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Dear Parents,
The first quarter has passed and the holiday season is upon us. We are only five short weeks away from the Christmas break! My stress level goes up just thinking about this and I am panicking about how much I need to get done. But despite the added pressures and time commitments that it places on each one of us, the holiday season is a wonderful time of the year.
Students also feel the pressure of the holiday season. Organized athletic practices and activities that take place indoors in the winter are sometimes later in the evening, which throws off their schedules. Students spend more time shopping with their parents or are involved with traveling out of town. Parents are busier and stressed this time of year which makes it even more difficult to stay involved in their child’s studies. For many children, the holiday season brings back sad memories of lost loved ones or other family situations. What can we do? I think the first step is to recognize and acknowledge the fact that students feel stress, too. Sometimes more than we know. Talk to your child about stress and how you might be able to help them deal with it. Let us know if there is anything we need to be aware of with your child so that we can help as well. Together we have a better chance in helping each student succeed.
Some of the greatest memories I have occurred during the holiday season. I look back with joy at the time I got to spend with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My childhood experiences are the reasons that I get excited now about the holidays. I hope that every child has a memorable holiday season—one that they can look back on as a wonderful time in their life.
School Closing Information
Inclement weather is coming! To see if school is closed, Glen Este Middle School parents can call our School Closing Information line at 947-7798. This line will have updated school closing information as received from the West Clermont School District. Please do not call the school office or transportation to see if school is closed. We need to keep our lines open for emergency information. West Clermont parents can also go to our district’s website at www.westcler.org to see if we are on any kind of delay because of inclement weather. The notices are put on the front page of the website under “Announcements” by 5:30 AM. Please listen to your radio or watch your television for WEST CLERMONT. It will NOT say Glen Este Middle School. It will say West Clermont. Continue to watch or listen for updates in case delays are changed to closed.
Early Release Day
Glen Este Middle School will dismiss at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 29
for staff development activities. Brunch will be served to students.
Bus service will be provided.
Important Dates
November
23-24 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
29 Early Release Day, 11:00 AM
December
7 PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library
18 Winter Break Begins
January
2 Return to School
Students of the Month
Glen Este Middle School Students of the Month are chosen for displaying determination and self-motivation. The following students have been selected by their teachers as
"Students of the Month." Congratulations on this fine honor!
September
| 6-1 Josh Gorman |
7-1 Lauren Owen |
8-1 Shelby Luppert |
| 6-2 Rebecca Cass |
7-2 Jovante Woods |
8-2 Matt Ortalano |
| 6-3 Victoria Wilson |
7-3 Sydney Shannon |
8-3 Karina Atkinson |
| 6-4 Amber Walters |
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October
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6-1 Hannah Carson |
7-1 Doug Ford |
8-1 John Tzioumis |
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6-2 Spencer Burton |
7-2 Kayla Schmidt |
8-2 Brianne Cass |
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6-3 Peyton Larter |
7-3 Daniel Brock |
8-3 Lakin Louiso |
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6-4 Joey Speigel |
Heimann - Tabitha Howell |
Howes - Shane Smith |
Winter Concert Dates
Be sure to mark the following dates on your calendar and plan to attend your child’s winter concert. Bring family and friends! Concerts will be held in the Glen Este Performing Arts Center.
Monday, December 11
6th Grade Band, Orchestra and Chorus
Tuesday, December 12
7th Grade Band, Orchestra and Chorus
Thursday, December 14
8th Grade Band, Orchestra and Chorus
Concerts begin at 7:00 PM. For more information regarding band or orchestra, email Scott Morgan at
morgan_s@westcler.org or call 947-7733. For chorus information, email Tim Kloth at
kloth_t@westcler.org or call 947-7782.
Sports News
Thanks to Coaches . . . .
GEMS thanks the following fall athletic team coaches and cheerleaders for their dedication and hard work during the fall athletic season:
- Football: 8th grade head coach Chris Redmond and assistants Zach Ziegler, Mike Thompson, and Tim Lynan; 7th grade head coach Don Jacobs and assistants Michael Ball, Jeremy Sleet and volunteer coach Dustin Amman;
- Cross Country: head coach Jenny Schwalbach and assistant Robin
Schwalback;
- Volleyball: 8th grade coach Eddie Mullins and 7th grade coach Sam Phillips;
- Cheerleading: coach Shannon McCune.
Mrs. Meredith would like to thank all who volunteered at the fall sporting events this year.
Without your support, we couldn’t run our programs!
Basketball The basketball season opens Monday, December 4 with the girls playing at Pleasant Run and the boys playing at home against Pleasant Run. Basketball schedules can be found on our website by going to
www.westcler.org/gm and clicking on
"Athletics." For directions to schools, go to www.favcsports.com
and click on directions. Wrestling The first wrestling meet is Saturday, December 2 at New Richmond. Come out and support our wrestlers! Check schedules on the GEMS website under Athletics. Basketball Preview Game Come out and preview our basketball teams and support the YWCA by attending a
"Preview Game" for both the girls and the boys basketball teams on Nov. 21 at Amelia High School. Games begin at 4:00 PM. Admission: two canned goods, which will be donated to the YWCA food panty. Spirit Wear Shop Need a quick and easy Christmas gift? Think GEMS Spirit Wear! View the hoodys, blankets, scarves, hats, and other items on our website by going to
www.westcler.org/gm and click on
"Spirit Wear." Spirit wear will be on sale in the cafeteria lobby from 10:45 AM until 12:45 PM on November 17, December 1 and December 15.
Flying Fingers
Students in Mrs. Hensley’s 6th grade Computer Technology classes are off to a great start. Students are really making progress in gaining speed and accuracy. Hannah Carson and Michaela Baker are reaching speeds over 80 words per minute. Way to go!
"Loose Change" Drive Starts December 1
Glen Este Middle School will be collecting loose change for the Clermont County YWCA starting December 1. The money will be used for food and/or clothing for needy families in our community. There has been a severe shortage of donations this year so, please, let’s support our community during this holiday season as we have always done in the past!
2006-07 Yearbooks Now On Sale!
- $25.00 before December 1
- $30.00 beginning December 1
- Make checks payable to GEMS
- Turn in check to your first core teacher
- Yearbooks delivered last week of school
PTO News
Next PTO Meeting: Thursday, December 7, 6:30 P.M. GEMS Library PTO Membership PTO had a good turnout at the November 2 PTO meeting. Many thanks to our parents and teachers who took the time to attend. Extra thanks to everyone who signed up to chair or work on our many committees. Volunteers are still needed. You can contact PTO by going to
www.westcler.org/gm and clicking on the PTO link. Everyone is welcome to join us at our December 7 PTO meeting. We will be welcoming our newly elected Second Vice President, Kim Prewitt. Welcome back, Kim! To help encourage membership and meeting attendance, PTO has instituted a monthly member raffle at all PTO meetings. The only requirement is that you be a PTO member and attend the meeting. As always, membership forms are available in the office and at PTO meetings. Membership dues are only $5 per family. As an added incentive, if you volunteer for any PTO event, you will get a second chance in the raffle. November’s lucky winner was
Beverly Vasquez who won a full turkey dinner for 8 which was graciously donated by Kroger. THANK YOU MT. CARMEL KROGER FOR THIS GENEROUS DONATION! 7th/8th Grade Dance The 7th/8th grade dance was a huge success. Many thanks to everyone who sold tickets, chaperoned, decorated, or in any way helped to make this a wonderful event for the kids. The snack and pizza sales were a tremendous success as well. Special thanks to Regina Courtney for getting us a great deal on pizza! Fundraiser Update PTO recently kicked off the Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser with a bang! All the kids are looking forward to the prizes they can earn, especially the Jingle Bell Bash on December 15. Orders are to be picked up on December 11 from 2:30 to 8:00 PM. Since the cookies are a frozen product, orders not picked up on December 11 will be considered a donation. Also remember that any coffee items your student sold will go toward his/her sales for the Jingle Bell Bash. Book Fair Please note that the book fair has moved to March 2007. PTO will provide more information as the date draws closer. PTO Activities
- PTO has a new website under construction, thanks to the kind and generous offer of time and skill by Allison Jones. This new website will be in the capable hands of our Welcoming Committee.
- The PTO has challenged the teachers to create, decorate and fill holiday stockings to be raffled off to the student body the week of December 4. Raffle tickets will cost $1 each of 6 for $5 with the winners to be drawn on December 8.
- PTO is assembling holiday fruit baskets for our teachers again this year. If you can contribute, please contact a PTO member or join us at our December 7 meeting to sign up.
- For the sake of all our over-committed parents and teachers, we are now serving refreshments at all meetings. Come and enjoy some coffee and treats. PTO is asking attendees to the December meeting to bring a dozen cookies. Those who participate will be given an extra chance at December’s raffle. Get baking!
Did You Know?
Parents and teachers can support students who are inattentive by:
- constant feedback regarding the student’s behavior;
- Setting time limits for completing tasks;
- Breaking down longer projects into manageable parts;
- Frequently checking on the student during independent activities;
- Using colored paper for handouts and worksheets;
- Providing lists of steps to complete (for chores or assignments);
- Providing lecture outlines or student guides;
- Consistent reviewing of rules and clear expectations for behavior;
- Providing short and specific instructions;
- Assigning structured roles in the classroom (pass out papers) and at home (help set the table for dinner);
- Seating the student away from doors, windows, pencil sharpeners and other distractions;
- Using a point or token system where the student can earn privileges (computer time, TV time);
- Posting visual reminders of tasks or rules in the classroom or around the house.
For more information, look for books by Russell A. Barkley, or contact
Carrie Urshel, School Psychologist at 947-7735.
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