of December. Please take some time to discuss tolerance with your student and how being a tolerant person can make our community, school and home a better place.
Attention Eight Grade Parents: Our guidance team will begin the Rising 9th Grade Transition to High School starting December 6th-December 15th. Completing the Individual Career and Academic Plan will be the first task of this process. Parents can view the ICAP from their student's Schoology Course- Class of 2026. The Columbia Area Career Center (CACC) will also be mailing catalogs home to all current 8th grader students. The CACC will also host a Career Showcase, January 20th from 5:30-6:45. Be looking for further details and information in the coming weeks.
Shout Outs
Our Guidance Department's Shout Out Board filled up fast over the past two weeks! This board is used for GMS teachers to recognize our students who demonstrate characteristics outlined in the JAGS Matrix. Pictured below is our second round of 6th-8th grade award recipients. Go Jaguars!
J (Just Be Responsible)
A (Always Respectful)
G (Give Knowledge)
S (Stay Safe)
Spring Musical
Media Center Minute
A Gentry Tradition just got bigger this November. Since the school opened in 1994, we have always celebrated Thanksgiving Week with Stop, Drop and Read throughout the school. Students, faculty and staff have designated times at school during the week where everyone reads and is encouraged to finish reading their book over Thanksgiving break.
This year, the Gentry Media Center took it to another level by adding in a Read-a-Thon for all Gentry Students, running November 22 – December 6th. The week started with the Mystery Reader Contest. Students were offered a fun quiz where teachers had dressed up in disguises and were reading a book. They had to guess which teachers were in the disguises. For those who guessed all teachers correctly, their name was put in a drawing for prizes donated by the PTSA. Winners had their choice of gift cards from Target, Hot Topic and Chick Fil-a.
The Read-a-thon offers students prizes for reading and donations to the media center. Students are encouraged to log their minutes through the Read-a-thon website and a goal was set of 25,000 minutes for the school. Over 200 students voluntarily participated in the Read-a-Thon and over $600 has been donated for new books to the Gentry Media Center to date. Students who signed up were awarded popcorn at lunch as a prize for their participation as well as other prizes depending on their level of participation. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the focus on reading. Donations to the Gentry Media Center will continue to be accepted through the Read-a-thon until December 15th at https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/mIlBXq and using teacher name Spurling.
Nurse's Notes
Mobile Dental Services at West Middle School
CPS has partnered with Compass Health Dental Services to provide preventative Mobile Dental Services at West Middle School. This will be offered twice each month throughout the school year. The first clinics will be held on Thursday, December 9 and 16 from 7:30-2:30 pm. Services that will be provided include: exams, x-rays, sealants, fluoride and cleanings. Please see the flyer below for further details.
Student Absences
As the holiday season approaches and students begin traveling near and far to be with family and friends, please be sure that you contact the main office at 214-3240 or email Kelly Harrison at kharrison@cpsk12.org to report your child's absence. Thank you!
RB Girls Softball Program- Student Informational Meeting on Thursday, December 9
Hello, I am RB Softball Head Coach Lisa Alvis. I am excited to meet the future Bruins who are interested in playing softball in the fall of 2022. I will be hosting a Student Informational Meeting on Thursday, December 9 in the Gentry upstairs commons from 7:05 am-7:25 am. The goal of my meeting is to show my face so our student-athletes know who I am and give them information about the off-season.
We will start off-season workouts January 3rd at Rock Bridge and they will be supervised by me. If your student-athlete is currently participating (which I encourage) in a Winter sport or will be participating in a Spring sport then they are not eligible to attend our off-season workouts until their current sport concludes. These off-season workouts are not mandatory, but help us maintain that competitive edge and continue to build on the success this program is having and will continue to have. These workouts also allow your student-athlete to meet other members on the team before even stepping foot on the field, which I believe helps with overall team cohesiveness. Lastly, your student-athletes will benefit from getting acclimated with the building and will potentially help with the transition from middle school to high school and the larger setting. Hope to see them there!
December Secondary School Lunch Menu
In Time for The Holidays
HoneyBaked Ham, Co. will donate 20% of all gift cards sold to GMS. Thinking of spending less time in the kitchen this holiday season? Think HoneyBaked Ham gift card! Pondering holiday gifts? Think HoneyBaked Ham gift cards! Considering what to serve for your holiday meal? Think HoneyBaked Ham gift card! It's a win-win for everyone. Click here for further details and to place an order anytime between now and January 8, 2022. Thanks for your support!
Future Dates to Remember
12/7- 6th-8th Grade Winter Orchestra Concert @ 7:00 pm in the Cafetorium
12/8- Archery Practice Begins
12/8- PTSA Meeting -Canceled!
12/10-6th-8th Grade Winter Choir Concert @ 6:30 in the Cafetorium
12/13- 8th Band Concert @ 7:00 pm @ RBHS PAC Center
12/22-12/31- School Not in Session Due to Winter Break
1/3- School Not in Session Due to a Teacher Work Day
1/7- Interim Progress Reports Available on Home Access
1/7- RBHS AVID Student Presentation
1/13- Incoming 6th Grade Student Instrument Enrollment Night @ 6:00 pm
1/17- School Not in Session Due to MLK Day
1/19- PTSA Meeting in the Media Center @ 6:00 pm
1/25- Early (12:05) Student Dismissal
Josh Johnson, Principal
Email: Josjohnson@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/17
Location: 4200 Bethel Street, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: (573) 214-3240