Pony Express
Connecting GMS in one location
Principal's Message 9/22
GMS Families,
I hope everyone has had a great week. At GMS, we most definitely did. Our Pony Family is amazing. Yesterday when we lost power in the A hall, they proved that we've got some of the best students and teachers in the district! Students were flexible and listened to instructions and thanks to the hard working teachers, we were able to put a plan in place to create a smooth transition into the day. By the end of the school day, you would have never known how crazy the day started. Kudos to the staff and students!
This week, I also had the privilege of visiting with Spanish speaking parents at our Exito Hispano meeting that occurs on the third Thursday of the month. It was a great opportunity to connect with parents and answer questions. Of course, I had the opportunity to experience my first middle school pep rally! Wow!
GMS truly is an awesome place to be and I'm so proud to lead this campus.
Here are some important things you need to know:
1. Drop off. Our drop off situation is creating a back-up at the intersection of Pony Pkwy by the athletic field. I would like to encourage parents to 1. Pull all the way up towards the flag pole to drop off rather than by the gym, 2. Have students prepared with backpacks ready to exit the car in order to keep the flow going (goodbye kisses are always okay), and 3. Watch for other cars as the lanes merge. We will make sure that kids get where they need to go and a few more steps can help things at the corner where students cross and cars enter the drop off lanes. Let's work together to give it a shot.
2. Need board games. We have exciting events planned for students this October. If you would like to donate games (ex. Chess, checkers, etc.) for our down time at lunch and some special events, please bring them to the front office.
3. Student Cell Phones. Please make sure to tell students to keep their phones tucked away while in class. Keeping them out of view is best. We've have phones stolen and removed from side pockets of backpacks as well as students that leave them sitting on their desks. We have had to discipline students involved in the thefts but it doesn't change lost or damaged phones. Just tell them to be mindful.
4. Parent Technology Classes. Our district will be offering parents the opportunity to take technology classes. Please take this brief survey to let our district know which topics about technology that you would like to have parent classes on, in order to learn more!
Click here to complete this technology survey now!
5. Morning Tutorials. Morning tutorials will begin next week with Mr. Naylor and Mr. Chappeaux. Please make sure your student is here on time to take advantage of this opportunity. Tutorials occur daily but students have a window of time in which they need to arrive 7-7:10. The doors lock automatically and students cannot enter the building until 7:30. Student tutorials are in the Lecture Hall. Tuesday and Wednesday is specifically geared to Math. Monday, Thursday, and Friday are all other subjects.
Thank you again to everyone for your support! We are a better school because we're family! #OurHouseGMS
Principal Laura Koehler
We are FAMILY! This is OUR HOUSE! Great students come from GREAT FAMILIES!
First Pep Rally!
Locker Love
STEM Teachers
Counseling
Our Counselor Corral:
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/cms/lib4/TX01000829/Centricity/Domain/73/Sept 2017 Counseling Corral.pdf
S.O.S. (Signs of Suicide)
Students at GMS will see the S.O.S. presentation on these dates:
6th grade--Sept 11 or 14 (Completed)
7th grade--Sept 20 (Completed)
8th grade--Sept 25 or 28
Parents can find the S.O.S. videos for home-viewing, as well as the Opt-out forms at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/38638
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Aim for Success:
Aim for Success is an age-appropriate presentation that challenges students to focus on their dreams and goals and to save sex for marriage. More information can be found at www.aimforsuccess.org
Students at GMS will see the Aim for Success presentation on these dates:
6th grade--Feb 7, 2018
8th grade--Nov 29, 2017
Parents will find the opt-out here:
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Play It Safe:
Play It Safe is a multi-session curriculum about healthy relationships. It is presented by The Women’s Center.
Students at GMS will see the Play It Safe presentation on these dates:
6th grade-- Nov 1 and March 22
7th grade--Oct 12, Nov 9, and Feb 28
Parents can preview the program at the Administration Building on Sept 28. An opt-out will be available.
Clinic
Dear Parents of Students who use an Inhaler or Epi Pen.
A yearly doctor and parent signed medication permission form is to be turned into the RN Clinic prior to your student bringing their medication to school. The nurse is now collecting these permission forms for the entire year.
A prescription label must be on the medication for easy identification.
If you cannot find your medication permission form, please contact Nurse Jansen and one will be provided. 817-251-5667. connie.jansen@gcisd.net
PTA
- GMS PTA membership is off to a great start this year! As of September 15, we have 248 members! Our goal for September is 295 members. PTA memberships are $10. You can join online at www.joinpta.org or you can print & return the membership form to the GMS front office. Joining PTA does not require you to volunteer. Member benefits include discounts for Dell, HP, Great Wolf Lodge, La Quinta, Six Flags, Schlitterbahn, Texas Rangers and more. We have many fun events scheduled this year: 6th grade cotillion, 7th grade winter dance, 8th grade dance and much more. Thank you for supporting GMS PTA!
- Have you been collecting Box Tops over the summer? We earn 10 cents for each Box Top turned in and it really adds up. You can turn in Box Tops to your teacher or in the front office. Be sure to include your name and grade to be entered in the gift card drawing. For a list of participating products click here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products
- Our World Wear Project collection bin is located outside near the gym entrance. Please donate your used shoes, clothing, purses, belts, caps, backpacks, hard toys, stuffed animals, and pots & pans into the World Wear Project bin. 100% of the items collected will either be reused or recycled. This not only helps our landfills, but also those who are in need.
- GMS PTA website and Facebook page: http://grapevinemiddlepta.wixsite.com/gmspta
https://www.facebook.com/Grapevine-Middle-School-PTA-102473876475990/
AVID
Family Survey
AVID Families we need your help! We are looking for parent/guardian help in several different areas! click here for more info
What’s happening in AVID?
Check out our Facebook page for class updates, pictures and more!
Planners for Sale!
Does your Student need an academic planner? AVID is selling them for $6. Students can bring cash or check (to GMS) to Mrs. Shepherd in room C106. We only have a few left!
Community Service
Please look here for information on our upcoming Trash and Treasures cleaning day!
GMS AVID has paired up with the city of Grapevine to set up a morning trash clean up on the GMS campus on October 7th from 9am-11:30pm! Lunch will be served following the cleanup. We would love for all of our GMS AVID students and families to attend, but the event is open to all GMS students.
Find more Current Community Service Opportunities here!
STEM
The CR Smith American Airlines Museum has been a great partner with our STEM program. They are hosting a Family STEM Night on Sept, 28th from 5:00-8:00. Please see the link attached. CR Smith Family Night
Parents- please help remind students to leave a pair of headphones in their backpack. We use our devices for videos, reading aloud and other instruction. The headphones help make our classrooms quiet learning environments for all students when needed. Thank you!
We are still in need of volunteers for our Trash to Treasures event on Oct. 7th. We will work to clean up and restore the Outdoor Learning Classroom on our campus. We will be working to clear out over grown trees and debris. We are in special need of dad’s with chainsaws to help cut and clear the large trees that have fallen in the area. We would love for you to join us and help reclaim this area for our campus community. This is not just a STEM event, so please feel free to share with all GMS families. This event will take place on Saturday, Oct 7th from 9:00-12:00. See the flyer below!
Dual Language
We are so excited that our Spanish IV AP Dual Language Spring Break 2018 trip to Puerto Rico was confirmed this week! Our 8th grade Dual Language classes are in the process of fundraising and we have created a page to accept donations. If you feel led to donate, please use the following link to do so: https://www.gofundme.com/gms-dual-language-puerto-rico-trip
Our 8th graders are starting the process of planning fundraising events, so we will update you as soon as the information becomes available.
Fine Arts
Band:
Yearbook:
Parents, you can still order your child's pictures online at mylifetouch.com. The Picture Day ID is DO317084Q0
Athletics
The Lady Ponies came off of their bye week last week with a vengeance taking 4 of 6 games against the Coppell West Lady Wranglers Thursday night. We are ALL IN, ALL SEASON and ready to take on anything that comes our way. 8th grade had a sweep at home taking a W from A, B and C teams. 7th grade had an incredible night, but unfortunately could only walk away with one win.
Here are scores vs Coppell West:
8th B: 25-9, 25-21 win
8th A: 25-21, 25-23 win
8th C: 25-12, 25-18 win
7th B: 20-25, 26-24, 4-15 lost
7th A: 25-17, 25-9 win
7th C: 21-25, 21-25 lost
GMS will take on Coppell North next Thursday. 7th grade will be home and 8th grade will be at North. Go represent your girls anywhere you can!
7th Grade C team:
Player of the Week - Guinivere Sampson
Player of the Game - Karina Tovar
7th Grade B team:
Player of the Week - April Augustus
Player of the Game - Nicole Fiffik
7th Grade A team:
Player of the Week - Allie Pierce
Player of the Game - Amanda Coy
8th Grade C team:
Player of the Week - Ashley Alvarez
Player of the Game - Madison Hartsfield
8th Grade B team:
Player of the Week - Megan Thielen
Player of the Game - Danny Navarro
8th Grade A team:
Player of the Week - Kiyahra McDonald
Player of the Game - Emily Brady
Way to go girls!!!! GOOOOO Ponies!!
Grapevine Middle School
Email: Laura.Koehler@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/gms
Location: 301 Pony Parkway, Grapevine, TX, United States
Phone: 817-251-5660
Facebook: GrapevineMiddle
Twitter: @GrapevineMiddle