Your Guardsman Update...
May 2017
"Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest."
Note to Parents
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The end of the school year is just around the corner. I hope your child has not only enjoyed the year but has continued to grow in many areas. This has been an outstanding year at Grissom, one that has resulted in many success stories as well as academic and athletic triumphs. Through the year I have had many opportunities to see our children achieve at their goals and embrace challenges that arise. We are truly proud of our Grissom kids and are confident they will finish the year with outstanding Grissom PRIDE! As we enter the month of May and Teacher Appreciation Week, I am reminded of two important words, thank you. In my opinion, these two important words are not shared with others enough, so I am asking you as Grissom parents to think of someone in the building you could reach out to and share a simple “Thank You." It could be with anyone that has had an impact on your child or your life. In life we are met with many chances to show our appreciation, for this we should be reflective and show thanks for those who have helped guide us along our journey.
Which is why I would like to thank each of you who volunteered this year or have helped in the school in any way! Schools rely upon their communities to support them, without the various support efforts of each and every one of you; we would not be able to continue to offer our students the myriad of opportunities that we have this year. I have often said, our children continue to be academically, socially and emotionally richer because of the efforts of so many of you. Thank you so very much!
Best wishes for a peaceful, safe and fun summer. We look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Sincerely,
Nathan Boyd,
Principal
SPRING PORTAITS
Feel free to bring in any fun/school appropriate props to help bring your school pictures to life!
Click here (https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/17868PA)
to purchase your pictures online today!
IMPORTANT DATES AND INFO:
- Running is Elementary, event is scheduled for Mon., May 1 (reminder that if necessary the Rain Day is Wed., May 3; if the decision is made to postpone: it will be made by Noon on Monday and will be communicated first on the District website and social media, we will also try to place alerts on the 11 elementary websites)
- May-June 7 breakfast & lunch menus are now posted online at
- https://www.phmschools.org/school-menus
- A listing of all PHM summer camps:
- https://www.phmschools.org/summer2017
- Other community events, activities & summer camps:
- https://www.phmschools.org/community-events-activities
Dear Parents,
P-H-M Counselors have been made aware of a new Netflix show "13 Reasons Why." The story is about a high school student who dies by suicide and then leaves a message blaming the people close to her for her death. Mental health experts nationwide have expressed concerns that the program glorifies suicide and leaves survivors with the idea that it is their fault if a loved one completes suicide.
We want the parents of our 4th-8th grade students, along with Penn High School parents, to be aware of this television program and give you resources to use if your son or daughter watches the show and needs to process its content. We have loaded "13 Reasons Why" talking points to the District website that you can use when discussing with your child:
https://www.phmschools.org/sites/phmschools.org/files/13rw_talking_points_final.pdf
Remember that talking about suicide doesn't cause suicide. Making connections and showing people we care reduces isolation that may contribute to suicide ideation. Please remember that the counselors at all our schools are available to talk to your son or daughter and parents if you or they need help.
We also have many resources on the District website that can help parents and students. Please visit www.phmschools.org/lifelines.
Thank you,
Nathan Boyd
EUROPE 2018
We have secured a date for the Europe 2018 parent info night.
Please join us at Grissom on
Wednesday, May 10th at 5:00pm in the Cafeteria
Upcoming Field Trips for 6th and 7th Grade:
If you are interested in chaperoning, please complete the following 2 forms and return them to the main office as soon as possible (both forms must be complete in order to process, spaces are limited).
1. Criminal Background Check
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzL3PgpSN2z0ZFZlczdHc0NTUVk/view?usp=sharing
2. Volunteer Intake Form
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzL3PgpSN2z0M2FLRHRUbHFkSUk/view?usp=sharing
6th Grade
Students will go to Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan.
Date: June 1, 2017
Depart: 9:10am
Return: 2:00pm
Lunch: Included on site
Cost: $15.00 per student / $25.00 per adult chaperone
Chaperones will be needed
7th Grade
Students will go to the Ft. Wayne Zoo (Voted one of the best in Indiana)
Date: June 5, 2017
Depart: 9:10am
Return: 3:30pm
Lunch: Students will need to pack
Cost: $6.00 per student / $7.00 per adult chaperone
Chaperones will be needed
Final Notes...
The last PTO meeting for this year will be held on
Monday, May 22, 2017
We are still accepting nominations for President and Vice President for next school year.
Thank you to all who have donated your time or items to help make
Teacher Appreciation Week special for our Grissom teachers!
ORCHESTRA NOTES:
Practice Journal Spreadsheets - have transferred to
PRACTICE JOURNAL VIDEO RECORDINGS of assigned measures.
Students must email a video recording of the Practice Journal Assignment measures indicated in class - FOR A GRADE.
Practice Journal Video Recordings are due on Mondays as were the written spreadsheets.
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The Spring Concert is coming!!!!
Spring Orchestra Concert is May 25 - is required of all students, grades 6, 7 and 8.
Additional details will be sent home at a later time.
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The music will be fun and some a little challenging. Are audience members are encouraged to stay and listen to all students as we will have a Grand Finale with all orchestra students playing 3 pieces together at the end.
Scheduling Calendar for 8th Grade Students
8th graders have met with their school counselor, and submitted their freshman year course requests to Penn High School.
The following dates apply to students participating in Summer School, at Penn High School:
Session I: June 12th-June 30th, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Session II: July 10th-July 28th, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
5th Grade Orientation Activities
For 5th Grade Students - Tour Dates:
Elm Road
- Tuesday, May 16, 9:15am - 11:15am
- Thursday, May 18, 11:00am - 1:00pm
- Thursday, May 25, 9:15am - 11:15am
- Thursday, May 25, 9:15am - 11:15am
For 5th Grade Students and Parents:
Open House at Grissom
- Thursday, June 1, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
21st Century Scholars
-Prepare -Plan -Pay for College!
Parents of 7th and 8th graders are encouraged to visit the website of Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program, Scholars.IN.gov.This website will provide information, eligibility requirements, and instructions to complete the online application for the program.
How to use Grissom’s new eBooks
Your login is student ID initials
Your password is student ID phm
Begin your title searchSummer Reading Programs
Click below for more information!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embYBY6ea1g&feature=youtu.be
Box Tops for Education
Please continue to send your labels our way!
Grissom Food Pantry
D.C./Gettysburg Update-The Final Note...or is it?
Our final and mandatory meeting for the DC trip is
Monday, May 15th at 7:00 pm
GMS Cafeteria
Emergency information will be collected that evening so make sure you bring a pen or pencil for the final paperwork. Vital information will be shared that night and we can't wait to see you!
We will not yet know about a White House appointment, but we will continue to keep our fingers crossed. We do have a packed itinerary and are looking forward to a wonderful and highly educational trip! See you in May!
Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Kummeth
Kummeth Science
The sixth grade will continue to work in the unit of Energy this month. It is a very fun unit because students are involved in designing investigations, and identifying how energy transfers and transforms. We will also learn about the Conservation of Energy, conductors and insulators. This unit is very hands-on and it is very important that students are in attendance for the activities. These activities are very difficult to make up or understand without living them.
As we wrap up this unit we will begin an intensive review of the year in preparation for the ECA (End of Course Assessment). This test is very important and will help to drive curriculum decisions in the future. It is essential that students take their ECA's as seriously as the ISTEP.
As parents, it is important that we remind/encourage our children to stay focused on school. We all know that they are tired, and restless and ready for a change. However, we all need to continue to give our best everyday. We need to be the best person and best learner we can be right up to the very end. The end is not until June 7th. You can help the teachers by making sure your child is fed, rested and ready to learn daily. (Necessary supplies such as pencils, paper, and textbooks) Please continue to support the education of all children!
Looking forward to a lot of “May flowers!”
Mrs. Kummeth
Important Information from the Health Office
Notifications will be mailed out in May reminding an adult to pick up medication that was stored at school for your student. Daily medications and emergency medications will be disposed of by the end of the day on the last day of school unless other arrangements are made with the health office. Other medications (cough drops, cold medicine, Advil, Tylenol, etc.) will be disposed of on June 2nd, unless other arrangements are made with the health office.
If your student has an Individualized Health Plan, copies of that plan will be mailed home. Please look it over and make any revisions for school year 2017-2018. Please make sure that this is returned to the health office by the start of school year 2017-2018 so that we can adequately care for your student.
If your student will require any additional vaccines, you will be notified via a letter. Please make sure that those are taken care of as soon as possible in order to prevent any interruption of your student’s education in the fall of 2017.
Please note:
Current 5th grade students: to enter the 6th grade in August, you must have a Tdap and meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine BEFORE the first day of school August 23, 2017. It is a recommendation that you also have 2 Hepatitis A vaccines.
Current 11th grade students: to enter 12th grade in August, you must have a meningococcal (MCV4) booster BEFORE the first day of school August 23, 2017. It is a recommendation that you also have 2 Hepatitis A vaccines and a Meningococcal B vaccine.
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Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3:
3 Hep B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella, 2 Hep A
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Grades 4-5:
3 Hep B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella
*2 Hep A are recommended
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Grades 6-11:
3 Hep B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella, 1 Tdap, 1 MCV4
*2 Hep A are recommended
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Grade 12:
3 Hep B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella, 1 Tdap, 2 MCV4
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Registration Now Open for 2017 P-H-M Silver Mile
Registration is down significantly this year; the event is this coming Sat., May 6;
online registration & payment available at http://www.phmef.org/silver-mile/
Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual Silver Mile Run for Education & Health and Fitness Fair, hosted by the P-H-M Education Foundation. This popular fun-filled family event will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 8:30 a.m. – Noon at Penn High School.
The Run for Education includes a 5K Run/Walk, festive Fun Walk around the Penn High School campus and a Timed Mile Run on TCU Freed Field Track. All events start and finish on the Penn High School track, with finisher medals to all student-age participants. Cost to participate ranges from $12-$45 depending on the event.
Head inside Penn High School after your run, walk or stroll, and stop by the Health Fair, Summer Family Fitness Expo and the Silver Mile Silent Auction. The Silver Mile also features select talent from several P-H-M student groups, tours of the Penn Robotics lab and Art Gallery, Penn Summer Camp registration and much more. What a great way to kick off Spring and connect with our amazing community!
All proceeds benefit the P-H-M Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support excellence in education in all 15 P-H-M schools by awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.
Grissom Sports Physicals
Grissom will be holding sports physicals on May 11th from 8:00am to 9:00am in the gym.
The fee is 20$ per athlete. Please note that all physicals for next year must be dated after May 1st, 2017.
ATTENTION 5TH GRADE PARENTS:
5th grade students completing physicals to use in the fall will be seen first that morning to help save time when returning to school.
Click on the link below for the 2017-2018 Middle School Physical Forms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzL3PgpSN2z0TjdNd3FHd2ExR2M/view?usp=sharing
Tri Kappa Awards at Penn High School
WINNERS!
6th Grade
- Olivia Love
7th Grade
- Ian Eldred
- Quetzal Villegas
8th Grade
- Jin Jang
- Emma Caseel
Reminder: The Bethel Art Show will be this month. Please come see the wonderful work our students are creating in this community venue. Participants will be given a letter notifying them of their participation and information about the upcoming opening event for the show.
Give Local Day Promotion:
In an effort to contribute to this event, we are selling phone slings that have been designed specifically for your school! Both Grissom and Penn High School slings will be sold in the Grissom office.
You can purchase your own Grissom or Penn sling for a 10$ donation. Each additional sling is a 5$ donation. Checks can be made to the PHMEF (PHM Education Foundation); cash is also accepted.
Limited time/while supplies last!
For Your Safety...
Upon entering the building, all parents and visitors must present a valid government issued ID, military ID, or passport which will be scanned in by our security system. This will generate a nametag. Parents and visitors must wear this office-issued nametag while in the building. These nametags must be collected at the time of departure.
Thank you for helping us to keep our school safe by following this simple procedure. Your children are our first priority!
FOLLOW US!
Email: nboyd@phm.k12.in.us
Website: https://grissom.phmschools.org/
Location: 13881 Kern Road, Mishawaka, IN, United States
Phone: (574) 968-9628
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgil-I-Grissom-MiddleSchool/291749927681507?fref=ts&rf=472089909509579
Twitter: @1GoodBetterBest