NEWS FROM THE CORRAL
January 8, 2017
Good afternoon Pony Families,
Week one of 2017 is complete and honestly the highlight was the snow on Friday! Nothing will interrupt learning faster than the pure and silent falling of snowflakes. We had students in our building who have lived in other countries and Friday was the first time they ever saw snow. In middle school we are about more than learning academics. Life time experiences are also important so some of our teachers took a few moments out of the day to go for a short walk in the snow. I've included some of those pictures for you to enjoy.
Each of you received an email sharing information with the recent releasing for the state accountability ratings of A - F and we ask that you please become involved. The parent voice is critical during the current Legislative Session. All the work of your child can not be whittled down to a one day testing rating. As I stated in my email our students deserve better.
This Friday, January 13, PTA will sponsor our Outstanding Student Breakfast for the second grading period. It will begin at 7:30 in the GMS Library and end by 8:00 a.m. Student will receive their invitations and we welcome all parents of the students to attend.
Stay warm and we look forward to seeing you at weekly activities.
Linda Young, Principal
ATHLETICS NEWS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The GMS Lady Ponies took on the Coppell East Broncos Thursday night. It was a hard fought match that ended with a win from 7th grade A Team and 8th grade B team! The rest of our teams fought hard and continue to improve.
Players of the game for 7th Grade
A Team - Aniya Rhonden
B Team - Laci Jackson
C Team - Jaden Bates
Players of the week for 7th Grade
A Team - Megan Theilen
B Team - Michaela McGuire
C Team - Lizette Veith
Players of the game for 8th Grade
A Team - Jennifer Edelman
B Team - Taylor Ambrosio
C Team - Mia Soo Hoo
Players of the week for 8th Grade
A Team - Brooklyn Storm
B Team - Serandon Tinsley
C Team - Cassandra Ramirez
Week at a Glance from Coaches:
Monday, January 9th- 7th Basketball practice: arrive at 6:15 am start at 6:30 am . 8th grade practice until 4:30 pm.
Tuesday, January 10th- 7th Basketball practice: arrive at 6:15 am start at 6:30 am . 8th grade practice until 4:30 pm.
Wednesday, January 11th- 7th Basketball practice: arrive at 6:15 am start at 6:30 am . 8th grade practice until 4:30 pm.
Thursday, January 12th- GRAPEVINE has a BYE. NO GAMES.
7th Basketball practice: arrive at 6:15 am start at 6:30 am . 8th grade practice until 4:30 pm.
Friday, January 13th-7th Basketball practice: arrive at 6:45 am start at 7:00 am .
Weight room day. Set up, stretch, and lift before 1st period at 8:10, then bball practice. 8th grade practice until 4:30 pm.
No practice for B and C after school due to 8th A team tournament. ( No weights due to tournament)
7th/8th Basketball -Weight room every Friday for in season basketball.
Middle School Night @ GHS Friday, Jan 20th- Bus leaves at 4:30 pm
Website for general information on athletics: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/31898
ATHLETIC BOOSTER
We are in need of 7th and 8th Grade parent volunteers to to help man the concession stands during basketball games. You can contact Melissa Pavlicin(mrpavlicin@verizon.net) to sign up. Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Thank you for being a part of our GMS Athletic Family.
FINE ARTS and MISC UPDATES
BAND NEWSLETTER
AVID HIGHLIGHTS
CHEERLEADER Webpage
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1051
PONY PRIDE DANCE TEAM Webpage
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1055
DUAL LANGUAGE
https://www.facebook.com/mswiseduallanguageclassroom?fref=ts
NEWS FROM OUR COUNSELORS
COUNSELOR FOR ALPHABET L - Z
We are excited to share that Daina Gardner joined us the last week of school and is ready to serve you. Last fall she was working with the counselors at GHS so she already understands the GCISD way! Her email address is daina.gardner@gcisd.net and she has already assisted with setting up spring schedules.
Welcome aboard Ms. Gardner!
COLLEGIATE ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE
We invite all 8th grade families to tour our Collegiate Academy on Monday, January 9th. Open House will begin at 5:00 p.m. and conclude at 6:30 p.m. Student led tours will be provided as well as the opportunity to meet the staff. Please see the flyer below for address and other information.
HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS AT GMS
All 8th grade parents are encouraged to attend our "Evening with High School Counselors" on Tuesday, January 10th. The presentation will be held in the GMS cafeteria and will begin at 6:30. The evening will be led by our Director of Counselors, Emberly Hill, and high school counselors from all high schools. See flyer below.
DUKE TIP
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented youth. Duke TIP's talent searches serve as the entry point to academic benefits and programs for gifted and talented students in grades 4-12. For more information, click here: http://tip.duke.edu/node/244
Parents may directly enroll their child online at http://tip.duke.edu/node/1275 or via paper applications at any time during the enrollment period, October 1-March 31. Fees are paid only once, and need-based financial aid is available. Students must have attained a qualifying test score at or above the 95th percentile on at least one accepted subtest area of a grade-level standardized achievement test (Stanford or Iowa Test of Basic Skills), or achieved a score of a 125 or above on an aptitude test (OLSAT, CoGAT, NNAT) or mental ability test (IQ test such as WISC), or met the Duke approved score on a state criterion-referenced test (STAAR). A school code will be provided on the Duke Tip website during the enrollment process.
STEM NEWS
8TH GRADE STEM Update for Biology and Algebra Parents
Thursday, January 12, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. we will gather in the GMS Lecture Hall and share information on Mastery Learning. The information session will include the philosophy behind Mastery Learning and will conclude with parents being provided a Tool Kit to assist our STEM Families at home.
Last week we were honored to have Russell Werneth, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, visit our STEM students and share his expertise with the Hubble Space Telescope. It was an incredible experience for our students and one they will always remember. This is our second space engineer associated with NASA to visit our students this year. We are so fortunate to be contacted by these educational resources!
We have started a District STEM Blog to push out news and highlights of things happening at campuses.
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/46067
STEM BOOSTER WEBSITE
PTA NEWS
6th Grade Cotillion
6th Grade Cotillion begins on January 20th and we hope you will join us! Cotillion is a GMS PTA sponsored 4-week social dance curriculum combined with emphasis on good manners and social etiquette. Each week is a themed celebration with refreshments provided. The cost for 4 weeks is $50. For full details and registration information click here: : 6th grade cotillion sign up form
World Wear Project
It’s the start of a fantastic new year and what better time to clean out your closets and donate your used clothing, shoes, purses, backpacks, hats, caps, toys, and stuffed animals. The World Wear Project collection bin is conveniently located outside the GMS Gym entrance. The GMS PTA will receive .12 cents for every pound collected. 100% of the items collected will be reused or recycled. This not only helps our landfills, but also helps others who are less fortunate than we are to have much needed clothing and shoes. Thank you for your support.
January PTA Newsletter below
PTA Website: http://grapevinemiddlepta.wixsite.com/gmspta
GCISD COUNCIL OF PTA'S MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS
MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS
Hello GCISD Council of PTAs General Membership! Happy New Year to all of you! The GCISD Council of PTAs is hosting a Legislative Roundtable Meeting on January 26.
WE WANT AND NEED YOUR VOICE! Please join your fellow GCISD PTA members on January 26th for a Legislative Advocacy Roundtable Discussion hosted by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Council of PTAs.
MEET and TALK with YOUR area legislators and staff and pick up advocacy tips to use throughout the current 85th Texas Legislative Session.
· Thursday, January 26, 2017
· 6:30-8:00pm (childcare not provided)
· Light refreshments provided
· PDEC (Professional Development and Education Center): 5800 Colleyville Blvd.,
Colleyville, TX 76034
We will give a brief overview of our district PTA's top 5 issues for our legislators to address: 1) Reduce STAAR emphasis, 2) Oppose vouchers and ESA programs, 3) Adequate school funding, 4) Pursue a new accountability system that is valid, reliable and balanced and 5) Clarify the role of school districts on cyber-bullying. (Handouts with more information on each issue will be available at the event.)
Pre-registration is not required, but is highly recommended so we can get a headcount and plan appropriately. To register, scroll down to find your school and RSVP at the following site: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d45a9a72ca46-legislative.
For questions, please contact your local PTA Legislative Advocacy Chair or President or Doug Noell, GCISD Council of PTAs Legislative Chair (doug_noell@yahoo.com).
GMS ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE SESSIONS
UPDATES FROM NURSE JANSEN
Attention 6th Grade Parents. Per Texas State Law all students entering 7th grade need to provide proof of a tDap and Meningitis shot. In order to clear 6th grade students for 7th grade, RN Jansen is now accepting updated shot records. You may hand-deliver, scan and email to connie.jansen@gcisd.net, or Fax to 817-424-1626.
Feb 22 is 8th grade Scoliosis screening.
GCISD NEWS
SUPERINTENDENT DR. ROBIN RYAN
Thursday the Texas Education Agency will be releasing the provisional A-F ratings as part of House Bill 2804. These ratings were released ahead of the Legislative session which begins on Tuesday, January 10. Please watch the following video to see GCISD's stance on the ratings and find out how you can help all public schools in Texas.
STUDENT VIDEO CONTEST
WHY OUR SCHOOL ROCKS VIDEO
Show the World Why Your School ROCKS! What makes your school exceptional? Why do you love it so much? How has your school earned the support of the community? What makes Texas public schools the best choice? Make a video to show the world why your school ROCKS! You just might win some money for your classroom or campus! For more information, click here.
GCISD is Now Hiring!
Many opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
· Nutrition Specialists -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!
· Kidzu Site Aide – PT w/benefits – this schedule works well for local college students!
· Night Custodians
· Bus Monitors
· Maintenance Engineers
Apply online at: www.gcisd-k12.org
MUSTANG – PANTHER STADIIUM THE NEW EXPERIENCE
Please view the video from our Superintendent Dr. Robin Ryan introducing exciting news coming to our community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHtsHYWwk_Q&feature=youtu.be
GMS MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES AND INFORMATION
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP FOCUS JANUARY 3 – 13
While we always teach and practice digital citizenship, GCISD places a special focus on this topic at the beginning of the school year and again each January. Please visit the following site for more information.
https://sites.google.com/gcisd.net/digitalcitizenship
Don't forget the GMS Yearbooks are on sale for $35 at www.yearbookforever.com Online ordering is easy!
CHEERLEADER Webpage
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1051
PONY PRIDE DANCE TEAM Webpage
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1055
DUAL LANGUAGE
https://www.facebook.com/mswiseduallanguageclassroom?fref=ts
BAND NEWSLETTER
GRAPEVINE MIDDLE SCHOOL STATE REPORT CARD
Below you will find our 2015–16 TEA School Report Card. The School Report Card provides information concerning student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®), as well as, as information on student enrollment, class size averages, and financial expenditures. The School Report Card for each campus can also be found on TEA's website at https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/src/2016/campus.srch.html.
In addition to the School Report Card, the more detailed Texas Academic Performance Report for our campus can be accessed online at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/45546.
If you have any questions about either report, please contact me. Paper copies of both reports can be viewed in our main office.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
7th Boys BBall @ Coppell E
8th Boys BBall @ GMS
Collegiate Academy Open House - see Counselors section
Tuesday January 10
PTA Board Meeting 8:30 GMS Conference Room
7th STEM Ambassadors to Gaylord Texan for presentation
Beyond Middle School presentation by High School Counselors
6:30 in GMS Cafeteria - see Counselor section above
8th Grade STEM presentation for high school will follow the general session
Wednesday January 11
Academic Assistance Session 7:00 - 7:45 a.m.
STEM Presentation for Students in Library 1st - 5th periods
Thursday January 12
STEM 8th Grade Mastery Learning Presentation 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in GMS Library
Girls Basketball - No games this Thursday
Friday January 13
Outstanding Student Breakfast 7:30 in GMS Library
8th A Basketball Tournament
Monday January 16
Staff and Student Holiday
Future Dates
Exito Hispano - January 17th
Spelling Bee - January 18th 8:30 - 11:30
6th Grade Cotillion Begins - January 20th
STEM Showcase @ GMS 6:00 - 8:00
Progress Reports - January 27