April 8, 2021
Greetings to Middle School Families & Staff! On April 12th we welcome approximately 65 students into in-person learning [91 remain remote]. April 9th will be asynchronous [working independently] for all students so that staff may prepare for this transition.
Spring Sports Registration
Registration deadline is 4/16/21:
Middle School Sports Registration
Middle School Track and Field (6th,7th.8th grade) – April 26 to June 15, 2021
Middle School Baseball (7th, 8th grade) – April 26 to June 15, 2021
Middle School Softball (7th, 8th grade) – April 26 to June 15, 2021
Staff Shout Outs
We love to share positive ‘shout outs’ during our faculty meetings. If you would like to send Kathi McCollumn a shout out for any of our staff members, please do so before April 14th, when we have our next meeting, and we will read it aloud for all to enjoy!! kmccollumn@gdrsd.org.
Quarter Date Changes
Quarter 3 will now end on April 9th – all student work will be due BY April 7th. ‘Report Cards’ in School Brains will be live at 3pm on April 16th. Please remind your middle schooler that they should NOT delete ANY Google Classroom class. Many students come to the end of the quarter and delete their IA classes that they will not be having in the following quarter. With this goes all of their work and any chance that the IA teacher has of grading their assignments for the quarter!
Student Council News
Join us on Monday, April 12th with your GDRMS/GD wear or our school colors maroon, white and black! On Friday, April 16th, our first Friday in school since last March, why not wear our pj’s/comfy clothes to school. Join us in wearing school appropriate pj’s/comfy clothes, but no slippers please! If you want to post to the padlet…Padlet
GDRMS Library News bit.ly/GDMSlibrary
March Madness BOOK Tournament!
-Vote for your favorite book -OR-
– Vote for which book you’d like to read!!
-Remember, This Month we celebrate INTEGRITY
-Revisit NEW Titles, Popular Titles, March 1,2,3 graphic novels, Civil Rights info and quiz.
-Check out a book or ebook! MSLIbrary ebooks and Resources
Reference Links:
Early Dismissals for Hybrid or Remote
Interface Link. GDRMS Counseling
Yearbook News
Remember, we need pictures! Here’s the link to upload pictures. Yearbook pictures needed! Coming soon! Yearbook Cover contest rules!
Genius Hour Needs You!
April 5-15 Looking for Donations!
Shoutout for Shelters – Animals
Please join in as we raise money for the Lowell Humane Society. There will be milk jugs in every classroom labeled LHS to collect money for the shelter. The homeroom class with the highest amount donated by April 15 will receive a special shout out! Here is their website to check out: http://www.lowellhumanesociety.org/. Submitted by Patrick Twomey, Grade 5.
Transitional Shelter in Need – People
We are collecting donations of: new packages of socks and underwear (various sizes) for men and women. New toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, etc. New packages of sheets and new blankets. The donations will be sent to the Lowell Transitional Shelter. Drop them off in boxes outside of each office.
Submitted by Corinne Costa, grade 5.
Recent ‘GDRMS Has Pride Posts’
Parent Questionnaire
Believe it or not, GDRMS is beginning to think about schedules and class groupings for next school year already! We welcome parents of students entering grades 5-8 to share a bit about their middle schooler to help with this process. If you wish, please complete this parent questionnaire by April 16th.
SEL News Social Emotional Learning
Responsible Decision Making
During the month of April, all students will have weekly lessons in Responsible Decision Making. The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. The realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and a consideration of the well-being of oneself and others.
★Identifying Problems ★Reflecting ★Analyzing Situations ★Evaluating
★ Solving Problems ★Decision-Making
★Ethical Responsibility ★Compassion
Here’s this week’s link that parents can use at home: Parenting: Decision Making
Upcoming Dates
Apr 8 –Tours for students returning to school 2:00-3:30 pm, email kmccollumn@gdrsd.org for a time.
Apr 9 – Asynchronous learning all day, while we prep for student return
Apr 9 – Quarter 3 ends, DO NOT DELETE ANY GOOGLE CLASSROOM CLASSES!
Apr 12 – Welcome students to in-person – wear GDRMS colors – Maroon, Black, White
Apr 13 + 14 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
Apr 15 – Grade 6 Qtr 3 Awards
Apr 16 – Quarter 3 Final Grades posted, 3pm
Apr 16 – Half day, dismissal at 11:30
Apr 16 – Middle School Sports Registration
Apr16- PJ’s Day, sponsored by Student Council
Apr 19 – Apr 23 – Spring Vacation, no classes!
Apr 22 – International Earth Day
Apr 23 – World Book Night
Apr 27, 28 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
Apr 28 – Stop Food Waste Day
Apr 30 – Gr. 8 Qtr 3 awards
May 4, 5 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
May 5 – School Brains grades updated
May 7 – – Half day, dismissal at 11:30
May 11, 12 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
May 12 – Grade 5 ELA MCAS
May 14 – Half day, dismissal at 11:30
May 18, 19 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
May 21 – Half day, dismissal at 11:30 May 24 – Grade 5 Science MCAS
May 25 – Town Election Middle School Remote Learning Day, Tuesday schedule
May 27 – Grade 5 Math MCAS
June 1, 2 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
June 4 – Half day, dismissal at 11:30
June 8,9 Covid Pool testing for pre-signed up students
June 8-Grade 8 Parade, 5:30-7:30pm, [June 9 raindate] timed entry for traffic flow, please stick to last name entry: [5:30 A-D; 6:00 E-H; 6:30 I-P; 7:00 Q-Z]
June 10 – Grade 8 Virtual Graduation
June 14 – Last day of school, half day, dismissal at 11:30
This document is posted weekly on the GDRMS website, under News: http://gdrsd.org/gdrms/news/.
Newsletter submitted by, Kathi McCollumn, GDRMS Principal: kmccollumn@gdrsd.org.
P.R.I.D.E.
Determination
- Be ready to learn
- Don’t give up
- Work hard