October 1, 2020
Greetings to Middle School Families!
It is hard to believe that September 30th marks the second full week of school! Lots of hard work went into those two weeks on the part of staff, students and parents! Newsletter submitted by, Kathi McCollumn, GDRMS Principal: kmccollumn@gdrsd.org.
Grades
Every two weeks, teachers are updating School Brains with all available grades. These would be great junctures to review grades with your middle schooler. Parents and students have access to School Brains. The latest update was done this past Wednesday, September 30th.
Sports
Registration for the fall cross country season opened today. The season starts the week of October 12th and runs through November 13th. Practice will be two days a week. The cost is $50.00. Participants will need a current physical. Parents will need to register through the GD athletics web page, this is open to any student in grades 5-8.
Tutoring Opportunity
The GDRHS National Honor Society would like to offer support for students in K-12 that are struggling in school. Tutors will meet on Zoom in order to stay safe. If teachers feel one of their students needs an extra boost, or if parents are looking for additional help for their child: Here is the link to our NHS Tutoring flyer.. Here is a link (https://forms.gle/HgnxHNMikjybdpj66) to the survey that the student/parent can fill out in order to show interest in our program. The energetic, qualified volunteers of NHS are here to help. We’re all in this together!
Sierra Wynn, NHS Tutoring Director
Bus Information
-Students may only ride the bus they are assigned to.
-Students must sit in the seat that was assigned to them. Only siblings may sit together.
-Students must wear a mask on the bus at all times.
-Students should sanitize hands before they board the bus each morning.
1st Time: Student will receive a warning
2nd Time: Parents will be notified and student will have a 1 day bus suspension
3rd Time: Parents will be notified and student will have a 1 week bus suspension.
4th Time: Parents will be notified and student will be suspended from the bus for the remainder of the half year.
Lunches
When you are ordering school lunch for your middle schooler, please record the STUDENT first and last name, NOT the parent name. This will help us get the lunch to the right student much faster! Student Name Location
SEL News
Social Emotional Learning
‘Self – Awareness’ [9/16 – 10/7]
Here’s this week’s links that parents can use at home:
Let’s Talk SEL = Parents this one’s for you!
Remote Learning Materials Pick-up
Parents/guardians may pick up materials for their middle schooler learning in remote model on Tuesdays 2pm-4pm & Fridays 8am-3pm. Teachers will notify parents via email that there is something to be picked up, and parents are welcome to enter the South building for students in grades 5 & 6, or the North building for students in grades 7 & 8.
Music News
Here’s a wonderful opportunity for students interested in band or chorus this school year. We will offer a Virtual Middle School Band and a Virtual Middle School Chorus program beginning in mid-October. Interested students may sign up below, and meet once each week for 40 minutes via Zoom (2:40-3:20, days TBD). This will be an ungraded, voluntary program to keep those interested in playing an instrument or singing doing so throughout this school year! If your middle schooler is interested in participating, please complete the attached Google Form. This is in no way a commitment to attend, but for our own information as we complete the final planning for this program.
Mr. DeStefano. and Ms. Stone
Health Office News
Please check out this link for updates on Flu Vaccinations and Daily Monitoring of Wellness: Health Office News
Extended Block and Fridays
Extended Block – Students in Hybrid Learning are expected to complete an ‘extended block’ assignment which is due each Monday-Thursday by 7pm.
Fridays are full days for students, even though they are not in front of teachers after lunch.
PTO News
SQUARE ONE ART IS GOING VIRTUAL THIS YEAR!! Usually teachers do this activity with students in school, but due to our school year looking different, we are going to offer this fundraiser online ONLY! Your child will have the opportunity to create art at home for this PTO Square 1 Art fundraiser. Once you upload the art to Square 1 Art online, you may begin to shop for art keepsakes! The PTO earns funds from every order! Please create and upload art by: 10/23/2020 Parent Order Deadline is: 12/1/2020
3 EASY STEPS
- CREATE ART
- PHOTOGRAPH & UPLOAD ART
- SHOP
TO START:
Click here!
Uploaded your Child’s Art but cannot find it? Just click Art Search to find your child’s art.
Thank you for creating art for the Square 1 Art school fundraiser! We hope you had fun! We know you will enjoy your child’s art on Square 1 Art keepsakes for years to come! These make great gifts for the holidays!!
Any questions contact, sfieberg@gmail.com
Reference Links:
Early Dismissals for Hybrid or Remote Students [To be completed by parent for any early dismissal]
Library Books Checkout Form
Tech Tips
Groton Public Library
Upcoming Dates
Oct 8 –SEPAC Sponsored Parent Info Night – Minding Your Mind
Oct 12 – No School Columbus Day
Oct 13 – No School, Professional Development
Oct 14 School Brains grades updated
Oct 23 – This is a half day for teachers and a full day of learning for students
Oct 23 – Square One Art upload due
Oct 28 – School Brains grades updated
Nov 3 – Since GDRMS will be a voting site, no students or staff will be in the building. Students will follow a typical Tuesday schedule.
Nov 11 – No school in recognition of Veteran’s Day
Nov 12 & 19 – Parent/Teacher Conferences, students have am schedule and pm assignments
Nov 18 – Last day of Quarter 1 – all assignments due
Dec 1 – Square One Art Parent ordering due
P.R.I.D.E.
Empathy:
- Demonstrate kindness
- Have compassion for others.