HASD | GMS | Newsletter

HORTONVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

September 28, 2007

Mr. Bruce A. Carew, Principal

The school year got off to a great start with nearly 509 students in attendance. GMS welcomed the following new staff: Sally Radke, Associate Principal, Becky Montour, Band Teacher, and Craig Rogney, Spanish Teacher.

Last school year, Greenville Middle School, partnered with the National Middle School Association (NMSA) to evaluate our middle school program. Staff completed a 145 question survey regarding the GMS programming areas of: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; Leadership and Organization; and School Culture. The purpose of the survey was to compile staff views related to current GMS programming.

The GMS staff, with an on-site NMSA consultant, analyzed the survey data and NMSA recommendations to develop Action Plans for the 2007-2008 School Year. These action plans encompass objectives that staff members believe will have the greatest potential to positively impact student learning and move us toward the exemplary level of performance as defined by the NMSA. It is great to report that GMS scored at the fully functional/operational level for all three areas.

GMS is currently working on issues that involve student nutrition, adult mentoring, goal setting by students, parent teacher conference times and format, and student assessment to name a few. GMS will report out progress made as we move forward towards the exemplary level in all areas.

Welcome back to returning students and families and a special welcome to 5^th grade students and families and our new students and their families! I am Janine Connolly, the School Counselor here at GMS. This is my sixth year at GMS and my tenth year as a counselor. I really enjoy working with middle school students. I am here full time. My job is to help students succeed in school. Students cannot do their best in school if they are stressed out, worried, anxious, or upset.

My primary responsibilities include teaching large group guidance lessons to 5^th grade classes every other week, and teaching to 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades every month. I offer individual meetings with students and many small groups. Parents are also welcome to contact me for a meeting, as students prosper when everyone works together. My email is janineconnolly@hasd.org and my direct line is 757-7159. I look forward to a fantastic year!

One way to keep in touch with your child’s grades and attendance is through K-12 Planet. K-12 Planet provides an easy-to-use, secure, and comprehensive school-to-home portal that gives parents and students instant access to grades, attendance, homework assignments, and school activities.

If you wish to have access to K-12 Planet sign and date the form in the newsletter. You must read the attached privacy statement or access the statement at www.k12planet.com home page. Turn in the signed form to Greenville Middle School office once you have read the privacy statement. You will receive notification of your password and basic directions on how to access your child’s school information.

Market Day forms are available in the office or online at www.marketday.com (internet orders are due by noon the Wednesday before pick-up.)

Pick-up dates: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 8, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, Mar. 15, April 19, and May 17

Parents/Guardians must come to the office and sign their student out when they are leaving the building. When a student comes into the building the student can sign themselves in.

Yearbooks are ordered at the end of January they are not ordered with pictures. Please be on the look-out for the order forms at that time.

Any students wanting to go out for sports grades 7^th & 8^th need their physical card and co-curricular code on file with the office. (6^th graders can go out for wrestling and will need the same items handed into the office.) If your child previously filed out a co-curricular code with GMS, it will be on file for their years at GMS. Attached is the Sports Calendar for the 2007-2008 school year.

Please make sure that the office has updated phone numbers and emergency contacts on file. When you move or change jobs please let the office be aware of the correct information.

Parents please call the office when you student will not be in school. We have an automated system so you can call anytime to leave us a message on our attendance line. Dial 757-7140 and follow the instructions for reporting a student absent.

Do you have plans for Tuesday or Thursday nights starting at 4:15pm ? If you want some free and enjoyable entertainment—bump your way over to check out the Greenville Middle School volleyball teams. These girls have impressive skills—and as they improve throughout the season, who knows their capabilities! Mr. Kraus and Mrs. Metzler are coaching the eighth grade girls this year, while Mrs. Patch and Mrs. Mork are leading the seventh grade girls. Both teams have been practicing like crazy to be their best out on the court. Best of luck to all teams! Hope to see YOU there!

This year the sixth grade is going on two field trips that correlate to their studies. The first is to the Paper Discovery Museum in Appleton. The Fox Valley is known for its paper manufacturing and this trip offers much to see and investigate.

The second trip is to the PAC to see Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”. The sixth grade literature book has the story in play form. It is a real treat to see a professional production.

Same ‘ol music teacher, different school!! Welcome to the Middle School, 5^th graders! No time to rest, because the annual 5^th grade music program will be Thursday, November 29^th @ 6:30pm. *Parents, please note that music class is separate from band.* 5^th graders will also have the opportunity to join 5^th grade chorus, in the second half of the school year.

The Hortonville Wrestling coaching staff presents “Fall Brawl.” “Fall Brawl” is a FREE four week wrestling session designed for the intermediate to advanced youth and middle school wrestler grades 3-8. Wrestlers will get the opportunity to work with the varsity, middle school, and youth coaching staff. Emphasis will be placed on drilling, conditioning, live wrestling, and perfecting your wrestling skills. Practices will be intense and fast moving. “Fall Brawl” starts Monday, October 22 and runs through Wednesday, November 14. We will meet every Monday and Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Hortonville High School wrestling room.