Gladiator News
Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School
April 25-29, 2016
Your child should have brought home their report card, course selections for 16-17 (6/7 graders), and 8th grade STAAR scores for you to review. If you have not seen them yet, have them show you these important materials.
Our GT students have spent the year working on a research topic of their choice. They showcased their work this week to fellow students, parents, community members, and staff. 6th and 7th grade was showcased in the library and front foyer. Participants were able to walk around and view the projects and ask questions about the research. The projects were impressive and highlighted a bit about the student's personality since they were able to select a topic they were passionate about. The students were excited and willing to answer questions about their project and did an outstanding job presenting their research.
8th grade presentations were showcased through a symposium style. This was the first year to present them in this style. Students presented their information utilizing technology and answered any questions the audience members had about their research. Students looked and sounded well prepared; they were outstanding. Thanks to Katherine Rodriguez for coordinating all the logistics for this new style of presenting. If you missed the 8th grade presentations, contact your child's GT teacher for information on how to view their recorded presentation.
All of our GT students and teachers have worked hard this year on their project! Thanks to the following teachers for making the GT Expo a success: Caron Corum, Malena Weil, Katherine Rodriguez, Alicia Aleman, Kimberly Patmon, Anjelica Espinosa, Isaac Esquivel, Matt Hinchman, and Shelley Beck. Job well done!
We have two big events coming up for our 8th grade students: a dance (May 6) and field day (May 27)! If you are able to assist with either of these events, please sign up by clicking on the links below.
DANCE: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e054cafa62da46-8thgrade1
FIELD DAY: https://goo.gl/aZeQiM
Has your child been missing an article or two of clothing? If so, have them check our lost and found in the cafeteria. It continues to be loaded with clothing items. (See photo below) The awesome rack holding these items were built by a few of our 8th grade boys in Mr. Torres' IT Production class!
Enjoy the Gladiator Games highlight video produced by our 6th grade counselor, Julie Minnis! (See link below)
Please consider recognizing our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week: May 2-6. I know they would be appreciative!
It's a GREAT day to be a Gladiator!
Tracy Wernli
Principal
Gladiator Golf
The Gladiator Golf season closed with the End of Year Tournaments. On April 4th the seventh grade boys and girls teams competed and BOTH teams came home as the Tournament Champions. Results for the boys were: Alec Escamilla, 8th place; Trey Forestier, 3rd place and Thomas Worrich took the individual championship with a 37. The girls' results were: Rachel Barnett 5th place; Jordan McCullough, 2nd place and the first place individual champion was Mariana Reyes-Cristobal with a 41.
The 8th grade team participated in their End of Year tournament on April 12th and once again the Gladiator golfers had a fantastic showing. For the girls: Tori Baker placed 8th; Makenna Suckow placed 3rd; Izzy Johnson placed 2nd and the winner with 35 was Emma McMyler. Her 35 tied the girls district record AND was the lowest score in all the classifications this year! Congratulations to Emma!
Combined, the 8th grade girls finished as the Champions of the tournament.
The 8th grade boys had Will Anderson place in a tie for 6th place; Santiago Gutierrez tied for 4th place and Conor McCary was the lowest scoring Gladiator golfer shooting a 39 and coming in 3rd place. As a team they combined to be the Tournament runners-up.
In summary: 3 Championships and a Second place for Garcia Golf! Great Season! Thanks to Coach Alaniz for his work with the golf team this year! Great job!
Upcoming Events
Monday, April 25, 2016
*Art Fest All Week
*Math Club 3:50 p.m. (C122)
*Intramurals 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
*Volunteer Luncheon 11:30-1:00 p.m.
*T. Arts Play (2nd/3rd period)
*Intramurals 3:50 p.m.
*Arena 3:50 p.m.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
*Art Club 3:50 p.m. (B112)
*Cupcake Club 3:50 p.m. (B113)
*Garden Club 3:45 p.m.
*Student Council 3:45 p.m. (C146)
*Robotics 3:45 p.m. (C115)
*Panoramic Pictures for 8th grade
*Secretary’s Day
Thursday, April 28, 2016
*Math Club 7:40 (C122)
*Arena
Friday, April 29, 2016
*Math Club 7:40/3:50 (C122)
*Fine Arts to Fiesta Texas
Panoramic Picture
LOST AND FOUND - LOCATED IN THE CAFETERIA
Rwanda Experience
Our Garcia Gladiators were privileged to meet Jennifer Gold and Grace Spell on Tuesday during our 8th grade presentation. After having served as a pastor in a church for nine years, Rev. Jennifer Gold now serves as the Director of Commission Expeditions and leads short-term international mission trips. Grace Spell is a full-time missionary and has been leading teams around the world for 14 years. She serves as the President of Commission Expeditions. Together, Jennifer and Grace have been to Rwanda 5 times and spoke to our students about the Rwandan Genocide and the things they have learned through conversations with those who survived it. In addition to the overview, our presenters also discussed the relationships they have built, and the lessons they have learned throughout the time they spent during their mission trips.
In addition to informing us about their experiences, they were able to share inspirational stories about the different people they have met. Enthralled by the personal stories they recounted of survival, strength, and hope, our students sat in awe of the atrocities that have occurred so recently in the history of our world. Not only did our speaker provide a rich account of the genocide that encountered in Rwanda, they made the experience relatable and pertinent to our students.
They were an inspiration to us all and left us with some advice about the power of forgiveness. If Rwandans, despite their unimaginable suffering, can rise above through forgiveness and service to others, surely we can re-evaluate our priorities in order to do the same. The strong message of turning times of struggle into opportunities for hope to thrive was clear and profound. Together with our presentation from Rose Williams, our students have been gifted with priceless accounts and experiences that will help bring life to our Holocaust and World Genocide units of study. We are grateful for their presentation and privileged to have had the opportunity to learn about and from their experiences.
Written by Regenna Mendoza, 8th grade ELA Teacher
Pictured: Jennifer Gold, NJHS President- Emily Howell, and Grace Spell
HGMS Information
Email: Tracy.Wernli@nisd.net
Website: www.nisd.net/garcia
Location: 14900 Kyle Seale Parkway, San Antonio, TX, United States
Phone: 210-397-8400
Facebook: facebook.com/HGMSPTA
Twitter: @NISDGarcia