GVMS Weekly Update
October 7th, 2019
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: https://gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com/
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS
Weekly Update
GVMS School Community
2019-2020 GVMS Online Club Brochure
GVMS Student Item Drop-off
We have a few considerations to think about as we continue to maximize our expanded 57-minute classes. We are hearing from our teachers that the 57-minutes has improved engagement, opening, and closing of lessons, time to process, and expanded opportunities for student collaboration. In our discussions, we have learned that the number of school-wide announcements and interruptions to the classroom have disrupted the learning environment. In researching the concern, we have approximately 80-100 drop-offs in one day (i.e. gym bags, lunches, homework, instruments, etc.). We will always find a way to feed a student that forgot their lunch. Our teachers will work with you to improve your students' organizational planning for homework and projects.
We kindly and respectfully request that drop-offs are limited to critical needs. We are not calling into rooms or making school-wide announcements that interrupt the flow of instruction. We post all office pick up alerts for students on our TV screens in the cafeteria and hallways as a form of communication. Please note that the TV screens will be updated once a day before all the lunches. Any items dropped off after 10:00 will not show up on the TV announcements. Additionally, limiting the number of drop-offs will better prepare us for our own future front entrance renovation, similar to the high school's front entrance renovation. Thank you so much for your consideration.
Links to Important Information
Early Dismissal Notes
Young Adult Library Access
The GVMS library's book collection is continuing to grow! If you would NOT like your child to check out books from our YA (young adult) section please fill out this form.
https://permission.click/eZbYA/us
If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please contact Mrs. Cleary at clearye@garnetvalley.org.
After School Rachel Kohl Release 2019
We have worked with the Rachel Kohl Library Director, Susan Sternberg, to confirm that our middle school students may be released from our care and walk unsupervised to the Rachel Kohl Library after school or following after school clubs or practices. The Rachel Kohl Library Child Safety Policy and Code of Conduct can be found here:
http://www.kohllibrary.org/child-safety-policy/
If you would like to give your child permission to walk over to Rachel Kohl Library to be picked up, please read, sign, and return the attached form to Mrs. Cleary in the GVMS library.
Thank you for your continued support and we will continue to evaluate our after school guidelines and make improvements to the process if needed. We thank you for your patience and understanding in working with us to ensure our students’ safety.
Letter and Parent Permission Form:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QLhGLRCsOaT7swzuhqxsasG5dA8ewxYC6FYGAG3SQYg/edit?usp=sharing
Raptor Information
The Raptor system is used to enhance our ability to monitor who enters our buildings by screening visitors, contractors, and volunteers. Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system.
If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge.
The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit.
Please adhere to the following regulations:
1. Enter the building at the main office door.
2. Go directly to the office, sign in through Raptor and inform the school secretary of your
destination.
3. PLEASE DO NOT GO to any area of the building without receiving permission from the office.
4. Do not attempt to go to a classroom to pick up a child. Students who are being dismissed early
will be sent to the office.
5. Return the visitor badge at the conclusion of your visit to sign out.
GVMS HSA Information
Upcoming HSA Dates
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
- Monday, 10/14/19 - MOD Pizza Glen Mills = Eat Out All Day & Raise Money for GVMS HSA - 10:30 am - 9:00 pm
- Friday, 10/25/19 - 7th & 8th Grade Halloween Dance 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at GVMS
*GVMS HSA Update *
SAVE THE DATES: Monday, October 14th- Join us at Mod Pizza in Glen Mills on either or both days between 10:30 am and 9:00 pm & mention that you are supporting GVMS HSA! Mod Pizza will donate 20% of all sales throughout the entire day to GVMS HSA! You must mention that you are there for GVMS HSA before you pay for your meal to have the sale count towards our fundraiser!
It's Coming!! The 2019 7th and 8th Grade Halloween Dance is only one month away on Friday, October 25th at 7:00 to 9:00 PM! Keep an eye out for the flyer that will be coming out soon. It will include all of the ghoulish details for this mysterious evening of fun for our students! Start thinking about what you might wear because costumes are encouraged for this amazing event! Please not - no props with costumes and all students must be present in school on Friday.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with Picture Day this year! It definitely would not have gone as smoothly as it did without all of you there to help out!! So a huge thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come volunteer!! We are so grateful for all of you!
If anyone is interested in volunteering for any of our upcoming HSA events, there are endless ways to get involved! Please contact Missy Rosenthal at mmrosenthal@comcast.net or Andrea Romaniello at andrear.ed@hotmail.com for more information on volunteering this year at GVMS with our HSA! Or check out our HSA website at https://sites.google.com/garnetvalley.org/gvmshsa/home for more details!
We love our volunteers!!
Garnet Valley Communities That Care
Garnet Valley CTC Quick Tip #5 Stop Vaping!
The results of the 2013, 2015, and 2017 anonymous Pennsylvania Youth Survey are self-reported and represent 83.9% of our students. Our 2019 PAYS is in process, thank you to the students and parent/caregivers who are supporting this important initiative for our kids!
Did you know? Regular marijuana use on average had decreased from 8.5% in 2013 to 5.2% in 2015, and 5.1% in 2017. However, the average use of marijuana in vapes or put in a Juul cartridge in the form of a wax or oil had increased and surpassed other marijuana use. The average regular use of marijuana in vapes or Juuls in 2015 was 11% and climbed to 18.7 % in 2017.
Vaping or Juuling THC in vapes has been found to be a cause of many serious lung injuries and death in young healthy people nationally. Vaping/ Juuling of other E liquids without THC has been found to be the cause in many cases also.
Call to action… Please click on the links below to learn more including how to talk to your child and family members about the risks of vaping.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS