Huesken Highlights
August 2022
Principal's Message
Hello Huesken Middle School Families!
August is here! We are ready to start another year of learning; however, we have had quite the transition over the summer. We added a new grade level, will be opening a new building in a few short weeks, will be starting the year with a new principal, and will be welcoming new staff members and students to the CV family. If you have ever seen Back to the Future Part III, Doc returns on a train and is talking with Jennifer and Marty McFly about a note from the future that was erased. Doc tells Jennifer, “Of course it's been erased, your future isn't written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it." The GHMS community has this exact opportunity. We will be starting the 2022-2023 school year writing our own future. Our vision, mission, and learning will be what we make of it and what an exciting and tremendous opportunity. I am excited and honored to be writing our future and opening the doors of the new GHMS middle school with you. Please take some time to review all of the information included in this newsletter with your son or daughter. It is packed with resources, links, first day of school checklists, and the building opening plans. To maintain open communication, I will be sending out another newsletter next Friday, Aug. 12, with additional instructional information, orientation schedules, and first day of school expectations.
Schedules and Team Assignments-
Student Schedules are posted in the Community Portal. In an effort to keep teams as balanced as possible we will not be able to honor team changes. If you have any immediate concerns or issues accessing schedules, please contact the school counselors.
- 6th grade Counselor- Taylor Lantz, taylor_lantz@conestogavalley.org
- 7th grade Counselor- Amy Hummer, amy_hummer@conestogavalley.org
- 8th grade Counselor- Jen Gabryluk, jennifer_gabryluk@conestogavalley.org
Opening School Plan-
One thing I have learned in the past two months is that with construction comes the need to be incredibly flexible and prepared for multiple scenarios. Our middle school team has been working hard to put together a plan that would prepare us to open the school focused on the learning community and safety of the students and staff.
- August 24th-26th
- Students will be working virtually through Schoology with synchronous and asynchronous learning. Specific learning expectations and login information will be provided in next week’s (Aug. 12) newsletter.
- August 29th
- 6th Grade In-Person Orientation Day at the new building. 6th grade will begin in the school building, while 7th and 8th grade students will be at home participating virtually.
- August 30th
- 7th Grade In-Person Orientation Day at the new building. 7th grade students will come to school, while 6th and 8th grade students are at home participating virtually.
- August 31st
- 8th Grade In-Person Orientation Day at the new building. 8th grade students will come to school, while 6th and 7th grade students are at home participating virtually.
- September 1st
- All students grades 6th-8th will be in-person at the new building starting Thursday, September 1st.
The reason for this staggered start is to provide a thorough orientation of the new building for each student with additional staff available for students on their first day of school.
Community Open House-
- August 26th
- 6th grade Cruise the Halls Night. Students and families are invited to come and cruise the halls of the new middle school from 6-7:30 pm.
- August 29th
- 7th grade Cruise the Halls Night. Students and families are invited to come and cruise the halls of the new middle school from 6-7:30 pm.
- August 30th
- 8th grade Cruise the Halls Night. Students and families are invited to come and cruise the halls of the new middle school from 6-7:30 pm.
Technology Distribution-
To make sure we are prepared for our start of school plan, we will need to make sure that EVERY student has an iPad and knows how to access Schoology and our Community Portal. We will have three days for technology distribution: 8/18, 8/19, and 8/22. On each of these days, students will be able to pick up their device and parents will be able to complete first day paperwork, complete meal program application paperwork, and set up Community Portal and Schoology parent accounts. See flyer below for the technology distribution information and pick-up hours.
Orientation Plan-
As stated above, each grade level will receive an orientation specific to their respective grade level. On their assigned day, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students will arrive at the New Middle School building in the morning for team-building activities and the afternoon will focus on building items such as hallway procedures, lockers, arrival and dismissal procedures, team expectations, and classroom procedures.
This newsletter is filled with links, parent information and resources, supply lists, and first day of school paperwork. Additional information about the instructional day, lunch costs, building timeline updates, and virtual expectations/how to's will be in a newsletter from me on Aug. 12. Please reach out with questions either by phone or the Ask the Principal link at the bottom of this newsletter.
See you soon!
Dr. Rachel Metzinger
Principal
Gerald G. Huesken Middle School
Opening Plan 2022-2023
This plan is for the Middle School 6th-8th Grade ONLY. Elementary and HS will follow the normal first day schedule.
IPad Distribution
Please bring ANY first day forms, immunization records, financial records (for lunch application) with you. Forms will be available during each time slot. We ask that parents and students are present so the appropriate forms can be completed.
Cruise the Halls Night
6th Grade Aug. 26th 6-7:30 pm
7th Grade Aug. 29th 6-7:30 pm
8th Grade Aug. 30th 6-7:30 pm
Immunization Requirements
The nurses are required by law to follow the Pennsylvania Department of Health School Immunization requirements for school attendance. The group this mostly effects is our 7th graders who will need updated tetanus (tdap) and meningococcal (MCV) vaccinations. All grades, 6th, 7th, and 8th must have complete vaccination records to attend school. Notices have been sent out during the spring and summer, if you have any questions or concerns please contact the nurses thru email or phone. The forms attached discuss the required vaccinations.
Meal Program Information
If you believe your school-aged child(ren) may qualify for free or reduced-price meals this school year and have not yet submitted the application for free or reduced-price meals to the school, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Please apply below.
The application then will be used to determine which benefits your child(ren) and/or household may be eligible to receive. Please be aware that applying for free or reduced-price meals will not impact meals that your child(ren) currently receives through the school.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education and Human services will provide additional information; CV will communicate that information to our families as soon as that information is available.
Please contact Teresa Drager, Food Services Director, with any questions.
Email: Teresa_Drager@conestogavalley.org
Phone: 717-556-0025
Youth In Mind SDQ Assessment
The SDQ Assessment is used by our school counselors to determine the social and emotional strengths and weaknesses of our students in grades 6th- 8th. Data collected from this assessment is used to identify interventions and program needs for the 2022-2023 school year. Please see the attached letter explaining the assessment and return signed permission slip to the middle school main office.
NEW GHMS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT!!
@GHMS_CVSD
Calendar of Events
8/5/22- Schedules and Team posted in Community Portal
8/5/22- August Newsletter
8/12/22- Weekly Newsletter Update from Dr. Metzinger
8/18/22- iPad Distribution at Old Middle School 9 am- 11 am & 2 pm- 4 pm
8/18/22- Weekly Newsletter Update from Dr. Metzinger
8/19/22- iPad Distribution at Old Middle School 1pm- 3 pm
8/22/22- iPad Distribution at Old Middle School 6 pm- 8 pm
8/24/22- First Day of School! 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Virtual
8/25/22- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Virtual
8/26/22- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Virtual
8/26/22- 6th Grade Cruise the Halls night 6-7:30 pm
8/29/22- 6th Grade Orientation; 7th & 8th Grade Virtual
8/29/22- 7th Grade Cruise the Halls night 6-7:30 pm
8/30/22- 7th Grade Orientation; 6th & 8th Grade Virtual
8/30/22- 8th Grade Cruise the Halls night 6-7:30 pm
8/31/22- 8th Grade Orientation; 6th & 7th Grade Virtual