NEWS FROM THE CORRAL
MAY 29, 2017
GHS former Ponies
Honoring GMS Staff
7th Grade Athletic Awards
Good Morning Pony Families,
It is with mixed emotion that I write my final newsletter as Principal of Grapevine Middle School. Five years have flown by and as I reflect on the accomplishments of our staff and students I am amazed and inspired.
We are surrounded with so much ugliness in our world today, yet walking our hallways are the greatest students and teachers in America. They face each day with a sense of excitement and urgency for learning, and this provides us all hope that these very students can and will change our world.
As I've shared with you many times I began my childhood in poverty. I'm where I am today due to the persistence of my parents and a community who provided me support.
Without these two forces working together I predict I would not have had success beyond high school. Knowing this makes it difficult to walk away from the culture we have spent the past five years growing at GMS. A place where students speak with respect to adults and to each other ~ A place where teachers never give up on students ~ A place where parents know their children are important and have trust in our district systems. An incredible place that I've called home for five years.
Thank you for trusting me with the safety of your child. Thank you for supporting me when days were more difficult and challenges were placed upon us. Thank you for welcoming me into your family and your community and allowing me to serve. I will never forget my days with our Ponies. I'll carry many great memories with me as I begin the next season of my life.
The time has come for me to release the string from the kite and let it take wings and fly. The sky is the limit and I'll always be Pony Proud!
Linda Young, Principal
SENIOR WALK THROUGH
These students were 8th graders when I arrived as their new principal! Many of these students have stayed in touch with us and it was an emotional walk as they looked at the lockers, classrooms, and gyms. You could see the memories floating through their heads.
Thank you to Cody Koontz for sharing this time with me and for allowing me to share words of wisdom with them!
ATHLETIC INFORMATION
SUMMER PERFORMANCE COURSE:
The Performance Course program is highly recommended to do over the summer. The athletes have been working hard this year strength training and conditioning and we don’t want them to lose any of that training. I realize this is there break but, this camps is tailored so that if you need to miss 4 days or a week for vacation, you can (and not have to pay for that week (s) but to get back in it when you return. Our entire all middle and high schools in our district use this program as well as our competitors. Therefore, we must be improving over the summer in order to compete at a higher level. Please click below to read the info regarding Performance Course.
http://www.performancecourse.com/school-district/grapevine-colleyville-isd
SUMMER CAMP INFO:
Click on the link below to see camps offered over the summer at GHS and CHHS. Click the links to print of registration forms. Forms can be turned into Coach Hudnall. Incoming 9th grade flyers is on there.
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/46697
2017-18 PHYSICALS INFO:
All medical history/physical paperwork turned into me before the first day of school. Link below:
2017-2018 PHYSICAL/MEDICAL HISTORY FORM
**Please make a copy of your physicals if you choose to get them done over the summer.
*NOTE: Each 7th & 8th grade athlete MUST HAVE an updated physical and medical history form before they can tryout for a sport. **Physicals are only valid for one calendar year from the date it was completed.
ATHLETIC BOOSTER UPDATES
May 30th 8th Grade Athletic Awards Ceremony 6:30-8:30pm
GMS HONORING TEACHERS
Whitney Kirby - 2017 GMS Teacher of the Year
Vivian Bice - 2017 GMS Administrative Assistant of the Year
THEATER NEWS
It was an incredible collaboration of our Theater, Choir, and Art department. Mrs. Pace has spent the past three years growing a theater department from a hand full of students to a performing cast of award winning actors. Her talent and dedication to this work is recognized district wide and requires an incredible of work outside the school day. Thank you Mrs. Pace, Mr. Nidever, and Ms. Montalvo for making this performance possible.
GRAPEVINE ROTARY HONORS STUDENTS OF THE 9 WEEKS
ROTARY OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
Outstanding students (L to R) Natalie Pitzer, Aneesh Mazumder, Mercer Schulte, Brooke Gray
Not pictured: Keiani Fouse, Melissa Saavedra
SAVE THE DATE 2017-2018 INFORMATION
COUNSELING NEWS
Introducing The New Confidential Student Report (CSR): Please visit the TEA website for information about the new CSR.
STAAR/STAAR EOC Results Update
All STAAR results from the spring 2017 administration will be released throughout the summer. The Texas Education Agency Student Data Online Portal will open on June 2 for STAAR End of Course Exams (EOCs) and then June 14 for all remaining exams. STAAR 5th/8th Grade (Math and Reading) exams have already been released and are available in the online portal.
To review the results through the online portal, parents can log into Skyward Family Access to find their Unique Access Code. For instructions on retrieving the Unique Access Code, visit our information page.
Starting with this Spring’s results, TEA has redesigned the confidential student report. To learn more about the update, please visit TEA’s New STAAR Report Card website. The confidential student reports will be mailed to parents after the following dates:
· STAAR EOCs - June 22
· All other exams (Grades 3 - 8) - August 8
MATH TELESCOPING
Math Telescoping Exams – June 28, 2017
Testing opportunities for telescoping in math for the 2017-2018 school year are available this summer for GCISD students who are completing grades K through 7.
The Math Telescoping Information Packet is available on the district website under the For Parents and Students Directory by selecting the link for Acceleration Exams, Math Telescoping, Grades K-7.
Parents will find information about the requirements to qualify for Math Telescoping and instructions about the TWO STEP Online Registration Process. There will be links to print the Information Packet, begin the TWO STEPOnline Registration Process to register for the summer exams, view the TEKS on the TEA website, and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from UT-Austin. The online registration form will go live on May 11 for the June 28 test administration.
Important dates are listed below:
Summer Exam Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2017, 9:00 am
Grapevine High School – TECC
Online Registration Opens: May 11, 2017
Online Registration Closes: May 25, 2017
The online registration form will become unavailable on: May 26, 2017
Exam Fee Payment Deadline: May 31, 2017
I
STEM NEWS
PORT ARANSAS
What an incredible learning experience for our 8th grade STEM students. We would like to thank Matt Canafax and GMS STEM teachers for organizing the event . We are also very grateful to all the parent chaperones and GMS STEM Booster Club for assisting as well.
Check out the GMS STEM Booster Club and GMS STEM Academy Facebook pages for more pictures and stories! https://www.facebook.com/gmsstemacademy/
STEM NEWSLETTER
STEM BOOSTER WEBSITE
LOCKER CLEAN OUT
As students clean out lockers, be sure they are keeping reviews, important papers, etc that could be used to study for final exams. Any extra usable supplies student do not want to for the summer or next year, would be greatly appreciated by teachers.
CAFETERIA CHARGE BALANCES
The district charge policy allows students to charge $10 in reimbursable meals for elementary and middle school and $6 for high school. Students are not allowed to charge snacks or a la carte items. Parents will be notified via email and letters if their student(s) have a negative account balance. Parents may sign up at myschoolbucks.com to set up low balance alerts to be emailed to them at a specified threshold that they determine. Please contact your cafeteria manager for a list of negative account balances.
SUMMER NUTRITION PROGRAMS
SUMMER NUTRITION PROGRAM
Locations of summer sites:
- Cross Timbers Middle School: June 5 – August 11
- Breakfast: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Silver Lake Elementary: June 5 – July 14
- Breakfast: 7 - 8 a.m.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
GCISD SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
SUMMER READING EXPECTATIONS
Please access the link here https://www.smore.com/ag9uq-gcisd-summer-reading-assignment to find out more about GCISD Summer Reading expectations.
We will be Rockin' Through the Summer and offering MORE classes than ever this summer! Please view the summer enrichment excitement planned at Summer Enrichment video
Summer Boredom Busters 2017: The instructional coaches have compiled a calendar of Summer Activities for Students. Please share in your parent newsletter! http://bit.ly/gcisdsummer2017
GMS WEBSITES
BAND NEWSLETTER
PONY PRIDE DANCE TEAM Webpage
PTA NEWS
The GMS PTA Nominating Committee presents the following slate for 2017-18 Officers:
- President - Candy Worthan
- 1st VP Membership – Stacy Wirick
- Treasurer – Heather Newton
- Secretary – Jo Kruzel
Elections will be held at the General Meeting on May 31 at 12:30pm.
In addition, the following Board positions are also open for next year and we are looking for awesome volunteers: Community Service, Environmental, Fun Day, Healthy Lifestyles, Hospitality, Outstanding Student Breakfast, Programs, Scholarships, Volunteer Coordinator, School Supply Packs. Please contact Candy Worthan at candy.worthan@gmail.com for additional details.
Membership News
· Grapevine Middle School PTA received the following membership awards from Texas PTA for 2016-2017:
Head Start Award (must submit membership rosters and dues for 75% or more of the previous year’s total membership), Early Bird Achievement (obtaining at least 100% of last year’s membership numbers and submitting them by 9/30/16), FALL 250+ CLUB, President’s List Award (more than 100% membership over the previous year and achieve Good Standing), Men Are Really Super (MARS) Award (recruit at least 50 Men), Student Membership Achievement (recruit at least 25 student members). What a tremendous year we have had Grapevine Middle School PTA! Congratulations and thank you to Stacy Wirick our VP of Membership for meeting all those deadlines!
World Wear Project
Remember to 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.
PTA Website: http://grapevinemiddlepta.wixsite.com/gmspta
GCISD NIGHT AT THE RANGERS
2017 GCISD Night at the Rangers. Tickets start at $12 for students and $17 for adults - and the first 300 tickets per school (CHHS or GHS) will receive a voucher good for an exclusive GHS or CHHS Texas Rangers cap!
UPDATES FROM NURSE JANSEN
Attention 6th grade parents. An updated shot record with proof of a tdap and Meningitis shot is needed by RN Jansen by June 1st. Your student may not receive their 7th grade schedule at the beginning of August schedule pick up if the shot record is not received by June 1st.
Proof of Shots given over the summer will need to be hand-delivered in person and processed when the nursing staff is back on campus the week prior to school starting. Your student's schedule will be released at that time. No shots will be processed over the summer.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Honoring the fallen on Memorial Day
Tuesday May 30
Regular schedule
8th Grade Athletic Awards Ceremony 6:30 -8:30
Wednesday May 31
Finals
Early Release 12:10
Students must be picked up at release, walk home, or ride the bus.
Thursday June 1
Finals - Last Day of 2016-2017 School Year
Early Release 12:10
Students must be picked up at release, walk home, or ride the bus.
Report cards mailed out the week of June 5th. They will also be available on Skyward.
Have a blessed, relaxing summer!