Your Guardsmen Update
September 2017
"Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest."
Note to Parents
I am excited that we have had the opportunity to open doors for our students for the past 13 days of school. It is even more exciting to think of how many other chances we will have as a Grissom family to "Open a Door" for our students. "Open a Door" is our theme for Grissom Middle School this year. This theme is all about one word, opportunities! We believe and recognize that all students have the ability to learn. It is then our job to provide them with opportunities along with their abilities to learn.
In order to provide all the opportunities students need to reach their best, it will require the efforts of students, teachers, and families working together. I am proud of the varied experiences each of our students has access to from great classroom instruction, fine arts, athletics, clubs, and leadership groups. Our staff has been doing a great job building community and helping students feel safe in their classrooms. As we approach the first month of school and get into a routine, we look forward to hearing from you about how to best support your children. Thank you entrusting and working with us to open doors this year!
Sincerely,
Jean Milfort
Principal
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
Absences: If your child is going to be absent or late, a parent must call in to the attendance line by 11:00am on the day of the absence. If no call is made, the school will contact you to verify.
Planned Absences (2+ days): Any absence exceeding two planned days will require a planned absence form. Please have your child see Mrs. VanPoppel in the main office for this.
Early Dismissal: If you need to excuse your child during normal school hours, please send a note stating what time you plan on picking them up. Remind them that this note must be handed into the office first thing in the morning so they can receive their pass excusing them from class at the appropriate time.
Bus Notes: Students will ride only assigned school buses and will board and depart from the bus at their designated bus stops. A change in a student's assigned bus route may be granted for a special need but is highly discouraged. A note from a parent must be submitted to the school stating the reason for the request and the duration of the change. If a student is going to a friend’s house the friend’s parent must also submit a note for verification. The school office and the Transportation Center must approve these changes.
Attendance Line: (574) 968-9628, Option 1
EMERGENCY CARDS
If you need another copy of your emergency card, please contact the main office and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you!
SAY CHEESE!!
Picture day will be on
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Want to receive picture day notifications and reminders?
Sign up using the link below!
Questions? We've got answers!
HOW CAN I ORDER ONLINE? Ordering online is easy! Visit inter-state.com/order and enter the order code for Grissom to continue. This code will be given out a couple weeks before picture day. Online ordering allows you to choose between more options and styles to further personalize your child's portrait.
CAN I ORDER ADDITIONAL PRINTS? Of course! Additional prints are available through our online ordering process. Included in your package will be a reorder slip that contains your child's order code.
HOW LONG DO THEY KEEP YOUR IMAGES ON FILE? Images stay on file for approximately 18 months. This allows parents the opportunity to order additional prints.
WHEN WILL MY ORDER SHIP? Orders placed prior to picture day will be shipped to the school approximately 3 weeks after picture day. Orders
Look for more information coming home soon!
IMPORTANT DATES AND INFO:
- NJHS First Meeting for All Members is on Wednesday, September 13th at 8:00am
- Activity Bus Starts on Monday, September 18th.
- PTO Meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 4:15pm in the IMC.
- Grissom Open House Wednesday, September 20th. Followed by the 8th Grade Mandatory Washington D.C. Meeting at 7pm in the cafeteria.
We need parent help in the concession stand. It is a great way to raise money for student activities and get to know other Grissom Families!
Email our concession coordinator at GMSconcessions@gmail.com to find out how!
There are also other opportunities to assist the PTO such as donating soda and water to the concession stands, participating in restaurant "give back" nights, chaperoning school socials, and many more! If you are interested, reach out to grissompto@gmail.com or find the PTO table at the Open House on September 20!
Upcoming PTO events to mark on your calendar:
Hacienda Give Back Night will occur on September 14th at south side Hacienda off of Miami and Ireland Rd. Your students will be bringing home information about the opportunity to purchase gift cards for future use, if you cannot attend the event.
Next PTO Meeting on September 19th at 4:15pm - Grissom's IMC
PTO Volunteer Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedIXaCDodcAht1CyTygal8IdOVZJMiUVp62UCQl3dBN3QF4w/viewform
Welcome back everyone and a special welcome to our newest Grissom families!
We hope you had a fun and relaxing summer vacation. This school year is already off to a great start! Our sixth graders have been transitioning well and are getting to know their way around the building. In the coming months, counselors will provide sixth grade students with a series of short lessons to continue their success through middle school. Keep an eye on Canvas for these two lessons to come out.
We are very excited to continue meeting with and providing programs to seventh and eighth graders this year as well. Canvas provides a great opportunity for resources from our PAC (Personal Advocacy Center) Office. Every GMS student has a graduating class (ex: Class of 2023) both you and your student can access. Please let us know if you need any assistance.
You can also check out our website for more resources.
With your students in mind,
Mary Reynolds (last names A-K): mreynolds2@phm.k12.in.us
Sheri Miller (last names L-Z): smiller@phm.k12.in.us
Melissa Welsch (YSB Counselor): mwelsch@phm.k12.in.us
Indiana’s 21 Century Scholars Program
Helps Students
Prepare – Plan – Pay
For College
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parents of students in 7th and 8th grade are encouraged to visit the website of Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program at Scholars.IN.gov for information, eligibility requirements, and instructions to complete the online application for the program.
For income-eligible Hoosier students, the 21st Century Scholars Program offers tuition assistance, college and career readiness through the Scholars Success Program, and other support services. Application deadline is June 30, of the student’s 8th grade year.
Visit Scholars.IN.gov or contact your child’s GMS school counselor for more information.
Six Ways to Encourage and Develop Positive Social Skills
Spend time with your child. Time together provides opportunities to ask questions, as well as actively listen to your child’s responses. Not only will you learn more about them as an individual, you’ll be modeling how to show care and concern for another person.
Ask about your child’s interactions with others. Teachers observe children while participating in a variety of activities. Ask your child’s teachers how they’re doing with teamwork, collaboration, as well as their level of courtesy for peers and adults.
Show your child how to problem solve. Talk them through decision-making processes that take into consideration people who could be affected. For example, if your child wants to quit an activity, such as a sport, help them verbalize the reason why and consider how their decision affects others. Discuss if quitting will really solve the problem.
Expressing gratitude is important. People who regularly express gratitude are more likely to be helpful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving – and they’re more likely to be happy and healthy. Assigning your child chores helps reinforce the importance of their contribution to the family and appreciation for their home.
Help your child process anger, shame, envy, or other negative feelings. The ability to care for others can be overwhelmed by strong emotions. Guidance through safe conflict resolution will help your child focus on being a caring individual.
Lastly, provide opportunities to demonstrate empathy and care for persons outside their circle of family and friends. Capitalize on opportunities to teach your child to be a good listener, put themselves in other people’s shoes, and practice empathy when listening to the media. Learning to care for others who are socially, culturally, and geographically outside their circle will reinforce the importance of your child’s contribution to their community, and beyond.
Families, don’t forget to purchase your yearbook while prices are still low!
You can pick up an order form in the main office or go to Jostens.com to order online. Let’s make these middle school memories last a lifetime! Order today for $22. Prices go up next month.
The Grissom Media Center has SMORE too!
Grissom Food Pantry
September and October Intramurals
Art
Dates: 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23
Times: 4:00 to 5:00 PM
Place: Art Room
Sponsor: Mrs. Roeda
Drama
Dates: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10
Times: 4:00 to 5:00 PM
Place: Cafeteria
Sponsor: Mrs. Scott
Flag Football
Dates: 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11
Times: 4:00 to 5:00 PM
Place: Start in Mr. Kresca room
Sponsor: Mr. Kresca
Walk With Confidence
Dates: 9/18, 9/20, 9/25. 9/27, 10/2, 10/4, 10/9, 10/11, 10/16, 10/18, 10/23, 10/25
Times: 4:00 to 5:00 PM
Place: Ms. Pryor room
Sponsor: Ms. Pryor
Gettysburg/DC Update
Attention 8th graders and parents, the mandatory DC meeting will be on September 20th. It will be from 7-8 p.m., immediately following the GMS Open House. This meeting will share vital information regarding the trip. Information such as: cost, payment dates, registration, sample itinerary, fundraising, insurance and more will be discussed that night. Mark your calendars now, you don’t want to miss this meeting. Parents find it helpful to bring a pen or pencil with them to this meeting.
Students if you have not turned in your behavior contract, get it in asap. Take it to Mrs. Rice in room 153.
Mrs. Kummeth
Mrs. Rice
Kummeth Science
Welcome 6th grade families to 6th grade science. This year we will be studying a variety of topics from experimental design, to ecology, Earth, the solar system and finally, energy. Our standards are listed in the front of the textbook in case you are interested in reading them.
Homework packets are assigned on Monday and due on Friday. The homework will be on standards that could potentially be addressed on the ISTEP. This does include 5th grade science standards. Most homework should not take more than thirty minutes to accomplish. If it is taking longer, you need to let me know. This homework will be in addition to projects that will be assigned each quarter.
Checking your child’s academic progress is done by logging into HAC (Home Access Center). The is our electronic gradebook. You will be able to track what your child has turned in and how he/she did.You can customize the experience by having a benchmark grade and receiving automatic emails when your child scores lower than your benchmark. This is a great tool, but it only works if you get on a check out the grades. Report cards and progress reports should never be surprises if you are doing your part. Please refer to the syllabus and weighted grades. Assessment (items graded on accuracy) will make up 90% of the grade. The final 10% is class participation and is graded on completion.
I am looking forward to meeting you at Open House on Sept. 20th from 6p.m7-p.m.
I am excited about this year! These 6th graders are pretty amazing!!
Mrs. Kummeth
6th and 7th Grade Science with Mrs. Gouker in Room #168:
I appreciate all the students that have brought in supplies for our class to use. If you haven't brought any items in, please do so as soon as possible. Supply lists were sent home the first day of school. I have enjoyed reading the parent homework, "In a Million Words or Less." I appreciate all the great information that parents have shared with me about their scholar! This was a homework assignment for parents that was sent home the first day of school. Please remember to check out the Calendar I’ve created on Canvas, Science, homepage. It will help you know dates for upcoming quizzes, tests, assignments, etc. Please keep an eye on your child’s grades, which are updated on HAC. I do not keep grades on Canvas. I look forward to seeing everyone at our Open House!
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: jmilfort@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