GVMS Weekly Update
February 4th, 2020
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: https://gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com/
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS
Weekly Update
GVMS School Community
Garnet Valley Middle School Community,
This past Friday and Monday administration met with each grade level to "reset" for the second semester of the school year. We spoke about the many things we are proud of at GVMS, including the use of "The Double" for one of our students to fully participate in classes when she can't come to school for medical reasons. We also spent time discussing the most common referrals and reviewed behavioral expectations.
As a building, we recently instituted a school-wide lanyard pass system. All teachers have a set of passes to provide students to visit the bathroom, nurse, guidance, office, locker, or other. This assists us in maintaining safety and accountability across the building at any given time of day. We really appreciate both the students and your support at home. Additionally, we reinforced that no student should have their cellphone in the hallways or going to the bathroom across all three grades. Again this is to ensure safety and privacy for all students.
Please take a look at the presentation and feel free to reach out to Mrs. Stenz, Mr. Weinhardt, and Mr. Martin if you have any questions!
Mid Year Check-In Presentation
Thanks,
Lisa, Gerry, and Rick
8th Grade Course Selection Night and Scheduling Information
8th Grade Families: Important Upcoming Dates
February 18th: High School Counselors will travel to the Middle School to facilitate course selection assemblies for all 8th graders. Students will be given an overview of the High School
Schedule and receive a course selection worksheet to help guide them in choosing classes.
February 20th: Course Selection Night at GVHS. The presentation will begin at 6:30pm at Garnet Valley High School. Middle School Teacher Recommendations will be available to view in ALMA for Core Classes.
February 26th-March 15th : GVMS Counselors will meet with students individually to register for High School classes.
For questions related to your child's Core Course Recommendation please reach out directly to the recommending teacher. Feel free to contact your child's counselor for other scheduling questions.
Afternoon Carline Pick-up
Just as we met with our students this week and shared a midyear check-in, we wanted to take a moment and review our afternoon carline pick-up procedures. Please see the bulleted items below:
- Due to safety reasons, we cannot have more than two lines formed.
- The first line that forms, the line closest to the curb, is our waiting line. Please do not leave this line until your child is outside and ready to be picked up.
- The second line is for parents who see their child. DO NOT wait in this line.
- Do not encourage your child to walk if you are further than two cars away from the pick up point. Students cannot walk across the parking lot to meet you.
- Do not park and have your child come to your parked car.
- Please drive cautiously throughout our campus.
We realize your time is valuable, but the safety of our students is our top priority. We genuinely appreciate your willingness to practice being patient and cautious during each dismissal. Thank you again for your cooperation and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.
YouthTruth Survey for GVMS Students
Dear Parent or Guardian,
We are writing to let you know that the Garnet Valley School District is asking all 3rd through 12th grade students to participate in the Youth Truth Student Survey this year. The survey will be administered at the Garnet Valley Middle School during the week of February 18th. Selected by a district committee of K-12 teachers, administrators and counselors, the Youth Truth Student Survey is a nationally recognized survey used in hundreds of schools and districts across the country, surveying hundreds of thousands of students. The survey asks students about their experiences in the school and with their teachers, including how engaged they are at school, the rigor of their coursework, their preparedness for the future, school safety, student motivation, and grit. Our school, other schools, and researchers may use such information for developing plans to help schools and teachers improve. For information about this survey, please visit http://youthtruthsurvey.org, or speak to a school administrator. A copy of the survey is also available if parents want to preview it.
Although we want to hear from all students, participation in this survey is voluntary.
Your child’s ratings will not be identified in any reports because results are shared at the group level. Personally identifiable information will not be released to any third party. Please be aware that under federal law, you have the right to review a copy of the questions asked of your child. If you would like to do so, you can view a copy of the survey at school.
Please use the link below to open the Opt-Out form. This form should only be completed and printed if you would like your child to be excluded from the survey.
Thank you,
Lisa Stenz, Principal
Rick Martin, Assistant Principal
Gerry Weinhardt, Assistant Principal
Absence Request Form
Please use the link below to access the form:
GVMS Pura Vida Bracelets are Back!!!
The Garnet Valley Middle School HSA will be selling custom made Garnet Valley Pure Vida bracelets this week at all lunches during the week of February 3rd!
The bracelets will be here just in time for Valentines Day! The bracelets are made with our own Garnet Valley colors of garnet and white! This is the perfect way to show off your GV school spirit and pride! These bracelets are amazing and will sell out quickly so make sure you get yours soon! All proceeds from the bracelets will support Garnet Valley Middle School and the HSA!!
Upcoming Author Visit
Student Spectators for GVMS Sports
High School Music Night - February 26th
Links to Important Information
Upcoming Community Events
Early Dismissal Notes
GVMS HSA Information
GVMS Box Tops for Education
GVMS is finally registered with Box Tops for Education!! It’s a super simple way to raise money for our school! And we no longer have to cut out the Box Tops & bring them into school! The new system makes everything so easy!!
Here is a link to the website!
https://www.boxtops4education.com/en/How%20To%20Earn
Find Garnet Valley Middle School as one of the listed schools. Register online to raise money for GVMS. Download the app. Then start scanning the box tops! It’s that simple!!
HSA Updates and Announcements
Upcoming HSA Student Events
SAVE THE DATES
1). Friday, 2/28/2020
6:00 - 10:00 PM
6th Grade Madness 2020
Please register your student for the event by clicking the link below:
2). Wednesday, 3/11/2020
4:00 - 8:00 PM
Urban Air Adventure Park Fundraiser
DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS??
Last year, the House received over 8,000 pounds of tabs & raised over $3,200 just from donated pop tabs! The Ronald McDonald House is a “home away from home” for families with children who are getting care at nearby hospitals.
Tabs can be dropped off starting Monday, 1/27/2020 in collection bins located in the school office, cafeteria, & teachers lounge!! What an easy way to help raise awareness & funds of the Ronald McDonald House!
AMAZON SMILE
GVMS HSA is registered as a nonprofit educational charity with Amazon Smile. Raising money for our school has never been easier. The next time you are shopping on Amazon, please considering registering to participate in Amazon Smile. When you select Garnet Valley Middle School HSA as your charity of choice, Amazon will make a donation to our school whenever you shop through Amazon Smile. Here is a link to the GVMS HSA Amazon Smile page for more information & to register: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-3075301
Box Tops for Education
GVMS is finally registered with Box Tops for Education!! It’s a super simple way to raise money for our school! And we no longer have to cut out the Box Tops & bring them into school! The new system makes everything so easy!!
Here is a link to the website!
https://www.boxtops4education.com/en/How%20To%20Earn
Find Garnet Valley Middle School as one of the listed schools. Register online to raise money for GVMS. Download the app. Then start scanning the box tops! It’s that simple!!
Interested In Volunteering?
If anyone is interested in volunteering for any of our upcoming HSA events, there are endless ways to get involved! Please contact Missy Rosenthal at mmrosenthal@comcast.net or Andrea Romaniello at andrear.ed@hotmail.com for more information on volunteering this year at GVMS with our HSA! Or check out our HSA website at https://sites.google.com/garnetvalley.org/gvmshsa/home for more details! We love our volunteers!!
Garnet Valley Communities That Care
Garnet Valley CTC Quick Tip #19 – Don’t Suffer, Get Help
The results are back from the 2017 Pennsylvania Youth Survey for Garnet Valley’s 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. We also have results from 2013 and 2015. The results of this anonymous survey are self-reported and represent 83.9% of our students.
Did you know? For Garnet Valley students in 2017, the most common depressed thought was “at times I think I am no good at all,” reported by 25.2% of students in this district. 23.2% of students reported they felt sad or depressed MOST days in the past 12 months. Overall, 10.9% of students had seriously considered attempting suicide, compared to 16.5% of students at the state level. There have been small decreases in the statistics above since 2013 and 2015, but we need to remain vigilant and ready to assist and support students.
Call to action…
Help a phone call away. The Mobile Crisis Unit is free in Delaware County. They are a 24/7 service that can come to you and/or help over the phone @ 855-889-7827.
There are Student Assistance Teams in our Garnet Valley schools that can help. We have guidance counselors, our district Social Services Coordinator and Home and School Visitor and school psychologists. You can call the SAP Coordinator, Carolyn Falcone to access student assistance help @ 610-579-5186. Please don’t suffer in silence. See the hotlines and other resources below.
https://www.pacarepartnership.org/resources/crisis-and-hotlines
Garnet Valley Middle School
Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: gvms.garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS