Happenings @ the Hill (6th)
Rising 6th Grade Information - Updated: May 24, 2020
This is a newsletter specially designed for our rising 6th graders. Welcome to the Bulldog Family!
Kindest Regards,
Christine McNeil, GHMS Principal
Focus on Middle School - Is this your first middle school student? Read the book below for more information about middle school life.
Please let us know if your rising 6th grade student would like to be in band next year. At GHMS, we offer band, computers, art, chorus, theater arts, Spanish, family and consumer science, and gateway to technology. All students must take physical education. To learn more about these courses, download the Focus on Middle Schools guide (above) and review the related arts section.
Fill out this form to let us know about band.
Virtual Tour of GHMS (Thank you to J. Chamberlain and Mr. DiMaria for this production!)
How long is the middle school day? / What do I do when I get to school?
The bus lot is not a morning drop off site.
Bus riders must enter the building via the bus lot (back lot doors).
Car riders must enter the building via the front doors.
Current morning arrival procedure: Students report to their hallway where they wait (reading or working on something productive) until dismissed to lockers and homeroom. Students purchasing breakfast are permitted to go to the cafeteria upon arrival. The cafeteria is open to students getting breakfast from the cafeteria.
What if I am tardy to school?
At GHMS, you do not need to be signed in by a parent/guardian when late. You will sign yourself in using the main office visitor computer. Your tardies will be monitored by Mrs. Fite. When tardiness becomes a pattern or issue, you will be seen by your 6th grade administrator to discuss a plan to get to school on time.
What if I need to leave school early for an appointment?
Is middle school fun?
When does my 6th grader typically eat lunch?
Currently: 10:50-11:30am (6th Grade Lunch) - To Be Finalized in June: Parents/Guardians & Grandparents may eat lunch with their students, but must sign in at the main office and be escorted to the cafeteria.
What is FLEX?
Flexible Learning Experience (FLEX) @ the Middle School
FLEX is a 30 minute period where 6th grade students are able to receive additional instruction, complete make-up or missing work, study, read, complete enrichment and exploratory projects/assignments. This period of time is used also for scheduled literacy and math enhanced instruction as needed.
Who is my student's Guidance Counselor? Administrator? and School Nurse?
What do you do in art for middle school?
What supplies will I need? (Here is the tentative list. It is subject to change.)
Our school nurse, Mrs. Hyde
These two people will take great care of your 6th grader!
Our 6th grade school counselor, Mr. Wesseling
Mr. Eppes, Assistant Principal
Mrs. McNeil, Principal
Mrs. Scroggs, Assistant Principal
We also have a Mental Health Counselor (Mrs. Rachel Norris), a Speech-Pathologist (Mrs. Shelly Howard-Robinson), a School Psychologist (Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson), an ELL - English Language Learner - teacher (Mrs. Lorri Conrey), and a Behavioral Interventionist (Mrs. Brandi Ruth) on our staff.
What clubs/extra curricular activities can my 6th grader be involved in @ GHMS?
Here is a list of some of our club/activities:
- Student Council
- Academic Challenge Team
- VEX Robotics
- UpStanders
- Book Club
- Chess Club
- Disc Golf
- All Inclusive Book Club
- Golf Squad
- Girls on the Run
- GSA
- Let Me Run
- YCI (Youth Commission International)
- You Be the Chemist
Can my 6th grader participate in sports at the middle level?
You can still be involved in our sports programs at GHMS by being a member of our ABC. See message below.
Our Athletic Booster Club Needs YOU!
Hello GHMS Families,
Are you looking to be involved at GHMS? Do you think your child will try out for a sport (or 2) during their time at GHMS? Would you like to be involved at GHMS, but your child will be in 6th grade or isn’t interested in playing on a school athletic team? Then we have the place for you…
The GHMS Athletic Booster Club is looking for parents to be a part of the Booster Club Board! We have several open Board postitions available for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year!
We are a relaxed group of GHMS parents that support the athletic program(s) and staff of GHMS. We raise funds through a handful of events throughout the school year to purchase uniforms, supplies, and equipment for our student athletes that isn’t provided by the school district. Some of our board members DO NOT have a student that plays a sport at GHMS, they just want to help support GHMS! Board meetings are normally the third Tuesday of the month at 5:50pm in the media center!
If you are interested in being a part of this wonderful organization please email us at: ghms.athleticbooster@gmail.com for more information! We would love to speak with you!
Thank you for supporting GHMS!
GHMS Athletic Booster Club
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
https://forms.gle/UxP8N7JeNzPF7ZJs5 Fun Friday Joke Link
https://forms.gle/UMezZXdxH9dmSMX67 Quotes Link
Summer Reading Information
The List!
Mrs. McNeil's Friday Update Video in case you missed it!
Bus Riders
'routes"), not the animal. The student should know his/her bus number (black and white # signs on front and rear of the bus).
Meet the Teacher Night @ GHMS (To Be Confirmed)
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020, 06:00 PM
1025 Dave Gibson Boulevard, Fort Mill, SC, USA
1:1 in the Middle School
How do we monitor Chromebook use other than gaggle software?
What do we mean by Digital Citizenship?
· Digital Citizenship means conscious online navigation and communication, evaluating information sources as trustworthy, and citing sources where credit is due.
· Responsible use of technology is an essential life skill for each of us, especially students!
Please encourage your student to be sure to stay on task while using his/her chromebook and to only access websites as directed by his/her teachers. Dyknow provides teachers and administrators with tools to track and monitor student device website and application activity, as well as guide student choices during class.
Who monitors student devices?
· Your student's teachers and administrators have access to monitor school-owned and managed student devices during the school day with Dyknow.
What do teachers see, and what information is recorded?
· Teachers see an image of each student device screen and the website or application the student is using.
· After class, teachers are able to access reports showing students' website history and application usage, including how often and for how long each website or application was accessed.
Need immediate access to your student's grades, attendance, meal balance, and other info?
Use Parent Portal - access the link below to learn how to use this tool.
Please note that we do not send home written progress reports. An email alert and this newsletter will include progress report dates encouraging you to check Parent Portal.
If you are having any issues with Parent Portal, please notify Dawn Fite @ fited@fortmillschools.org.
Want to be involved in our PTA? Be sure to check out our PTA page.
This is our previous SIC Report. We have not done one for 2019-2020 as of yet with school closures.
"We are all in this Together!" - from FMSD Schools Psych Services
Have a great Summer!
Christine V. McNeil, Principal
Website: http://ghms.fortmillschools.org/
Location: 1025 Dave Gibson Boulevard, Tega Cay 29708
Phone: 803-548-8300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMS1998/
Twitter: @GHMSBulldogs