Thank you to our amazing Glen Meadow Middle School families for continuing to adhere to the DOH guidelines and for helping us to keep GMMS safe for all faculty, staff, and students. As always, should signs of illness develop for someone in your family - your Glen Meadow student or otherwise - please keep your child(ren) home and contact our school nurse, Ms. Stephanie Ash, at (973) 764-4661.

• two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, rigors, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion, runny nose, OR
• one of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell should remain home and/or will be sent home from school.

Any child who has a fever should not come to school. The child must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Symptoms of illness such as cough, sore throat, or congestion/runny nose should also be improved before the child comes back to school. Please contact Ms. Ash for additional guidance regarding sending your child to school if they are exhibiting one or more symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19.

**Also, PLEASE contact the school nurse ASAP should your child test positive for COVID-19.**

The following protocols will be strictly adhered to:

• Masks must be worn properly at all times, covering the nose and mouth of the individual
• Masks must be worn on buses
• Physical distancing when practicable
• Frequent handwashing/hand sanitizing

We thank you for your continued support, cooperation, patience, and understanding.

Thank you for all of your support thus far this school year. It is our hope and mission that your child's school year continues to be an enriching and rewarding experience.

A few important reminders for the month of February:

• January 31 - February 3rd: 8th Grade Scheduling Meetings with VTHS Counselors
• February 1: Read the McKay Way Begins
• February 2: National Girls and Women in Sports Day - VTHS Video
• February 7: 7th Grade LEAD Program Begins with Cpl. Rovetto
• February 7: Genesis Parent Portal Opens for 2nd Marking Period Report Cards
• February 10: BOE Work Session Meeting at Lounsberry Hollow at 7:00 PM
• February 14: Happy Valentine's Day!
• February 17: BOE Public Meeting at Lounsberry Hollow at 7:00 PM
• February 19 - 22: Wellness Weekend/Tech Awareness
• February 21: DISTRICT CLOSED - President's Day
• February 22: DISTRICT CLOSED - President's Day
• February 22: Bus Driver Appreciation Day
• February 23: CAP (Child Assault Prevention) Virtual Presentation for Parents at 6:00 PM
• February 24: 21st Century Community Learning Center Family Night at 5:30 PM
• February 28: 8th Grade CAP Program Begins with NJ Child Assault Prevention

As we enter the month of February, we want to thank you for sharing your children with us. If you should ever have any questions or concerns about your child's education, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we are stronger! When the school and home collaborate and communicate, we are all working towards one common goal - a successful school year for your child. Thank you for partnering with us throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

Jacquelyn M. Van Orden, Principal

Eric W. Kosek, Assistant Principal

We need each other more than ever right now!

This month let's focus on reaching out to connect with others and doing our best to be a good friend. Our acts of kindness and connection ripple out and impact so many more people than we realize - and they also boost our own happiness too! In stressful times people around us may be feeling the strain, so let's try to keep calm, take time to listen, and show compassion.

~obtained from: actionforhappiness.com

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) is an after-school program that provides students with academic enrichment opportunities that will offer support beyond the classroom curriculum. Students will receive homework support and a nutritional snack each day. The 21st CCLC allows students to explore STEM, Physical Fitness, and Visual and Performing Arts activities, including but not limited to Theatre, Robotics, Engineering, and Culinary Arts. Students will also have the opportunity to attend field trips within the community to work with key stakeholders of this initiative. The Farm at Glenwood Mountain has partnered with Glen Meadow Middle School’s 21st CCLC. In addition, there is a Parent University component that provides workshops for parents/guardians and also affords students the opportunity to showcase their learning activities.

The program operates Monday through Friday, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with parent/guardian pick up. The 21st Century Community Learning Center is only available to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Glen Meadow Middle School students and is at no cost to families!

During the month of February, we celebrate African American History Month as well as
International Boost Self-Esteem Month. Within the month of February, National School Counseling Week is February 7th through February 11th, and World Thinking Day is Tuesday, February 22nd.

• Volunteer to be a Peer Tutor at Glen Meadow. Click HERE for more information.
• Volunteer at Sussex County Libraries. Click HERE for more information.

Join us in an exciting district-wide reading initiative, which honors Dr. Charles McKay, VTSD Assistant Superintendent, who will be retiring at the end of the school year. The “Read the McKay Way” officially begins on February 1st and ends on March 11th. We encourage our students and their family members to participate in this exciting endeavor. Students and family members may log their pages read HERE and may also leave a video message for Dr. McKay HERE on our district’s FlipGrid page. What a great way to celebrate reading as a family, a school, and a district! You will also see A LINK on the main page of our website that will take you to all of this reading information as well. In addition, please share your favorite book or what you are reading on social media with the hashtag #VernonReads

Thank you, GMMS families, for your partnership throughout the first half of the 2021-2022 school year. We are honored and grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside you and your child(ren). If there is anything we can do to assist in making this year a successful one, please do not hesitate to contact us. #TheGlenMeadowWay

The Faculty and Staff of Glen Meadow Middle School