Pony Express
Connecting the GMS family in one place
Principal's Message
I hope this newsletter finds you well. The weeks are flying by and soon it will be October! Can you believe it? Our athletic groups are well into competition and our students are working hard in their classes. I attended our 8th grade football games this week and was really proud of our coaches and players and the effort exhibited. We should have a promising season!
This upcoming week, we will be hosting our first pep rally on Friday, Sept. 22nd. Next week should be a fun week. I've started going into classrooms and have seen some great instruction and students working hard. Progress reports became available this week so parents can monitor student progress. Don't forget that we are on a nine week grading schedule so there is plenty of time to improve grades. Please continue to be encouraging and reach out to teachers if you have questions.
Here are important things you need to know:
1. GMS is partnering with Keep Grapevine Beautiful and Grapevine Parks and Recreation to bring their annual Trash to Treasure event to GMS on October 7th! We NEED volunteers! We will be cleaning up the grassy area and creek between the teacher parking lot and the tennis courts. Did you know that there is a former classroom in there? Our goal is to create a living classroom for our students and community! GMS STEM and AVID are working together to bring volunteers to help with the year long project that kicks off this week. Our goal is for our STEM and Science students to utilize the space to learn more about the environment and to create a place other classes can use to foster their learning as well. See the flyer towards the bottom of this S'more for more details about how you can help! It's an exciting opportunity to extend to our awesome community.
2. On Oct. 27th, we have an exciting day planned for students (more details coming later). If you have Super Hero costumes that you'd like to get rid of or donate new Super Hero costumes, we would really appreciate it. Please bring your costumes up to the front office beginning next week through Oct. 23rd.
3. Parents, thanks for your help! Trash pick up during lunches has been better. Please keep talking to your children about being good citizens and friends. We can do this together!
4. In an effort to save paper, progress reports are available through Skyward.
5. Today, we had visitors from our "sister school" in Scotland! They loved seeing our Learning Commons and talking to our students. EVERY parent would have been SO proud at the students that enjoyed the visit. They were gracious hosts! Great job showing our visitors OUR HOUSE!
6. We are always looking to keep our kids safe on campus. Bullying is something that will not be tolerated. We want to make you aware of a new law that went into effect on September 1st here in the State of Texas: David's Law. Our staff has been trained on David's Law and our district process to identify and support students that are being bullied. Stopping bullying starts at home. I've had the opportunity to talk to some students about David's Law. Here's a link to read about the new law here: http://www.davidslegacy.org/
As always, thank you all for your support. Educating and taking care of our ponies is everyone's job. We always appreciate your help! #OurHouseGMS
Principal Laura Koehler
We are FAMILY! This is OUR HOUSE! Great students come from GREAT FAMILIES!
Scotland Visitors
8th grade Football
Lunch Time Karoake
Clinic News
Dear Parents of Students who use an Inhaler or Epi Pen.
A yearly doctor and parent signed medication permission form is to be turned into the RN Clinic prior to your student bringing their medication to school. The nurse is now collecting these permission forms for the entire year.
A prescription label must be on the medication for easy identification.
If you cannot find your medication permission form, please contact Nurse Jansen and one will be provided. 817-251-5667. connie.jansen@gcisd.net
Counseling
Our Counselor Corral:
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/cms/lib4/TX01000829/Centricity/Domain/73/Sept 2017 Counseling Corral.pdf
S.O.S. (Signs of Suicide)
Students at GMS will see the S.O.S. presentation on these dates:
6th grade--Sept 11 or 14
7th grade--Sept 20
8th grade--Sept 25 or 28
Parents can find the S.O.S. videos for home-viewing, as well as the Opt-out forms at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/38638
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Aim for Success:
Aim for Success is an age-appropriate presentation that challenges students to focus on their dreams and goals and to save sex for marriage. More information can be found at www.aimforsuccess.org
Students at GMS will see the Aim for Success presentation on these dates:
6th grade--Feb 7, 2018
8th grade--Nov 29, 2017
Parents will find the opt-out here:
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Play It Safe:
Play It Safe is a multi-session curriculum about healthy relationships. It is presented by The Women’s Center.
Students at GMS will see the Play It Safe presentation on these dates:
6th grade-- Nov 1 and March 22
7th grade--Oct 12, Nov 9, and Feb 28
Parents can preview the program at the Administration Building on Sept 28. An opt-out will be available.
PTA
- GMS PTA membership is off to a great start this year! As of September 15, we have 248 members! Our goal for September is 295 members. PTA memberships are $10. You can join online at www.joinpta.org or you can print & return the membership form to the GMS front office. Joining PTA does not require you to volunteer. Member benefits include discounts for Dell, HP, Great Wolf Lodge, La Quinta, Six Flags, Schlitterbahn, Texas Rangers and more. We have many fun events scheduled this year: 6th grade cotillion, 7th grade winter dance, 8th grade dance and much more. Thank you for supporting GMS PTA!
- Have you been collecting Box Tops over the summer? We earn 10 cents for each Box Top turned in and it really adds up. You can turn in Box Tops to your teacher or in the front office. Be sure to include your name and grade to be entered in the gift card drawing. For a list of participating products click here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products
- Our World Wear Project collection bin is located outside near the gym entrance. Please donate your used shoes, clothing, purses, belts, caps, backpacks, hard toys, stuffed animals, and pots & pans into the World Wear Project bin. 100% of the items collected will either be reused or recycled. This not only helps our landfills, but also those who are in need.
- GMS PTA website and Facebook page: http://grapevinemiddlepta.wixsite.com/gmspta
https://www.facebook.com/Grapevine-Middle-School-PTA-102473876475990/
STEM
Thank you to the Booster club for helping to cover the cost of the Fossil Fest experience for the 6th and 7th graders. We enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this community event.
The CR Smith American Airlines Museum has been a great partner with our STEM program. They are hosting a Family STEM Night on Sept, 28th from 5:00-8:00. Please see the link attached. CR Smith Family Night
This week in STEM Cause and Effect students were making bridges. (see pics below)
Seventh grade students designed Hurricane resistant structures. They did a great job iterating their design based on criteria and constraints! (see pics below)
Grapevine Middle School will be partnering with Grapevine Parks and Rec and Keep Grapevine Beautiful for a Trash to Treasures event on Oct. 7th. On this day, we will work to clean up and restore the Outdoor Learning Classroom on our campus. We will be working to clear out over grown trees and debris. We would love for you to join us and help reclaim this area for our campus community. This event will take place on Saturday, Oct 7th from 9:00-12:00. Please see information below.
Calendar update: Wednesday, Sept 20th will be a C day for all STEM students.
STEM Cause and Effect
7th Grade STEM
Designing
AVID
Hey AVID Families! Check out our Facebook page for class updates, pictures and more!
Planners for Sale!
Does your Student need an academic planner? AVID is selling them for $6. Students can bring cash or check (to GMS) to Mrs. Shepherd in room C106. We only have a limited quantity available!
Please look here for information on our upcoming Trash and Treasures cleaning day!
GMS AVID has paired up with the city of Grapevine to set up a morning trash clean up on the GMS campus on October 7th from 9am-11:30pm! Lunch will be served following the cleanup. We would love for all of our GMS AVID students and families to attend, but the event is open to all GMS students.
Find Current Community Service Opportunities here!
Fine Arts
Band:
Yearbook:
Parents, you can still order your child's pictures online at mylifetouch.com. The Picture Day ID is DO317084Q0
Dual Language
We are so excited that our Spanish IV AP Dual Language Spring Break 2018 trip to Puerto Rico was confirmed this week! Our 8th grade Dual Language classes are in the process of fundraising and we have created a page to accept donations. If you feel led to donate, please use the following link to do so: https://www.gofundme.com/gms-dual-language-puerto-rico-trip
Our 8th graders are starting the process of planning fundraising events, so we will update you as soon as the information becomes available.
Boys/Girls Athletics
Click on this link to find our boy's athletic schedules: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/2689
Click on this link to find our girl's athletic schedules: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/2690
Grapevine Middle School
Email: Laura.koehler@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1029
Location: 301 Pony Parkway, Grapevine, TX, United States
Phone: 817-251-5660
Facebook: facebook.com/GrapevineMiddleSchool
Twitter: @grapevinemiddle