Gov. TJMS Newsletter
October 2021
Our Mission
At GTJMS, we strive everyday to create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, academic achievement, and well-being. Our mission is to empower students for success today and persevere through tomorrow’s 21st century challenges.
Our Vision
Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School is a diverse community of students, educators, support staff, parents and local organizations working collaboratively to provide an academically rigorous education, which includes the technology skills necessary for the 21st century. By holding students, educators and parents accountable for success, we are creating lifelong learners who take responsibility for their own educational goals and positive personal development. Excellence in teaching and learning is paramount to developing productive citizens who have promising and successful lives.
Upcoming Important Dates
Administrative Announcements
Off and Away
Phones can be out during lunch and before school starts.
New FCPS Service: One Call Now
Beginning on September 14th, the person designated on your child’s emergency contact form as primary caregiver, will receive One Call Now messages if your child has been marked absent for the first 2 or more periods of the school day. This call is automated and it is possible that if a child enters school later in the day or doesn’t check-in with their first and second period teachers, the call could occur in error. Since this service is new, it is also possible that our staff could make errors as we fully integrate this into our practice.
As always please feel free to call our front office if you feel you have received a phone call in error.
If you wish to opt out of this or any of the One Call Now calls you receive, feel free to listen to the message through to the end for directions to opt out.
School Improvement Plan Spotlight
GTJMS School Improvement Plan Information
Our school improvement plan focuses on different areas including achievement scores, culture and climate, and health and wellness
Each month we will focus on a different section of our school improvement plan. Here is a brief overview below:
Student Achievement
MCAP Math
MCAP ELA
Culture and Climate
Chronic Absenteeism
Social Emotional Learning
Health and Wellness
Promote physical activity beyond instructional time (Ex. PE)
Promote nutrition within the school day
Promote student health and wellness during the school day
Check the upcoming monthly newsletters for more information regarding each section.
**This school year, GTJMS will also focus on revamping our school vision.
Cultural Heritage Information
October is full of many observances and cultural information to learn about. Check out this October Cultural Calendar to learn about something each day in the month!
October is:
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Italian American Heritage Month
National Disability Awareness of Month
Polish American Heritage Month
LGBT History Month
Student Service Learning
Attendance
If you are going to pick up your child from school early, please send in a note with them. Ask them to come to the front office to turn that note in. By doing this, this helps your wait time for pick up.
Technical Support
Reliable Resources
Frederick County Health Department
Maryland Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Governor's COVID-19 Pandemic: Orders and Guidance
PTSA Information
PTSA Sponsored Conference Dinner for Staff
Each year during the evening of Parent-Teacher conferences, the PTSA hosts a full buffet-style dinner for our faculty and staff. The PTSA requests assistance with setting up, serving, and tearing down.
We are hosting an "Italian Night" themed dinner buffet
Help us to feed the TJMS staff dinner during parent teacher conferences on Tuesday October 12! The main dish (lasagnas) will be provided by the PTA but we need help with sides/drinks/desserts. Items can be brought to school by 10/12 or to 6113 Fieldcrest Dr. by 6:00 p.m. on 10/11.
This "hands on" opportunity to volunteer would be ideal for not only parents, but students, or even grandparents! It is only with the help of our outstanding GTJMS families that we can give back to our amazing staff in this manner.
Your support is ALWAYS appreciated by so many :)
Thanks so much!
PTSA Membership
Haven't joined the PTSA yet? There's still time and it's so easy to do! Fill out our membership form online and pay via Paypal or send a check to school with your child.
Contacts
If you have questions about the PTSA, please feel free to reach out to one of our board members:
Caitlyn Reed- President
Jenny Lazarus- Treasurer
Susan Myers- Secretary
The end of Term 1 is approaching. The last day for students to hand in missing work is October 18th and the term ends on October 25th.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Technology is a wonderful tool but can sometimes lead to cyberbullying. Here are some tips on how parents/guardians can help to stop cyberbullying: learn how various social media/apps work, talk regularly and specifically with your student about online issues, monitor your student’s social media accounts and limit the time your student spends on social media. School counselors will be doing classroom lessons throughout the year to discuss internet safety awareness.
TJMS Counseling Department
- Sarah Gunter- 6th grade/ sarah.gunter@fcps.org 240-236-4851
- Laura Rudy- 7th grade/ laura.rudy@fcps.org 240-236-4852
- Brian Dwyer-8th grade/brian.dwyer@fcps.org 240-236-4884
School Culture
End of Term Kickball Event
Math: Students have been working on finishing up unit one. The unit one test is being completed this week. We will begin unit two next week. We will be working on decimal skills.
Science: Sixth grade is off to Outdoor School. These young ecologists will be testing the waterways around the county over two days, to determine the health of the system. Students will use five types of assessments to give our local ecosystem a rating.
Thank you to all those who bravely volunteered to chaperone and an enormous thank you to the team of Outdoor School teachers.
Social Studies: 6th grade Social studies is starting their second unit on Egypt. We had fun in Mesopotamia while it lasted but it is time to move on! Over the next few weeks we will learn about the geography, daily life, and more as we fly through Egypt and the near east!
Food Science: 6th grade is learning the 7 core nutrients and then we will read labels. It is a very important part of learning in Food Science
Lab 21: 6th grade students are currently exploring Social & Global issues affecting our world. Students have identified their top six issues they think are affecting society, identifying 3-5 compelling facts/hooks to entice the reader that their issue is truely a concern. Their end product will be a “Scratch” coded presentation, which shares reasons why their topic is a major concern and three ways the average person can help reduce the Global issue.
Tech Expo: We are completing our toothpick bridge projects. Next week, we will be furthering our exploration of bridge engineering with the Westpoint Bridge program. Please check Schoology grades for missing work, as the end of the grading term is almost upon us!
Language Arts: In Language Arts, we’re wrapping up our review of narrative elements with short stories. Coming soon: elements of argument!
Math:
7 Accelerated: Students have finished unit 1 by applying positive and negative rational numbers to real life problems.
7th grade students have been working on rational number computation which continues with multiplication and division.
Science: In Science, students are finishing up learning about kinetic and potential energy. Our focus was heavy on learning how to analyze graphs related to these two energies.
Next up, we will move into magnetic and electrical energies. During these topics we will learn how to ask Scientific questions, develop hypotheses, and identify variables that affect experiments.
Social Studies: We have begun our unit about the Middle East in the middle ages. Students are examining the geography of the Arabian peninsula and how Arab people adapted to the challenges of their environment, as well as learning about Middle Eastern culture and achievements, and how the advent of Islam eventually led to the spread of Muslim empires.
Creative Arts: Students are putting finishing touches on their radio plays and will begin a new project centered around the idea of quilts. They will learn about the history of quilts in various cultures, their purpose, and their symbolism. Inspired by the artist, Faith Ringgold, the final product will be a story quilt about an important moment in their lives.
Invention and Innovation: The 7th grade I&I program is continuing the focus on the engineering design process, with finishing some fun projects, including the Mutant Ninja Squirrel and Invention or Innovation. We completed this past week with an introduction to technical drawing, which eventually leads us into out unit of CAD design and 3D printing. Please be checking grades in Schoology, as the end of the term is near.
Life Skills: The 7th graders are now learning how to do laundry. I am amazed at how many do their own laundry but there is a need for most of the class to understand care labels and different types of fabrics.
Math:
8th Grade Math: Students will begin to apply their knowledge of scientific notation by solving real world problems that require them to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers written in scientific notation.
Algebra: Students completed their Unit 1 Test this week. They will begin to explore linear and non-linear two variable functions in Unit 2.
Science: 8th graders are working their way through the Motion module. They have finished up waves and are now learning about Newton’s Laws. Interactive simulations and digital labs are providing students with a variety of experiences that allow them to see Newton’s First and Second Laws in action. Students have the opportunity to participate in an “Egg Drop Challenge” enrichment activity - can they protect an egg from a 2 story fall using common classroom materials? We’ll see!
Social Studies: Students have been examining causes and effects of the American Revolution. In our next unit, eighth graders will be learning about the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the creation of a new U.S. government under the Constitution. They will examine how the Constitution was designed to meet the needs and values of Americans and how the Bill of Rights is designed to protect Americans from the abuse of government power.
English Language
Expressions Program
Parents, please review the October schedule for events and school closings. Conferences are Tuesday, Wed., and Thursday-October 12th-14th and Friday the 15th-schools are closed for students.. School is also closed on Tuesday, October 26th for a teacher work day.
Reading: Fact vs. Opinion: Units of student Fall, Halloween/Trick or treating/Pumpkins.
Math: Area, perimeter and angles
Science/Social Studies: Life cycles-impact of environment, people, and animals, skeletal system, history of Halloweens and Pumpkin stem activities.
PE & Health
In PE students have been playing a variety of sports, such as soccer, flag football, ultimate frisbee and diamond games. Emphasis has been placed on improving individual fitness, particularly cardiovascular endurance, as well as skills and concepts related to each sport. Currently students are focused on defensive skills such as reducing open space.
Just a reminder that at the end of term 1 (October 25th) students in Ms. Nixon and Mrs. Fohner’s classes will be going to Health Education for Term 2.
Health & Wellness Tip
1) Start taking a Vitamin D supplement. We get most of our Vitamin D from the sun, so our intake decreases when the weather is colder since we spend most of our time inside during the fall/winter seasons. If you find you are not getting outside much, a Vitamin D supplement can boost your mood and immune system!
2) Take some time to yourself. Autumn and winter are the Earth’s way of telling us to slow down. Start a journal or track your moods to get more in touch with how you are feeling.
3) Get your flu shot and yearly check-up. Self explanatory! No one likes sniffling and aching and sneezing and coughing getting in the way of life. Yuck.
4) Boost your immune system. You can do this by drinking plenty of water, washing your hands often to prevent sickness, and eating nutritious foods.
5) Get yourself ready for Daylight Savings Time. Go to bed earlier when you can, especially the week before the clocks change. Longer periods of darkness = longer periods of sleep!Life Skills
Cairns Class- Students in Life Skills have been learning about the responsibilities of being a babysitter, how to respond in an emergency, and how to solve problems while on the job. They have completed the CPR, First-Aid, and Heimlich Maneuver lab, which was practiced and performed on First-Aid Dolls in class.
Students then worked in groups to research childhood development and presented to the class their findings on Physical, Social, Cognitive, and Language development for a specific age group. Currently, students are finishing up the Child Development Unit by taking care of a toy baby for five days and participating in the following Labs: Holding an infant, dressing an infant, changing diapers, feeding an infant, burping, and swaddling. In Term 2 students will begin the Financial Literacy Unit.
Visual Arts
8th grade: Students are continuing to practice contour line drawing, drawing from observation, and are starting to apply knowledge of four shading techniques: blending, hatching, cross hatching, and stippling. In Ms. Galla’s class, students are creating a message in sign language and will apply these concepts to complete the project.
Parker VA 8th Gr. Students are working on animal collages using the work of Eric Carle as inspiration.
Parker VA 7, 6 Students are creating Optical Illusions based on the minor art movement of the 1960s. The elements of line, shape, and color will be emphasized in the lesson.
Music
Theatre Arts
6th Grade Theater: Students have been exploring script reading and analysis through studying and rehearsing the script “Polly Pureheart Prevails”. They have learned how to identify the parts of a script, their character’s objective, how to collaborate during rehearsals, and how to make artistic decisions in choosing props and stage entrances and exits.
7th Grade Theater: Students have been exploring script reading and analysis through studying and rehearsing the script “The Magic Fishbone”. They have learned how to identify the parts of a script, their character’s objective, the theme of the script, and the genres of theatre. Students also practiced collaboration skills during rehearsal to make artistic decisions in choosing props and stage blocking.
8th Grade Theater: Students have been exploring script analysis through watching 3 short scenes and identifying the 5 plot points. Students then collaborated in small groups and chose one scene to recreate and perform. Based on the scene they chose, students identified and described each character’s objective, the theme, the genre, the director’s vision statement, and the stage setting.
Shortly Mrs. Cairns will be going out on maternity leave. Mrs. Wynn, a long term sub will be taking over. She comes with many years of experience. Please welcome Mrs. Wynn to the TJ Patriot Family!
Pre-Engineering
CSI
Mrs. Lucas-Literacy Specialist
Mrs. Gemmill- Math Specialist
Mrs. Cole-Advanced Academics
News from our Media Specialist- Mrs. Ralston
Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors
Books should be like a mirror, a reflection of yourself in the stories that you read. They can also be a window into the lives of people that may be different from you, or have experiences that you have never lived. Books can also be like a sliding glass door that allows you to think and possibly change your perspective of the world around you. Embark on this reading challenge to explore the lives and cultures of other people around the world through literature and other forms of media.
If this sounds interesting to you, join the Beanstack challenge by going to the media center homepage and logging in with Clever.
Prizes will be awarded to those who complete the entire challenge. See Mrs. Ralston for more information.
Ongoing Announcements
News From Our School Health Room
Frederick County Health Department / Frederick County Public Schools
If you have any health related concerns or questions, please reach out.