BULLDOG BARK
GHMS September Newsletter-Striving for Greatness
From the Desk of Mr. Fording:
Hello Middle School Families,
I wanted to reach out with some reminders as we begin the school year.
1. Students can enter the building at 7:20 am. They then go to their homeroom. Please remember that their first class begins at 7:36 am. If they are not in class at 7:36 they are missing instructional time and learning. We need our students here every day so that we can meet the needs of every student. I understand traffic can be difficult, and we appreciate you working with us to get your child to school on time.
2. Please continue to remind your child that they must be wearing a mask properly at all times. It cannot be below their nose. It must be on unless they are eating. We are constantly reminding them as well, but also you need your support. We do not want anyone in our community to become ill for any reason. This is why we have followed the recommendations of the Board of Health and are requiring masks.
3. When you are picking up students or dropping off students, please pull up to the front as far as possible. This will help with the traffic flow. We have a one-way flow of traffic. Also, please be careful as students are crossing in the parking lot.
4. Our school has a "cell phone away for the day" policy. Students are not supposed to have their cell phones out at any time. This interferes with the educational process and the students' learning. Also, this will help limit issues that often arise on social media.
5. Students are permitted to have a water bottle throughout the day.
6. Safety of our students comes first. If a person is not listed on the contact screen we will not allow the student to leave the building. It is important that contact information is updated at least yearly if not every time there is a change. We also require photo identification of the contact so that we can confirm that it matches our system. If you have not updated your contact information, please do that in One View on the school website. Contact the guidance department if you need help with this.
7. Please talk to your children and let them know to ask questions when they do not know something. Also, EVERY adult is here to help them if something happens. We do not tolerate fighting, disruptions, inappropriate language, or anything that takes away from the educational process. We have Counselors, Teachers, Mediators, and other adults that they can come to and let us know what is going on. We would rather prevent an issue and not have our students out of school or missing classes because they made a poor decision.
Thank you for being a proactive parent/guardian. We need our parents/guardians to continue to participate in the learning experience of their children. It truly takes all of us working TOGETHER so that every student can achieve their highest potential. In Garfield Heights City Schools we are Moving Forward Together and that takes all of us. Thank you for all that you do!
Office of Teaching and Learning-Moving Forward Together
As we start the school year we put the biggest priority on creating a safe, nurturing, and inviting school environment. Our school mantra is "Striving for Greatness." and all our Middle School Team names were decided with that in mind.
We believe our students can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. We will provide them with opportunities for creative and engaging assignments. If we work together as a team we can ensure the success of our students.
We are teamed-up with the Browns this year for an attendance initiative. Please see the flyer below for all the activities----Stay in the Game!!
From Athletic Director Rebecca Shotliff
From the Guidance Department
We would like to welcome our new counselor, Miss Katie Manilla, to the Guidance Office!
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or concerns.
COUNSELOR:
Miss Katie Manilla
Grades 7 & 8
(216) 475-8105 Ext. 53007
COUNSELOR:
Mrs. Kristen Richardson
Grades 6 & 8
(216) 475-8105 Ext. 53008
GUIDANCE SECRETARY:
Mrs. Angela Talion
(216) 475-8105 Ext. 53006
Parents Sign Up for the REMIND APP
All you need to do is send a text to: @ghcsghms to 81010 and you can set up an account to receive texts from Garfield Heights Middle School.
Teacher Feature
Ms. April Kossman
Ms. Kossman is in her 9th year of teaching at GHMS. She has never taught anywhere else but here in Garfield City Schools; she even did her student teaching at GHMS!!
She teaches 6th-grade Language Arts and 6th Grade Honors Language Arts.
She knew she wanted to become a teacher when she started teaching dance classes in High School. She attended Cleveland State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Middle Year Education. She coaches Cheerleading and the Step Team at the Middle School.
The thing she likes best about her job is getting to know her students and seeing how they grow from 6th graders, brand new to the building, to 8th graders, ready for High School.
For fun, she likes to try new restaurants and teach her puppy, Reggie, new tricks!
Her advice is: Set goals and work hard to become your best self!
Ms. Katie Manilla
Her words of advice: start the year off on a positive note and leave any negativity from last school year in the past.
#Each Child Our Future
Message from Governor DeWine Re: K-12 Student Quarantine Guidance
Over the past couple of weeks, the COVID-19 situation has deteriorated rapidly with the spread of the Delta Variant.
Our shared goal is to keep kids in school. However, the Delta Variant is dangerous and severe. As you continue to take precautions to keep your school children safe and in the classroom, I am resending the guidance from the Ohio Department of Health regarding if and when children exposed to the virus should be quarantined. While this is the same guidance, we have tried to write it in a more clear and precise way.
The bottom line is this: If a child is exposed to the virus, but if that child is vaccinated or if that child was wearing a mask during the exposure, that child does not need to be quarantined.
Vaccines work. Masks work. So, please continue to encourage staff and eligible students to get vaccinated. Vaccinations, and masks for those not vaccinated, will keep our kids in school.
Again, the clarified quarantine guidance is attached. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Lance Himes at the Ohio Department of Health at
lance.himes@odh.ohio.gov. Thank you for all you are doing to keep our kids in school.
Very respectfully yours,
Mike DeWine
Governor